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What's New

- Country information has been updated as of 20 October, 2005. [NR, 2005]

- There have been some significant changes to the latest edition of The World Factbook. Recent confirmation that the United Kingdom Government administers the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia on Cyprus as dependencies (and not as lease areas like the US Guantanamo Bay Naval Station in Cuba) has required a changing of their status and their addition to the Factbook as new entities. In addition, the European Union has been included as an "Other" entity at the end of the listing. The European Union continues to accrue more nation-like characteristics for itself and so a separate listing was deemed appropriate. A fuller explanation may be found under the European Union Preliminary statement.

- Along with the new entities and the regular information updates, The World Factbook now also features six new fields. In the People category, a Major infectious diseases field has been added for countries deemed to pose a higher degree of risk for travelers. In the Economy category, entries have been added for Current account balance, Investment (gross fixed), Public debt, and Reserves of foreign exchange and gold. The Transnational issues category has a new Refugees and internally displaced persons entry.

- Revision of some individual country maps, first introduced in the 2001 edition, is continued in this edition. Several regional maps have also been updated to reflect boundary changes and place name spelling changes.

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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

- World

A

- Afghanistan
- Akrotiri
- Albania
- Algeria
- American Samoa
- Andorra
- Angola
- Anguilla
- Antarctica
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Arctic Ocean
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Aruba
- Ashmore and Cartier Islands
- Atlantic Ocean
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan

B

- Bahamas, The
- Bahrain
- Baker Island
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Bassas da India
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Benin
- Bermuda
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Bouvet Island
- Brazil
- British Indian Ocean Territory
- British Virgin Islands
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Burma
- Burundi

C

- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Cape Verde
- Cayman Islands
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- Chile
- China
- Christmas Island
- Clipperton Island
- Cocos (Keeling) Islands
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Congo, Democratic Republic of the
- Congo, Republic of the
- Cook Islands
- Coral Sea Islands
- Costa Rica
- Cote d'Ivoire
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic

D

- Denmark
- Dhekelia
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic

E

- East Timor
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Estonia
- Ethiopia
- Europa Island

F

- Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
- Faroe Islands
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- French Guiana
- French Polynesia
- French Southern and Antarctic Lands

G

- Gabon
- Gambia, The
- Gaza Strip
- Georgia
- Germany
- Ghana
- Gibraltar
- Glorioso Islands
- Greece
- Greenland
- Grenada
- Guadeloupe
- Guam
- Guatemala
- Guernsey
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana

H

- Haiti
- Heard Island and McDonald Islands
- Holy See (Vatican City)
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Howland Island
- Hungary

I

- Iceland
- India
- Indian Ocean
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy

J

- Jamaica
- Jan Mayen
- Japan
- Jarvis Island
- Jersey
- Johnston Atoll
- Jordan
- Juan de Nova Island

K

- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kingman Reef
- Kiribati
- Korea, North
- Korea, South
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan

L

- Laos
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg

M

- Macau
- Macedonia
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mali
- Malta
- Man, Isle of
- Marshall Islands
- Martinique
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mayotte
- Mexico
- Micronesia, Federated States of
- Midway Islands
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montserrat
- Morocco
- Mozambique

N

- Namibia
- Nauru
- Navassa Island
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- Netherlands Antilles
- New Caledonia
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Niue
- Norfolk Island
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Norway

O

- Oman

P

- Pacific Ocean
- Pakistan
- Palau
- Palmyra Atoll
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paracel Islands
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Pitcairn Islands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Puerto Rico

Q

- Qatar

R

- Reunion
- Romania
- Russia
- Rwanda

S

- Saint Helena
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Serbia and Montenegro
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- Southern Ocean
- Spain
- Spratly Islands
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Svalbard
- Swaziland
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Syria

T

- Taiwan entry follows Zimbabwe
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Togo
- Tokelau
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tromelin Island
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Tuvalu

U

- Uganda
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan

V

- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Virgin Islands

W

- Wake Island
- Wallis and Futuna
- West Bank
- Western Sahara

Y

- Yemen

Z

- Zambia
- Zimbabwe

- Taiwan
- European Union

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World

Introduction

World

Background:

Globally, the 20th century was marked by: (a) two devastating world wars; (b) the Great Depression of the 1930s; (c) the end of vast colonial empires; (d) rapid advances in science and technology, from the first airplane flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina (US) to the landing on the moon; (e) the Cold War between the Western alliance and the Warsaw Pact nations; (f) a sharp rise in living standards in North America, Europe, and Japan; (g) increased concerns about the environment, including loss of forests, shortages of energy and water, the decline in biological diversity, and air pollution; (h) the onset of the AIDS epidemic; and (i) the ultimate emergence of the US as the only world superpower. The planet's population continues to explode: from 1 billion in 1820, to 2 billion in 1930, 3 billion in 1960, 4 billion in 1974, 5 billion in 1988, and 6 billion in 2000. For the 21st century, the continued exponential growth in science and technology raises both hopes (e.g., advances in medicine) and fears (e.g., development of even more lethal weapons of war).

Geography

World

Map references:

Physical Map of the World, Political Map of the World, Standard Time Zones of the World

Area:

total: 510.072 million sq km
land: 148.94 million sq km
water: 361.132 million sq km
note: 70.8% of the world's surface is water, 29.2% is land

Area - comparative:

land area about 16 times the size of the US

Land boundaries:

the land boundaries in the world total 250,472 km (not counting shared boundaries twice); two nations, China and Russia, each border 14 other countries
note: 43 nations and other areas are landlocked, these 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, Macedonia, Malawi, Mali, Moldova, Mongolia, Nepal, Niger, Paraguay, Rwanda, San Marino, Slovakia, Swaziland, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, West Bank, Zambia, Zimbabwe; two of these, Liechtenstein and Uzbekistan, are doubly landlocked

Coastline:

356,000 km
note: 98 nations and other entities are islands that border no other countries, they include: American Samoa, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Ashmore and Cartier Islands, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Baker Island, Barbados, Bassas da India, Bermuda, Bouvet Island, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Christmas Island, Clipperton Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Comoros, Cook Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Cuba, Cyprus, Dominica, Europa Island, Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas), Faroe Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Glorioso Islands, Greenland, Grenada, Guam, Guernsey, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Howland Island, Iceland, Jamaica, Jan Mayen, Japan, Jarvis Island, Jersey, Johnston Atoll, Juan de Nova Island, Kingman Reef, Kiribati, Madagascar, Maldives, Malta, Isle of Man, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritius, Mayotte, Federated States of Micronesia, Midway Islands, Montserrat, Nauru, Navassa Island, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Palmyra Atoll, Paracel Islands, Philippines, Pitcairn Islands, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Spratly Islands, Sri Lanka, Svalbard, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tromelin Island, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Virgin Islands, Wake Island, Wallis and Futuna, Taiwan

Maritime claims:

a variety of situations exist, but in general, most countries make the following claims measured from the mean low-tide baseline as described in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea: territorial sea - 12 nm , contiguous zone - 24 nm , and exclusive economic zone - 200 nm ; additional zones provide for exploitation of continental shelf resources and an exclusive fishing zone; boundary situations with neighboring states prevent many countries from extending their fishing or economic zones to a full 200 nm

Climate:

two large areas of polar climates separated by two rather narrow temperate zones form a wide equatorial band of tropical to subtropical climates

Terrain:

the greatest ocean depth is the Mariana Trench at 10,924 m in the Pacific Ocean

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Bentley Subglacial Trench -2,540 m
note: in the oceanic realm, Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench is the lowest point, lying -10,924 m below the surface of the Pacific Ocean
highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m

Natural resources:

the rapid depletion of nonrenewable mineral resources, the depletion of forest areas and wetlands, the extinction of animal and plant species, and the deterioration in air and water quality (especially in Eastern Europe, the former USSR, and China) pose serious long-term problems that governments and peoples are only beginning to address

Land use:

arable land: 10.73%
permanent crops: 1%
other: 88.27% (2001)

Irrigated land:

2,714,320 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

large areas subject to severe weather (tropical cyclones), natural disasters (earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions)

Environment - current issues:

large areas subject to overpopulation, industrial disasters, pollution (air, water, acid rain, toxic substances), loss of vegetation (overgrazing, deforestation, desertification), loss of wildlife, soil degradation, soil depletion, erosion

Geography - note:

the world is now thought to be about 4.55 billion years old, just about one-third of the 13-billion-year age estimated for the universe

People

World

Population:

6,446,131,400 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 27.8% (male 919,726,623; female 870,468,158)
15-64 years: 64.9% (male 2,117,230,183; female 2,066,864,970)
65 years and over: 7.3% (male 207,903,775; female 263,627,270)
note: some countries do not maintain age structure information, thus a slight discrepancy exists between the total world population and the total for world age structure (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 27.6 years
male: 27 years
female: 28.2 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.14% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

20.15 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

8.78 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 50.11 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 52.1 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 48.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 64.33 years
male: 62.73 years
female: 66.04 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.6 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Religions:

Christians 32.84% (of which Roman Catholics 17.34%, Protestants 5.78%, Orthodox 3.44%, Anglicans 1.27%), Muslims 19.9%, Hindus 13.29%, Buddhists 5.92%, Sikhs 0.39%, Jews 0.23%, other religions 12.63%, non-religious 12.44%, atheists 2.36% (2003 est.)

Languages:

Chinese, Mandarin 13.69%, Spanish 5.05%, English 4.84%, Hindi 2.82%, Portuguese 2.77%, Bengali 2.68%, Russian 2.27%, Japanese 1.99%, German, Standard 1.49%, Chinese, Wu 1.21% (2004 est.)
note: percents are for "first language" speakers only

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82%
male: 87%
female: 77%
note: over two-thirds of the world's 785 million illiterate adults are found in only eight countries (India, China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Egypt); of all the illiterate adults in the world, two-thirds are women; extremely low literacy rates are concentrated in three regions, South and West Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Arab states, where around one-third of the men and half of all women are illiterate (2005 est.)

Government

World

Administrative divisions:

271 nations, dependent areas, and other entities

Legal system:

all members of the UN are parties to the statute that established the International Court of Justice (ICJ) or World Court

Economy

World

Economy - overview:

Global output rose by 4.9% in 2004, led by China (9.1%), Russia (6.7%), and India (6.2%). The other 14 successor nations of the USSR and the other old Warsaw Pact nations again experienced widely divergent growth rates; the three Baltic nations continued as strong performers, in the 7% range of growth. Growth results posted by the major industrial countries varied from a small gain in Italy (1.3%) to a strong gain by the United States (4.4%). The developing nations also varied in their growth results, with many countries facing population increases that erode gains in output. Externally, the nation-state, as a bedrock economic-political institution, is steadily losing control over international flows of people, goods, funds, and technology. Internally, the central government often finds its control over resources slipping as separatist regional movements - typically based on ethnicity - gain momentum, e.g., in many of the successor states of the former Soviet Union, in the former Yugoslavia, in India, in Iraq, in Indonesia, and in Canada. Externally, the central government is losing decisionmaking powers to international bodies, notably the European Union. In Western Europe, governments face the difficult political problem of channeling resources away from welfare programs in order to increase investment and strengthen incentives to seek employment. The addition of 75 million people each year to an already overcrowded globe is exacerbating the problems of pollution, desertification, underemployment, epidemics, and famine. Because of their own internal problems and priorities, the industrialized countries devote insufficient resources to deal effectively with the poorer areas of the world, which, at least from an economic point of view, are becoming further marginalized. The introduction of the euro as the common currency of much of Western Europe in January 1999, while paving the way for an integrated economic powerhouse, poses economic risks because of varying levels of income and cultural and political differences among the participating nations. The terrorist attacks on the US on 11 September 2001 accentuate a further growing risk to global prosperity, illustrated, for example, by the reallocation of resources away from investment to anti-terrorist programs. The opening of war in March 2003 between a US-led coalition and Iraq added new uncertainties to global economic prospects. After the coalition victory, the complex political difficulties and the high economic cost of establishing domestic order in Iraq became major global problems that continued into 2005.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

GWP (gross world product) - purchasing power parity - $55.5 trillion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $8,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 4%
industry: 32%
services: 64% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

NA

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Unemployment rate:

30% combined unemployment and underemployment in many non-industrialized countries; developed countries typically 4%-12% unemployment

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA %
highest 10%: NA %

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

developed countries 1% to 4% typically; developing countries 5% to 60% typically; national inflation rates vary widely in individual cases, from declining prices in Japan to hyperinflation in several Third World countries (2004 est.)

Industries:

dominated by the onrush of technology, especially in computers, robotics, telecommunications, and medicines and medical equipment; most of these advances take place in OECD nations; only a small portion of non-OECD countries have succeeded in rapidly adjusting to these technological forces; the accelerated development of new industrial (and agricultural) technology is complicating already grim environmental problems

Industrial production growth rate:

3% (2003 est.)

Electricity - production:

15.29 trillion kWh (2002 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: NA
hydro: NA
nuclear: NA
other: NA (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

14.28 trillion kWh (2002 est.)

Electricity - exports:

500.8 billion kWh (2002 est.)

Electricity - imports:

497.6 billion kWh (2002 est.)

Oil - production:

76.01 million bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

77.04 million bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

1.025 trillion bbl (1 January 2002 est.)

Natural gas - production:

2.637 trillion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

2.599 trillion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

693.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

718.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

161.2 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)

Exports:

$8.819 trillion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities:

the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and services

Exports - partners:

US 15.7%, Germany 7.7%, China 5.4%, France 5.1%, UK 5.1%, Japan 4.5% (2004)

Imports:

$8.754 trillion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities:

the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and services

Imports - partners:

Germany 9.4%, US 9.3%, China 8.5%, Japan 6.5%, France 4.5% (2004)

Debt - external:

$12.7 trillion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$154 billion official development assistance (ODA) (2004)

Communications

World

Telephones - main lines in use:

843,923,500 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

NA

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: NA

Radio broadcast stations:

AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA

Radios:

NA

Television broadcast stations:

NA

Televisions:

NA

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

10,350 (2000 est.)

Internet users:

604,111,719 (2002 est.)

Transportation

World

Railways:

total: 1,115,205 km
broad gauge: 257,481 km
standard gauge: 671,413 km
narrow gauge: 186,311 km (2003)

Highways:

total: 32,345,165 km
paved: 19,403,061 km
unpaved: 12,942,104 km (2002)

Waterways:

671,886 km (2004)

Merchant marine:

total ships: 30,936 (2005)

Airports:

49,973 (2004)

Military

World

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

aggregate real expenditure on arms worldwide in 1999 remained at approximately the 1998 level, about three-quarters of a trillion dollars (1999 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

roughly 2% of gross world product (1999 est.)

Transnational Issues

World

Disputes - international:

stretching over 250,000 km, the world's 325 international land boundaries separate the 192 independent states and 73 dependencies, areas of special sovereignty, and other miscellaneous entities; ethnicity, culture, race, religion, and language have divided states into separate political entities as much as history, physical terrain, political fiat, or conquest, resulting in sometimes arbitrary and imposed boundaries; maritime states have claimed limits and have so far established over 130 maritime boundaries and joint development zones to allocate ocean resources and to provide for national security at sea; boundary, borderland/resource, and territorial disputes vary in intensity from managed or dormant to violent or militarized; most disputes over the alignment of political boundaries are confined to short segments and are today less common and less hostile than borderland, resource, and territorial disputes; undemarcated, indefinite, porous, and unmanaged boundaries, however, encourage illegal cross-border activities, uncontrolled migration, and confrontation; territorial disputes may evolve from historical and/or cultural claims, or they may be brought on by resource competition; ethnic clashes continue to be responsible for much of the territorial fragmentation around the world; disputes over islands at sea or in rivers frequently form the source of territorial and boundary conflict; other sources of contention include access to water and mineral (especially petroleum) resources, fisheries, and arable land; nonetheless, most nations cooperate to clarify their international boundaries and to resolve territorial and resource disputes peacefully; regional discord directly affects the sustenance and welfare of local populations, often leaving the world community to cope with resultant refugees, hunger, disease, impoverishment, deforestation, and desertification

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated that in December 2003 there was a global population of 9.7 million refugees and as many as 25 million IDPs

Illicit drugs:

cocaine: worldwide, coca is grown on an estimated 173,450 hectares - almost exclusively in South America with 70% in Colombia; potential cocaine production during 2003 is estimated at 728 metric tons (or 835 metric tons of export quality cocaine); coca eradication programs continue in Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru; 376 metric tons of export quality cocaine are documented to have been seized in 2003, and 26 metric tons disrupted (jettisoned or destroyed); consumption of export quality cocaine is estimated to have been 800 metric tons
opiates: cultivation of opium poppy occurred on an estimated 137,944 hectares in 2003 - mostly in Southwest and Southeast Asia - with 44% in Afghanistan, potentially produced 3,775 metric tons of opium, which conceivably could be converted to the equivalent of 429 metric tons of pure heroin; opium eradication programs have been undertaken in Afghanistan, Burma, Colombia, Mexico, Pakistan, Thailand, and Vietnam

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Atlantic Ocean

Introduction

Atlantic Ocean

Background:

The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, but larger than the Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and Arctic Ocean). The Kiel Canal (Germany), Oresund (Denmark-Sweden), Bosporus (Turkey), Strait of Gibraltar (Morocco-Spain), and the Saint Lawrence Seaway (Canada-US) are important strategic access waterways. The decision by the International Hydrographic Organization in the spring of 2000 to delimit a fifth world ocean, the Southern Ocean, removed the portion of the Atlantic Ocean south of 60 degrees south.

Geography

Atlantic Ocean

Location:

body of water between Africa, Europe, the Southern Ocean, and the Western Hemisphere

Geographic coordinates:

0 00 N, 25 00 W

Map references:

Political Map of the World

Area:

total: 76.762 million sq km
note: includes Baltic Sea, Black Sea, Caribbean Sea, Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, part of the Drake Passage, Gulf of Mexico, Labrador Sea, Mediterranean Sea, North Sea, Norwegian Sea, almost all of the Scotia Sea, and other tributary water bodies

Area - comparative:

slightly less than 6.5 times the size of the US

Coastline:

111,866 km

Climate:

tropical cyclones (hurricanes) develop off the coast of Africa near Cape Verde and move westward into the Caribbean Sea; hurricanes can occur from May to December, but are most frequent from August to November

Terrain:

surface usually covered with sea ice in Labrador Sea, Denmark Strait, and coastal portions of the Baltic Sea from October to June; clockwise warm-water gyre (broad, circular system of currents) in the northern Atlantic, counterclockwise warm-water gyre in the southern Atlantic; the ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, a rugged north-south centerline for the entire Atlantic basin

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Milwaukee Deep in the Puerto Rico Trench -8,605 m
highest point: sea level 0 m

Natural resources:

oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales), sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, precious stones

Natural hazards:

icebergs common in Davis Strait, Denmark Strait, and the northwestern Atlantic Ocean from February to August and have been spotted as far south as Bermuda and the Madeira Islands; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme northern Atlantic from October to May; persistent fog can be a maritime hazard from May to September; hurricanes (May to December)

Environment - current issues:

endangered marine species include the manatee, seals, sea lions, turtles, and whales; drift net fishing is hastening the decline of fish stocks and contributing to international disputes; municipal sludge pollution off eastern US, southern Brazil, and eastern Argentina; oil pollution in Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, Lake Maracaibo, Mediterranean Sea, and North Sea; industrial waste and municipal sewage pollution in Baltic Sea, North Sea, and Mediterranean Sea

Geography - note:

major chokepoints include the Dardanelles, Strait of Gibraltar, access to the Panama and Suez Canals; strategic straits include the Strait of Dover, Straits of Florida, Mona Passage, The Sound (Oresund), and Windward Passage; the Equator divides the Atlantic Ocean into the North Atlantic Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean

Economy

Atlantic Ocean

Economy - overview:

The Atlantic Ocean provides some of the world's most heavily trafficked sea routes, between and within the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. Other economic activity includes the exploitation of natural resources, e.g., fishing, dredging of aragonite sands (The Bahamas), and production of crude oil and natural gas (Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and North Sea).

Transportation

Atlantic Ocean

Ports and harbors:

Alexandria (Egypt), Algiers (Algeria), Antwerp (Belgium), Barcelona (Spain), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Casablanca (Morocco), Colon (Panama), Copenhagen (Denmark), Dakar (Senegal), Gdansk (Poland), Hamburg (Germany), Helsinki (Finland), Las Palmas (Canary Islands, Spain), Le Havre (France), Lisbon (Portugal), London (UK), Marseille (France), Montevideo (Uruguay), Montreal (Canada), Naples (Italy), New Orleans (US), New York (US), Oran (Algeria), Oslo (Norway), Peiraiefs or Piraeus (Greece), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Saint Petersburg (Russia), Stockholm (Sweden)

Transportation - note:

Kiel Canal and Saint Lawrence Seaway are two important waterways; significant domestic commercial and recreational use of Intracoastal Waterway on central and south Atlantic seaboard and Gulf of Mexico coast of US

Transnational Issues

Atlantic Ocean

Disputes - international:

some maritime disputes (see littoral states)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Pacific Ocean

Introduction

Pacific Ocean

Background:

The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the world's five oceans (followed by the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, and Arctic Ocean). Strategically important access waterways include the La Perouse, Tsugaru, Tsushima, Taiwan, Singapore, and Torres Straits. The decision by the International Hydrographic Organization in the spring of 2000 to delimit a fifth ocean, the Southern Ocean, removed the portion of the Pacific Ocean south of 60 degrees south.

Geography

Pacific Ocean

Location:

body of water between the Southern Ocean, Asia, Australia, and the Western Hemisphere

Geographic coordinates:

0 00 N, 160 00 W

Map references:

Political Map of the World

Area:

total: 155.557 million sq km
note: includes Bali Sea, Bering Sea, Bering Strait, Coral Sea, East China Sea, Gulf of Alaska, Gulf of Tonkin, Philippine Sea, Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, South China Sea, Tasman Sea, and other tributary water bodies

Area - comparative:

about 15 times the size of the US; covers about 28% of the global surface; larger than the total land area of the world

Coastline:

135,663 km

Climate:

planetary air pressure systems and resultant wind patterns exhibit remarkable uniformity in the south and east; trade winds and westerly winds are well-developed patterns, modified by seasonal fluctuations; tropical cyclones (hurricanes) may form south of Mexico from June to October and affect Mexico and Central America; continental influences cause climatic uniformity to be much less pronounced in the eastern and western regions at the same latitude in the North Pacific Ocean; the western Pacific is monsoonal - a rainy season occurs during the summer months, when moisture-laden winds blow from the ocean over the land, and a dry season during the winter months, when dry winds blow from the Asian landmass back to the ocean; tropical cyclones (typhoons) may strike southeast and east Asia from May to December

Terrain:

surface currents in the northern Pacific are dominated by a clockwise, warm-water gyre (broad circular system of currents) and in the southern Pacific by a counterclockwise, cool-water gyre; in the northern Pacific, sea ice forms in the Bering Sea and Sea of Okhotsk in winter; in the southern Pacific, sea ice from Antarctica reaches its northernmost extent in October; the ocean floor in the eastern Pacific is dominated by the East Pacific Rise, while the western Pacific is dissected by deep trenches, including the Mariana Trench, which is the world's deepest

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench -10,924 m
highest point: sea level 0 m

Natural resources:

oil and gas fields, polymetallic nodules, sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, fish

Natural hazards:

surrounded by a zone of violent volcanic and earthquake activity sometimes referred to as the "Pacific Ring of Fire"; subject to tropical cyclones (typhoons) in southeast and east Asia from May to December (most frequent from July to October); tropical cyclones (hurricanes) may form south of Mexico and strike Central America and Mexico from June to October (most common in August and September); cyclical El Nino/La Nina phenomenon occurs in the equatorial Pacific, influencing weather in the Western Hemisphere and the western Pacific; ships subject to superstructure icing in extreme north from October to May; persistent fog in the northern Pacific can be a maritime hazard from June to December

Environment - current issues:

endangered marine species include the dugong, sea lion, sea otter, seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in Philippine Sea and South China Sea

Geography - note:

the major chokepoints are the Bering Strait, Panama Canal, Luzon Strait, and the Singapore Strait; the Equator divides the Pacific Ocean into the North Pacific Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean; dotted with low coral islands and rugged volcanic islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean

Economy

Pacific Ocean

Economy - overview:

The Pacific Ocean is a major contributor to the world economy and particularly to those nations its waters directly touch. It provides low-cost sea transportation between East and West, extensive fishing grounds, offshore oil and gas fields, minerals, and sand and gravel for the construction industry. In 1996, over 60% of the world's fish catch came from the Pacific Ocean. Exploitation of offshore oil and gas reserves is playing an ever-increasing role in the energy supplies of the US, Australia, NZ, China, and Peru. The high cost of recovering offshore oil and gas, combined with the wide swings in world prices for oil since 1985, has led to fluctuations in new drillings.

Transportation

Pacific Ocean

Ports and harbors:

Bangkok (Thailand), Hong Kong (China), Kao-hsiung (Taiwan), Los Angeles (US), Manila (Philippines), Pusan (South Korea), San Francisco (US), Seattle (US), Shanghai (China), Singapore, Sydney (Australia), Vladivostok (Russia), Wellington (NZ), Yokohama (Japan)

Transportation - note:

Inside Passage offers protected waters from southeast Alaska to Puget Sound (Washington state)

Transnational Issues

Pacific Ocean

Disputes - international:

some maritime disputes (see littoral states)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Aruba

Introduction

Aruba

Background:

Discovered and claimed for Spain in 1499, Aruba was acquired by the Dutch in 1636. The island's economy has been dominated by three main industries. A 19th century gold rush was followed by prosperity brought on by the opening in 1924 of an oil refinery. The last decades of the 20th century saw a boom in the tourism industry. Aruba seceded from the Netherlands Antilles in 1986 and became a separate, autonomous member of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Movement toward full independence was halted at Aruba's request in 1990.

Geography

Aruba

Location:

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of Venezuela

Geographic coordinates:

12 30 N, 69 58 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 193 sq km
land: 193 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

68.5 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate:

tropical marine; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:

flat with a few hills; scant vegetation

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Jamanota 188 m

Natural resources:

NEGL; white sandy beaches

Land use:

arable land: 10.53% (including aloe 0.01%)
permanent crops: 0%
other: 89.47% (2001)

Irrigated land:

0.01 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

a flat, riverless island renowned for its white sand beaches; its tropical climate is moderated by constant trade winds from the Atlantic Ocean; the temperature is almost constant at about 27 degrees Celsius (81 degrees Fahrenheit)

People

Aruba

Population:

71,566 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 19.9% (male 7,308/female 6,960)
15-64 years: 68.2% (male 23,736/female 25,068)
65 years and over: 11.9% (male 3,486/female 5,008) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 38 years
male: 36.07 years
female: 39.7 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.47% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

11.26 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.57 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.89 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.71 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.14 years
male: 75.8 years
female: 82.65 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.79 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Aruban(s)
adjective: Aruban; Dutch

Ethnic groups:

mixed white/Caribbean Amerindian 80%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 82%, Protestant 8%, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian, Jewish

Languages:

Dutch (official), Papiamento (a Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English dialect), English (widely spoken), Spanish

Literacy:

definition:
total population: 97%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Aruba

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Aruba

Dependency status:

part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs obtained in 1986 upon separation from the Netherlands Antilles; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Oranjestad

Administrative divisions:

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Independence:

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

National holiday:

Flag Day, 18 March

Constitution:

1 January 1986

Legal system:

based on Dutch civil law system, with some English common law influence

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Fredis REFUNJOL (since 11 May 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Nelson O. ODUBER (since 30 October 2001)
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 28 September 2001 (next to be held by December 2005)
election results: Nelson O. ODUBER elected 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 23 September 2005 (next to be held by NA 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - MEP 43%, AVP 32%, MPA 7%, RED 7%, PDR 6%, OLA 4%, PPA 2%; seats by party - MEP 11, AVP 8, MPA 1, RED 1

Judicial branch:

Common Court of Justice of Aruba (judges are appointed by the monarch)

Political parties and leaders:

Aliansa/Aruban Social Movement or MSA [Robert WEVER]; Aruban Liberal Organization or OLA [Glenbert CROES]; Aruban Patriotic Movement or MPA [Monica ARENDS-KOCK]; Aruban Patriotic Party or PPA [Benny NISBET]; Aruban People's Party or AVP [Mike EMAN]; People's Electoral Movement Party or MEP [Nelson O. ODUBER]; Real Democracy or PDR [Andin BIKKER]; RED [Rudy LAMPE]; Workers Political Platform or PTT [Gregorio WOLFF]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WCL, WToO (associate)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands); note - Mr. Henry Baarh, Minister Plenipotentiary for Aruba at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Aruba; the Consul General to Netherlands Antilles is accredited to Aruba

Flag description:

blue, with two narrow, horizontal, yellow stripes across the lower portion and a red, four-pointed star outlined in white in the upper hoist-side corner

Economy

Aruba

Economy - overview:

Tourism is the mainstay of the small, open Aruban economy, with offshore banking and oil refining and storage also important. The rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities. Construction has boomed, with hotel capacity five times the 1985 level. In addition, the reopening of the country's oil refinery in 1993, a major source of employment and foreign exchange earnings, has further spurred growth. Aruba's small labor force and exceptionally low unemployment rate have led to a large number of unfilled job vacancies, despite sharp rises in wage rates in recent years. Tourist arrivals have declined in the aftermath of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the US. The government now must deal with a budget deficit and a negative trade balance.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.94 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

-1.5% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $28,000 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Labor force:

41,500 (1997 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

most employment is in wholesale and retail trade and repair, followed by hotels and restaurants; oil refining

Unemployment rate:

0.6% (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.2% (2002 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $135.8 million
expenditures: $147 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000)

Agriculture - products:

aloes; livestock; fish

Industries:

tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

807.7 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

751.2 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

6,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$128 million f.o.b. (including oil reexports) (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:

live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery and electrical equipment, transport equipment

Exports - partners:

Netherlands 28.5%, Panama 17.5%, Venezuela 14.7%, Netherlands Antilles 11.2%, Colombia 10.7%, US 10.4% (2004)

Imports:

$841 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

US 55.5%, Netherlands 14.1%, Venezuela 3.3% (2004)

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 (code):

Aruban guilder/florin (AWG)

Currency code:

AWG

Exchange rates:

Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar - 1.79 (2004), 1.79 (2003), 1.79 (2002), 1.79 (2001), 1.79 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Aruba

Telephones - main lines in use:

37,100 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

53,000 (2001)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern fully automatic telecommunications system
domestic: increased competition through privatization; 3 wireless service providers are now licensed
international: country code - 297; 1 submarine cable to Sint Maarten (Netherlands Antilles); extensive interisland microwave radio relay links

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

50,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (1997)

Televisions:

20,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.aw

Internet hosts:

923 (2001)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

NA

Internet users:

24,000 (2002)

Transportation

Aruba

Highways:

total: 800 km
paved: 513 km
unpaved: 287 km
note: most coastal roads are paved, while unpaved roads serve large tracts of the interior (1995)

Ports and harbors:

Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas

Airports:

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Aruba

Military branches:

no regular indigenous military forces; Royal Dutch Navy and Marines, Coast Guard

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Transnational Issues

Aruba

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

transit point for US- and Europe-bound narcotics with some accompanying money-laundering activity

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Antigua and Barbuda

Introduction

Antigua and Barbuda

Background:

The Siboney were the first to inhabit the islands of Antigua and Barbuda in 2400 B.C., but Arawak and Carib Indians populated the islands when Columbus landed on his second voyage in 1493. Early settlements by the Spanish and French were succeeded by the English who formed a colony in 1667. Slavery, established to run the sugar plantations on Antigua, was abolished in 1834. The islands became an independent state within the British Commonwealth of Nations in 1981.

Geography

Antigua and Barbuda

Location:

Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east-southeast of Puerto Rico

Geographic coordinates:

17 03 N, 61 48 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 442.6 sq km (Antigua 280 sq km; Barbuda 161 sq km)
land: 442.6 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Redonda, 1.6 sq km

Area - comparative:

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

153 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:

mostly low-lying limestone and coral islands, with some higher volcanic areas

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Boggy Peak 402 m

Natural resources:

NEGL; pleasant climate fosters tourism

Land use:

arable land: 18.18%
permanent crops: 4.55%
other: 77.27% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA

Natural hazards:

hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October); periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

water management - a major concern because of limited natural fresh water resources - is further hampered by the clearing of trees to increase crop production, causing rainfall to run off quickly

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

Antigua has a deeply indented shoreline with many natural harbors and beaches; Barbuda has a very large western harbor

People

Antigua and Barbuda

Population:

68,722 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 27.9% (male 9,767/female 9,427)
15-64 years: 68% (male 23,466/female 23,250)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 1,085/female 1,727) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 29.67 years
male: 29.19 years
female: 30.15 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.57% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

17.26 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

5.44 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-6.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 19.46 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 23.43 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.9 years
male: 69.53 years
female: 74.38 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.26 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Antiguan(s), Barbudan(s)
adjective: Antiguan, Barbudan

Ethnic groups:

black, British, Portuguese, Lebanese, Syrian

Religions:

Christian, (predominantly Anglican with other Protestant, and some Roman Catholic)

Languages:

English (official), local dialects

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling
total population: 89%
male: 90%
female: 88% (1960 est.)

Government

Antigua and Barbuda

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Antigua and Barbuda

Government type:

constitutional monarchy with UK-style parliament

Capital:

Saint John's (Antigua)

Administrative divisions:

6 parishes and 2 dependencies*; Barbuda*, Redonda*, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mary, Saint Paul, Saint Peter, Saint Philip

Independence:

1 November 1981 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day (National Day), 1 November (1981)

Constitution:

1 November 1981

Legal system:

based on English common law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir James B. CARLISLE (since 10 June 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Winston Baldwin SPENCER (since 24 March 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general chosen by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (17-member body appointed by the governor general) and the House of Representatives (17 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 23 March 2004 (next to be held NA 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - ALP 4, UPP 13

Judicial branch:

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia; one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction)

Political parties and leaders:

Antigua Labor Party or ALP [Lester Bryant BIRD]; Barbuda People's Movement or BPM [Thomas H. FRANK]; United Progressive Party or UPP [Baldwin SPENCER] (a coalition of three opposition parties - United National Democratic Party or UNDP, Antigua Caribbean Liberation Movement or ACLM, and Progressive Labor Movement or PLM)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Antigua Trades and Labor Union or ATLU [William ROBINSON]; People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Hugh MARSHALL]

International organization participation:

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Lionel A. HURST
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 362-5122
FAX: [1] (202) 362-5225
consulate(s) general: Miami

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Antigua and Barbuda (embassy closed 30 June 1994); the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Antigua and Barbuda

Flag description:

red, with an inverted isosceles triangle based on the top edge of the flag; the triangle contains three horizontal bands of black (top), light blue, and white, with a yellow rising sun in the black band

Economy

Antigua and Barbuda

Economy - overview:

Tourism continues to dominate the economy, accounting for more than half of GDP. Weak tourist arrival numbers since early 2000 have slowed the economy, however, and pressed the government into a tight fiscal corner. The dual-island nation's agricultural production is focused on the domestic market and constrained by a limited water supply and a labor shortage stemming from the lure of higher wages in tourism and construction. Manufacturing comprises enclave-type assembly for export with major products being bedding, handicrafts, and electronic components. Prospects for economic growth in the medium term will continue to depend on income growth in the industrialized world, especially in the US, which accounts for slightly more than one-third of tourist arrivals.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$750 million (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $11,000 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3.9%
industry: 19.2%
services: 76.8% (2002)

Labor force:

30,000

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 7%, industry 11%, services 82% (1983)

Unemployment rate:

11% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

0.4% (2000 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $123.7 million
expenditures: $145.9 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000 est.)

Agriculture - products:

cotton, fruits, vegetables, bananas, coconuts, cucumbers, mangoes, sugarcane; livestock

Industries:

tourism, construction, light manufacturing (clothing, alcohol, household appliances)

Industrial production growth rate:

6% (1997 est.)

Electricity - production:

110.8 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

103 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

3,600 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$689 million (2002)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum products 48%, manufactures 23%, machinery and transport equipment 17%, food and live animals 4%, other 8%

Exports - partners:

Poland 47.8%, UK 24.6%, Germany 8.7% (2004)

Imports:

$692 million (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, oil

Imports - partners:

China 19.5%, US 18.7%, Singapore 14.8%, Poland 8.5%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.7% (2004)

Debt - external:

$231 million (1999)

Economic aid - recipient:

$2.3 million (1995)

Currency (code):

East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Currency code:

XCD

Exchange rates:

East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003), 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7 (2000)
note: fixed rate since 1976

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

Antigua and Barbuda

Telephones - main lines in use:

38,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

38,200 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: good automatic telephone system
international: country code - 1-268; 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Saba (Netherlands Antilles) and Guadeloupe

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 4, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

36,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (1997)

Televisions:

31,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ag

Internet hosts:

1,665 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

16 (2000)

Internet users:

10,000 (2002)

Transportation

Antigua and Barbuda

Highways:

total: 250 km (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors:

Saint John's

Merchant marine:

total: 980 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,873,626 GRT/7,683,143 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 33, cargo 630, chemical tanker 9, container 272, liquefied gas 9, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 8, roll on/roll off 17, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 923 (Australia 2, Bangladesh 4, Belgium 4, Colombia 2, Denmark 8, Estonia 2, Germany 849, Iceland 5, Latvia 5, Lebanon 2, Lithuania 1, Netherlands 11, Norway 3, Philippines 1, Russia 1, Slovenia 5, Sweden 1, Switzerland 5, Turkey 4, United Kingdom 1, United States 7) (2005)

Airports:

3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Antigua and Barbuda

Military branches:

Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force: Infantry, Coast Guard (2004)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.); no conscript military service (2001)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Transnational Issues

Antigua and Barbuda

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

considered a minor transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; more significant as an offshore financial center

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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United Arab Emirates

Introduction

United Arab Emirates

Background:

The Trucial States of the Persian Gulf coast granted the UK control of their defense and foreign affairs in 19th century treaties. In 1971, six of these states - Abu Zaby, 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, and Umm al Qaywayn - merged to form the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They were joined in 1972 by Ra's al Khaymah. The UAE's per capita GDP is on par with those of leading West European nations. Its generosity with oil revenues and its moderate foreign policy stance have allowed the UAE to play a vital role in the affairs of the region.

Geography

United Arab Emirates

Location:

Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf, between Oman and Saudi Arabia

Geographic coordinates:

24 00 N, 54 00 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 82,880 sq km
land: 82,880 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Maine

Land boundaries:

total: 867 km
border countries: Oman 410 km, Saudi Arabia 457 km

Coastline:

1,318 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

desert; cooler in eastern mountains

Terrain:

flat, barren coastal plain merging into rolling sand dunes of vast desert wasteland; mountains in east

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Yibir 1,527 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas

Land use:

arable land: 0.6%
permanent crops: 2.25%
other: 97.15% (2001)

Irrigated land:

720 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

frequent sand and dust storms

Environment - current issues:

lack of natural freshwater resources compensated by desalination plants; desertification; beach pollution from oil spills

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

strategic location along southern approaches to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

People

United Arab Emirates

Population:

2,563,212
note: includes an estimated 1,606,079 non-nationals; the 17 December 1995 census presents a total population figure of 2,377,453, and there are estimates of 3.44 million for 2002 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 25.3% (male 331,269; female 317,977)
15-64 years: 71.1% (male 1,115,826; female 707,058)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 66,404; female 24,678) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 27.9 years
male: 35.2 years
female: 22.9 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.54% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

18.78 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

4.26 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.58 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.691 male(s)/female
total population: 1.442 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 14.51 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 17.05 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.24 years
male: 72.73 years
female: 77.87 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.94 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.18% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Emirati(s)
adjective: Emirati

Ethnic groups:

Emirati 19%, other Arab and Iranian 23%, South Asian 50%, other expatriates (includes Westerners and East Asians) 8% (1982)
note: less than 20% are UAE citizens (1982)

Religions:

Muslim 96% (Shi'a 16%), Christian, Hindu, and other 4%

Languages:

Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 77.9%
male: 76.1%
female: 81.7% (2003 est.)

Government

United Arab Emirates

Country name:

conventional long form: United Arab Emirates
conventional short form: none
local long form: Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah
local short form: none
former: Trucial Oman, Trucial States
abbreviation: UAE

Government type:

federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirates

Capital:

Abu Dhabi

Administrative divisions:

7 emirates (imarat, singular - imarah); Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi), 'Ajman, Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah (Sharjah), Dubayy (Dubai), Ra's al Khaymah, Umm al Qaywayn

Independence:

2 December 1971 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 2 December (1971)

Constitution:

2 December 1971 (made permanent in 1996)

Legal system:

federal court system introduced in 1971; applies to all emirates except Dubayy (Dubai) and Ra's al Khaymah, which are not fully integrated into the federal system; all emirates have secular courts to adjudicate criminal, civil, and commercial matters and Islamic courts to review family and religious disputes

Suffrage:

none

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Sheikh KHALIFA bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan (since 3 November 2004), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since 4 November 2004) and Vice President MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 8 October 1990), ruler of Dubayy (Dubai)
head of government: Prime Minister MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum (since 8 October 1990), ruler of Dubayy (Dubai); Deputy Prime Minister SULTAN bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan (since 20 November 1990); Deputy Prime Minister HAMDAN bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan (since 20 October 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
note: there is also a Federal Supreme Council (FSC) composed of the seven emirate rulers; the FSC is the highest constitutional authority in the UAE; establishes general policies and sanctions federal legislation; meets four times a year; Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) and Dubayy (Dubai) rulers have effective veto power
elections: president and vice president elected by the Federal Supreme Council (composed of rulers of the seven emirates) for five-year terms; election last held 3 November 2004 upon the death of the UAE's Founding Father and first President ZAYID bin Sultan Al Nuhayyan (next to be held 2009); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Sheikh KHALIFA bin Zayid Al Nuhayyan elected president by a unanimous vote of the FSC; MAKTUM bin Rashid al-Maktum unanimously reaffirmed vice president

Legislative branch:

unicameral Federal National Council (FNC) or Majlis al-Ittihad al-Watani (40 seats; members appointed by the rulers of the constituent states to serve two-year terms)
elections: none
note: reviews legislation, but cannot change or veto

Judicial branch:

Union Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Asri Said Ahmad al-DHAHIRI
chancery: 3522 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 243-2400
FAX: [1] (202) 243-2432
note: consulates in New York and Houston

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Michele SISON
embassy: Embassies District, Plot 38 Sector W59-02, Street No. 4, Abu Dhabi
mailing address: P. O. Box 4009, Abu Dhabi
telephone: [971] (2) 414-2200
FAX: [971] (2) 414-2469
consulate(s) general: Dubai

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a wider vertical red band on the hoist side

Economy

United Arab Emirates

Economy - overview:

The UAE has an open economy with a high per capita income and a sizable annual trade surplus. Its wealth is based on oil and gas output (about 30% of GDP), and the fortunes of the economy fluctuate with the prices of those commodities. Since the discovery of oil in the UAE more than 30 years ago, the UAE has undergone a profound transformation from an impoverished region of small desert principalities to a modern state with a high standard of living. At present levels of production, oil and gas reserves should last for more than 100 years. The government has increased spending on job creation and infrastructure expansion and is opening up its utilities to greater private sector involvement. In April 2004, the UAE signed a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) with Washington and in November 2004 agreed to undertake negotiations toward a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$63.67 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.7% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $25,200 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 4%
industry: 58.5%
services: 37.5% (2002 est.)

Labor force:

2.36 million
note: 73.9% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 7%, industry 15%, services 78% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

2.4% (2001)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.2% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

20.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $23.68 billion
expenditures: $25.45 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.4 billion (2004 est.)

Public debt:

17.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs, dairy products; fish

Industries:

petroleum, fishing, aluminum, cement, fertilizers, commercial ship repair, petrochemicals, construction materials, some boat building, handicrafts, textiles

Industrial production growth rate:

4% (2000)

Electricity - production:

45.12 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

36.51 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:

2.335 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

310,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:

2.5 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - imports:

0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves:

97.8 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

44.4 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

33.7 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

7.19 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

6.06 trillion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$6.3 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$69.48 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates

Exports - partners:

Japan 24.9%, South Korea 9.9%, India 5.4%, Thailand 5.2% (2004)

Imports:

$45.66 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food

Imports - partners:

China 10%, India 9.8%, Japan 6.8%, Germany 6.5%, UK 6.2%, France 6.1%, US 6% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$18.64 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$5.9 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - donor:

since its founding in 1971, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development has given about $5.2 billion in aid to 56 countries (2004)

Currency (code):

Emirati dirham (AED)

Currency code:

AED

Exchange rates:

Emirati dirhams per US dollar - 3.6725 (2004), 3.6725 (2003), 3.6725 (2002), 3.6725 (2001), 3.6725 (2000)
note: officially pegged to the US dollar since February 2002

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

United Arab Emirates

Telephones - main lines in use:

1,135,800 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2,972,300 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile cellular telephones; key centers are Abu Dhabi and Dubai
domestic: microwave radio relay, fiber optic and coaxial cable
international: country code - 971; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; submarine cables to Qatar, Bahrain, India, and Pakistan; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 13, FM 8, shortwave 2 (2004)

Radios:

820,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

15 (2004)

Televisions:

310,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ae

Internet hosts:

56,283 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

1,110,200 (2003)

Transportation

United Arab Emirates

Highways:

total: 1,088 km
paved: 1,088 km (including 253 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (1999 est.)

Pipelines:

condensate 469 km; gas 2,655 km; liquid petroleum gas 300 km; oil 2,936 km; oil/gas/water 5 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Al Fujayrah, Khawr Fakkan, Mina' Jabal 'Ali, Mina' Rashid, Mina' Saqr, Mina' Zayid, Sharjan

Merchant marine:

total: 56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 578,477 GRT/739,823 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 11, chemical tanker 5, container 6, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 21, roll on/roll off 7
foreign-owned: 14 (Greece 2, Kuwait 6)
registered in other countries: 200 (2005)

Airports:

35 (2004 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: 4
under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 13
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

2 (2004 est.)

Military

United Arab Emirates

Military branches:

Army, Navy (includes Marines and Coast Guard), Air and Air Defense Force, paramilitary forces (includes Federal Police Force)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 653,181
note: includes non-nationals (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 526,671 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 30,706 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$1.6 billion (FY00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3.1% (FY00)

Transnational Issues

United Arab Emirates

Disputes - international:

because the treaties have not been made public, the exact alignment of the boundary with Saudi Arabia is still unknown; boundary agreement was signed and ratified with Oman in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah enclaves, but contents of the agreement and maps showing the alignment have not been published; UAE engage in direct talks and solicit Arab League support to resolve disputes over Iran's occupation of Lesser and Greater Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island

Illicit drugs:

the UAE is a drug transshipment point for traffickers given its proximity to southwest Asian drug producing countries; the UAE's position as a major financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering; anti-money-laundering controls improving

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Afghanistan

Introduction

Afghanistan

Background:

Afghanistan's recent history is a story of war and civil unrest. The Soviet Union invaded in 1979, but was forced to withdraw 10 years later by anti-Communist mujahidin forces. The Communist regime in Kabul collapsed in 1992. Fighting that subsequently erupted among the various mujahidin factions eventually helped to spawn the Taliban, a hardline Pakistani-sponsored movement that fought to end the warlordism and civil war that gripped the country. The Taliban seized Kabul in 1996 and were able to capture most of the country outside of Northern Alliance strongholds primarily in the northeast. Following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks, a US, Allied, and Northern Alliance military action toppled the Taliban for sheltering Osama BIN LADIN. In late 2001, a conference in Bonn, Germany, established a process for political reconstruction that ultimately resulted in the adoption of a new constitution and presidential election in 2004. On 9 October 2004, Hamid KARZAI became the first democratically elected president of Afghanistan. The new Afghan government's next task is to hold National Assembly elections, tentatively scheduled for April 2005.

Geography

Afghanistan

Location:

Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran

Geographic coordinates:

33 00 N, 65 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 647,500 sq km
land: 647,500 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 5,529 km
border countries: China 76 km, Iran 936 km, Pakistan 2,430 km, Tajikistan 1,206 km, Turkmenistan 744 km, Uzbekistan 137 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

arid to semiarid; cold winters and hot summers

Terrain:

mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Amu Darya 258 m
highest point: Nowshak 7,485 m

Natural resources:

natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, chromite, talc, barites, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semiprecious stones

Land use:

arable land: 12.13%
permanent crops: 0.22%
other: 87.65% (2001)

Irrigated land:

23,860 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding; droughts

Environment - current issues:

limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation (much of the remaining forests are being cut down for fuel and building materials); desertification; air and water pollution

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping
signed, but not ratified: Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

landlocked; the Hindu Kush mountains that run northeast to southwest divide the northern provinces from the rest of the country; the highest peaks are in the northern Vakhan (Wakhan Corridor)

People

Afghanistan

Population:

29,928,987 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 44.7% (male 6,842,857/female 6,524,485)
15-64 years: 52.9% (male 8,124,077/female 7,713,603)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 353,193/female 370,772) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 17.56 years
male: 17.55 years
female: 17.57 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

4.77%
note: this rate does not take into consideration the recent war and its continuing impact (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

47.02 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

20.75 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

21.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 163.07 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 167.79 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 158.12 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 42.9 years
male: 42.71 years
female: 43.1 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.75 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.01% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria is a high risk countrywide below 2,000 meters from March through November
animal contact disease: rabies (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Afghan(s)
adjective: Afghan

Ethnic groups:

Pashtun 42%, Tajik 27%, Hazara 9%, Uzbek 9%, Aimak 4%, Turkmen 3%, Baloch 2%, other 4%

Religions:

Sunni Muslim 80%, Shi'a Muslim 19%, other 1%

Languages:

Afghan Persian or Dari (official) 50%, Pashtu (official) 35%, Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages (primarily Balochi and Pashai) 4%, much bilingualism

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 36%
male: 51%
female: 21% (1999 est.)

People - note:

of the estimated 4 million refugees in October 2001, 2.3 million have returned

Government

Afghanistan

Country name:

conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
conventional short form: Afghanistan
local long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Afghanestan
local short form: Afghanestan
former: Republic of Afghanistan

Government type:

Islamic republic

Capital:

Kabul

Administrative divisions:

34 provinces (velayat, singular - velayat); Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamian, Daykondi, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghowr, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabol, Kandahar, Kapisa, Khowst, Konar, Kondoz, Laghman, Lowgar, Nangarhar, Nimruz, Nurestan, Oruzgan, Paktia, Paktika, Panjshir, Parvan, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Takhar, Vardak, and Zabol

Independence:

19 August 1919 (from UK control over Afghan foreign affairs)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 19 August (1919)

Constitution:

new constitution drafted 14 December 2003 - 4 January 2004; signed 16 January 2004

Legal system:

according to the new constitution, no law should be "contrary to Islam"; the state is obliged to create a prosperous and progressive society based on social justice, protection of human dignity, protection of human rights, realization of democracy, and to ensure national unity and equality among all ethnic groups and tribes; the state shall abide by the UN charter, international treaties, international conventions that Afghanistan signed, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Hamid KARZAI (since 7 December 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; former King ZAHIR Shah holds the honorific, "Father of the Country," and presides symbolically over certain occasions, but lacks any governing authority; the honorific is not hereditary
head of government: President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Hamid KARZAI (since 7 December 2004); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
cabinet: 27 ministers; note - under the new constitution, ministers are appointed by the president and approved by the National Assembly
elections: the president and two vice presidents are elected by direct vote for a five-year term; if no candidate receives 50% or more of the vote in the first round of voting, the two candidates with the most votes will participate in a second round; a president can only be elected for two terms; election last held 9 October 2004 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: Hamid KARZAI elected president; percent of vote - Hamid KARZAI 55.4%, Yunus QANOONI 16.3%, Ustad Mohammad MOHAQQEQ 11.6%, Abdul Rashid DOSTAM 10.0%, Abdul Latif PEDRAM 1.4%, Masooda JALAL 1.2%

Legislative branch:

nonfunctioning as of January 2004; government is empowered by the constitution to issue legislation by decree until the new assembly is seated; under the new constitution, the bicameral National Assembly will consist of the Wolesi Jirga or House of People (no more than 249 seats), directly elected for a five-year term, and the Meshrano Jirga or House of Elders (102 seats, one third elected from provincial councils for a four-year term, one third elected from local district councils for a three-year term, and one third presidential appointees for a five-year term; the presidential appointees will include two representatives of Kuchis and two representatives of the disabled; half of the presidential appointees will be women)
note: on rare occasions the government may convene the Loya Jirga on issues of independence, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity; it can amend the provisions of the constitution and prosecute the president; it is made up of members of the National Assembly and chairpersons of the provincial and district councils
elections: scheduled for spring 2005

Judicial branch:

the new constitution establishes a nine-member Stera Mahkama or Supreme Court (its nine justices are appointed for 10-year terms by the president with approval of the Wolesi Jirga) and subordinate High Courts and Appeals Courts; there is also a Minister of Justice; a separate Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission established by the Bonn Agreement is charged with investigating human rights abuses and war crimes

Political parties and leaders:

note - includes only political parties approved by the Ministry of Justice: Afghan Millat [Anwarul Haq AHADI]; De Afghanistan De Solay Ghorzang Gond [Shahnawaz TANAI]; De Afghanistan De Solay Mili Islami Gond [Shah Mahmood Polal ZAI]; Harakat-e-Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad Asif MOHSINEE]; Hezb-e-Aarman-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Iihaj Saraj-u-din ZAFAREE]; Hezb-e-Aazadee Afghanistan [Abdul MALIK]; Hezb-e-Adalat-e-Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad Kabeer MARZBAN]; Hezb-e-Afghanistan-e-Wahid [Mohammad Wasil RAHEEMEE]; Hezb-e-Afghan Watan Islami Gond [leader NA]; Hezb-e-Congra-e-Mili Afghanistan [Latif PEDRAM]; Hezb-e-Falah-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad ZAREEF]; Hezb-e-Libral-e-Aazadee Khwa-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Ajmal SOHAIL]; Hezb-e-Hambastagee Mili Jawanan-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad Jamil KARZAI]; Hezb-e-Hamnbatagee-e-Afghanistan [Abdul Khaleq NEMAT]; Hezb-e-Harakat-e-Mili Wahdat-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad Nadir AATASH]; Hezb-e-Harak-e-Islami Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Ilhaj Said Hssain ANWARY]; Hezb-e-Ifazat Az Uqoq-e-Bashar Wa Inkishaf-e-Afghanistan [Baryalai NASRATEE]; Hezb-e-Istiqlal-e-Afghanistan [Dr. Gh. Farooq NIJZRABEE]; Hezb-e-Jamhoree Khwahan [Sibghatullah SANJAR]; Hezb-e-Kar Wa Tawsiha-e-Afghanistan [Zulfiar OMID]; Hezb-e-Mili Afghanistan [Abdul Rasheed AARYAN]; Hezb-e-Mili Wahdat-e-Aqwam-e-Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad Shah KHOGYANEE]; Hezb-e-Nuhzhat-e-Mili Afghanistan [Ahmad Wali MASOUD]; Hezb-e-Paiwand-e-Mili Afghanistan [Said Mansoor NADIRI]; Hezb-e-Rastakhaiz-e-Islami Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Said ZAHIR]; Hezb-e-Refah-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Mia Gul WASEEQ]; Hezb-e-Risalat-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Noor Aqa ROEEN]; Hezb-e-Sahadat-e-Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad Zubair PAIROZ]; Hezb-e-Sahadat-e-Mili Wa Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad Usman SALIGZADA]; Hezb-e-Sulh-e-Mili Islami Aqwam-e-Afghanistan [Abdul Qahir SHARYATEE]; Hezb-e-Sulh Wa Wahdat-e-Mili Afghanistan [Abdul Qadir IMAMEE]; Hezb-e-Tafahum-e-Wa Democracy Afghanistan [Ahamad SHAHEEN]; Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad Karim KHALILI]; Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Islami Mardum-e-Afghanistan [Ustad Mohammad MOHAQQEQ]; Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Mili Afghanistan [Abdul Rasheed Jalili]; Jamahat-ul-Dahwat ilal Qurhan-wa-Sunat-ul-Afghanistan [Mawlawee Samiullah NAJEEBEE]; Jombesh-e Milli [Abdul Rashid DOSTAM]; Mahaz-e-Mili Islami Afghanistan [Said Ahmad GAILANEE]; Majmah-e-Mili Fahaleen-e-Sulh-e-Afghanistan [Shams ul Haq Noor SHAMS]; Nuhzat-e-Aazadee Wa democracy Afghanistan [Abdul Raqeeb Jawid KUHISTANEE]; Nuhzat-e-Hambastagee Mili Afghanistan [Peer Said Ishaq GAILANEE]; Sazman-e-Islami Afghanistan-e-Jawan [Siad Jawad HUSSAINEE]; Tahreek Wahdat-e-Mili [Sultan Mahmood DHAZI] (30 Sep 2004)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Jamiat-e Islami (Society of Islam) [former President Burhanuddin RABBANI]; Ittihad-e Islami (Islamic Union for the Liberation of Afghanistan), [Abdul Rasul SAYYAF]; there are also small monarchist, communist, and democratic groups

International organization participation:

AsDB, CP, ECO, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO (observer), WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Said Tayeb JAWAD
chancery: 2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] 202-483-6410
FAX: [1] 202-483-6488
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Zalmay KHALILZAD
embassy: The Great Masood Road, Kabul
mailing address: 6180 Kabul Place, Dulles, VA 20189-6180
telephone: [00] (2) 230-0436
FAX: [0093] (2) 230-1364

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of black (hoist), red, and green, with a gold emblem centered on the red band; the emblem features a temple-like structure encircled by a wreath on the left and right and by a bold Islamic inscription above

Economy

Afghanistan

Economy - overview:

Afghanistan's economic outlook has improved significantly since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001 because of the infusion of over $2 billion in international assistance, recovery of the agricultural sector, and the reestablishment of market institutions. Agriculture boomed in 2003 with the end of a four-year drought, but drought conditions returned for the southern half of the country in 2004. Despite the progress of the past few years, Afghanistan remains extremely poor, landlocked, and highly dependent on foreign aid, farming, and trade with neighboring countries. It will probably take the remainder of the decade and continuing donor aid and attention to raise Afghanistan's living standards up from its current status among the lowest in the world. Much of the population continues to suffer from shortages of housing, clean water, electricity, medical care, and jobs, but the Afghan government and international donors remain committed to improving access to these basic necessities by prioritizing infrastructure development, education, housing development, jobs programs, and economic reform over the next year. Growing political stability and continued international commitment to Afghan reconstruction create an optimistic outlook for maintaining improvements in the Afghan economy in 2005. Expanding poppy cultivation and a growing opium trade may account for one-third of GDP and looms as one of Kabul's most serious policy challenges.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$21.5 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $800 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 60%
industry: 20%
services: 20% (1990 est.)

Labor force:

11.8 million (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 80%, industry 10%, services 10% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

NA

Population below poverty line:

53% (2003)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

10.3% (2003)

Budget:

revenues: $300 million
expenditures: $609 million, including capital expenditures of NA (FY04-05 budget)

Agriculture - products:

opium, wheat, fruits, nuts, wool, mutton, sheepskins, lambskins

Industries:

small-scale production of textiles, soap, furniture, shoes, fertilizer, cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, coal, copper

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

540 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 36.3%
hydro: 63.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

652.2 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

150 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

3,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

220 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

220 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

49.98 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Exports:

$446 million (not including illicit exports or reexports) (FY03-04)

Exports - commodities:

opium, fruits and nuts, handwoven carpets, wool, cotton, hides and pelts, precious and semi-precious gems

Exports - partners:

Pakistan 24%, India 21.3%, US 12.4%, Germany 5.5% (2004)

Imports:

$3.759 billion (FY03-04)

Imports - commodities:

capital goods, food, textiles, petroleum products

Imports - partners:

Pakistan 25.5%, US 8.7%, India 8.5%, Germany 6.5%, Turkmenistan 5.3%, Kenya 4.7%, South Korea 4.2%, Russia 4.2% (2004)

Debt - external:

$8 billion in bilateral debt, mostly to Russia; Afghanistan has $500 million in debt to Multilateral Development Banks (2004)

Economic aid - recipient:

international pledges made by more than 60 countries and international financial institutions at the Berlin Donors Conference for Afghan reconstruction in March 2004 reached $8.9 billion for 2004-09

Currency (code):

afghani (AFA)

Currency code:

AFA

Exchange rates:

afghanis per US dollar - 3,000 (2004), 3,000 (2003), 3,000 (2002), 3,000 (2001), 3,000 (2000)
note: in 2002, the afghani was revalued and the currency stabilized at about 50 afghanis to the dollar; before 2002, the market rate varied widely from the official rate

Fiscal year:

21 March - 20 March

Communications

Afghanistan

Telephones - main lines in use:

33,100 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

15,000 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: very limited telephone and telegraph service
domestic: telephone service improving with the establishment of two mobile phone operators by 2003; telephone main lines remain weak with only 0.1 line per 10 people
international: country code - 93; five VSAT's installed in Kabul, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Kandahar, and Jalalabad provide international and domestic voice and data connectivity

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 21, FM 23, shortwave 1 (broadcasts in Pashtu, Afghan Persian (Dari), Urdu, and English) (2003)

Radios:

167,000 (1999)

Television broadcast stations:

at least 10 (one government-run central television station in Kabul and regional stations in nine of the 32 provinces; the regional stations operate on a reduced schedule; also, in 1997, there was a station in Mazar-e Sharif reaching four northern Afghanistan provinces) (1998)

Televisions:

100,000 (1999)

Internet country code:

.af

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

1,000 (2002)

Communications - note:

in March 2003 'af' was established as Afghanistan's domain name; Internet access is growing through Internet cafes as well as public "telekiosks" in Kabul that are part of a nationwide network proposed by the Transitional Authority for Internet access (2002)

Transportation

Afghanistan

Highways:

total: 21,000 km
paved: 2,793 km
unpaved: 18,207 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

1,200 km
note: chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up to 500 DWT (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 387 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Kheyrabad, Shir Khan

Airports:

47 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 10
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 37
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

5 (2004 est.)

Military

Afghanistan

Military branches:

Afghan National Army (includes Afghan Air Force), Afghan Militia Force (AMF) (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

22 years of age; inductees are contracted into service for a 4-year term (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 22-49: 4,952,812 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 22-49: 2,662,946 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 275,362 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$188.4 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.6% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Afghanistan

Disputes - international:

the UN has been able to repatriate over two million Afghan refugees but several million more continue to reside in Iran and Pakistan in camps and elsewhere, many at their own choosing; Coalition and Pakistani forces continue to patrol remote tribal areas to control the borders and stem organized terrorist and other illegal cross-border activities; regular meetings between Pakistani and Coalition allies aim to resolve periodic claims of boundary encroachments; occasional conflicts over water-sharing arrangements with Amu Darya and Helmand River states

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 167,000 - 200,000 (mostly Pashtuns and Kuchis displaced in south and west due to drought and instability) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

world's largest producer of opium; cultivation of opium poppy reached unprecedented level of 206,700 hectares in 2004; counterdrug efforts largely unsuccessful; potential opium production of 4,950 metric tons; potential heroin production of 582 metric tons if all opium was processed; source of hashish; many narcotics-processing labs throughout the country; drug trade source of instability and some antigovernment groups profit from the trade; 80-90% of the heroin consumed in Europe comes from Afghan opium; vulnerable to narcotics money laundering through informal financial networks

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Algeria

Introduction

Algeria

Background:

After more than a century of rule by France, Algerians fought through much of the 1950s to achieve independence in 1962. Algeria's primary political party, the National Liberation Front (FLN), has dominated politics ever since. Many Algerians in the subsequent generation were not satisfied, however, and moved to counter the FLN's centrality in Algerian politics. The surprising first round success of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) in the December 1991 balloting spurred the Algerian army to intervene and postpone the second round of elections to prevent what the secular elite feared would be an extremist-led government from assuming power. The army began a crack down on the FIS that spurred FIS supporters to begin attacking government targets. The government later allowed elections featuring pro-government and moderate religious-based parties, but did not appease the activists who progressively widened their attacks. The fighting escalated into an insurgency, which saw intense fighting between 1992-98 and which resulted in over 100,000 deaths - many attributed to indiscriminate massacres of villagers by extremists. The government gained the upper hand by the late-1990s and FIS's armed wing, the Islamic Salvation Army, disbanded in January 2000. However, small numbers of armed militants persist in confronting government forces and conducting ambushes and occasional attacks on villages. The army placed Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA in the presidency in 1999 in a fraudulent election but claimed neutrality in his 2004 landslide reelection victory. Longstanding problems continue to face BOUTEFLIKA in his second term, including the ethnic minority Berbers' ongoing autonomy campaign, large-scale unemployment, a shortage of housing, unreliable electrical and water supplies, government inefficiencies and corruption, and the continuing - although significantly degraded - activities of extremist militants. Algeria must also diversify its petroleum-based economy, which has yielded a large cash reserve but which has not been used to redress Algeria's many social and infrastructure problems. Algeria assumed a two-year seat on the UN Security Council in January 2004.

Geography

Algeria

Location:

Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Morocco and Tunisia

Geographic coordinates:

28 00 N, 3 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 2,381,740 sq km
land: 2,381,740 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 6,343 km
border countries: Libya 982 km, Mali 1,376 km, Mauritania 463 km, Morocco 1,559 km, Niger 956 km, Tunisia 965 km, Western Sahara 42 km

Coastline:

998 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 32-52 nm

Climate:

arid to semiarid; mild, wet winters with hot, dry summers along coast; drier with cold winters and hot summers on high plateau; sirocco is a hot, dust/sand-laden wind especially common in summer

Terrain:

mostly high plateau and desert; some mountains; narrow, discontinuous coastal plain

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Chott Melrhir -40 m
highest point: Tahat 3,003 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, uranium, lead, zinc

Land use:

arable land: 3.22%
permanent crops: 0.25%
other: 96.53% (2001)

Irrigated land:

5,600 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

mountainous areas subject to severe earthquakes; mudslides and floods in rainy season

Environment - current issues:

soil erosion from overgrazing and other poor farming practices; desertification; dumping of raw sewage, petroleum refining wastes, and other industrial effluents is leading to the pollution of rivers and coastal waters; Mediterranean Sea, in particular, becoming polluted from oil wastes, soil erosion, and fertilizer runoff; inadequate supplies of potable water

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

second-largest country in Africa (after Sudan)

People

Algeria

Population:

32,531,853 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 29% (male 4,811,086/female 4,626,271)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 10,861,862/female 10,701,459)
65 years and over: 4.7% (male 719,460/female 811,715) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 24.36 years
male: 24.18 years
female: 24.53 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.22% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

17.13 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

4.6 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 31 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 34.83 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 26.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73 years
male: 71.45 years
female: 74.63 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.92 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% ; note - no country specific models provided (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

9,100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 500 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: cutaneous leishmaniasis is a high risk in some locations (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Algerian(s)
adjective: Algerian

Ethnic groups:

Arab-Berber 99%, European less than 1%
note: almost all Algerians are Berber in origin, not Arab; the minority who identify themselves as Berber live mostly in the mountainous region of Kabylie east of Algiers; the Berbers are also Muslim but identify with their Berber rather than Arab cultural heritage; Berbers have long agitated, sometimes violently, for autonomy; the government is unlikely to grant autonomy but has offered to begin sponsoring teaching Berber language in schools

Religions:

Sunni Muslim (state religion) 99%, Christian and Jewish 1%

Languages:

Arabic (official), French, Berber dialects

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 70%
male: 78.8%
female: 61% (2003 est.)

Government

Algeria

Country name:

conventional long form: People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
conventional short form: Algeria
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Jaza'iriyah ad Dimuqratiyah ash Sha'biyah
local short form: Al Jaza'ir

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Algiers

Administrative divisions:

48 provinces (wilayas, singular - wilaya); Adrar, Ain Defla, Ain Temouchent, Alger, Annaba, Batna, Bechar, Bejaia, Biskra, Blida, Bordj Bou Arreridj, Bouira, Boumerdes, Chlef, Constantine, Djelfa, El Bayadh, El Oued, El Tarf, Ghardaia, Guelma, Illizi, Jijel, Khenchela, Laghouat, Mascara, Medea, Mila, Mostaganem, M'Sila, Naama, Oran, Ouargla, Oum el Bouaghi, Relizane, Saida, Setif, Sidi Bel Abbes, Skikda, Souk Ahras, Tamanghasset, Tebessa, Tiaret, Tindouf, Tipaza, Tissemsilt, Tizi Ouzou, Tlemcen

Independence:

5 July 1962 (from France)

National holiday:

Revolution Day, 1 November (1954)

Constitution:

19 November 1976, effective 22 November 1976; revised 3 November 1988, 23 February 1989, and 28 November 1996

Legal system:

socialist, based on French and Islamic law; judicial review of legislative acts in ad hoc Constitutional Council composed of various public officials, including several Supreme Court justices; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA (since 28 April 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed OUYAHIA (since 9 May 2003)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 8 April 2004 (next to be held NA April 2009); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA reelected president for second term; percent of vote - Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA 85%, Ali BENFLIS 6.4%, Abdellah DJABALLAH 5%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the National People's Assembly or Al-Majlis Ech-Chaabi Al-Watani (389 seats - changed from 380 seats in the 2002 elections; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Council of Nations (Senate) (144 seats; one-third of the members appointed by the president, two-thirds elected by indirect vote; members serve six-year terms; the constitution requires half the council to be renewed every three years)
elections: National People's Assembly - last held 30 May 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); Council of Nations (Senate) - last held 30 December 2003 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: National People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FLN 199, RND 48, Islah 43, MSP 38, PT 21, FNA 8, EnNahda 1, PRA 1, MEN 1, independents 29; Council of Nations - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party NA%

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Court Supreme

Political parties and leaders:

Algerian National Front or FNA [Moussa TOUATI]; Democratic National Rally or RND [Ahmed OUYAHIA, chairman]; Islamic Salvation Front or FIS (outlawed April 1992) [Ali BELHADJ and Dr. Abassi MADANI, Rabeh KEBIR (self-exiled in Germany)]; National Entente Movement or MEN [Ali BOUKHAZNA]; National Liberation Front or FLN [Abdelaziz BELKHADEM, secretary general (also serves as Foreign Minister)]; National Reform Movement or Islah (formerly MRN) [Abdellah DJABALLAH]; National Renewal Party or PRA [Yacine TERKMANE]; Progressive Republican Party [Khadir DRISS]; Rally for Culture and Democracy or RCD [Said SAADI, secretary general]; Renaissance Movement or EnNahda Movement [Fatah RABEI]; Socialist Forces Front or FFS [Hocine Ait AHMED, secretary general (self-exiled in Switzerland)]; Social Liberal Party or PSL [Ahmed KHELIL]; Society of Peace Movement or MSP [Boujerra SOLTANI]; Workers Party or PT [Louisa HANOUN]
note: a law banning political parties based on religion was enacted in March 1997

Political pressure groups and leaders:

The Algerian Human Rights League or LADH or LADDH [Yahia Ali ABDENOUR]; SOS Disparus [Nacera DUTOUR]; Somoud [Ali MERABET]

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BIS, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, OSCE (partner), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Amine KHERBI
chancery: 2137 Wyoming Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-2800
FAX: [1] (202) 667-2174

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Richard W. ERDMAN
embassy: 4 Chemin Cheikh Bachir El-Ibrahimi, Algiers
mailing address: B. P. 408, Alger-Gare, 16030 Algiers
telephone: [213] (21) 691-425/255/186
FAX: [213] (21) 69-39-79

Flag description:

two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and white; a red, five-pointed star within a red crescent centered over the two-color boundary; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam (the state religion)

Economy

Algeria

Economy - overview:

The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the economy, accounting for roughly 60% of budget revenues, 30% of GDP, and over 95% of export earnings. Algeria has the seventh-largest reserves of natural gas in the world and is the second-largest gas exporter; it ranks 14th in oil reserves. Sustained high oil prices in recent years, along with macroeconomic policy reforms supported by the IMF, have helped improve Algeria's financial and macroeconomic indicators. Algeria is running substantial trade surpluses and building up record foreign exchange reserves. Real GDP has risen due to higher oil output and increased government spending. The government's continued efforts to diversify the economy by attracting foreign and domestic investment outside the energy sector, however, has had little success in reducing high unemployment and improving living standards. Structural reform within the economy moves ahead slowly.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$212.3 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.1% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $6,600 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 10.3%
industry: 57.4%
services: 32.3% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

9.91 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 14%, industry 13.4%, construction and public works 10%, trade 14.6%, government 32%, other 16% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:

25.4% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

23% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 26.8% (1995)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

35.3 (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.1% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

26.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $31.47 billion
expenditures: $29.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.8 billion (2004 est.)

Public debt:

37.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, barley, oats, grapes, olives, citrus, fruits; sheep, cattle

Industries:

petroleum, natural gas, light industries, mining, electrical, petrochemical, food processing

Industrial production growth rate:

6% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

25.76 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 99.7%
hydro: 0.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

23.61 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

500 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

150 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

1.2 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

209,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

11.87 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

80.3 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

22.32 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

57.98 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

4.739 trillion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$11.9 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$32.16 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%

Exports - partners:

US 22.6%, Italy 17.2%, France 11.4%, Spain 10.1%, Canada 7.5%, Brazil 6.1%, Belgium 4.6% (2004)

Imports:

$15.25 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods

Imports - partners:

France 30.3%, Italy 8.2%, Germany 6.5%, Spain 5.5%, US 5.2%, China 5.1%, Turkey 4.3% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$43.55 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$21.9 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$122.8 million (2002 est.)

Currency (code):

Algerian dinar (DZD)

Currency code:

DZD

Exchange rates:

Algerian dinars per US dollar - 72.061 (2004), 77.395 (2003), 79.682 (2002), 77.215 (2001), 75.26 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Algeria

Telephones - main lines in use:

2,199,600 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,447,310 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: telephone density in Algeria is very low, not exceeding five telephones per 100 persons; the number of fixed main lines increased in the last few years to a little more than 2,000,000, but only about two-thirds of these have subscribers; much of the infrastructure is outdated and inefficient
domestic: good service in north but sparse in south; domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations (20 additional domestic earth stations are planned)
international: country code - 213; 5 submarine cables; microwave radio relay to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; coaxial cable to Morocco and Tunisia; participant in Medarabtel; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik, and 1 Arabsat (1998)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 25, FM 1, shortwave 8 (1999)

Radios:

7.1 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

46 (plus 216 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

3.1 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.dz

Internet hosts:

897 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

500,000 (2002)

Transportation

Algeria

Railways:

total: 3,973 km
standard gauge: 2,888 km 1.435-m gauge (283 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,085 km 1.055-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 104,000 km
paved: 71,656 km (including 640 km of expressways)
unpaved: 32,344 km (1999)

Pipelines:

condensate 1,344 km; gas 85,946 km; liquid petroleum gas 2,213 km; oil 6,496 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Algiers, Annaba, Arzew, Bejaia, Djendjene, Jijel, Mostaganem, Oran, Skikda

Merchant marine:

total: 56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 837,676 GRT/929,847 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 9, cargo 14, chemical tanker 4, liquefied gas 10, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 6, roll on/roll off 9
foreign-owned: 3 (United Kingdom 3)
registered in other countries: 1 (2005)

Airports:

137 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 52
over 3,047 m: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 85
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 38
under 914 m: 19 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

Algeria

Military branches:

People's National Army (ANP; includes Land Forces), Algerian National Navy (MRA), Air Force (QJJ), Territorial Air Defense Force (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

19-30 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (October 2003)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 19-49: 8,033,049 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 19-49: 6,590,079 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 374,639 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$2.48 billion (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3.2% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Algeria

Disputes - international:

Algeria supports the exiled Sahrawi Polisario Front and rejects Moroccan administration of Western Sahara; Algeria's border with Morocco remains an irritant to bilateral relations, each nation has accused the other of harboring militants and arms smuggling; in an attempt to improve relations after unilaterally imposing a visa requirement on Algerians in the early 1990s, Morocco lifted the requirement in mid-2004 - a gesture not reciprocated by Algeria; Algeria remains concerned about armed bandits operating throughout the Sahel who sometimes destabilize southern Algerian towns; dormant disputes include Libyan claims of about 32,000 sq km still reflected on its maps of southeastern Algeria and the FLN's assertions of a claim to Chirac Pastures in southeastern Morocco

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 165,000 (Western Saharan Sahrawi, mostly living in Algerian-sponsored camps in the southwestern Algerian town of Tindouf)
IDPs: 100,000 - 200,000 (conflict between government forces, Islamic insurgents) (2004)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Azerbaijan

Introduction

Azerbaijan

Background:

Azerbaijan - a nation with a Turkic and majority-Muslim population - regained its independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Despite a 1994 cease-fire, Azerbaijan has yet to resolve its conflict with Armenia over the Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh enclave (largely Armenian populated). Azerbaijan has lost 16% of its territory and must support some 571,000 internally displaced persons as a result of the conflict. Corruption is ubiquitous and the promise of widespread wealth from Azerbaijan's undeveloped petroleum resources remains largely unfulfilled.

Geography

Azerbaijan

Location:

Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range

Geographic coordinates:

40 30 N, 47 30 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 86,600 sq km
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 Azerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Maine

Land boundaries:

total: 2,013 km
border countries: Armenia (with Azerbaijan-proper) 566 km, Armenia (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 221 km, Georgia 322 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-proper) 432 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey 9 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked); note - Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (800 km, est.)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

dry, semiarid steppe

Terrain:

large, flat Kur-Araz Ovaligi (Kura-Araks Lowland) (much of it below sea level) with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag Yaylasi (Karabakh Upland) in west; Baku lies on Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) that juts into Caspian Sea

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, alumina

Land use:

arable land: 19.63%
permanent crops: 2.71%
other: 77.66% (2001)

Irrigated land:

14,550 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

droughts

Environment - current issues:

local scientists consider the Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be the ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severe air, soil, and water pollution; soil pollution results from oil spills, from the use of DDT as a pesticide, and from toxic defoliants used in the production of cotton

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

both the main area of the country and the Naxcivan exclave are landlocked

People

Azerbaijan

Population:

7,911,974 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 26.4% (male 1,063,731/female 1,028,684)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 2,533,762/female 2,665,381)
65 years and over: 7.8% (male 245,758/female 374,658) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 27.53 years
male: 26.09 years
female: 29 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.59% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

20.4 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

9.86 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-4.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 81.74 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 83.58 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 79.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 63.35 years
male: 59.24 years
female: 67.66 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.44 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

1,400 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 100 (2001 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Azerbaijani(s)
adjective: Azerbaijani

Ethnic groups:

Azeri 90.6%, Dagestani 2.2%, Russian 1.8%, Armenian 1.5%, other 3.9% (1999 census)
note: almost all Armenians live in the separatist Nagorno-Karabakh region

Religions:

Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox 2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.)
note: religious affiliation is still nominal in Azerbaijan; percentages for actual practicing adherents are much lower

Languages:

Azerbaijani (Azeri) 89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, other 6% (1995 est.)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.8%
male: 99.5%
female: 98.2% (1999 est.)

Government

Azerbaijan

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Azerbaijan
conventional short form: Azerbaijan
local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi
local short form: none
former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Baku (Baki)

Administrative divisions:

59 rayons (rayonlar; rayon - singular), 11 cities* (saharlar; sahar - singular), 1 autonomous republic** (muxtar respublika)
: rayons: Abseron Rayonu, Agcabadi Rayonu, Agdam Rayonu, Agdas Rayonu, Agstafa Rayonu, Agsu Rayonu, Astara Rayonu, Balakan Rayonu, Barda Rayonu, Beylaqan Rayonu, Bilasuvar Rayonu, Cabrayil Rayonu, Calilabad Rayonu, Daskasan Rayonu, Davaci Rayonu, Fuzuli Rayonu, Gadabay Rayonu, Goranboy Rayonu, Goycay Rayonu, Haciqabul Rayonu, Imisli Rayonu, Ismayilli Rayonu, Kalbacar Rayonu, Kurdamir Rayonu, Lacin Rayonu, Lankaran Rayonu, Lerik Rayonu, Masalli Rayonu, Neftcala Rayonu, Oguz Rayonu, Qabala Rayonu, Qax Rayonu, Qazax Rayonu, Qobustan Rayonu, Quba Rayonu, Qubadli Rayonu, Qusar Rayonu, Saatli Rayonu, Sabirabad Rayonu, Saki Rayonu, Salyan Rayonu, Samaxi Rayonu, Samkir Rayonu, Samux Rayonu, Siyazan Rayonu, Susa Rayonu, Tartar Rayonu, Tovuz Rayonu, Ucar Rayonu, Xacmaz Rayonu, Xanlar Rayonu, Xizi Rayonu, Xocali Rayonu, Xocavand Rayonu, Yardimli Rayonu, Yevlax Rayonu, Zangilan Rayonu, Zaqatala Rayonu, Zardab Rayonu
: cities: Ali Bayramli Sahari, Baki Sahari, Ganca Sahari, Lankaran Sahari, Mingacevir Sahari, Naftalan Sahari, Saki Sahari, Sumqayit Sahari, Susa Sahari, Xankandi Sahari, Yevlax Sahari
: autonomous republic: Naxcivan Muxtar Respublikasi

Independence:

30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Founding of the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan, 28 May (1918)

Constitution:

adopted 12 November 1995

Legal system:

based on civil law system

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Ilham ALIYEV (since 31 October 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister Artur RASIZADE (since 4 November 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Abbas ABBASOV (since 10 November 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote to a five-year term; election last held 15 October 2003 (next to be held October 2008); prime minister and first deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly
election results: Ilham ALIYEV elected president; percent of vote - Ilham ALIYEV 76.8%, Isa GAMBAR 14%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Milli Mejlis (125 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 4 November 2000 (next to be held NA November 2005)
note: 100 members of the current parliament were elected on the basis of single mandate constituencies, while 25 were elected based on proportional balloting; as a result of a 24 August 2002 national referendum on changes to the constitution, all 125 members of the next parliament will be elected from single mandate constituencies
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NAP and allies 108, APF "Reform" 6, CSP 3, PNIA 2, Musavat Party 2, CPA 2, APF "Classic" 1, Compatriot Party 1
note: PNIA, Musavat, and APF "Classic" parties refused to take their seats

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

Azerbaijan Popular Front or APF [Ali KARIMLI, leader of "Reform" faction; Mirmahmud MIRALI-OGLU, leader of "Classic" faction]; Civic Solidarity Party or CSP [Sabir RUSTAMKHANLY]; Civic Union Party [Ayaz MUTALIBOV]; Communist Party of Azerbaijan or CPA [Ramiz AHMADOV]; Compatriot Party [Mais SAFARLI]; Democratic Party for Azerbaijan or DPA [Rasul QULIYEV, chairman]; Justice Party [Ilyas ISMAILOV]; Liberal Party of Azerbaijan [Lala Shovkat HACIYEVA]; Musavat [Isa GAMBAR, chairman]; New Azerbaijan Party or NAP [vacant]; Party for National Independence of Azerbaijan or PNIA [Etibar MAMMADLI, chairman]; Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan or SDP [Araz ALIZADE and Ayaz MUTALIBOV]
note: opposition parties regularly factionalize and form new parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Sadval, Lezgin movement; self-proclaimed Armenian Nagorno-Karabakh Republic; Talysh independence movement; Union of Pro-Azerbaijani Forces (UPAF)

International organization participation:

AsDB, BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Hafiz PASHAYEV
chancery: 2741 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 337-3500
FAX: [1] (202) 337-5911

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Reno L. HARNISH III
embassy: 83 Azadlyg Prospecti, Baku AZ1007
mailing address: American Embassy Baku, Department of State, 7050 Baku Place, Washington, DC 20521-7050
telephone: [9] (9412) 98-03-35, 36, 37
FAX: [9] (9412) 656-671

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), red, and green; a crescent and eight-pointed star in white are centered in red band

Economy

Azerbaijan

Economy - overview:

Azerbaijan's number one export is oil. Azerbaijan's oil production declined through 1997 but has registered an increase every year since. Negotiation of production-sharing arrangements (PSAs) with foreign firms, which have thus far committed $60 billion to long-term oilfield development, should generate the funds needed to spur future industrial development. Oil production under the first of these PSAs, with the Azerbaijan International Operating Company, began in November 1997. Azerbaijan shares all the formidable problems of the former Soviet republics in making the transition from a command to a market economy, but its considerable energy resources brighten its long-term prospects. Baku has only recently begun making progress on economic reform, and old economic ties and structures are slowly being replaced. One obstacle to economic progress is the need for stepped up foreign investment in the non-energy sector. A second obstacle is the continuing conflict with Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Trade with Russia and the other former Soviet republics is declining in importance while trade is building with Turkey and the nations of Europe. Long-term prospects will depend on world oil prices, the location of new pipelines in the region, and Azerbaijan's ability to manage its oil wealth.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$30.01 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

9.8% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $3,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 14.1%
industry: 45.7%
services: 40.2% (2002 est.)

Labor force:

5.09 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture and forestry 41%, industry 7%, services 52% (2001)

Unemployment rate:

1.2% (official rate) (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

49% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 27.8% (1995)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

36 (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.6% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

65.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $2.715 billion
expenditures: $2.801 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

18.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

cotton, grain, rice, grapes, fruit, vegetables, tea, tobacco; cattle, pigs, sheep, goats

Industries:

petroleum and natural gas, petroleum products, oilfield equipment; steel, iron ore, cement; chemicals and petrochemicals; textiles

Industrial production growth rate:

4% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

17.55 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 89.7%
hydro: 10.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

17.37 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

505 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

1.558 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

312,800 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

140,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

589 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

5.72 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

6.72 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

1 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

62.3 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$-2.899 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$3.168 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

oil and gas 90%, machinery, cotton, foodstuffs

Exports - partners:

Italy 26.6%, Czech Republic 11.9%, Germany 8.1%, Indonesia 6.4%, Romania 6.2%, Georgia 6%, Russia 5.3%, Turkey 5.2%, France 4.1% (2004)

Imports:

$3.622 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, oil products, foodstuffs, metals, chemicals

Imports - partners:

Russia 16.1%, UK 12.5%, Turkey 10.5%, Germany 7.8%, Ukraine 5.6%, Netherlands 4.9%, US 4.1%, Italy 4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$875 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.832 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $140 million (2000 est.)

Currency (code):

Azerbaijani manat (AZM)

Currency code:

AZM

Exchange rates:

Azerbaijani manats per US dollar - 4,913.48 (2004), 4,910.73 (2003), 4,860.82 (2002), 4,656.58 (2001), 4,474.15 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Azerbaijan

Telephones - main lines in use:

923,800 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

870,000 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: inadequate; requires considerable expansion and modernization; teledensity of 10 main lines per 100 persons is low (2002)
domestic: the majority of telephones are in Baku and other industrial centers - about 700 villages still without public telephone service; satellite service connects Baku to a modern switch in its exclave of Naxcivan
international: country code - 994; the old Soviet system of cable and microwave is still serviceable; a satellite connection to Turkey enables Baku to reach about 200 additional countries, some of which are directly connected to Baku by satellite providers other than Turkey (1997)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 10, FM 17, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

175,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (1997)

Televisions:

170,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.az

Internet hosts:

586 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

300,000 (2002)

Transportation

Azerbaijan

Railways:

total: 2,957 km
broad gauge: 2,957 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 28,030 km
paved: 25,890 km
unpaved: 2,130 km (2002)

Pipelines:

gas 4,451 km; oil 1,518 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Baku (Baki)

Merchant marine:

total: 81 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 253,004 GRT/318,922 DWT
by type: cargo 26, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 8, petroleum tanker 41, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 2
registered in other countries: 3 (2005)

Airports:

50 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 27
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 23
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 15 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

2 (2004 est.)

Military

Azerbaijan

Military branches:

Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; law passed December 2001 raises maximum conscription age from 28 to 35 (December 2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,961,973 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,314,955 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 82,358 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$121 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.6% (FY99)

Transnational Issues

Azerbaijan

Disputes - international:

Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in Nagorno-Karabakh and since the early 1990s has militarily occupied 16% of Azerbaijan - Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continues to mediate dispute; over 800,000 mostly ethnic Azerbaijanis were driven from the occupied lands and Armenia; about 230,000 ethnic Armenians were driven from their homes in Azerbaijan into Armenia; Azerbaijan seeks transit route through Armenia to connect to Naxcivan exclave; Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ratify Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance, while Iran continues to insist on an even one-fifth allocation and challenges Azerbaijan's hydrocarbon exploration in disputed waters; bilateral talks continue with Turkmenistan on dividing the seabed and contested oilfields in the middle of the Caspian; Azerbaijan and Georgia cannot resolve the alignment of their boundary at certain crossing areas

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 571,000 (conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; small government eradication program; transit point for Southwest Asian opiates bound for Russia and to a lesser extent the rest of Europe

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Albania

Introduction

Albania

Background:

Between 1990 and 1992 Albania ended 46 years of xenophobic Communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven difficult as successive governments have tried to deal with high unemployment, widespread corruption, a dilapidated infrastructure, powerful organized crime networks with links to government officials, and disruptive political opponents. Albania has made incremental progress in its democratic development since first holding multiiparty elections in 1991, but deficiencies remain - particularly in regard to the rule of law. Despite some lingering problems, international observers have judged elections to be largely free and fair since the restoration of political stability following the collapse of pyramid schemes in 1997. In the 2005 general elections, the Democratic Party and its allies won a decisive victory on pledges of reducing crime and corruption, promoting economic growth, and decreasing the size of government. Although Albania's economy continues to grow, the country is still one of the poorest in Europe, hampered by a large informal economy, large public debt, and an inadequate energy and tranportation infrastructure. Albania has played a largely helpful role in managing inter-ethnic tensions in southeastern Europe, and is continuing to work toward joining NATO and the EU.

Geography

Albania

Location:

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece and Serbia and Montenegro

Geographic coordinates:

41 00 N, 20 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 28,748 sq km
land: 27,398 sq km
water: 1,350 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries:

total: 720 km
border countries: Greece 282 km, Macedonia 151 km, Serbia and Montenegro 287 km

Coastline:

362 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter

Terrain:

mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,764 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 21.09%
permanent crops: 4.42%
other: 74.49% (2001)

Irrigated land:

3,400 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast; floods; drought

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)

People

Albania

Population:

3,563,112 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 25.6% (male 476,989/female 434,298)
15-64 years: 65.8% (male 1,199,964/female 1,144,886)
65 years and over: 8.6% (male 141,559/female 165,416) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 28.52 years
male: 27.95 years
female: 29.1 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.52% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

15.08 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

5.12 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-4.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 21.52 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 21.96 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.24 years
male: 74.6 years
female: 80.15 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.04 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Albanian(s)
adjective: Albanian

Ethnic groups:

Albanian 95%, Greek 3%, other 2% (Vlach, Roma (Gypsy), Serb, Macedonian, Bulgarian) (1989 est.)
note: in 1989, other estimates of the Greek population ranged from 1% (official Albanian statistics) to 12% (from a Greek organization)

Religions:

Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10%
note: percentages are estimates; there are no available current statistics on religious affiliation; all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice

Languages:

Albanian (official - derived from Tosk dialect), Greek, Vlach, Romani, Slavic dialects

Literacy:

definition: age 9 and over can read and write
total population: 86.5%
male: 93.3%
female: 79.5% (2003 est.)

Government

Albania

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Albania
conventional short form: Albania
local long form: Republika e Shqiperise
local short form: Shqiperia
former: People's Socialist Republic of Albania

Government type:

emerging democracy

Capital:

Tirana

Administrative divisions:

12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Qarku i Beratit, Qarku i Dibres, Qarku i Durresit, Qarku i Elbasanit, Qarku i Fierit, Qarku i Gjirokastres, Qarku i Korces, Qarku i Kukesit, Qarku i Lezhes, Qarku i Shkodres, Qarku i Tiranes, Qarku i Vlores

Independence:

28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 28 November (1912)

Constitution:

adopted by popular referendum on 28 November 1998

Legal system:

has a civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; has accepted jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court for its citizens

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President of the Republic Alfred MOISIU (since 24 July 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Sali BERISHA (since 10 September 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, nominated by the president, and approved by parliament
elections: president elected by the People's Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 24 June 2002 (next to be held June 2007); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Alfred MOISIU elected president; People's Assembly vote by number - total votes 116, for 97, against 19

Legislative branch:

unicameral People's Assembly or Kuvendi Popullor (140 seats; 100 are elected by direct popular vote and 40 by proportional vote for four-year terms)
elections: last held 4 July 2005 (next to be held July 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PD 55, PS 40, PR 11, PSD 7, LSI 5, other 22

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court, Supreme Court (chairman is elected by the People's Assembly for a four-year term), and multiple appeals and district courts

Political parties and leaders:

Agrarian Environmentalist Party or PAA [Lufter XHUVELI]; Christian Democratic Party or PDK [Nikolle LESI]; Communist Party of Albania or PKSH [Hysni MILLOSHI]; Democratic Alliance Party or PAD [Neritan CEKA]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Legality Movement Party or PLL [Ekrem SPAHIU]; Liberal Union Party or PBL [Arjan STAROVA]; National Front Party (Balli Kombetar) or PBK [Adriatik ALIMADHI]; New Democratic Party or PDR [Genc POLLO]; Party of National Unity or PUK [Idajet BEQIRI]; Renewed Democratic Party or PDR [Dashamir SHEHI]; Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Social Democracy Party or PDS [Paskal MILO]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Skender GJINUSHI]; Socialist Movement for Integration or LSI [Ilir META]; Socialist Party or PS (formerly the Albanian Party of Labor) [Fatos NANO]; Union for Human Rights Party or PBDNJ [Vangjel DULE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania or KSSH [Kastriot MUCO]; Front for Albanian National Unification or FBKSH [Gafur ADILI]; Omonia [Jani JANI]; Union of Independent Trade Unions of Albania or BSPSH [Gezim KALAJA]

International organization participation:

ACCT, BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Agim NESHO
chancery: 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942
FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Marcie B. RIES
embassy: Rruga Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana
mailing address: U. S. Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Dulles, VA 20189-9510
telephone: [355] (4) 247285
FAX: [355] (4) 374957 and [355] (4) 232222

Flag description:

red with a black two-headed eagle in the center

Economy

Albania

Economy - overview:

Poor and backward by European standards, Albania is making the difficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. The government has taken measures to curb violent crime and to spur economic activity and trade. The economy is bolstered by annual remittances from abroad of $600-$800 million, mostly from Greece and Italy; this helps offset the towering trade deficit. Agriculture, which accounts for about one-half of GDP, is held back because of frequent drought and the need to modernize equipment, to clarify property rights, and to consolidate small plots of land. Energy shortages and antiquated and inadequate infrastructure make it difficult to attract and sustain foreign investment. The planned construction of a new thermal power plant near Vlore and improved transmission and distribution facilities will help relieve the energy shortages. Also, the government is moving slowly to improve the poor national road and rail network, a long-standing barrier to sustained economic growth. On the positive side: growth was strong in 2003 and 2004, the nation has important oil and gas reserves, and inflation is not a problem.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$17.46 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $4,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 46.2%
industry: 25.4%
services: 28.4% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

1.09 million (not including 352,000 emigrant workers) (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 57%, non-agricultural private sector 20%, public sector 23% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

14.8% officially; may be as high as 30% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:

25% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.2% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

18.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $2.05 billion
expenditures: $2.46 billion, including capital expenditures of $500 million (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, sugar beets, grapes; meat, dairy products

Industries:

food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower

Industrial production growth rate:

3.1% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

5.68 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 2.9%
hydro: 97.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

6.76 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:

100 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

1.08 billion kWh (2004 est.)

Oil - production:

2,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

7,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - imports:

5,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

185.5 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

30 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

30 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

3.316 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$-504 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$552.4 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crude oil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco

Exports - partners:

Italy 71.7%, Canada 4.3%, Germany 4.3% (2004)

Imports:

$2.076 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals

Imports - partners:

Italy 34.8%, Greece 19.8%, Turkey 7.7%, Germany 5.3% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.206 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.41 billion (2003)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA: $315 million (top donors were Italy, EU, Germany) (2000 est.)

Currency (code):

lek (ALL)

Currency code:

ALL

Exchange rates:

leke per US dollar - 102.649 (2004), 121.863 (2003), 140.155 (2002), 143.485 (2001), 143.709 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Albania

Telephones - main lines in use:

255,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.1 million (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: despite new investment in fixed lines, the density of main lines remains the lowest in Europe with roughly 8 lines per 100 people; however, cellular telephone use is widespread and generally effective
domestic: offsetting the shortage of fixed line capacity, mobile phone service has been available since 1996; by 2003 two companies were providing mobile services at a greater density than some of Albania's Balkan neighbors
international: country code - 355; inadequate fixed main lines; adequate cellular connections; international traffic carried by microwave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece (2003)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 13, FM 4, shortwave 2 (2001)

Radios:

1 million (2001)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (plus 58 repeaters) (2001)

Televisions:

700,000 (2001)

Internet country code:

.al

Internet hosts:

455 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

10 (2001)

Internet users:

30,000 (2003)

Transportation

Albania

Railways:

total: 447 km
standard gauge: 447 km 1.435-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 18,000 km
paved: 5,400 km
unpaved: 12,600 km (2002)

Waterways:

43 km (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 339 km; oil 207 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore

Merchant marine:

total: 25 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 40,878 GRT/62,676 DWT
by type: cargo 24, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 2 (Denmark 1, Turkey 1)
registered in other countries: 1 (2005)

Airports:

11 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 8
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

Albania

Military branches:

General Staff Headquarters, Land Forces Command (Army), Naval Forces Command, Air Defense Command, Logistics Command, Training and Doctrine Command

Military service age and obligation:

19 years of age (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 19-49: 809,524 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 19-49: 668,526 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 37,407 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$56.5 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.49% (FY02)

Transnational Issues

Albania

Disputes - international:

the Albanian Government calls for the protection of the rights of ethnic Albanians in neighboring countries, and the peaceful resolution of interethnic disputes; some ethnic Albanian groups in neighboring countries advocate for a "greater Albania," but the idea has little appeal among Albanian nationals; thousands of unemployed Albanians emigrate annually to nearby Italy and other developed countries

Illicit drugs:

increasingly active transshipment point for Southwest Asian opiates, hashish, and cannabis transiting the Balkan route and - to a far lesser extent - cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; limited opium and growing cannabis production; ethnic Albanian narcotrafficking organizations active and expanding in Europe; vulnerable to money laundering associated with regional trafficking in narcotics, arms, contraband, and illegal aliens

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Armenia

Introduction

Armenia

Background:

Armenia prides itself on being the first nation to formally adopt Christianity (early 4th century). Despite periods of autonomy, over the centuries Armenia came under the sway of various empires including the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, and Ottoman. It was incorporated into Russia in 1828 and the USSR in 1920. Armenian leaders remain preoccupied by the long conflict with Muslim Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh, a primarily Armenian-populated region, assigned to Soviet Azerbaijan in the 1920s by Moscow. Armenia and Azerbaijan began fighting over the area in 1988; the struggle escalated after both countries attained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. By May 1994, when a cease-fire took hold, Armenian forces held not only Nagorno-Karabakh but also a significant portion of Azerbaijan proper. The economies of both sides have been hurt by their inability to make substantial progress toward a peaceful resolution. Turkey imposed an economic blockade on Armenia and closed the common border because of the Armenian occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding areas.

Geography

Armenia

Location:

Southwestern Asia, east of Turkey

Geographic coordinates:

40 00 N, 45 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 29,800 sq km
land: 28,400 sq km
water: 1,400 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries:

total: 1,254 km
border countries: Azerbaijan-proper 566 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 221 km, Georgia 164 km, Iran 35 km, Turkey 268 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

highland continental, hot summers, cold winters

Terrain:

Armenian Highland with mountains; little forest land; fast flowing rivers; good soil in Aras River valley

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Debed River 400 m
highest point: Aragats Lerrnagagat' 4,090 m

Natural resources:

small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, alumina

Land use:

arable land: 17.55%
permanent crops: 2.3%
other: 80.15% (2001)

Irrigated land:

2,870 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts

Environment - current issues:

soil pollution from toxic chemicals such as DDT; the energy crisis of the 1990s led to deforestation when citizens scavenged for firewood; pollution of Hrazdan (Razdan) and Aras Rivers; the draining of Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan), a result of its use as a source for hydropower, threatens drinking water supplies; restart of Metsamor nuclear power plant in spite of its location in a seismically active zone

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geography - note:

landlocked in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains; Sevana Lich (Lake Sevan) is the largest lake in this mountain range

People

Armenia

Population:

2,982,904 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 21.6% (male 339,453/female 305,214)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 938,734/female 1,074,240)
65 years and over: 10.9% (male 131,519/female 193,744) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 30.07 years
male: 27.45 years
female: 32.84 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.25% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

11.76 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

8.16 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-6.1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.17 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.87 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 23.28 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 28.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.55 years
male: 67.97 years
female: 75.75 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.32 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

2,600 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Armenian(s)
adjective: Armenian

Ethnic groups:

Armenian 97.9%, Yezidi (Kurd) 1.3%, Russian 0.5%, other 0.3% (2001 census)

Religions:

Armenian Apostolic 94.7%, other Christian 4%, Yezidi (monotheist with elements of nature worship) 1.3%

Languages:

Armenian 97.7%, Yezidi 1%, Russian 0.9%, other 0.4% (2001 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.6%
male: 99.4%
female: 98% (2003 est.)

Government

Armenia

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Armenia
conventional short form: Armenia
local long form: Hayastani Hanrapetut'yun
local short form: Hayastan
former: Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic; Armenian Republic

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Yerevan

Administrative divisions:

11 provinces (marzer, singular - marz); Aragatsotn, Ararat, Armavir, Geghark'unik', Kotayk', Lorri, Shirak, Syunik', Tavush, Vayots' Dzor, Yerevan

Independence:

21 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 21 September (1991)

Constitution:

adopted by nationwide referendum 5 July 1995

Legal system:

based on civil law system

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Robert KOCHARIAN (since 30 March 1998)
head of government: Prime Minister Andranik MARGARYAN (since 12 May 2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 19 February and 5 March 2003 (next to be held NA 2008); prime minister appointed by the president; the prime minister and Council of Ministers must resign if the National Assembly refuses to accept their program
election results: Robert KOCHARIAN reelected president; percent of vote - Robert KOCHARIAN 67.5%, Stepan DEMIRCHYAN 32.5%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly (Parliament) or Azgayin Zhoghov (131 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; 75 members elected by party list, 56 by direct vote)
elections: last held 25 May 2003 (next to be held in the spring of 2007)
note: percent of vote by party - Republican Party 23.5%, Justice Bloc 13.6%, Rule of Law 12.3%, ARF (Dashnak) 11.4%, National Unity Party 8.8%, United Labor Party 5.7%; seats by party - Republican Party 23, Justice Bloc 14, Rule of Law 12, ARF (Dashnak) 11, National Unity 9, United Labor 6; note - seats by party change frequently as deputies switch parties or announce themselves independent

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court; Court of Cassation (Appeals Court)

Political parties and leaders:

Agro-Industrial Party [Vladimir BADALIAN]; Armenia Party [Myasnik MALKHASYAN]; Armenian National Movement or ANM [Alex ARZUMANYAN, chairman]; Armenian Ramkavar Liberal Party or HRAK [Harutyun MIRZAKHANYAN, chairman]; Armenian Revolutionary Federation ("Dashnak" Party) or ARF [Vahan HOVHANISSIAN]; Democratic Party [Aram SARKISYAN]; Justice Bloc (comprised of the Democratic Party, National Democratic Party, National Democratic Union, and the People's Party) [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; National Democratic Party [Shavarsh KOCHARIAN]; National Democratic Union or NDU [Vazgen MANUKIAN]; National Unity Party [Artashes GEGAMIAN, chairman]; People's Party of Armenia [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; Republic Party [Albert BAZEYAN and Aram SARKISYAN, chairmen]; Republican Party or RPA [Andranik MARKARYAN]; Rule of Law Party [Artur BAGDASARIAN, chairman]; Union of Constitutional Rights [Hrant KHACHATURYAN]; United Labor Party [Gurgen ARSENIAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Yerkrapah Union [Manvel GRIGORIAN]

International organization participation:

BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Tatoul MARKARIAN
chancery: 2225 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 319-1976
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2982
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador John M. EVANS
embassy: 18 Baghramyan Ave., Yerevan 375019
mailing address: American Embassy Yerevan, Department of State, 7020 Yerevan Place, Washington, DC 20521-7020
telephone: [374](1) 521-611, 520-791, 542-117, 542-132, 524-661, 527-001, 524-840
FAX: [374](1) 520-800

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange

Economy

Armenia

Economy - overview:

Under the old Soviet central planning system, Armenia had developed a modern industrial sector, supplying machine tools, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics in exchange for raw materials and energy. Since the implosion of the USSR in December 1991, Armenia has switched to small-scale agriculture away from the large agroindustrial complexes of the Soviet era. The agricultural sector has long-term needs for more investment and updated technology. The privatization of industry has been at a slower pace, but has been given renewed emphasis by the current administration. Armenia is a food importer, and its mineral deposits (copper, gold, bauxite) are small. The ongoing conflict with Azerbaijan over the ethnic Armenian-dominated region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the breakup of the centrally directed economic system of the former Soviet Union contributed to a severe economic decline in the early 1990s. By 1994, however, the Armenian Government had launched an ambitious IMF-sponsored economic liberalization program that resulted in positive growth rates in 1995-2003. Armenia joined the WTO in January 2003. Armenia also has managed to slash inflation, stabilize the local currency (the dram), and privatize most small- and medium-sized enterprises. The chronic energy shortages Armenia suffered in the early and mid-1990s have been offset by the energy supplied by one of its nuclear power plants at Metsamor. Armenia is now a net energy exporter, although it does not have sufficient generating capacity to replace Metsamor, which is under international pressure to close. The electricity distribution system was privatized in 2002. Armenia's severe trade imbalance has been offset somewhat by international aid and foreign direct investment. Economic ties with Russia remain close, especially in the energy sector.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$13.65 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $4,600 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 22.9%
industry: 36.1%
services: 41.1% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

1.4 million (2001)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 45%, industry 25%, services 30% (2002 est.)

Unemployment rate:

30% (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line:

50% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 46.2% (1999)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

44.4 (1996)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.5% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $428.1 million
expenditures: $491.2 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

fruit (especially grapes), vegetables; livestock

Industries:

diamond-processing, metal-cutting machine tools, forging-pressing machines, electric motors, tires, knitted wear, hosiery, shoes, silk fabric, chemicals, trucks, instruments, microelectronics, jewelry manufacturing, software development, food processing, brandy

Industrial production growth rate:

15% (2002 est.)

Electricity - production:

6.492 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 42.3%
hydro: 27%
nuclear: 30.7%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

5.797 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

704 million kWh; note - exports an unknown quantity to Georgia; includes exports to Nagorno-Karabakh region in Azerbaijan (2002)

Electricity - imports:

463 million kWh; note - imports an unknown quantity from Iran (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

5,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

1.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Current account balance:

$-240.4 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$850 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

diamonds, mineral products, foodstuffs, energy

Exports - partners:

Belgium 18%, Israel 15.3%, Germany 13.3%, Russia 12.5%, US 8.1%, Netherlands 7.2%, Iran 5.5%, Georgia 4.3%, UAE 4% (2004)

Imports:

$1.3 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs, diamonds

Imports - partners:

Russia 11.3%, Belgium 10.1%, Israel 8.4%, US 7.6%, Iran 7.1%, UAE 6.1%, Ukraine 5.9%, Italy 5.5%, Germany 5.2%, Georgia 4.6%, France 4.5% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$555 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$905 million (June 2001)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA $170 million (2000)

Currency (code):

dram (AMD)

Currency code:

AMD

Exchange rates:

drams per US dollar - 533.45 (2004), 578.76 (2003), 573.35 (2002), 555.08 (2001), 539.53 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Armenia

Telephones - main lines in use:

562,600 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

114,400 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: system inadequate; now 90% privately owned and undergoing modernization and expansion
domestic: the majority of subscribers and the most modern equipment are in Yerevan (this includes paging and mobile cellular service)
international: country code - 374; Yerevan is connected to the Trans-Asia-Europe fiber-optic cable through Iran; additional international service is available by microwave radio relay and landline connections to the other countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and through the Moscow international switch and by satellite to the rest of the world; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (2000)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 9, FM 6, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

850,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (plus an unknown number of repeaters); (1998)

Televisions:

825,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.am

Internet hosts:

2,206 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

9 (2001)

Internet users:

150,000 (2003)

Transportation

Armenia

Railways:

total: 845 km
broad gauge: 845 km 1.520-m gauge (828 km electrified)
note: some lines are out of service (2004)

Highways:

total: 8,431 km
paved: 8,161 km (includes 7,567 km of expressways)
unpaved: 270 km (2002)

Pipelines:

gas 1,871 km (2004)

Airports:

16 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 11
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Armenia

Military branches:

Army, Air Force, Air Defense Force

Military service age and obligation:

18-27 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (May 2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 722,836 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 551,938 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 31,774 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$135 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

6.5% (FY01)

Transnational Issues

Armenia

Disputes - international:

Armenia supports ethnic Armenian secessionists in Nagorno-Karabakh and since the early 1990s, has militarily occupied 16% of Azerbaijan - Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continues to mediate dispute; over 800,000 mostly ethnic Azerbaijanis were driven from the occupied lands and Armenia; about 230,000 ethnic Armenians were driven from their homes in Azerbaijan into Armenia; Azerbaijan seeks transit route through Armenia to connect to Naxcivan exclave; border with Turkey remains closed over Nagorno-Karabakh dispute; ethnic Armenian groups in Javakheti region of Georgia seek greater autonomy; tens of thousands of Armenians emigrate, primarily to Russia, to seek employment

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 236,306 (Azerbaijan)
IDPs: 50,000 (conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

illicit cultivation of small amount of cannabis for domestic consumption; used as a transit point for illicit drugs - mostly opium and hashish - moving from Southwest Asia to Russia and to a lesser extent the rest of Europe

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Andorra

Introduction

Andorra

Background:

For 715 years, from 1278 to 1993, Andorrans lived under a unique co-principality, ruled by French and Spanish leaders (from 1607 onward, the French chief of state and the Spanish bishop of Urgel). In 1993, this feudal system was modified with the titular heads of state retained, but the government transformed into a parliamentary democracy. Long isolated and impoverished, mountainous Andorra achieved considerable prosperity since World War II through its tourist industry. Many immigrants (legal and illegal) are attracted to the thriving economy with its lack of income taxes.

Geography

Andorra

Location:

Southwestern Europe, between France and Spain

Geographic coordinates:

42 30 N, 1 30 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 468 sq km
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:

temperate; snowy, cold winters and warm, dry summers

Terrain:

rugged mountains dissected by narrow valleys

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Riu Runer 840 m
highest point: Coma Pedrosa 2,946 m

Natural resources:

hydropower, mineral water, timber, iron ore, lead

Land use:

arable land: 2.22%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.78% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

avalanches

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; overgrazing of mountain meadows contributes to soil erosion; air pollution; wastewater treatment and solid waste disposal

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Hazardous Wastes
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in the Pyrenees

People

Andorra

Population:

70,549 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 14.8% (male 5,471/female 4,995)
15-64 years: 71.5% (male 26,463/female 23,977)
65 years and over: 13.7% (male 4,780/female 4,863) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 40.34 years
male: 40.63 years
female: 40.02 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.95% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

9 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.07 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

6.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female
total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.05 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.38 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 83.51 years
male: 80.6 years
female: 86.6 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.29 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Andorran(s)
adjective: Andorran

Ethnic groups:

Spanish 43%, Andorran 33%, Portuguese 11%, French 7%, other 6% (1998)

Religions:

Roman Catholic (predominant)

Languages:

Catalan (official), French, Castilian, Portuguese

Literacy:

definition: NA
total population: 100%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Andorra

Country name:

conventional long form: Principality of Andorra
conventional short form: Andorra
local long form: Principat d'Andorra
local short form: Andorra

Government type:

parliamentary democracy (since March 1993) that retains as its chiefs of state a coprincipality; the two princes are the president of France and bishop of Seo de Urgel, Spain, who are represented locally by coprinces' representatives

Capital:

Andorra la Vella

Administrative divisions:

7 parishes (parroquies, singular - parroquia); Andorra la Vella, Canillo, Encamp, La Massana, Escaldes-Engordany, Ordino, Sant Julia de Loria

Independence:

1278 (was formed under the joint suzerainty of the French count of Foix and the Spanish bishop of Urgel)

National holiday:

Our Lady of Meritxell Day, 8 September (1278)

Constitution:

Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in 1991, approved by referendum 14 March 1993, effective 4 May 1993

Legal system:

based on French and Spanish civil codes; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: French Coprince Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by Philippe MASSONI (since 26 July 2002); Spanish Coprince Bishop Joan Enric VIVES i SICILIA (since 12 May 2003), represented by Nemesi MARQUES i OSTE (since NA)
head of government: Executive Council President Albert PINTAT SANTOLARIA (since 27 May 2005)
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; election last held 4 March 2001 (next to be held April-May 2005)
election results: Marc FORNE MOLNE elected executive council president; percent of General Council vote - NA%

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 24 April 2005 (next to be held March-April 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - PLA 41.2%, PS 38.1%, CDA 11%, other 9.7%; seats by party - PLA 14, PS 12, CDA 2

Judicial branch:

Tribunal of Judges or Tribunal de Batlles; Tribunal of the Courts or Tribunal de Corts; Supreme Court of Justice of Andorra or Tribunal Superior de Justicia d'Andorra; Supreme Council of Justice or Consell Superior de la Justicia; Fiscal Ministry or Ministeri Fiscal; Constitutional Tribunal or Tribunal Constitucional

Political parties and leaders:

Andorran Democratic Center Party or CDA (formerly Democratic Party or PD) [leader NA]; Liberal Party of Andorra or PLA (formerly Liberal Union or UL) [Albert PINTAT]; Social Democratic Party or PS (formerly part of National Democratic Group or AND) [Mariona GONZALEZ REOLIT]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

CE, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNESCO, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WToO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jelena V. PIA-COMELLA
chancery: 2 United Nations Plaza, 25th Floor, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 750-8064
FAX: [1] (212) 750-6630

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Andorra; the US Ambassador to Spain is accredited to Andorra; US interests in Andorra are represented by the Consulate General's office in Barcelona (Spain); mailing address: Paseo Reina Elisenda, 23, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; telephone: [34] (93) 280-2227; FAX: [34] (93) 280-6175

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red with the national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; the coat of arms features a quartered shield; similar to the flags of Chad and Romania, which do not have a national coat of arms in the center, and the flag of Moldova, which does bear a national emblem

Economy

Andorra

Economy - overview:

Tourism, the mainstay of Andorra's tiny, well-to-do economy, accounts for roughly 80% of GDP. An estimated 9 million tourists visit annually, attracted by Andorra's duty-free status and by its summer and winter resorts. Andorra's comparative advantage has recently eroded as the economies of neighboring France and Spain have been opened up, providing broader availability of goods and lower tariffs. The banking sector, with its "tax haven" status, also contributes substantially to the economy. Agricultural production is limited - only 2% of the land is arable - and most food has to be imported. The principal livestock activity is sheep raising. Manufacturing output consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, and furniture. Andorra is a member of the EU Customs Union and is treated as an EU member for trade in manufactured goods (no tariffs) and as a non-EU member for agricultural products.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.9 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $26,800 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Labor force:

33,000 (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 1%, industry 21%, services 78% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

0% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.3% (2000)

Budget:

revenues: $385 million
expenditures: $342 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1997)

Agriculture - products:

small quantities of rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables; sheep

Industries:

tourism (particularly skiing), cattle raising, timber, banking

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

NA kWh

Electricity - production by source:

NA

Electricity - consumption:

NA kWh

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

NA kWh; note - most electricity supplied by Spain and France; Andorra generates a small amount of hydropower

Exports:

$58 million f.o.b. (1998)

Exports - commodities:

tobacco products, furniture

Exports - partners:

Spain 58%, France 34% (2000)

Imports:

$1.077 billion (1998)

Imports - commodities:

consumer goods, food, electricity

Imports - partners:

Spain 48%, France 35%, US 2.3% (2000)

Debt - external:

$NA

Economic aid - recipient:

none

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)

Currency code:

EUR

Exchange rates:

euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Andorra

Telephones - main lines in use:

35,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

23,500 (2001)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: modern system with microwave radio relay connections between exchanges
international: country code - 376; landline circuits to France and Spain

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 15, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

16,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

0 (1997)

Televisions:

27,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ad

Internet hosts:

4,144 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

24,500 (2001)

Transportation

Andorra

Highways:

total: 269 km
paved: 198 km
unpaved: 71 km

Merchant marine:

registered in other countries: 1

Airports:

none (2004 est.)

Military

Andorra

Military branches:

no regular military forces, Police Service of Andorra

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France and Spain

Transnational Issues

Andorra

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Angola

Introduction

Angola

Background:

Angola has begun to enjoy the fruits of peace since the end of a 27-year civil war in 2002. Fighting between the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), led by Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS, and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), led by Jonas SAVIMBI, followed independence from Portugal in 1975. Peace seemed imminent in 1992 when Angola held national elections, but UNITA renewed fighting after being beaten by the MPLA at the polls. Up to 1.5 million lives may have been lost - and 4 million people displaced - in the quarter century of fighting. SAVIMBI's death in 2002 ended UNITA's insurgency and strengthened the MPLA's hold on power. DOS SANTOS has pledged to hold national elections in 2006.

Geography

Angola

Location:

Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Namibia and Democratic Republic of the Congo

Geographic coordinates:

12 30 S, 18 30 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 1,246,700 sq km
land: 1,246,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 5,198 km
border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,511 km (of which 225 km is the boundary of discontiguous Cabinda Province), Republic of the Congo 201 km, Namibia 1,376 km, Zambia 1,110 km

Coastline:

1,600 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

semiarid in south and along coast to Luanda; north has cool, dry season (May to October) and hot, rainy season (November to April)

Terrain:

narrow coastal plain rises abruptly to vast interior plateau

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morro de Moco 2,620 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, copper, feldspar, gold, bauxite, uranium

Land use:

arable land: 2.41%
permanent crops: 0.24%
other: 97.35% (2001)

Irrigated land:

750 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau

Environment - current issues:

overuse of pastures and subsequent soil erosion attributable to population pressures; desertification; deforestation of tropical rain forest, in response to both international demand for tropical timber and to domestic use as fuel, resulting in loss of biodiversity; soil erosion contributing to water pollution and siltation of rivers and dams; inadequate supplies of potable water

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the province of Cabinda is an exclave, separated from the rest of the country by the Democratic Republic of the Congo

People

Angola

Population:

11,190,786 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 43.4% (male 2,454,209/female 2,407,083)
15-64 years: 53.7% (male 3,059,339/female 2,955,060)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 139,961/female 175,134) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.12 years
male: 18.12 years
female: 18.11 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.9% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

44.64 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

25.9 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 191.19 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 203.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 178.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 38.43 years
male: 37.28 years
female: 39.64 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.27 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

3.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

240,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

21,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) are high risks in some locations
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Angolan(s)
adjective: Angolan

Ethnic groups:

Ovimbundu 37%, Kimbundu 25%, Bakongo 13%, mestico (mixed European and native African) 2%, European 1%, other 22%

Religions:

indigenous beliefs 47%, Roman Catholic 38%, Protestant 15% (1998 est.)

Languages:

Portuguese (official), Bantu and other African languages

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 66.8%
male: 82.1%
female: 53.8% (2001 est.)

Government

Angola

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Angola
conventional short form: Angola
local long form: Republica de Angola
local short form: Angola
former: People's Republic of Angola

Government type:

republic, nominally a multiparty democracy with a strong presidential system

Capital:

Luanda

Administrative divisions:

18 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Bengo, Benguela, Bie, Cabinda, Cuando Cubango, Cuanza Norte, Cuanza Sul, Cunene, Huambo, Huila, Luanda, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Malanje, Moxico, Namibe, Uige, Zaire

Independence:

11 November 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 11 November (1975)

Constitution:

11 November 1975; revised 7 January 1978, 11 August 1980, 6 March 1991, and 26 August 1992; note - new constitution has not yet been approved

Legal system:

based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law; recently modified to accommodate political pluralism and increased use of free markets

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21 September 1979); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; Fernando de Piedade Dias DOS SANTOS was appointed Prime Minister on 6 December 2002, but this is not a position of real power
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by universal ballot for a five-year term; President DOS SANTOS originally elected (in 1979) without opposition under a one-party system and stood for reelection in Angola's first multiparty elections 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held September 2006)
election results: DOS SANTOS 49.6%, Jonas SAVIMBI 40.1%, making a run-off election necessary; the run-off was not held and SAVIMBI's National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) repudiated the results of the first election; the civil war resumed

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (220 seats; members elected by proportional vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 29-30 September 1992 (next to be held September 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - MPLA 54%, UNITA 34%, others 12%; seats by party - MPLA 129, UNITA 70, PRS 6, FNLA 5, PLD 3, others 7

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Tribunal da Relacao (judges are appointed by the president)

Political parties and leaders:

Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Analia de Victoria PEREIRA]; National Front for the Liberation of Angola or FNLA [disputed leadership: Lucas NGONDA, Holden ROBERTO]; National Union for the Total Independence of Angola or UNITA [Isaias SAMAKUVA], largest opposition party has engaged in years of armed resistance; Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola or MPLA [Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS], ruling party in power since 1975; Social Renewal Party or PRS [disputed leadership: Eduardo KUANGANA, Antonio MUACHICUNGO]
note: about a dozen minor parties participated in the 1992 elections but only won a few seats and have little influence in the National Assembly

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda or FLEC [N'zita Henriques TIAGO, Antonio Bento BEMBE]
note: FLEC is waging a small-scale, highly factionalized, armed struggle for the independence of Cabinda Province

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Josefina Perpetua Pitra DIAKIDI
chancery: 2108 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1156
FAX: [1] (202) 785-1258
consulate(s) general: Houston and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Cynthia EFFIRD
embassy: number 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne (in the Miramar area of Luanda), Luanda
mailing address: international mail: Caixa Postal 6468, Luanda; pouch: American Embassy Luanda, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2550
telephone: [244] (2) 445-481, 447-028, 446-224
FAX: [244] (2) 446-924

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and black with a centered yellow emblem consisting of a five-pointed star within half a cogwheel crossed by a machete (in the style of a hammer and sickle)

Economy

Angola

Economy - overview:

Angola has been an economy in disarray because of a quarter century of nearly continuous warfare. An apparently durable peace was established after the death of rebel leader Jonas SAVIMBI in February 2002, but consequences from the conflict continue including the impact of widespread land mines. Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for 85% of the population. Oil production and the supporting activities are vital to the economy, contributing about 45% to GDP and more than half of exports. Much of the country's food must still be imported. To fully take advantage of its rich natural resources - gold, diamonds, extensive forests, Atlantic fisheries, and large oil deposits - Angola will need to continue reforming government policies and to reduce corruption. While Angola made progress in further lowering inflation, from 325% in 2000 to about 106% in 2002, the government has failed to make sufficient progress on reforms recommended by the IMF such as increasing foreign exchange reserves and promoting greater transparency in government spending. Increased oil production supported 7% GDP growth in 2003 and 12% growth in 2004.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$23.17 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

11.7% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $2,100 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 8%
industry: 67%
services: 25% (2001 est.)

Labor force:

5.41 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 85%, industry and services 15% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:

extensive unemployment and underemployment affecting more than half the population (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:

70% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

43.8% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

34.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $9.013 billion
expenditures: $9.562 billion, including capital expenditures of $963 million (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

bananas, sugarcane, coffee, sisal, corn, cotton, manioc (tapioca), tobacco, vegetables, plantains; livestock; forest products; fish

Industries:

petroleum; diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite, uranium, and gold; cement; basic metal products; fish processing; food processing; brewing; tobacco products; sugar; textiles, ship repair

Industrial production growth rate:

1% (2000)

Electricity - production:

1.707 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 36.4%
hydro: 63.6%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

1.587 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

980,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

31,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

22.88 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

530 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

530 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

79.57 billion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$-37.88 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$12.76 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

crude oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee, sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton

Exports - partners:

US 38%, China 35.9%, Taiwan 6.8%, France 6.5% (2004)

Imports:

$4.896 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts; medicines, food, textiles, military goods

Imports - partners:

South Korea 28.3%, Portugal 13.1%, US 9.3%, South Africa 7.4%, Brazil 5.6%, Japan 4.8%, France 4.4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$800 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$10.45 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$383.5 million (1999)

Currency (code):

kwanza (AOA)

Currency code:

AOA

Exchange rates:

kwanza per US dollar - 83.541 (2004), 74.606 (2003), 43.53 (2002), 22.058 (2001), 10.041 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Angola

Telephones - main lines in use:

96,300 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

130,000 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: telephone service limited mostly to government and business use; HF radiotelephone used extensively for military links
domestic: limited system of wire, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter
international: country code - 244; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 21, FM 6, shortwave 7 (2000)

Radios:

815,000 (2000)

Television broadcast stations:

6 (2000)

Televisions:

196,000 (2000)

Internet country code:

.ao

Internet hosts:

17 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

41,000 (2002)

Transportation

Angola

Railways:

total: 2,761 km
narrow gauge: 2,638 km 1.067-m gauge; 123 km 0.600-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 51,429 km
paved: 5,328 km
unpaved: 46,101 km (2001)

Waterways:

1,300 km (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 214 km; liquid natural gas 14 km; liquid petroleum gas 30 km; oil 837 km; refined products 56 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Cabinda, Luanda, Soyo

Merchant marine:

total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 26,123 GRT/42,879 DWT
by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1
registered in other countries: 4 (2005)

Airports:

243 (2004 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: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 211
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 30
914 to 1,523 m: 95
under 914 m: 80 (2004 est.)

Military

Angola

Military branches:

Army, Navy (Marinha de Guerra, MdG), Air and Air Defense Forces (FANA)

Military service age and obligation:

17 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years plus time for training (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 17-49: 2,423,221 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 17-49: 1,174,548 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 121,254 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$183.58 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

10.6% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Angola

Disputes - international:

90,000 Angolan refugees were repatriated by 2004, the remaining refugees in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia are expected to return in 2005; many Cabinda exclave secessionists have sought shelter in neighboring states

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 40,000-60,000 (27-year civil war ending in 2002; 4 million IDPs already have returned) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

used as a transshipment point for cocaine destined for Western Europe and other African states

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

American Samoa

Introduction

American Samoa

Background:

Settled as early as 1000 B.C., Samoa was "discovered" by European explorers in the 18th century. International rivalries in the latter half of the 19th century were settled by an 1899 treaty in which Germany and the US divided the Samoan archipelago. The US formally occupied its portion - a smaller group of eastern islands with the excellent harbor of Pago Pago - the following year.

Geography

American Samoa

Location:

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand

Geographic coordinates:

14 20 S, 170 00 W

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 199 sq km
land: 199 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Rose Island and Swains Island

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

116 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical marine, moderated by southeast trade winds; annual rainfall averages about 3 m; rainy season from November to April, dry season from May to October; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:

five volcanic islands with rugged peaks and limited coastal plains, two coral atolls (Rose Island, Swains Island)

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Lata 966 m

Natural resources:

pumice, pumicite

Land use:

arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 15%
other: 75% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

typhoons common from December to March

Environment - current issues:

limited natural fresh water resources; the water division of the government has spent substantial funds in the past few years to improve water catchments and pipelines

Geography - note:

Pago Pago has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the South Pacific Ocean, sheltered by shape from rough seas and protected by peripheral mountains from high winds; strategic location in the South Pacific Ocean

People

American Samoa

Population:

57,881 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 35.7% (male 10,705/female 9,956)
15-64 years: 61.3% (male 18,351/female 17,125)
65 years and over: 3% (male 664/female 1,080) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 22.76 years
male: 22.5 years
female: 23.05 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.11% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

23.13 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

3.33 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-20.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 9.27 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.85 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.84 years
male: 72.27 years
female: 79.62 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.25 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: American Samoan(s)
adjective: American Samoan

Ethnic groups:

native Pacific islander 92.9%, Asian 2.9%, white 1.2%, mixed 2.8%, other 0.2% (2000 census)

Religions:

Christian Congregationalist 50%, Roman Catholic 20%, Protestant and other 30%

Languages:

Samoan 90.6% (closely related to Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages), English 2.9%, Tongan 2.4%, other Pacific islander 2.1%, other 2%
note: most people are bilingual (2000 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 98%
female: 97% (1980 est.)

Government

American Samoa

Country name:

conventional long form: Territory of American Samoa
conventional short form: American Samoa
abbreviation: AS

Dependency status:

unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US; administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior

Government type:

NA

Capital:

Pago Pago

Administrative divisions:

none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three districts and two islands* at the second order; Eastern, Manu'a, Rose Island*, Swains Island*, Western

Independence:

none (territory of the US)

National holiday:

Flag Day, 17 April (1900)

Constitution:

ratified 2 June 1966, effective 1 July 1967

Legal system:

NA

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001) and Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)
head of government: Governor Togiola TULAFONO (since 7 April 2003)
cabinet: cabinet made up of 12 department directors
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 2 and 16 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008)
election results: Togiola TULAFONO elected governor; percent of vote - Togiola TULAFONO 55.7%, Afoa Moega LUTU 44.3%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Fono or Legislative Assembly consists of the House of Representatives (21 seats - 20 of which are elected by popular vote and 1 is an appointed, nonvoting delegate from Swains Island; members serve two-year terms) and the Senate (18 seats; members are elected from local chiefs and serve four-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2006); Senate - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - independents 18
note: American Samoa elects one nonvoting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2006); results - Eni F. H. FALEOMAVAEGA (Democrat) reelected as delegate

Judicial branch:

High Court (chief justice and associate justices are appointed by the US Secretary of the Interior)

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Party [Oreta M. TOGAFAU]; Republican Party [Tautai A. F. FAALEVAO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (territory of the US)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territory of the US)

Flag description:

blue, with a white triangle edged in red that is based on the outer side and extends to the hoist side; a brown and white American bald eagle flying toward the hoist side is carrying two traditional Samoan symbols of authority, a staff and a war club

Economy

American Samoa

Economy - overview:

This is a traditional Polynesian economy in which more than 90% of the land is communally owned. Economic activity is strongly linked to the US, with which American Samoa conducts most of its foreign trade. Tuna fishing and tuna processing plants are the backbone of the private sector, with canned tuna the primary export. Transfers from the US Government add substantially to American Samoa's economic well-being. Attempts by the government to develop a larger and broader economy are restrained by Samoa's remote location, its limited transportation, and its devastating hurricanes. Tourism is a promising developing sector.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$500 million (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

NA

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $8,000 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Labor force:

14,000 (1996)

Labor force - by occupation:

tuna canneries 34%, government 33%, other 33% (1990)

Unemployment rate:

6% (2000)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

NA%

Budget:

revenues: $121 million (37% in local revenue and 63% in US grants)
expenditures: $127 million, including capital expenditures of NA (FY96/97)

Agriculture - products:

bananas, coconuts, vegetables, taro, breadfruit, yams, copra, pineapples, papayas; dairy products, livestock

Industries:

tuna canneries (largely supplied by foreign fishing vessels), handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

130 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

120.9 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

3,800 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$30 million (2002)

Exports - commodities:

canned tuna 93%

Exports - partners:

Samoa 39.8%, Australia 19.9%, Japan 15.1%, New Zealand 10.5% (2004)

Imports:

$123 million (2002)

Imports - commodities:

materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum products 7%, machinery and parts 6%

Imports - partners:

Japan 31.4%, New Zealand 27.9%, Germany 17.1%, Australia 8.9% (2004)

Debt - external:

$NA

Economic aid - recipient:

important financial support from the US, more than $40 million in 1994

Currency (code):

US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

USD

Exchange rates:

the US dollar is used

Fiscal year:

1 October - 30 September

Communications

American Samoa

Telephones - main lines in use:

15,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2,377 (1999)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: good telex, telegraph, facsimile and cellular telephone services; domestic satellite system with 1 Comsat earth station
international: country code - 1-684; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2004)

Radios:

57,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1; note - one cable TV station (2004)

Televisions:

14,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.as

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

NA

Transportation

American Samoa

Highways:

total: 185 km
paved: 185 km
unpaved: 0 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Pago Pago

Airports:

3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

American Samoa

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues

American Samoa

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Argentina

Introduction

Argentina

Background:

Following independence from Spain in 1816, Argentina experienced periods of internal political conflict between conservatives and liberals and between civilian and military factions. After World War II, a long period of Peronist authoritarian rule and interference in subsequent governments was followed by a military junta that took power in 1976. Democracy returned in 1983, and numerous elections since then have underscored Argentina's progress in democratic consolidation.

Geography

Argentina

Location:

Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Chile and Uruguay

Geographic coordinates:

34 00 S, 64 00 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total: 2,766,890 sq km
land: 2,736,690 sq km
water: 30,200 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US

Land boundaries:

total: 9,665 km
border countries: Bolivia 832 km, Brazil 1,224 km, Chile 5,150 km, Paraguay 1,880 km, Uruguay 579 km

Coastline:

4,989 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

mostly temperate; arid in southeast; subantarctic in southwest

Terrain:

rich plains of the Pampas in northern half, flat to rolling plateau of Patagonia in south, rugged Andes along western border

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Laguna del Carbon -105 m (located between Puerto San Julian and Comandante Luis Piedra Buena in the province of Santa Cruz)
highest point: Cerro Aconcagua 6,960 m (located in the northwestern corner of the province of Mendoza)

Natural resources:

fertile plains of the pampas, lead, zinc, tin, copper, iron ore, manganese, petroleum, uranium

Land use:

arable land: 12.31%
permanent crops: 0.48%
other: 87.21% (2001)

Irrigated land:

15,610 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

San Miguel de Tucuman and Mendoza areas in the Andes subject to earthquakes; pamperos are violent windstorms that can strike the pampas and northeast; heavy flooding

Environment - current issues:

environmental problems (urban and rural) typical of an industrializing economy such as deforestation, soil degradation, desertification, air pollution, and water pollution
note: Argentina is a world leader in setting voluntary greenhouse gas targets

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

second-largest country in South America (after Brazil); strategic location relative to sea lanes between the South Atlantic and the South Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage); Cerro Aconcagua is South America's tallest mountain, while Laguna del Carbon is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere

People

Argentina

Population:

39,537,943 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 25.6% (male 5,170,721/female 4,938,171)
15-64 years: 63.9% (male 12,626,711/female 12,627,026)
65 years and over: 10.6% (male 1,712,117/female 2,463,197) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 29.42 years
male: 28.52 years
female: 30.4 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.98% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

16.9 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

7.56 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 15.18 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 17.07 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.91 years
male: 72.17 years
female: 79.85 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.19 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.7% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

130,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

1,500 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Argentine(s)
adjective: Argentine

Ethnic groups:

white (mostly Spanish and Italian) 97%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry), Amerindian, or other non-white groups 3%

Religions:

nominally Roman Catholic 92% (less than 20% practicing), Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 4%

Languages:

Spanish (official), English, Italian, German, French

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.1%
male: 97.1%
female: 97.1% (2003 est.)

Government

Argentina

Country name:

conventional long form: Argentine Republic
conventional short form: Argentina
local long form: Republica Argentina
local short form: Argentina

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Buenos Aires

Administrative divisions:

23 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), and 1 autonomous city* (distrito federal); Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires Capital Federal*, Catamarca, Chaco, Chubut, Cordoba, Corrientes, Entre Rios, Formosa, Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Mendoza, Misiones, Neuquen, Rio Negro, Salta, San Juan, San Luis, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santiago del Estero, Tierra del Fuego - Antartida e Islas del Atlantico Sur, Tucuman
note: the US does not recognize any claims to Antarctica

Independence:

9 July 1816 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Revolution Day, 25 May (1810)

Constitution:

1 May 1853; revised August 1994

Legal system:

mixture of US and West European legal systems; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Nestor KIRCHNER (since 25 May 2003); Vice President Daniel SCIOLI (since 25 May 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Nestor KIRCHNER (since 25 May 2003); Vice President Daniel SCIOLI (since 25 May 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 27 April 2003 (next election to be held NA 2007)
election results: results of the presidential election of 27 April 2003: Carlos Saul MENEM 24.3%, Nestor KIRCHNER 22%, Ricardo Lopez MURPHY 16.4%, Adolfo Rodriguez SAA 14.4%, Elisa CARRIO 14.2%, other 8.7%; the subsequent runoff election slated for 25 May 2003 was awarded to KIRCHNER by default after MENEM withdrew his candidacy on the eve of the election

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate (72 seats; members are elected by direct vote; presently one-third of the members elected every two years to a six-year term) and the Chamber of Deputies (257 seats; members are elected by direct vote; one-half of the members elected every two years to a four-year term)
elections: Senate - last held intermittently by province during the 2nd half of 2003 (next to be held NA 2005); Chamber of Deputies - last held intermittently by province during the 2nd half of 2003 (next to be held NA 2005)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA%; seats by bloc or party - PJ 41, UCR 16, provincial parties 15; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by bloc or party - NA%; seats by bloc or party - PJ 133, UCR 46, IF 23, ARI 11, Socialist 6, other/provincial parties 38

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (the nine Supreme Court judges are appointed by the president with approval by the Senate)

Political parties and leaders:

Action for the Republic or AR [Domingo CAVALLO]; Alternative for a Republic of Equals or ARI [Elisa CARRIO]; Federal Recreate Movement or RECREAR [Ricardo LOPEZ MURPHY]; Front for a Country in Solidarity or Frepaso (a four-party coalition) [Dario Pedro ALESSANDRO]; Interbloque Federal or IF (a broad coalition of approximately 12 parties including RECREAR) [leader NA]; Justicialist Party or PJ (Peronist umbrella political organization) [leader NA]; Radical Civic Union or UCR [Angel ROZAS]; Socialist Party or PS [Ruben GIUSTINIANI]; Union For All [Patricia BULLRICH]; several provincial parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Argentine Association of Pharmaceutical Labs (CILFA); Argentine Industrial Union (manufacturers' association); Argentine Rural Society (large landowners' association); business organizations; Central of Argentine Workers or CTA (a radical union for employed and unemployed workers); General Confederation of Labor or CGT (Peronist-leaning umbrella labor organization); Peronist-dominated labor movement; Roman Catholic Church; students

International organization participation:

AfDB, Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CSN, FAO, G-6, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMOVIC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Octavio BORDON
chancery: 1600 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 238-6400
FAX: [1] (202) 332-3171
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Lino GUTIERREZ
embassy: Avenida Colombia 4300, C1425GMN Buenos Aires
mailing address: international mail: use street address; APO address: Unit 4334, APO AA 34034
telephone: [54] (11) 5777-4533
FAX: [54] (11) 5777-4240

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of light blue (top), white, and light blue; centered in the white band is a radiant yellow sun with a human face known as the Sun of May

Economy

Argentina

Economy - overview:

Argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly literate population, an export-oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base. Over the past decade, however, the country has suffered problems of inflation, external debt, capital flight, and budget deficits. Growth in 2000 was a negative 0.8%, as both domestic and foreign investors remained skeptical of the government's ability to pay debts and maintain the peso's fixed exchange rate with the US dollar. The economic situation worsened in 2001 with the widening of spreads on Argentine bonds, massive withdrawals from the banks, and a further decline in consumer and investor confidence. Government efforts to achieve a "zero deficit," to stabilize the banking system, and to restore economic growth proved inadequate in the face of the mounting economic problems. The peso's peg to the dollar was abandoned in January 2002, and the peso was floated in February; the exchange rate plunged and real GDP fell by 10.9% in 2002, but by mid-year the economy had stabilized, albeit at a lower level. GDP expanded by more than 8% in 2003 and again in 2004, with unemployment falling and inflation remaining in single digits.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$483.5 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

8.3% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $12,400 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 10.6%
industry: 35.9%
services: 53.5% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

15.04 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Unemployment rate:

14.8% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

44.3% (June 2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6.1% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

18.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $29.15 billion
expenditures: $26.84 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

118% of GDP (June 2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

sunflower seeds, lemons, soybeans, grapes, corn, tobacco, peanuts, tea, wheat; livestock

Industries:

food processing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, textiles, chemicals and petrochemicals, printing, metallurgy, steel

Industrial production growth rate:

12% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

81.39 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 52.2%
hydro: 40.8%
nuclear: 6.7%
other: 0.2% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

81.65 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

2.818 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

8.775 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

755,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

486,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

2.9 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

37.15 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

31.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

6.05 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

768 billion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$5.473 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$33.78 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

edible oils, fuels and energy, cereals, feed, motor vehicles

Exports - partners:

Brazil 15.3%, Chile 10.7%, US 10.2%, China 8.7%, Spain 4.4% (2004)

Imports:

$22.06 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal manufactures, plastics

Imports - partners:

Brazil 36.2%, US 16.6%, Germany 5.7%, China 4.3% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$19.47 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$157.7 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$10 billion (2001 est.)

Currency (code):

Argentine peso (ARS)

Currency code:

ARS

Exchange rates:

Argentine pesos per US dollar - 2.9233 (2004), 2.9006 (2003), 3.0633 (2002), 0.9995 (2001), 0.9995 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Argentina

Telephones - main lines in use:

8,009,400 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

6.5 million (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: by opening the telecommunications market to competition and foreign investment with the "Telecommunications Liberalization Plan of 1998," Argentina encouraged the growth of modern telecommunication technology; fiber-optic cable trunk lines are being installed between all major cities; the major networks are entirely digital and the availability of telephone service is being improved; however, telephone density is presently minimal, and making telephone service universally available will take time
domestic: microwave radio relay, fiber-optic cable, and a domestic satellite system with 40 earth stations serve the trunk network; more than 110,000 pay telephones are installed and mobile telephone use is rapidly expanding
international: country code - 54; satellite earth stations - 8 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); Atlantis II and Unisur submarine cables; two international gateways near Buenos Aires (1999)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 260 (including 10 inactive stations), FM NA (probably more than 1,000, mostly unlicensed), shortwave 6 (1998)

Radios:

24.3 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

42 (plus 444 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

7.95 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.ar

Internet hosts:

742,358 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

33 (2000)

Internet users:

4.1 million (2002)

Transportation

Argentina

Railways:

total: 34,091 km (167 km electrified)
broad gauge: 20,594 km 1.676-m gauge (141 km electrified)
standard gauge: 2,885 km 1.435-m gauge (26 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 10,375 km 1.000-m gauge; 237 km 0.750-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 215,471 km
paved: 63,348 km (including 734 km of expressways)
unpaved: 152,123 km (1999)

Waterways:

11,000 km (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 27,166 km; liquid petroleum gas 41 km; oil 3,668 km; refined products 2,945 km; unknown (oil/water) 13 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Concepcion del Uruguay, La Plata, Punta Colorada, Rosario, San Lorenzo-San Martin, San Nicolas

Merchant marine:

total: 26 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 149,007 GRT/212,620 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 9, chemical tanker 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 7, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 2 (Chile 1, Uruguay 1)
registered in other countries: 23 (2005)

Airports:

1,334 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 144
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 26
1,524 to 2,437 m: 62
914 to 1,523 m: 44
under 914 m: 8 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1,190
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 50
914 to 1,523 m: 569
under 914 m: 567 (2004 est.)

Military

Argentina

Military branches:

Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic (includes Naval Aviation and Marines), Argentine Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Argentina, FAA)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 8,981,886 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 7,316,038 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 344,575 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$4.3 billion (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.3% (FY00)

Military - note:

the Argentine military is a well-organized force constrained by the country's prolonged economic hardship; the country has recently experienced a strong recovery, and the military is now implementing "Plan 2000," aimed at making the ground forces lighter and more responsive (2005)

Transnational Issues

Argentina

Disputes - international:

Argentina claims the UK-administered Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands in its constitution; it briefly occupied the Falklands in 1982, but in 1995 agreed no longer to seek settlement by force; territorial claim in Antarctica partially overlaps UK and Chilean claims (see Antarctic disputes); unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal narcotics trafficking, and fundraising for extremist organizations; uncontested dispute between Brazil and Uruguay over Braziliera Island in the Quarai/Cuareim River leaves the tripoint with Argentina in question

Illicit drugs:

used as a transshipment country for cocaine headed for Europe and the US; some money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area; domestic consumption of drugs in urban centers is increasing

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Australia

Introduction

Australia

Background:

Aboriginal settlers arrived on the continent from Southeast Asia about 40,000 years before the first Europeans began exploration in the 17th century. No formal territorial claims were made until 1770, when Capt. James COOK took possession in the name of Great Britain. Six colonies were created in the late 18th and 19th centuries; they federated and became the Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. The new country took advantage of its natural resources to rapidly develop its agricultural and manufacturing industries and to make a major contribution to the British effort in World Wars I and II. In recent decades, Australia has transformed itself into an internationally competitive, advanced market economy. It boasted one of the OECD's fastest growing economies during the 1990's, a performance due in large part to economic reforms adopted in the 1980's. Long-term concerns include pollution, particularly depletion of the ozone layer, and management and conservation of coastal areas, especially the Great Barrier Reef.

Geography

Australia

Location:

Oceania, continent between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean

Geographic coordinates:

27 00 S, 133 00 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 7,686,850 sq km
land: 7,617,930 sq km
water: 68,920 sq km
note: includes Lord Howe Island and Macquarie Island

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than the US contiguous 48 states

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

25,760 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

generally arid to semiarid; temperate in south and east; tropical in north

Terrain:

mostly low plateau with deserts; fertile plain in southeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Lake Eyre -15 m
highest point: Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m

Natural resources:

bauxite, coal, iron ore, copper, tin, gold, silver, uranium, nickel, tungsten, mineral sands, lead, zinc, diamonds, natural gas, petroleum

Land use:

arable land: 6.55% (includes about 27 million hectares of cultivated grassland)
permanent crops: 0.04%
other: 93.41% (2001)

Irrigated land:

24,000 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

cyclones along the coast; severe droughts; forest fires

Environment - current issues:

soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development, urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due to the use of poor quality water; desertification; clearing for agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited natural fresh water resources

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography - note:

world's smallest continent but sixth-largest country; population concentrated along the eastern and southeastern coasts; the invigorating tropical sea breeze known as the "Fremantle Doctor" affects the city of Perth on the west coast, and is one of the most consistent winds in the world

People

Australia

Population:

20,090,437 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 19.8% (male 2,038,809/female 1,943,563)
15-64 years: 67.2% (male 6,815,600/female 6,695,189)
65 years and over: 12.9% (male 1,145,274/female 1,452,002) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 36.56 years
male: 35.74 years
female: 37.4 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.87% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

12.26 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

7.44 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

3.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.69 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.08 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 80.39 years
male: 77.52 years
female: 83.4 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.76 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

14,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Australian(s)
adjective: Australian

Ethnic groups:

Caucasian 92%, Asian 7%, aboriginal and other 1%

Religions:

Catholic 26.4%, Anglican 20.5%, other Christian 20.5%, Buddhist 1.9%, Muslim 1.5%, other 1.2%, unspecified 12.7%, none 15.3% (2001 Census)

Languages:

English 79.1%, Chinese 2.1%, Italian 1.9%, other 11.1%, unspecified 5.8% (2001 Census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (1980 est.)

Government

Australia

Country name:

conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australia
conventional short form: Australia

Government type:

democratic, federal-state system recognizing the British monarch as sovereign

Capital:

Canberra

Administrative divisions:

6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Dependent areas:

Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Coral Sea Islands, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island, Macquarie Island

Independence:

1 January 1901 (federation of UK colonies)

National holiday:

Australia Day, 26 January (1788)

Constitution:

9 July 1900, effective 1 January 1901

Legal system:

based on English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen of Australia ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Michael JEFFERY (since 11 August 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister John Winston HOWARD (since 11 March 1996); Deputy Prime Minister Mark VAILE (since 6 July 2005)
cabinet: Prime Minister nominates, from among members of Parliament, candidates who are subsequently sworn in by the Governor General to serve as government ministers
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is sworn in as prime minister by the governor general
note: government coalition - Liberal Party and National Party

Legislative branch:

bicameral Federal Parliament consists of the Senate (76 seats - 12 from each of the six states and two from each of the two mainland territories; one-half of state members are elected every three years by popular vote to serve six-year terms while all territory members are elected every three years) and the House of Representatives (150 seats; members elected by popular preferential voting to serve terms of up to three-years; no state can have fewer than five representatives)
elections: Senate - last held 9 October 2004 (next to be held no later than June 2008); House of Representatives - last held 9 October 2004 (next to be called no later than November 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party (for session beginning on 1 July 2005) - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 39, Australian Labor Party 28, Democrats 4, Australian Greens 4, Family First Party 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Liberal Party-National Party coalition 87, Australian Labor Party 60, independents 3

Judicial branch:

High Court (the chief justice and six other justices are appointed by the governor general)

Political parties and leaders:

Australian Democrats [Lyn ALLISON]; Australian Labor Party [Kim BEAZLEY]; Australian Progressive Alliance [Meg LEES]; Australian Greens [Bob BROWN]; Liberal Party [John Winston HOWARD]; The Nationals [Mark VAILE]; One Nation Party [Len HARRIS]; Family First Party [Steve FIELDING]

International organization participation:

ANZUS, APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CP, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, Paris Club, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMEE, UNMISET, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, WToO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael J. THAWLEY
chancery: 1601 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 797-3000
FAX: [1] (202) 797-3168
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: William A. STANTON, Charge d'Affaires ad interim
embassy: Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2600
mailing address: APO AP 96549
telephone: [61] (02) 6214-5600
FAX: [61] (02) 6214-5970
consulate(s) general: Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Flag description:

blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large seven-pointed star in the lower hoist-side quadrant known as the Commonwealth Star, representing the federation of the colonies of Australia in 1901; the star depicts one point for each of the six original states and one representing all of Australia's internal and external territories; the remaining half is a representation of the Southern Cross constellation in white with one small five-pointed star and four larger, seven-pointed stars

Economy

Australia

Economy - overview:

Australia has an enviable Western-style capitalist economy, with a per capita GDP on par with the four dominant West European economies. Rising output in the domestic economy, robust business and consumer confidence, and rising exports of raw materials and agricultural products are fueling the economy. Australia's emphasis on reforms, low inflation, and growing ties with China are other key factors behind the economy's strength. The impact of drought, weak foreign demand, and strong import demand pushed the trade deficit up from $8 billion in 2002, to $18 billion in 2003, and to $13 billion in 2004. One other concern is the rapid increase in domestic housing prices, which have raised the prospect that interest rates will need to be raised to prevent a speculative bubble.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$611.7 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $30,700 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3.4%
industry: 28.2%
services: 68.4% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

10.35 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 3.6%, industry 26.4%, services 70% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

5.1% (December 2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 25.4% (1994)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

35.2 (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.3% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

25.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $222.7 billion
expenditures: $221.7 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

17.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits; cattle, sheep, poultry

Industries:

mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing, chemicals, steel

Industrial production growth rate:

1.9% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

210.3 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 90.8%
hydro: 8.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.9% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

195.6 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

537,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

796,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

523,400 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:

530,800 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

3.664 billion bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

33.08 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

23.33 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

9.744 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

2.407 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$-38.3 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$86.89 billion (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, iron ore, wheat, machinery and transport equipment

Exports - partners:

Japan 18.6%, China 9.2%, US 8.1%, South Korea 7.7%, New Zealand 7.4%, India 4.6%, UK 4.2% (2004)

Imports:

$98.1 billion (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines, telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and petroleum products

Imports - partners:

US 14.8%, China 12.7%, Japan 11.8%, Germany 5.8%, Singapore 4.4%, UK 4.1% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$35.14 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$308.7 billion (3rd quarter, 2004 est.)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $894 million (FY99/00)

Currency (code):

Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code:

AUD

Exchange rates:

Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001), 1.7248 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Communications

Australia

Telephones - main lines in use:

10.815 million (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

14.347 million (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: excellent domestic and international service
domestic: domestic satellite system; much use of radiotelephone in areas of low population density; rapid growth of mobile cellular telephones
international: country code - 61; submarine cables to New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Indonesia; satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean), 2 Inmarsat (Indian and Pacific Ocean regions) (1998)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 262, FM 345, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

25.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

104 (1997)

Televisions:

10.15 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.au

Internet hosts:

2,847,763 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

571 (2002)

Internet users:

9.472 million (2002)

Transportation

Australia

Railways:

total: 54,439 km (3859 km electrified)
broad gauge: 5,434 km 1.600-m gauge
standard gauge: 34,110 km 1.435-m gauge (1,397 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 14,895 km 1.067-m gauge (2,462 km electrified)
dual gauge: 213 km dual gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 811,603 km
paved: 314,090 km (including 18,619 km of expressways)
unpaved: 497,513 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

2,000 km (mainly used for recreation on Murray and Murray-Darling river systems) (2004)

Pipelines:

condensate/gas 492 km; gas 28,680 km; liquid petroleum gas 240 km; oil 4,773 km; oil/gas/water 110 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Brisbane, Dampier, Fremantle, Gladstone, Hay Point, Melbourne, Newcastle, Port Hedland, Port Kembla, Port Walcott, Sydney

Merchant marine:

total: 55 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,531,461 GRT/1,999,409 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 16, cargo 7, chemical tanker 3, container 1, liquefied gas 4, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 8, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned: 16 (France 1, Germany 3, Japan 1, Philippines 1, Saudi Arabia 1, United Kingdom 2, United States 7)
registered in other countries: 35 (2005)

Airports:

448 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 305
over 3,047 m: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 131
914 to 1,523 m: 139
under 914 m: 13 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 143
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 112
under 914 m: 14 (2004 est.)

Military

Australia

Military branches:

Australian Defense Force (ADF): Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force, Special Operations Command

Military service age and obligation:

16 years of age for voluntary service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 4,943,676 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 4,092,717 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 142,158 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$16.65 billion (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.7% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Australia

Disputes - international:

East Timor and Australia continue to meet but disagree over how to delimit a permanent maritime boundary and share unexploited petroleum resources that fall outside the Joint Petroleum Development Area covered by the 2002 Timor Sea Treaty; East Timor dispute hampers creation of a revised maritime boundary with Indonesia (see also Ashmore and Cartier Islands dispute); regional states express concern over Australia's 2004 declaration of a 1,000-nautical mile-wide maritime indentification zone; Australia asserts land and maritime claims to Antarctica (see Antarctica); in 2004 Australia submitted claims to UNCLOS to extend its continental margin from both its mainland and Antarctic claims

Illicit drugs:

Tasmania is one of the world's major suppliers of licit opiate products; government maintains strict controls over areas of opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Introduction

Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Background:

These uninhabited islands came under Australian authority in 1931; formal administration began two years later. Ashmore Reef supports a rich and diverse avian and marine habitat; in 1983, it became a National Nature Reserve. Cartier Island, a former bombing range, is now a marine reserve.

Geography

Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Location:

Southeastern Asia, islands in the Indian Ocean, midway between northwestern Australia and Timor island

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:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical

Terrain:

low with sand and coral

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m

Natural resources:

fish

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (all grass and sand) (2001)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

surrounded by shoals and reefs that can pose maritime hazards

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

Ashmore Reef National Nature Reserve established in August 1983

People

Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants
note: Indonesian fishermen are allowed access to the lagoon and fresh water at Ashmore Reef's West Island (July 2005 est.)

People - note:

the landing of illegal immigrants from Indonesia's Rote Island has become an ongoing problem

Government

Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands
conventional short form: Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Dependency status:

territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services

Legal system:

the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia and the laws of the Northern Territory of Australia, where applicable, apply

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territory of Australia)

Flag description:

the flag of Australia is used

Economy

Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Economy - overview:

no economic activity

Transportation

Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Ports and harbors:

none; offshore anchorage only

Military

Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Australia; periodic visits by the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force

Transnational Issues

Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Disputes - international:

Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef; Australia closed the surrounding waters to Indonesian traditional fishing and created a national park in the region while continuing to prospect for hydrocarbons in the vicinity

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Austria

Introduction

Austria

Background:

Once the center of power for the large Austro-Hungarian Empire, Austria was reduced to a small republic after its defeat in World War I. Following annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938 and subsequent occupation by the victorious Allies in 1945, Austria's status remained unclear for a decade. A State Treaty signed in 1955 ended the occupation, recognized Austria's independence, and forbade unification with Germany. A constitutional law that same year declared the country's "perpetual neutrality" as a condition for Soviet military withdrawal. Following the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991 and Austria's entry into the European Union in 1995, some Austrians have called into question this neutrality. A prosperous, democratic country, Austria entered the Economic and Monetary Union in 1999.

Geography

Austria

Location:

Central Europe, north of Italy and Slovenia

Geographic coordinates:

47 20 N, 13 20 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 83,870 sq km
land: 82,444 sq km
water: 1,426 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Maine

Land boundaries:

total: 2,562 km
border countries: Czech Republic 362 km, Germany 784 km, Hungary 366 km, Italy 430 km, Liechtenstein 35 km, Slovakia 91 km, Slovenia 330 km, Switzerland 164 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

temperate; continental, cloudy; cold winters with frequent rain and some snow in lowlands and snow in mountains; moderate summers with occasional showers

Terrain:

in the west and south mostly mountains (Alps); along the eastern and northern margins mostly flat or gently sloping

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 m
highest point: Grossglockner 3,798 m

Natural resources:

oil, coal, lignite, timber, iron ore, copper, zinc, antimony, magnesite, tungsten, graphite, salt, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 16.91%
permanent crops: 0.86%
other: 82.23% (2001)

Irrigated land:

457 sq km (2000 est.)

Natural hazards:

landslides; avalanches; earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution; soil pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting Austria between northern and southern Europe

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; strategic location at the crossroads of central Europe with many easily traversable Alpine passes and valleys; major river is the Danube; population is concentrated on eastern lowlands because of steep slopes, poor soils, and low temperatures elsewhere

People

Austria

Population:

8,184,691 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 15.6% (male 656,058/female 624,574)
15-64 years: 67.8% (male 2,790,673/female 2,756,612)
65 years and over: 16.6% (male 543,626/female 813,148) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 40.44 years
male: 39.3 years
female: 41.61 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.11% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

8.81 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

9.7 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.66 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.92 years
male: 76.03 years
female: 81.96 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.36 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.3% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

10,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Austrian(s)
adjective: Austrian

Ethnic groups:

Austrians 91.1%, former Yugoslavs 4% (includes Croatians, Slovenes, Serbs, and Bosniaks), Turks 1.6%, German 0.9%, other or unspecified 2.4% (2001 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 73.6%, Protestant 4.7%, Muslim 4.2%, other 3.5%, unspecified 2%, none 12% (2001 census)

Languages:

German (official nationwide), Slovene (official in Carinthia), Croatian (official in Burgenland), Hungarian (official in Burgenland)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Austria

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Austria
conventional short form: Austria
local long form: Republik Oesterreich
local short form: Oesterreich

Government type:

federal republic

Capital:

Vienna

Administrative divisions:

9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland, Kaernten, Niederoesterreich, Oberoesterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien (Vienna)

Independence:

1156 (Duchy of Austria founded); 12 November 1918 (republic proclaimed)

National holiday:

National Day, 26 October (1955); note - commemorates the State Treaty restoring national sovereignty and the end of occupation and the passage of the law on permanent neutrality

Constitution:

1920; revised 1929 (reinstated 1 May 1945)

Legal system:

civil law system with Roman law origin; judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court; separate administrative and civil/penal supreme courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal; compulsory for presidential elections

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Heinz FISCHER (since 8 July 2004)
head of government: Chancellor Wolfgang SCHUESSEL (OeVP)(since 4 February 2000); Vice Chancellor Hubert GORBACH (since 21 October 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor
elections: president elected by direct popular vote for a six-year term; presidential election last held 25 April 2004 (next to be held April 2010); chancellor traditionally chosen by the president from the plurality party in the National Council; vice chancellor chosen by the president on the advice of the chancellor
election results: Heinz FISCHER elected president; percent of vote - Heinz FISCHER (SPOe) 52.4%, Benita FERRERO-WALDNER (OeVP) 47.6%
note: government coalition - OeVP and FPOe

Legislative branch:

bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of Federal Council or Bundesrat (62 members; members represent each of the states on the basis of population, but with each state having at least three representatives; members serve a five- 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 24 November 2002 (next to be held in the fall of 2006)
election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - OeVP 42.3%, SPOe 36.5%, FPOe 10.0%, Greens 9.5%; seats by party - OeVP 79, SPOe 69, FPOe 18, Greens 17; seating as of May 2005 after split within the Freedom Party: OeVP 79, SPOe 69, Greens 17, BZOe 11, FPOe 7

Judicial branch:

Supreme Judicial Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Administrative Court or Verwaltungsgerichtshof; Constitutional Court or Verfassungsgerichtshof

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance for the Future of Austria or BZOe [Joerg HAIDER]; Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Wolfgang SCHUESSEL]; Freedom Party of Austria or FPOe [Heinz Christian STRACHE]; Social Democratic Party of Austria or SPOe [Alfred GUSENBAUER]; The Greens [Alexander VAN DER BELLEN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Austrian Trade Union Federation (nominally independent but primarily Socialist) or OeGB; Federal Economic Chamber; OeVP-oriented League of Austrian Industrialists or VOeI; Roman Catholic Church, including its chief lay organization, Catholic Action; three composite leagues of the Austrian People's Party or OeVP representing business, labor, and farmers and other non-government organizations in the areas of environment and human rights

International organization participation:

AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Eva NOWOTNY
chancery: 3524 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008-3035
telephone: [1] (202) 895-6700
FAX: [1] (202) 895-6750
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador William Lee LYONS BROWN, Jr.
embassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1090, Vienna
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [43] (1) 31339-0, 31375, 31335
FAX: [43] (1) 3100682

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and red

Economy

Austria

Economy - overview:

Austria, with its well-developed market economy and high standard of living, is closely tied to other EU economies, especially Germany's. The economy features up-to-date industrial and agricultural sectors. Timber is a key industry, 47% of the land area being forested. Membership in the EU has drawn an influx of foreign investors attracted by Austria's access to the single European market and proximity to the new EU economies. Slow growth in Europe has held the economy to 0.7% growth in 2001, 1.4% in 2002, 0.8% in 2003, and 1.9% in 2004. To meet increased competition from both EU and Central European countries, particularly the new EU members, Austria will need to emphasize knowledge-based sectors of the economy, continue to deregulate the service sector, and encourage much greater participation in the labor market by its aging population. The aging phenomenon, together with already high health and pension costs, poses fundamental problems in tax and welfare policies.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$255.9 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $31,300 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.3%
industry: 30.8%
services: 66.9% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

3.45 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture and forestry 4%, industry and crafts 29%, services 67% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate:

4.4% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

3.9% (1999)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 22.5% (1995)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

31 (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.8% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

22.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $142.5 billion
expenditures: $146.4 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

64.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

grains, potatoes, sugar beets, wine, fruit; dairy products, cattle, pigs, poultry; lumber

Industries:

construction, machinery, vehicles and parts, food, metals, chemicals, lumber and wood processing, paper and paperboard, communications equipment, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

3.3% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

58.49 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 29.3%
hydro: 67.2%
nuclear: 0%
other: 3.5% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

55.09 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

14.7 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

15.4 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

20,670 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

262,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

35,470 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:

262,000 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

85.69 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

1.731 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

7.81 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

403 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

6.033 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

24.9 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$-3.283 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$102.7 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, paper and paperboard, metal goods, chemicals, iron and steel; textiles, foodstuffs

Exports - partners:

Germany 32%, Italy 8.9%, US 6%, Switzerland 4.8%, France 4.2%, UK 4.2% (2004)

Imports:

$101.2 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal goods, oil and oil products; foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Germany 46.3%, Italy 6.8%, Switzerland 4.3% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$12.73 billion (2003)

Debt - external:

$15.5 billion (2003 est.)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $520 million (2002)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by the financial institutions of member countries; as of 1 January 2002, the euro became the only legal tender in EMU member countries, including Austria

Currency code:

EUR

Exchange rates:

euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Austria

Telephones - main lines in use:

3.881 million (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

7,094,500 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: highly developed and efficient
domestic: there are 48 main lines for every 100 persons; the fiber optic net is very extensive; all telephone applications and Internet services are available
international: country code - 43; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Eutelsat; in addition, there are about 600 VSAT (very small aperture terminals) (2002)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 65 (plus several hundred repeaters), shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios:

6.08 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

10 (plus more than 1,000 repeaters) (2001)

Televisions:

4.25 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.at

Internet hosts:

387,006 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

37 (2000)

Internet users:

3.73 million (2003)

Transportation

Austria

Railways:

total: 6,021 km (3,552 km electrified)
standard gauge: 5,565 km 1.435-m gauge (3,430 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 34 km 1.000-m gauge (28 km electrified); 422 km 0.760-m gauge (94 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 200,000 km
paved: 200,000 km (including 1,645 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2002)

Waterways:

358 km (2003)

Pipelines:

gas 2,722 km; oil 663 km; refined products 149 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Enns, Krems, Linz, Vienna

Merchant marine:

total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 29,624 GRT/37,425 DWT
by type: cargo 6, container 2
foreign-owned: 2 (Netherlands 2)
registered in other countries: 19 (2005)

Airports:

55 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 24
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 14 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 31
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 27 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

Austria

Military branches:

Land Forces (KdoLdSK), Air Forces (KdoLuSK)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age for voluntary service; from 2007, at the earliest, compulsory military service obligation will be reduced from 8 months to 6 (June 2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,914,800 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,550,441 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 48,967 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$1.497 billion (FY01/02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.9% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Austria

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine destined for Western Europe

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Anguilla

Introduction

Anguilla

Background:

Colonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts in 1650, Anguilla was administered by Great Britain until the early 19th century, when the island - against the wishes of the inhabitants - was incorporated into a single British dependency, along with Saint Kitts and Nevis. Several attempts at separation failed. In 1971, two years after a revolt, Anguilla was finally allowed to secede; this arrangement was formally recognized in 1980, with Anguilla becoming a separate British dependency.

Geography

Anguilla

Location:

Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

Geographic coordinates:

18 15 N, 63 10 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 102 sq km
land: 102 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about half the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

61 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds

Terrain:

flat and low-lying island of coral and limestone

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crocus Hill 65 m

Natural resources:

salt, fish, lobster

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (mostly rock with sparse scrub oak, few trees, some commercial salt ponds) (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA

Natural hazards:

frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to October)

Environment - current issues:

supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing demand largely because of poor distribution system

Geography - note:

the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles

People

Anguilla

Population:

13,254 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 23.2% (male 1,561/female 1,517)
15-64 years: 69.9% (male 4,767/female 4,501)
65 years and over: 6.9% (male 405/female 503) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 30.76 years
male: 30.81 years
female: 30.7 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.77% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

14.26 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

5.43 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

8.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 21.03 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 27.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.11 years
male: 74.18 years
female: 80.12 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.73 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Anguillan(s)
adjective: Anguillan

Ethnic groups:

black (predominant) 90.1%, mixed, mulatto 4.6%, white 3.7%, other 1.6% (2001 Census)

Religions:

Anglican 29%, Methodist 23.9%, other Protestant 30.2%, Roman Catholic 5.7%, other Christian 1.7%, other 5.2%, none or unspecified 4.3% (2001 Census)

Languages:

English (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 12 and over can read and write
total population: 95%
male: 95%
female: 95% (1984 est.)

Government

Anguilla

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Anguilla

Dependency status:

overseas territory of the UK

Government type:

NA

Capital:

The Valley

Administrative divisions:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Independence:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:

Anguilla Day, 30 May

Constitution:

Anguilla Constitutional Order 1 April 1982; amended 1990

Legal system:

based on English common law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor Alan Eden HUCKLE (since 28 May 2004)
head of government: Chief Minister Osbourne FLEMING (since 3 March 2000)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from among the elected members of the House of Assembly
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed chief minister by the governor

Legislative branch:

unicameral House of Assembly (11 seats total, 7 elected by direct popular vote, 2 ex officio members, and 2 appointed; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 21 February 2005 (next to be held 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - AUF 38.9%, ANSA 19.2%, AUM 19.4%, APP 9.5 %, independents 13%; seats by party - AUF 4, ANSA 2, AUM 1

Judicial branch:

High Court (judge provided by Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court)

Political parties and leaders:

Anguilla United Movement or AUM [Hubert HUGHES]; The Anguilla United Front or AUF [Osbourne FLEMING, Victor BANKS], a coalition of the Anguilla Democratic Party or ADP and the Anguilla National Alliance or ANA; Anguilla Progressive Party or APP [Roy ROGERS]; Anguilla Strategic Alternative or ANSA [Edison BAIRD]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), OECS (associate), UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag description:

blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Anguillan coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts three orange dolphins in an interlocking circular design on a white background with blue wavy water below

Economy

Anguilla

Economy - overview:

Anguilla has few natural resources, and the economy depends heavily on luxury tourism, offshore banking, lobster fishing, and remittances from emigrants. Increased activity in the tourism industry, which has spurred the growth of the construction sector, has contributed to economic growth. Anguillan officials have put substantial effort into developing the offshore financial sector, which is small, but growing. In the medium term, prospects for the economy will depend largely on the tourism sector and, therefore, on revived income growth in the industrialized nations as well as on favorable weather conditions.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$112 million (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.8% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $7,500 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 4%
industry: 18%
services: 78% (2002 est.)

Labor force:

6,049 (2001)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining 4%, manufacturing 3%, construction 18%, transportation and utilities 10%, commerce 36%, services 29% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

8% (2002)

Population below poverty line:

23% (2002)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.3%

Budget:

revenues: $22.8 million
expenditures: $22.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000 est.)

Agriculture - products:

small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising

Industries:

tourism, boat building, offshore financial services

Industrial production growth rate:

3.1% (1997 est.)

Electricity - production:

NA

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: NA
hydro: NA
nuclear: NA
other: NA

Electricity - consumption:

42.6 million kWh

Exports:

$2.6 million (1999)

Exports - commodities:

lobster, fish, livestock, salt, concrete blocks, rum

Exports - partners:

UK, US, Puerto Rico, Saint-Martin (2000)

Imports:

$80.9 million (1999)

Imports - commodities:

fuels, foodstuffs, manufactures, chemicals, trucks, textiles

Imports - partners:

US, Puerto Rico, UK (2000)

Debt - external:

$8.8 million (1998)

Economic aid - recipient:

$9 million (2004 est.)

Currency (code):

East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Currency code:

XCD

Exchange rates:

East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003), 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7 (2000)
note: fixed rate since 1976

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

Anguilla

Telephones - main lines in use:

6,200 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,800 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: modern internal telephone system
international: country code - 1-264; microwave radio relay to island of Saint Martin (Guadeloupe and Netherlands Antilles)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

3,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (1997)

Televisions:

1,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ai

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

16 (2000)

Internet users:

3,000 (2002)

Transportation

Anguilla

Highways:

total: 105 km
paved: 65 km
unpaved: 40 km (1997)

Ports and harbors:

Blowing Point, Road Bay

Airports:

3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Military

Anguilla

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues

Anguilla

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Akrotiri

Introduction

Akrotiri

Background:

By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created the independent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovereignty and jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers in total: Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The southernmost and smallest of these is the Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the Western Sovereign Base Area.

Geography

Akrotiri

Location:

peninsula on the southwest coast of Cyprus

Geographic coordinates:

34 37 N, 32 58 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 123 sq km
note: includes a salt lake and wetlands

Area - comparative:

about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

total: 47.4 km
border countries: Cyprus 47.4 km

Coastline:

56.3 km

Climate:

temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters

Environment - current issues:

shooting around the salt lake; note - breeding place for loggerhead and green turtles; only remaining colony of griffon vultures is on the base

Geography - note:

British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus

People

Akrotiri

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants
note: approximately 1,300 military personnel are on the base; there are another 5,000 British citizens who are families of military personnel or civilian staff on both Akrotiri and Dhekelia; Cyprus citizens work on the base, but do not live there

Languages:

English, Greek

Government

Akrotiri

Country name:

conventional long form: Akrotiri Sovereign Base Area
conventional short form: Akrotiri

Dependency status:

overseas territory of UK; administered by an administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus

Capital:

Episkopi Cantonment; also serves as capital of Dhekelia

Legal system:

the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Administrator Maj. Gen. Peter Thomas Clayton PEARSON (since 9 May 2003); note - reports to the British Ministry of Defence
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the administrator is 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:

the flag of the UK is used

Economy

Akrotiri

Economy - overview:

Economic activity is limited to providing services to the military and their families located in Akrotiri. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.

Military

Akrotiri

Military - note:

Akrotiri has a full RAF base, Headquarters for British Forces on Cyprus, and Episkopi Support Unit

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Antarctica

Introduction

Antarctica

Background:

Speculation over the existence of a "southern land" was not confirmed until the early 1820s when British and American commercial operators and British and Russian national expeditions began exploring the Antarctic Peninsula region and other areas south of the Antarctic Circle. Not until 1840 was it established that Antarctica was indeed a continent and not just a group of islands. Several exploration "firsts" were achieved in the early 20th century. Following World War II, there was an upsurge in scientific research on the continent. A number of countries have set up year-round research stations on Antarctica. Seven have made territorial claims, but not all countries recognize these claims. In order to form a legal framework for the activities of nations on the continent, an Antarctic Treaty was negotiated that neither denies nor gives recognition to existing territorial claims; signed in 1959, it entered into force in 1961.

Geography

Antarctica

Location:

continent mostly south of the Antarctic Circle

Geographic coordinates:

90 00 S, 0 00 E

Map references:

Antarctic Region

Area:

total: 14 million sq km
land: 14 million sq km (280,000 sq km ice-free, 13.72 million sq km ice-covered) (est.)
note: fifth-largest continent, following Asia, Africa, North America, and South America, but larger than Australia and the subcontinent of Europe

Area - comparative:

slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US

Land boundaries:

0 km
note: see entry on Disputes - international

Coastline:

17,968 km

Maritime claims:

Australia, Chile, and Argentina claim Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) rights or similar over 200 nm extensions seaward from their continental claims, but like the claims themselves, these zones are not accepted by other countries; 20 of 27 Antarctic consultative nations have made no claims to Antarctic territory (although Russia and the US have reserved the right to do so) and do not recognize the claims of the other nations; also see the Disputes - international entry

Climate:

severe low temperatures vary with latitude, elevation, and distance from the ocean; East Antarctica is colder than West Antarctica because of its higher elevation; Antarctic Peninsula has the most moderate climate; higher temperatures occur in January along the coast and average slightly below freezing

Terrain:

about 98% thick continental ice sheet and 2% barren rock, with average elevations between 2,000 and 4,000 meters; mountain ranges up to nearly 5,000 meters; ice-free coastal areas include parts of southern Victoria Land, Wilkes Land, the Antarctic Peninsula area, and parts of Ross Island on McMurdo Sound; glaciers form ice shelves along about half of the coastline, and floating ice shelves constitute 11% of the area of the continent

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Bentley Subglacial Trench -2,555 m
highest point: Vinson Massif 4,897 m
note: the lowest known land point in Antarctica is hidden in the Bentley Subglacial Trench; at its surface is the deepest ice yet discovered and the world's lowest elevation not under seawater

Natural resources:

iron ore, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, platinum and other minerals, and coal and hydrocarbons have been found in small uncommercial quantities; none presently exploited; krill, finfish, and crab have been taken by commercial fisheries

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (ice 98%, barren rock 2%) (2001)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km

Natural hazards:

katabatic (gravity-driven) winds blow coastward from the high interior; frequent blizzards form near the foot of the plateau; cyclonic storms form over the ocean and move clockwise along the coast; volcanism on Deception Island and isolated areas of West Antarctica; other seismic activity rare and weak; large icebergs may calve from ice shelf

Environment - current issues:

in 1998, NASA satellite data showed that the antarctic ozone hole was the largest on record, covering 27 million square kilometers; researchers in 1997 found that increased ultraviolet light passing through the hole damages the DNA of icefish, an antarctic fish lacking hemoglobin; ozone depletion earlier was shown to harm one-celled antarctic marine plants; in 2002, significant areas of ice shelves disintegrated in response to regional warming

Geography - note:

the coldest, windiest, highest (on average), and driest continent; during summer, more solar radiation reaches the surface at the South Pole than is received at the Equator in an equivalent period; mostly uninhabitable

People

Antarctica

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants, but there are both permanent and summer-only staffed research stations
note: 26 nations, all signatory to the Antarctic Treaty, operate seasonal (summer) and year-round research stations on the continent and in its surrounding oceans; the population of persons doing and supporting science on the continent and its nearby islands south of 60 degrees south latitude (the region covered by the Antarctic Treaty) varies from approximately 4,000 in summer to 1,000 in winter; in addition, approximately 1,000 personnel including ship's crew and scientists doing onboard research are present in the waters of the treaty region; summer (January) population - 3,687 total; Argentina 302, Australia 201, Belgium 13, Brazil 80, Bulgaria 16, Chile 352, China 70, Finland 11, France 100, Germany 51, India 60, Italy 106, Japan 136, South Korea 14, Netherlands 10, NZ 60, Norway 40, Peru 28, Poland 70, Russia 254, South Africa 80, Spain 43, Sweden 20, UK 192, US 1,378 (1998-99); winter (July) population - 964 total; Argentina 165, Australia 75, Brazil 12, Chile 129, China 33, France 33, Germany 9, India 25, Japan 40, South Korea 14, NZ 10, Poland 20, Russia 102, South Africa 10, UK 39, US 248 (1998-99); research stations operated within the Antarctic Treaty area (south of 60 degrees south) by members of the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP): year-round stations - 38 total; Argentina 6, Australia 3, Brazil 1, Chile 4, China 2, France 1, Germany 1, India 1, Japan 1, South Korea 1, NZ 1, Poland 1, Russia 6, South Africa 1, Ukraine 1, UK 2, US 3, Uruguay 1, Italy and France jointly 1 (2005); summer-only stations - 34 total; Argentina 8, Australia 2, Bulgaria 1, Chile 5, Ecuador 1, Finland 1, Germany 2, Italy 1, Japan 3, Norway 2, Peru 1, Russia 2, South Africa 1, Spain 2, Sweden 1, UK 1 (2004-2005); in addition, during the austral summer some nations have numerous occupied locations such as tent camps, summer-long temporary facilities, and mobile traverses in support of research

Government

Antarctica

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Antarctica

Government type:

Antarctic Treaty Summary - the Antarctic Treaty, signed on 1 December 1959 and entered into force on 23 June 1961, establishes the legal framework for the management of Antarctica; the 27th Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting was held in Cape Town, South Africa in May-June 2004; at these periodic meetings, decisions are made by consensus (not by vote) of all consultative member nations; at the end of 2003, there were 45 treaty member nations: 28 consultative and 17 non-consultative; consultative (decision-making) members include the seven nations that claim portions of Antarctica as national territory (some claims overlap) and 21 non-claimant nations; the US and Russia have reserved the right to make claims; the US does not recognize the claims of others; Antarctica is administered through meetings of the consultative member nations; decisions from these meetings are carried out by these member nations (with respect to their own nationals and operations) in accordance with their own national laws; the year in parentheses indicates when an acceding nation was accepted as a consultative member, while no date indicates the country was an original 1959 treaty signatory; claimant nations are - Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK. Nonclaimant consultative nations are - Belgium, Brazil (1983), Bulgaria (1998) China (1985), Ecuador (1990), Finland (1989), Germany (1981), India (1983), Italy (1987), Japan, South Korea (1989), Netherlands (1990), Peru (1989), Poland (1977), Russia, South Africa, Spain (1988), Sweden (1988), Ukraine (1992), Uruguay (1985), and the US; non-consultative members, with year of accession in parentheses, are - Austria (1987), Canada (1988), Colombia (1989), Cuba (1984), Czech Republic (1993), Denmark (1965), Estonia (2001), Greece (1987), Guatemala (1991), Hungary (1984), North Korea (1987), Papua New Guinea (1981), Romania (1971), Slovakia (1993), Switzerland (1990), Turkey (1995), and Venezuela (1999); Article 1 - area to be used for peaceful purposes only; military activity, such as weapons testing, is prohibited, but military personnel and equipment may be used for scientific research or any other peaceful purpose; Article 2 - freedom of scientific investigation and cooperation shall continue; Article 3 - free exchange of information and personnel, cooperation with the UN and other international agencies; Article 4 - does not recognize, dispute, or establish territorial claims and no new claims shall be asserted while the treaty is in force; Article 5 - prohibits nuclear explosions or disposal of radioactive wastes; Article 6 - includes under the treaty all land and ice shelves south of 60 degrees 00 minutes south and reserves high seas rights; Article 7 - treaty-state observers have free access, including aerial observation, to any area and may inspect all stations, installations, and equipment; advance notice of all expeditions and of the introduction of military personnel must be given; Article 8 - allows for jurisdiction over observers and scientists by their own states; Article 9 - frequent consultative meetings take place among member nations; Article 10 - treaty states will discourage activities by any country in Antarctica that are contrary to the treaty; Article 11 - disputes to be settled peacefully by the parties concerned or, ultimately, by the ICJ; Articles 12, 13, 14 - deal with upholding, interpreting, and amending the treaty among involved nations; other agreements - some 200 recommendations adopted at treaty consultative meetings and ratified by governments include - Agreed Measures for Fauna and Flora (1964) which were later incorporated into the Environmental Protocol; Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (1972); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (1980); a mineral resources agreement was signed in 1988 but remains unratified; the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty was signed 4 October 1991 and entered into force 14 January 1998; this agreement provides for the protection of the Antarctic environment through five specific annexes: 1) environmental impact assessment, 2) conservation of Antarctic fauna and flora, 3) waste disposal and waste management, 4) prevention of marine pollution, and 5) area protection and management; it prohibits all activities relating to mineral resources except scientific research; a permanent Antarctic Treaty Secretariat was established in 2004 in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Legal system:

Antarctica is administered through meetings of the consultative member nations; decisions from these meetings are carried out by these member nations (with respect to their own nationals and operations) in accordance with their own national laws; US law, including certain criminal offenses by or against US nationals, such as murder, may apply extra-territorially; some US laws directly apply to Antarctica; for example, the Antarctic Conservation Act, 16 U.S.C. section 2401 et seq., provides civil and criminal penalties for the following activities, unless authorized by regulation of statute: the taking of native mammals or birds; the introduction of nonindigenous plants and animals; entry into specially protected areas; the discharge or disposal of pollutants; and the importation into the US of certain items from Antarctica; violation of the Antarctic Conservation Act carries penalties of up to $10,000 in fines and one year in prison; the National Science Foundation and Department of Justice share enforcement responsibilities; Public Law 95-541, the US Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978, as amended in 1996, requires expeditions from the US to Antarctica to notify, in advance, the Office of Oceans, Room 5805, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520, which reports such plans to other nations as required by the Antarctic Treaty; for more information, contact Permit Office, Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, Arlington, Virginia 22230; telephone: (703) 292-8030, or visit their website at www.nsf.gov; more generally, access to the Antarctic Treaty area, that is to all areas between 60 and 90 degrees latitude South, is subject to a number of relevant legal instruments and authorization procedures adopted by the states party to the Antarctic Treaty.

Economy

Antarctica

Economy - overview:

Fishing off the coast and tourism, both based abroad, account for the limited economic activity. Antarctic fisheries in 2000-01 (1 July-30 June) reported landing 112,934 metric tons. Unregulated fishing, particularly of Patagonian toothfish, is a serious problem. The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources determines the recommended catch limits for marine species. A total of 13,571 tourists visited in the 2002-03 antarctic summer, up from the 11,588 visitors the previous year. Nearly all of them were passengers on commercial (nongovernmental) ships and several yachts that make trips during the summer. Most tourist trips last approximately two weeks.

Communications

Antarctica

Telephones - main lines in use:

0
note: information for US bases only (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

NA

Telephone system:

general assessment: local systems at some research stations
domestic: NA
international: country code - 672; via satellite (mobile Inmarsat and Iridium system) from some research stations

Radio broadcast stations:

AM NA, FM 2, shortwave 1
note: information for US bases only (2002)

Radios:

NA

Television broadcast stations:

1 (cable system with six channels; American Forces Antarctic Network-McMurdo)
note: information for US bases only (2002)

Televisions:

several hundred at McMurdo Station (US)
note: information for US bases only (2001)

Internet country code:

.aq

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

NA

Transportation

Antarctica

Ports and harbors:

there are no developed ports and harbors in Antarctica; most coastal stations have offshore anchorages, and supplies are transferred from ship to shore by small boats, barges, and helicopters; a few stations have a basic wharf facility; US coastal stations include McMurdo (77 51 S, 166 40 E), Palmer (64 43 S, 64 03 W); government use only except by permit (see Permit Office under "Legal System"); all ships at port are subject to inspection in accordance with Article 7, Antarctic Treaty; offshore anchorage is sparse and intermittent; relevant legal instruments and authorization procedures adopted by the states party to the Antarctic Treaty regulating access to the Antarctic Treaty area, to all areas between 60 and 90 degrees of latitude South, have to be complied with (see "Legal System") (2004)

Airports:

there are no developed public access airports or landing facilities; 30 stations, operated by 16 national governments party to the Antarctic Treaty, have restricted aircraft landing facilities for either helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft; commercial enterprises operate two additional aircraft landing facilities; helicopter pads are available at 27 stations; runways at 15 locations are gravel, sea-ice, blue-ice, or compacted snow suitable for landing wheeled, fixed-wing aircraft; of these, one is greater than 3 km in length, six are between 2 km and 3 km in length, three are between 1 km and 2 km in length, three are less than 1 km in length, and two are of unknown length; snow surface skiways, limited to use by ski-equipped, fixed-wing aircraft, are available at another 15 locations; of these, four are greater than 3 km in length, three are between 2 km and 3 km in length, two are between 1 km and 2 km in length, two are less than 1 km in length, and four are of unknown length; aircraft landing facilities generally subject to severe restrictions and limitations resulting from extreme seasonal and geographic conditions; aircraft landing facilities do not meet ICAO standards; advance approval from the respective governmental or nongovernmental operating organization required for using their facilities; landed aircraft are subject to inspection in accordance with Article 7, Antarctic Treaty; guidelines for the operation of aircraft near concentrations of birds in Antarctica were adopted in 2004; relevant legal instruments and authorization procedures adopted by states party to the Antarctic Treaty regulating access to the Antarctic Treaty area, that is to all areas between 60 and 90 degrees of latitude South, have to be complied with (see information under "Legal System"); an Antarctic Flight Information Manual (AFIM) providing up-to-date details of Antarctic air facilities and procedures is maintained and published by the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 20
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 6 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

27 stations have restricted helicopter landing facilities (helipads) (2004 est.)

Military

Antarctica

Military - note:

the Antarctic Treaty prohibits any measures of a military nature, such as the establishment of military bases and fortifications, the carrying out of military maneuvers, or the testing of any type of weapon; it permits the use of military personnel or equipment for scientific research or for any other peaceful purposes

Transnational Issues

Antarctica

Disputes - international:

Antarctic Treaty freezes claims (see Antarctic Treaty Summary in Government type entry); Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ, Norway, and UK claim land and maritime sectors (some overlapping) for a large portion of the continent; the US and many other states do not recognize these territorial claims and have made no claims themselves (the US and Russia reserve the right to do so); no claims have been made in the sector between 90 degrees west and 150 degrees west; several states with territorial claims in Antarctica have expressed their intention to submit data to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf to extend their continental shelf claims to adjoining undersea ridges

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Bahrain

Introduction

Bahrain

Background:

Bahrain's small size and central location among Persian Gulf countries require it to play a delicate balancing act in foreign affairs among its larger neighbors. Facing declining oil reserves, Bahrain has turned to petroleum processing and refining and has transformed itself into an international banking center. The new amir, installed in 1999, has pushed economic and political reforms and has worked to improve relations with the Shi'a community. In February 2001, Bahraini voters approved a referendum on the National Action Charter - the centerpiece of the amir's political liberalization program. In February 2002, Amir HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa proclaimed himself king. In October 2002, Bahrainis elected members of the lower house of Bahrain's reconstituted bicameral legislature, the National Assembly.

Geography

Bahrain

Location:

Middle East, archipelago in the Persian Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia

Geographic coordinates:

26 00 N, 50 33 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 665 sq km
land: 665 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

161 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: extending to boundaries to be determined

Climate:

arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers

Terrain:

mostly low desert plain rising gently to low central escarpment

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m

Natural resources:

oil, associated and nonassociated natural gas, fish, pearls

Land use:

arable land: 2.82%
permanent crops: 5.63%
other: 91.55% (2001)

Irrigated land:

50 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

periodic droughts; dust storms

Environment - current issues:

desertification resulting from the degradation of limited arable land, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal degradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation) resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers, oil refineries, and distribution stations; lack of freshwater resources, groundwater and seawater are the only sources for all water needs

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

close to primary Middle Eastern petroleum sources; strategic location in Persian Gulf, through which much of the Western world's petroleum must transit to reach open ocean

People

Bahrain

Population:

688,345
note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 27.8% (male 96,807/female 94,863)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 275,792/female 197,424)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 12,078/female 11,381) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 29.19 years
male: 32.16 years
female: 25.54 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.51% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

18.1 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

4.08 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.4 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
total population: 1.27 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 17.27 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 20.17 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.23 years
male: 71.76 years
female: 76.78 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.63 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

less than 600 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Bahraini(s)
adjective: Bahraini

Ethnic groups:

Bahraini 62.4%, non-Bahraini 37.6% (2001 census)

Religions:

Muslim (Shi'a and Sunni) 81.2%, Christian 9%, other 9.8% (2001 census)

Languages:

Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89.1%
male: 91.9%
female: 85% (2003 est.)

Government

Bahrain

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Bahrain
conventional short form: Bahrain
local long form: Mamlakat al Bahrayn
local short form: Al Bahrayn
former: Dilmun

Government type:

constitutional hereditary monarchy

Capital:

Manama

Administrative divisions:

12 municipalities (manatiq, singular - mintaqah); Al Hadd, Al Manamah, Al Mintaqah al Gharbiyah, Al Mintaqah al Wusta, Al Mintaqah ash Shamaliyah, Al Muharraq, Ar Rifa' wa al Mintaqah al Janubiyah, Jidd Hafs, Madinat Hamad, Madinat 'Isa, Juzur Hawar, Sitrah
note: all municipalities administered from Manama

Independence:

15 August 1971 (from UK)

National holiday:

National Day, 16 December (1971); note - 15 August 1971 is the date of independence from the UK, 16 December 1971 is the date of independence from British protection

Constitution:

new constitution 14 February 2002

Legal system:

based on Islamic law and English common law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: King HAMAD bin Isa al-Khalifa (since 6 March 1999); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad (son of the monarch, born 21 October 1969)
head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman al-Khalifa (since NA 1971)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of Shura Council (40 members appointed by the King) and House of Deputies (40 members directly elected to serve four-year terms)
elections: House of Deputies - last held 31 October 2002 (next election to be held NA 2006)
election results: House of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - independents 21, Sunni Islamists 9, other 10
note: first elections since 7 December 1973; unicameral National Assembly dissolved 26 August 1975; National Action Charter created bicameral legislature on 23 December 2000; approved by referendum 14 February 2001; first legislative session of Parliament held on 25 December 2002

Judicial branch:

High Civil Appeals Court

Political parties and leaders:

political parties prohibited but politically oriented societies are allowed

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Shi'a activists fomented unrest sporadically in 1994-97, demanding the return of an elected National Assembly and an end to unemployment; several small, clandestine leftist and Islamic fundamentalist groups are active

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, ESCWA, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Nasir al-BALUSHI
chancery: 3502 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 342-1111
FAX: [1] (202) 362-2192
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador William T. MONROE
embassy: Building #979, Road 3119 (next to Al-Ahli Sports Club), Block 331, Zinj District, Manama
mailing address: American Embassy Manama, PSC 451, FPO AE 09834-5100; international mail: American Embassy, Box 26431, Manama
telephone: [973] 1724-2700
FAX: [973] 1725-6242 (consular)

Flag description:

red, the traditional color for flags of Persian Gulf states, with a white serrated band (five white points) on the hoist side; the five points represent the five pillars of Islam

Economy

Bahrain

Economy - overview:

In well-to-do Bahrain, petroleum production and refining account for about 60% of export receipts, 60% of government revenues, and 30% of GDP. With its highly developed communication and transport facilities, Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with business in the Gulf. A large share of exports consist of petroleum products made from refining imported crude. Construction proceeds on several major industrial projects. Unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of oil and underground water resources are major long-term economic problems. In September 2004 Bahrain signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States - the first such agreement undertaken by a Gulf state. Both countries must ratify the FTA before it is enforced.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$13.01 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $19,200 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 0.7%
industry: 41%
services: 58.4% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

370,000
note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 1%, industry, commerce, and services 79%, government 20% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate:

15% (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.1% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

12.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $3.825 billion
expenditures: $3.262 billion, including capital expenditures of $700 million (2004 est.)

Public debt:

63.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish

Industries:

petroleum processing and refining, aluminum smelting, iron pelletization, fertilizers, offshore banking, ship repairing; tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

2% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:

6.86 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

6.379 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

44,000 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - consumption:

40,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

126 million bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

32.7 billion cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

32.7 billion cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

46 billion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$586.1 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$8.205 billion (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles

Exports - partners:

Saudi Arabia 3%, US 2.9%, UAE 2.2% (2004)

Imports:

$5.87 billion (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

crude oil, machinery, chemicals

Imports - partners:

Saudi Arabia 32.4%, Japan 7.3%, Germany 6.1%, US 5.6%, UK 5.4%, France 4.8% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.141 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$6.215 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$150 million; note - $50 million annually since 1992 from each of Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait (2002)

Currency (code):

Bahraini dinar (BHD)

Currency code:

BHD

Exchange rates:

Bahraini dinars per US dollar - 0.376 (2004), 0.376 (2003), 0.376 (2002), 0.376 (2001), 0.376 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Bahrain

Telephones - main lines in use:

185,800 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

443,100 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system
domestic: modern fiber-optic integrated services; digital network with rapidly growing use of mobile cellular telephones
international: country code - 973; tropospheric scatter to Qatar and UAE; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; submarine cable to Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat (1997)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

338,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

4 (1997)

Televisions:

275,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.bh

Internet hosts:

1,334 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

195,700 (2003)

Transportation

Bahrain

Highways:

total: 3,459 km
paved: 2,653 km
unpaved: 806 km (2002)

Pipelines:

gas 20 km; oil 53 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Mina' Salman, Sitrah

Merchant marine:

total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 219,083 GRT/312,638 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 2, container 2, petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 2 (Kuwait 2) (2005)

Airports:

4 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3
over 3,047 m: 2
1524 to 2437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

Bahrain

Military branches:

Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF): Ground Force (includes Air Defense), Navy, Air Force, National Guard

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 202,126 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 161,372 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 6,013 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$628.9 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

6.3% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Bahrain

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Barbados

Introduction

Barbados

Background:

The island was uninhabited when first settled by the British in 1627. Slaves worked the sugar plantations established on the island until 1834 when slavery was abolished. The economy remained heavily dependent on sugar, rum, and molasses production through most of the 20th century. The gradual introduction of social and political reforms in the 1940s and 1950s led to complete independence from the UK in 1966. In the 1990s, tourism and manufacturing surpassed the sugar industry in economic importance.

Geography

Barbados

Location:

Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

Geographic coordinates:

13 10 N, 59 32 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 431 sq km
land: 431 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

97 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; rainy season (June to October)

Terrain:

relatively flat; rises gently to central highland region

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, fish, natural gas

Land use:

arable land: 37.21%
permanent crops: 2.33%
other: 60.46% (2001)

Irrigated land:

10 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides

Environment - current issues:

pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships; soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination of aquifers

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

easternmost Caribbean island

People

Barbados

Population:

279,254 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 20.6% (male 28,813/female 28,634)
15-64 years: 70.6% (male 96,590/female 100,622)
65 years and over: 8.8% (male 9,432/female 15,163) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 34.15 years
male: 32.99 years
female: 35.28 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.33% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

12.83 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

9.17 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 12.5 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 14.14 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.59 years
male: 70.6 years
female: 74.6 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.65 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.5% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

2,500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Barbadian(s) or Bajan (colloquial)
adjective: Barbadian or Bajan (colloquial)

Ethnic groups:

black 90%, white 4%, Asian and mixed 6%

Religions:

Protestant 67% (Anglican 40%, Pentecostal 8%, Methodist 7%, other 12%), Roman Catholic 4%, none 17%, other 12%

Languages:

English

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.7% (2002 est.)

Government

Barbados

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Barbados

Government type:

parliamentary democracy; independent sovereign state within the Commonwealth

Capital:

Bridgetown

Administrative divisions:

11 parishes; Christ Church, Saint Andrew, Saint George, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas; note - the city of Bridgetown may be given parish status

Independence:

30 November 1966 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 30 November (1966)

Constitution:

30 November 1966

Legal system:

English common law; no judicial review of legislative acts

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Clifford Straughn HUSBANDS (since 1 June 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since 7 September 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Mia MOTTLEY (since 26 May 2003)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (21-member body appointed by the governor general) and the House of Assembly (30 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Assembly - last held 21 May 2003 (next to be held by May 2008)
election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - BLP 23, DLP 7

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Judicature (judges are appointed by the Service Commissions for the Judicial and Legal Services)

Political parties and leaders:

Barbados Labor Party or BLP [Owen ARTHUR]; Democratic Labor Party or DLP [Clyde Mascoll]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Barbados Workers Union [Leroy TROTMAN]; Clement Payne Labor Union [David COMMISSIONG]; People's Progressive Movement [Eric SEALY]; Worker's Party of Barbados [Dr. George BELLE]

International organization participation:

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael Ian KING
chancery: 2144 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-9200
FAX: [1] (202) 332-7467
consulate(s) general: Miami and New York
consulate(s): Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mary E. KRAMER
embassy: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Building, Broad Street, Bridgetown; (courier) ALICO Building-Cheapside, Bridgetown
mailing address: P. O. Box 302, Bridgetown; CMR 1014, APO AA 34055
telephone: [1] (246) 436-4950
FAX: [1] (246) 429-5246, 429-3379

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold, and blue with the head of a black trident centered on the gold band; the trident head represents independence and a break with the past (the colonial coat of arms contained a complete trident)

Economy

Barbados

Economy - overview:

Historically, the Barbadian economy had been dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities, but production in recent years has diversified into light industry and tourism. Offshore finance and information services are important foreign exchange earners. The government continues its efforts to reduce unemployment, to encourage direct foreign investment, and to privatize remaining state-owned enterprises. The economy contracted in 2002-03 mainly due to a decline in tourism. Growth probably was positive in 2004, as economic conditions in the US and Europe moderately improved.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$4.569 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.3% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $16,400 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 6%
industry: 16%
services: 78% (2000 est.)

Labor force:

128,500 (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 10%, industry 15%, services 75% (1996 est.)

Unemployment rate:

10.7% (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

-0.5% (2003 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $847 million (including grants)
expenditures: $886 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000 est.)

Agriculture - products:

sugarcane, vegetables, cotton

Industries:

tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export

Industrial production growth rate:

-3.2% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:

800 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

744 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

1,271 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

10,900 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

1.254 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

29.17 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

29.17 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

70.79 million cu m (1 January 2002)

Exports:

$206 million (2002)

Exports - commodities:

sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals, electrical components

Exports - partners:

US 20.6%, UK 14.5%, Trinidad and Tobago 13.9%, Saint Lucia 6.9%, Jamaica 6.6%, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5.1% (2004)

Imports:

$1.039 billion (2002)

Imports - commodities:

consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, construction materials, chemicals, fuel, electrical components

Imports - partners:

US 35.2%, Trinidad and Tobago 20%, UK 5.6%, Japan 4.3% (2004)

Debt - external:

$668 million (2003)

Economic aid - recipient:

$9.1 million (1995)

Currency (code):

Barbadian dollar (BBD)

Currency code:

BBD

Exchange rates:

Barbadian dollars per US dollar - 2 (2004), 2 (2003), 2 (2002), 2 (2001), 2 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

Barbados

Telephones - main lines in use:

134,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

140,000 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: island-wide automatic telephone system
international: country code - 1-246; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Trinidad and Saint Lucia

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 6, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

237,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (plus two cable channels) (2004)

Televisions:

76,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.bb

Internet hosts:

204 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

19 (2000)

Internet users:

100,000 (2003)

Transportation

Barbados

Highways:

total: 1,600 km
paved: 1,578 km
unpaved: 22 km (2002)

Ports and harbors:

Bridgetown

Merchant marine:

total: 58 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 427,465 GRT/668,195 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 14, cargo 31, chemical tanker 6, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 53 (Bahamas 1, Bangladesh 1, Canada 12, Greece 11, Lebanon 2, Netherlands 1, Norway 17, UAE 1, United Kingdom 7)
registered in other countries: 1 (2005)

Airports:

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Barbados

Military branches:

Royal Barbados Defense Force: Troops Command and Coast Guard (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; volunteers at earlier age with parental consent; no conscription (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 71,330 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 51,298 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Military - note:

the Royal Barbados Defense Force includes a land-based Troop Command and a small Coast Guard; the primary role of the land element is to defend the island against external aggression; the Command consists of a single, part-time battalion with a small regular cadre that is deployed throughout the island; it increasingly supports the police in patrolling the coastline to prevent smuggling and other illicit activities (2005)

Transnational Issues

Barbados

Disputes - international:

in 2005, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago agreed to compulsory international arbitration that will result in a binding award challenging whether the northern limit of Trinidad and Tobago's and Venezuela's maritime boundary extends into Barbadian waters and the southern limit of Barbadian traditional fishing; joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the Caribbean Sea

Illicit drugs:

one of many Caribbean transshipment points for narcotics bound for Europe and the US; offshore financial center

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Botswana

Introduction

Botswana

Background:

Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name upon independence in 1966. Four decades of uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and significant capital investment have created one of the most dynamic economies in Africa. Mineral extraction, principally diamond mining, dominates economic activity, though tourism is a growing sector due to the country's conservation practices and extensive nature preserves. Botswana has one of the world's highest known rates of HIV/AIDS infection, but also one of Africa's most progressive and comprehensive programs for dealing with the disease.

Geography

Botswana

Location:

Southern Africa, north of South Africa

Geographic coordinates:

22 00 S, 24 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 600,370 sq km
land: 585,370 sq km
water: 15,000 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 4,013 km
border countries: Namibia 1,360 km, South Africa 1,840 km, Zimbabwe 813 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

semiarid; warm winters and hot summers

Terrain:

predominantly flat to gently rolling tableland; Kalahari Desert in southwest

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513 m
highest point: Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m

Natural resources:

diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash, coal, iron ore, silver

Land use:

arable land: 0.65%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 99.34% (2001)

Irrigated land:

10 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure visibility

Environment - current issues:

overgrazing; desertification; limited fresh water resources

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; population concentrated in eastern part of the country

People

Botswana

Population:

1,640,115
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 38.8% (male 322,916/female 312,735)
15-64 years: 57.5% (male 455,183/female 487,236)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 23,914/female 38,131) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 19.29 years
male: 18.64 years
female: 19.93 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

23.33 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

29.36 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

6.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 54.58 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 55.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 53.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 33.87 years
male: 33.89 years
female: 33.84 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.85 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

37.3% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

350,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

33,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)
adjective: Motswana (singular), Batswana (plural)

Ethnic groups:

Tswana (or Setswana) 79%, Kalanga 11%, Basarwa 3%, other, including Kgalagadi and white 7%

Religions:

Christian 71.6%, Badimo 6%, other 1.4%, unspecified 0.4%, none 20.6% (2001 census)

Languages:

Setswana 78.2%, Kalanga 7.9%, Sekgalagadi 2.8%, English 2.1% (official), other 8.6%, unspecified 0.4% (2001 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.8%
male: 76.9%
female: 82.4% (2003 est.)

Government

Botswana

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Botswana
conventional short form: Botswana
former: Bechuanaland

Government type:

parliamentary republic

Capital:

Gaborone

Administrative divisions:

9 districts and 5 town councils*; Central, Francistown*, Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Jwaneng*, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, Northwest, Northeast, Selebi-Pikwe*, Southeast, Southern

Independence:

30 September 1966 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day (Botswana Day), 30 September (1966)

Constitution:

March 1965, effective 30 September 1966

Legal system:

based on Roman-Dutch law and local customary law; judicial review limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Festus G. MOGAE (since 1 April 1998) and Vice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since 13 July 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Festus G. MOGAE (since 1 April 1998) and Vice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since 13 July 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president indirectly elected for a five-year term; election last held 20 October 2004 (next to be held NA 2009); vice president appointed by the president
election results: Festus G. MOGAE elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 52%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Chiefs (a largely advisory 15-member body consisting of the chiefs of the eight principal tribes, four elected subchiefs, and three members selected by the other 12 members) and the National Assembly (61 seats, 57 members are directly elected by popular vote and four are appointed by the majority party; members serve five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly elections last held 30 October 2004 (next to be held October 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - BDP 52%, BNF 26%, BCP 17%, other 5%; seats by party - BDP 44, BNF 12, BCP 1

Judicial branch:

High Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrates' Courts (one in each district)

Political parties and leaders:

Botswana Democratic Party or BDP [Festus G. MOGAE]; Botswana National Front or BNF [Otswoletse MOUPO]; Botswana Congress Party or BCP [Otlaadisa KOOSALETSE]; Botswana Alliance Movement or BAM [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO]
note: a number of minor parties joined forces in 1999 to form the BAM but did not capture any parliamentary seats; the BAM parties are: the United Action Party [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO]; the Independence Freedom Party or IFP [Motsamai MPHO]; and the Botswana Progressive Union [D. K. KWELE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Lapologang Caesar LEKOA
chancery: 1531-1533 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 244-4990
FAX: [1] (202) 244-4164

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph HUGGINS
embassy: address NA, Gaborone
mailing address: Embassy Enclave, P. O. Box 90, Gaborone
telephone: [267] 353982
FAX: [267] 312782

Flag description:

light blue with a horizontal white-edged black stripe in the center

Economy

Botswana

Economy - overview:

Botswana has maintained one of the world's highest economic growth rates since independence in 1966. Through fiscal discipline and sound management, Botswana has transformed itself from one of the poorest countries in the world to a middle-income country with a per capita GDP of $9,200 in 2004. Two major investment services rank Botswana as the best credit risk in Africa. Diamond mining has fueled much of the expansion and currently accounts for more than one-third of GDP and for 70-80% of export earnings. Tourism, financial services, subsistence farming, and cattle raising are other key sectors. On the downside, the government must deal with high rates of unemployment and poverty. Unemployment officially is 23.8%, but unofficial estimates place it closer to 40%. HIV/AIDS infection rates are the second highest in the world and threaten Botswana's impressive economic gains. An expected leveling off in diamond mining production overshadow long-term prospects.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$15.05 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $9,200 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 4%
industry: 44% (including 36% mining)
services: 52% (2003 est.)

Labor force:

264,000 formal sector employees (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:

NA

Unemployment rate:

23.8% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

47% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

25.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $3.735 billion
expenditures: $3.743 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

8.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

livestock, sorghum, maize, millet, beans, sunflowers, groundnuts

Industries:

diamonds, copper, nickel, salt, soda ash, potash; livestock processing; textiles

Industrial production growth rate:

4.4% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

930 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

1.89 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

1.025 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

16,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$337 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$2.94 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

diamonds, copper, nickel, soda ash, meat, textiles

Exports - partners:

European Free Trade Association (EFTA) 87%, Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 7%, Zimbabwe 4% (2000)

Imports:

$2.255 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, machinery, electrical goods, transport equipment, textiles, fuel and petroleum products, wood and paper products, metal and metal products

Imports - partners:

Southern African Customs Union (SACU) 74%, EFTA 17%, Zimbabwe 4% (2000)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$5.7 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$531 million (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$73 million (1995)

Currency (code):

pula (BWP)

Currency code:

BWP

Exchange rates:

pulas per US dollar - 4.6929 (2004), 4.9499 (2003), 6.3278 (2002), 5.8412 (2001), 5.1018 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

Botswana

Telephones - main lines in use:

142,400 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

435,000 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: the system is expanding with the growth of mobile cellular service and participation in regional development
domestic: small system of open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and a few radiotelephone communication stations; mobile cellular service is growing fast
international: country code - 267; two international exchanges; digital microwave radio relay links to Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 8, FM 13, shortwave 4 (2001)

Radios:

252,720 (2000)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2001)

Televisions:

31,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.bw

Internet hosts:

1,920 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

11 (2001)

Internet users:

60,000 (2002)

Transportation

Botswana

Railways:

total: 888 km
narrow gauge: 888 km 1.067-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 10,217 km
paved: 5,619 km
unpaved: 4,598 km (1999)

Airports:

85 (2004 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 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 75
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 54
under 914 m: 18 (2004 est.)

Military

Botswana

Military branches:

Botswana Defense Force (includes an Air Wing)

Military service age and obligation:

18 is the apparent age of voluntary military service; the official qualifications for determining minimum age are unknown (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 350,649 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 136,322 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 21,103 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$338.5 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3.9% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Botswana

Disputes - international:

commission established with Namibia has yet to resolve small residual disputes along the Caprivi Strip, including the Situngu marshlands along the Linyanti River; downstream Botswana residents protest Namibia's planned construction of the Okavango hydroelectric dam at Popavalle (Popa Falls); Botswana has built electric fences to stem the thousands of Zimbabweans who flee to find work and escape political persecution; Namibia has long supported and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing their short, but not clearly delimited Botswana-Zambia boundary

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Bermuda

Introduction

Bermuda

Background:

Bermuda was first settled in 1609 by shipwrecked English colonists headed for Virginia. Tourism to the island to escape North American winters first developed in Victorian times. Tourism continues to be important to the island's economy, although international business has overtaken it in recent years. Bermuda has developed into a highly successful offshore financial center. A referendum on independence was soundly defeated in 1995.

Geography

Bermuda

Location:

North America, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, east of South Carolina (US)

Geographic coordinates:

32 20 N, 64 45 W

Map references:

North America

Area:

total: 53.3 sq km
land: 53.3 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about one-third the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

103 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

subtropical; mild, humid; gales, strong winds common in winter

Terrain:

low hills separated by fertile depressions

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Town Hill 76 m

Natural resources:

limestone, pleasant climate fostering tourism

Land use:

arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 80% (55% developed, 45% rural/open space) (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA

Natural hazards:

hurricanes (June to November)

Environment - current issues:

asbestos disposal; water pollution; preservation of open space; sustainable development

Geography - note:

consists of about 138 coral islands and islets with ample rainfall, but no rivers or freshwater lakes; some land was leased by US Government from 1941 to 1995

People

Bermuda

Population:

65,365 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 18.9% (male 6,177/female 6,154)
15-64 years: 69.2% (male 22,422/female 22,828)
65 years and over: 11.9% (male 3,378/female 4,406) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 39.76 years
male: 38.78 years
female: 40.58 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.64% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

11.6 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

7.63 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 8.53 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 10.14 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.79 years
male: 75.7 years
female: 79.91 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.89 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Bermudian(s)
adjective: Bermudian

Ethnic groups:

black 54.8%, white 34.1%, mixed 6.4%, other races 4.3%, unspecified 0.4% (2000 census)

Religions:

Anglican 23%, Roman Catholic 15%, African Methodist Episcopal 11%, other Protestant 18%, other 12%, unaffiliated 6%, unspecified 1%, none 14% (2000 census)

Languages:

English (official), Portuguese

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 99% (1970 est.)

Government

Bermuda

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bermuda
former: Somers Islands

Dependency status:

overseas territory of the UK

Government type:

parliamentary British overseas territory with internal self-government

Capital:

Hamilton

Administrative divisions:

9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton, Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys, Smith's, Southampton, Warwick

Independence:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:

Bermuda Day, 24 May

Constitution:

8 June 1968; amended 1989 and 2003

Legal system:

English law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Sir John VEREKER (since 11 April 2002)
head of government: Premier William Alexander SCOTT (since 24 July 2003); Deputy Premier Ewart BROWN
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed premier by the governor

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (an 11-member body appointed by the governor, the premier, and the opposition) and the House of Assembly (36 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve up to five-year terms)
elections: last general election held 24 July 2003 (next to be held July 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 51.7%, UBP 48%; seats by party - PLP 22, UBP 14

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts

Political parties and leaders:

Progressive Labor Party or PLP [William Alexander SCOTT]; United Bermuda Party or UBP [Grant GIBBONS]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Bermuda Employer's Union [Eddie SAINTS]; Bermuda Industrial Union or BIU [Derrick BURGESS]; Bermuda Public Services Union or BPSU [Ed BALL]; Bermuda Union of Teachers [Michael CHARLES]

International organization participation:

Caricom (associate), ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU, WCO, Egmont Group, Caribbean Financial Action Task Force

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Deputy Chief of Mission Antoinette BOECKER
consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire DVO3
mailing address: P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate General Hamilton, Department of State, 5300 Hamilton Place, Washington, DC 20520-5300
telephone: [1] (441) 295-1342
FAX: [1] (441) 295-1592, [1] (441) 296-9233

Flag description:

red, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Bermudian coat of arms (white and green shield with a red lion holding a scrolled shield showing the sinking of the ship Sea Venture off Bermuda in 1609) centered on the outer half of the flag

Economy

Bermuda

Economy - overview:

Bermuda enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the world, nearly equal to that of the US. Its economy is primarily based on providing financial services for international business and luxury facilities for tourists. The effects of 11 September 2001 have had both positive and negative ramifications for Bermuda. On the positive side, a number of new reinsurance companies have located on the island, contributing to the expansion of an already robust international business sector. On the negative side, Bermuda's tourism industry - which derives over 80% of its visitors from the US - was severely hit as American tourists chose not to travel. Tourism rebounded somewhat in 2002-04. Most capital equipment and food must be imported. Bermuda's industrial sector is small, although construction continues to be important; the average cost of a house in June 2003 had risen to $976,000. Agriculture is limited, only 20% of the land being arable.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.33 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $36,000 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1%
industry: 10%
services: 89% (2002 est.)

Labor force:

37,470 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture and fishing 3%, laborers 17%, clerical 22%, professional and technical 17%, administrative and managerial 13%, sales 8%, services 20% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

5% (2002 est.)

Population below poverty line:

19% (2000)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.3% (mid-2003 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $671.1 million
expenditures: $594.6 million, including capital expenditures of $55 million (FY03/04)

Agriculture - products:

bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products

Industries:

tourism, international business, light manufacturing

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

643 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

598 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

4,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$879 million (2002)

Exports - commodities:

reexports of pharmaceuticals

Exports - partners:

France 73.2%, UK 6.2%, Spain 2.4% (2004)

Imports:

$5.523 billion (2002)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, chemicals, food and live animals

Imports - partners:

Kazakhstan 39.2%, France 16.2%, Japan 13.1%, Italy 9.2%, South Korea 8.8%, US 6.4% (2004)

Debt - external:

$160 million (FY99/00)

Economic aid - recipient:

NA

Currency (code):

Bermudian dollar (BMD)

Currency code:

BMD

Exchange rates:

Bermudian dollar per US dollar - 1.0000 (fixed rate pegged to the US dollar)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

Bermuda

Telephones - main lines in use:

56,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

37,873 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: good
domestic: fully automatic digital telephone system; fiber optic trunk lines
international: country code - 1-441; 3 fiber optic submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

82,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

4 (2004)

Televisions:

66,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.bm

Internet hosts:

5,161 (2001)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

20 (2000)

Internet users:

34,500 (2003)

Transportation

Bermuda

Highways:

total: 450 km
paved: 450 km
unpaved: 0 km
note: public roads - 209 km; private roads - 241 km (2002)

Ports and harbors:

Hamilton, Saint George

Merchant marine:

total: 108 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,845,326 GRT/6,501,782 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 22, cargo 6, container 22, liquefied gas 13, passenger 13, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 8, refrigerated cargo 11, roll on/roll off 7
foreign-owned: 103 (Australia 2, Canada 20, Finland 2, Germany 1, Greece 1, Hong Kong 5, Indonesia 1, Nigeria 8, Norway 5, Sweden 9, Switzerland 2, United Kingdom 27, United States 20)
registered in other countries: 1 (2005)

Airports:

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Bermuda

Military branches:

Bermuda Regiment

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$4.03 million (2001)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.11% (FY00/01)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues

Bermuda

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Belgium

Introduction

Belgium

Background:

Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830 and was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. It has prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition and autonomy.

Geography

Belgium

Location:

Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between France and the Netherlands

Geographic coordinates:

50 50 N, 4 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 30,528 sq km
land: 30,278 sq km
water: 250 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:

66.5 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: geographic coordinates define outer limit
continental shelf: median line with neighbors

Climate:

temperate; mild winters, cool summers; rainy, humid, cloudy

Terrain:

flat coastal plains in northwest, central rolling hills, rugged mountains of Ardennes Forest in southeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: North Sea 0 m
highest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m

Natural resources:

construction materials, silica sand, carbonates

Land use:

arable land: 23.28%
permanent crops: 0.4%
other: 76.32%
note: includes Luxembourg (2001)

Irrigated land:

40 sq km (includes Luxembourg) (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes

Environment - current issues:

the environment is exposed to intense pressures from human activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry, extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries; uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now resolved) have slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geography - note:

crossroads of Western Europe; majority of West European capitals within 1,000 km of Brussels, the seat of both the European Union and NATO

People

Belgium

Population:

10,364,388 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.9% (male 892,995/female 855,177)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 3,435,282/female 3,373,917)
65 years and over: 17.4% (male 745,178/female 1,061,839) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 40.55 years
male: 39.29 years
female: 41.81 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.15% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

10.48 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

10.22 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.68 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.27 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.62 years
male: 75.44 years
female: 81.94 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.64 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

10,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Belgian(s)
adjective: Belgian

Ethnic groups:

Fleming 58%, Walloon 31%, mixed or other 11%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 75%, Protestant or other 25%

Languages:

Dutch (official) 60%, French (official) 40%, German (official) less than 1%, legally bilingual (Dutch and French)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Belgium

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Belgium
conventional short form: Belgium
local long form: Royaume de Belgique/Koninkrijk Belgie
local short form: Belgique/Belgie

Government type:

federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarch

Capital:

Brussels

Administrative divisions:

10 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Dutch: provincies, singular - provincie) and 3 regions* (French: regions; Dutch: gewesten); Antwerpen, Brabant Wallon, Brussels* (Bruxelles), Flanders*, Hainaut, Liege, Limburg, Luxembourg, Namur, Oost-Vlaanderen, Vlaams-Brabant, Wallonia*, West-Vlaanderen
note: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a complex division of responsibilities

Independence:

4 October 1830 (a provisional government declares independence from the Netherlands); 21 July 1831 (King Leopold I ascends to the throne)

National holiday:

21 July (1831) ascension to the Throne of King Leopold I

Constitution:

7 February 1831; amended many times; revised 14 July 1993 to create a federal state

Legal system:

civil law system influenced by English constitutional theory; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: King ALBERT II (since 9 August 1993); Heir Apparent Prince PHILIPPE, son of the monarch
head of government: Prime Minister Guy VERHOFSTADT (since 13 July 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers formally appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch and then approved by parliament
note: government coalition - VLD, MR, PS, SP.A-Spirit

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of a Senate or Senaat in Dutch, Senat in French (71 seats; 40 members are directly elected by popular vote, 31 are indirectly elected; members serve four-year terms) and a Chamber of Deputies or Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers in Dutch, Chambre des Representants in French (150 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate and Chamber of Deputies - last held 18 May 2003 (next to be held no later than May 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - SP.A-Spirit 15.5%, VLD 15.4%, CD & V 12.7%, PS 12.8%, MR 12.1%, VB 9.4%, CDH 5.6%; seats by party - SP.A-Spirit 7, VLD 7, CD & V 6, PS 6, MR 5, VB 5, CDH 2, other 2 (note - there are also 31 indirectly elected senators); Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - VLD 15.4%, SP.A-Spirit 14.9%, CD & V 13.3%, PS 13.0%, VB 11.6%, MR 11.4%, CDH 5.5%, Ecolo 3.1%; seats by party - VLD 25, SP.A-Spirit 23, CD & V 21, PS 25, VB 18, MR 24, CDH 8 Ecolo 4, other 2
note: as a result of the 1993 constitutional revision that furthered devolution into a federal state, there are now three levels of government (federal, regional, and linguistic community) with a complex division of responsibilities; this reality leaves six governments each with its own legislative assembly

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Justice or Hof van Cassatie (in Dutch) or Cour de Cassation (in French) (judges are appointed for life by the Government; candidacies have to be submitted by the High Justice Council)

Political parties and leaders:

Flemish parties: Christian Democrats and Flemish or CD & V [Jo VANDEURZEN]; Flemish Liberal Democrats or VLD [Bart SOMERS]; GROEN! (formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens) [Vera DUA]; New Flemish Alliance or NVA [Bart DE WEVER]; Socialist Party.Alternative or SP.A [Caroline GENNEZ]; Spirit [Geert LAMBERT] (new party now associated with SP.A); Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) or VB [Frank VANHECKE]
Francophone parties: Ecolo (Francophone Greens) [Jean-Michel JAVAUX, Evelyne HUYTEBROECK, Claude BROUIR]; Humanist and Democratic Center of CDH [Joelle MILQUET]; National Front or FN [Daniel FERET]; Reformist Movement or MR [Didier REYNDERS]; Socialist Party or PS [Elio DI RUPO]; other minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Christian, Socialist, and Liberal Trade Unions; Federation of Belgian Industries; numerous other associations representing bankers, manufacturers, middle-class artisans, and the legal and medical professions; various organizations represent the cultural interests of Flanders and Wallonia; various peace groups such as Pax Christi and groups representing immigrants

International organization participation:

ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Franciskus VAN DAELE
chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900
FAX: [1] (202) 333-3079
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Los Angeles, and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Tom C. KOROLOGOS
embassy: Regentlaan 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels
mailing address: PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710
telephone: [32] (2) 508-2111
FAX: [32] (2) 511-2725

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of black (hoist side), yellow, and red; the design was based on the flag of France

Economy

Belgium

Economy - overview:

This modern private enterprise economy has capitalized on its central geographic location, highly developed transport network, and diversified industrial and commercial base. Industry is concentrated mainly in the populous Flemish area in the north. With few natural resources, Belgium must import substantial quantities of raw materials and export a large volume of manufactures, making its economy unusually dependent on the state of world markets. Roughly three-quarters of its trade is with other EU countries. Public debt is nearly 100% of GDP. On the positive side, the government has succeeded in balancing its budget, and income distribution is relatively equal. Belgium began circulating the euro currency in January 2002. Economic growth in 2001-03 dropped sharply because of the global economic slowdown, with moderate recovery in 2004.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$316.2 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $30,600 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1.3%
industry: 25.7%
services: 73% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

4.75 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 1.3%, industry 24.5%, services 74.2% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:

12% (first half, 2004)

Population below poverty line:

4% (1989 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 23% (1996)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

28.7 (1996)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.9% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $173.7 billion
expenditures: $174.8 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.56 billion (2004 est.)

Public debt:

96.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef, veal, pork, milk

Industries:

engineering and metal products, motor vehicle assembly, transportation equipment, scientific instruments, processed food and beverages, chemicals, basic metals, textiles, glass, petroleum

Industrial production growth rate:

3.5% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

76.58 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 38.4%
hydro: 0.6%
nuclear: 59.3%
other: 1.8% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

78.82 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

9.1 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

16.7 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

595,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

450,000 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:

1.042 million bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

15.5 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

15.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Current account balance:

$11.4 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$255.7 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal products, foodstuffs

Exports - partners:

Germany 19.9%, France 17.2%, Netherlands 11.8%, UK 8.6%, US 6.5%, Italy 5.2% (2004)

Imports:

$235 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products

Imports - partners:

Germany 18.4%, Netherlands 17%, France 12.5%, UK 6.8%, Ireland 6.3%, US 5.5% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$14.45 billion (2003)

Debt - external:

$28.3 billion (1999 est.)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $1.072 billion (2002)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries

Currency code:

EUR

Exchange rates:

euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Belgium

Telephones - main lines in use:

5,120,400 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

8,135,500 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: highly developed, technologically advanced, and completely automated domestic and international telephone and telegraph facilities
domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; extensive cable network; limited microwave radio relay network
international: country code - 32; 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Eutelsat

Radio broadcast stations:

FM 79, AM 7, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

8.075 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

4.72 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.be

Internet hosts:

166,799 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

61 (2000)

Internet users:

3.4 million (2002)

Transportation

Belgium

Railways:

total: 3,521 km
standard gauge: 3,521 km 1.435-m gauge (2,927 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 149,028 km
paved: 116,540 km (including 1,729 km of expressways)
unpaved: 32,488 km (2002)

Waterways:

2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) (2003)

Pipelines:

gas 1,485 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Antwerp, Brussels, Gent, Liege, Oostende, Zeebrugge

Merchant marine:

total: 53 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,146,301 GRT/1,588,184 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 15, cargo 2, chemical tanker 2, container 8, liquefied gas 17, petroleum tanker 9
foreign-owned: 12 (Denmark 4, France 4, Greece 4)
registered in other countries: 101 (2005)

Airports:

43 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 25
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 7 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 16 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

Belgium

Military branches:

Land, Naval, and Air Components (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

16 years of age for voluntary military service; women comprise some 7% of the Belgian armed forces (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,436,736 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,998,003 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 64,263 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$3.999 billion (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.3% (2003)

Transnational Issues

Belgium

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

growing producer of synthetic drugs; transit point for US-bound ecstasy; source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for cocaine, heroin, hashish, and marijuana entering Western Europe; despite a strengthening of legislation, the country remains vulnerable to money laundering related to narcotics, automobiles, alcohol, and tobacco

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Bahamas, The

Introduction

Bahamas, The

Background:

Arawak Indians inhabited the islands when Christopher Columbus first set foot in the New World on San Salvador in 1492. British settlement of the islands began in 1647; the islands became a colony in 1783. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973, The Bahamas have prospered through tourism and international banking and investment management. Because of its geography, the country is a major transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularly shipments to the US, and its territory is used for smuggling illegal migrants into the US.

Geography

Bahamas, The

Location:

Caribbean, chain of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Florida, northeast of Cuba

Geographic coordinates:

24 15 N, 76 00 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 13,940 sq km
land: 10,070 sq km
water: 3,870 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

3,542 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical marine; moderated by warm waters of Gulf Stream

Terrain:

long, flat coral formations with some low rounded hills

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island 63 m

Natural resources:

salt, aragonite, timber, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 0.8%
permanent crops: 0.4%
other: 98.8% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA

Natural hazards:

hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive flood and wind damage

Environment - current issues:

coral reef decay; solid waste disposal

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location adjacent to US and Cuba; extensive island chain of which 30 are inhabited

People

Bahamas, The

Population:

301,790
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 27.9% (male 42,142/female 42,096)
15-64 years: 65.9% (male 97,865/female 101,047)
65 years and over: 6.2% (male 7,616/female 11,024) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 27.55 years
male: 26.78 years
female: 28.34 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.67% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

17.87 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

8.97 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-2.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 25.21 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 31.02 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 65.54 years
male: 62.11 years
female: 69.04 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.2 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

3% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

5,600 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Bahamian(s)
adjective: Bahamian

Ethnic groups:

black 85%, white 12%, Asian and Hispanic 3%

Religions:

Baptist 35.4%, Anglican 15.1%, Roman Catholic 13.5%, Pentecostal 8.1%, Church of God 4.8%, Methodist 4.2%, other Christian 15.2%, none or unspecified 2.9%, other 0.8% (2000 census)

Languages:

English (official), Creole (among Haitian immigrants)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.6%
male: 94.7%
female: 96.5% (2003 est.)

Government

Bahamas, The

Country name:

conventional long form: Commonwealth of The Bahamas
conventional short form: The Bahamas

Government type:

constitutional parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Nassau

Administrative divisions:

21 districts; Acklins and Crooked Islands, Bimini, Cat Island, Exuma, Freeport, Fresh Creek, Governor's Harbour, Green Turtle Cay, Harbour Island, High Rock, Inagua, Kemps Bay, Long Island, Marsh Harbour, Mayaguana, New Providence, Nichollstown and Berry Islands, Ragged Island, Rock Sound, Sandy Point, San Salvador and Rum Cay

Independence:

10 July 1973 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 10 July (1973)

Constitution:

10 July 1973

Legal system:

based on English common law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dame Ivy DUMONT (since NA May 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Perry CHRISTIE (since 3 May 2002) and Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia PRATT (since 7 May 2002)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the prime minister's recommendation
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; the prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (16-member body appointed by the governor general upon the advice of the prime minister and the opposition leader for five-year terms) and the House of Assembly (40 seats; members elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms); the government may dissolve the parliament and call elections at any time
elections: last held 1 May 2002 (next to be held by May 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - PLP 50.8%, FNM 41.1%, independents 5.2%; seats by party - PLP 29, FNM 7, independents 4

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; magistrates courts

Political parties and leaders:

Free National Movement or FNM [Tommy TURNQUEST]; Progressive Liberal Party or PLP [Perry CHRISTIE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOM, IOC, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Joshua SEARS
chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668
consulate(s) general: Miami and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador John D. ROOD
embassy: 42 Queen Street, Nassau
mailing address: local or express mail address: P. O. Box N-8197, Nassau; Department of State, 3370 Nassau Place, Washington, DC 20521-3370
telephone: [1] (242) 322-1181, 328-2206 (after hours)
FAX: [1] (242) 356-0222

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of aquamarine (top), gold, and aquamarine, with a black equilateral triangle based on the hoist side

Economy

Bahamas, The

Economy - overview:

The Bahamas is a stable, developing nation with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and offshore banking. Tourism alone accounts for more than 60% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs half of the archipelago's labor force. Steady growth in tourism receipts and a boom in construction of new hotels, resorts, and residences had led to solid GDP growth in recent years, but the slowdown in the US economy and the attacks of 11 September 2001 held back growth in these sectors in 2001-03. Financial services constitute the second-most important sector of the Bahamian economy, accounting for about 15% of GDP. However, since December 2000, when the government enacted new regulations on the financial sector, many international businesses have left The Bahamas. Manufacturing and agriculture together contribute approximately a tenth of GDP and show little growth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors. Overall growth prospects in the short run rest heavily on the fortunes of the tourism sector, which depends on growth in the US, the source of more than 80% of the visitors. In addition to tourism and banking, the government supports the development of a "third pillar," e-commerce.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$5.295 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $17,700 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3%
industry: 7%
services: 90% (2001 est.)

Labor force:

156,000 (1999)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 5%, industry 5%, tourism 50%, other services 40% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:

10.2% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: 27% (2000)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.2% (year ending September 2004)

Budget:

revenues: $1 billion
expenditures: $1 billion, including capital expenditures of $106.7 million (FY03/04)

Agriculture - products:

citrus, vegetables; poultry

Industries:

tourism, banking, cement, oil transshipment, salt, rum, aragonite, pharmaceuticals, spiral-welded steel pipe

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

1.716 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

1.596 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

23,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

transhipments of 29,000 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$636 million (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities:

mineral products and salt, animal products, rum, chemicals; fruit and vegetables

Exports - partners:

US 40.2%, Poland 13.3%, Spain 11.6%, Germany 5.9%, France 4.3% (2004)

Imports:

$1.63 billion (2003)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, mineral fuels; food and live animals

Imports - partners:

US 22.4%, South Korea 18.9%, Brazil 9.2%, Japan 7.9%, Italy 7.8%, Venezuela 6.6% (2004)

Debt - external:

$308.5 million (2002)

Economic aid - recipient:

$9.8 million (1995)

Currency (code):

Bahamian dollar (BSD)

Currency code:

BSD

Exchange rates:

Bahamian dollars per US dollar - 1 (2004), 1 (2003), 1 (2002), 1 (2001), 1 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Communications

Bahamas, The

Telephones - main lines in use:

131,700 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

121,800 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern facilities
domestic: totally automatic system; highly developed
international: country code - 1-242; tropospheric scatter and submarine cable to Florida; 3 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (1997)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 3, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

215,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (2004)

Televisions:

67,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.bs

Internet hosts:

302 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

19 (2000)

Internet users:

84,000 (2003)

Transportation

Bahamas, The

Highways:

total: 2,693 km
paved: 1,546 km
unpaved: 1,147 km (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors:

Freeport, Nassau, South Riding Point

Merchant marine:

total: 1,119
by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 183, cargo 259, chemical tanker 54, combination ore/oil 17, container 74, liquefied gas 28, livestock carrier 2, passenger 116, passenger/cargo 40, petroleum tanker 168, refrigerated cargo 130, roll on/roll off 20, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 24
foreign-owned: 968 (Angola 4, Australia 4, Belgium 17, Canada 9, China 3, Croatia 1, Cuba 1, Cyprus 13, Denmark 18, Estonia 1, Finland 7, France 28, Germany 15, Greece 194, Hong Kong 11, Indonesia 2, Ireland 1, Israel 1, Italy 7, Japan 49, Jordan 2, Kenya 1, Latvia 1, Malaysia 12, Monaco 15, Netherlands 24, New Zealand 1, Nigeria 2, Norway 229, Poland 13, Reunion 1, Russia 2, Saudi Arabia 12, Serbia & Montenegro 2, Singapore 11, Slovenia 1, South Korea 1, Spain 6, Sweden 9, Switzerland 4, Thailand 1, Trinidad & Tobago 2, Turkey 7, UAE 12, United Kingdom 55, United States 154, Uruguay 2)
registered in other countries: 35 (2005)

Airports:

63 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 29
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 34
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

Bahamas, The

Military branches:

Royal Bahamaian Defense Force (naval forces) (2004)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Transnational Issues

Bahamas, The

Disputes - international:

have not been able to agree on the alignment of a maritime boundary with the US; continues to monitor and interdict Haitian refugees fleeing economic privation and political instability

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for US and Europe; offshore financial center

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Bangladesh

Introduction

Bangladesh

Background:

Bangladesh came into existence in 1971 when Bengali East Pakistan seceded from its union with West Pakistan. About a third of this extremely poor country floods annually during the monsoon rainy season, hampering economic development.

Geography

Bangladesh

Location:

Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India

Geographic coordinates:

24 00 N, 90 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 144,000 sq km
land: 133,910 sq km
water: 10,090 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Iowa

Land boundaries:

total: 4,246 km
border countries: Burma 193 km, India 4,053 km

Coastline:

580 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: up to the outer limits of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical; mild winter (October to March); hot, humid summer (March to June); humid, warm rainy monsoon (June to October)

Terrain:

mostly flat alluvial plain; hilly in southeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Keokradong 1,230 m

Natural resources:

natural gas, arable land, timber, coal

Land use:

arable land: 62.11%
permanent crops: 3.07%
other: 34.82% (2001)

Irrigated land:

38,440 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely inundated during the summer monsoon season

Environment - current issues:

many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; water-borne diseases prevalent in surface water; water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results from the use of commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by naturally occurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; severe overpopulation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

most of the country is situated on deltas of large rivers flowing from the Himalayas: the Ganges unites with the Jamuna (main channel of the Brahmaputra) and later joins the Meghna to eventually empty into the Bay of Bengal

People

Bangladesh

Population:

144,319,628 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 33.1% (male 24,590,207/female 23,162,420)
15-64 years: 63.5% (male 46,764,824/female 44,868,733)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 2,650,683/female 2,282,761) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 21.87 years
male: 21.88 years
female: 21.85 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.09% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

30.01 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

8.4 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.16 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 62.6 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 63.65 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 61.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 62.08 years
male: 62.13 years
female: 62.02 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.13 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

13,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

650 (2001 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in some locations
water contact disease: leptospirosis
animal contact disease: rabies (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Bangladeshi(s)
adjective: Bangladeshi

Ethnic groups:

Bengali 98%, tribal groups, non-Bengali Muslims (1998)

Religions:

Muslim 83%, Hindu 16%, other 1% (1998)

Languages:

Bangla (official, also known as Bengali), English

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 43.1%
male: 53.9%
female: 31.8% (2003 est.)

Government

Bangladesh

Country name:

conventional long form: People's Republic of Bangladesh
conventional short form: Bangladesh
former: East Pakistan

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Dhaka

Administrative divisions:

6 divisions; Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, and Sylhet

Independence:

16 December 1971 (from West Pakistan); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is known as Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh

National holiday:

Independence Day, 26 March (1971); note - 26 March 1971 is the date of independence from West Pakistan, 16 December 1971 is Victory Day and commemorates the official creation of the state of Bangladesh

Constitution:

4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972; suspended following coup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986; amended many times

Legal system:

based on English common law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Iajuddin AHMED (since 6 September 2002); note - the president's duties are normally ceremonial, but with the 13th amendment to the constitution ("Caretaker Government Amendment"), the president's role becomes significant at times when Parliament is dissolved and a caretaker government is installed - at presidential direction - to supervise the elections
head of government: Prime Minister Khaleda ZIA (since 10 October 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the prime minister and appointed by the president
elections: president elected by National Parliament for a five-year term; election scheduled for 16 September 2002 was not held since Iajuddin AHMED was the only presidential candidate; he was sworn in on 6 September 2002 (next election to be held by NA 2007); following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats is usually appointed prime minister by the president
election results: Iajuddin AHMED declared by the Election Commission elected unopposed as president; percent of National Parliament vote - NA

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Parliament or Jatiya Sangsad; 300 seats elected by popular vote from single territorial constituencies (the constitutional amendment reserving 30 seats for women over and above the 300 regular parliament seats expired in May 2001); members serve five-year terms
elections: last held 1 October 2001 (next to be held before October 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - BNP and alliance partners 47%, AL 40%; seats by party - BNP 195, AL 58, JI 17, JP (Ershad faction) 14, IOJ 3, JP (Naziur) 4, other 9; note - the election of October 2001 brought a majority BNP government aligned with three other smaller parties - Jamaat-e-Islami, Islami Oikya Jote, and Jatiya Party (Manzur)

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (the chief justices and other judges are appointed by the president)

Political parties and leaders:

Awami League or AL [Sheikh HASINA]; Bangladesh Communist Party or BCP [Saifuddin Ahmed MANIK]; Bangladesh Nationalist Party or BNP [Khaleda ZIA, chairperson]; Islami Oikya Jote or IOJ [Mufti Fazlul Haq AMINI]; Jamaat-e-Islami or JI [Motiur Rahman NIZAMI]; Jatiya Party or JP (Ershad faction) [Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD]; Jatiya Party (Manzur faction) [Naziur Rahman MANZUR]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Shamsher Mobin CHOWDHURY
chancery: 3510 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 244-0183
FAX: [1] (202) 244-5366
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Harry K. THOMAS, Jr.
embassy: Madani Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka 1212
mailing address: G. P. O. Box 323, Dhaka 1000
telephone: [880] (2) 885-5500
FAX: [880] (2) 882-3744

Flag description:

green with a large red disk slightly to the hoist side of center; the red sun of freedom represents the blood shed to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the lush countryside, and secondarily, the traditional color of Islam

Economy

Bangladesh

Economy - overview:

Despite sustained domestic and international efforts to improve economic and demographic prospects, Bangladesh remains a poor, overpopulated, and ill-governed nation. Although half of GDP is generated through the service sector, nearly two-thirds of Bangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector, with rice as the single-most-important product. Major impediments to growth include frequent cyclones and floods, inefficient state-owned enterprises, inadequate port facilities, a rapidly growing labor force that cannot be absorbed by agriculture, delays in exploiting energy resources (natural gas), insufficient power supplies, and slow implementation of economic reforms. Economic reform is stalled in many instances by political infighting and corruption at all levels of government. Progress also has been blocked by opposition from the bureaucracy, public sector unions, and other vested interest groups. The BNP government, led by Prime Minister Khaleda ZIA, has the parliamentary strength to push through needed reforms, but the party's political will to do so has been lacking in key areas. One encouraging note: growth has been a steady 5% for the past several years.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$275.7 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 21.2%
industry: 27.1%
services: 51.7% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

65.49 million
note: extensive export of labor to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Qatar, and Malaysia; workers' remittances estimated at $1.71 billion in 1998-99 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 63%, industry 11%, services 26% (FY95/96)

Unemployment rate:

40% (includes underemployment) (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

45% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.9%
highest 10%: 28.6% (1995-96 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

33.6 (FY95/96)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

23.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $5.921 billion
expenditures: $8.262 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

43% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, tobacco, pulses, oilseeds, spices, fruit; beef, milk, poultry

Industries:

cotton textiles, jute, garments, tea processing, paper newsprint, cement, chemical fertilizer, light engineering, sugar

Industrial production growth rate:

6.5% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

16.45 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 93.7%
hydro: 6.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

15.3 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

3,581 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

71,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

28.45 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

9.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

9.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

150.3 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$216.6 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$7.478 billion (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood (2001)

Exports - partners:

US 22.4%, Germany 14.5%, UK 11.2%, France 6.9%, Italy 4% (2004)

Imports:

$10.03 billion (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles, foodstuffs, petroleum products, cement (2000)

Imports - partners:

India 15.1%, China 12.5%, Singapore 7.5%, Kuwait 5.5%, Japan 5.3%, Hong Kong 4.5% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$3 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$19.97 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$1.575 billion (2000 est.)

Currency (code):

taka (BDT)

Currency code:

BDT

Exchange rates:

taka per US dollar - 59.513 (2004), 58.15 (2003), 57.888 (2002), 55.807 (2001), 52.142 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Communications

Bangladesh

Telephones - main lines in use:

740,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.365 million (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: totally inadequate for a modern country
domestic: modernizing; introducing digital systems; trunk systems include VHF and UHF microwave radio relay links, and some fiber-optic cable in cities
international: country code - 880; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); international radiotelephone communications and landline service to neighboring countries (2000)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 12, FM 12, shortwave 2 (1999)

Radios:

6.15 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

15 (1999)

Televisions:

770,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.bd

Internet hosts:

1 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

10 (2000)

Internet users:

243,000 (2003)

Transportation

Bangladesh

Railways:

total: 2,706 km
broad gauge: 884 km 1.676-m gauge
narrow gauge: 1,822 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 207,486 km
paved: 19,773 km
unpaved: 187,713 km (1999)

Waterways:

8,372 km
note: includes 2,575 km main cargo routes (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 2,012 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Chittagong, Mongla Port

Merchant marine:

total: 41 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 319,897 GRT/440,575 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 28, container 6, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 4
foreign-owned: 10 (China 1, Singapore 9)
registered in other countries: 14 (2005)

Airports:

16 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 15
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 6 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Bangladesh

Military branches:

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 35,170,019 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 26,841,255 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$995.3 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.8% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Bangladesh

Disputes - international:

discussions with India remain stalled to delimit a small section of river boundary, exchange 162 miniscule enclaves in both countries, allocate divided villages, and stop illegal cross-border trade, migration, violence, and transit of terrorists through the porous border; Bangladesh protests India's attempts to fence off high-traffic sections of the porous boundary; a joint Bangladesh-India boundary inspection in 2005 revealed 92 pillars are missing; dispute with India over New Moore/South Talpatty/Purbasha Island in the Bay of Bengal deters maritime boundary delimitation; Burmese Muslim refugees strain Bangladesh's meager resources

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 61,000 (land conflicts, religious persecution) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Belize

Introduction

Belize

Background:

Territorial disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of Belize (formerly British Honduras) until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation until 1992. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. The country remains plagued by high unemployment, growing involvement in the South American drug trade, and increasing urban crime.

Geography

Belize

Location:

Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Mexico

Geographic coordinates:

17 15 N, 88 45 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 22,966 sq km
land: 22,806 sq km
water: 160 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Land boundaries:

total: 516 km
border countries: Guatemala 266 km, Mexico 250 km

Coastline:

386 km

Maritime claims:

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
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; very hot and humid; rainy season (May to November); dry season (February to May)

Terrain:

flat, swampy coastal plain; low mountains in south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m

Natural resources:

arable land potential, timber, fish, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 2.85%
permanent crops: 1.71%
other: 95.44% (2001)

Irrigated land:

30 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and coastal flooding (especially in south)

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

only country in Central America without a coastline on the North Pacific Ocean

People

Belize

Population:

279,457 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 40.1% (male 57,114/female 54,877)
15-64 years: 56.4% (male 79,694/female 77,881)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 4,768/female 5,123) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 19.35 years
male: 19.21 years
female: 19.49 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.33% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

29.34 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.04 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 25.69 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 28.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 22.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 68.44 years
male: 66.54 years
female: 70.44 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.68 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

2.4% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

3,600 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Belizean(s)
adjective: Belizean

Ethnic groups:

mestizo 48.7%, Creole 24.9%, Maya 10.6%, Garifuna 6.1%, other 9.7%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 49.6%, Protestant 27% (Pentecostal 7.4%, Anglican 5.3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 5.2%, Mennonite 4.1%, Methodist 3.5%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.5%), other 14%, none 9.4% (2000)

Languages:

English (official), Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib), Creole

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.1%
male: 94.1%
female: 94.1% (2003 est.)

Government

Belize

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Belize
former: British Honduras

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Belmopan

Administrative divisions:

6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek, Toledo

Independence:

21 September 1981 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 21 September (1981)

Constitution:

21 September 1981

Legal system:

English law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG, Sr. (since 17 November 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Said Wilbert MUSA (since 28 August 1998); Deputy Prime Minister John BRICENO (since 1 September 1998)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; prime minister recommends the deputy prime minister

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (12 members appointed by the governor general - six on the advice of the prime minister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and one each on the advice of the Belize Council of Churches and Evangelical Association of Churches, the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Belize Better Business Bureau, and the National Trade Union Congress and the Civil Society Steering Committee; members are appointed for five-year terms) and the House of Representatives (29 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 5 March 2003 (next to be held March 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PUP 21, UDP 8

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister)

Political parties and leaders:

People's United Party or PUP [Said MUSA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Dean BARROW, party leader; Douglas SINGH, party chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Society for the Promotion of Education and Research or SPEAR [Adele CATZIM]

International organization participation:

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Lisa M. SHOMAN
chancery: 2535 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-9636
FAX: [1] (202) 332-6888
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Russell F. FREEMAN
embassy: 29 Gabourel Lane, Belize City
mailing address: P. O. Box 286, Belize City
telephone: [501] 227-7161 through 7163
FAX: [501] 2-30802

Flag description:

blue with a narrow red stripe along the top and the bottom edges; centered is a large white disk bearing the coat of arms; the coat of arms features a shield flanked by two workers in front of a mahogany tree with the related motto SUB UMBRA FLOREO (I Flourish in the Shade) on a scroll at the bottom, all encircled by a green garland

Economy

Belize

Economy - overview:

In this small, essentially private enterprise economy the tourism industry is the number one foreign exchange earner followed by marine products, citrus, cane sugar, bananas, and garments. The government's expansionary monetary and fiscal policies, initiated in September 1998, led to sturdy GDP growth averaging nearly 6% in 1999-2004. Major concerns continue to be the sizable trade deficit and foreign debt. A key short-term objective remains the reduction of poverty with the help of international donors.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.778 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $6,500 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 17.7%
industry: 15%
services: 67.3% (2003 est.)

Labor force:

90,000
note: shortage of skilled labor and all types of technical personnel (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 27%, industry 18%, services 55% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate:

12.9% (2003)

Population below poverty line:

33% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.9% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

33.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $244.5 million
expenditures: $300 million, including capital expenditures of $70 million (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

bananas, coca, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber; garments

Industries:

garment production, food processing, tourism, construction

Industrial production growth rate:

4.6% (1999)

Electricity - production:

117 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 59.9%
hydro: 40.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

108.8 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

5,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-115 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$401.4 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood

Exports - partners:

US 37.2%, UK 26.8%, Jamaica 4.6% (2004)

Imports:

$579.9 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco

Imports - partners:

US 30.1%, Mexico 12%, Guatemala 7.4%, Cuba 7.2%, China 4.2%, Japan 4.1% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$111.1 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.362 billion (June 2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

NA

Currency (code):

Belizean dollar (BZD)

Currency code:

BZD

Exchange rates:

Belizean dollars per US dollar - 2 (2004), 2 (2003), 2 (2002), 2 (2001), 2 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

Belize

Telephones - main lines in use:

33,300 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

60,400 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: above-average system
domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay
international: country code - 501; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

133,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (1997)

Televisions:

41,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.bz

Internet hosts:

2,613 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

30,000 (2002)

Transportation

Belize

Highways:

total: 2,872 km
paved: 488 km
unpaved: 2,384 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

825 km (navigable only by small craft) (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Belize City

Merchant marine:

total: 295 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,015,270 GRT/1,336,890 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 25, cargo 207, chemical tanker 9, container 6, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 20, refrigerated cargo 17, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned: 142 (Australia 2, Belgium 1, China 50, Cuba 1, Cyprus 1, Estonia 9, Germany 4, Hong Kong 6, Indonesia 3, Italy 2, Japan 5, Latvia 4, Malaysia 1, Nigeria 1, Pakistan 1, Poland 2, Russia 23, Singapore 5, South Korea 6, Spain 3, Switzerland 1, Turkey 2, Ukraine 4, UAE 3, United States 2) (2005)

Airports:

43 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 38
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 26 (2004 est.)

Military

Belize

Military branches:

Belize Defense Force (BDF): Army, Maritime Wing, Air Wing, and Volunteer Guard

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; laws allow for conscription only if volunteers are insufficient; conscription has never been implemented; volunteers typically outnumber available positions by 3:1 (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 60,750 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 41,368 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 3,209 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$18 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2% (2003)

Transnational Issues

Belize

Disputes - international:

Guatemalan squatters continue to settle in the largely uninhabited rain forests of Belize's border region; OAS is attempting to revive the 2002 failed Differendum that created a small adjustment to land boundary, a Guatemalan maritime corridor in Caribbean, joint ecological park for disputed Sapodilla Cays, and substantial US-UK financial package

Illicit drugs:

major transshipment point for cocaine; small-scale illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; money-laundering activity related to narcotics trafficking and offshore sector

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Introduction

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Background:

Bosnia and Herzegovina's declaration of sovereignty in October 1991, was followed by a declaration of independence from the former Yugoslavia on 3 March 1992 after a referendum boycotted by ethnic Serbs. The Bosnian Serbs - supported by neighboring Serbia and Montenegro - responded with armed resistance aimed at partitioning the republic along ethnic lines and joining Serb-held areas to form a "Greater Serbia." In March 1994, Bosniaks and Croats reduced the number of warring factions from three to two by signing an agreement creating a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On 21 November 1995, in Dayton, Ohio, the warring parties initialed a peace agreement that brought to a halt three years of interethnic civil strife (the final agreement was signed in Paris on 14 December 1995). The Dayton Agreement retained Bosnia and Herzegovina's international boundaries and created a joint multi-ethnic and democratic government. This national government was charged with conducting foreign, diplomatic, and fiscal policy. Also recognized was a second tier of government comprised of two entities roughly equal in size: the Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska (RS). The Federation and RS governments were charged with overseeing most government functions. The Office of the High Representative (OHR) was established to oversee the implementation of the civilian aspects of the agreement. In 1995-96, a NATO-led international peacekeeping force (IFOR) of 60,000 troops served in Bosnia to implement and monitor the military aspects of the agreement. IFOR was succeeded by a smaller, NATO-led Stabilization Force (SFOR) whose mission was to deter renewed hostilities. European Union peacekeeping troops (EUFOR) replaced SFOR in December 2004; their mission was to maintain peace and stability throughout the country.

Geography

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Location:

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Croatia

Geographic coordinates:

44 00 N, 18 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 51,129 sq km
land: 51,129 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries:

total: 1,459 km
border countries: Croatia 932 km, Serbia and Montenegro 527 km

Coastline:

20 km

Maritime claims:

no data available

Climate:

hot summers and cold winters; areas of high elevation have short, cool summers and long, severe winters; mild, rainy winters along coast

Terrain:

mountains and valleys

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Maglic 2,386 m

Natural resources:

coal, iron ore, bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, cobalt, manganese, nickel, clay, gypsum, salt, sand, forests, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 13.6%
permanent crops: 2.96%
other: 83.44% (2001)

Irrigated land:

20 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

destructive earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

air pollution from metallurgical plants; sites for disposing of urban waste are limited; water shortages and destruction of infrastructure because of the 1992-95 civil strife; deforestation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

within Bosnia and Herzegovina's recognized borders, the country is divided into a joint Bosniak/Croat Federation (about 51% of the territory) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska or RS (about 49% of the territory); the region called Herzegovina is contiguous to Croatia and Serbia and Montenegro (Montenegro), and traditionally has been settled by an ethnic Croat majority in the west and an ethnic Serb majority in the east

People

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Population:

4,025,476 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 18.3% (male 378,784/female 358,784)
15-64 years: 70.7% (male 1,458,405/female 1,388,793)
65 years and over: 10.9% (male 188,741/female 251,969) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 36.21 years
male: 35.81 years
female: 36.63 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.44% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

12.49 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

8.44 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 21.05 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 23.62 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.83 years
male: 74.21 years
female: 81.72 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.71 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

900 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

100 (2001 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Bosnian(s), Herzegovinian(s)
adjective: Bosnian, Herzegovinian

Ethnic groups:

Serb 37.1%, Bosniak 48%, Croat 14.3%, other 0.6% (2000)
note: Bosniak has replaced Muslim as an ethnic term in part to avoid confusion with the religious term Muslim - an adherent of Islam

Religions:

Muslim 40%, Orthodox 31%, Roman Catholic 15%, other 14%

Languages:

Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.6%
male: 98.4%
female: 91.1% (2000 est.)

Government

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bosnia and Herzegovina
local long form: none
local short form: Bosna i Hercegovina
former: People's Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Socialist Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Government type:

emerging federal democratic republic

Capital:

Sarajevo

Administrative divisions:

2 first-order administrative divisions and 1 internationally supervised district* - Brcko district (Brcko Distrikt)*, the Bosniak/Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Federacija Bosna i Hercegovina) and the Bosnian Serb-led Republika Srpska; note - Brcko district is in northeastern Bosnia and is an administrative unit under the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina; the district remains under international supervision

Independence:

1 March 1992 (from Yugoslavia; referendum for independence was completed 1 March 1992; independence was declared 3 March 1992)

National holiday:

National Day, 25 November (1943)

Constitution:

the Dayton Agreement, signed 14 December 1995, included a new constitution now in force; note - each of the entities also has its own constitution

Legal system:

based on civil law system

Suffrage:

18 years of age, universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Chairman of the Presidency Ivo Miro JOVIC (since 28 June 2005; presidency member since 9 May 2005 - Croat; note - Dragan COVIC was sacked by High Representative Paddy ASHDOWN on 29 Mar 2005); other members of the three-member rotating (every eight months) presidency: Borislav PARAVAC (since 10 April 2003 - Serb); and Sulejman TIHIC (since 5 October 2002 - Bosniak)
head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers Adnan TERZIC (since 20 December 2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the council chairman; approved by the National House of Representatives
elections: the three members of the presidency (one Bosniak, one Croat, one Serb) are elected by popular vote for a four-year term; the member with the most votes becomes the chairman unless he or she was the incumbent chairman at the time of the election, but the chairmanship rotates every eight months; election last held 5 October 2002 (next to be held NA 2006); the chairman of the Council of Ministers is appointed by the presidency and confirmed by the National House of Representatives
election results: percent of vote - Mirko SAROVIC with 35.5% of the Serb vote was elected chairman of the collective presidency for the first eight months; Dragan COVIC received 61.5% of the Croat vote; Sulejman TIHIC received 37% of the Bosniak vote
note: President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Niko LOZANCIC (since 27 January 2003); Vice Presidents Sahbaz DZIHANOVIC (since NA 2003) and Desnica RADIVOJEVIC (since NA 2003); President of the Republika Srpska: Dragan CAVIC (since 28 November 2002)

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliamentary Assembly or Skupstina consists of the National House of Representatives or Predstavnicki Dom (42 seats - elected by proportional representation, 28 seats allocated from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and 14 seats from the Republika Srpska; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); and the House of Peoples or Dom Naroda (15 seats - 5 Bosniak, 5 Croat, 5 Serb; members elected by the Bosniak/Croat Federation's House of Representatives and the Republika Srpska's National Assembly to serve four-year terms); note - Bosnia's election law specifies four-year terms for the state and first-order administrative division entity legislatures
elections: National House of Representatives - elections last held 5 October 2002 (next to be held in NA 2006); House of Peoples - last constituted NA January 2003 (next to be constituted in 2007)
election results: National House of Representatives - percent of vote by party/coalition - SDA 21.9%, SDS 14.0%, SBiH 10.5%, SDP 10.4%, SNSD 9.8%, HDZ 9.5%, PDP 4.6%, others 19.3%; seats by party/coalition - SDA 10, SDS 5, SBiH 6, SDP 4, SNSD 3, HDZ 5, PDP 2, others 7; House of Peoples - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA%; seats by party/coalition - NA
note: the Bosniak/Croat Federation has a bicameral legislature that consists of a House of Representatives (98 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); elections last held 5 October 2002 (next to be held NA October 2006); percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party/coalition - SDA 32, HDZ-BiH 16, SDP 15, SBiH 15, other 20; and a House of Peoples (60 seats - 30 Bosniak, 30 Croat); last constituted December 2002; the Republika Srpska has a National Assembly (83 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); elections last held 5 October 2002 (next to be held in the fall of 2006); percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party/coalition - SDS 26, SNSD 19, PDP 9, SDA 6, SRS 4, SPRS 3, DNZ 3, SBiH 4, SDP 3, others 6; as a result of the 2002 constitutional reform process, a 28-member Republika Srpska Council of Peoples (COP) was established in the Republika Srpska National Assembly including 8 Croats, 8 Bosniaks, 8 Serbs, and 4 members of the smaller communities

Judicial branch:

BiH Constitutional Court (consists of nine members: four members are selected by the Bosniak/Croat Federation's House of Representatives, two members by the Republika Srpska's National Assembly, and three non-Bosnian members by the president of the European Court of Human Rights); BiH State Court (consists of nine judges and three divisions - Administrative, Appellate and Criminal - having jurisdiction over cases related to state-level law and appellate jurisdiction over cases initiated in the entities; note - a War Crimes Chamber may be added at a future date)
note: the entities each have a Supreme Court; each entity also has a number of lower courts; there are 10 cantonal courts in the Federation, plus a number of municipal courts; the Republika Srpska has five municipal courts

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance of Independent Social Democrats or SNSD [Milorad DODIK]; Bosnian Party or BOSS [Mirnes AJANOVIC]; Civic Democratic Party or GDS [Ibrahim SPAHIC]; Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina or HDZ-BH [Barisa COLAK]; Croat Christian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina or HKDU [Mijo IVANIC-LONIC]; Croat Party of Rights or HSP [Zdravko HRISTIC]; Croat Peasants Party or HSS [Marko TADIC]; Democratic National Union or DNZ [Fikret ABDIC]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDS [Rasim KADIC]; New Croat Initiative or NHI [Kresimir ZUBAK]; Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina or SBiH [Safet HALILOVIC]; Party of Democratic Action or SDA [Sulejman TIHIC]; Party of Democratic Progress or PDP [Mladen IVANIC]; Serb Democratic Party or SDS [Dragan CAVIC - acting]; Serb Radical Party of the Republika Srpska or SRS-RS [Milanko MIHAJLICA]; Serb Radical Party-Dr. Vojislav Seselj or SRS-VS [Radislav KANJERIC]; Social Democratic Party of BIH or SDP [Zlatko LAGUMDZIJA]; Social Democratic Union or SDU [Miro LAZOVIC]; Socialist Party of Republika Srpska or SPRS [Petar DJOKIC]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

BIS, CE, CEI, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Bisera TURKOVIC
chancery: 2109 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 337-1500
FAX: [1] (202) 337-1502
consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Douglas L. McELHANEY
embassy: Alipasina 43, 71000 Sarajevo
mailing address: use street address
telephone: [387] (33) 445-700
FAX: [387] (33) 659-722
branch office(s): Banja Luka, Mostar

Flag description:

a wide medium blue vertical band on the fly side with a yellow isosceles triangle abutting the band and the top of the flag; the remainder of the flag is medium blue with seven full five-pointed white stars and two half stars top and bottom along the hypotenuse of the triangle

Economy

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Economy - overview:

Bosnia and Herzegovina ranked next to Macedonia as the poorest republic in the old Yugoslav federation. Although agriculture is almost all in private hands, farms are small and inefficient, and the republic traditionally is a net importer of food. Industry has been greatly overstaffed, one reflection of the socialist economic structure of Yugoslavia. TITO had pushed the development of military industries in the republic with the result that Bosnia hosted a number of Yugoslavia's defense plants. The interethnic warfare in Bosnia caused production to plummet by 80% from 1992 to 1995 and unemployment to soar. With an uneasy peace in place, output recovered in 1996-99 at high percentage rates from a low base; but output growth slowed in 2000-02. Part of the lag in output was made up in 2003-2004. National-level statistics are limited and do not capture the large share of black market activity. The konvertibilna marka (convertible mark or BAM)- the national currency introduced in 1998 - is now pegged to the euro, and the Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina has dramatically increased its reserve holdings. Implementation of privatization, however, has been slow, and local entities only reluctantly support national-level institutions. Banking reform accelerated in 2001 as all the Communist-era payments bureaus were shut down. A sizeable current account deficit and high unemployment rate remain the two most serious economic problems. The country receives substantial amounts of reconstruction assistance and humanitarian aid from the international community but will have to prepare for an era of declining assistance.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$26.21 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $6,500 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 14.2%
industry: 30.8%
services: 55% (2002)

Labor force:

1.026 million (2001)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA

Unemployment rate:

44% officially; however, grey economy may reduce actual unemployment to near 20% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

25% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.1% (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $3.618 billion
expenditures: $3.642 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, corn, fruits, vegetables; livestock

Industries:

steel, coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, manganese, bauxite, vehicle assembly, textiles, tobacco products, wooden furniture, tank and aircraft assembly, domestic appliances, oil refining (2001)

Industrial production growth rate:

5.5% (2003 est.)

Electricity - production:

10.04 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 53.5%
hydro: 46.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

8.318 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

3.288 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

2.271 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

20,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

300 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

300 million cu m (2001 est.)

Current account balance:

$-2.1 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$1.7 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

metals, clothing, wood products

Exports - partners:

Italy 22.3%, Croatia 21.1%, Germany 20.8%, Austria 7.4%, Slovenia 7.1%, Hungary 4.8% (2004)

Imports:

$5.2 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Croatia 23.8%, Slovenia 15.8%, Germany 14.8%, Italy 11.4%, Austria 6.6%, Hungary 6.1% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$3 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$650 million (2001 est.)

Currency (code):

marka (BAM)

Currency code:

BAM

Exchange rates:

marka per US dollar - 1.58 (2004), 1.73 (2003), 2.08 (2002), 2.19 (2001), 2.12 (2000)
note: the marka is pegged to the euro

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Telephones - main lines in use:

938,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.05 million (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: telephone and telegraph network needs modernization and expansion; many urban areas are below average as contrasted with services in other former Yugoslav republics
domestic: NA
international: country code - 387; no satellite earth stations

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 8, FM 16, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

940,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

33 (plus 277 repeaters) (September 1995)

Televisions:

NA

Internet country code:

.ba

Internet hosts:

6,994 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2000)

Internet users:

100,000 (2002)

Transportation

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Railways:

total: 1,021 km (795 km electrified)
standard gauge: 1,021 km 1.435-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 21,846 km
paved: 11,424 km
unpaved: 10,422 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

Sava River (northern border) open to shipping but use limited because of no agreement with neighboring countries (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Bosanska Gradiska, Bosanski Brod, Bosanski Samac, and Brcko (all inland waterway ports on the Sava), Orasje

Airports:

27 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 19
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

5 (2004 est.)

Military

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Military branches:

VF Army (the air and air defense forces are subordinate commands within the Army), VRS Army (the air and air defense forces are subordinate commands within the Army)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina; 16 years of age in times of war; 18 years of age for Republika Srpska; 17 years of age for voluntary military service in the Federation and in the Republika Srpska; by law, military obligations cover all healthy men between the ages of 18 and 60, and all women between the ages of 18 and 55; service obligation is 4 months (July 2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,034,367 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 829,530 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 31,264 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$234.3 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

4.5% (FY02)

Transnational Issues

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Disputes - international:

Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia and Montenegro have delimited most of their boundary, but sections along the Drina River remain in dispute; discussions continue with Croatia on several small disputed sections of the boundary

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 327,200 (Bosnian Croats, Serbs, and Muslims displaced in 1992-95 war) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

minor transit point for marijuana and opiate trafficking routes to Western Europe; remains highly vulnerable to money-laundering activity given a primarily cash-based and unregulated economy, weak law enforcement and instances of corruption

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Bolivia

Introduction

Bolivia

Background:

Bolivia, named after independence fighter Simon BOLIVAR, broke away from Spanish rule in 1825; much of its subsequent history has consisted of a series of nearly 200 coups and counter-coups. Comparatively democratic civilian rule was established in 1982, but leaders have faced difficult problems of deep-seated poverty, social unrest, and illegal drug production. Current goals include attracting foreign investment, strengthening the educational system, resolving disputes with coca growers over Bolivia's counterdrug efforts, and waging an anticorruption campaign.

Geography

Bolivia

Location:

Central South America, southwest of Brazil

Geographic coordinates:

17 00 S, 65 00 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total: 1,098,580 sq km
land: 1,084,390 sq km
water: 14,190 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than three times the size of Montana

Land boundaries:

total: 6,743 km
border countries: Argentina 832 km, Brazil 3,400 km, Chile 861 km, Paraguay 750 km, Peru 900 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

varies with altitude; humid and tropical to cold and semiarid

Terrain:

rugged Andes Mountains with a highland plateau (Altiplano), hills, lowland plains of the Amazon Basin

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Rio Paraguay 90 m
highest point: Nevado Sajama 6,542 m

Natural resources:

tin, natural gas, petroleum, zinc, tungsten, antimony, silver, iron, lead, gold, timber, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 2.67%
permanent crops: 0.19%
other: 97.14% (2001)

Irrigated land:

1,280 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

flooding in the northeast (March-April)

Environment - current issues:

the clearing of land for agricultural purposes and the international demand for tropical timber are contributing to deforestation; soil erosion from overgrazing and poor cultivation methods (including slash-and-burn agriculture); desertification; loss of biodiversity; industrial pollution of water supplies used for drinking and irrigation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection

Geography - note:

landlocked; shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake (elevation 3,805 m), with Peru

People

Bolivia

Population:

8,857,870 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 35.7% (male 1,613,049/female 1,551,023)
15-64 years: 59.8% (male 2,591,328/female 2,701,892)
65 years and over: 4.5% (male 178,486/female 222,092) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 21.47 years
male: 20.79 years
female: 22.17 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.49% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

23.76 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

7.64 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 53.11 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 56.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 49.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 65.5 years
male: 62.89 years
female: 68.25 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.94 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

4,900 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 500 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Bolivian(s)
adjective: Bolivian

Ethnic groups:

Quechua 30%, mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry) 30%, Aymara 25%, white 15%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 95%, Protestant (Evangelical Methodist) 5%

Languages:

Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.2%
male: 93.1%
female: 81.6% (2003 est.)

Government

Bolivia

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Bolivia
conventional short form: Bolivia
local long form: Republica de Bolivia
local short form: Bolivia

Government type:

republic

Capital:

La Paz (seat of government); Sucre (legal capital and seat of judiciary)

Administrative divisions:

9 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, Beni, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa Cruz, Tarija

Independence:

6 August 1825 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 6 August (1825)

Constitution:

2 February 1967; revised in August 1994

Legal system:

based on Spanish law and Napoleonic Code; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age, universal and compulsory (married); 21 years of age, universal and compulsory (single)

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Eduardo RODRIGUEZ Veltze (since 9 June 2005); Vice President (vacant); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Eduardo RODRIGUEZ Veltze (since 9 June 2005); Vice President (vacant); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 30 June 2002 (next to be held June 2007)
election results: as a result of no candidate winning a majority in the 30 June 2002 election, Gonzalo SANCHEZ DE LOZADA Bustamante was chosen president by Congress; congressional votes - Gonzalo SANCHEZ DE LOZADA Bustamante 84, Evo MORALES 43; note - following the resignation of the elected president on 17 October 2003 and Vice President Carlos Diego MESA Gisbert on 9 June 2005, Eduardo RODRIGUEZ Veltze, President of the Supreme Court and constitutional successor, became president.

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (27 seats; members are elected by proportional representation from party lists to serve five-year terms) and Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (130 seats; 68 are directly elected from their districts and 62 are elected by proportional representation from party lists to serve five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators and Chamber of Deputies - last held 30 June 2002 (next to be held June 2007)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - MNR 11, MAS 8, MIR 5, NFR 2, other 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - MNR 36, MAS 27, MIR 26, NFR 25, others 16

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges appointed for 10-year terms by National Congress); District Courts (one in each department); provincial and local courts (to try minor cases)

Political parties and leaders:

Bolivian Socialist Falange or FSB [Romel PANTOJA]; Civic Solidarity Union or UCS [Johnny FERNANDEZ]; Free Bolivia Movement or MBL [Franz BARRIOS]; Marshal of Ayacucho Institutional Vanguard or VIMA [Freddy ZABALA]; Movement of the Revolutionary Left or MIR [Jaime PAZ Zamora]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Evo MORALES]; Movement Without Fear or MSM [Juan DEL GRANADO]; Nationalist Democratic Action or ADN [Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramirez]; Nationalist Revolutionary Movement or MNR [leader NA]; New Republican Force or NFR [Manfred REYES-VILLA]; Pachakuti Indigenous Movement or MIP [Felipe QUISPE]; Socialist Party or PS [Jeres JUSTINIANO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Cocalero Groups; indigenous organizations; labor unions; Sole Confederation of Campesino Workers of Bolivia or CSUTCB [Roman LOAYZA]

International organization participation:

CAN, CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS, ONUB, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jaime APARICIO Otero
chancery: 3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-4410
FAX: [1] (202) 328-3712
consulate(s) general: Miami, New York, and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador David N. GREENLEE
embassy: Avenida Arce 2780, San Jorge, La Paz
mailing address: P. O. Box 425, La Paz; APO AA 34032
telephone: [591] (2) 2430120, 2430251
FAX: [591] (2) 2433900

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with the coat of arms centered on the yellow band; similar to the flag of Ghana, which has a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band

Economy

Bolivia

Economy - overview:

Bolivia, long one of the poorest and least developed Latin American countries, reformed its economy after suffering a disastrous economic crisis in the early 1980s. The reforms spurred real GDP growth, which averaged 4 percent in the 1990s, and poverty rates fell. Economic growth, however, lagged again beginning in 1999 because of a global slowdown and homegrown factors such as political turmoil, civil unrest, and soaring fiscal deficits, all of which hurt investor confidence. In 2003, violent protests against the pro-foreign investment economic policies of President SANCHEZ DE LOZADA led to his resignation and the cancellation of plans to export Bolivia's newly discovered natural gas reserves to large northern hemisphere markets. Foreign investment dried up as companies adopted a wait-and-see attitude regarding new President Carlos MESA's willingness to protect investor rights in the face of increased demands by radical groups that the government expropriate foreign-owned assets. Real GDP growth in 2003 and 2004 - helped by increased demand for natural gas in neighboring Brazil - was positive, but still below the levels seen during the 1990s. Bolivia remains dependent on foreign aid from multilateral lenders and foreign governments.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$22.33 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.7% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $2,600 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 13%
industry: 28%
services: 59% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

3.8 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Unemployment rate:

9.2% in urban areas
note: widespread underemployment (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line:

64% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.3%
highest 10%: 32% (1999)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

44.7 (1999)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.9% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

10.4% of GDP (2003 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $2.264 billion
expenditures: $2.769 billion, including capital expenditures of $741 million (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

soybeans, coffee, coca, cotton, corn, sugarcane, rice, potatoes; timber

Industries:

mining, smelting, petroleum, food and beverages, tobacco, handicrafts, clothing

Industrial production growth rate:

5.7% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

4.132 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 44.4%
hydro: 54%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1.5% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

3.848 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

3 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

9 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

39,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

49,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

458.8 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

8.44 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.15 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

2.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

727.2 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$273 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$1.986 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

natural gas, soybeans and soy products, crude petroleum, zinc ore, tin

Exports - partners:

Brazil 40%, US 13.9%, Colombia 8.7%, Peru 6.3%, Japan 4.5% (2004)

Imports:

$1.595 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum products, plastics, paper, aircraft and aircraft parts, prepared foods, automobiles, insecticides, soybeans

Imports - partners:

Brazil 29.7%, Argentina 17.6%, US 10.8%, Chile 7.7%, Peru 7.3% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.214 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$5.439 billion (June 2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$681 million (2002)

Currency (code):

boliviano (BOB)

Currency code:

BOB

Exchange rates:

bolivianos per US dollar - 7.9363 (2004), 7.6592 (2003), 7.17 (2002), 6.6069 (2001), 6.1835 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Bolivia

Telephones - main lines in use:

600,100 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,401,500 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: new subscribers face bureaucratic difficulties; most telephones are concentrated in La Paz and other cities; mobile cellular telephone use expanding rapidly
domestic: primary trunk system, which is being expanded, employs digital microwave radio relay; some areas are served by fiber-optic cable; mobile cellular systems are being expanded
international: country code - 591; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 171, FM 73, shortwave 77 (1999)

Radios:

5.25 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

48 (1997)

Televisions:

900,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.bo

Internet hosts:

7,080 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

9 (2000)

Internet users:

270,000 (2002)

Transportation

Bolivia

Railways:

total: 3,519 km
narrow gauge: 3,519 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 60,282 km
paved: 3,979 km
unpaved: 56,303 km (2002)

Waterways:

10,000 km (commercially navigable) (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 4,860 km; liquid petroleum gas 47 km; oil 2,457 km; refined products 1,589 km; unknown (oil/water) 247 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Puerto Aguirre (on the Paraguay/Parana waterway, at the Bolivia/Brazil border); also, Bolivia has free port privileges in maritime ports in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay

Merchant marine:

total: 32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 413,407 GRT/699,901 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 16, chemical tanker 1, container 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 1
foreign-owned: 11 (Argentina 1, Egypt 2, Eritrea 1, Germany 1, Iran 1, Singapore 2, United Kingdom 1, United States 2) (2005)

Airports:

1,065 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 16
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1,049
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 60
914 to 1,523 m: 207
under 914 m: 778 (2004 est.)

Military

Bolivia

Military branches:

Army (Ejercito Boliviano), Navy (Fuerza Naval; includes Marines), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Boliviana) (2004)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; when annual number of volunteers falls short of goal, compulsory recruitment is effected, including conscription of boys as young as 14; one estimate holds that 40% of the armed forces are under the age of 18, with 50% of those under the age of 16; conscript tour of duty - 12 months (2002)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,923,234 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,311,414 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 101,101 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$132.2 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.6% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Bolivia

Disputes - international:

Chile rebuffs Bolivia's reactivated claim to restore the Atacama corridor, ceded to Chile in 1884, offering instead unrestricted but not sovereign maritime access through Chile for Bolivian natural gas and other commodities

Illicit drugs:

world's third-largest cultivator of coca (after Colombia and Peru) with an estimated 28,450 hectares under cultivation in June 2003, a 23% increase from June 2002; intermediate coca products and cocaine exported mostly to or through Brazil, Argentina, and Chile to European and US drug markets; eradication and alternative crop programs under the MESA administration have been unable to keep pace with farmers' attempts to increase cultivation; money-laundering activity related to narcotics trade, especially along the borders with Brazil and Paraguay

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Burma

Introduction

Burma

Background:

Britain conquered Burma over a period of 62 years (1824-1886) and incorporated it into its Indian Empire. Burma was administered as a province of India until 1937 when it became a separate, self-governing colony; independence from the Commonwealth was attained in 1948. Gen. NE WIN dominated the government from 1962 to 1988, first as military ruler, then as self-appointed president, and later as political kingpin. Despite multiparty legislative elections in 1990 that resulted in the main opposition party - the National League for Democracy (NLD) - winning a landslide victory, the ruling junta refused to hand over power. NLD leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient AUNG SAN SUU KYI, who was under house arrest from 1989 to 1995 and 2000 to 2002, was imprisoned in May 2003 and is currently under house arrest. In December 2004, the junta announced it was extending her detention for at least an additional year. Her supporters, as well as all those who promote democracy and improved human rights, are routinely harassed or jailed.

Geography

Burma

Location:

Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Bangladesh and Thailand

Geographic coordinates:

22 00 N, 98 00 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 678,500 sq km
land: 657,740 sq km
water: 20,760 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 5,876 km
border countries: Bangladesh 193 km, China 2,185 km, India 1,463 km, Laos 235 km, Thailand 1,800 km

Coastline:

1,930 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical monsoon; cloudy, rainy, hot, humid summers (southwest monsoon, June to September); less cloudy, scant rainfall, mild temperatures, lower humidity during winter (northeast monsoon, December to April)

Terrain:

central lowlands ringed by steep, rugged highlands

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Andaman Sea 0 m
highest point: Hkakabo Razi 5,881 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, timber, tin, antimony, zinc, copper, tungsten, lead, coal, some marble, limestone, precious stones, natural gas, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 15.19%
permanent crops: 0.97%
other: 83.84% (2001)

Irrigated land:

15,920 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslides common during rainy season (June to September); periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water; inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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

Geography - note:

strategic location near major Indian Ocean shipping lanes

People

Burma

Population:

42,909,464
note: estimates for this country take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 27.2% (male 5,967,487/female 5,717,795)
15-64 years: 67.8% (male 14,448,887/female 14,641,419)
65 years and over: 5% (male 939,092/female 1,194,784) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 26.14 years
male: 25.57 years
female: 26.72 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.42% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

18.11 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

12.15 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 67.24 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 73.11 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 61.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 60.7 years
male: 57.8 years
female: 63.78 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.01 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

330,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

20,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in some locations (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Burmese (singular and plural)
adjective: Burmese

Ethnic groups:

Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%, Mon 2%, other 5%

Religions:

Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Muslim 4%, animist 1%, other 2%

Languages:

Burmese, minority ethnic groups have their own languages

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85.3%
male: 89.2%
female: 81.4% (2002)

Government

Burma

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
note: since 1989 the military authorities in Burma have promoted the name Myanmar as a conventional name for their state; this decision was not approved by any sitting legislature in Burma, and the US Government did not adopt the name, which is a derivative of the Burmese short-form name Myanma Naingngandaw

Government type:

military junta

Capital:

Rangoon (government refers to the capital as Yangon)

Administrative divisions:

7 divisions (taing-myar, singular - taing) and 7 states (pyi ne-myar, singular - pyi ne)
: divisions: Ayeyarwady, Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Sagaing, Tanintharyi, Yangon
: states: Chin State, Kachin State, Kayin State, Kayah State, Mon State, Rakhine State, Shan State

Independence:

4 January 1948 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 4 January (1948); Union Day, 12 February (1947)

Constitution:

3 January 1974; suspended since 18 September 1988; national convention convened in 1993 to draft a new constitution but collapsed in 1996; reconvened in 2004 but does not include participation of democratic opposition

Legal system:

has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Sr. Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister, Gen SOE WIN (since 19 October 2004)
cabinet: State Peace and Development Council (SPDC); military junta, so named 15 November 1997, which initially assumed power 18 September 1988 under the name State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC); the SPDC oversees the cabinet
elections: none

Legislative branch:

unicameral People's Assembly or Pyithu Hluttaw (485 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 27 May 1990, but Assembly never allowed by junta to convene
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NLD 392 (opposition), SNLD 23 (opposition), NUP 10 (pro-government), other 60

Judicial branch:

remnants of the British-era legal system are in place, but there is no guarantee of a fair public trial; the judiciary is not independent of the executive

Political parties and leaders:

National League for Democracy or NLD [AUNG SHWE, chairman, AUNG SAN SUU KYI, general secretary]; National Unity Party or NUP (pro-government) [THA KYAW]; Shan Nationalities League for Democracy or SNLD [KHUN HTUN OO]; and other smaller parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma or NCGUB (self-proclaimed government in exile) ["Prime Minister" Dr. SEIN WIN] consists of individuals, some legitimately elected to the People's Assembly in 1990 (the group fled to a border area and joined insurgents in December 1990 to form parallel government in exile); Kachin Independence Army or KIA; Karen National Union or KNU; several Shan factions; United Wa State Army or UWSA; Union Solidarity and Development Association or USDA (pro-government, a social and political organization) [THAN AUNG, general secretary]

International organization participation:

APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: vacant
chancery: 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-9044
FAX: [1] (202) 332-9046
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires Carmen M. MARTINEZ
embassy: 581 Merchant Street, Rangoon (GPO 521)
mailing address: Box B, APO AP 96546
telephone: [95] (1) 379 880, 379 881
FAX: [95] (1) 256 018

Flag description:

red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing, 14 white five-pointed stars encircling a cogwheel containing a stalk of rice; the 14 stars represent the 7 administrative divisions and 7 states

Economy

Burma

Economy - overview:

Burma is a resource-rich country that suffers from government controls, inefficient economic policies, and abject rural poverty. The junta took steps in the early 1990s to liberalize the economy after decades of failure under the "Burmese Way to Socialism", but those efforts have since stalled and some of the liberalization measures have been rescinded. Burma has been unable to achieve monetary or fiscal stability, resulting in an economy that suffers from serious macroeconomic imbalances - including inflation and multiple official exchange rates that overvalue the Burmese kyat. In addition, most overseas development assistance ceased after the junta began to suppress the democracy movement in 1988 and subsequently ignored the results of the 1990 legislative elections. Economic sanctions against Burma by the United States - including a ban on imports of Burmese products and a ban on provision of financial services by US persons in response to the government of Burma's attack in May 2003 on AUNG SAN SUU KYI and her convoy - further slowed the inflow of foreign exchange. Official statistics are inaccurate. Published statistics on foreign trade are greatly understated because of the size of the black market and unofficial border trade - often estimated to be one to two times the size of the official economy. Though the Burmese government has good economic relations with its neighbors, a better investment climate and an improved political situation are needed to promote foreign investment, exports, and tourism. In February 2003, a major banking crisis hit the country's 20 private banks, shutting them down and disrupting the economy. As of January 2004, the largest private banks remained moribund, leaving the private sector with little formal access to credit.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$74.3 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

-1.3% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 56.6%
industry: 8.8%
services: 34.5% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

27.01 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 70%, industry 7%, services 23% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate:

5.2% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

25% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 32.4% (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

17.2% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

10.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $474.9 million
expenditures: $955.5 million, including capital expenditures of $5.7 billion (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

rice, pulses, beans, sesame, groundnuts, sugarcane; hardwood; fish and fish products

Industries:

agricultural processing; knit and woven apparel; wood and wood products; copper, tin, tungsten, iron; construction materials; pharmaceuticals; fertilizer; cement

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

5.068 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 44.5%
hydro: 43.4%
nuclear: 0%
other: 12.1% (2002)

Electricity - consumption:

3.484 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:

17,550 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption:

60,950 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:

3,356 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports:

49,230 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - proved reserves:

3.2 billion bbl (2003)

Natural gas - production:

9.98 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.569 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

8.424 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

2.46 trillion cu m (2003)

Current account balance:

$-185 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$2.137 billion f.o.b.
note: official export figures are grossly underestimated due to the value of timber, gems, narcotics, rice, and other products smuggled to Thailand, China, and Bangladesh (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

clothing, gas, wood products, pulses, beans, fish, rice

Exports - partners:

Thailand 37.8%, India 11.7%, China 6%, Japan 5.3% (2004)

Imports:

$1.754 billion f.o.b.
note: import figures are grossly underestimated due to the value of consumer goods, diesel fuel, and other products smuggled in from Thailand, China, Malaysia, and India (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

fabric, petroleum products, plastics, machinery, transport equipment, construction materials, crude oil; food products

Imports - partners:

China 29.8%, Singapore 20.8%, Thailand 19.3%, South Korea 5.2%, Malaysia 4.8% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$590 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$6.752 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$127 million (2001 est.)

Currency (code):

kyat (MMK)

Currency code:

MMK

Exchange rates:

kyats per US dollar - 5.7459 (2004), 6.0764 (2003), 6.5734 (2002), 6.6841 (2001), 6.4257 (2000)
note: these are official exchange rates; unofficial exchange rates ranged in 2004 from 815 kyat/US dollar to nearly 970 kyat/US dollar

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

Burma

Telephones - main lines in use:

357,300 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

66,500 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: barely meets minimum requirements for local and intercity service for business and government; international service is fair
domestic: NA
international: country code - 95; satellite earth station - 2, Intelsat (Indian Ocean), and ShinSat

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 1 (2004)

Radios:

4.2 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (2004)

Televisions:

320,000 (2000)

Internet country code:

.mm

Internet hosts:

3 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1
note: as of September 2000, Internet connections were legal only for the government, tourist offices, and a few large businesses (2000)

Internet users:

28,000 (2003)

Transportation

Burma

Railways:

total: 3,955 km
narrow gauge: 3,955 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 28,200 km
paved: 3,440 km
unpaved: 24,760 km (1996 est.)

Waterways:

12,800 km (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 2,056 km; oil 558 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Moulmein, Rangoon, Sittwe

Merchant marine:

total: 37 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 429,144 GRT/659,622 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 19, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 3, roll on'roll off 3, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 10 (Germany 4, Japan 5, United Kingdom 1) (2005)

Airports:

78 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 9
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 69
over 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 31 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

Burma

Military branches:

Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw): Army, Navy, Air Force (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service for both sexes (May 2002)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 11,254,374
females age 18-49: 11,303,100 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 6,512,923
females age 18-49: 6,789,720 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 440,914
females: 427,382 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$39 million (FY97)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.1% (FY97)

Transnational Issues

Burma

Disputes - international:

over half of Burma's population consists of diverse ethnic groups with substantial numbers of kin beyond its borders; despite continuing border committee talks, significant differences remain with Thailand over boundary alignment and the handling of ethnic rebels, refugees, and illegal cross-border activities; ethnic Karens flee into Thailand to escape fighting between Karen rebels and Burmese troops, in 2004 Thailand sheltered about 118,000 Burmese refugees; Karens also protest Thai support for a Burmese hydroelectric dam on the Salween River near the border; environmentalists in Burma and Thailand continue to voice concern over China's construction of hydroelectric dams upstream on the Nujiang/Salween River in Yunnan Province; India seeks cooperation from Burma to keep Indian Nagaland separatists from hiding in remote Burmese uplands

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 600,000 - 1,000,000 (government offensives against ethnic insurgent groups near borders; most IDPs are ethnic Karen, Karenni, Shan, and Mon) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

remains world's second largest producer of illicit opium (estimated production in 2004 - 292 metric tons, down 40% from 2003 due to eradication efforts and drought; cultivation in 2004 - 30,900 hectares, a 34% decline from 2003); lack of government will and ability to take on major narcotrafficking groups and lack of serious commitment against money laundering continues to hinder the overall antidrug effort; major source of methamphetamine and heroin for regional consumption; currently under Financial Action Task Force countermeasures due to continued failure to address its inadequate money-laundering controls (2005)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Benin

Introduction

Benin

Background:

Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a prominent West African kingdom that rose in the 15th century. The territory became a French Colony in 1872 and achieved independence on 1 August 1960, as the Republic of Benin. A succession of military governments ended in 1972 with the rise to power of Mathieu KEREKOU and the establishment of a government based on Marxist-Leninist principles. A move to representative government began in 1989. Two years later, free elections ushered in former Prime Minister Nicephore SOGLO as president, marking the first successful transfer of power in Africa from a dictatorship to a democracy. KEREKOU was returned to power by elections held in 1996 and 2001, though some irregularities were alleged.

Geography

Benin

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Nigeria and Togo

Geographic coordinates:

9 30 N, 2 15 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 112,620 sq km
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 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Terrain:

mostly flat to undulating plain; some hills and low mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m

Natural resources:

small offshore oil deposits, limestone, marble, timber

Land use:

arable land: 18.08%
permanent crops: 2.4%
other: 79.52% (2001)

Irrigated land:

120 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December to March

Environment - current issues:

inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

sandbanks create difficult access to a coast with no natural harbors, river mouths, or islands

People

Benin

Population:

7,460,025
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 46.5% (male 1,752,243/female 1,719,458)
15-64 years: 51.2% (male 1,868,630/female 1,948,610)
65 years and over: 2.3% (male 70,367/female 100,717) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 16.56 years
male: 16.12 years
female: 17.01 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.82% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

41.99 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

13.76 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 85 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 90 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 79.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 52.66 years
male: 51.53 years
female: 53.82 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.86 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

68,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

5,800 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, yellow fever, and others are high risks in some locations
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Beninese (singular and plural)
adjective: Beninese

Ethnic groups:

African 99% (42 ethnic groups, most important being Fon, Adja, Yoruba, Bariba), Europeans 5,500

Religions:

indigenous beliefs 50%, Christian 30%, Muslim 20%

Languages:

French (official), Fon and Yoruba (most common vernaculars in south), tribal languages (at least six major ones in north)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 33.6%
male: 46.4%
female: 22.6% (2002 est.)

Government

Benin

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Benin
conventional short form: Benin
local long form: Republique du Benin
local short form: Benin
former: Dahomey

Government type:

republic under multiparty democratic rule; dropped Marxism-Leninism December 1989

Capital:

Porto-Novo is the official capital; Cotonou is the seat of government

Administrative divisions:

12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou, Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou

Independence:

1 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday:

National Day, 1 August (1960)

Constitution:

December 1990

Legal system:

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

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president reelected by popular vote for a five-year term; runoff election held 22 March 2001 (next to be held March 2006)
election results: Mathieu KEREKOU reelected president; percent of vote - Mathieu KEREKOU 84.1%, Bruno AMOUSSOU 15.9%
note: the four top-ranking contenders following the first-round presidential elections were: Mathieu KEREKOU (incumbent) 45.4%, Nicephore SOGLO (former president) 27.1%, Adrien HOUNGBEDJI (National Assembly Speaker) 12.6%, and Bruno AMOUSSOU (Minister of State) 8.6%; the second-round balloting, originally scheduled for 18 March 2001, was postponed four days because both SOGLO and HOUNGBEDJI withdrew alleging electoral fraud; this left KEREKOU to run against his own Minister of State, AMOUSSOU, in what was termed a "friendly match"

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (83 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 30 March 2003 (next to be held March 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Presidential Movement 52, opposition (PRB, PRD, E'toile, and 5 other small parties) 31

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court or Cour Constitutionnelle; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Court of Justice

Political parties and leaders:

African Congress for Renewal or DUNYA [Saka SALEY]; African Movement for Democracy and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Alliance of the Social Democratic Party or PSD [Bruno AMOUSSOU]; Coalition of Democratic Forces [Gatien HOUNGBEDJI]; Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Front for Renewal and Development or FARD-ALAFIA [Jerome Sakia KINA]; Impulse for Progress and Democracy or IPD [Bertin BORNA]; Key Force or FC [leader NA]; Presidential Movement (UBF, MADEP, FC, IDP, and four small parties); Renaissance Party du Benin or PRB [Nicephore SOGLO]; The Star Alliance (Alliance E'toile) [Sacca LAFIA]; Union of Tomorrow's Benin or UBF [Bruno AMOUSSOU]
note: approximately 20 additional minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Cyrille Segbe OGUIN
chancery: 2124 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-6656
FAX: [1] (202) 265-1996

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Wayne NEILL
embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou
mailing address: 01 B. P. 2012, Cotonou
telephone: [229] 30-06-50
FAX: [229] 30-06-70

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and red (bottom) with a vertical green band on the hoist side

Economy

Benin

Economy - overview:

The economy of Benin remains underdeveloped and dependent on subsistence agriculture, cotton production, and regional trade. Growth in real output has averaged around 5% in the past six years, but rapid population growth has offset much of this increase. Inflation has subsided over the past several years. In order to raise growth still further, Benin plans to attract more foreign investment, place more emphasis on tourism, facilitate the development of new food processing systems and agricultural products, and encourage new information and communication technology. The 2001 privatization policy should continue in telecommunications, water, electricity, and agriculture in spite of initial government reluctance. The Paris Club and bilateral creditors have eased the external debt situation, while pressing for more rapid structural reforms. Benin continues to be hurt by Nigerian trade protection that bans imports of a growing list of products from Benin and elsewhere. As a result, smuggling and criminality along the Benin-Nigeria border has been on the rise.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$8.338 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 36.3%
industry: 14.3%
services: 49.4% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

NA (1996)

Unemployment rate:

NA

Population below poverty line:

33% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.8% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $869.4 million
expenditures: $720.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts, livestock (2001)

Industries:

textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement (2001)

Industrial production growth rate:

8.3% (2001 est.)

Electricity - production:

285.2 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 14.2%
hydro: 85.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

565.2 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

300 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

700 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

11,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

4.105 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

608.8 million cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$-159.9 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$720.9 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa

Exports - partners:

China 28.7%, India 18.4%, Ghana 6.3%, Thailand 6%, Niger 5.8%, Indonesia 4.2%, Nigeria 4.2% (2004)

Imports:

$934.5 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products

Imports - partners:

China 32.2%, France 13%, Thailand 6.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.3% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$839.3 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.6 billion (2000)

Economic aid - recipient:

$342.6 million (2000)

Currency (code):

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States

Currency code:

XOF

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Benin

Telephones - main lines in use:

66,500 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

236,200 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: fair system of open-wire, microwave radio relay, and cellular connections
international: country code - 229; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000)

Radios:

660,000 (2000)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2001)

Televisions:

66,000 (2000)

Internet country code:

.bj

Internet hosts:

879 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

4 (2002)

Internet users:

70,000 (2003)

Transportation

Benin

Railways:

total: 578 km
narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 6,787 km
paved: 1,357 km (including 10 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,430 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

150 km (on River Niger along northern border) (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Cotonou

Airports:

5 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Military

Benin

Military branches:

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military service age and obligation:

21 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; in practice, volunteers may be taken at the age of 18; both sexes are eligible for military service; conscript tour of duty - 18 months (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 21-49: 1,207,071
females age 21-49: 1,216,180 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 21-49: 670,170
females age 21-49: 630,078 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 72,841
females: 71,428 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$96.5 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.4% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Benin

Disputes - international:

two villages remain in dispute along the border with Burkina Faso; accuses Burkina Faso of moving boundary pillars; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria, remains undemarcated, and the states expect a ruling in 2005 from the ICJ over the disputed Niger and Mekrou River islands; a joint task force was established in 2004 that resolved disputes over and redrew the maritime and the 870-km land boundary with Nigeria, including the sovereignty over seven villages along the Okpara River; a joint boundary commission continues to resurvey the boundary with Togo to verify Benin's claim that Togo moved boundary stones

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for narcotics associated with Nigerian trafficking organizations and most commonly destined for Western Europe and the US; vulnerable to money laundering due to a poorly regulated financial infrastructure

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Belarus

Introduction

Belarus

Background:

After seven decades as a constituent republic of the USSR, Belarus attained its independence in 1991. It has retained closer political and economic ties to Russia than any of the other former Soviet republics. Belarus and Russia signed a treaty on a two-state union on 8 December 1999 envisioning greater political and economic integration. Although Belarus agreed to a framework to carry out the accord, serious implementation has yet to take place. Since his election in July 1995 as the country's first president, Alexander LUKASHENKO has steadily consolidated his power through authoritarian means. Government restrictions on freedom of speech and the press, peaceful assembly, and religion continue.

Geography

Belarus

Location:

Eastern Europe, east of Poland

Geographic coordinates:

53 00 N, 28 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 207,600 sq km
land: 207,600 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Kansas

Land boundaries:

total: 2,900 km
border countries: Latvia 141 km, Lithuania 502 km, Poland 407 km, Russia 959 km, Ukraine 891 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

cold winters, cool and moist summers; transitional between continental and maritime

Terrain:

generally flat and contains much marshland

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Nyoman River 90 m
highest point: Dzyarzhynskaya Hara 346 m

Natural resources:

forests, peat deposits, small quantities of oil and natural gas, granite, dolomitic limestone, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, clay

Land use:

arable land: 29.55%
permanent crops: 0.6%
other: 69.85% (2001)

Irrigated land:

1,150 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of the country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident at Chornobyl' in northern Ukraine

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

landlocked; glacial scouring accounts for the flatness of Belarusian terrain and for its 11,000 lakes; the country is geologically well endowed with extensive deposits of granite, dolomitic limestone, marl, chalk, sand, gravel, and clay

People

Belarus

Population:

10,300,483 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16% (male 839,292/female 804,738)
15-64 years: 69.5% (male 3,481,432/female 3,672,991)
65 years and over: 14.6% (male 498,717/female 1,003,313) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 37.03 years
male: 34.32 years
female: 39.7 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.09% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

10.83 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

14.15 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.5 male(s)/female
total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 13.37 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 14.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.39 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 68.72 years
male: 63.03 years
female: 74.69 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.39 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.3% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

15,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

1,000 (2001 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Belarusian(s)
adjective: Belarusian

Ethnic groups:

Belarusian 81.2%, Russian 11.4%, Polish 3.9%, Ukrainian 2.4%, other 1.1% (1999 census)

Religions:

Eastern Orthodox 80%, other (including Roman Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Muslim) 20% (1997 est.)

Languages:

Belarusian, Russian, other

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.5% (2003 est.)

Government

Belarus

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Belarus
conventional short form: Belarus
local long form: Respublika Byelarus'
local short form: none
former: Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:

republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship

Capital:

Minsk

Administrative divisions:

6 provinces (voblastsi, singular - voblasts') and 1 municipality* (horad); Brest, Homyel', Horad Minsk*, Hrodna, Mahilyow, Minsk, Vitsyebsk
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers

Independence:

25 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 3 July (1944); note - 3 July 1944 was the date Minsk was liberated from German troops, 25 August 1991 was the date of independence from the Soviet Union

Constitution:

15 March 1994; revised by national referendum of 24 November 1996 giving the presidency greatly expanded powers and became effective 27 November 1996; revised again 17 October 2004 removing presidential term limits

Legal system:

based on civil law system

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (since 20 July 1994)
head of government: Prime Minister Sergei SIDORSKY (since 19 December 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir SEMASHKO (since December 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; first election took place 23 June and 10 July 1994; according to the 1994 constitution, the next election should have been held in 1999, however LUKASHENKO extended his term to 2001 via a November 1996 referendum; new election held 9 September 2001; October 2004 referendum ended presidential term limits allowing president to run for a third term in September 2006; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
election results: Aleksandr LUKASHENKO reelected president; percent of vote - Aleksandr LUKASHENKO 75.6%, Vladimir GONCHARIK 15.4%

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Assembly or Natsionalnoye Sobranie consists of the Council of the Republic or Soviet Respubliki (64 seats; 56 members elected by regional councils and 8 members appointed by the president, all for 4-year terms) and the Chamber of Representatives or Palata Predstaviteley (110 seats; members elected by universal adult suffrage to serve 4-year terms)
elections: last held 18 March and 1 April 2001 and 17 and 31 October 2004; international observers widely denounced the October 2004 elections as flawed and undemocratic, based on massive government falsification; pro-Lukashenko candidates won every seat, after many opposition candidates were disqualified for technical reasons
election results: Soviet Respubliki - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; Palata Predstaviteley - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); Constitutional Court (half of the judges appointed by the president and half appointed by the Chamber of Representatives)

Political parties and leaders:

Pro-government parties: Agrarian Party or AP [leader NA]; Belarusian Communist Party or KPB [leader NA]; Belarusian Patriotic Movement (Belarusian Patriotic Party) or BPR [Anatoliy BARANKEVICH, chairman]; Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus [Sergei GAYDUKEVICH]; Social-Sports Party [leader NA]; Opposition parties: Belarusian Popular Front or BNF [Vintsuk VYACHORKA]; Belarusian Social-Democrat Party Narodnaya Gromada or BSDP NG [Nikolay STATKEVICH, chairman]; Belarusian Social-Democratic Party Hromada [Stanislav SHUSHKEVICH, chairman]; United Civic Party or UCP [Anatol LEBEDKO]; Party of Communists Belarusian or PKB [Sergei KALYAKIN, chairman]; Women's Party "Nadezhda" [Valentina MATUSEVICH, chairperson]
note: the opposition Belarusian Party of Labor [Aleksandr BUKHVOSTOV] was liquidated in August 2004, but remains active

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mikhail KHVOSTOV
chancery: 1619 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 986-1604
FAX: [1] (202) 986-1805
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador George A. KROL
embassy: 46 Starovilenskaya St., Minsk 220002
mailing address: PSC 78, Box B Minsk, APO 09723
telephone: [375] (17) 210-12-83, 217-7347, 217-7348
FAX: [375] (17) 234-7853

Flag description:

red horizontal band (top) and green horizontal band one-half the width of the red band; a white vertical stripe on the hoist side bears Belarusian national ornamention in red

Economy

Belarus

Economy - overview:

Belarus's economy in 2003-04 posted 6.1% and 6.4% growth. Still, the economy continues to be hampered by high inflation, persistent trade deficits, and ongoing rocky relations with Russia, Belarus' largest trading partner and energy supplier. Belarus has seen little structural reform since 1995, when President LUKASHENKO launched the country on the path of "market socialism." In keeping with this policy, LUKASHENKO reimposed administrative controls over prices and currency exchange rates and expanded the state's right to intervene in the management of private enterprises. In addition, businesses have been subject to pressure on the part of central and local governments, e.g., arbitrary changes in regulations, numerous rigorous inspections, retroactive application of new business regulations, and arrests of "disruptive" businessmen and factory owners. A wide range of redistributive policies has helped those at the bottom of the ladder; the Gini coefficient is among the lowest in the world. For the time being, Belarus remains self-isolated from the West and its open-market economies. Growth has been strong in recent years, despite the roadblocks in a tough, centrally directed economy and the high, but decreasing, rate of inflation. Growth has been buoyed by increased Russian demand for generally noncompetitive Belarusian goods.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$70.5 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.4% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $6,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 11%
industry: 36.4%
services: 52.6% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

4.305 million (31 December 2003)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 14%, industry 34.7%, services 51.3% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:

2% officially registered unemployed; large number of underemployed workers (2004)

Population below poverty line:

27.1% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 5.1%
highest 10%: 20% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

21.7 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

17.4% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $3.326 billion
expenditures: $3.564 billion, including capital expenditures of $180 million (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

grain, potatoes, vegetables, sugar beets, flax; beef, milk

Industries:

metal-cutting machine tools, tractors, trucks, earthmovers, motorcycles, televisions, chemical fibers, fertilizer, textiles, radios, refrigerators

Industrial production growth rate:

4% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

30 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 99.5%
hydro: 0.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.4% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

34.3 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:

800 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:

3.2 billion kWh (2003)

Oil - production:

36,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

285,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:

14,500 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - imports:

360,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

250 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

18.8 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

18.5 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-1.119 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$11.47 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, mineral products, chemicals, metals; textiles, foodstuffs

Exports - partners:

Russia 47%, UK 8.3%, Netherlands 6.7%, Poland 5.3% (2004)

Imports:

$13.57 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

mineral products, machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs, metals

Imports - partners:

Russia 68.2%, Germany 6.6%, Ukraine 3.3% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$770.2 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$600 million (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$194.3 million (1995)

Currency (code):

Belarusian ruble (BYB/BYR)

Currency code:

BYB/BYR

Exchange rates:

Belarusian rubles per US dollar - 2,160.26 (2004), 2,051.27 (2003), 1,790.92 (2002), 1,390 (2001), 876.75 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Belarus

Telephones - main lines in use:

3,071,300 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.118 million (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: the Ministry of Telecommunications controls all telecommunications through its carrier (a joint stock company) Beltelcom which is a monopoly
domestic: local - Minsk has a digital metropolitan network and a cellular NMT-450 network; waiting lists for telephones are long; local service outside Minsk is neglected and poor; intercity - Belarus has a partly developed fiber-optic backbone system presently serving at least 13 major cities (1998); Belarus' fiber optics form synchronous digital hierarchy rings through other countries' systems; an inadequate analog system remains operational
international: country code - 375; Belarus is a member of the Trans-European Line (TEL), Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line, and has access to the Trans-Siberia Line (TSL); three fiber-optic segments provide connectivity to Latvia, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine; worldwide service is available to Belarus through this infrastructure; additional analog lines to Russia; Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik earth stations

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 28, FM 37, shortwave 11 (1998)

Radios:

3.02 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

47 (plus 27 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

2.52 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.by

Internet hosts:

5,308 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

23 (2002)

Internet users:

1,391,900 (2003)

Transportation

Belarus

Railways:

total: 5,512 km
broad gauge: 5,497 km 1.520-m gauge (874 km electrified)
standard gauge: 15 km 1.435-m (2004)

Highways:

total: 79,990 km
paved: 69,351 km
unpaved: 10,639 km (2002)

Waterways:

2,500 km (use limited by location on perimeter of country and by shallowness) (2003)

Pipelines:

gas 5,223 km; oil 2,443 km; refined products 1,686 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Mazyr

Airports:

133 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 50
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 22
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 83
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 64 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

Belarus

Military branches:

Army, Air and Air Defense Force

Military service age and obligation:

18-27 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (May 2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,520,644 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,657,984 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 85,202 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$176.1 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.4% (FY02)

Transnational Issues

Belarus

Disputes - international:

1997 boundary treaty with Ukraine remains unratified over unresolved financial claims, preventing demarcation and diminishing border security; boundary with Latvia remains undemarcated but a third of the border with Lithuania was demarcated in 2004

Illicit drugs:

limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for the domestic market; transshipment point for illicit drugs to and via Russia, and to the Baltics and Western Europe; a small and lightly regulated financial center; new anti-money-laundering legislation does not meet international standards; few investigations or prosecutions of money-laundering activities

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Solomon Islands

Introduction

Solomon Islands

Background:

The UK established a protectorate over the Solomon Islands in the 1890s. Some of the bitterest fighting of World War II occurred on these islands. Self-government was achieved in 1976 and independence two years later. Ethnic violence, government malfeasance, and endemic crime have undermined stability and civil society. In June 2003, Prime Minister Sir Allen KEMAKEZA sought the assistance of Australia in reestablishing law and order; the following month, an Australian-led multinational force arrived to restore peace and disarm ethnic militias. The Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) has been very effective in restoring law and order and rebuilding government institutions.

Geography

Solomon Islands

Location:

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Papua New Guinea

Geographic coordinates:

8 00 S, 159 00 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 28,450 sq km
land: 27,540 sq km
water: 910 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

5,313 km

Maritime claims:

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical monsoon; few extremes of temperature and weather

Terrain:

mostly rugged mountains with some low coral atolls

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Makarakomburu 2,447 m

Natural resources:

fish, forests, gold, bauxite, phosphates, lead, zinc, nickel

Land use:

arable land: 0.64%
permanent crops: 2%
other: 97.36% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA

Natural hazards:

typhoons, but rarely destructive; geologically active region with frequent earth tremors; volcanic activity

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; many of the surrounding coral reefs are dead or dying

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location on sea routes between the South Pacific Ocean, the Solomon Sea, and the Coral Sea

People

Solomon Islands

Population:

538,032 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 41.9% (male 114,860/female 110,404)
15-64 years: 54.9% (male 149,400/female 145,970)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 8,371/female 9,027) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.63 years
male: 18.5 years
female: 18.76 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.68% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

30.74 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

3.98 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 21.29 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 24.27 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.66 years
male: 70.16 years
female: 75.28 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.04 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Solomon Islander(s)
adjective: Solomon Islander

Ethnic groups:

Melanesian 94.5%, Polynesian 3%, Micronesian 1.2%, other 1.1%, unspecified 0.2% (1999 census)

Religions:

Church of Melanesia 32.8%, Roman Catholic 19%, South Seas Evangelical 17%, Seventh-Day Adventist 11.2%, United Church 10.3%, Christian Fellowship Church 2.4%, other Christian 4.4%, other 2.4%, unspecified 0.3%, none 0.2% (1999 census)

Languages:

Melanesian pidgin in much of the country is lingua franca; English is official but spoken by only 1%-2% of the population
note: 120 indigenous languages

Literacy:

definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Solomon Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Solomon Islands
former: British Solomon Islands

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Honiara

Administrative divisions:

9 provinces and 1 capital territory*; Central, Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Rennell and Bellona, Temotu, Western

Independence:

7 July 1978 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 7 July (1978)

Constitution:

7 July 1978

Legal system:

English common law, which is widely disregarded

Suffrage:

21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Nathaniel WAENA (since 7 July 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Sir Allan KEMAKEZA (since 17 December 2001); Deputy Prime Minister Snyder RINI (since 17 December 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of 20 members appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister 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 usually elected prime minister by Parliament; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members of Parliament

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Parliament (50 seats; members elected from single-member constituencies by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 5 December 2001 (next to be held not later than December 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAP 40%, SIACC 40%, PPP 20%; seats by party - PAP 16, SIACC 13, PPP 2, SILP 1, independents 18

Judicial branch:

Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders:

Association of Independents [Snyder RINI]; People's Alliance Party or PAP [Allan KEMAKEZA]; People's Progressive Party or PPP [Mannaseh Damukana SOGAVARE]; Solomon Islands Alliance for Change Coalition or SIACC [Bartholomew ULUFA'ALU]; Solomon Islands Labor Party or SILP [Joses TUHANUKU]
note: in general, Solomon Islands politics is characterized by fluid coalitions

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Collin David BECK
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400L, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 599-6192, 6193
FAX: [1] (212) 661-8925

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Solomon Islands (embassy closed July 1993); the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to the Solomon Islands

Flag description:

divided diagonally by a thin yellow stripe from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is blue with five white five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern; the lower triangle is green

Government - note:

June 2003 Prime Minister Sir Allan KEMAKEZA sought the intervention of Australia to aid in restoring order; parliament approved the request for intervention in July 2003; troops from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga arrived 24 July 2003. By the end of 2004 the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) had been scaled back to 302 police officers and 120 military in addition to civilian technical advisors.

Economy

Solomon Islands

Economy - overview:

The bulk of the population depends on agriculture, fishing, and forestry for at least part of their livelihood. Most manufactured goods and petroleum products must be imported. The islands are rich in undeveloped mineral resources such as lead, zinc, nickel, and gold. Prior to the arrival of the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI), severe ethnic violence, the closing of key businesses, and an empty government treasury culminated in economic collapse. RAMSI has enabled a return to law and order, a new period of economic stability, and modest growth as the economy rebuilds.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$800 million (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.8% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 42%
industry: 11%
services: 47% (2000 est.)

Labor force:

26,840 (1999)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 75%, industry 5%, services 20% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

NA%

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

10% (2003 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $49.7 million
expenditures: $75.1 million, including capital expenditures of $0 (2003)

Agriculture - products:

cocoa beans, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, potatoes, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs; timber; fish

Industries:

fish (tuna), mining, timber

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

32 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

29.76 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1,250 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$74 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities:

timber, fish, copra, palm oil, cocoa

Exports - partners:

China 27.8%, South Korea 17.1%, Thailand 15.7%, Japan 9.7%, Philippines 4.8% (2004)

Imports:

$67 million f.o.b. (2003)

Imports - commodities:

food, plant and equipment, manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners:

Australia 24.6%, Singapore 23.1%, New Zealand 7.7%, Fiji 4.8%, Papua New Guinea 4.7% (2004)

Debt - external:

$180.4 million (2002)

Economic aid - recipient:

$28 million annually, mainly from Australia (2003 est.)

Currency (code):

Solomon Islands dollar (SBD)

Currency code:

SBD

Exchange rates:

Solomon Islands dollars per US dollar - 7.4847 (2004), 7.5059 (2003), 6.7488 (2002), 5.278 (2001), 5.0889 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Solomon Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:

6,600 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,000 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 677; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (2004)

Radios:

57,000 (1997)

Televisions:

3,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.sb

Internet hosts:

398 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

2,200 (2002)

Transportation

Solomon Islands

Highways:

total: 1,360 km
paved: 34 km
unpaved: 1,326 km (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors:

Honiara, Malloco Bay, Shortland Harbor, Viru Harbor, Yandina

Airports:

33 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 31
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.)

Military

Solomon Islands

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIP)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Transnational Issues

Solomon Islands

Disputes - international:

Australian Defense Force leads the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) at the invitation of the Solomon Islands' Government to maintain civil and political order and reinforce regional security

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Navassa Island

Introduction

Navassa Island

Background:

This uninhabited island was claimed by the US in 1857 for its guano. Mining took place between 1865 and 1898. The lighthouse, built in 1917, was shut down in 1996 and administration of Navassa Island transferred from the Coast Guard to the Department of the Interior. A 1998 scientific expedition to the island described it as a unique preserve of Caribbean biodiversity; the following year it became a National Wildlife Refuge and annual scientific expeditions have continued.

Geography

Navassa Island

Location:

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, 35 miles west of Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti

Geographic coordinates:

18 25 N, 75 02 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 5.4 sq km
land: 5.4 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:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

marine, tropical

Terrain:

raised coral and limestone plateau, flat to undulating; ringed by vertical white cliffs (9 to 15 m high)

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on southwest side 77 m

Natural resources:

guano

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

strategic location 160 km south of the US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; mostly exposed rock but with enough grassland to support goat herds; dense stands of fig-like trees, scattered cactus

People

Navassa Island

Population:

uninhabited
note: transient Haitian fishermen and others camp on the island (July 2005 est.)

Government

Navassa Island

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Navassa Island

Dependency status:

unincorporated territory of the US; administered by the Fish and Wildlife Service, US Department of the Interior, from the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge in Boqueron, Puerto Rico; in September 1996, the Coast Guard ceased operations and maintenance of Navassa Island Light, a 46-meter-tall lighthouse on the southern side of the island; there has also been a private claim advanced against the island

Legal system:

the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

Flag description:

the flag of the US is used

Economy

Navassa Island

Economy - overview:

subsistence fishing and commercial trawling activities within refuge waters

Transportation

Navassa Island

Ports and harbors:

none; offshore anchorage only

Military

Navassa Island

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues

Navassa Island

Disputes - international:

claimed by Haiti, source of subsistence fishing

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Brazil

Introduction

Brazil

Background:

Following three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazil became an independent nation in 1822. By far the largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil overcame more than half a century of military intervention in the governance of the country when in 1985 the military regime peacefully ceded power to civilian rulers. Brazil continues to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of its interior. Exploiting vast natural resources and a large labor pool, it is today South America's leading economic power and a regional leader. Highly unequal income distribution remains a pressing problem.

Geography

Brazil

Location:

Eastern South America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean

Geographic coordinates:

10 00 S, 55 00 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total: 8,511,965 sq km
land: 8,456,510 sq km
water: 55,455 sq km
note: includes Arquipelago de Fernando de Noronha, Atol das Rocas, Ilha da Trindade, Ilhas Martin Vaz, and Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than the US

Land boundaries:

total: 14,691 km
border countries: Argentina 1,224 km, Bolivia 3,400 km, Colombia 1,643 km, French Guiana 673 km, Guyana 1,119 km, Paraguay 1,290 km, Peru 1,560 km, Suriname 597 km, Uruguay 985 km, Venezuela 2,200 km

Coastline:

7,491 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin

Climate:

mostly tropical, but temperate in south

Terrain:

mostly flat to rolling lowlands in north; some plains, hills, mountains, and narrow coastal belt

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico da Neblina 3,014 m

Natural resources:

bauxite, gold, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, platinum, tin, uranium, petroleum, hydropower, timber

Land use:

arable land: 6.96%
permanent crops: 0.9%
other: 92.15% (2001)

Irrigated land:

26,560 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost in south

Environment - current issues:

deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and endangers a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the area; there is a lucrative illegal wildlife trade; air and water pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and several other large cities; land degradation and water pollution caused by improper mining activities; wetland degradation; severe oil spills

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

largest country in South America; shares common boundaries with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador

People

Brazil

Population:

186,112,794
note: Brazil took a count in August 2000, which reported a population of 169,799,170; that figure was about 3.3% lower than projections by the US Census Bureau, and is close to the implied underenumeration of 4.6% for the 1991 census; estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 26.1% (male 24,789,495/female 23,842,715)
15-64 years: 67.9% (male 62,669,392/female 63,719,631)
65 years and over: 6% (male 4,549,552/female 6,542,009) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 27.81 years
male: 27.06 years
female: 28.57 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.06% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

16.83 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.15 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 29.61 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 33.37 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 25.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.69 years
male: 67.74 years
female: 75.85 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.93 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.7% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

660,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

15,000 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Brazilian(s)
adjective: Brazilian

Ethnic groups:

white 53.7%, mulatto (mixed white and black) 38.5%, black 6.2%, other (includes Japanese, Arab, Amerindian) 0.9%, unspecified 0.7% (2000 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic (nominal) 73.6%, Protestant 15.4%, Spriritualist 1.3%, Bantu/voodoo 0.3%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.2%, none 7.4% (2000 census)

Languages:

Portuguese (official), Spanish, English, French

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.4%
male: 86.1%
female: 86.6% (2003 est.)

Government

Brazil

Country name:

conventional long form: Federative Republic of Brazil
conventional short form: Brazil
local long form: Republica Federativa do Brasil
local short form: Brasil

Government type:

federative republic

Capital:

Brasilia

Administrative divisions:

26 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa, Amazonas, Bahia, Ceara, Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana, Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Rondonia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, Sergipe, Tocantins

Independence:

7 September 1822 (from Portugal)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 7 September (1822)

Constitution:

5 October 1988

Legal system:

based on Roman codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

voluntary between 16 and 18 years of age and over 70; compulsory over 18 and under 70 years of age; note - military conscripts do not vote

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Luiz Inacio LULA DA SILVA (since 1 January 2003); Vice President Jose ALENCAR (since 1 January 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Luiz Inacio LULA DA SILVA (since 1 January 2003); Vice President Jose ALENCAR (since 1 January 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
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 6 October 2002 (next to be held 1 October 2006, with a runoff on 29 October 2006 if necessary); runoff election held 27 October 2002
election results: in runoff election 27 October 2002, Luiz Inacio LULA DA SILVA (PT) elected with 61.3% of the vote; Jose SERRA (PSDB) 38.7%

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Congress or Congresso Nacional consists of the Federal Senate or Senado Federal (81 seats; three members from each state and federal district elected according to the principle of majority to serve eight-year terms; one-third elected after a four-year period, two-thirds elected after the next four-year period) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara dos Deputados (513 seats; members are elected by proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: Federal Senate - last held 6 October 2002 for two-thirds of the Senate (next to be held October 2006 for one-third of the Senate); Chamber of Deputies - last held 6 October 2002 (next to be held October 2006)
election results: Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PMBD 19, PFL 19, PT 14, PSDB 11, PDT 5, PSB 4, PL 3, PTB 3, PPS 1, PSD 1, PP 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PT 91, PFL 84, PMDB 74, PSDB 71, PP 49, PL 26, PTB 26, PSB 22, PDT 21, PPS 15, PCdoB 12, PRONA 6, PV 5, other 11; note - many congressmen have changed party affiliation since the most recent election

Judicial branch:

Supreme Federal Tribunal (11 ministers are appointed for life by the president and confirmed by the Senate); Higher Tribunal of Justice; Regional Federal Tribunals (judges are appointed for life); note - though appointed "for life," judges, like all federal employees, have a mandatory retirement age of 70

Political parties and leaders:

Brazilian Democratic Movement Party or PMDB [Federal Deputy Michel TEMER]; Brazilian Labor Party or PTB [Federal Deputy Roberto JEFFERSON]; Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB [Senator Eduardo AZAREDO]; Brazilian Socialist Party or PSB [Federal Deputy Miguel ARRAES]; Communist Party of Brazil or PCdoB [Renato RABELO]; Democratic Labor Party or PDT [Carlos LUPI]; Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [Pedro Miguel SANTANA LOPES]; Green Party or PV [Jose Luiz de Franca PENNA]; Liberal Front Party or PFL [Senator Jorge BORNHAUSEN]; Liberal Party or PL [Federal Deputy Valdemar COSTA Neto]; National Order Reconstruction Party or PRONA [Federal Deputy Dr. Eneas CARNEIRO]; Popular Socialist Party or PPS [Federal Deputy Roberto FREIRE]; Progressive Party or PP [Federal Deputy Pedro CORREA]; Social Christian Party or PSC [Vitor Jorge ABDALA NOSSEIS]; Worker's Party or PT [Jose GENOINO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Landless Worker's Movement; labor unions and federations; large farmers' associations; religious groups including evangelical christian churches and the Catholic Church

International organization participation:

AfDB, BIS, CSN, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Roberto ABDENUR
chancery: 3006 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 238-2700
FAX: [1] (202) 238-2827
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador John DANILOVICH
embassy: Avenida das Nacoes, Quadra 801, Lote 3, Distrito Federal Cep 70403-900, Brasilia
mailing address: Unit 3500, APO AA 34030
telephone: [55] (61) 312-7000
FAX: [55] (61) 225-9136
consulate(s) general: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo
consulate(s): Recife

Flag description:

green with a large yellow diamond in the center bearing a blue celestial globe with 27 white five-pointed stars (one for each state and the Federal District) arranged in the same pattern as the night sky over Brazil; the globe has a white equatorial band with the motto ORDEM E PROGRESSO (Order and Progress)

Economy

Brazil

Economy - overview:

Possessing large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, Brazil's economy outweighs that of all other South American countries and is expanding its presence in world markets. From 2001-03 real wages fell and Brazil's economy grew, on average, only 2.2% per year, as the country absorbed a series of domestic and international economic shocks. That Brazil absorbed these shocks without financial collapse is a tribute to the resiliency of the Brazilian economy and the economic program put in place by former President CARDOSO and strengthened by President LULA DA SILVA. In 2004, Brazil enjoyed more robust growth that yielded increases in employment and real wages. The three pillars of the economic program are a floating exchange rate, an inflation-targeting regime, and tight fiscal policy, all reinforced by a series of IMF programs. The currency depreciated sharply in 2001 and 2002, which contributed to a dramatic current account adjustment: in 2003 and 2004, Brazil ran record trade surpluses and recorded its first current account surpluses since 1992. Productivity gains - particularly in agriculture - also contributed to the surge in exports, and Brazil in 2004 surpassed the previous year's record export level and again posted a current account surplus. While economic management has been good, there remain important economic vulnerabilities. The most significant are debt-related: the government's largely domestic debt increased steadily from 1994 to 2003 - straining government finances - before falling as a percentage of GDP in 2004, while Brazil's foreign debt (a mix of private and public debt) is large in relation to Brazil's small (but growing) export base. Another challenge is maintaining economic growth over a period of time to generate employment and make the government debt burden more manageable.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.492 trillion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.1% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $8,100 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 10.1%
industry: 38.6%
services: 51.3% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

89 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 20%, industry 14%, services 66% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:

11.5% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

22% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 48% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

60.7 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7.6% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $140.6 billion
expenditures: $172.4 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004)

Public debt:

52% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa, citrus; beef

Industries:

textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, other machinery and equipment

Industrial production growth rate:

6% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

339 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 8.3%
hydro: 82.7%
nuclear: 4.4%
other: 4.6% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

351.9 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

7 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

36.58 billion kWh; note - supplied by Paraguay (2002)

Oil - production:

1.788 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

2.199 million bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

13.9 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

5.95 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

9.59 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

3.64 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

221.7 billion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$8 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$95 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee, autos

Exports - partners:

US 20.8%, Argentina 7.5%, Netherlands 6.1%, China 5.6%, Germany 4.1%, Mexico 4% (2004)

Imports:

$61 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, electrical and transport equipment, chemical products, oil

Imports - partners:

US 18.3%, Argentina 8.9%, Germany 8.1%, China 5.9%, Nigeria 5.6%, Japan 4.6% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$52.94 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$219.8 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$30 billion (2002)

Currency (code):

real (BRL)

Currency code:

BRL

Exchange rates:

reals per US dollar - 2.9251 (2004), 3.0771 (2003), 2.9208 (2002), 2.3577 (2001), 1.8301 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Brazil

Telephones - main lines in use:

38.81 million (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

46,373,300 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: good working system
domestic: extensive microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 64 earth stations
international: country code - 55; 3 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region east), connected by microwave relay system to Mercosur Brazilsat B3 satellite earth station

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1,365, FM 296, shortwave 161 (of which 91 are collocated with AM stations) (1999)

Radios:

71 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

138 (1997)

Televisions:

36.5 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.br

Internet hosts:

3,163,349 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

50 (2000)

Internet users:

14.3 million (2002)

Transportation

Brazil

Railways:

total: 29,412 km (1,567 km electrified)
broad gauge: 4,907 km 1.600-m gauge (908 km electrified)
standard gauge: 194 km 1.440-m gauge
narrow gauge: 23,915 km 1.000-m gauge (581 km electrified)
dual gauge: 396 km 1.000-m and 1.600-m gauges (three rails) (78 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 1,724,929 km
paved: 94,871 km
unpaved: 1,630,058 km (2000)

Waterways:

50,000 km (most in areas remote from industry and population) (2004)

Pipelines:

condensate/gas 244 km; gas 10,739 km; liquid petroleum gas 341 km; oil 5,212 km; refined products 4,755 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Gebig, Itaqui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, San Sebasttiao, Santos, Sepetiba Terminal, Tubarao, Vitoria

Merchant marine:

total: 150 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,961,431 GRT/4,725,267 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 28, cargo 25, chemical tanker 7, combination ore/oil 2, container 7, liquefied gas 12, passenger/cargo 12, petroleum tanker 48, roll on/roll off 9
foreign-owned: 17 (Chile 2, Germany 7, Norway 1, Spain 7)
registered in other countries: 8 (2005)

Airports:

4,136 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 698
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 23
1,524 to 2,437 m: 158
914 to 1,523 m: 461
under 914 m: 49 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 3,438
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 78
914 to 1,523 m: 1,579
under 914 m: 1,780 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

417 (2004 est.)

Military

Brazil

Military branches:

Brazilian Army, Brazilian Navy (includes Naval Air and Marines), Brazilian Air Force (FAB)

Military service age and obligation:

19 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript service obligation - 12 months; 17 years of age for voluntary service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 19-49: 45,586,036 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 19-49: 33,119,098 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 1,785,930 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$11 billion (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.8% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Brazil

Disputes - international:

unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal narcotics trafficking, and fundraising for extremist organizations; uncontested dispute with Uruguay over certain islands in the Quarai/Cuareim and Invernada boundary streams and the resulting tripoint with Argentina; in 2004 Brazil submitted its claims to UNCLOS to extend its maritime continental margin

Illicit drugs:

illicit producer of cannabis; minor coca cultivation in the Amazon region, used for domestic consumption; government has a large-scale eradication program to control cannabis; important transshipment country for Bolivian, Colombian, and Peruvian cocaine headed for Europe and the US; also used by traffickers as a way station for narcotics air transshipments between Peru and Colombia; upsurge in drug-related violence and weapons smuggling; important market for Colombian, Bolivian, and Peruvian cocaine; illicit narcotics proceeds earned in Brazil are often laundered through the financial system; significant illicit financial activity in the Tri-Border Area

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Bassas da India

Introduction

Bassas da India

Background:

This atoll is a volcanic rock surrounded by reefs and is awash at high tide. A French possession since 1897, it was placed under the administration of a commissioner residing in Reunion in 1968.

Geography

Bassas da India

Location:

Southern Africa, islands in the southern Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from Madagascar to Mozambique

Geographic coordinates:

21 30 S, 39 50 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 0.2 sq km
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:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical

Terrain:

volcanic rock

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 2.4 m

Natural resources:

none

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (all rock) (2001)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

maritime hazard since it is usually under water during high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic cyclones

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

the islands emerge from a circular reef that sits atop a long-extinct, submerged volcano

People

Bassas da India

Population:

uninhabited (July 2005 est.)

Government

Bassas da India

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bassas da India

Dependency status:

possession of France; administered by the Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Legal system:

the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Flag description:

the flag of France is used

Economy

Bassas da India

Economy - overview:

no economic activity

Transportation

Bassas da India

Ports and harbors:

none; offshore anchorage only

Military

Bassas da India

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

Bassas da India

Disputes - international:

claimed by Madagascar

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Bhutan

Introduction

Bhutan

Background:

In 1865, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding some border land. Under British influence, a monarchy was set up in 1907; three years later, a treaty was signed whereby the British agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal affairs and Bhutan allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs. This role was assumed by independent India after 1947. Two years later, a formal Indo-Bhutanese accord returned the areas of Bhutan annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. A refugee issue of some 100,000 Bhutanese in Nepal remains unresolved; 90% of the refugees are housed in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps.

Geography

Bhutan

Location:

Southern Asia, between China and India

Geographic coordinates:

27 30 N, 90 30 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 47,000 sq km
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 southern plains; cool winters and hot summers in central valleys; severe winters and cool summers in Himalayas

Terrain:

mostly mountainous with some fertile valleys and savanna

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m
highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m

Natural resources:

timber, hydropower, gypsum, calcium carbonate

Land use:

arable land: 3.09%
permanent crops: 0.43%
other: 96.48% (2001)

Irrigated land:

400 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

violent storms from the Himalayas are the source of the country's name which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon; frequent landslides during the rainy season

Environment - current issues:

soil erosion; limited access to potable water

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

landlocked; strategic location between China and India; controls several key Himalayan mountain passes

People

Bhutan

Population:

2,232,291
note: other estimates range as low as 810,000 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 39.1% (male 452,213/female 420,675)
15-64 years: 56.9% (male 654,109/female 615,431)
65 years and over: 4% (male 45,281/female 44,582) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 20.27 years
male: 20.11 years
female: 20.44 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.11% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

34.03 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

12.94 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 100.44 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 98.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 102.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 54.39 years
male: 54.65 years
female: 54.11 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.81 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

less than 100 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Bhutanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Bhutanese

Ethnic groups:

Bhote 50%, ethnic Nepalese 35% (includes Lhotsampas - one of several Nepalese ethnic groups), indigenous or migrant tribes 15%

Religions:

Lamaistic Buddhist 75%, Indian- and Nepalese-influenced Hinduism 25%

Languages:

Dzongkha (official), Bhotes speak various Tibetan dialects, Nepalese speak various Nepalese dialects

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.2%
male: 56.2%
female: 28.1% (1995 est.)

Government

Bhutan

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan
conventional short form: Bhutan

Government type:

monarchy; special treaty relationship with India

Capital:

Thimphu

Administrative divisions:

18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang, Chhukha, Chirang, Dagana, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro, Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang, Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang
note: there may be two new districts named Gasa and Yangtse

Independence:

8 August 1949 (from India)

National holiday:

National Day (Ugyen WANGCHUCK became first hereditary king), 17 December (1907)

Constitution:

no written constitution or bill of rights; note - in 2001 the King commissioned the drafting of a constitution, and in November 2004 presented a draft to the Council of Ministers; now awaiting referendum

Legal system:

based on Indian law and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

each family has one vote in village-level elections; note - in late 2003 Bhutan's legislature passed a new election law

Executive branch:

chief of state: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July 1972)
head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers Lyonpo Sangay NGEDUP (since 5 September 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) nominated by the monarch, approved by the National Assembly; members serve fixed, five-year terms; note - there is also a Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), members nominated by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary, but democratic reforms in July 1998 grant the National Assembly authority to remove the monarch with two-thirds vote

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Tshogdu (150 seats; 105 elected from village constituencies, 10 represent religious bodies, and 35 are designated by the monarch to represent government and other secular interests; members serve three-year terms)
elections: local elections last held November 2002 (next to be held NA 2005)
election results: NA

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Appeal (the monarch); High Court (judges appointed by the monarch)

Political parties and leaders:

no legal parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Buddhist clergy; ethnic Nepalese organizations leading militant antigovernment campaign; Indian merchant community; United Front for Democracy (exiled)

International organization participation:

AsDB, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none; note - Bhutan has a Permanent Mission to the UN; address: 2 United Nations Plaza, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10017; telephone [1] (212) 826-1919; FAX [1] (212) 826-2998; the Bhutanese mission to the UN has consular jurisdiction in the US
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US and Bhutan have no formal diplomatic relations, although informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US Embassy in New Delhi (India)

Flag description:

divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper triangle is yellow and the lower triangle is orange; centered along the dividing line is a large black and white dragon facing away from the hoist side

Economy

Bhutan

Economy - overview:

The economy, one of the world's smallest and least developed, is based on agriculture and forestry, which provide the main livelihood for more than 90% of the population. Agriculture consists largely of subsistence farming and animal husbandry. Rugged mountains dominate the terrain and make the building of roads and other infrastructure difficult and expensive. The economy is closely aligned with India's through strong trade and monetary links and dependence on India's financial assistance. The industrial sector is technologically backward, with most production of the cottage industry type. Most development projects, such as road construction, rely on Indian migrant labor. Bhutan's hydropower potential and its attraction for tourists are key resources. Model education, social, and environment programs are underway with support from multilateral development organizations. Each economic program takes into account the government's desire to protect the country's environment and cultural traditions. For example, the government, in its cautious expansion of the tourist sector, encourages visits by upscale, environmentally conscientious tourists. Detailed controls and uncertain policies in areas like industrial licensing, trade, labor, and finance continue to hamper foreign investment.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.9 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.3% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 45%
industry: 10%
services: 45% (2002 est.)

Labor force:

NA
note: massive lack of skilled labor

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 93%, industry and commerce 2%, services 5%

Unemployment rate:

NA

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3% (2002 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $146 million
expenditures: $152 million, including capital expenditures of NA
note: the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of Bhutan's budget expenditures (FY95/96 est.)

Agriculture - products:

rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs

Industries:

cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages, calcium carbide

Industrial production growth rate:

9.3% (1996 est.)

Electricity - production:

2.001 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 0.1%
hydro: 99.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

312.9 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

1.56 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

12 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1,020 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$154 million f.o.b. (2000 est.)

Exports - commodities:

electricity (to India), cardamom, gypsum, timber, handicrafts, cement, fruit, precious stones, spices

Exports - partners:

Bangladesh 47.4%, Japan 30.2%, France 3.4% (2004)

Imports:

$196 million c.i.f. (2000 est.)

Imports - commodities:

fuel and lubricants, grain, machinery and parts, vehicles, fabrics, rice

Imports - partners:

Germany 65.4%, Japan 14.3%, Austria 6.8%, UK 4.5% (2004)

Debt - external:

$245 million (2000)

Economic aid - recipient:

substantial aid from India and other nations

Currency (code):

ngultrum (BTN); Indian rupee (INR)

Currency code:

BTN; INR

Exchange rates:

ngultrum per US dollar - 45.317 (2004), 46.583 (2003), 48.61 (2002), 47.186 (2001), 44.942 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Communications

Bhutan

Telephones - main lines in use:

25,200 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

22,000 (2005)

Telephone system:

general assessment: telecommunications facilities are poor
domestic: very low tele-density; domestic service is very poor especially in rural areas; wireless service available since 2003
international: country code - 975; international telephone and telegraph service via landline and microwave relay through India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2005)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 1, shortwave 1 (2004)

Radios:

37,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2005)

Televisions:

11,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.bt

Internet hosts:

985 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

NA

Internet users:

15,000 (2003)

Transportation

Bhutan

Highways:

total: 4,007 km
paved: 24 km
unpaved: 3,983 km (2002)

Airports:

2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Bhutan

Military branches:

Royal Bhutan Army (includes Royal Bodyguard and Royal Bhutan Police) (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 483,860 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 314,975 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 23,939 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$13.7 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.8% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Bhutan

Disputes - international:

approximately 104,000 Bhutanese refugees live in Nepal, 90% of whom reside in seven UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees camps; Bhutan cooperates with India to expel Indian separatists

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Bulgaria

Introduction

Bulgaria

Background:

The Bulgars, a Central Asian Turkic tribe, merged with the local Slavic inhabitants in the late 7th century to form the first Bulgarian state. In succeeding centuries, Bulgaria struggled with the Byzantine Empire to assert its place in the Balkans, but by the end of the 14th century the country was overrun by the Ottoman Turks. Northern Bulgaria attained autonomy in 1878 and all of Bulgaria became independent in 1908. Having fought on the losing side in both World Wars, Bulgaria fell within the Soviet sphere of influence and became a People's Republic in 1946. Communist domination ended in 1990, when Bulgaria held its first multiparty election since World War II and began the contentious process of moving toward political democracy and a market economy while combating inflation, unemployment, corruption, and crime. Today, reforms and democratization keep Bulgaria on a path toward eventual integration into the EU. The country joined NATO in 2004.

Geography

Bulgaria

Location:

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Romania and Turkey

Geographic coordinates:

43 00 N, 25 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 110,910 sq km
land: 110,550 sq km
water: 360 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Tennessee

Land boundaries:

total: 1,808 km
border countries: Greece 494 km, Macedonia 148 km, Romania 608 km, Serbia and Montenegro 318 km, Turkey 240 km

Coastline:

354 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

temperate; cold, damp winters; hot, dry summers

Terrain:

mostly mountains with lowlands in north and southeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Musala 2,925 m

Natural resources:

bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, coal, timber, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 40.02%
permanent crops: 1.92%
other: 58.06% (2001)

Irrigated land:

8,000 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

earthquakes, landslides

Environment - current issues:

air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest damage from air pollution and resulting acid rain; soil contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and industrial wastes

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulfur 94

Geography - note:

strategic location near Turkish Straits; controls key land routes from Europe to Middle East and Asia

People

Bulgaria

Population:

7,450,349 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 14.1% (male 539,005/female 512,762)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 2,516,368/female 2,599,524)
65 years and over: 17.2% (male 531,008/female 751,682) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 40.66 years
male: 38.59 years
female: 42.66 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.89% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

9.66 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

14.26 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-4.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 20.55 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 24.31 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.03 years
male: 68.41 years
female: 75.87 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.38 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% - note - no country specific models provided (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

346 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

100 (2001 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Bulgarian(s)
adjective: Bulgarian

Ethnic groups:

Bulgarian 83.9%, Turk 9.4%, Roma 4.7%, other 2% (including Macedonian, Armenian, Tatar, Circassian) (2001 census)

Religions:

Bulgarian Orthodox 82.6%, Muslim 12.2%, other Christian 1.2%, other 4% (2001 census)

Languages:

Bulgarian 84.5%, Turkish 9.6%, Roma 4.1%, other and unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.6%
male: 99.1%
female: 98.2% (2003 est.)

Government

Bulgaria

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Bulgaria
conventional short form: Bulgaria

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Sofia

Administrative divisions:

28 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast); Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Dobrich, Gabrovo, Khaskovo, Kurdzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Shumen, Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofiya, Sofiya-Grad, Stara Zagora, Turgovishte, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol

Independence:

3 March 1878 (as an autonomous principality within the Ottoman Empire); 22 September 1908 (complete independence from the Ottoman Empire)

National holiday:

Liberation Day, 3 March (1878)

Constitution:

adopted 12 July 1991

Legal system:

civil law and criminal law based on Roman law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Georgi PURVANOV (since 22 January 2002); Vice President Angel MARIN (since 22 January 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Sergei STANISHEV (since 16 August 2005); Deputy Prime Minister Ivaylo KALFIN (since 16 August 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and elected by the National Assembly
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 11 and 18 November 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); chairman of the Council of Ministers (prime minister) nominated by the president and elected by the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers nominated by the prime minister and elected by the National Assembly
election results: Georgi PURVANOV elected president; percent of vote - Georgi PURVANOV 54.13%, Petar STOYANOV 45.87%; Sergei STANISHEV elected prime minister, result of legislative vote - 168 to 67

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Narodno Sobranie (240 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 25 June 2005 (next to be held June 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - CfB 31.1%, NMS2 19.9%, MRF 12.7%, ATAKA 8.2%, UDF 7.7%, DSB 6.5%, BPU 5.2%; seats by party - CfB 83, NMS2 53, MRF 33, ATAKA 21, UDF 20, DSB 17, BPU 13

Judicial branch:

Supreme Administrative Court; Supreme Court of Cassation; Constitutional Court (12 justices appointed or elected for nine-year terms); Supreme Judicial Council (consists of the chairmen of the two Supreme Courts, the Chief Prosecutor, and 22 other members; responsible for appointing the justices, prosecutors, and investigating magistrates in the justice system; members of the Supreme Judicial Council elected for five-year terms, 11 elected by the National Assembly and 11 by bodies of the judiciary)

Political parties and leaders:

Attack National Union [Volen Siderov]; ATAKA (Attack Coalition) (coalition of parties headed by the Attack National Union); Bulgarian Agrarian National Union-People's Union or BANU [Anastasia MOZER]; Bulgarian People's Union or BPU (coalition of UFD, IMRO, and BANU); Bulgarian Socialist Party or BSP [Sergei STANISHEV]; Coalition for Bulgaria or CfB (coalition of parties dominated by BSP) [Sergei STANISHEV]; Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria or DSB [Ivan KOSTOV]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization or IMRO [Krasimir KARAKACHANOV]; Movement for Rights and Freedoms or MRF [Ahmed DOGAN]; National Movement for Simeon II or NMS2 [Simeon SAXE-COBURG-GOTHA]; New Time [Emil KOSHLUKOV]; Union of Democratic Forces or UDF [Nadezhda MIKHAYLOVA]; Union of Free Democrats or UFD [Stefan SOFIYANSKI]; United Democratic Forces or UtDF (a coalition of center-right parties dominated by UDF)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria or CITUB; Podkrepa Labor Confederation; numerous regional, ethnic, and national interest groups with various agendas

International organization participation:

ACCT, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate affiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Elena B. POPTODOROVA
chancery: 1621 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-0174
FAX: [1] (202) 234-7973
consulate(s) general: Chicago and New York
consulate(s): Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador James William PARDEW
embassy: 16 Kozyak Street, Sofia 1407
mailing address: American Embassy Sofia, Department of State, 5740 Sofia Place, Washington, DC 20521-5740
telephone: [359] (2) 937-5100
FAX: [359] (2) 937-5230

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of white (top), green, and red; note - the national emblem, formerly on the hoist side of the white stripe, has been removed

Economy

Bulgaria

Economy - overview:

Bulgaria, a former communist country striving to enter the European Union, has experienced macroeconomic stability and strong growth since a major economic downturn in 1996 led to the fall of the then socialist government. As a result, the government became committed to economic reform and responsible fiscal planning. Minerals, including coal, copper, and zinc play an important role in industry. In 1997, macroeconomic stability was reinforced by the imposition of a fixed exchange rate of the lev against the German D-mark and the negotiation of an IMF standby agreement. Low inflation and steady progress on structural reforms improved the business environment; Bulgaria has averaged 4% growth since 2000 and has begun to attract significant amounts of foreign direct investment. Corruption in the public administration, a weak judiciary, and the presence of organized crime remain the largest challenges for Bulgaria.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$61.63 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.3% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $8,200 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 11.5%
industry: 30.1%
services: 58.4% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

3.398 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 11%, industry 32.7%, services 56.3% (3rd quarter 2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

12.7% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

13.4% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 4.5%
highest 10%: 22.8% (1997)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

26.4 (2001)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6.1% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

18.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $9.67 billion
expenditures: $9.619 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

41.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

vegetables, fruits, tobacco, livestock, wine, wheat, barley, sunflowers, sugar beets

Industries:

electricity, gas and water; food, beverages and tobacco; machinery and equipment, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum, nuclear fuel

Industrial production growth rate:

5.2% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

43.07 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 47.8%
hydro: 8.1%
nuclear: 44.1%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

32.71 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

8.3 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

960 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

603 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

94,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

8.1 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

4 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

5.804 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

5.8 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

3.724 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$682.9 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$9.134 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and equipment, fuels

Exports - partners:

Italy 13.1%, Germany 11.6%, Turkey 9.3%, Belgium 6.1%, Greece 5.6%, US 5.3%, France 4.9% (2004)

Imports:

$12.23 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment; metals and ores; chemicals and plastics; fuels, minerals, and raw materials

Imports - partners:

Germany 15.1%, Italy 10.2%, Russia 7.9%, Greece 7.5%, Turkey 6.9%, France 4.4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$7.526 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$16.1 billion (November 2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$300 million (2000 est.)

Currency (code):

lev (BGL)

Currency code:

BGN

Exchange rates:

leva per US dollar - 1.5751 (2004), 1.7327 (2003), 2.077 (2002), 2.1847 (2001), 2.1233 (2000)
note: on 5 July 1999, the lev was redenominated; the post-5 July 1999 lev is equal to 1,000 of the pre-5 July 1999 lev

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Bulgaria

Telephones - main lines in use:

2,868,200 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2,597,500 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: extensive but antiquated
domestic: more than two-thirds of the lines are residential; telephone service is available in most villages; a fairly modern digital cable trunk line now connects switching centers in most of the regions, the others are connected by digital microwave radio relay
international: country code - 359; direct dialing to 58 countries; satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); 2 Intelsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 31, FM 63, shortwave 2 (2001)

Radios:

4.51 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

39 (plus 1,242 repeaters) (2001)

Televisions:

3.31 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.bg

Internet hosts:

53,421 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

200 (2001)

Internet users:

630,000 (2002)

Transportation

Bulgaria

Railways:

total: 4,294 km
standard gauge: 4,049 km 1.435-m gauge (2,710 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 245 km 0.760-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 37,077 km
paved: 34,111 km (including 328 km of expressways)
unpaved: 2,966 km (2002)

Waterways:

470 km (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 2,425 km; oil 339 km; refined products 156 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Burgas, Varna

Merchant marine:

total: 64 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 757,972 GRT/1,115,238 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 34, cargo 13, chemical tanker 4, container 6, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 3
registered in other countries: 45 (2005)

Airports:

213 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 128
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: 92 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 85
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 72 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

Bulgaria

Military branches:

Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 9 months (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,661,211 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,302,037 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 51,023 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$356 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.6% (2003)

Transnational Issues

Bulgaria

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

major European transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and, to a lesser degree, South American cocaine for the European market; limited producer of precursor chemicals; some money laundering of drug-related proceeds through financial institutions

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Bouvet Island

Introduction

Bouvet Island

Background:

This uninhabited volcanic island is almost entirely covered by glaciers and is difficult to approach. It was discovered in 1739 by a French naval officer after whom the island was named. No claim was made until 1825, when the British flag was raised. In 1928, the UK waived its claim in favor of Norway, which had occupied the island the previous year. In 1971, Bouvet Island and the adjacent territorial waters were designated a nature reserve. Since 1977, Norway has run an automated meteorological station on the island.

Geography

Bouvet Island

Location:

island in the South Atlantic Ocean, southwest of the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa)

Geographic coordinates:

54 26 S, 3 24 E

Map references:

Antarctic Region

Area:

total: 58.5 sq km
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 nm

Climate:

antarctic

Terrain:

volcanic; coast is mostly inaccessible

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: South Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Olav Peak 935 m

Natural resources:

none

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (93% ice) (2001)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

covered by glacial ice; declared a nature reserve

People

Bouvet Island

Population:

uninhabited (July 2005 est.)

Government

Bouvet Island

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bouvet Island

Dependency status:

territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice and Police from Oslo

Legal system:

the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply

Flag description:

the flag of Norway is used

Economy

Bouvet Island

Economy - overview:

no economic activity; declared a nature reserve

Communications

Bouvet Island

Internet country code:

.bv

Communications - note:

automatic meteorological station

Transportation

Bouvet Island

Ports and harbors:

none; offshore anchorage only

Military

Bouvet Island

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Norway

Transnational Issues

Bouvet Island

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Brunei

Introduction

Brunei

Background:

The Sultanate of Brunei's influence peaked between the 15th and 17th centuries when its control extended over coastal areas of northwest Borneo and the southern Philippines. Brunei subsequently entered a period of decline brought on by internal strife over royal succession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence was achieved in 1984. The same family has ruled Brunei for over six centuries. Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in the developing world.

Geography

Brunei

Location:

Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia

Geographic coordinates:

4 30 N, 114 40 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 5,770 sq km
land: 5,270 sq km
water: 500 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Delaware

Land boundaries:

total: 381 km
border countries: Malaysia 381 km

Coastline:

161 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm or to median line

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid, rainy

Terrain:

flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, timber

Land use:

arable land: 0.57%
permanent crops: 0.76%
other: 98.67% (2001)

Irrigated land:

10 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare

Environment - current issues:

seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; almost an enclave of Malaysia

People

Brunei

Population:

372,361 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 28.6% (male 54,342/female 52,084)
15-64 years: 68.4% (male 134,908/female 119,814)
65 years and over: 3% (male 5,301/female 5,912) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 27.04 years
male: 27.63 years
female: 26.4 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.9% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

19.01 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

3.42 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

3.45 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.09 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 12.61 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 15.93 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.8 years
male: 72.36 years
female: 77.36 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.3 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Bruneian(s)
adjective: Bruneian

Ethnic groups:

Malay 67%, Chinese 15%, indigenous 6%, other 12%

Religions:

Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs and other 10%

Languages:

Malay (official), English, Chinese

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.9%
male: 96.3%
female: 91.4% (2002)

Government

Brunei

Country name:

conventional long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam
conventional short form: Brunei

Government type:

constitutional sultanate

Capital:

Bandar Seri Begawan

Administrative divisions:

4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong

Independence:

1 January 1984 (from UK)

National holiday:

National Day, 23 February (1984); note - 1 January 1984 was the date of independence from the UK, 23 February 1984 was the date of independence from British protection

Constitution:

29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a State of Emergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1 January 1984)

Legal system:

based on English common law; for Muslims, Islamic Shari'a law supersedes civil law in a number of areas

Suffrage:

none

Executive branch:

chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Cabinet Ministers appointed and presided over by the monarch; deals with executive matters; note - there is also a Religious Council (members appointed by the monarch) that advises on religious matters, a Privy Council (members appointed by the monarch) that deals with constitutional matters, and the Council of Succession (members appointed by the monarch) that determines the succession to the throne if the need arises
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary

Legislative branch:

Legislative Council met on 25 September 2004 for first time in 20 years with 21 members appointed by the Sultan; passed constitutional amendments calling for a 45-seat council with 15 elected members; Sultan dissolved council on 1 September 2005 and appointed a new council with 29 members as of 2 September 2005
elections: last held in March 1962 (date of next election NA)

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (chief justice and judges are sworn in by the monarch for three-year terms)

Political parties and leaders:

National Development Party (NDP) [Yassin AFFENDI]; National Unity Party of Brunei (PPKB) [leader NA]; People's Awareness Party (PAKAR) [leader NA]
note: parties are small and inactive (2005)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

APEC, APT, ARF, ASEAN, C, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Pengiran Anak Dato PUTEH
chancery: 3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 237-1838
FAX: [1] (202) 885-0560

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Emil SKODON
embassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan
mailing address: PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96507
telephone: [673] (2) 229670
FAX: [673] (2) 225293

Flag description:

yellow with two diagonal bands of white (top, almost double width) and black starting from the upper hoist side; the national emblem in red is superimposed at the center; the emblem includes a swallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within an upturned crescent above a scroll and flanked by two upraised hands

Economy

Brunei

Economy - overview:

This small, well-to-do economy encompasses a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation, welfare measures, and village tradition. Crude oil and natural gas production account for nearly half of GDP. Per capita GDP is far above most other Third World countries, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and free education through the university level and subsidizes rice and housing. Brunei's leaders are concerned that steadily increased integration in the world economy will undermine internal social cohesion, although it became a more prominent player by serving as chairman for the 2000 APEC (Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation) forum. Plans for the future include upgrading the labor force, reducing unemployment, strengthening the banking and tourist sectors, and, in general, further widening the economic base beyond oil and gas.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$6.842 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.2% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $23,600 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 5%
industry: 45%
services: 50% (2001 est.)

Labor force:

158,000
note: includes foreign workers and military personnel; temporary residents make up about 40% of labor force (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture, forestry, and fishing 10%, production of oil, natural gas, services, and construction 42%, government 48% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:

3.2% (2002 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% (2003 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $4.9 billion
expenditures: $4.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.35 billion (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products:

rice, vegetables, fruits, chickens, water buffalo

Industries:

petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction

Industrial production growth rate:

5% (2002 est.)

Electricity - production:

2.458 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

2.286 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

204,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption:

13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

199,000 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

1.255 billion bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

10.35 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.35 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

9 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

315 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Exports:

$7.7 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities:

crude oil, natural gas, refined products

Exports - partners:

Japan 38.1%, South Korea 14%, Australia 11.2%, US 8.6%, Thailand 7.9%, Indonesia 5.9%, China 4.5% (2004)

Imports:

$5.2 billion c.i.f. (2003)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals

Imports - partners:

Singapore 32.7%, Malaysia 21.2%, UK 8.3%, Japan 7.2% (2004)

Debt - external:

$0

Economic aid - recipient:

NA

Currency (code):

Bruneian dollar (BND)

Currency code:

BND

Exchange rates:

Bruneian dollars per US dollar - 1.6902 (2004), 1.7422 (2003), 1.7906 (2002), 1.7917 (2001), 1.724 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Brunei

Telephones - main lines in use:

90,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

137,000 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: service throughout the country is excellent; international service is good to East Asia, Europe, and the US
domestic: every service available
international: country code - 673; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean); digital submarine cable links to Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore (2001)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

329,000 (1998)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (1997)

Televisions:

201,900 (1998)

Internet country code:

.bn

Internet hosts:

6,409 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

35,000 (2002)

Transportation

Brunei

Highways:

total: 2,525 km
paved: 2,525 km
unpaved: 0 km (2000)

Waterways:

209 km (navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m) (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 665 km; oil 439 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Lumut, Muara, Seria

Merchant marine:

total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 465,937 GRT/413,393 DWT
by type: liquefied gas 8
foreign-owned: 8 (United Kingdom 8) (2005)

Airports:

2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

3 (2004 est.)

Military

Brunei

Military branches:

Royal Brunei Armed Forces: Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal Brunei Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.) (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 103,885 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: approx. 85,045 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 3,478 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$290.7 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

5.1% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Brunei

Disputes - international:

in 2003 Brunei and Malaysia ceased gas and oil exploration in their disputed offshore and deepwater seabeds and negotiations have stalemated prompting consideration of international legal adjudication; Malaysia's land boundary with Brunei around Limbang is in dispute; Brunei established an exclusive economic fishing zone encompassing Louisa Reef in southern Spratly Islands in 1984 but makes no public territorial claim to the offshore reefs; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions in the Spratly Islands but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants

Illicit drugs:

drug trafficking and illegally importing controlled substances are serious offenses in Brunei and carry a mandatory death penalty

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Burundi

Introduction

Burundi

Background:

Burundi's first democratically elected president was assassinated in October 1993 after only one hundred days in office. Since then, some 200,000 Burundians have perished in widespread, often intense ethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi factions. Hundreds of thousands have been internally displaced or have become refugees in neighboring countries. Burundi troops, seeking to secure their borders, briefly intervened in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1998. A new transitional government, inaugurated on 1 November 2001, signed a power-sharing agreement with the largest rebel faction in December 2003 and set in place a provisional constitution in October 2004. Implementation of the agreement has been problematic, however, as one remaining rebel group refuses to sign on and elections have been repeatedly delayed, clouding prospects for a sustainable peace.

Geography

Burundi

Location:

Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Geographic coordinates:

3 30 S, 30 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 27,830 sq km
land: 25,650 sq km
water: 2,180 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries:

total: 974 km
border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 233 km, Rwanda 290 km, Tanzania 451 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

equatorial; high plateau with considerable altitude variation (772 m to 2,670 m above sea level); average annual temperature varies with altitude from 23 to 17 degrees centigrade but is generally moderate as the average altitude is about 1,700 m; average annual rainfall is about 150 cm; wet seasons from February to May and September to November, and dry seasons from June to August and December to January

Terrain:

hilly and mountainous, dropping to a plateau in east, some plains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m
highest point: Heha 2,670 m

Natural resources:

nickel, uranium, rare earth oxides, peat, cobalt, copper, platinum, vanadium, arable land, hydropower, niobium, tantalum, gold, tin, tungsten, kaolin, limestone

Land use:

arable land: 35.05%
permanent crops: 14.02%
other: 50.93% (2001)

Irrigated land:

740 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

flooding, landslides, drought

Environment - current issues:

soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion of agriculture into marginal lands; deforestation (little forested land remains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel); habitat loss threatens wildlife populations

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

landlocked; straddles crest of the Nile-Congo watershed; the Kagera, which drains into Lake Victoria, is the most remote headstream of the White Nile

People

Burundi

Population:

6,370,609
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 46% (male 1,479,941/female 1,450,808)
15-64 years: 51.3% (male 1,617,864/female 1,653,331)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 66,199/female 102,466) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 16.6 years
male: 16.27 years
female: 16.95 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.22% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

39.66 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

17.43 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 69.29 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 75.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 62.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 50.29 years
male: 49.61 years
female: 50.99 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.81 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

6% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

250,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

25,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Burundian(s)
adjective: Burundian

Ethnic groups:

Hutu (Bantu) 85%, Tutsi (Hamitic) 14%, Twa (Pygmy) 1%, Europeans 3,000, South Asians 2,000

Religions:

Christian 67% (Roman Catholic 62%, Protestant 5%), indigenous beliefs 23%, Muslim 10%

Languages:

Kirundi (official), French (official), Swahili (along Lake Tanganyika and in the Bujumbura area)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51.6%
male: 58.5%
female: 45.2% (2003 est.)

Government

Burundi

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Burundi
conventional short form: Burundi
local long form: Republika y'u Burundi
local short form: Burundi
former: Urundi

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Bujumbura

Administrative divisions:

16 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura, Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo, Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi

Independence:

1 July 1962 (from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

Constitution:

13 March 1992; provided for establishment of a plural political system; supplanted on 20 October 2004 by a provisional constitution approved by the parliament which extended the transition; a 28 February 2005 popular referendum ratified the new constitution which set ethnic quotas for government positions, and tentatively scheduled general elections for April 2005

Legal system:

based on German and Belgian civil codes and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

NA years of age; universal adult

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Domitien NDAYIZEYE (since 30 April 2003); note - NDAYIZEYE, a Hutu, was sworn in as president for the second half of the three-year transitional government inaugurated on 1 November 2001; Vice President Frederic NGENZEBUHORO (since 11 November 2004)
head of government: President Domitien NDAYIZEYE (since 30 April 2003); note - NDAYIZEYE, a Hutu, was sworn in as president for the second half of the three-year transitional government inaugurated on 1 November 2001; Vice President Frederic NGENZEBUHORO (since 11 November 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president
elections: NA; current president assumed power on 30 April 2003 as part of the transitional government established by the 2000 Arusha Accord; note - next presidential election is scheduled for 22 April 2005

Legislative branch:

bicameral, consists of a National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (expanded from 121 to approximately 140 seats under the transitional government inaugurated 1 November 2001; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and a Senate (54 seats; term length is undefined, the current senators will likely serve out the three-year transition period)
elections: last held 29 June 1993 (next was scheduled to be held in 1998, but was suspended by presidential decree in 1996; elections are currently planned to be held by April 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - FRODEBU 71.04%, UPRONA 21.4%, other 7.56%; seats by party - FRODEBU 65, UPRONA 16, civilians 27, other parties 13

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court; Courts of Appeal (there are three in separate locations); Tribunals of First Instance (17 at the province level and 123 small local tribunals)

Political parties and leaders:

the three national, mainstream, governing parties are: Unity for National Progress or UPRONA [Jean-Baptiste MANWANGARI, secretary general]; Burundi Democratic Front or FRODEBU [Jean MINANI, president]; National Council for the Defense of Democracy, Front for the Defense of Democracy of CNDD-FDD [Pierre NKURUNZIZA, president]
note: a multiparty system was introduced after 1998, included are: National Resistance Movement for the Rehabilitation of the Citizen or MRC-Rurenzangemero [Epitace BANYAGANAKANDI]; Party for National Redress or PARENA [Jean-Baptiste BAGAZA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

loosely organized Hutu and Tutsi militias, often affiliated with Hutu and Tutsi extremist parties or subordinate to government security forces

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Antoine NTAMOBWA
chancery: Suite 212, 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 342-2574
FAX: [1] (202) 342-2578

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador James Howard YELLIN
embassy: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura
mailing address: B. P. 1720, Bujumbura
telephone: [257] 223454
FAX: [257] 222926

Flag description:

divided by a white diagonal cross into red panels (top and bottom) and green panels (hoist side and outer side) with a white disk superimposed at the center bearing three red six-pointed stars outlined in green arranged in a triangular design (one star above, two stars below)

Economy

Burundi

Economy - overview:

Burundi is a landlocked, resource-poor country with an underdeveloped manufacturing sector. The economy is predominantly agricultural with roughly 90% of the population dependent on subsistence agriculture. Economic growth depends on coffee and tea exports, which account for 90% of foreign exchange earnings. The ability to pay for imports, therefore, rests primarily on weather conditions and international coffee and tea prices. The Tutsi minority, 14% of the population, dominates the government and the coffee trade at the expense of the Hutu majority, 85% of the population. Since October 1993 an ethnic-based war has resulted in more than 200,000 deaths, forced 450,000 refugees into Tanzania, and displaced 140,000 others internally. Doubts about the prospects for sustainable peace continue to impede development. Only one in two children go to school, and approximately one in ten adults has HIV/AIDS. Food, medicine, and electricity remain in short supply.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$4.001 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $600 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 48.1%
industry: 19%
services: 32.9% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

2.99 million (2002)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 93.6%, industry 2.3%, services 4.1% (2002 est.)

Unemployment rate:

NA

Population below poverty line:

68% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 32.9% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

42.5 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

8.5% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

10.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $152.5 million
expenditures: $187.7 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas, manioc (tapioca); beef, milk, hides

Industries:

light consumer goods such as blankets, shoes, soap; assembly of imported components; public works construction; food processing

Industrial production growth rate:

18% (2001)

Electricity - production:

132 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 0.6%
hydro: 99.4%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

137.8 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

15 million kWh; note - supplied by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

2,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-59.5 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$31.84 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, hides

Exports - partners:

Germany 19.6%, Belgium 8.2%, Pakistan 6.7%, US 5.6%, Rwanda 5.6%, Thailand 5.4% (2004)

Imports:

$138.2 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

capital goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Kenya 13.7%, Tanzania 11.2%, US 8.9%, Belgium 8.5%, France 8.4%, Italy 6%, Uganda 5.6%, Japan 4.6%, Germany 4.5% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$76.89 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.133 billion (2002)

Economic aid - recipient:

$92.7 million (2000)

Currency (code):

Burundi franc (BIF)

Currency code:

BIF

Exchange rates:

Burundi francs per US dollar - 1,100.91 (2004), 1,082.62 (2003), 930.75 (2002), 830.35 (2001), 720.67 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Burundi

Telephones - main lines in use:

23,900 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

64,000 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: primitive system
domestic: sparse system of open-wire, radiotelephone communications, and low-capacity microwave radio relay
international: country code - 257; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios:

440,000 (2001)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2001)

Televisions:

25,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.bi

Internet hosts:

22 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

14,000 (2003)

Transportation

Burundi

Highways:

total: 14,480 km
paved: 1,028 km
unpaved: 13,452 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

mainly on Lake Tanganyika (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Bujumbura

Airports:

8 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Military

Burundi

Military branches:

National Defense Force (Forces de Defense Nationales, FDN): Army (includes Naval Detachment and Air Wing), National Gendarmerie (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

16 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,379,793 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 693,956 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 84,597 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$38.7 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

6% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Burundi

Disputes - international:

Tutsi, Hutu, other conflicting ethnic groups, associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces continue fighting in the Great Lakes region, transcending the boundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda in an effort to gain control over populated and natural resource areas; government heads pledge to end conflict, but localized violence continues despite the presence of about 6,000 peacekeepers from the UN Operation in Burundi (ONUB) since 2004; although some 150,000 Burundian refugees have been repatriated, as of February 2005, Burundian refugees still reside in camps in western Tanzania as well as the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 60,288 (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
IDPs: 140,000 (armed conflict between government and rebels; most IDPs in northern and western Burundi) (2004)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Canada

Introduction

Canada

Background:

A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, Canada became a self-governing dominion in 1867 while retaining ties to the British crown. Economically and technologically the nation has developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across an unfortified border. Canada's paramount political problem is meeting public demands for quality improvements in health care and education services after a decade of budget cuts. The issue of reconciling Quebec's francophone heritage with the majority anglophone Canadian population has moved to the back burner in recent years; support for separatism abated after the Quebec government's referendum on independence failed to pass in October of 1995.

Geography

Canada

Location:

Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean on the east, North Pacific Ocean on the west, and the Arctic Ocean on the north, north of the conterminous US

Geographic coordinates:

60 00 N, 95 00 W

Map references:

North America

Area:

total: 9,984,670 sq km
land: 9,093,507 sq km
water: 891,163 sq km

Area - comparative:

somewhat larger than the US

Land boundaries:

total: 8,893 km
border countries: US 8,893 km (includes 2,477 km with Alaska)

Coastline:

202,080 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

varies from temperate in south to subarctic and arctic in north

Terrain:

mostly plains with mountains in west and lowlands in southeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Logan 5,959 m

Natural resources:

iron ore, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, potash, diamonds, silver, fish, timber, wildlife, coal, petroleum, natural gas, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 4.96%
permanent crops: 0.02%
other: 95.02% (2001)

Irrigated land:

7,200 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

continuous permafrost in north is a serious obstacle to development; cyclonic storms form east of the Rocky Mountains, a result of the mixing of air masses from the Arctic, Pacific, and North American interior, and produce most of the country's rain and snow east of the mountains

Environment - current issues:

air pollution and resulting acid rain severely affecting lakes and damaging forests; metal smelting, coal-burning utilities, and vehicle emissions impacting on agricultural and forest productivity; ocean waters becoming contaminated due to agricultural, industrial, mining, and forestry activities

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

second-largest country in world (after Russia); strategic location between Russia and US via north polar route; approximately 90% of the population is concentrated within 160 km of the US border

People

Canada

Population:

32,805,041 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 17.9% (male 3,016,032/female 2,869,244)
15-64 years: 68.9% (male 11,357,425/female 11,244,356)
65 years and over: 13.2% (male 1,842,496/female 2,475,488) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 38.54 years
male: 37.54 years
female: 39.56 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.9% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

10.84 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

7.73 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

5.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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 (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.75 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.21 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 80.1 years
male: 76.73 years
female: 83.63 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.61 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.3% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

56,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

1,500 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Canadian(s)
adjective: Canadian

Ethnic groups:

British Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%, Amerindian 2%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, mixed background 26%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 42.6%, Protestant 23.3% (including United Church 9.5%, Anglican 6.8%, Baptist 2.4%, Lutheran 2%), other Christian 4.4%, Muslim 1.9%, other and unspecified 11.8%, none 16% (2001 census)

Languages:

English (official) 59.3%, French (official) 23.2%, other 17.5%

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97% (1986 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Canada

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Canada

Government type:

a constitutional monarchy that is also a parliamentary democracy and a federation

Capital:

Ottawa

Administrative divisions:

10 provinces and 3 territories*; Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories*, Nova Scotia, Nunavut*, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*

Independence:

1 July 1867 (union of British North American colonies); 11 December 1931 (independence recognized)

National holiday:

Canada Day, 1 July (1867)

Constitution:

made up of unwritten and written acts, customs, judicial decisions, and traditions; the written part of the constitution consists of the Constitution Act of 29 March 1867, which created a federation of four provinces, and the Constitution Act of 17 April 1982, which transferred formal control over the constitution from Britain to Canada, and added a Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as procedures for constitutional amendments

Legal system:

based on English common law, except in Quebec, where civil law system based on French law prevails; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Michaelle Jean (since 27 October 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Paul MARTIN (since 12 December 2003); Deputy Prime Minister Anne MCLELLAN (since 12 December 2003)
cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister from among the members of his own party sitting in Parliament
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister for a five-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition in the House of Commons is automatically designated prime minister by the governor general

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (members appointed by the governor general with the advice of the prime minister and serve until reaching 75 years of age; its normal limit is 105 senators) and the House of Commons or Chambre des Communes (308 seats; members elected by direct, popular vote to serve for up to five-year terms)
elections: House of Commons - last held 28 June 2004 (next to be held by NA 2009)
election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party - Liberal Party 36.7%, Conservative Party 29.6%, New Democratic Party 15.7%, Bloc Quebecois 12.4%, Greens 4.3%, independents 0.4%, other 0.9%; seats by party - Liberal Party 134, Conservative Party 99, Bloc Quebecois 54, New Democratic Party 19, independent 2

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Canada (judges are appointed by the prime minister through the governor general); Federal Court of Canada; Federal Court of Appeal; Provincial Courts (these are named variously Court of Appeal, Court of Queens Bench, Superior Court, Supreme Court, and Court of Justice)

Political parties and leaders:

Bloc Quebecois [Gilles DUCEPPE]; Conservative Party of Canada (a merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party) [Stephen HARPER]; Green Party [Jim HARRIS]; Liberal Party [Paul MARTIN]; New Democratic Party [Jack LAYTON]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT, AfDB, APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CDB, CE (observer), EAPC, EBRD, ESA (cooperating state), FAO, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNMOVIC, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Francis Joseph MCKENNA
chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001
telephone: [1] (202) 682-1740
FAX: [1] (202) 682-7726
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Phoenix, San Diego, and Seattle
consulate(s): Anchorage, Houston, Philadelphia, Princeton, Raleigh, San Francisco, and San Jose

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador David H. WILKINS
embassy: 490 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 1G8
mailing address: P. O. Box 5000, Ogdensburgh, NY 13669-0430
telephone: [1] (613) 238-5335, 4470
FAX: [1] (613) 688-3082
consulate(s) general: Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg

Flag description:

two vertical bands of red (hoist and fly side, half width), with white square between them; an 11-pointed red maple leaf is centered in the white square; the official colors of Canada are red and white

Economy

Canada

Economy - overview:

As an affluent, high-tech industrial society, newly entered in the trillion dollar class, Canada closely resembles the US in its market-oriented economic system, pattern of production, and affluent living standards. Since World War II, the impressive growth of the manufacturing, mining, and service sectors has transformed the nation from a largely rural economy into one primarily industrial and urban. The 1989 US-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) (which includes Mexico) touched off a dramatic increase in trade and economic integration with the US. Given its great natural resources, skilled labor force, and modern capital plant Canada enjoys solid economic prospects. Solid fiscal management has produced a long-term budget surplus which is substantially reducing the national debt, although public debate continues over how to manage the rising cost of the publicly funded healthcare system. Exports account for roughly a third of GDP. Canada enjoys a substantial trade surplus with its principal trading partner, the United States, which absorbs more than 85% of Canadian exports.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.023 trillion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.4% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $31,500 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.3%
industry: 26.4%
services: 71.3% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

17.37 million (2004)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 3%, manufacturing 15%, construction 5%, services 74%, other 3% (2000)

Unemployment rate:

7% (2004)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 23.8% (1994)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

31.5 (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.9% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $151 billion
expenditures: $144 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

NA (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy products; forest products; fish

Industries:

transportation equipment, chemicals, processed and unprocessed minerals, food products; wood and paper products; fish products, petroleum and natural gas

Industrial production growth rate:

2% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

548.9 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 28%
hydro: 57.9%
nuclear: 12.9%
other: 1.3% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

487.3 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

36.13 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

13 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

3.11 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

2.2 million bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:

1.37 million bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports:

987,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves:

178.9 billion bbl including shale oil (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

165.8 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

55.8 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

91.52 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

8.73 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.691 trillion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$28.2 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$315.6 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

motor vehicles and parts, industrial machinery, aircraft, telecommunications equipment; chemicals, plastics, fertilizers; wood pulp, timber, crude petroleum, natural gas, electricity, aluminum

Exports - partners:

US 85.2%, Japan 2.1%, UK 1.6% (2004)

Imports:

$256.1 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil, chemicals, electricity, durable consumer goods

Imports - partners:

US 58.9%, China 6.8%, Mexico 3.8% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$36.27 billion (2003)

Debt - external:

$570 billion (2004)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $2 billion (2004)

Currency (code):

Canadian dollar (CAD)

Currency code:

CAD

Exchange rates:

Canadian dollars per US dollar - 1.301 (2004), 1.4011 (2003), 1.5693 (2002), 1.5488 (2001), 1.4851 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

Canada

Telephones - main lines in use:

19,950,900 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

13,221,800 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: excellent service provided by modern technology
domestic: domestic satellite system with about 300 earth stations
international: country code - 1-xxx; 5 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (4 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) and 2 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 245, FM 582, shortwave 6 (2004)

Radios:

32.3 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

80 (plus many repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

21.5 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.ca

Internet hosts:

3,210,081 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

760 (2000 est.)

Internet users:

16.11 million (2002)

Transportation

Canada

Railways:

total: 48,683 km
standard gauge: 48,683 km 1.435-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 1,408,800 km
paved: 497,306 km (including 16,900 km of expressways)
unpaved: 911,494 km (2002)

Waterways:

631 km
note: Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the Saint Lawrence River of 3,058 km, shared with United States (2003)

Pipelines:

crude and refined oil 23,564 km; liquid petroleum gas 74,980 km (2003)

Ports and harbors:

Fraser River Port, Goderich, Montreal, Port Cartier, Quebec, Saint John's (Newfoundland), Sept Isles, Vancouver

Merchant marine:

total: 169 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,784,229 GRT/2,657,499 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 22, cargo 49, chemical tanker 6, combination ore/oil 1, container 1, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 65, petroleum tanker 13, roll on/roll off 6
foreign-owned: 6 (France 1, Germany 3, United States 2)
registered in other countries: 112 (2005)

Airports:

1,326 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 503
over 3,047 m: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 150
914 to 1,523 m: 245
under 914 m: 75 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 823
1,524 to 2,437 m: 67
914 to 1,523 m: 347
under 914 m: 409 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

319 (2004)

Military

Canada

Military branches:

Canadian Armed Forces: Land Forces Command, Maritime Command, Air Command, Canada Command (homeland security) to be operational in early 2006 (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

16 years of age for voluntary military service; women comprise some 11% of Canada's armed forces (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 8,216,510 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 6,740,490 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 223,821 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$9,801.7 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.1% (2003)

Transnational Issues

Canada

Disputes - international:

managed maritime boundary disputes with the US at Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and around the disputed Machias Seal Island and North Rock; working toward greater cooperation with US in monitoring people and commodities crossing the border; uncontested sovereignty dispute with Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland

Illicit drugs:

illicit producer of cannabis for the domestic drug market and export to US; use of hydroponics technology permits growers to plant large quantities of high-quality marijuana indoors; transit point for heroin and cocaine entering the US market; vulnerable to narcotics money laundering because of its mature financial services sector

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Cambodia

Introduction

Cambodia

Background:

Most Cambodians consider themselves to be Khmers, whose Angkor Empire extended over much of Southeast Asia and reached its zenith between the 10th and 13th centuries. Subsequently, attacks by the Thai and Cham (from present-day Vietnam) weakened the empire ushering in a long period of decline. In 1863, the king of Cambodia placed the country under French protection; it became part of French Indochina in 1887. Following Japanese occupation in World War II, Cambodia became independent within the French Union in 1949 and fully independent in 1953. After a five-year struggle, Communist Khmer Rouge forces captured Phnom Penh in April 1975 and ordered the evacuation of all cities and towns; at least 1.5 million Cambodians died from execution, enforced hardships, or starvation during the Khmer Rouge regime under POL POT. A December 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside, led to a 10-year Vietnamese occupation, and touched off almost 13 years of civil war. The 1991 Paris Peace Accords mandated democratic elections and a ceasefire, which was not fully respected by the Khmer Rouge. UN-sponsored elections in 1993 helped restore some semblance of normalcy and the final elements of the Khmer Rouge surrendered in early 1999. Factional fighting in 1997 ended the first coalition government, but a second round of national elections in 1998 led to the formation of another coalition government and renewed political stability. The July 2003 elections were relatively peaceful, but it took one year of negotiations between contending political parties before a coalition government was formed. Nation-wide local elections are scheduled for 2007 and national elections for 2008.

Geography

Cambodia

Location:

Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos

Geographic coordinates:

13 00 N, 105 00 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 181,040 sq km
land: 176,520 sq km
water: 4,520 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Oklahoma

Land boundaries:

total: 2,572 km
border countries: Laos 541 km, Thailand 803 km, Vietnam 1,228 km

Coastline:

443 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; rainy, monsoon season (May to November); dry season (December to April); little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:

mostly low, flat plains; mountains in southwest and north

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
highest point: Phnum Aoral 1,810 m

Natural resources:

oil and gas, timber, gemstones, some iron ore, manganese, phosphates, hydropower potential

Land use:

arable land: 20.96%
permanent crops: 0.61%
other: 78.43% (2001)

Irrigated land:

2,700 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding; occasional droughts

Environment - current issues:

illegal logging activities throughout the country and strip mining for gems in the western region along the border with Thailand have resulted in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in particular, destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural fisheries); soil erosion; in rural areas, most of the population does not have access to potable water; declining fish stocks because of illegal fishing and overfishing

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

a land of paddies and forests dominated by the Mekong River and Tonle Sap

People

Cambodia

Population:

13,607,069
note: estimates for this country take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 37.3% (male 2,559,734/female 2,510,235)
15-64 years: 59.7% (male 3,887,642/female 4,232,313)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 150,862/female 266,283) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 19.91 years
male: 19.16 years
female: 20.79 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.81% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

27.08 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

8.97 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 71.48 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 80.13 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 62.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 58.92 years
male: 56.98 years
female: 60.95 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.44 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

2.6% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

170,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

15,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and Japanese encephalitis are high risks in some locations (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Cambodian(s)
adjective: Cambodian

Ethnic groups:

Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%

Religions:

Theravada Buddhist 95%, other 5%

Languages:

Khmer (official) 95%, French, English

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 73.6%
male: 84.7%
female: 64.1% (2004 est.)

Government

Cambodia

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Cambodia
conventional short form: Cambodia
local long form: Preahreacheanacha Kampuchea (phonetic pronunciation)
local short form: Kampuchea
former: Kingdom of Cambodia, Khmer Republic, Democratic Kampuchea, People's Republic of Kampuchea, State of Cambodia

Government type:

multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy established in September 1993

Capital:

Phnom Penh

Administrative divisions:

20 provinces (khaitt, singular and plural) and 4 municipalities (krong, singular and plural)
: provinces: Banteay Mean Chey, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Koh Kong, Kracheh, Mondol Kiri, Otdar Mean Chey, Pouthisat, Preah Vihear, Prey Veng, Rotanakir, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takao
: municipalities: Keb, Pailin, Phnom Penh, Preah Seihanu

Independence:

9 November 1953 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 9 November (1953)

Constitution:

promulgated 21 September 1993

Legal system:

primarily a civil law mixture of French-influenced codes from the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) period, royal decrees, and acts of the legislature, with influences of customary law and remnants of communist legal theory; increasing influence of common law in recent years

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: King Norodom SIHAMONI (since 29 October 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister HUN SEN (since 14 January 1985) and Deputy Prime Ministers SAR KHENG (since 3 February 1992), Norodom SIRIVUDH, SOK AN, LU LAY SRENG, TEA BANH, HOR NAMHONG, NHEK BUNCHHAY (since 16 July 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers in theory appointed by the monarch; in practice named by the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is chosen by a Royal Throne Council; following legislative elections, a member of the majority party or majority coalition is named prime minister by the Chairman of the National Assembly and appointed by the king

Legislative branch:

bicameral, consists of the National Assembly (123 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Senate (61 seats; two members appointed by the monarch, two elected by the National Assembly, and 57 elected by "functional constituencies"; members serve five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held 27 July 2003 (next to be held in July 2008); Senate - last held 2 March 1999 (scheduled to be held in 2004 but delayed)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - CPP 47%, SRP 22%, FUNCINPEC 21%, other 10%; seats by party - CPP 73, FUNCINPEC 26, SRP 24; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CPP 31, FUNCINPEC 21, SRP 7, other 2 (July 2003)

Judicial branch:

Supreme Council of the Magistracy (provided for in the constitution and formed in December 1997); Supreme Court (and lower courts) exercises judicial authority

Political parties and leaders:

Cambodian Pracheachon Party (Cambodian People's Party) or CPP [CHEA SIM]; National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia or FUNCINPEC [Prince NORODOM Ranariddh]; Sam Rangsi Party or SRP [SAM RANGSI]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW (signatory), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador EK SEREYWATH
chancery: 4530 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 726-7742
FAX: [1] (202) 726-8381

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph A. MUSSOMELI
embassy: 27 EO Street 240, Phnom Penh
mailing address: Box P, APO AP 96546
telephone: [855] (23) 216-436/438
FAX: [855] (23) 216-437/811

Flag description:

three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (double width), and blue with a white three-towered temple representing Angkor Wat outlined in black in the center of the red band; only national flag to incorporate a building in its design

Economy

Cambodia

Economy - overview:

Cambodia's economy slowed dramatically in 1997 and 1998 due to the regional economic crisis, civil violence, and political infighting, and foreign investment and tourism decreased. In 1999, the first full year of peace in 30 years, the government made progress on economic reforms. Growth resumed and remained about 5% from 2000 to 2004. Economic growth has been largely driven by expansion in the garment sector and tourism, but is expected to fall in 2005 as growth in the garment sector stalls. Clothing exports were fostered by a US-Cambodian Bilateral Textile Agreement signed in 1999 which gave Cambodia a guaranteed quota of US textile imports and established a bonus for improving working conditions and enforcing Cambodian labor laws and international labor standards in the industry. With the January 2005 expiration of a WTO Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, Cambodia-based textile producers are in direct competition with lower priced producing countries such as China and India. Faced with the possibility that over the next five years Cambodia may lose orders and some of the 250,000 well-paid jobs the industry provides, Cambodia has committed itself to a policy of continued support for high labor standards in an attempt to maintain favor with buyers. Tourism growth remains strong, with arrivals up 15% in 2004. The long-term development of the economy after decades of war remains a daunting challenge. The population lacks education and productive skills, particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside, which suffers from an almost total lack of basic infrastructure. Fully 75% of the population remains engaged in subsistence farming. Fear of renewed political instability and a dysfunctional legal system coupled with extensive government corruption discourage foreign investment. The Cambodian government continues to work with bilateral and multilateral donors to address the country's many pressing needs. In December 2004, official donors pledged $504 million in aid for 2005 on the condition that the Cambodian government begins taking steps to address rampant corruption. The next donor pledging session is scheduled for December 2005. The major economic challenge for Cambodia over the next decade will be fashioning an economic environment in which the private sector can create enough jobs to handle Cambodia's demographic imbalance. More than 50% of the population is 20 years or younger.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$26.99 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.4% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 35%
industry: 30%
services: 35% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

7 million (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 75% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

2.5% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:

40% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 33.8% (1997)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

40 (2004 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.1% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

20.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $548.2 million
expenditures: $836.7 million, including capital expenditures of $291 million of which 75% was financed by external assistance (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

rice, rubber, corn, vegetables, cashews, tapioca

Industries:

tourism, garments, rice milling, fishing, wood and wood products, rubber, cement, gem mining, textiles

Industrial production growth rate:

22% (2002 est.)

Electricity - production:

122 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 65%
hydro: 35%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

100.6 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

7,200 bbl/day (2002 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-316.2 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$2.311 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

Clothing, timber, rubber, rice, fish, tobacco, footwear

Exports - partners:

US 55.9%, Germany 11.7%, UK 6.9%, Vietnam 4.4%, Canada 4.2% (2004)

Imports:

$3.129 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum products, cigarettes, gold, construction materials, machinery, motor vehicles, pharmaceutical products

Imports - partners:

Thailand 22.5%, Hong Kong 14.1%, China 13.6%, Vietnam 10.9%, Singapore 10.8%, Taiwan 8.4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$997.5 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$2.4 billion (2002 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$504 million pledged in grants and concessional loans for 2005 by international donors

Currency (code):

riel (KHR)

Currency code:

KHR

Exchange rates:

riels per US dollar - 4,016.25 (2004), 3,973.33 (2003), 3,912.08 (2002), 3,916.33 (2001), 3,840.75 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Cambodia

Telephones - main lines in use:

35,400 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

380,000 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate landline and/or cellular service in Phnom Penh and other provincial cities; mobile phone coverage is rapidly expanding in rural areas
domestic: NA
international: country code - 855; adequate but expensive landline and cellular service available to all countries from Phnom Penh and major provincial cities; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 17, (2003)

Radios:

1.34 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

7 (2003)

Televisions:

94,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.kh

Internet hosts:

818 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

30,000 (2002)

Transportation

Cambodia

Railways:

total: 602 km
narrow gauge: 602 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 12,323 km
paved: 1,996 km
unpaved: 10,327 km (2000 est)

Waterways:

2,400 km (mainly on Mekong River) (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Phnom Penh

Merchant marine:

total: 479 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,913,910 GRT/2,713,967 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 34, cargo 396, chemical tanker 9, container 6, livestock carrier 3, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 11, refrigerated cargo 11, roll on/roll off 5, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 193 (Canada 4, China 39, China 2, Cyprus 4, Egypt 5, Estonia 2, France 1, Germany 1, Greece 6, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 3, Indonesia 1, Isle of Man 1, Israel 1, Italy 1, Japan 1, Lebanon 1, Nigeria 2, Norway 1, Russia 58, Singapore 5, South Korea 23, Syria 8, Turkey 7, Ukraine 6, UAE 1, United States 7, Yemen 1) (2005)

Airports:

20 (2004 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 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 14
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

2 (2004 est.)

Military

Cambodia

Military branches:

Royal Cambodian Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force

Military service age and obligation:

18-30 years of age for compulsory military service for all males; conscription law passed September 2004; service obligation is 18 months (September 2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,981,823 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,844,144 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 175,305 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$112 million (FY01 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3% (FY01 est.)

Transnational Issues

Cambodia

Disputes - international:

Southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of boundary with missing boundary markers and Thai encroachments into Cambodian territory; maritime boundary with Vietnam is hampered by unresolved dispute over offshore islands; Cambodia accuses Thailand of obstructing access to Preah Vihear temple ruins awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962; in 2004 Cambodian-Laotian and Laotian-Vietnamese boundary commissions reerect missing markers completing most of their demarcations

Illicit drugs:

narcotics-related corruption reportedly involving some in the government, military, and police; possible small-scale opium, heroin, and amphetamine production; large producer of cannabis for the international market; vulnerable to money laundering due to its cash-based economy and porous borders

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Chad

Introduction

Chad

Background:

Chad, part of France's African holdings until 1960, endured three decades of civil warfare as well as invasions by Libya before a semblance of peace was finally restored in 1990. The government eventually suppressed or came to terms with most political-military groups, settled a territorial dispute with Libya on terms favorable to Chad, drafted a democratic constitution, and held multiparty presidential elections in 1996 and 1997. In 1998, a new rebellion broke out in northern Chad, which sporadically flares up despite two peace agreements signed in 2002 and 2003 between the government and the rebels. Despite movement toward democratic reform, power remains in the hands of an ethnic minority.

Geography

Chad

Location:

Central Africa, south of Libya

Geographic coordinates:

15 00 N, 19 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 1.284 million sq km
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 south, desert in north

Terrain:

broad, arid plains in center, desert in north, mountains in northwest, lowlands in south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Djourab Depression 160 m
highest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, uranium, natron, kaolin, fish (Lake Chad), gold, limestone, sand and gravel, salt

Land use:

arable land: 2.86%
permanent crops: 0.02%
other: 97.12% (2001)

Irrigated land:

200 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic droughts; locust plagues

Environment - current issues:

inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution; desertification

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping

Geography - note:

landlocked; Lake Chad is the most significant water body in the Sahel

People

Chad

Population:

9,826,419 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 47.9% (male 2,365,277/female 2,337,388)
15-64 years: 49.4% (male 2,323,110/female 2,528,086)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 109,535/female 163,023) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 16.02 years
male: 15.32 years
female: 16.71 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.95% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

45.98 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

16.41 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 93.82 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 103.03 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 84.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 47.18 years
male: 45.55 years
female: 48.87 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.32 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

4.8% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

200,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

18,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Chadian(s)
adjective: Chadian

Ethnic groups:

200 distinct groups; in the north and center: Arabs, Gorane (Toubou, Daza, Kreda), Zaghawa, Kanembou, Ouaddai, Baguirmi, Hadjerai, Fulbe, Kotoko, Hausa, Boulala, and Maba, most of whom are Muslim; in the south: Sara (Ngambaye, Mbaye, Goulaye), Moundang, Moussei, Massa, most of whom are Christian or animist; about 1,000 French citizens live in Chad

Religions:

Muslim 51%, Christian 35%, animist 7%, other 7%

Languages:

French (official), Arabic (official), Sara (in south), more than 120 different languages and dialects

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write French or Arabic
total population: 47.5%
male: 56%
female: 39.3% (2003 est.)

Government

Chad

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Chad
conventional short form: Chad
local long form: Republique du Tchad
local short form: Tchad

Government type:

republic

Capital:

N'Djamena

Administrative divisions:

14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture); Batha, Biltine, Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti, Chari-Baguirmi, Guera, Kanem, Lac, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mayo-Kebbi, Moyen-Chari, Ouaddai, Salamat, Tandjile
note: instead of 14 prefectures, there may be a new administrative structure of 28 departments (departments, singular - department), and 1 city*; Assongha, Baguirmi, Bahr El Gazal, Bahr Koh, Batha Oriental, Batha Occidental, Biltine, Borkou, Dababa, Ennedi, Guera, Hadjer Lamis, Kabia, Kanem, Lac, Lac Iro, Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mandoul, Mayo-Boneye, Mayo-Dallah, Monts de Lam, N'Djamena*, Ouaddai, Salamat, Sila, Tandjile Oriental, Tandjile Occidental, Tibesti

Independence:

11 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 11 August (1960)

Constitution:

passed by referendum 31 March 1996

Legal system:

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

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY (since 4 December 1990)
head of government: Prime Minister Pascal YOADIMNADJI (since 3 February 2005)
cabinet: Council of State, members appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote to serve five-year term; if no candidate receives at least 50% of the total vote, the two candidates receiving the most votes must stand for a second round of voting; last held 20 May 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY reelected president; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY 63%, Ngarlegy YORONGAR 16%, Saleh KEBZABO 7%

Legislative branch:

bicameral according to constitution, consists of a National Assembly (155 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and a Senate (not yet created and size unspecified, members to serve six-year terms, one-third of membership renewable every two years)
elections: National Assembly - last held 21 April 2002 (next to be held in April 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - MPS 110, RDP 12, FAR 9, RNDP 5, URD 5, UNDR 3, others 11

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Magistrate Courts

Political parties and leaders:

Federation Action for the Republic or FAR [Ngarlejy YORONGAR]; National Rally for Development and Progress or RNDP [Mamadou BISSO]; National Union for Democracy and Renewal or UNDR [Saleh KEBZABO]; Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS [Mahamat Saleh AHMAT, chairman]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Lol Mahamat CHOUA]; Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD [Gen. Wadal Abdelkader KAMOUGUE]; Viva Rally for Development and Progress or Viva RNDP [Delwa Kassire COUMAKOYE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mahamat Adam BECHIR
chancery: 2002 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 462-4009
FAX: [1] (202) 265-1937

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Marc WALL
embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena
mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena
telephone: [235] (51) 70-09
FAX: [235] (51) 56-54

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; similar to the flag of Romania; also similar to the flags of Andorra and Moldova, both of which have a national coat of arms centered in the yellow band; design was based on the flag of France

Economy

Chad

Economy - overview:

Chad's primarily agricultural economy will continue to be boosted by major oilfield and pipeline projects that began in 2000. Over 80% of Chad's population relies on subsistence farming and livestock raising for its livelihood. Cotton, cattle, and gum arabic provide the bulk of Chad's export earnings; Chad began to export oil in 2004. Chad's economy has long been handicapped by its landlocked position, high energy costs, and a history of instability. Chad relies on foreign assistance and foreign capital for most public and private sector investment projects. A consortium led by two US companies has been investing $3.7 billion to develop oil reserves estimated at 1 billion barrels in southern Chad. Oil production came on stream in late 2003.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$15.66 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

38% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,600 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 22.6%
industry: 35.6%
services: 41.7% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

NA

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture more than 80% (subsistence farming, herding, and fishing)

Unemployment rate:

NA

Population below poverty line:

80% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

8% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

24.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.131 billion
expenditures: $957.7 million, including capital expenditures of $146 million (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca); cattle, sheep, goats, camels

Industries:

oil, cotton textiles, meatpacking, beer brewing, natron (sodium carbonate), soap, cigarettes, construction materials

Industrial production growth rate:

5% (1995)

Electricity - production:

96.13 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

89.4 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

200,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$330.2 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$365 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities:

cotton, cattle, gum arabic

Exports - partners:

US 67.8%, China 21.5%, Portugal 4.3% (2004)

Imports:

$500.7 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners:

France 21.9%, Cameroon 16.1%, US 10.8%, Portugal 10.4%, Germany 6.4%, Belgium 4.6% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$652.7 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.1 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$238.3 million received; note - $125 million committed by Taiwan (August 1997); $30 million committed by African Development Bank; ODA $150 million (2001 est.)

Currency (code):

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States

Currency code:

XAF

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Chad

Telephones - main lines in use:

11,800 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

65,000 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: primitive system
domestic: fair system of radiotelephone communication stations
international: country code - 235; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 5 (2002)

Radios:

1.67 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2002)

Televisions:

10,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.td

Internet hosts:

8 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:

15,000 (2002)

Transportation

Chad

Highways:

total: 33,400 km
paved: 267 km
unpaved: 33,133 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

Chari and Legone rivers are navigable only in wet season (2002)

Pipelines:

oil 205 km (2004)

Airports:

50 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 7
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 44
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 10 (2004 est.)

Military

Chad

Military branches:

Chadian National Army (Armee Nationale Tchadienne, ANT), Air Force, Gendarmerie (2004)

Military service age and obligation:

20 years of age for conscripts, with 3-year service obligation; 18 years of age for volunteers; no minimum age restriction for volunteers with consent from a guardian (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 20-49: 1,559,382 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 20-49: 834,695 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 95,228 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$101.3 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.1% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Chad

Disputes - international:

since 2003, Janjawid armed militia and Sudanese military have driven about 200,000 Darfur region refugees into eastern Chad; Chad remains an important mediator in the Sudanese civil conflict; Chadian Aozou rebels reside in southern Libya; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty which also includes Chad and Niger

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 200,000 (Sudan) 30,000 (Central African Republic) (2004)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Sri Lanka

Introduction

Sri Lanka

Background:

The Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced beginning in about the mid-third century B.C., and a great civilization developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (kingdom from circa 200 B.C. to circa A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about 1070 to 1200). In the 14th century, a south Indian dynasty seized power in the north and established a Tamil kingdom. Occupied by the Portuguese in the 16th century and by the Dutch in the 17th century, the island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and was united under British rule by 1815. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; its name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. Tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted into war in 1983. Tens of thousands have died in an ethnic conflict that continues to fester. After two decades of fighting, the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam formalized a cease-fire in February 2002, with Norway brokering peace negotiations.

Geography

Sri Lanka

Location:

Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India

Geographic coordinates:

7 00 N, 81 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 65,610 sq km
land: 64,740 sq km
water: 870 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

1,340 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March); southwest monsoon (June to October)

Terrain:

mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m

Natural resources:

limestone, graphite, mineral sands, gems, phosphates, clay, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 13.86%
permanent crops: 15.7%
other: 70.44% (2001)

Irrigated land:

6,510 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

occasional cyclones and tornadoes

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

strategic location near major Indian Ocean sea lanes

People

Sri Lanka

Population:

20,064,776
note: since the outbreak of hostilities between the government and armed Tamil separatists in the mid-1980s, several hundred thousand Tamil civilians have fled the island and more than 200,000 Tamils have sought refuge in the West (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 24.5% (male 2,508,384/female 2,397,986)
15-64 years: 68.4% (male 6,658,765/female 7,059,468)
65 years and over: 7.2% (male 670,813/female 769,360) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 29.44 years
male: 28.38 years
female: 30.51 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.79% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

15.63 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.49 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 14.35 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 15.57 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.17 years
male: 70.6 years
female: 75.86 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.85 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

3,500 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Sri Lankan(s)
adjective: Sri Lankan

Ethnic groups:

Sinhalese 73.8%, Sri Lankan Moors 7.2%, Indian Tamil 4.6%, Sri Lankan Tamil 3.9%, other 0.5%, unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)

Religions:

Buddhist 69.1%, Muslim 7.6%, Hindu 7.1%, Christian 6.2%, unspecified 10% (2001 census provisional data)

Languages:

Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (national language) 18%, other 8%
note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about 10% of the population

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.3%
male: 94.8%
female: 90% (2003 est.)

Government

Sri Lanka

Country name:

conventional long form: Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
conventional short form: Sri Lanka
former: Serendib, Ceylon

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Colombo; note - Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte is the legislative capital

Administrative divisions:

8 provinces; Central, North Central, North Eastern, North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western; note - North Eastern province may have been divided in two - Northern and Eastern

Independence:

4 February 1948 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 4 February (1948)

Constitution:

adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978; new constitution proposed in 2002

Legal system:

a highly complex mixture of English common law, Roman-Dutch, Muslim, Sinhalese, and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (since 12 November 1994); note - Mahinda RAJAPAKSE (since 6 April 2004) is the prime minister; the president is considered both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA (since 12 November 1994); note - Mahinda RAJAPAKSE is the prime minister (since 6 April 2004); the president is considered both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 21 December 1999 (next to be held NA December 2005)
election results: Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA reelected president; percent of vote - Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA 51%, Ranil WICKREMASINGHE 42%, other 7%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament (225 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of a modified proportional representation system by district to serve six-year terms)
elections: last held 2 April 2004 (next to be held by 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party or electoral alliance - SLFP and JVP 45.6%, UNP 37.83%, TNA 6.84%, JHU 5.97%, SLMC 2.02%, UPF 0.54%, EPDP 0.27%, others 0.93%; seats by party or electoral alliance - SLFP and JVP 105, UNP 82, TNA 22, JHU 9, SLMC 5, UPF 1, EPDP 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Court of Appeals; judges for both courts are appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders:

All Ceylon Tamil Congress or ACTC [KUMARGURUPARAM]; Ceylon Workers Congress or CWC [Arumugam THONDAMAN]; Communist Party or CP [D. GUNASEKERA]; Democratic United National (Lalith) Front or DUNLF [Shrimani ATULATHMUDALI]; Eelam People's Democratic Party or EPDP [Douglas DEVANANDA]; Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front or EPRLF [Suresh PREMACHANDRAN]; Janatha Vimukthi Perumuna or JVP [Tilvan SILVA]; National Heritage Party or JHU [Tilak KARUNARATNE]; National Unity Alliance or NUA [Ferial ASHRAFF]; People's Liberation Organization of Tamil Eelam or PLOTE [leader NA]; Sihala Urumaya or SU [leader NA]; Sri Lanka Freedom Party or SLFP [Chandrika Bandaranaike KUMARATUNGA]; Sri Lanka Muslim Congress or SLMC [Rauff HAKEEM]; Sri Lanka Progressive Front or SLPF [P. Nelson PERERA]; Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization or TELO [SABARATNAM]; Tamil National Alliance or TNA [R. SAMPANTHAN]; Tamil United Liberation Front or TULF [V. ANANDASANGAREE]; United National Party or UNP [Ranil WICKREMASINGHE]; Up-country People's Front or UPF [P. CHANDRASEKARAN]; several ethnic Tamil and Muslim parties, represented in either Parliament or provincial councils

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Buddhist clergy; labor unions; Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam or LTTE [Velupillai PRABHAKARAN](insurgent group fighting for a separate state); radical chauvinist Sinhalese groups such as the National Movement Against Terrorism; Sinhalese Buddhist lay groups

International organization participation:

AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), ONUB, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Bernard GOONETILLEKE
chancery: 2148 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-4025 (through 4028)
FAX: [1] (202) 232-7181
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jeffrey J. LUNSTEAD
embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3
mailing address: P. O. Box 106, Colombo
telephone: [94] (11) 244-8007
FAX: [94] (11) 243-7345

Flag description:

yellow with two panels; the smaller hoist-side panel has two equal vertical bands of green (hoist side) and orange; the other panel is a large dark red rectangle with a yellow lion holding a sword, and there is a yellow bo leaf in each corner; the yellow field appears as a border around the entire flag and extends between the two panels

Economy

Sri Lanka

Economy - overview:

In 1977, Colombo abandoned statist economic policies and its import substitution trade policy for market-oriented policies and export-oriented trade. Sri Lanka's most dynamic sectors now are food processing, textiles and apparel, food and beverages, telecommunications, and insurance and banking. In 2003, plantation crops made up only 15% of exports (compared with 93% in 1970), while textiles and garments accounted for 63%. GDP grew at an average annual rate of 5.5% in the early 1990s until a drought and a deteriorating security situation lowered growth to 3.8% in 1996. The economy rebounded in 1997-2000 with average growth of 5.3%, but 2001 saw the first contraction in the country's history, -1.4%, due to a combination of power shortages, severe budgetary problems, the global slowdown, and continuing civil strife. Growth recovered to 4.0% in 2002 and to 5.2% in both 2003 and 2004. About 800,000 Sri Lankans work abroad, 90% in the Middle East. They send home about $1 billion a year. The struggle by the Tamil Tigers of the north and east for a largely independent homeland continues to cast a shadow over the economy. In late December 2004, a major tsunami took about 31,000 lives, left more than 6,300 missing and 443,000 displaced, and destroyed an estimated $1.5 billion worth of property.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$80.58 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.2% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $4,000 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 19.1%
industry: 26.2%
services: 54.7% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

7.26 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 38%, industry 17%, services 45% (1998 est.)

Unemployment rate:

7.8% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

22% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.5%
highest 10%: 28% (1995)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

34.4 (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.8% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

22.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $3.34 billion
expenditures: $4.686 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

104.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, tea, rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, beef

Industries:

rubber processing, tea, coconuts, and other agricultural commodities; telecommunications, insurance, and banking; clothing, cement, petroleum refining, textiles, tobacco

Industrial production growth rate:

7.1% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

6.697 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 51.7%
hydro: 48.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

6.228 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

75,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-587.3 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$5.306 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

textiles and apparel; tea and spices; diamonds, emeralds, rubies; coconut products; rubber manufactures, fish

Exports - partners:

US 32.4%, UK 13.5%, India 6.8%, Germany 4.8% (2004)

Imports:

$7.265 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

textile fabrics, mineral products, petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery and transportation equipment

Imports - partners:

India 18%, Singapore 8.7%, Hong Kong 7.7%, China 5.7%, Iran 5.2%, Japan 5.1%, Malaysia 4.1% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.475 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$10.85 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$577 million (1998)

Currency (code):

Sri Lankan rupee (LKR)

Currency code:

LKR

Exchange rates:

Sri Lankan rupees per US dollar - 101.194 (2004), 96.521 (2003), 95.662 (2002), 89.383 (2001), 77.005 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Sri Lanka

Telephones - main lines in use:

881,400 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

931,600 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: very inadequate domestic service, particularly in rural areas; likely improvement with privatization of national telephone company and encouragement to private investment; good international service (1999)
domestic: national trunk network consists mostly of digital microwave radio relay; fiber-optic links now in use in Colombo area and two fixed wireless local loops have been installed; competition is strong in mobile cellular systems; telephone density remains low at 2.6 main lines per 100 persons (1999)
international: country code - 94; submarine cables to Indonesia and Djibouti; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) (1999)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 26, FM 45, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

3.85 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

21 (1997)

Televisions:

1.53 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.lk

Internet hosts:

1,882 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2000)

Internet users:

200,000 (2002)

Transportation

Sri Lanka

Railways:

total: 1,449 km
broad gauge: 1,449 km 1.676-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 11,650 km
paved: 11,068 km
unpaved: 582 km (2002)

Waterways:

160 km (primarily on rivers in southwest) (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Colombo, Galle

Merchant marine:

total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 120,924 GRT/173,604 DWT
by type: cargo 18, container 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 2
foreign-owned: 10 (Germany 10)
registered in other countries: 1 (2005)

Airports:

14 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 13
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 6 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Sri Lanka

Military branches:

Army, Navy, Air Force, Police Force

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 4,933,217 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 3,789,627 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 174,049 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$514.8 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.6% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Sri Lanka

Disputes - international:

none

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 362,000 (both Tamils and non-Tamils displaced due to Tamil conflict); 555,000 (resulting from 26 December 2004 tsunami) (2004)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Congo, Republic of the

Introduction

Congo, Republic of the

Background:

Upon independence in 1960, the former French region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a democratically elected government installed in 1992. A brief civil war in 1997 restored former Marxist President SASSOU-NGUESSO, but ushered in a period of ethnic unrest. Southern-based rebel groups agreed to a final peace accord in March 2003, but the calm is tenuous and refugees continue to present a humanitarian crisis. The Republic of Congo is one of Africa's largest petroleum producers with significant potential for offshore development.

Geography

Congo, Republic of the

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and Gabon

Geographic coordinates:

1 00 S, 15 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 342,000 sq km
land: 341,500 sq km
water: 500 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Montana

Land boundaries:

total: 5,504 km
border countries: Angola 201 km, Cameroon 523 km, Central African Republic 467 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Gabon 1,903 km

Coastline:

169 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; rainy season (March to June); dry season (June to October); constantly high temperatures and humidity; particularly enervating climate astride the Equator

Terrain:

coastal plain, southern basin, central plateau, northern basin

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Berongou 903 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, timber, potash, lead, zinc, uranium, copper, phosphates, gold, magnesium, natural gas, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 0.51%
permanent crops: 0.13%
other: 99.36% (2001)

Irrigated land:

10 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

seasonal flooding

Environment - current issues:

air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable; deforestation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

about 70% of the population lives in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, or along the railroad between them

People

Congo, Republic of the

Population:

3,039,126
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 37.3% (male 571,011/female 563,414)
15-64 years: 59% (male 886,297/female 907,348)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 45,799/female 65,257) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 20.7 years
male: 20.2 years
female: 21.1 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.31% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

27.88 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

14.82 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 92.41 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 98.48 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 86.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 52.26 years
male: 51.17 years
female: 53.39 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.54 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

4.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

90,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

9,700 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Congolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Congolese or Congo

Ethnic groups:

Kongo 48%, Sangha 20%, M'Bochi 12%, Teke 17%, Europeans and other 3%
note: Europeans estimated at 8,500, mostly French, before the 1997 civil war; may be half that in 1998, following the widespread destruction of foreign businesses in 1997

Religions:

Christian 50%, animist 48%, Muslim 2%

Languages:

French (official), Lingala and Monokutuba (lingua franca trade languages), many local languages and dialects (of which Kikongo is the most widespread)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.8%
male: 89.6%
female: 78.4% (2003 est.)

Government

Congo, Republic of the

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of the Congo
conventional short form: Congo (Brazzaville)
local long form: Republique du Congo
local short form: none
former: Middle Congo, Congo/Brazzaville, Congo

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Brazzaville

Administrative divisions:

10 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 commune*; Bouenza, Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Kouilou, Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha

Independence:

15 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 15 August (1960)

Constitution:

approved by referendum 20 January 2002

Legal system:

based on French civil law system and customary law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO (since 25 October 1997, following the civil war in which he toppled elected president Pascal LISSOUBA); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO (since 25 October 1997, following the civil war in which he toppled elected president Pascal LISSOUBA); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (eligible for a second seven-year term); election last held 10 March 2002 (next to be held NA 2009)
election results: Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO reelected president; percent of vote - Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO 89.4%, Joseph Kignoumbi Kia MBOUNGOU 2.7%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (66 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the National Assembly (137 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 11 July 2002 (next to be held July 2007); National Assembly - last held 27 May and 26 June 2002 (next to be held by NA May 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FDP 56, other 10; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FDP 83, UDR 6, UPADS 3, other 45

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Political parties and leaders:

the most important of the many parties are the Democratic and Patriotic Forces or FDP (an alliance of Convention for Alternative Democracy, Congolese Labor Party or PCT, Liberal Republican Party, National Union for Democracy and Progress, Patriotic Union for the National Reconstruction, and Union for the National Renewal) [Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, president]; Congolese Movement for Democracy and Integral Development or MCDDI [Michel MAMPOUYA]; Pan-African Union for Social Development or UPADS [Martin MBERI]; Rally for Democracy and Social Progress or RDPS [Jean-Pierre Thystere TCHICAYA, president]; Rally for Democracy and the Republic or RDR [Raymond Damasge NGOLLO]; Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR [leader NA]; Union of Democratic Forces or UFD [Sebastian EBAO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Congolese Trade Union Congress or CSC; General Union of Congolese Pupils and Students or UGEEC; Revolutionary Union of Congolese Women or URFC; Union of Congolese Socialist Youth or UJSC

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Serge MOMBOULI
chancery: 4891 Colorado Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 726-5500
FAX: [1] (202) 726-1860

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Roger A. MEECE
embassy: NA
mailing address: NA
telephone: [243] (88) 43608
note: the embassy is temporarily collocated with the US Embassy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (US Embassy Kinshasa, 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa)

Flag description:

divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a yellow band; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy

Congo, Republic of the

Economy - overview:

The economy is a mixture of village agriculture and handicrafts, an industrial sector based largely on oil, support services, and a government characterized by budget problems and overstaffing. Oil has supplanted forestry as the mainstay of the economy, providing a major share of government revenues and exports. In the early 1980s, rapidly rising oil revenues enabled the government to finance large-scale development projects with GDP growth averaging 5% annually, one of the highest rates in Africa. The government has mortgaged a substantial portion of its oil earnings, contributing to a shortage of revenues. The 12 January 1994 devaluation of Franc Zone currencies by 50% resulted in inflation of 61% in 1994, but inflation has subsided since. Economic reform efforts continued with the support of international organizations, notably the World Bank and the IMF. The reform program came to a halt in June 1997 when civil war erupted. Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, who returned to power when the war ended in October 1997, publicly expressed interest in moving forward on economic reforms and privatization and in renewing cooperation with international financial institutions. However, economic progress was badly hurt by slumping oil prices and the resumption of armed conflict in December 1998, which worsened the republic's budget deficit. The current administration presides over an uneasy internal peace and faces difficult economic challenges of stimulating recovery and reducing poverty.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.324 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.7% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 7.4%
industry: 52%
services: 40.6% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

NA

Unemployment rate:

NA (2003)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.8% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

25.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $870.1 million
expenditures: $1.102 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

cassava (tapioca), sugar, rice, corn, peanuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa; forest products

Industries:

petroleum extraction, cement, lumber, brewing, sugar, palm oil, soap, flour, cigarettes

Industrial production growth rate:

0% (2002 est.)

Electricity - production:

348 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 0.3%
hydro: 99.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

573.6 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

250 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

227,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

5,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

93.5 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

495.5 million cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$266 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$2.224 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamonds

Exports - partners:

China 26.8%, Taiwan 19.2%, North Korea 8.4%, US 7.3%, France 5.5%, South Korea 4.8% (2004)

Imports:

$749.3 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

France 32.7%, US 10.1%, Germany 6.2%, Italy 6%, China 5.2%, Netherlands 4.5% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$40.42 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$5 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$159.1 million (1995)

Currency (code):

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States

Currency code:

XAF

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Congo, Republic of the

Telephones - main lines in use:

7,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

330,000 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: services barely adequate for government use; key exchanges are in Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Loubomo; intercity lines frequently out of order
domestic: primary network consists of microwave radio relay and coaxial cable
international: country code - 242; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 3 (2001)

Radios:

341,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2002)

Televisions:

33,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.cg

Internet hosts:

46 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

15,000 (2003)

Transportation

Congo, Republic of the

Railways:

total: 894 km
narrow gauge: 894 km 1.067-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 12,800 km
paved: 1,242 km
unpaved: 11,558 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

4,385 km (on Congo and Oubanqui rivers) (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 53 km; oil 646 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Brazzaville, Djeno, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire

Airports:

32 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 28
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.)

Military

Congo, Republic of the

Military branches:

Congolese Armed Forces (FAC): Army, Air Force (Armee de l'Air Congolaise), Navy, Gendarmerie, Republican Guard (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 686,123 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 360,492 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 34,281 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$126.5 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.8% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Congo, Republic of the

Disputes - international:

about 7,000 Congolese refugees fleeing internal civil conflicts since the mid-1990s still reside in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River with the Democratic Republic of the Congo is indefinite except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 60,000 (multiple civil wars since 1992; most IDPs are ethnic Lari) (2004)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Introduction

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Background:

Established as a Belgian colony in 1908, the Republic of the Congo gained its independence in 1960, but its early years were marred by political and social instability. Col. Joseph MOBUTU seized power and declared himself president in a November 1965 coup. He subsequently changed his name - to MOBUTU Sese Seko - as well as that of the country - to Zaire. MOBUTU retained his position for 32 years through several subsequent sham elections as well as through the use of brutal force. Ethnic strife and civil war, touched off by a massive inflow of refugees in 1994 from fighting in Rwanda and Burundi, led in May 1997 to the toppling of the MOBUTU regime by a rebellion led by Laurent KABILA. He renamed the country the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DROC), but in August 1998 his regime was itself challenged by an insurrection backed by Rwanda and Uganda. Troops from Zimbabwe, Angola, Namibia, Chad, and Sudan intervened to support the Kinshasa regime. A cease-fire was signed in July 1999 by the DROC, Zimbabwe, Angola, Uganda, Namibia, Rwanda, and Congolese armed rebel groups, but sporadic fighting continued. Laurent KABILA was assassinated in January 2001 and his son Joseph KABILA was named head of state. In October 2002, the new president was successful in negotiating the withdrawal of Rwandan forces occupying eastern Congo; two months later, the Pretoria Accord was signed by all remaining warring parties to end the fighting and establish a government of national unity. A transitional government was set up in July 2003; Joseph KABILA remains as president and is joined by four vice presidents representing the former government, former rebel groups, and the political opposition.

Geography

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Location:

Central Africa, northeast of Angola

Geographic coordinates:

0 00 N, 25 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 2,345,410 sq km
land: 2,267,600 sq km
water: 77,810 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than one-fourth the size of the US

Land boundaries:

total: 10,730 km
border countries: Angola 2,511 km (of which 225 km is the boundary of Angola's discontiguous Cabinda Province), Burundi 233 km, Central African Republic 1,577 km, Republic of the Congo 2,410 km, Rwanda 217 km, Sudan 628 km, Tanzania 459 km, Uganda 765 km, Zambia 1,930 km

Coastline:

37 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: boundaries with neighbors

Climate:

tropical; hot and humid in equatorial river basin; cooler and drier in southern highlands; cooler and wetter in eastern highlands; north of Equator - wet season April to October, dry season December to February; south of Equator - wet season November to March, dry season April to October

Terrain:

vast central basin is a low-lying plateau; mountains in east

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pic Marguerite on Mont Ngaliema (Mount Stanley) 5,110 m

Natural resources:

cobalt, copper, niobium, tantalum, petroleum, industrial and gem diamonds, gold, silver, zinc, manganese, tin, uranium, coal, hydropower, timber

Land use:

arable land: 2.96%
permanent crops: 0.52%
other: 96.52% (2001)

Irrigated land:

110 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

periodic droughts in south; Congo River floods (seasonal); in the east, in the Great Rift Valley, there are active volcanoes

Environment - current issues:

poaching threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; deforestation; refugees responsible for significant deforestation, soil erosion, and wildlife poaching; mining of minerals (coltan - a mineral used in creating capacitors, diamonds, and gold) causing environmental damage

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Geography - note:

straddles equator; has very narrow strip of land that controls the lower Congo River and is only outlet to South Atlantic Ocean; dense tropical rain forest in central river basin and eastern highlands

People

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Population:

60,085,804
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 48.1% (male 14,513,779/female 14,396,952)
15-64 years: 49.4% (male 14,579,101/female 15,121,297)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 597,776/female 876,099) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 15.8 years
male: 15.4 years
female: 16.2 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.98% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

44.38 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

14.43 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: fighting between the Congolese Government and Uganda- and Rwanda-backed Congolese rebels spawned a regional war in DROC in August 1998, which left 1.8 million Congolese internally displaced and caused 300,000 Congolese refugees to flee to surrounding countries (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 92.87 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 101.25 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 84.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 51.1 years
male: 49.68 years
female: 52.56 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.54 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

4.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

1.1 million (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

100,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, plague, and African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) are high risks in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Congolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Congolese or Congo

Ethnic groups:

over 200 African ethnic groups of which the majority are Bantu; the four largest tribes - Mongo, Luba, Kongo (all Bantu), and the Mangbetu-Azande (Hamitic) make up about 45% of the population

Religions:

Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%, Muslim 10%, other syncretic sects and indigenous beliefs 10%

Languages:

French (official), Lingala (a lingua franca trade language), Kingwana (a dialect of Kiswahili or Swahili), Kikongo, Tshiluba

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write French, Lingala, Kingwana, or Tshiluba
total population: 65.5%
male: 76.2%
female: 55.1% (2003 est.)

Government

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Country name:

conventional long form: Democratic Republic of the Congo
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republique Democratique du Congo
local short form: none
former: Congo Free State, Belgian Congo, Congo/Leopoldville, Congo/Kinshasa, Zaire
abbreviation: DROC

Government type:

dictatorship; presumably undergoing a transition to representative government

Capital:

Kinshasa

Administrative divisions:

10 provinces (provinces, singular - province) and 1 city* (ville); Bandundu, Bas-Congo, Equateur, Kasai-Occidental, Kasai-Oriental, Katanga, Kinshasa*, Maniema, Nord-Kivu, Orientale, Sud-Kivu

Independence:

30 June 1960 (from Belgium)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 30 June (1960)

Constitution:

new constitution adopted 17 July 2003

Legal system:

based on Belgian civil law system and tribal law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Joseph KABILA (since 26 January 2001); note - following the assassination of his father, Laurent Desire KABILA, on 16 January 2001, Joseph KABILA succeeded to the presidency; the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Joseph KABILA (since 26 January 2001); note - following the assassination of his father, Laurent Desire KABILA, on 16 January 2001, Joseph KABILA succeeded to the presidency; the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: National Executive Council, appointed by the president
elections: prior to the overthrow of MOBUTU Sese Seko, the president was elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 29 July 1984 (next was scheduled to be held in May 1997); formerly, there was also a prime minister who was elected by the High Council of the Republic; note - a Transitional Government is drafting a new constitution with free elections scheduled to be held in NA 2005
election results: MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga reelected president in 1984 without opposition
note: Joseph KABILA succeeded his father, Laurent Desire KABILA, following the latter's assassination in January 2001, negotiations with rebel leaders led to the establishment of a transitional government in July 2003 with free elections scheduled to be held in NA 2005

Legislative branch:

a 300-member Transitional Constituent Assembly established in August 2000
elections: NA; members of the Transitional Constituent Assembly were appointed by former President Laurent Desire KABILA

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Social Christian Party or PDSC [Andre BO-BOLIKO]; Forces for Renovation for Union and Solidarity or FONUS [Joseph OLENGHANKOY]; National Congolese Lumumbist Movement or MNC [Francois LUMUMBA]; Popular Movement of the Revolution or MPR (three factions: MPR-Fait Prive [Catherine NZUZI wa Mbombo]; MPR/Vunduawe [Felix VUNDUAWE]; MPR/Mananga [MANANGA Dintoka Mpholo]); Unified Lumumbast Party or PALU [Antoine GIZENGA]; Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS [Etienne TSHISEKEDI wa Mulumba]; Union of Federalists and Independent Republicans or UFERI (two factions: UFERI [Lokambo OMOKOKO]; UFERI/OR [Adolph Kishwe MAYA])

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW (signatory), PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Faida MITIFU
chancery: 1800 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009: note - Consular Office at 1726 M Street, NW, Wasington, DC, 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 234-7690, 7691
FAX: [1] (202) 234-2609

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Aubrey HOOKS
embassy: 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa
mailing address: Unit 31550, APO AE 09828
telephone: [243] (88) 43608
FAX: [243] (88) 43467

Flag description:

light blue with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center and a columnar arrangement of six small yellow five-pointed stars along the hoist side

Economy

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Economy - overview:

The economy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo - a nation endowed with vast potential wealth - has declined drastically since the mid-1980s. The war, which began in August 1998, dramatically reduced national output and government revenue, increased external debt, and resulted in the deaths of perhaps 3.5 million people from war, famine, and disease. Foreign businesses curtailed operations due to uncertainty about the outcome of the conflict, lack of infrastructure, and the difficult operating environment. Conditions improved in late 2002 with the withdrawal of a large portion of the invading foreign troops. Several IMF and World Bank missions have met with the government to help it develop a coherent economic plan, and President KABILA has begun implementing reforms. Much economic activity lies outside the GDP data. Economic stability, aided by international donors, improved in 2003-04, although an uncertain legal framework, corruption, and a lack of openness in government policy continues to hamper growth. In 2005, renewed activity in the mining sector, the source of most exports, could boost Kinshasa's fiscal position and GDP growth.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$42.74 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $700 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 55%
industry: 11%
services: 34% (2000 est.)

Labor force:

14.51 million (1993 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

NA

Unemployment rate:

NA (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

14% (2003 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $269 million
expenditures: $244 million, including capital expenditures of $24 million (1996 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, bananas, root crops, corn, fruits; wood products

Industries:

mining (diamonds, copper, zinc), mineral processing, consumer products (including textiles, footwear, cigarettes, processed foods and beverages), cement, commercial ship repair

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

6.086 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 1.8%
hydro: 98.2%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

4.168 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

1.5 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

8 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

24,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

14,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

1.538 billion bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

104.8 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Exports:

$1.417 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:

diamonds, copper, crude oil, coffee, cobalt

Exports - partners:

Belgium 47.8%, Finland 21%, US 10.9%, China 7.6% (2004)

Imports:

$933 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment, fuels

Imports - partners:

South Africa 18.5%, Belgium 15.5%, France 10.8%, Kenya 6.3%, US 6%, Germany 5.8% (2004)

Debt - external:

$11.6 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$195.3 million (1995)

Currency (code):

Congolese franc (CDF)

Currency code:

CDF

Exchange rates:

Congolese francs per US dollar - 401.04 (2004), 405.34 (2003), 346.49 (2002), 206.62 (2001), 21.82 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Telephones - main lines in use:

10,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1 million (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: poor
domestic: barely adequate wire and microwave radio relay service in and between urban areas; domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations
international: country code - 243; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 2 (2001)

Radios:

18.03 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

4 (2001)

Televisions:

6.478 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.cd

Internet hosts:

153 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2001)

Internet users:

50,000 (2002)

Transportation

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Railways:

total: 5,138 km
narrow gauge: 3,987 km 1.067-m gauge (858 km electrified); 125 km 1.000-m gauge; 1,026 km 0.600-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 157,000 km (including 30 km of expressways)
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

15,000 km (navigation on the Congo curtailed by fighting) (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 54 km; oil 71 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Banana, Boma, Bukavu, Bumba, Goma, Kalemie, Kindu, Kinshasa, Kisangani, Matadi, Mbandaka

Merchant marine:

registered in other countries: 1

Airports:

230 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 24
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 206
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 92
under 914 m: 97 (2004 est.)

Military

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Military branches:

Army, Navy, Air Force

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 11,052,696 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 5,851,292 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$93.5 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.5% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Disputes - international:

heads of the Great Lakes states and UN pledge to end conflict but unchecked tribal, rebel, and militia fighting continues unabated in the northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, drawing in the neighboring states of Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda; the UN Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) has maintained over 14,000 peacekeepers in the region since 1999; thousands of Ituri refugees from the Congo continue to flee the fighting primarily into Uganda; 90,000 Angolan refugees were repatriated by 2004 with the remainder in the Democratic Republic of the Congo expected to return in 2005; in 2005, DROC and Rwanda established a border verification mechanism to address accusations of Rwandan military supporting Congolese rebels and the DROC providing rebel Rwandan "Interhamwe" forces the means and bases to attack Rwandan forces; the location of the boundary in the broad Congo River with the Republic of the Congo is indefinite except in the Pool Malebo/Stanley Pool area

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 45,060 (Sudan) 100,000 (Angola) 19,552 (Burundi) 6,626 (Republic of Congo) 19,743 (Rwanda) 18,953 (Uganda)
IDPs: 2.33 million (fighting between government forces and rebels since mid-1990s; most IDPs are in eastern provinces) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for domestic consumption; while rampant corruption and inadequate supervision leaves the banking system vulnerable to money laundering, the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

China

Introduction

China

Background:

For centuries China stood as a leading civilization, outpacing the rest of the world in the arts and sciences, but in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the country was beset by civil unrest, major famines, military defeats, and foreign occupation. After World War II, the Communists under MAO Zedong established an autocratic socialist system that, while ensuring China's sovereignty, imposed strict controls over everyday life and cost the lives of tens of millions of people. After 1978, his successor DENG Xiaoping and other leaders focused on market-oriented economic development and by 2000 output had quadrupled. For much of the population, living standards have improved dramatically and the room for personal choice has expanded, yet political controls remain tight.

Geography

China

Location:

Eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea, between North Korea and Vietnam

Geographic coordinates:

35 00 N, 105 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 9,596,960 sq km
land: 9,326,410 sq km
water: 270,550 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than the US

Land boundaries:

total: 22,117 km
border countries: Afghanistan 76 km, Bhutan 470 km, Burma 2,185 km, India 3,380 km, Kazakhstan 1,533 km, North Korea 1,416 km, Kyrgyzstan 858 km, Laos 423 km, Mongolia 4,677 km, Nepal 1,236 km, Pakistan 523 km, Russia (northeast) 3,605 km, Russia (northwest) 40 km, Tajikistan 414 km, Vietnam 1,281 km
regional borders: Hong Kong 30 km, Macau 0.34 km

Coastline:

14,500 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

extremely diverse; tropical in south to subarctic in north

Terrain:

mostly mountains, high plateaus, deserts in west; plains, deltas, and hills in east

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Turpan Pendi -154 m
highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m

Natural resources:

coal, iron ore, petroleum, natural gas, mercury, tin, tungsten, antimony, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum, lead, zinc, uranium, hydropower potential (world's largest)

Land use:

arable land: 15.4%
permanent crops: 1.25%
other: 83.35% (2001)

Irrigated land:

525,800 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

frequent typhoons (about five per year along southern and eastern coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughts; land subsidence

Environment - current issues:

air pollution (greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide particulates) from reliance on coal produces acid rain; water shortages, particularly in the north; water pollution from untreated wastes; deforestation; estimated loss of one-fifth of agricultural land since 1949 to soil erosion and economic development; desertification; trade in endangered species

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

world's fourth largest country (after Russia, Canada, and US); Mount Everest on the border with Nepal is the world's tallest peak

People

China

Population:

1,306,313,812 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 21.4% (male 148,134,928/female 131,045,415)
15-64 years: 71% (male 477,182,072/female 450,664,933)
65 years and over: 7.6% (male 47,400,282/female 51,886,182) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 32.26 years
male: 31.87 years
female: 32.67 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.58% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

13.14 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.94 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.12 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 24.18 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 21.21 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 27.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.27 years
male: 70.65 years
female: 74.09 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.72 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

840,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

44,000 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Chinese (singular and plural)
adjective: Chinese

Ethnic groups:

Han Chinese 91.9%, Zhuang, Uygur, Hui, Yi, Tibetan, Miao, Manchu, Mongol, Buyi, Korean, and other nationalities 8.1%

Religions:

Daoist (Taoist), Buddhist, Muslim 1%-2%, Christian 3%-4%
note: officially atheist (2002 est.)

Languages:

Standard Chinese or Mandarin (Putonghua, based on the Beijing dialect), Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghaiese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan, Hakka dialects, minority languages (see Ethnic groups entry)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.9%
male: 95.1%
female: 86.5% (2002)

Government

China

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

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)
: provinces: Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin, Liaoning, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang
: autonomous regions: Guangxi, Nei Mongol, Ningxia, Xinjiang, Xizang (Tibet)
: municipalities: Beijing, Chongqing, Shanghai, Tianjin
note: China considers Taiwan its 23rd province; see separate entries for the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau

Independence:

221 BC (unification under the Qin or Ch'in Dynasty); 1 January 1912 (Manchu Dynasty replaced by a Republic); 1 October 1949 (People's Republic established)

National holiday:

Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China, 1 October (1949)

Constitution:

most recent promulgation 4 December 1982

Legal system:

a complex amalgam of custom and statute, largely criminal law; rudimentary civil code in effect since 1 January 1987; new legal codes in effect since 1 January 1980; continuing efforts are being made to improve civil, administrative, criminal, and commercial law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003) and Vice President ZENG Qinghong (since 15 March 2003)
head of government: Premier WEN Jiabao (since 16 March 2003); Vice Premiers HUANG Ju (since 17 March 2003), WU Yi (17 March 2003), ZENG Peiyan (since 17 March 2003), and HUI Liangyu (since 17 March 2003)
cabinet: State Council appointed by the National People's Congress (NPC)
elections: president and vice president elected by the National People's Congress for five-year terms; elections last held 15-17 March 2003 (next to be held mid-March 2008); premier nominated by the president, confirmed by the National People's Congress
election results: HU Jintao elected president by the Tenth National People's Congress with a total of 2,937 votes (four delegates voted against him, four abstained, and 38 did not vote); ZENG Qinghong elected vice president by the Tenth National People's Congress with a total of 2,578 votes (177 delegates voted against him, 190 abstained, and 38 did not vote); two seats were vacant

Legislative branch:

unicameral National People's Congress or Quanguo Renmin Daibiao Dahui (2,985 seats; members elected by municipal, regional, and provincial people's congresses to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held December 2002-February 2003 (next to be held late 2007-February 2008)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - NA

Judicial branch:

Supreme People's Court (judges appointed by the National People's Congress); Local Peoples Courts (comprise higher, intermediate and local courts); Special Peoples Courts (primarily military, maritime, and railway transport courts)

Political parties and leaders:

Chinese Communist Party or CCP [HU Jintao, General Secretary of the Central Committee]; eight registered small parties controlled by CCP

Political pressure groups and leaders:

no substantial political opposition groups exist, although the government has identified the Falungong spiritual movement and the China Democracy Party as subversive groups

International organization participation:

AfDB, APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS, CDB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUC, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), ONUB, OPCW, PCA, SCO, UN, UN Security Council, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador YANG Jiechi
chancery: 2300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 328-2500
FAX: [1] (202) 328-2582
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco
consulate(s): Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Clark T. RANDT, Jr.
embassy: Xiu Shui Bei Jie 3, 100600 Beijing
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 50, FPO AP 96521-0002
telephone: [86] (10) 6532-3831
FAX: [86] (10) 6532-6929
consulate(s) general: Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Shenyang

Flag description:

red with a large yellow five-pointed star and four smaller yellow five-pointed stars (arranged in a vertical arc toward the middle of the flag) in the upper hoist-side corner

Economy

China

Economy - overview:

In late 1978 the Chinese leadership began moving the economy from a sluggish, inefficient, Soviet-style centrally planned economy to a more market-oriented system. Whereas the system operates within a political framework of strict Communist control, the economic influence of non-state organizations and individual citizens has been steadily increasing. The authorities switched to a system of household and village responsibility in agriculture in place of the old collectivization, increased the authority of local officials and plant managers in industry, permitted a wide variety of small-scale enterprises in services and light manufacturing, and opened the economy to increased foreign trade and investment. The result has been a quadrupling of GDP since 1978. Measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis, China in 2004 stood as the second-largest economy in the world after the US, although in per capita terms the country is still poor. Agriculture and industry have posted major gains especially in coastal areas near Hong Kong and opposite Taiwan and in Shanghai, where foreign investment has helped spur output of both domestic and export goods. The leadership, however, often has experienced - as a result of its hybrid system - the worst results of socialism (bureaucracy and lassitude) and of capitalism (growing income disparities and rising unemployment). China thus has periodically backtracked, retightening central controls at intervals. The government has struggled to (a) sustain adequate jobs growth for tens of millions of workers laid off from state-owned enterprises, migrants, and new entrants to the work force; (b) reduce corruption and other economic crimes; and (c) keep afloat the large state-owned enterprises, many of which had been shielded from competition by subsidies and had been losing the ability to pay full wages and pensions. From 100 to 150 million surplus rural workers are adrift between the villages and the cities, many subsisting through part-time, low-paying jobs. Popular resistance, changes in central policy, and loss of authority by rural cadres have weakened China's population control program, which is essential to maintaining long-term growth in living standards. At the same time, one demographic consequence of the "one child" policy is that China is now one of the most rapidly aging countries in the world. Another long-term threat to growth is the deterioration in the environment - notably air pollution, soil erosion, and the steady fall of the water table especially in the north. China continues to lose arable land because of erosion and economic development. As part of its effort to gradually slow the rapid economic growth seen in 2004, Beijing says it will reduce somewhat its spending on infrastructure in 2005, while continuing to focus on poverty relief and through rural tax reform. Accession to the World Trade Organization helps strengthen its ability to maintain strong growth rates but at the same time puts additional pressure on the hybrid system of strong political controls and growing market influences. China has benefited from a huge expansion in computer Internet use, with 94 million users at the end of 2004. Foreign investment remains a strong element in China's remarkable economic growth. Shortages of electric power and raw materials may affect industrial output in 2005. More power generating capacity is scheduled to come on line in 2006. In its rivalry with India as an economic power, China has a lead in the absorption of technology, the rising prominence in world trade, and the alleviation of poverty; India has one important advantage in its relative mastery of the English language, but the number of competent Chinese English-speakers is growing rapidly.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$7.262 trillion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

9.1% (official data) (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $5,600 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 13.8%
industry and construction: 52.9%
services: 33.3% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

760.8 million (2003)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 49%, industry 22%, services 29% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:

9.8% in urban areas; substantial unemployment and underemployment in rural areas; an official Chinese journal estimated overall unemployment (including rural areas) for 2003 at 20% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

10% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 30.4% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

44 (2002)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.1% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

46% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $317.9 billion
expenditures: $348.9 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

31.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

rice, wheat, potatoes, corn, peanuts, tea, millet, barley, apples, cotton, oilseed, pork, fish

Industries:

mining and ore processing, iron, steel, aluminum, and other metals; coal; machine building; armaments; textiles and apparel; petroleum; cement; chemicals; fertilizers; consumer products, including footwear, toys, and electronics; food processing; transportation equipment, including automobiles, rail cars and locomotives, ships, and aircraft; telecommunications equipment, commercial space launch vehicles and satellites

Industrial production growth rate:

17.1% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

1.91 trillion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 80.2%
hydro: 18.5%
nuclear: 1.2%
other: 0.1% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

1.63 trillion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:

10.38 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

2.3 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

3.392 million bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption:

4.956 million bbl/day (2002 est.)

Oil - exports:

427,800 bbl/day (2002)

Oil - imports:

2.414 million bbl/day (2002)

Oil - proved reserves:

17.74 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

35 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

29.18 billion cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

2.23 trillion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$30.32 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$583.1 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, plastics, optical and medical equipment, iron and steel

Exports - partners:

US 21.1%, Hong Kong 17%, Japan 12.4%, South Korea 4.7%, Germany 4% (2004)

Imports:

$552.4 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, oil and mineral fuels, plastics, optical and medical equipment, organic chemicals, iron and steel

Imports - partners:

Japan 16.8%, Taiwan 11.4%, South Korea 11.1%, US 8%, Germany 5.4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$609.9 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$233.3 billion (3rd quarter 2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

NA

Currency (code):

yuan (CNY)
note:: also referred to as the Renminbi (RMB)

Currency code:

CNY

Exchange rates:

yuan per US dollar - 8.2768 (2004), 8.277 (2003), 8.277 (2002), 8.2771 (2001), 8.2785 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

China

Telephones - main lines in use:

263 million (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

269 million (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: domestic and international services are increasingly available for private use; unevenly distributed domestic system serves principal cities, industrial centers, and many towns
domestic: interprovincial fiber-optic trunk lines and cellular telephone systems have been installed; a domestic satellite system with 55 earth stations is in place
international: country code - 86; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (4 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region) and 1 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean regions); several international fiber-optic links to Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Russia, and Germany (2000)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 369, FM 259, shortwave 45 (1998)

Radios:

417 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3,240 (of which 209 are operated by China Central Television, 31 are provincial TV stations and nearly 3,000 are local city stations) (1997)

Televisions:

400 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.cn

Internet hosts:

160,421 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2000)

Internet users:

94 million (2004)

Transportation

China

Railways:

total: 71,898 km
standard gauge: 71,898 km 1.435-m gauge (18,115 km electrified)
dual gauge: 23,945 km (multiple track not included in total) (2002)

Highways:

total: 1,765,222 km
paved: 395,410 km (with at least 25,130 km of expressways)
unpaved: 1,369,812 km (2002 est.)

Waterways:

121,557 km (2002)

Pipelines:

gas 15,890 km; oil 14,478 km; refined products 3,280 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Dalian, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai

Merchant marine:

total: 1,649 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 18,724,653 GRT/27,749,784 DWT
by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 362, cargo 696, chemical tanker 38, combination ore/oil 1, container 135, liquefied gas 30, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 81, petroleum tanker 246, refrigerated cargo 30, roll on/roll off 11, vehicle carrier 10
foreign-owned: 9 (Hong Kong 4, Japan 2, South Korea 2, United States 1)
registered in other countries: 872 (2005)

Airports:

472 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 383
over 3,047 m: 53
2,438 to 3,047 m: 116
1,524 to 2,437 m: 141
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 50 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 89
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 32
under 914 m: 35 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

15 (2004 est.)

Military

China

Military branches:

People's Liberation Army (PLA): Ground Forces, Navy (includes marines and naval aviation), Air Force (includes Airborne Forces), and II Artillery Corps (strategic missile force); People's Armed Police Force (internal security troops considered to be an adjunct to the PLA); Militia (2003)

Military service age and obligation:

18-22 years of age for compulsory military service, with 24-month service obligation; no minimum age for voluntary service; 17 years of age for women who meet requirements for specific military jobs (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 342,956,265 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 281,240,272 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 13,186,433 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$67.49 billion (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

4.3% (2004)

Transnational Issues

China

Disputes - international:

in 2005, China and India initiate drafting principles to resolve all aspects of their extensive boundary and territorial disputes together with a security and foreign policy dialogue to consolidate discussions related to the boundary, regional nuclear proliferation, and other matters; recent talks and confidence-building measures have begun to defuse tensions over Kashmir, site of the world's largest and most militarized territorial dispute with portions under the de facto administration of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu and Kashmir), and Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas); India does not recognize Pakistan's ceding historic Kashmir lands to China in 1964; about 90,000 ethnic Tibetan exiles reside primarily in India as well as Nepal and Bhutan; China asserts sovereignty over the Spratly Islands together with Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions in the Spratlys but is not the legally binding "code of conduct" sought by some parties; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord on marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; China occupies some of the Paracel Islands also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; China and Taiwan have become more vocal in rejecting both Japan's claims to the uninhabited islands of Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) and Japan's unilaterally declared exclusive economic zone in the East China Sea, the site of intensive hydrocarbon prospecting; certain islands in the Yalu and Tumen rivers are in an uncontested dispute with North Korea and a section of boundary around Mount Paektu is considered indefinite; China seeks to stem illegal migration of tens of thousands of North Koreans; in 2004, China and Russia divided up the islands in the Amur, Ussuri, and Argun Rivers, ending a century-old border dispute; demarcation of the China-Vietnam boundary proceeds slowly and although the maritime boundary delimitation and fisheries agreements were ratified in June 2004, implementation has been delayed; environmentalists in Burma and Thailand remain concerned about China's construction of hydroelectric dams upstream on the Nujiang/Salween River in Yunnan Province

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 299,287 (Vietnam) estimated 30,000-50,000 (North Korea) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

major transshipment point for heroin produced in the Golden Triangle; growing domestic drug abuse problem; source country for chemical precursors and methamphetamine

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Chile

Introduction

Chile

Background:

Prior to the coming of the Spanish in the 16th century, northern Chile was under Inca rule while Araucanian Indians inhabited central and southern Chile; the latter were not completely subjugated until the early 1880s. Although Chile declared its independence in 1810, decisive victory over the Spanish was not achieved until 1818. In the War of the Pacific (1879-84), Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia and won its present northern lands. A three-year-old Marxist government of Salvador ALLENDE was overthrown in 1973 by a dictatorial military regime led by Augusto PINOCHET, who ruled until a freely elected president was installed in 1990. Sound economic policies, maintained consistently since the 1980s, have contributed to steady growth and have helped secure the country's commitment to democratic and representative government. Chile has increasingly assumed regional and international leadership roles befitting its status as a stable, democratic nation.

Geography

Chile

Location:

Southern South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Argentina and Peru

Geographic coordinates:

30 00 S, 71 00 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total: 756,950 sq km
land: 748,800 sq km
water: 8,150 sq km
note: includes Easter Island (Isla de Pascua) and Isla Sala y Gomez

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana

Land boundaries:

total: 6,171 km
border countries: Argentina 5,150 km, Bolivia 861 km, Peru 160 km

Coastline:

6,435 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200/350 nm

Climate:

temperate; desert in north; Mediterranean in central region; cool and damp in south

Terrain:

low coastal mountains; fertile central valley; rugged Andes in east

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Nevado Ojos del Salado 6,880 m

Natural resources:

copper, timber, iron ore, nitrates, precious metals, molybdenum, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 2.65%
permanent crops: 0.42%
other: 96.93% (2001)

Irrigated land:

18,000 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis

Environment - current issues:

widespread deforestation and mining threaten natural resources; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location relative to sea lanes between Atlantic and Pacific Oceans (Strait of Magellan, Beagle Channel, Drake Passage); Atacama Desert is one of world's driest regions

People

Chile

Population:

15,980,912 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 25.2% (male 2,062,735/female 1,970,913)
15-64 years: 66.7% (male 5,320,870/female 5,342,771)
65 years and over: 8% (male 534,737/female 748,886) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 30.07 years
male: 29.17 years
female: 31.05 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.97% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

15.44 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

5.76 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 8.8 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.55 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.58 years
male: 73.3 years
female: 80.03 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.02 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.3% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

26,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

1,400 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Chilean(s)
adjective: Chilean

Ethnic groups:

white and white-Amerindian 95%, Amerindian 3%, other 2%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 11%, Jewish NEGL%

Languages:

Spanish

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.2%
male: 96.4%
female: 96.1% (2003 est.)

Government

Chile

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Chile
conventional short form: Chile
local long form: Republica de Chile
local short form: Chile

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Santiago

Administrative divisions:

13 regions (regiones, singular - region); Aisen del General Carlos Ibanez del Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania, Atacama, Bio-Bio, Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Los Lagos, Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena, Maule, Region Metropolitana (Santiago), Tarapaca, Valparaiso
note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica

Independence:

18 September 1810 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 18 September (1810)

Constitution:

11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981; amended 30 July 1989, 1993, and 1997

Legal system:

based on Code of 1857 derived from Spanish law and subsequent codes influenced by French and Austrian law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
note: Chile is in the process of completely overhauling its criminal justice system; a new, US-style adversarial system is being gradually implemented throughout the country with the final stage of implementation in the Santiago metropolitan region expected in June 2005

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Ricardo LAGOS Escobar (since 11 March 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Ricardo LAGOS Escobar (since 11 March 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 12 December 1999, with runoff election held 16 January 2000 (next to be held 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, 9 designated members, and 1 former president who has served a full six-year term and is senator for life); elected members serve eight-year terms (one-half elected every four years) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 16 December 2001 (next to be held December 2005); Chamber of Deputies - last held 16 December 2001 (next to be held December 2005)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CPD 20 (PDC 12, PS 5, PPD 3), APC 16 (UDI 9, RN 7), independents 2; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CPD 62 (PDC 24, PPD 21, PS 11, PRSD 6), UDI 35, RN 22, independent 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are appointed by the president and ratified by the Senate from lists of candidates provided by the court itself; the president of the Supreme Court is elected by the 21-member court); Constitutional Tribunal

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance for Chile ("Alianza") or APC (including National Renewal or RN [Sebastian PINERA] and Independent Democratic Union or UDI [Pablo LONGUEIRA]); Coalition of Parties for Democracy ("Concertacion") or CPD (including Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Adolfo ZALDIVAR], Socialist Party or PS [Gonzalo MARTNER], Party for Democracy or PPD [Victor BARRUETO], Radical Social Democratic Party or PRSD [Orlando CANTUARIAS]); Communist Party or PC [Gladys MARIN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

revitalized university student federations at all major universities; Roman Catholic Church; United Labor Central or CUT includes trade unionists from the country's five largest labor confederations

International organization participation:

APEC, BIS, CSN, FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Andres BIANCHI
chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1746
FAX: [1] (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 Craig A. KELLY
embassy: Avenida Andres Bello 2800, Las Condes, Santiago
mailing address: APO AA 34033
telephone: [56] (2) 232-2600
FAX: [56] (2) 330-3710

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; there is a blue square the same height as the white band at the hoist-side end of the white band; the square bears a white five-pointed star in the center representing a guide to progress and honor; blue symbolizes the sky, white is for the snow-covered Andes, and red stands for the blood spilled to achieve independence; design was influenced by the US flag

Economy

Chile

Economy - overview:

Chile has a market-oriented economy characterized by a high level of foreign trade. During the early 1990s, Chile's reputation as a role model for economic reform was strengthened when the democratic government of Patricio AYLWIN - which took over from the military in 1990 - deepened the economic reform initiated by the military government. Growth in real GDP averaged 8% during 1991-97, but fell to half that level in 1998 because of tight monetary policies implemented to keep the current account deficit in check and because of lower export earnings - the latter a product of the global financial crisis. A severe drought exacerbated the recession in 1999, reducing crop yields and causing hydroelectric shortfalls and electricity rationing, and Chile experienced negative economic growth for the first time in more than 15 years. Despite the effects of the recession, Chile maintained its reputation for strong financial institutions and sound policy that have given it the strongest sovereign bond rating in South America. By the end of 1999, exports and economic activity had begun to recover, and growth rebounded to 4.2% in 2000. Growth fell back to 3.1% in 2001 and 2.1% in 2002, largely due to lackluster global growth and the devaluation of the Argentine peso. Chile's economy began a slow recovery in 2003, growing 3.2% and accelerated to 5.8% in 2004. GDP growth benefited from high copper prices, solid export earnings (particularly forestry, fishing, and mining), and stepped-up foreign direct investment. Unemployment, however, remains stubbornly high. Chile deepened its longstanding commitment to trade liberalization with the signing of a free trade agreement with the US, which took effect on 1 January 2004.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$169.1 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.8% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $10,700 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 6.3%
industry: 38.2%
services: 55.5% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

6.2 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 13.6%, industry 23.4%, services 63% (2003)

Unemployment rate:

8.5% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

20.6% (2000)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 47% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

57.1 (2000)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.4% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

23.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $21.53 billion
expenditures: $19.95 billion, including capital expenditures of $3.33 billion (2004 est.)

Public debt:

12.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

grapes, apples, pears, onions, wheat, corn, oats, peaches, garlic, asparagus, beans, beef, poultry, wool; fish; timber

Industries:

copper, other minerals, foodstuffs, fish processing, iron and steel, wood and wood products, transport equipment, cement, textiles

Industrial production growth rate:

7.8% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

48.6 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 47%
hydro: 51.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1.4% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

41.8 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

1.813 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

18,500 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption:

240,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports:

221,500 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

150 million bbl (1 January 2004)

Natural gas - production:

1.18 billion cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

6.517 billion cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2002)

Natural gas - imports:

5.337 billion cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

99.05 billion cu m (1 January 2004)

Current account balance:

$2.185 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$29.2 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

copper, fruit, fish products, paper and pulp, chemicals, wine

Exports - partners:

US 14%, Japan 11.4%, China 9.9%, South Korea 5.5%, Netherlands 5.1%, Brazil 4.3%, Italy 4.1%, Mexico 4% (2004)

Imports:

$22.53 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, electrical and telecommunications equipment, industrial machinery, vehicles, natural gas

Imports - partners:

Argentina 17%, US 14%, Brazil 11.2%, China 7.4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$16.02 billion (2004)

Debt - external:

$44.6 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $0 (2002)

Currency (code):

Chilean peso (CLP)

Currency code:

CLP

Exchange rates:

Chilean pesos per US dollar - 609.37 (2004), 691.43 (2003), 688.94 (2002), 634.94 (2001), 539.59 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Chile

Telephones - main lines in use:

3.467 million (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

6,445,700 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system based on extensive microwave radio relay facilities
domestic: extensive microwave radio relay links; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations
international: country code - 56; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 180 (eight inactive), FM 64, shortwave 17 (one inactive) (1998)

Radios:

5.18 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

63 (plus 121 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

3.15 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.cl

Internet hosts:

202,429 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

7 (2000)

Internet users:

3.575 million (2002)

Transportation

Chile

Railways:

total: 6,585 km
broad gauge: 2,831 km 1.676-m gauge (1,317 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 3,754 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 79,605 km
paved: 16,080 km (including 407 km of expressways)
unpaved: 63,525 km (2001)

Pipelines:

gas 2,583 km; gas/lpg 42 km; liquid petroleum gas 539 km; oil 1,003 km; refined products 757 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Antofagasta, Arica, Huasco, Iquique, Lirquen, San Antonio, San Vicente, Valparaiso

Merchant marine:

total: 47 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 725,216 GRT/954,519 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 10, cargo 6, chemical tanker 9, container 1, liquefied gas 3, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 8, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 4
registered in other countries: 21 (2005)

Airports:

364 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 71
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 21
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 15 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 293
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 60
under 914 m: 217 (2004 est.)

Military

Chile

Military branches:

Army of the Nation, National Navy (includes naval air, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps), Chilean Air Force, Chilean Carabineros (National Police)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service; all citizens 18-45 are obligated to perform military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months for Army, 24 months for Navy and Air Force (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 3,815,761 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 3,123,281 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 140,084 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$3.42 billion (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3.8% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Chile

Disputes - international:

Chile rebuffs Bolivia's reactivated claim to restore the Atacama corridor, ceded to Chile in 1884, offering instead unrestricted but not sovereign maritime access through Chile to Bolivian gas and other commodities; Peru proposes changing its latitudinal maritime boundary with Chile to an equidistance line with a southwestern axis; territorial claim in Antarctica (Chilean Antarctic Territory) partially overlaps Argentine and British claims

Illicit drugs:

important transshipment country for cocaine destined for Europe and the US; economic prosperity and increasing trade have made Chile more attractive to traffickers seeking to launder drug profits, especially through the Iquique Free Trade Zone, but a new anti-money-laundering law improves controls; imported precursors passed on to Bolivia; domestic cocaine consumption is rising

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Cayman Islands

Introduction

Cayman Islands

Background:

The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British during the 18th and 19th centuries. Administered by Jamaica since 1863, they remained a British dependency after 1962 when the former became independent.

Geography

Cayman Islands

Location:

Caribbean, island group in Caribbean Sea, nearly one-half of the way from Cuba to Honduras

Geographic coordinates:

19 30 N, 80 30 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 262 sq km
land: 262 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

160 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical marine; warm, rainy summers (May to October) and cool, relatively dry winters (November to April)

Terrain:

low-lying limestone base surrounded by coral reefs

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: The Bluff 43 m

Natural resources:

fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism

Land use:

arable land: 3.85%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 96.15% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

hurricanes (July to November)

Environment - current issues:

no natural fresh water resources; drinking water supplies must be met by rainwater catchments

Geography - note:

important location between Cuba and Central America

People

Cayman Islands

Population:

44,270 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 21.1% (male 4,658/female 4,662)
15-64 years: 70.8% (male 15,284/female 16,050)
65 years and over: 8.2% (male 1,699/female 1,917) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 36.83 years
male: 36.48 years
female: 37.18 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.64% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

12.92 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

4.81 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

18.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 8.19 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.39 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.95 years
male: 77.33 years
female: 82.6 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.9 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Caymanian(s)
adjective: Caymanian

Ethnic groups:

mixed 40%, white 20%, black 20%, expatriates of various ethnic groups 20%

Religions:

United Church (Presbyterian and Congregational), Anglican, Baptist, Church of God, other Protestant, Roman Catholic

Languages:

English

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1970 est.)

Government

Cayman Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cayman Islands

Dependency status:

overseas territory of the UK

Government type:

British crown colony

Capital:

George Town

Administrative divisions:

8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town, Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western

Independence:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:

Constitution Day, first Monday in July

Constitution:

1959; revised 1972 and 1992

Legal system:

British common law and local statutes

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Governor Bruce DINWIDDY (since 29 May 2002)
head of government: Leader of Government Business Kurt TIBBETTS (since 18 May 2005)
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; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or coalition is appointed by the governor Leader of Government Business

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Assembly (18 seats, three appointed members from the Executive Council and 15 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 11 May 2005 (next to be held 2009)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - PPM 9, UDP 5, independent 1

Judicial branch:

Summary Court; Grand Court; Cayman Islands Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders:

no national teams (loose groupings of political organizations) were formed for the 2000 elections; United Democratic Party or UDP [leader McKeeva BUSH]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [leader Kurt TIBBETTS]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag description:

blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Caymanian coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms includes a pineapple and turtle above a shield with three stars (representing the three islands) and a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto HE HATH FOUNDED IT UPON THE SEAS

Economy

Cayman Islands

Economy - overview:

With no direct taxation, the islands are a thriving offshore financial center. More than 40,000 companies were registered in the Cayman Islands as of 1998, including almost 600 banks and trust companies; banking assets exceed $500 billion. A stock exchange was opened in 1997. Tourism is also a mainstay, accounting for about 70% of GDP and 75% of foreign currency earnings. The tourist industry is aimed at the luxury market and caters mainly to visitors from North America. Total tourist arrivals exceeded 1.2 million in 1997, with 600,000 from the US. About 90% of the islands' food and consumer goods must be imported. The Caymanians enjoy one of the highest outputs per capita and one of the highest standards of living in the world.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.391 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.7% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $32,300 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 3.2%
services: 95.4% (1994 est.)

Labor force:

19,820 (1995)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 1.4%, industry 12.6%, services 86% (1995)

Unemployment rate:

4.1% (1997)

Population below poverty line:

NA (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.8% (2002)

Budget:

revenues: $265.2 million
expenditures: $248.9 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1997)

Agriculture - products:

vegetables, fruit; livestock, turtle farming

Industries:

tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction materials, furniture

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

410.8 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

382.1 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

2,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$1.2 million (1999)

Exports - commodities:

turtle products, manufactured consumer goods

Exports - partners:

mostly US

Imports:

$457.4 million (1999)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, manufactured goods

Imports - partners:

US, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, Netherlands Antilles, Japan

Debt - external:

$70 million (1996)

Economic aid - recipient:

NA

Currency (code):

Caymanian dollar (KYD)

Currency code:

KYD

Exchange rates:

Caymanian dollars per US dollar - 0.82 (29 October 2001), 0.83 (3 November 1995), 0.85 (22 November 1993)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

Cayman Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:

38,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

17,000 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: reasonably good system
domestic: liberalization of telecom market in 2003 reflected in falling prices and improving services
international: country code - 1-345; 2 submarine fiber optic cables (Maya-1, Cayman-Jamaica); satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

36,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

4 with cable system (2004)

Televisions:

7,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ky

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

16 (2000)

Internet users:

9,909 (2003)

Transportation

Cayman Islands

Highways:

total: 785 km
paved: 785 km (2000)

Ports and harbors:

Cayman Brac, George Town

Merchant marine:

total: 129 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,827,837 GRT/4,555,974 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 29, cargo 12, chemical tanker 39, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 28, roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned: 126 (Denmark 1, Germany 14, Greece 20, Italy 12, Norway 1, Philippines 1, Sweden 13, Switzerland 11, United Kingdom 9, United States 44) (2005)

Airports:

3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Cayman Islands

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues

Cayman Islands

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

offshore financial center; vulnerable to drug transshipment to the US and Europe

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Introduction

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Background:

There are 27 coral islands in the group. Captain William KEELING discovered the islands in 1609, but they remained uninhabited until the 19th century. Annexed by the UK in 1857, they were transferred to the Australian Government in 1955. The population on the two inhabited islands generally is split between the ethnic Europeans on West Island and the ethnic Malays on Home Island.

Geography

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Location:

Southeastern Asia, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, southwest of Indonesia, about halfway from Australia to Sri Lanka

Geographic coordinates:

12 30 S, 96 50 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 14 sq km
land: 14 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes the two main islands of West Island and Home Island

Area - comparative:

about 24 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

26 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical with high humidity, moderated by the southeast trade winds for about nine months of the year

Terrain:

flat, low-lying coral atolls

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m

Natural resources:

fish

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

cyclone season is October to April

Environment - current issues:

fresh water resources are limited to rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs

Geography - note:

islands are thickly covered with coconut palms and other vegetation

People

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Population:

628 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate:

0% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

NA

Death rate:

NA

Net migration rate:

NA

Infant mortality rate:

total: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Total fertility rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Cocos Islander(s)
adjective: Cocos Islander

Ethnic groups:

Europeans, Cocos Malays

Religions:

Sunni Muslim 80%, other 20% (2002 est.)

Languages:

Malay (Cocos dialect), English

Government

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Dependency status:

territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services

Government type:

NA

Capital:

West Island

Administrative divisions:

none (territory of Australia)

Independence:

none (territory of Australia)

National holiday:

Australia Day, 26 January (1788)

Constitution:

Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955 (23 November 1953)

Legal system:

based upon the laws of Australia and local laws

Suffrage:

NA

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator (nonresident) Evan WILLIAMS (since 1 November 2003)
cabinet: NA
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia

Legislative branch:

unicameral Cocos (Keeling) Islands Shire Council (7 seats)
elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held NA

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

none

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territory of Australia)

Flag description:

the flag of Australia is used

Economy

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Economy - overview:

Grown throughout the islands, coconuts are the sole cash crop. Small local gardens and fishing contribute to the food supply, but additional food and most other necessities must be imported from Australia. There is a small tourist industry.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

NA

GDP - real growth rate:

NA%

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Labor force:

NA

Labor force - by occupation:

the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage workers; tourism employs others

Unemployment rate:

60% (2000 est.)

Budget:

revenues: NA
expenditures: NA

Agriculture - products:

vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts

Industries:

copra products and tourism

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: NA
hydro: NA
nuclear: NA
other: NA

Exports:

NA

Exports - commodities:

copra

Exports - partners:

Australia

Imports:

NA

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Australia

Economic aid - recipient:

NA

Currency (code):

Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code:

AUD

Exchange rates:

Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001), 1.7248 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Communications

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:

287 (1992)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

note - analog cellular service available

Telephone system:

general assessment: connected within Australia's telecommunication system
domestic: NA
international: country code - 61-891; telephone, telex, and facsimile communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; 1 satellite earth station of NA type (2002)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

300 (1992)

Television broadcast stations:

NA

Televisions:

NA

Internet country code:

.cc

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

NA

Transportation

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Highways:

total: 15 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km (2003)

Ports and harbors:

Port Refuge

Airports:

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Australia; the territory does have a five-person police force

Transnational Issues

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Cameroon

Introduction

Cameroon

Background:

The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroon merged in 1961 to form the present country. Cameroon has generally enjoyed stability, which has permitted the development of agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry. Despite movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in the hands of an ethnic oligarchy.

Geography

Cameroon

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria

Geographic coordinates:

6 00 N, 12 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 475,440 sq km
land: 469,440 sq km
water: 6,000 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than California

Land boundaries:

total: 4,591 km
border countries: Central African Republic 797 km, Chad 1,094 km, Republic of the Congo 523 km, Equatorial Guinea 189 km, Gabon 298 km, Nigeria 1,690 km

Coastline:

402 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 50 nm

Climate:

varies with terrain, from tropical along coast to semiarid and hot in north

Terrain:

diverse, with coastal plain in southwest, dissected plateau in center, mountains in west, plains in north

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Fako (on Mount Cameroon) 4,095 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 12.81%
permanent crops: 2.58%
other: 84.61% (2001)

Irrigated land:

330 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes

Environment - current issues:

waterborne diseases are prevalent; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

sometimes referred to as the hinge of Africa; throughout the country there are areas of thermal springs and indications of current or prior volcanic activity; Mount Cameroon, the highest mountain in Sub-Saharan west Africa, is an active volcano

People

Cameroon

Population:

16,380,005
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 41.7% (male 3,457,180/female 3,375,668)
15-64 years: 55% (male 4,537,281/female 4,477,163)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 239,634/female 293,079) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.6 years
male: 18.45 years
female: 18.76 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.93% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

34.67 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

15.4 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 68.26 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 72.14 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 64.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 50.89 years
male: 50.71 years
female: 51.08 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.47 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

6.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

560,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

49,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever are high risks in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Cameroonian(s)
adjective: Cameroonian

Ethnic groups:

Cameroon Highlanders 31%, Equatorial Bantu 19%, Kirdi 11%, Fulani 10%, Northwestern Bantu 8%, Eastern Nigritic 7%, other African 13%, non-African less than 1%

Religions:

indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%

Languages:

24 major African language groups, English (official), French (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79%
male: 84.7%
female: 73.4% (2003 est.)

Government

Cameroon

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Cameroon
conventional short form: Cameroon
former: French Cameroon

Government type:

unitary republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized in 1990)
note: preponderance of power remains with the president

Capital:

Yaounde

Administrative divisions:

10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est, Extreme-Nord, Littoral, Nord, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest

Independence:

1 January 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday:

Republic Day (National Day), 20 May (1972)

Constitution:

20 May 1972 approved by referendum, 2 June 1972 formally adopted; revised January 1996

Legal system:

based on French civil law system, with common law influence; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

20 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November 1982)
head of government: Prime Minister Ephraim INONI (since 8 Dec 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from proposals submitted by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 11 October 2004 (next to be held NA October 2011); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: President Paul BIYA reelected; percent of vote - Paul BIYA 70.9%, John FRU NDI 17.4%, Adamou Ndam NJOYA 4.5%, Garga Haman ADJI 3.7%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (180 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms; note - the president can either lengthen or shorten the term of the legislature)
elections: last held 23 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RDCP 133, SDF 21, UDC 5, other 21
note: the constitution calls for an upper chamber for the legislature, to be called a Senate, but it has yet to be established

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); High Court of Justice (consists of 9 judges and 6 substitute judges, elected by the National Assembly)

Political parties and leaders:

Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC [Adamou NDAM NJOYA]; Democratic Rally of the Cameroon People or RDCP [Paul BIYA]; Movement for the Defense of the Republic or MDR [Dakole DAISSALA]; Movement for the Liberation and Development of Cameroon or MLDC [leader Marcel YONDO]; Movement for the Youth of Cameroon or MYC [Dieudonne TINA]; National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Maigari BELLO BOUBA]; Social Democratic Front or SDF [John FRU NDI]; Union of Cameroonian Populations or UPC [Augustin Frederic KODOCK]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Southern Cameroon National Council [Ayamba Ette OTUN]; Human Rights Defense Group [Albert MUKONG, president]

International organization participation:

ABEDA, ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, C, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jerome MENDOUGA
chancery: 2349 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-8790
FAX: [1] (202) 387-3826

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador George McDade STAPLES
embassy: Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde
mailing address: P. O. Box 817, Yaounde; pouch: American Embassy, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520
telephone: [237] 223-05-12, 222-25-89, 222-17-94, 223-40-14
FAX: [237] 223-07-53
branch office(s): Douala

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), red, and yellow with a yellow five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy

Cameroon

Economy - overview:

Because of its oil resources and favorable agricultural conditions, Cameroon has one of the best-endowed primary commodity economies in sub-Saharan Africa. Still, it faces many of the serious problems facing other underdeveloped countries, such as a top-heavy civil service and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise. Since 1990, the government has embarked on various IMF and World Bank programs designed to spur business investment, increase efficiency in agriculture, improve trade, and recapitalize the nation's banks. In June 2000, the government completed an IMF-sponsored, three-year structural adjustment program; however, the IMF is pressing for more reforms, including increased budget transparency, privatization, and poverty reduction programs. International oil and cocoa prices have considerable impact on the economy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$30.17 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 43.7%
industry: 20.1%
services: 36.2% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

6.68 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 70%, industry and commerce 13%, other 17%

Unemployment rate:

30% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:

48% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 36.6% (1996)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

47.7 (1996)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

16.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $2.493 billion
expenditures: $2.248 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

69.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains, root starches; livestock; timber

Industries:

petroleum production and refining, aluminum production, food processing, light consumer goods, textiles, lumber, ship repair

Industrial production growth rate:

4.2% (1999 est.)

Electricity - production:

3.571 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 2.7%
hydro: 97.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

3.321 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

94,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

22,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

80 million bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

55.22 billion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$-149.1 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$2.445 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans, aluminum, coffee, cotton

Exports - partners:

Spain 15.2%, Italy 12.3%, UK 10.2%, France 9.2%, US 8.8%, South Korea 7.1%, Netherlands 4.3% (2004)

Imports:

$1.979 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel, food

Imports - partners:

France 28.2%, Nigeria 9.9%, Belgium 7.6%, US 4.9%, China 4.8%, Germany 4.6%, Italy 4.1% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$687.5 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$8.46 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

on 23 January 2001, the Paris Club agreed to reduce Cameroon's debt of $1.3 billion by $900 million; debt relief now totals $1.26 billion

Currency (code):

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States

Currency code:

XAF

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Communications

Cameroon

Telephones - main lines in use:

110,900 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.077 million (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: available only to business and government
domestic: cable, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter
international: country code - 237; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (2002)

Radios:

2.27 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2002)

Televisions:

450,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.cm

Internet hosts:

479 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:

60,000 (2002)
note: Cameroon also had more than 100 cyber-cafes in 2001

Transportation

Cameroon

Railways:

total: 1,008 km
narrow gauge: 1,008 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 34,300 km
paved: 4,288 km
unpaved: 30,012 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

navigation mainly on Benue River; limited during rainy season (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 90 km; liquid petroleum gas 9 km; oil 1,120 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Douala, Limboh Terminal

Merchant marine:

total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 169,593 GRT/357,023 DWT
by type: petroleum tanker 1 (2005)

Airports:

47 (2004 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 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 9 (2004 est.)

Military

Cameroon

Military branches:

Cameroon Armed Forces: Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry), Air Force

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (1999)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 3,410,440 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,720,385 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 188,662 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$221.1 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.6% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Cameroon

Disputes - international:

ICJ ruled in 2002 on the entire Cameroon-Nigeria land and maritime boundary but the parties formed a Joint Border Commission, which continues to meet regularly to resolve differences bilaterally and have commenced with demarcation in less-contested sections of the boundary, starting in Lake Chad in the north; implementation of the ICJ ruling on the Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf of Guinea is impeded by imprecisely defined coordinates, the unresolved Bakassi allocation, and a sovereignty dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River; Nigeria initially rejected cession of the Bakasi Peninsula, then agreed, but has yet to withdraw its forces while much of the indigenous population opposes cession; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty which also includes Chad and Niger

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 39,261 (Chad) 16,983 (Nigeria) 9,634 (Cote d'Ivoire) (2004)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Comoros

Introduction

Comoros

Background:

Unstable Comoros has endured 19 coups or attempted coups since gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands of Anjouan and Moheli declared their independence from Comoros. In 1999, military chief Col. AZALI seized power. He pledged to resolve the secessionist crisis through a confederal arrangement named the 2000 Fomboni Accord. In December 2001, voters approved a new constitution and presidential elections took place in the spring of 2002. Each island in the archipelago elected its own president and a new union president took office in May of 2002.

Geography

Comoros

Location:

Southern Africa, group of islands at the northern mouth of the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique

Geographic coordinates:

12 10 S, 44 15 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 2,170 sq km
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:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)

Terrain:

volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Le Kartala 2,360 m

Natural resources:

NEGL

Land use:

arable land: 35.87%
permanent crops: 23.32%
other: 40.81% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano

Environment - current issues:

soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

important location at northern end of Mozambique Channel

People

Comoros

Population:

671,247 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 42.8% (male 144,075/female 143,175)
15-64 years: 54.2% (male 179,541/female 184,488)
65 years and over: 3% (male 9,407/female 10,561) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.61 years
male: 18.35 years
female: 18.87 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.91% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

37.52 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

8.4 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 74.93 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 83.48 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 66.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 61.96 years
male: 59.65 years
female: 64.33 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.09 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.12% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Comoran(s)
adjective: Comoran

Ethnic groups:

Antalote, Cafre, Makoa, Oimatsaha, Sakalava

Religions:

Sunni Muslim 98%, Roman Catholic 2%

Languages:

Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (a blend of Swahili and Arabic)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 56.5%
male: 63.6%
female: 49.3% (2003 est.)

Government

Comoros

Country name:

conventional long form: Union of the Comoros
conventional short form: Comoros
local long form: Union des Comores
local short form: Comores

Government type:

independent republic

Capital:

Moroni

Administrative divisions:

3 islands; Grande Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan (Nzwani), and Moheli (Mwali); note - there are also four municipalities named Domoni, Fomboni, Moroni, and Moutsamoudou

Independence:

6 July 1975 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 6 July (1975)

Constitution:

23 December 2001

Legal system:

French and Sharia (Islamic) law in a new consolidated code

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2002); note - following a 1999 coup AZALI was appointed president; in January 2002 he resigned his position to run in the 14 April 2002 presidential elections; Prime Minister Hamada Madi BOLERO was appointed interim president until replaced again by AZALI in May 2002 when BOLERO was appointed Minister of External Defense and Territorial Security; the president is both the chief of state and the head of government
head of government: President AZALI Assoumani (since 26 May 2002); note - following a 1999 coup AZALI was appointed president; in January 2002 he resigned his position to run in the 14 April 2002 presidential elections; Prime Minister Hamada Madi BOLERO was appointed interim president until replaced again by AZALI in May 2002 when BOLERO was appointed Minister of External Defense and Territorial Security; the president is both the chief of state and the head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: as defined by the 2001 constitution, the presidency rotates every four years among the elected presidents from the three main islands in the Union; election last held 14 April 2002 (next to be held April 2007); prime minister appointed by the president; note - AZALI has not appointed a Prime Minister since he was sworn into office in May 2002
election results: President AZALI Assoumani elected president with 75% of the vote

Legislative branch:

unicameral Assembly of the Union (33 seats; 15 deputies are selected by the individual islands' local assemblies and the 18 by universal suffrage; deputies serve for five years);
elections: last held 18 and 25 April 2004 (next to be held NA 2009)
election results: NA

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Cour Supremes (two members appointed by the president, two members elected by the Federal Assembly, one elected by the Council of each island, and others are former presidents of the republic)

Political parties and leaders:

Forces pour l'Action Republicaine or FAR [Col. Abdourazak ABDULHAMID]; Forum pour la Redressement National or FRN (alliance of 12 parties); Front Democratique or FD [Moustoifa Said CHEIKH]; Front National pour la Justice or FNJ (Islamic party in opposition) [Ahmed RACHID]; Movement des Citoyens pour la Republique or MCR [Mahamoud MRADABI]; Mouvement Populaire Anjouanais or MPA (Anjouan separatist movement) [leader NA]; Mouvement pour la Democratie et le Progress or MDP-NGDC [Abbas DJOUSSOUF]; Movement pour le Socialisme et la Democratie or MSD (splinter group of FD) [Abdou SOEFOU]; Parti Comorien pour la Democratie et le Progress or PCDP [Ali MROUDJAE]; Rassemblement National pour le Development or RND (party of the government) [Omar TAMOU, Abdoulhamid AFFRAITANE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AMF, AU, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (observer), ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mahmoud M. ABOUD (ambassador to the US and Canada and permanent representative to the UN)
chancery: (temporary) care of the Permanent Mission of the Union of the Comoros to the United Nations, 420 East 50th Street, New York, NY 10022
telephone: [1] (212) 972-8010 and 223-2711
FAX: [1] (212) 983-4712 and 715-0699

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Comoros

Flag description:

four equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), white, red, and blue with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist; centered within the triangle is a white crescent with the convex side facing the hoist and four white, five-pointed stars placed vertically in a line between the points of the crescent; the horizontal bands and the four stars represent the four main islands of the archipelago - Mwali, Njazidja, Nzwani, and Mayotte (a territorial collectivity of France, but claimed by Comoros); the crescent, stars, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam

Economy

Comoros

Economy - overview:

One of the world's poorest countries, Comoros is made up of three islands that have inadequate transportation links, a young and rapidly increasing population, and few natural resources. The low educational level of the labor force contributes to a subsistence level of economic activity, high unemployment, and a heavy dependence on foreign grants and technical assistance. Agriculture, including fishing, hunting, and forestry, contributes 40% to GDP, employs 80% of the labor force, and provides most of the exports. The country is not self-sufficient in food production; rice, the main staple, accounts for the bulk of imports. The government - which is hampered by internal political disputes - is struggling to upgrade education and technical training, privatize commercial and industrial enterprises, improve health services, diversify exports, promote tourism, and reduce the high population growth rate. Increased foreign support is essential if the goal of 4% annual GDP growth is to be met. Remittances from 150,000 Comorans abroad help supplement GDP.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$441 million (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $700 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 40%
industry: 4%
services: 56% (2001 est.)

Labor force:

144,500 (1996 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 80%

Unemployment rate:

20% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line:

60% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.5% (2001 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $27.6 million
expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA (2001 est.)

Agriculture - products:

vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas, cassava (tapioca)

Industries:

tourism, perfume distillation

Industrial production growth rate:

-2% (1999 est.)

Electricity - production:

23.84 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 90.6%
hydro: 9.4%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

22.17 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

700 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$28 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:

vanilla, ylang-ylang, cloves, perfume oil, copra

Exports - partners:

US 43.8%, France 18.6%, Singapore 16.5%, Turkey 4.8%, Germany 4.5% (2004)

Imports:

$88 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:

rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods; petroleum products, cement, transport equipment

Imports - partners:

France 23.5%, South Africa 11.1%, Kenya 7.5%, UAE 7.2%, Italy 4.9%, Pakistan 4.7%, Mauritius 4.2%, Singapore 4.1% (2004)

Debt - external:

$232 million (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$10 million (2001 est.)

Currency (code):

Comoran franc (KMF)

Currency code:

KMF

Exchange rates:

Comoran francs (KMF) per US dollar - 396.21 (2004), 435.9 (2003), 522.74 (2002), 549.78 (2001), 533.98 (2000)
note: the Comoran franc is pegged to the euro at a rate of 491.9677 Comoran francs per euro

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Comoros

Telephones - main lines in use:

13,200 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2,000 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: sparse system of microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communication stations
domestic: HF radiotelephone communications and microwave radio relay
international: country code - 269; HF radiotelephone communications to Madagascar and Reunion

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios:

90,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

NA

Televisions:

1,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.km

Internet hosts:

11 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

5,000 (2003)

Transportation

Comoros

Highways:

total: 880 km
paved: 673 km
unpaved: 207 km (1999 est)

Ports and harbors:

Mayotte, Moutsamoudou

Merchant marine:

total: 79 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 452,801 GRT/681,343 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 9, cargo 55, chemical tanker 1, container 1, livestock carrier 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 35 (Bulgaria 1, Germany 1, Greece 7, India 1, Jordan 1, Kenya 1, Lebanon 3, Nigeria 1, Norway 1, Pakistan 1, Philippines 1, Russia 2, Syria 3, Turkey 6, Ukraine 4, United Kingdom 1) (2005)

Airports:

4 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Military

Comoros

Military branches:

Comoran Security Force

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 138,940 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 98,792 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$11.6 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Comoros

Disputes - international:

claims French-administered Mayotte

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Colombia

Introduction

Colombia

Background:

Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador and Venezuela). A 40-year insurgent campaign to overthrow the Colombian Government escalated during the 1990s, undergirded in part by funds from the drug trade. Although the violence is deadly and large swaths of the countryside are under guerrilla influence, the movement lacks the military strength or popular support necessary to overthrow the government. An anti-insurgent army of paramilitaries has grown to several thousand strong in recent years, challenging the insurgents for control of territory and the drug trade, and also the government's ability to exert its dominion over rural areas. While Bogota steps up efforts to reassert government control throughout the country, neighboring countries worry about the violence spilling over their borders.

Geography

Colombia

Location:

Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Panama and Venezuela, and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Ecuador and Panama

Geographic coordinates:

4 00 N, 72 00 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total: 1,138,910 sq km
land: 1,038,700 sq km
water: 100,210 sq km
note: includes Isla de Malpelo, Roncador Cay, Serrana Bank, and Serranilla Bank

Area - comparative:

slightly less than three times the size of Montana

Land boundaries:

total: 6,004 km
border countries: Brazil 1,643 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km, Peru 1,496 km (est.), Venezuela 2,050 km

Coastline:

3,208 km (Caribbean Sea 1,760 km, North Pacific Ocean 1,448 km)

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

tropical along coast and eastern plains; cooler in highlands

Terrain:

flat coastal lowlands, central highlands, high Andes Mountains, eastern lowland plains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico Cristobal Colon 5,775 m
note: nearby Pico Simon Bolivar also has the same elevation

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, nickel, gold, copper, emeralds, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 2.42%
permanent crops: 1.67%
other: 95.91% (2001)

Irrigated land:

8,500 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional earthquakes; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil and water quality damage from overuse of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle emissions

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

only South American country with coastlines on both the North Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea

People

Colombia

Population:

42,954,279 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 30.7% (male 6,670,950/female 6,516,371)
15-64 years: 64.2% (male 13,424,433/female 14,142,825)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 968,127/female 1,231,573) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 26.04 years
male: 25.14 years
female: 26.93 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.49% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

20.82 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

5.59 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 20.97 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 24.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.72 years
male: 67.88 years
female: 75.7 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.56 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.7% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

190,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

3,600 (2003 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%, other 10%

Languages:

Spanish

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.5%
male: 92.4%
female: 92.6% (2003 est.)

Government

Colombia

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Colombia
conventional short form: Colombia
local long form: Republica de Colombia
local short form: Colombia

Government type:

republic; executive branch dominates government structure

Capital:

Bogota

Administrative divisions:

32 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlantico, Distrito Capital de Bogota*, Bolivar, Boyaca, Caldas, Caqueta, Casanare, Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Guainia, Guaviare, Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Narino, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindio, Risaralda, San Andres y Providencia, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada

Independence:

20 July 1810 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 20 July (1810)

Constitution:

5 July 1991

Legal system:

based on Spanish law; a new criminal code modeled after US procedures was enacted into law in 2004; judicial review of executive and legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Alvaro URIBE Velez (since 7 August 2002); Vice President Francisco SANTOS (since 7 August 2002); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Alvaro URIBE Velez (since 7 August 2002); Vice President Francisco SANTOS (since 7 August 2002); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet consists of a coalition of the two dominant parties - the PL and PSC - and independents
elections: president and vice president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 26 May 2002 (next to be held May 2006)
election results: President Alvaro URIBE Velez received 53% of the vote; Vice President Francisco SANTOS was elected on the same ticket

Legislative branch:

bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Senate or Senado (102 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (166 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 10 March 2002 (next to be held March 2006); House of Representatives - last held 10 March 2002 (next to be held March 2006)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PL 28, PSC 13, independents and smaller parties (many aligned with conservatives) 61; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PL 54, PSC 21, independents and other parties 91

Judicial branch:

four roughly coequal, supreme judicial organs; Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (highest court of criminal law; judges are selected by their peers from the nominees of the Superior Judicial Council for eight-year terms); Council of State (highest court of administrative law; judges are selected from the nominees of the Superior Judicial Council for eight-year terms); Constitutional Court (guards integrity and supremacy of the constitution; rules on constitutionality of laws, amendments to the constitution, and international treaties); Superior Judicial Council (administers and disciplines the civilian judiciary; resolves jurisdictional conflicts arising between other courts; members are elected by three sister courts and Congress for eight-year terms)

Political parties and leaders:

Colombian Communist Party or PCC [Jaime CAICEDO]; Conservative Party or PSC [Carlos HOLGUIN Sardi]; Democratic Pole or PDI [Samuel MORENO Rojas]; Liberal Party or PL [Juan Fernando CRISTO]
note: Colombia has about 60 formally recognized political parties, most of which do not have a presence in either house of Congress

Political pressure groups and leaders:

two largest insurgent groups active in Colombia - Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia or FARC and National Liberation Army or ELN; largest anti-insurgent paramilitary group is United Self-Defense Groups of Colombia or AUC

International organization participation:

BCIE, CAN, CDB, CSN, FAO, G-3, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Luis Alberto MORENO Mejia
chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338
FAX: [1] (202) 232-8643
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Beverly Hills, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Washington, DC

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador William B. WOOD
embassy: Calle 22D-BIS, numbers 47-51, Apartado Aereo 3831
mailing address: Carrera 45 #22D-45, Bogota, D.C., APO AA 34038
telephone: [57] (1) 315-0811
FAX: [57] (1) 315-2197

Flag description:

three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double-width), blue, and red; similar to the flag of Ecuador, which is longer and bears the Ecuadorian coat of arms superimposed in the center

Economy

Colombia

Economy - overview:

Colombia's economy has been on a recovery trend during the past two years despite a serious armed conflict. The economy continues to improve thanks to austere government budgets, focused efforts to reduce public debt levels, and an export-oriented growth focus. Ongoing economic problems facing President URIBE range from reforming the pension system to reducing high unemployment. New exploration is needed to offset declining oil production. On the positive side, several international financial institutions have praised the economic reforms introduced by URIBE, which include measures designed to reduce the public-sector deficit below 2.5% of GDP. The government's economic policy and democratic security strategy have engendered a growing sense of confidence in the economy, particularly within the business sector. Coffee prices have recovered from previous lows as the Colombian coffee industry pursues greater market shares in developed countries such as the United States.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$281.1 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $6,600 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 13.4%
industry: 32.1%
services: 54.5% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

20.7 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 30%, industry 24%, services 46% (1990)

Unemployment rate:

13.6% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

55% (2001)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 44% (1999)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

57.1 (1996)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.9% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

15.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $15.33 billion
expenditures: $21.03 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

51.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn, sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp

Industries:

textiles, food processing, oil, clothing and footwear, beverages, chemicals, cement; gold, coal, emeralds

Industrial production growth rate:

4% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

44.87 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 26%
hydro: 72.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1.3% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

41.14 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

618 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

23 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

531,100 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

252,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

1.7 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

5.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

5.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

132 billion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$-1.706 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$15.5 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum, coffee, coal, apparel, bananas, cut flowers

Exports - partners:

US 42.1%, Venezuela 9.7%, Ecuador 6% (2004)

Imports:

$15.34 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, paper products, fuels, electricity

Imports - partners:

US 29.1%, Venezuela 6.5%, China 6.4%, Mexico 6.2%, Brazil 5.8% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$11.94 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$38.7 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

NA

Currency (code):

Colombian peso (COP)

Currency code:

COP

Exchange rates:

Colombian pesos per US dollar - 2,628.61 (2004), 2,877.65 (2003), 2,504.24 (2002), 2,299.63 (2001), 2,087.9 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Colombia

Telephones - main lines in use:

8,768,100 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

6,186,200 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system in many respects
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system; domestic satellite system with 41 earth stations; fiber-optic network linking 50 cities
international: country code - 57; satellite earth stations - 6 Intelsat, 1 Inmarsat; 3 fully digitalized international switching centers; 8 submarine cables

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 454, FM 34, shortwave 27 (1999)

Radios:

21 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

60 (includes seven low-power stations) (1997)

Televisions:

4.59 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.co

Internet hosts:

115,158 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

18 (2000)

Internet users:

2,732,200 (2003)

Transportation

Colombia

Railways:

total: 3,304 km
standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 3,154 km 0.914-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 112,998 km
paved: 26,000 km
unpaved: 84,000 km (2000)

Waterways:

9,187 km (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 4,360 km; oil 6,134 km; refined products 3,140 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Muelles El Bosque, Puerto Bolivar, Santa Marta, Turbo

Merchant marine:

total: 15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 35,427 GRT/46,301 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 11, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 2
registered in other countries: 7 (2005)

Airports:

980 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 101
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 39
914 to 1,523 m: 39
under 914 m: 12 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 879
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 34
914 to 1,523 m: 272
under 914 m: 572 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

Colombia

Military branches:

Army (Ejercito Nacional), Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Naval Aviation, Marines, and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Colombiana)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 24 months (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 10,212,456 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 6,986,228 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 389,735 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$3.3 billion (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3.4% (FY01)

Transnational Issues

Colombia

Disputes - international:

Nicaragua filed a claim against Honduras in 1999 and against Colombia in 2001 at the ICJ over disputed maritime boundary involving 50,000 sq km in the Caribbean Sea, including the Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank; dispute with Venezuela over maritime boundary and Los Monjes Islands near the Gulf of Venezuela; Colombian-organized illegal narcotics, guerrilla, and paramilitary activities penetrate all of its neighbors' borders and have created a serious refugee crisis with over 300,000 persons having fled the country, mostly into neighboring states

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 2,730,000 - 3,100,000 (conflict between government and FARC; drug wars) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

illicit producer of coca, opium poppy, and cannabis; world's leading coca cultivator (cultivation of coca in 2002 was 144,450 hectares, a 15% decline since 2001); potential production of opium between 2001 and 2002 declined by 25% to 91 metric tons; potential production of heroin declined to 11.3 metric tons; the world's largest processor of coca derivatives into cocaine; supplier of about 90% of the cocaine to the US market and the great majority of cocaine to other international drug markets; important supplier of heroin to the US market; active aerial eradication program; a significant portion of non-US narcotics proceeds are either laundered or invested in Colombia through the black market peso exchange

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Northern Mariana Islands

Introduction

Northern Mariana Islands

Background:

Under US administration as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific, the people of the Northern Mariana Islands decided in the 1970s not to seek independence but instead to forge closer links with the US. Negotiations for territorial status began in 1972. A covenant to establish a commonwealth in political union with the US was approved in 1975. A new government and constitution went into effect in 1978.

Geography

Northern Mariana Islands

Location:

Oceania, islands in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines

Geographic coordinates:

15 12 N, 145 45 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 477 sq km
land: 477 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes 14 islands including Saipan, Rota, and Tinian

Area - comparative:

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

1,482 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical marine; moderated by northeast trade winds, little seasonal temperature variation; dry season December to June, rainy season July to October

Terrain:

southern islands are limestone with level terraces and fringing coral reefs; northern islands are volcanic

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m

Natural resources:

arable land, fish

Land use:

arable land: 13.04%
permanent crops: 4.35%
other: 82.61% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA

Natural hazards:

active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan; typhoons (especially August to November)

Environment - current issues:

contamination of groundwater on Saipan may contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of endangered species conflicts with development

Geography - note:

strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean

People

Northern Mariana Islands

Population:

80,362 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 19.9% (male 8,332/female 7,646)
15-64 years: 78.5% (male 26,121/female 36,982)
65 years and over: 1.6% (male 646/female 635) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 29.33 years
male: 31.54 years
female: 28.33 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.61% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

19.51 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

2.3 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

8.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.71 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 0.78 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 7.11 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.05 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.88 years
male: 73.31 years
female: 78.61 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.27 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: NA
adjective: NA

Ethnic groups:

Asian 56.3%, Pacific islander 36.3%, Caucasian 1.8%, other 0.8%, mixed 4.8% (2000 census)

Religions:

Christian (Roman Catholic majority, although traditional beliefs and taboos may still be found)

Languages:

Philippine languages 24.4%, Chinese 23.4%, Chamorro 22.4%, English 10.8%, other Pacific island languages 9.5%, other 9.6% (2000 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 96% (1980 est.)

Government

Northern Mariana Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
conventional short form: Northern Mariana Islands
former: Mariana Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)

Dependency status:

commonwealth in political union with the US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs

Government type:

commonwealth; self-governing with locally elected governor, lieutenant governor, and legislature

Capital:

Saipan

Administrative divisions:

none (commonwealth in political union with the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are four municipalities at the second order: Northern Islands, Rota, Saipan, Tinian

Independence:

none (commonwealth in political union with the US)

National holiday:

Commonwealth Day, 8 January (1978)

Constitution:

Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands effective 1 January 1978; Covenant Agreement effective 4 November 1986

Legal system:

based on US system, except for customs, wages, immigration laws, and taxation

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal; indigenous inhabitants are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Executive branch:

chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)
head of government: Governor Juan N. BABAUTA (since 14 January 2002); Lieutenant Governor Diego T. BENAVENTE (since 14 January 2002)
cabinet: NA
elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 3 November 2001 (next to be held November 2005)
election results: Juan N. BABAUTA elected governor in a four-way race; percent of vote - Juan N. BABAUTA (Republican Party) 42.8%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Legislature consists of the Senate (9 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year staggered terms) and the House of Representatives (18 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 1 November 2003 (next to be held 5 November 2005); House of Representatives - last held 1 November 2003 (next to be held 5 November 2005)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Covenant Party 9, Republican Party 7, Democratic Party 1, independent 1
note: the Northern Mariana Islands does not have a nonvoting delegate in the US Congress; instead, it has an elected official or "resident representative" located in Washington, DC; seats by party - Republican Party 1 (Pedro A. TENORIO)

Judicial branch:

Commonwealth Supreme Court; Superior Court; Federal District Court

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Party [Dr. Carlos S. CAMACHO]; Republican Party [NA]; Covenant Party [Benigno R. FITIAL]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

Interpol (subbureau)

Flag description:

blue, with a white, five-pointed star superimposed on the gray silhouette of a latte stone (a traditional foundation stone used in building) in the center, surrounded by a wreath

Economy

Northern Mariana Islands

Economy - overview:

The economy benefits substantially from financial assistance from the US. The rate of funding has declined as locally generated government revenues have grown. The key tourist industry employs about 50% of the work force and accounts for roughly one-fourth of GDP. Japanese tourists predominate. Annual tourist entries have exceeded one-half million in recent years, but financial difficulties in Japan have caused a temporary slowdown. The agricultural sector is made up of cattle ranches and small farms producing coconuts, breadfruit, tomatoes, and melons. Garment production is by far the most important industry with employment of 17,500 mostly Chinese workers and sizable shipments to the US under duty and quota exemptions.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$900 million
note: GDP estimate includes US subsidy (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

NA

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $12,500 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA
industry: NA
services: NA

Labor force:

6,006 total indigenous labor force; 2,699 unemployed; 28,717 foreign workers (June 1995)

Labor force - by occupation:

NA

Unemployment rate:

NA

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.2% (1997 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $193 million
expenditures: $223 million, including capital expenditures of NA (FY01/02 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coconuts, fruits, vegetables; cattle

Industries:

tourism, construction, garments, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

NA kWh

Electricity - consumption:

NA kWh

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh

Exports:

NA

Exports - commodities:

garments

Exports - partners:

US (2000)

Imports:

NA

Imports - commodities:

food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products

Imports - partners:

US, Japan (2000)

Debt - external:

NA

Economic aid - recipient:

extensive funding from US

Currency (code):

US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

USD

Exchange rates:

the US dollar is used

Fiscal year:

1 October - 30 September

Communications

Northern Mariana Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:

21,000 (2000)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

3,000 (2000)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 1-670; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

NA

Television broadcast stations:

1 (on Saipan and one station planned for Rota; in addition, two cable services on Saipan provide varied programming from satellite networks) (1997)

Televisions:

NA

Internet country code:

.mp

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2001)

Internet users:

NA

Transportation

Northern Mariana Islands

Highways:

total: 362 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km (1991)

Ports and harbors:

Saipan, Tinian

Airports:

5 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

Northern Mariana Islands

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues

Northern Mariana Islands

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Coral Sea Islands

Introduction

Coral Sea Islands

Background:

Scattered over some 1 million square kilometers of ocean, the Coral Sea Islands were declared a territory of Australia in 1969. They are uninhabited except for a small meteorological staff on the Willis Islets. Automated weather stations, beacons, and a lighthouse occupy many other islands and reefs.

Geography

Coral Sea Islands

Location:

Oceania, islands in the Coral Sea, northeast of Australia

Geographic coordinates:

18 00 S, 152 00 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: less than 3 sq km
land: less than 3 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes numerous small islands and reefs scattered over a sea area of about 780,000 sq km, with the Willis Islets the most important

Area - comparative:

NA

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

3,095 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical

Terrain:

sand and coral reefs and islands (or cays)

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m

Natural resources:

NEGL

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (mostly grass or scrub cover) (2001)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km

Natural hazards:

occasional tropical cyclones

Environment - current issues:

no permanent fresh water resources

Geography - note:

important nesting area for birds and turtles

People

Coral Sea Islands

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a staff of three to four at the meteorological station (2005 est.)

Government

Coral Sea Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: Coral Sea Islands Territory
conventional short form: Coral Sea Islands

Dependency status:

territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories

Legal system:

the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply

Executive branch:

administered from Canberra by the Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territory of Australia)

Flag description:

the flag of Australia is used

Economy

Coral Sea Islands

Economy - overview:

no economic activity

Communications

Coral Sea Islands

Communications - note:

there are automatic weather stations on many of the isles and reefs relaying data to the mainland

Transportation

Coral Sea Islands

Ports and harbors:

none; offshore anchorage only

Military

Coral Sea Islands

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Australia; visited regularly by the Royal Australian Navy; Australia has control over the activities of visitors

Transnational Issues

Coral Sea Islands

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Costa Rica

Introduction

Costa Rica

Background:

Costa Rica is a Central American success story: since the late 19th century, only two brief periods of violence have marred its democratic development. Although still a largely agricultural country, it has expanded its economy to include strong technology and tourism sectors. The standard of living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread.

Geography

Costa Rica

Location:

Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama

Geographic coordinates:

10 00 N, 84 00 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 51,100 sq km
land: 50,660 sq km
water: 440 sq km
note: includes Isla del Coco

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries:

total: 639 km
border countries: Nicaragua 309 km, Panama 330 km

Coastline:

1,290 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical and subtropical; dry season (December to April); rainy season (May to November); cooler in highlands

Terrain:

coastal plains separated by rugged mountains including over 100 volcanic cones, of which several are major volcanoes

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m

Natural resources:

hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 4.41%
permanent crops: 5.88%
other: 89.71% (2001)

Irrigated land:

1,260 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast; frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and landslides; active volcanoes

Environment - current issues:

deforestation and land use change, largely a result of the clearing of land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil erosion; coastal marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste management; air pollution

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

four volcanoes, two of them active, rise near the capital of San Jose in the center of the country; one of the volcanoes, Irazu, erupted destructively in 1963-65

People

Costa Rica

Population:

4,016,173 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 28.9% (male 593,540/female 566,361)
15-64 years: 65.5% (male 1,330,481/female 1,300,664)
65 years and over: 5.6% (male 104,564/female 120,563) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 26.03 years
male: 25.59 years
female: 26.5 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.48% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

18.6 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

4.33 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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 (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 9.95 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 10.85 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.84 years
male: 74.26 years
female: 79.55 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.28 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.6% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

12,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

900 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Costa Rican(s)
adjective: Costa Rican

Ethnic groups:

white (including mestizo) 94%, black 3%, Amerindian 1%, Chinese 1%, other 1%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 76.3%, Evangelical 13.7%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.3%, other Protestant 0.7%, other 4.8%, none 3.2%

Languages:

Spanish (official), English

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 95.9%
female: 96.1% (2003 est.)

Government

Costa Rica

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Costa Rica
conventional short form: Costa Rica
local long form: Republica de Costa Rica
local short form: Costa Rica

Government type:

democratic republic

Capital:

San Jose

Administrative divisions:

7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela, Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose

Independence:

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution:

7 November 1949

Legal system:

based on Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Abel PACHECO (since 8 May 2002); First Vice President Lineth SABORIO (since 8 May 2002); Second Vice President (vacant); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Abel PACHECO (since 8 May 2002); First Vice President Lineth SABORIO (since 8 May 2002); Second Vice President (vacant); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president
elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 3 February 2002; run-off election held 7 April 2002 (next to be held February 2006)
election results: Abel PACHECO elected president; percent of vote - Abel PACHECO (PUSC) 58%; Rolando ARAYA (PLN) 42%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (57 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 3 February 2002 (next to be held 3 February 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PUSC 19, PLN 17, PAC 14, PML 6, PRC 1; note - seats by party as of January 2005 - PUSC 19, PLN 16, PAC 8, PML 5, PRC 1, Patriotic Union 3, Homeland First 1, Authentic Member from Heredia 1, Democratic National Alliance 1, independent 2

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (22 justices are elected for eight-year terms by the Legislative Assembly)

Political parties and leaders:

Authentic Member from Heredia [Jose SALAS]; Citizen Action Party or PAC [Otton SOLIS]; Costa Rican Renovation Party or PRC [Justo OROZCO]; Democratic Force Party or PFD [Juan Carlos CHAVES Mora]; Democratic National Alliance [Emilia RODRIGUEZ]; General Union Party or PUGEN [Carlos Alberto FERNANDEZ Vega]; Homeland First [Juan Jose VARGAS]; Independent Worker Party or PIO [Jose Alberto CUBERO Carmona]; Libertarian Movement Party or PML [Otto GUEVARA Guth]; National Christian Alliance Party or ANC [Victor GONZALEZ]; National Integration Party or PIN [Walter MUNOZ Cespedes]; National Liberation Party or PLN [Francisco Antonio PACHECO]; National Patriotic Party or PPN [Daniel Enrique REYNOLDS Vargas]; National Rescue Party or PRN [Carlos VARGAS Solano]; Patriotic Union [Humberto ARCE]; Popular Vanguard [Trino BARRANTES Araya]; Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC [Lorena VASQUEZ Badilla]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Authentic Confederation of Democratic Workers or CATD (Communist Party affiliate); Chamber of Coffee Growers; Confederated Union of Workers or CUT (Communist Party affiliate); Costa Rican Confederation of Democratic Workers or CCTD (Liberation Party affiliate); Federation of Public Service Workers or FTSP; National Association for Economic Development or ANFE; National Association of Educators or ANDE; Rerum Novarum or CTRN (PLN affiliate) [Gilbert Brown]

International organization participation:

BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Tomas DUENAS
chancery: 2114 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-2945
FAX: [1] (202) 265-4795
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), and Tampa
consulate(s): Austin

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Douglas M. BARNES
embassy: Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose
mailing address: APO AA 34020
telephone: [506] 220-3939
FAX: [506] 519-2305

Flag description:

five horizontal bands of blue (top), white, red (double width), white, and blue, with the coat of arms in a white elliptical disk on the hoist side of the red band; above the coat of arms a light blue ribbon contains the words, AMERICA CENTRAL, and just below it near the top of the coat of arms is a white ribbon with the words, REPUBLICA COSTA RICA

Economy

Costa Rica

Economy - overview:

Costa Rica's basically stable economy depends on tourism, agriculture, and electronics exports. Poverty has been substantially reduced over the past 15 years, and a strong social safety net has been put into place. Foreign investors remain attracted by the country's political stability and high education levels, and tourism continues to bring in foreign exchange. Low prices for coffee and bananas have hurt the agricultural sector. The government continues to grapple with its large deficit and massive internal debt. The reduction of inflation remains a difficult problem because of rises in the price of imports, labor market rigidities, and fiscal deficits. The country also needs to reform its tax system and its pattern of public expenditure. Costa Rica recently concluded negotiations to participate in the US-Central American Free Trade Agreement, which, if ratified by the Costa Rican Legislature, would result in economic reforms and an improved investment climate.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$37.97 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $9,600 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 8.5%
industry: 29.7%
services: 61.8% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

1.81 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 20%, industry 22%, services 58% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:

6.6% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

18% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.1%
highest 10%: 36.8% (2002)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

45.9 (1997)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

11.5% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $2.497 billion
expenditures: $3.094 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

58% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, pineapples, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans, potatoes; beef; timber

Industries:

microprocessors, food processing, textiles and clothing, construction materials, fertilizer, plastic products

Industrial production growth rate:

3.1% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

6.614 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 1.5%
hydro: 81.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 16.6% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

5.733 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

477 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

59 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

37,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-980.3 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$6.184 billion (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

coffee, bananas, sugar; pineapples; textiles, electronic components, medical equipment

Exports - partners:

US 46.9%, Netherlands 5.3%, Guatemala 4.4% (2004)

Imports:

$7.842 billion (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum

Imports - partners:

US 46.1%, Japan 5.9%, Mexico 5.1%, Brazil 4.2% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.736 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$5.962 billion (2004 est.)

Currency (code):

Costa Rican colon (CRC)

Currency code:

CRC

Exchange rates:

Costa Rican colones per US dollar - 437.91 (2004), 398.66 (2003), 359.82 (2002), 328.87 (2001), 308.19 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Costa Rica

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.132 million (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

528,047 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: good domestic telephone service in terms of breadth of coverage; restricted cellular telephone service
domestic: point-to-point and point-to-multi-point microwave, fiber-optic, and coaxial cable link rural areas; Internet service is available
international: country code - 506; connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); two submarine cables (1999)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 65, FM 51, shortwave 19 (2002)

Radios:

980,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

20 (plus 43 repeaters) (2002)

Televisions:

525,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.cr

Internet hosts:

10,826 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (of which only one is legal) (2000)

Internet users:

800,000 (2002)

Transportation

Costa Rica

Railways:

total: 278 km
narrow gauge: 278 km 1.067-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 35,303 km
paved: 4,236 km
unpaved: 31,067 km (2002)

Waterways:

730 km (seasonally navigable by small craft) (2004)

Pipelines:

refined products 242 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Caldera, Puerto Limon

Merchant marine:

total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,716 GRT/ DWT
by type: passenger/cargo 2 (2005)

Airports:

149 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 30
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 8 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 119
914 to 1,523 m: 24
under 914 m: 95 (2004 est.)

Military

Costa Rica

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security, Government, and Police

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 997,690 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 829,874 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 41,097 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$64.2 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.4% (2003)

Transnational Issues

Costa Rica

Disputes - international:

legal dispute over navigational rights of Rio San Juan on the border with Nicaragua remains unresolved

Illicit drugs:

transshipment country for cocaine and heroin from South America; illicit production of cannabis on small, scattered plots; domestic cocaine consumption, particularly crack cocaine, is rising

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Central African Republic

Introduction

Central African Republic

Background:

The former French colony of Ubangi-Shari became the Central African Republic upon independence in 1960. After three tumultuous decades of misrule - mostly by military governments - civilian rule was established in 1993 and lasted for one decade. President Ange-Felix PATASSE's civilian government was plagued by unrest, and in March 2003 he was deposed in a military coup led by General Francois BOZIZE, who has since established a transitional government. Though the government has the tacit support of civil society groups and the main parties, a wide field of affiliated and independent candidates will contest the municipal, legislative, and presidential elections scheduled for February 2005. The government still does not fully control the countryside, where pockets of lawlessness persist.

Geography

Central African Republic

Location:

Central Africa, north of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Geographic coordinates:

7 00 N, 21 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 622,984 sq km
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, wet summers

Terrain:

vast, flat to rolling, monotonous plateau; scattered hills in northeast and southwest

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m
highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m

Natural resources:

diamonds, uranium, timber, gold, oil, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 3.1%
permanent crops: 0.14%
other: 96.76% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect northern areas; floods are common

Environment - current issues:

tap water is not potable; poaching has diminished the country's reputation as one of the last great wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa

People

Central African Republic

Population:

3,799,897
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 42.5% (male 813,596/female 802,728)
15-64 years: 54% (male 1,010,696/female 1,041,903)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 54,345/female 76,629) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.12 years
male: 17.75 years
female: 18.5 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.49% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

35.17 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

20.27 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 91 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 97.84 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 83.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 43.39 years
male: 43.27 years
female: 43.52 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.5 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

13.5% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

260,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

23,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Central African(s)
adjective: Central African

Ethnic groups:

Baya 33%, Banda 27%, Mandjia 13%, Sara 10%, Mboum 7%, M'Baka 4%, Yakoma 4%, other 2%

Religions:

indigenous beliefs 35%, Protestant 25%, Roman Catholic 25%, Muslim 15%
note: animistic beliefs and practices strongly influence the Christian majority

Languages:

French (official), Sangho (lingua franca and national language), tribal languages

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51%
male: 63.3%
female: 39.9% (2003 est.)

Government

Central African Republic

Country name:

conventional long form: Central African Republic
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republique Centrafricaine
local short form: none
former: Ubangi-Shari, Central African Empire
abbreviation: CAR

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Bangui

Administrative divisions:

14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture), 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures economiques, singular - prefecture economique), and 1 commune**; Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**, Basse-Kotto, Haute-Kotto, Haut-Mbomou, Kemo, Lobaye, Mambere-Kadei, Mbomou, Nana-Grebizi*, Nana-Mambere, Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha-Mbaere*, Vakaga

Independence:

13 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday:

Republic Day, 1 December (1958)

Constitution:

passed by referendum 5 December 2004

Legal system:

based on French law

Suffrage:

21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Francois BOZIZE (since 15 March 2003 coup)
head of government: Prime Minister Elie DOTE (since 13 June 2005) note - Celestin GAOMBALET resigned 11 June 2005
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected to five year term with a two-term limit; next presidential elections scheduled for 10 April 2005; prime minister appointed by the political party with a parliamentary majority

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (109 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms
elections: last held 22-23 November and 13 December 1998 (next to be held 13 March 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - MLPC 43%, RDC 18%, MDD 9%, FPP 6%, PSD 5%, ADP 4%, PUN 3%, FODEM 2%, PLD 2%, UPR 1%, FC 1%, independents 6%; seats by party - MLPC 47, RDC 20, MDD 8, FPP 7, PSD 6, ADP 5, PUN 3, FODEM 2, PLD 2, UPR 1, FC 1, independents 7

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Constitutional Court (3 judges appointed by the president, 3 by the president of the National Assembly, and 3 by fellow judges); Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Inferior Courts

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP [Jacques MBOLIEDAS]; Central African Democratic Assembly or RDC [Andre KOLINGBA]; Civic Forum or FC [Gen. Timothee MALENDOMA]; Democratic Forum for Modernity or FODEM [Charles MASSI]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Nestor KOMBO-NAGUEMON]; Movement for Democracy and Development or MDD [David DACKO]; Movement for the Liberation of the Central African People or MLPC [the party of deposed president, Ange-Felix PATASSE]; Patriotic Front for Progress or FPP [Abel GOUMBA]; People's Union for the Republic or UPR [Pierre Sammy MAKFOY]; National Unity Party or PUN [Jean-Paul NGOUPANDE]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Enoch LAKOUE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC (observer), OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Emmanuel TOUABOY
chancery: 1618 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-7800
FAX: [1] (202) 332-9893

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires James PANOS
embassy: Avenue David Dacko, Bangui
mailing address: B. P. 924, Bangui
telephone: [236] 61 02 00
FAX: [236] 61 44 94
note: the embassy is currently operating with a minimal staff

Flag description:

four equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, green, and yellow with a vertical red band in center; there is a yellow five-pointed star on the hoist side of the blue band

Economy

Central African Republic

Economy - overview:

Subsistence agriculture, together with forestry, remains the backbone of the economy of the Central African Republic (CAR), with more than 70% of the population living in outlying areas. The agricultural sector generates half of GDP. Timber has accounted for about 16% of export earnings and the diamond industry, for 54%. Important constraints to economic development include the CAR's landlocked position, a poor transportation system, a largely unskilled work force, and a legacy of misdirected macroeconomic policies. Factional fighting between the government and its opponents remains a drag on economic revitalization, with GDP growth at only 0.5% in 2004. Distribution of income is extraordinarily unequal. Grants from France and the international community can only partially meet humanitarian needs.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$4.248 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

0.5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 55%
industry: 20%
services: 25% (2001 est.)

Labor force:

NA

Unemployment rate:

8% (23% for Bangui) (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA (1993)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 47.7% (1993)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

61.3 (1993)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.6% (2001 est.)

Budget:

revenues: NA
expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA

Agriculture - products:

cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca), yams, millet, corn, bananas; timber

Industries:

gold and diamond mining, logging, brewing, textiles, footwear, assembly of bicycles and motorcycles

Industrial production growth rate:

3% (2002)

Electricity - production:

106 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 19.8%
hydro: 80.2%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

98.58 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

2,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$172 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:

diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco

Exports - partners:

Belgium 39.2%, Italy 8.6%, Spain 7.9%, US 6.2%, France 6.1%, Indonesia 5.8%, China 4.9% (2004)

Imports:

$136 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners:

France 17.6%, US 16.3%, Cameroon 9.3%, Belgium 5% (2004)

Debt - external:

$881.4 million (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA $73 million; note - traditional budget subsidies from France (2000 est.)

Currency (code):

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States

Currency code:

XAF

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Central African Republic

Telephones - main lines in use:

9,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

13,000 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: fair system
domestic: network consists principally of microwave radio relay and low-capacity, low-powered radiotelephone communication
international: country code - 236; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2002)

Radios:

283,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2001)

Televisions:

18,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.cf

Internet hosts:

6 (2002)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:

5,000 (2002)

Transportation

Central African Republic

Highways:

total: 23,810 km
paved: 643 km
unpaved: 23,167 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

2,800 km (primarily on the Oubangui and Sangha rivers) (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Bangui, Nola, Salo, Nzinga

Airports:

50 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 47
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 13 (2004 est.)

Military

Central African Republic

Military branches:

Central African Armed Forces (FACA): Ground Forces, Air Force; General Directorate of Gendarmerie Inspection (DGIG), Republican Guard (2004)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service; conscript service obligation is two years (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 758,103 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 330,255 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$15.5 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Central African Republic

Disputes - international:

about 30,000 refugees fleeing the 2002 civil conflict in the CAR still reside in southern Chad; periodic skirmishes over water and grazing rights among related pastoral populations along the border with southern Sudan persist

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 36,479 (Sudan) 1,864 (Chad) 6,484 (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
IDPs: 200,000 (unrest following coup in 2003) (2004)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Cuba

Introduction

Cuba

Background:

The native Amerindian population of Cuba began to decline after the European discovery of the island by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1492 and following its development as a Spanish colony during the next several centuries. Large numbers of African slaves were imported to work the coffee and sugar plantations and Havana became the launching point for the annual treasure fleets bound for Spain from Mexico and Peru. Spanish rule was severe and exploitative and occasional rebellions were harshly suppressed. It was US intervention during the Spanish-American War in 1898 that finally overthrew Spanish rule. The subsequent Treaty of Paris established Cuban independence, which was granted in 1902 after a three-year transition period. Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959; his iron rule has held the regime together since then. Cuba's Communist revolution, with Soviet support, was exported throughout Latin America and Africa during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. The country is now slowly recovering from a severe economic recession in 1990, following the withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies, worth $4 billion to $6 billion annually. Cuba portrays its difficulties as the result of the US embargo in place since 1961. Illicit migration to the US - using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, air flights, or via the southwest border - is a continuing problem. The US Coast Guard intercepted 1,498 individuals attempting to cross the Straits of Florida in 2004.

Geography

Cuba

Location:

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, 150 km south of Key West, Florida

Geographic coordinates:

21 30 N, 80 00 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 110,860 sq km
land: 110,860 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries:

total: 29 km
border countries: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay 29 km
note: Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remains part of Cuba

Coastline:

3,735 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; moderated by trade winds; dry season (November to April); rainy season (May to October)

Terrain:

mostly flat to rolling plains, with rugged hills and mountains in the southeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Pico Turquino 2,005 m

Natural resources:

cobalt, nickel, iron ore, chromium, copper, salt, timber, silica, petroleum, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 33.05%
permanent crops: 7.6%
other: 59.35% (2001)

Irrigated land:

870 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to November (in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other year); droughts are common

Environment - current issues:

air and water pollution; biodiversity loss; deforestation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

largest country in Caribbean and westernmost island of the Greater Antilles

People

Cuba

Population:

11,346,670 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 19.6% (male 1,139,644/female 1,079,412)
15-64 years: 70.1% (male 3,977,110/female 3,975,818)
65 years and over: 10.4% (male 540,720/female 633,966) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 35.36 years
male: 34.73 years
female: 35.98 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.33% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

12.03 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

7.19 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

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: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 6.33 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.11 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.23 years
male: 74.94 years
female: 79.65 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.66 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

3,300 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Cuban(s)
adjective: Cuban

Ethnic groups:

mulatto 51%, white 37%, black 11%, Chinese 1%

Religions:

nominally 85% Roman Catholic prior to CASTRO assuming power; Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, Jews, and Santeria are also represented

Languages:

Spanish

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97.2%
female: 96.9% (2003 est.)

People - note:

illicit migration is a continuing problem; Cubans attempt to depart the island and enter the US using homemade rafts, alien smugglers, direct flights, or falsified visas; Cubans also use non-maritime routes to enter the US including direct flights to Miami and overland via the southwest border

Government

Cuba

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Cuba
conventional short form: Cuba
local long form: Republica de Cuba
local short form: Cuba

Government type:

Communist state

Capital:

Havana

Administrative divisions:

14 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 special municipality* (municipio especial); Camaguey, Ciego de Avila, Cienfuegos, Ciudad de La Habana, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla de la Juventud*, La Habana, Las Tunas, Matanzas, Pinar del Rio, Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara

Independence:

20 May 1902 (from Spain 10 December 1898; administered by the US from 1898 to 1902)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 10 December (1898); note - 10 December 1898 is the date of independence from Spain, 20 May 1902 is the date of independence from US administration; Rebellion Day, 26 July (1953)

Constitution:

24 February 1976; amended July 1992 and June 2002

Legal system:

based on Spanish and American law, with large elements of Communist legal theory; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

16 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished; president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished; president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president of the Council of State and appointed by the National Assembly or the 31-member Council of State, elected by the Assembly to act on its behalf when it is not in session
elections: president and vice presidents elected by the National Assembly for a term of five years; election last held 6 March 2003 (next to be held in 2008)
election results: Fidel CASTRO Ruz reelected president; percent of legislative vote - 100%; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president; percent of legislative vote - 100%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly of People's Power or Asemblea Nacional del Poder Popular (609 seats, elected directly from slates approved by special candidacy commissions; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 19 January 2003 (next to be held in NA 2008)
election results: percent of vote - PCC 97.6%; seats - PCC 609

Judicial branch:

People's Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo Popular (president, vice president, and other judges are elected by the National Assembly)

Political parties and leaders:

only party - Cuban Communist Party or PCC [Fidel CASTRO Ruz, first secretary]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS (excluded from formal participation since 1962), OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none; note - Cuba has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer Dagoberto RODRIGUEZ Barrera; address: Cuban Interests Section, Swiss Embassy, 2630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009; telephone: [1] (202) 797-8518

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none; note - the US has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy, headed by Principal Officer James C. CASON; address: USINT, Swiss Embassy, Calzada between L and M Streets, Vedado, Havana; telephone: [53] (7) 833-3551 through 3559 (operator assistance required); FAX: [53] (7) 833-3700; protecting power in Cuba is Switzerland

Flag description:

five equal horizontal bands of blue (top and bottom) alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the hoist side bears a white, five-pointed star in the center; design influenced by the US flag

Economy

Cuba

Economy - overview:

The government continues to balance the need for economic loosening against a desire for firm political control. It has undertaken limited reforms to increase enterprise efficiency and alleviate serious shortages of food, consumer goods, and services. A major feature of the economy is the dichotomy between relatively efficient export enclaves and inefficient domestic sectors. The average Cuban's standard of living remains at a lower level than before the depression of the 1990s, which was caused by the loss of Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. The government in 2004 strengthened its controls over dollars coming into the economy from tourism, remittances, and trade.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$33.92 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $3,000 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 6.6%
industry: 25.5%
services: 67.9% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

4.55 million
note: state sector 78%, non-state sector 22% (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 24%, industry 25%, services 51% (1999)

Unemployment rate:

2.5% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.1% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

11.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $18.01 billion
expenditures: $19.06 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

sugar, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes, beans; livestock

Industries:

sugar, petroleum, tobacco, construction, nickel, steel, cement, agricultural machinery, pharmaceuticals

Industrial production growth rate:

1.4% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

14.41 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 93.9%
hydro: 0.6%
nuclear: 0%
other: 5.4% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

13.4 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

77,900 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

163,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

532 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

600 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

600 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

42.62 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$-185.1 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$2.104 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus, coffee

Exports - partners:

Netherlands 22.7%, Canada 20.6%, China 7.7%, Russia 7.5%, Spain 6.4%, Venezuela 4.4% (2004)

Imports:

$5.296 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum, food, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports - partners:

Spain 14.7%, Venezuela 13.5%, US 11%, China 8.9%, Canada 6.4%, Italy 6.2%, Mexico 4.9% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$738.6 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$12.09 billion (convertible currency); another $15-20 billion owed to Russia (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$68.2 million (1997 est.)

Currency (code):

Cuban peso (CUP) and Convertible peso (CUC)

Currency code:

CUP (nonconvertible Cuban peso) and CUC (convertible Cuban peso)

Exchange rates:

Convertible pesos per US dollar - 0.93
note: Cuba has three currencies in circulation: the Cuban peso (CUP), the convertible peso (CUC), and the US dollar (USD), although the dollar is being withdrawn from circulation; in April 2005 the official exchange rate changed from $1 per CUC to $1.08 per CUC (0.93 CUC per $1), both for individuals and enterprises; individuals can buy 24 Cuban pesos (CUP) for each CUC sold, or sell 25 Cuban pesos for each CUC bought; enterprises, however, must exchange CUP and CUC at a 1:1 ratio.

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Cuba

Telephones - main lines in use:

574,400 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

17,900 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: greater investment beginning in 1994 and the establishment of a new Ministry of Information Technology and Communications in 2000 has resulted in improvements in the system; wireless service is expensive and remains restricted to foreigners and regime elites, many Cubans procure wireless service illegally with the help of foreigners
domestic: national fiber-optic system under development; 85% of switches digitized by end of 2004; telephone line density remains low, at 10 per 100 inhabitants; domestic cellular service expanding
international: country code - 53; fiber-optic cable laid to but not linked to US network; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 169, FM 55, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

3.9 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

58 (1997)

Televisions:

2.64 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.cu

Internet hosts:

1,529 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2001)

Internet users:

120,000
note: private citizens are prohibited from buying computers or accessing the Internet without special authorization; foreigners may access the Internet in large hotels, but are subject to firewalls; some Cubans buy illegal passwords on the black market, or take advantage of public outlets to access limited email and the government-controlled "intranet" (2004)

Transportation

Cuba

Railways:

total: 4,226 km
standard gauge: 4,226 km 1.435-m gauge (140 km electrified)
note: an additional 7,742 km of track is used by sugar plantations; about 65% of this track is standard gauge; the rest is narrow gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 60,858 km
paved: 29,820 km (including 638 km of expressway)
unpaved: 31,038 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

240 km (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 49 km; oil 230 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Cienfuegos, Havana, Matanzas

Merchant marine:

total: 15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 54,818 GRT/81,850 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 4, chemical tanker 1, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Spain 1)
registered in other countries: 20 (2005)

Airports:

170 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 79
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 37 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 91
914 to 1,523 m: 29
under 914 m: 62 (2004 est.)

Military

Cuba

Military branches:

Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR): Revolutionary Army (ER), Revolutionary Navy (MGR), Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR), Territorial Militia Troops (MTT), Youth Labor Army (EJT)

Military service age and obligation:

17 years of age; both sexes are eligible for military service (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 17-49: 2,967,865
females age 17-49: 2,913,559 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 17-49: 2,441,927
females age 17-49: 2,396,741 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 91,901
females: 87,500 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$572.3 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.8% (2003)

Military - note:

Moscow, for decades the key military supporter and supplier of Cuba, cut off almost all military aid by 1993

Transnational Issues

Cuba

Disputes - international:

US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to US and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease

Illicit drugs:

territorial waters and air space serve as transshipment zone primarily for marijuana bound for North America; established the death penalty for certain drug-related crimes in 1999

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Cape Verde

Introduction

Cape Verde

Background:

The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; Cape Verde subsequently became a trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. Following independence in 1975, and a tentative interest in unification with Guinea-Bissau, a one-party system was established and maintained until multi-party elections were held in 1990. Cape Verde continues to exhibit one of Africa's most stable democratic governments. Repeated droughts during the second half of the 20th century caused significant hardship and prompted heavy emigration. As a result, Cape Verde's expatriate population is greater than its domestic one. Most Cape Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents.

Geography

Cape Verde

Location:

Western Africa, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal

Geographic coordinates:

16 00 N, 24 00 W

Map references:

Political Map of the World

Area:

total: 4,033 sq km
land: 4,033 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Rhode Island

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

965 km

Maritime claims:

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

temperate; warm, dry summer; precipitation meager and very erratic

Terrain:

steep, rugged, rocky, volcanic

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island)

Natural resources:

salt, basalt rock, limestone, kaolin, fish, clay, gypsum

Land use:

arable land: 9.68%
permanent crops: 0.5%
other: 89.82% (2001)

Irrigated land:

30 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active

Environment - current issues:

soil erosion; deforestation due to demand for wood used as fuel; desertification; environmental damage has threatened several species of birds and reptiles; illegal beach sand extraction; overfishing

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location 500 km from west coast of Africa near major north-south sea routes; important communications station; important sea and air refueling site

People

Cape Verde

Population:

418,224 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 39% (male 82,249/female 80,752)
15-64 years: 54.3% (male 110,119/female 116,816)
65 years and over: 6.8% (male 10,599/female 17,689) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 19.4 years
male: 18.62 years
female: 20.25 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.67% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

25.33 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.62 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-11.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 47.77 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 52.95 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 42.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.45 years
male: 67.13 years
female: 73.86 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.48 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.035% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

775 (2001)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

225 (as of 2001)

Nationality:

noun: Cape Verdean(s)
adjective: Cape Verdean

Ethnic groups:

Creole (mulatto) 71%, African 28%, European 1%

Religions:

Roman Catholic (infused with indigenous beliefs); Protestant (mostly Church of the Nazarene)

Languages:

Portuguese, Crioulo (a blend of Portuguese and West African words)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.6%
male: 85.8%
female: 69.2% (2003 est.)

Government

Cape Verde

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Cape Verde
conventional short form: Cape Verde
local long form: Republica de Cabo Verde
local short form: Cabo Verde

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Praia

Administrative divisions:

17 municipalities (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Filipe, Sao Miguel, Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal

Independence:

5 July 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 5 July (1975)

Constitution:

new constitution came into force 25 September 1992; underwent a major revision on 23 November 1995, substantially increasing the powers of the president, and a further revision in 1999, to create the position of national ombudsman (Provedor de Justica)

Legal system:

derived from the legal system of Portugal

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Pedro PIRES (since 22 March 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (since 1 February 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 11 and 25 February 2001 (next to be held February 2006); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president
election results: Pedro PIRES elected president; percent of vote - Pedro PIRES (PAICV) 49.43%, Carlos VIEGA (MPD) 49.42%; note - the election was won by only twelve votes

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 14 January 2001 (next to be held December 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAICV 47.3%, MPD 39.8%, ADM 6%, other 6.9%; seats by party - PAICV 40, MPD 30, ADM 2

Judicial branch:

Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Supremo Tribunal de Justia

Political parties and leaders:

African Party for Independence of Cape Verde or PAICV [Jose Maria Pereira NEVES, chairman]; Democratic Alliance for Change or ADM [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO] (a coalition of PCD, PTS, and UCID); Democratic Christian Party or PDC [Manuel RODRIGUES, chairman]; Democratic Renovation Party or PRD [Jacinto SANTOS, president]; Movement for Democracy or MPD [Agostinho LOPES, president]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Dr. Eurico MONTEIRO, president]; Party of Work and Solidarity or PTS [Isaias RODRIGUES, president]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Joao ALEM, president]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jose BRITO
chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 965-6820
FAX: [1] (202) 965-1207
consulate(s) general: Boston

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Donald C. JOHNSON
embassy: Rua Abilio m. Macedo 81, Praia
mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia
telephone: [238] 261 56 16, 261 56 17
FAX: [238] 261 13 55

Flag description:

three horizontal bands of light blue (top, double width), white (with a horizontal red stripe in the middle third), and light blue; a circle of 10 yellow five-pointed stars is centered on the hoist end of the red stripe and extends into the upper and lower blue bands

Economy

Cape Verde

Economy - overview:

This island economy suffers from a poor natural resource base, including serious water shortages exacerbated by cycles of long-term drought. The economy is service-oriented, with commerce, transport, tourism, and public services accounting for 72% of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of agriculture in GDP in 2004 was only 12%, of which fishing accounted for 1.5%. About 82% of food must be imported. The fishing potential, mostly lobster and tuna, is not fully exploited. Cape Verde annually runs a high trade deficit, financed by foreign aid and remittances from emigrants; remittances supplement GDP by more than 20%. Economic reforms are aimed at developing the private sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy. Future prospects depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, the encouragement of tourism, remittances, and the momentum of the government's development program.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$600 million (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,400 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 12.1%
industry: 21.9%
services: 66% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

NA

Unemployment rate:

21% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:

30% (2000)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.5% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $260.6 million
expenditures: $305.3 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee, peanuts; fish

Industries:

food and beverages, fish processing, shoes and garments, salt mining, ship repair

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

43.08 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

40.06 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

2,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-93.76 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$61.11 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides

Exports - partners:

Portugal 59.4%, US 17.2%, UK 11.4% (2004)

Imports:

$387.3 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels

Imports - partners:

Portugal 41.8%, US 12.3%, Netherlands 8.4%, Spain 5.2%, Italy 4.2%, Brazil 4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$112.7 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$325 million (2002)

Economic aid - recipient:

$136 million (1999)

Currency (code):

Cape Verdean escudo (CVE)

Currency code:

CVE

Exchange rates:

Cape Verdean escudos (CVE) per US dollar - 88.808 (2004), 97.703 (2003), 117.168 (2002), 123.228 (2001), 119.687 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Cape Verde

Telephones - main lines in use:

71,700 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

53,300 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: effective system, extensive modernization from 1996-2000 following partial privatization in 1995
domestic: major service provider is Cabo Verde Telecom (CVT); fiber optic ring, completed in 2001, links all islands providing Internet access and ISDN services; cellular service introduced in 1998
international: country code - 238; 2 coaxial submarine cables; HF radiotelephone to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 22 (and 12 low power repeaters), shortwave 0 (2002)

Radios:

100,000 (2002 est.)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (and 7 repeaters) (2002)

Televisions:

15,000 (2002 est.)

Internet country code:

.cv

Internet hosts:

118 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:

20,400 (2003)

Transportation

Cape Verde

Highways:

total: 1,350 km
paved: 932 km
unpaved: 418 km (2000)

Ports and harbors:

Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal

Merchant marine:

total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,395 GRT/6,614 DWT
by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 2
foreign-owned: 1 (United Kingdom 1) (2005)

Airports:

7
note: 3 airports are reported to be nonoperational (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 5 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Cape Verde

Military branches:

People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP): Army, Coast Guard (includes maritime air wing)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 84,641 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 65,614 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$14.1 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.5% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Cape Verde

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

used as a transshipment point for illicit drugs moving from Latin America and Asia destined for Western Europe; the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Cook Islands

Introduction

Cook Islands

Background:

Named after Captain COOK, who sighted them in 1770, the islands became a British protectorate in 1888. By 1900, administrative control was transferred to New Zealand; in 1965 residents chose self-government in free association with New Zealand. The emigration of skilled workers to New Zealand and government deficits are continuing problems.

Geography

Cook Islands

Location:

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Geographic coordinates:

21 14 S, 159 46 W

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 240 sq km
land: 240 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

1.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

120 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical; moderated by trade winds

Terrain:

low coral atolls in north; volcanic, hilly islands in south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Te Manga 652 m

Natural resources:

NEGL

Land use:

arable land: 17.39%
permanent crops: 13.04%
other: 69.57% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA

Natural hazards:

typhoons (November to March)

Environment - current issues:

NA

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the northern Cook Islands are seven low-lying, sparsely populated, coral atolls; the southern Cook Islands consist of eight elevated, fertile, volcanic isles where most of the populace lives

People

Cook Islands

Population:

21,388 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate:

NA

Birth rate:

NA

Death rate:

NA

Sex ratio:

NA

Infant mortality rate:

total: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Total fertility rate:

NA children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Cook Islander(s)
adjective: Cook Islander

Ethnic groups:

Cook Island Maori (Polynesian) 87.7%, part Cook Island Maori 5.8%, other 6.5% (2001 census)

Religions:

Cook Islands Christian Church 55.9%, Roman Catholic 16.8%, Seventh Day Saint 7.9%, Church of Latter Day Saints 3.8%, other Protestant 5.8%, other 4.2%, unspecified 2.6%, none 3% (2001 census)

Languages:

English (official), Maori

Literacy:

definition: NA
total population: 95%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Cook Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Cook Islands
former: Harvey Islands

Dependency status:

self-governing in free association with New Zealand; Cook Islands is fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs and defense, in consultation with the Cook Islands

Government type:

self-governing parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Avarua

Administrative divisions:

none

Independence:

none (became self-governing in free association with New Zealand on 4 August 1965 and has the right at any time to move to full independence by unilateral action)

National holiday:

Constitution Day, first Monday in August (1965)

Constitution:

4 August 1965

Legal system:

based on New Zealand law and English common law

Suffrage:

NA years of age; universal adult

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Frederick GOODWIN (since 9 February 2001); New Zealand High Commissioner Kurt MEYER (since July 2001), representative of New Zealand
head of government: Prime Minister Jim MARURAI (since 14 December 2004); Deputy Prime Minister Terepai MAOATE (since 9 August 2005)
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; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually becomes prime minister

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament (25 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 7 September 2004 (next to be held by 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CIP 10, DAP 9, Demo Tumu 4, independent 1; note - one seat undecided pending by-election
note: the House of Ariki (chiefs) advises on traditional matters and maintains considerable influence, but has no legislative powers

Judicial branch:

High Court

Political parties and leaders:

Cook Islands People's Party or CIP [Geoffrey HENRY]; Democratic Alliance Party or DAP [Terepai MAOATE]; New Alliance Party or NAP [Norman GEORGE]; Cook Islands National Party or CIN [Teariki HEATHER]; Demo Party Tumu [Robert WOONTON]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AsDB, FAO, ICAO, ICFTU, IFAD, IFRCS, IOC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (self-governing in free association with New Zealand)

Flag description:

blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and a large circle of 15 white five-pointed stars (one for every island) centered in the outer half of the flag

Economy

Cook Islands

Economy - overview:

Like many other South Pacific island nations, the Cook Islands' economic development is hindered by the isolation of the country from foreign markets, the limited size of domestic markets, lack of natural resources, periodic devastation from natural disasters, and inadequate infrastructure. Agriculture provides the economic base with major exports made up of copra and citrus fruit. Manufacturing activities are limited to fruit processing, clothing, and handicrafts. Trade deficits are offset by remittances from emigrants and by foreign aid, overwhelmingly from New Zealand. In the 1980s and 1990s, the country lived beyond its means, maintaining a bloated public service and accumulating a large foreign debt. Subsequent reforms, including the sale of state assets, the strengthening of economic management, the encouragement of tourism, and a debt restructuring agreement, have rekindled investment and growth.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$105 million (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.1% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 17%
industry: 7.8%
services: 75.2% (2000 est.)

Labor force:

8,000 (1996)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 29%, industry 15%, services 56%
note: shortage of skilled labor (1995)

Unemployment rate:

13% (1996)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.2% (2000 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $28 million
expenditures: $27 million, including capital expenditures of $3.3 million (FY00/01 est.)

Agriculture - products:

copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws, bananas, yams, taro, coffee; pigs, poultry

Industries:

fruit processing, tourism, fishing, clothing, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate:

1% (2002)

Electricity - production:

27 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

25.11 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

450 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$9.1 million (2000)

Exports - commodities:

copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee; fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing

Exports - partners:

Australia 34%, Japan 27%, New Zealand 25%, US 8% (2000)

Imports:

$50.7 million (2000)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods

Imports - partners:

New Zealand 61%, Fiji 19%, US 9%, Australia 6%, Japan 2% (2000)

Debt - external:

$141 million (1996 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$13.1 million; note - New Zealand continues to furnish the greater part (1995)

Currency (code):

New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Currency code:

NZD

Exchange rates:

New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003), 2.1622 (2002), 2.3788 (2001), 2.2012 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

Cook Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:

6,200 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,500 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: Telecom Cook Islands offers international direct dialing, Internet, email, fax, and Telex
domestic: the individual islands are connected by a combination of satellite earth stations, microwave systems, and VHF and HF radiotelephone; within the islands, service is provided by small exchanges connected to subscribers by open-wire, cable, and fiber-optic cable
international: country code - 682; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

14,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (outer islands receive satellite broadcasts) (2004)

Televisions:

4,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ck

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2000)

Internet users:

3,600 (2002)

Transportation

Cook Islands

Highways:

total: 320 km
paved: 33 km
unpaved: 287 km (2000)

Ports and harbors:

Avatiu

Merchant marine:

total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,074 GRT/7,520 DWT
by type: petroleum tanker 1 (2005)

Airports:

9 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Cook Islands

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Ministry of Police and Disaster Management (2004)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand, in consultation with the Cook Islands and at its request

Transnational Issues

Cook Islands

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Cyprus

Introduction

Cyprus

Background:

A former British colony, Cyprus received independence in 1960 following years of resistance to British rule. Tensions between the Greek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority came to a head in December 1963, when violence broke out in the capital of Nicosia. Despite the deployment of UN peacekeepers in 1964, sporadic intercommunal violence continued forcing most Turkish Cypriots into enclaves throughout the island. In 1974, a Greek-sponsored attempt to seize the government was met by military intervention from Turkey, which soon controlled more than a third of the island. In 1983, the Turkish-held area declared itself the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," but it is recognized only by Turkey. The latest two-year round of UN-brokered direct talks - between the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to reach an agreement to reunite the divided island - ended when the Greek Cypriots rejected the UN settlement plan in an April 2004 referendum. Although only the internationally recognized Greek Cypriot-controlled Republic of Cyprus joined the EU on 1 May 2004, every Cypriot carrying a Cyprus passport will have the status of a European citizen. EU laws, however, will not apply to north Cyprus. Nicosia continues to oppose EU efforts to establish direct trade and economic links to north Cyprus as a way of encouraging the Turkish Cypriot community to continue to support reunification.

Geography

Cyprus

Location:

Middle East, island in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey

Geographic coordinates:

35 00 N, 33 00 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 9,250 sq km (of which 3,355 sq km are in north Cyprus)
land: 9,240 sq km
water: 10 sq km

Area - comparative:

about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut

Land boundaries:

total: NA; note - boundary with Dhekelia is being resurveyed
border countries: Akrotiri 47.4 km, Dhekelia NA

Coastline:

648 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters

Terrain:

central plain with mountains to north and south; scattered but significant plains along southern coast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Olympus 1,951 m

Natural resources:

copper, pyrites, asbestos, gypsum, timber, salt, marble, clay earth pigment

Land use:

arable land: 7.79%
permanent crops: 4.44%
other: 87.77% (2001)

Irrigated land:

382 sq km (2001 est.)

Natural hazards:

moderate earthquake activity; droughts

Environment - current issues:

water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments, seasonal disparity in rainfall, sea water intrusion to island's largest aquifer, increased salination in the north); water pollution from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of wildlife habitats from urbanization

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea (after Sicily and Sardinia)

People

Cyprus

Population:

780,133 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 20.9% (male 83,256/female 79,701)
15-64 years: 67.7% (male 267,446/female 260,846)
65 years and over: 11.4% (male 38,766/female 50,118) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 34.68 years
male: 33.64 years
female: 35.7 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.54% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

12.57 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

7.64 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 7.18 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.94 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.65 years
male: 75.29 years
female: 80.13 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.83 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

less than 1,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Cypriot(s)
adjective: Cypriot

Ethnic groups:

Greek 77%, Turkish 18%, other 5% (2001)

Religions:

Greek Orthodox 78%, Muslim 18%, Maronite, Armenian Apostolic, and other 4%

Languages:

Greek, Turkish, English

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.6%
male: 98.9%
female: 96.3% (2003 est.)

Government

Cyprus

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Cyprus
conventional short form: Cyprus
note: the Turkish Cypriot community (north Cyprus) refers to itself as the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC)

Government type:

republic
note: a separation of the two ethnic communities inhabiting the island began following the outbreak of communal strife in 1963; this separation was further solidified after the Turkish intervention in July 1974 that followed a Greek junta-supported coup attempt gave the Turkish Cypriots de facto control in the north; Greek Cypriots control the only internationally recognized government; on 15 November 1983 Turkish Cypriot "President" Rauf DENKTASH declared independence and the formation of a "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" (TRNC), recognized only by Turkey

Capital:

Nicosia

Administrative divisions:

6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia, Paphos; note - Turkish Cypriot area's administrative divisions include Kyrenia, all but a small part of Famagusta, and small parts of Lefkosia (Nicosia) and Larnaca

Independence:

16 August 1960 (from UK); note - Turkish Cypriots proclaimed self-rule on 13 February 1975 and independence in 1983, but these proclamations are only recognized by Turkey

National holiday:

Independence Day, 1 October (1960); note - Turkish Cypriots celebrate 15 November (1983) as Independence Day

Constitution:

16 August 1960; from December 1963, the Turkish Cypriots no longer participated in the government; negotiations to create the basis for a new or revised constitution to govern the island and for better relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held intermittently since the mid-1960s; in 1975, following the 1974 Turkish intervention, Turkish Cypriots created their own constitution and governing bodies within the "Turkish Federated State of Cyprus," which became the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" when the Turkish Cypriots declared their independence in 1983; a new constitution for the "TRNC" passed by referendum on 5 May 1985

Legal system:

based on common law, with civil law modifications

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since 1 March 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the 1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot
head of government: President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since 1 March 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the 1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed jointly by the president and vice president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 16 February 2003 (next to be held February 2008)
election results: Tassos PAPADOPOULOS elected president; percent of vote - Tassos PAPADOPOULOS 51.5%, Glafkos KLIRIDIS 38.8%, Alekos MARKIDIS 6.6%
note: Mehmet Ali TALAT becomes "president" of north Cyprus, 24 April 2005, after "presidential" elections on 17 April 2005; results - Mehmet Ali TALAT 55.6%, Dervis EROGLU 22.7%; Ferdi Sabit SOYER is "prime minister"; there is a Council of Ministers (cabinet) in north Cyprus, appointed by the "prime minister"

Legislative branch:

unicameral - Republic of Cyprus: House of Representatives or Vouli Antiprosopon (80 seats; 56 assigned to the Greek Cypriots, 24 to Turkish Cypriots; note - only those assigned to Greek Cypriots are filled; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); north Cyprus: Assembly of the Republic or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Republic of Cyprus: last held 27 May 2001 (next to be held May 2006); north Cyprus: last held 14 December 2003 (next to be held NA 2008)
election results: Republic of Cyprus: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - AKEL 34.71%, DISY 34%, DIKO 14.84%, KISOS 6.51%, others 9.94%; seats by party - AKEL (Communist) 20, DISY 19, DIKO 9, KISOS 4, others 4; north Cyprus: Assembly of the Republic - percent of vote by party - CTP 35.8%, UBP 32.3%, Peace and Democratic Movement 13.4%, DP 12.3%; seats by party - CTP 19, UBP 18, Peace and Democratic Movement 6, DP 7

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are appointed jointly by the president and vice president)
note: there is also a Supreme Court in north Cyprus

Political parties and leaders:

Republic of Cyprus: Democratic Party or DIKO [Tassos PAPADOPOULOS]; Democratic Rally or DISY [Nikos ANASTASIADHIS]; Fighting Democratic Movement or ADIK [Dinos MIKHAILIDIS]; Green Party of Cyprus [George PERDIKIS]; New Horizons [Nikolaus KOUTSOU]; Restorative Party of the Working People or AKEL (Communist Party) [Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS]; Social Democrats Movement or KISOS (formerly United Democratic Union of Cyprus or EDEK) [Yiannakis OMIROU]; United Democrats Movement or EDE [George VASSILIOU]; north Cyprus: Democratic Party or DP [Serder DENKTASH]; National Birth Party or UDP [Enver EMIN]; National Unity Party or UBP [Dervis EROGLU]; Our Party or BP [Okyay SADIKOGLU]; Patriotic Unity Movement or YBH [Alpay DURDURAN]; Peace and Democratic Movement [Mustafa AKINCI]; Republican Turkish Party or CTP [Mehmet ALI TALAT]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Confederation of Cypriot Workers or SEK (pro-West); Confederation of Revolutionary Labor Unions or Dev-Is; Federation of Turkish Cypriot Labor Unions or Turk-Sen; Pan-Cyprian Labor Federation or PEO (Communist controlled)

International organization participation:

Australia Group, C, CE, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (observer affiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Euripides L. EVRIVIADES
chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-5772
FAX: [1] (202) 483-6710
consulate(s) general: New York
note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot community in the US is Osman ERTUG; office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC; telephone [1] (202) 887-6198

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael KLOSSON
embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, Engomi, 2407 Nicosia
mailing address: P. O. Box 24536, 1385 Nikosia
telephone: [357] (22) 393939
FAX: [357] (22) 780944

Flag description:

white with a copper-colored silhouette of the island (the name Cyprus is derived from the Greek word for copper) above two green crossed olive branches in the center of the flag; the branches symbolize the hope for peace and reconciliation between the Greek and Turkish communities
note: the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" flag has a horizontal red stripe at the top and bottom between which is a red crescent and red star on a white field

Economy

Cyprus

Economy - overview:

The Greek Cypriot economy is prosperous but highly susceptible to external shocks. The service sector, mainly tourism and financial services, dominates the economy; erratic growth rates over the past decade reflect the economy's reliance on tourism, which often fluctuates with political instability in the region and economic conditions in Western Europe. Economic policy is focused on meeting the criteria to join the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM2) within the next two years although sluggish tourism and poor fiscal management have resulted in growing budget deficits since 2001. As in the Turkish sector, water shortages are a perennial problem; a few desalination plants are now on-line. After 10 years of drought, the country received substantial rainfall from 2001-03, alleviating immediate concerns. The Turkish Cypriot economy has roughly one-third of the per capita GDP of the south, and economic growth tends to be volatile, given north Cyprus's relative isolation, bloated public sector, reliance on the Turkish lira, and small market size. The Turkish Cypriot economy grew 2.6% in 2004, fueled by growth in the construction and education sectors as well as increased employment of Turkish Cypriots in the Republic of Cyprus. The Turkish Cypriots are heavily dependent on transfers from the Turkish government. Ankara provides around $300 million a year directly into the "TRNC" budget and regularly provides additional financing for large infrastructure projects. Agriculture and government service, together employ almost half of the work force, and the potential for tourism is promising, especially with the easing of border restrictions with the Greek Cypriots in April 2003.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

Republic of Cyprus: purchasing power parity - $15.71 billion north Cyprus: purchasing power parity - $4.54 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

Republic of Cyprus: 3.2% north Cyprus: 2.6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

Republic of Cyprus: purchasing power parity - $20,300 (2004 est.); north Cyprus: purchasing power parity - $7,135 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

Republic of Cyprus: agriculture 4.1%; industry 19.9%; services 76%
north Cyprus: agriculture 10.6%; industry 20.5%; services 68.9% (2004)

Labor force:

Republic of Cyprus: 330,000, north Cyprus: 95,025 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

Republic of Cyprus: agriculture 4.9%, industry 19.4%, services 75.6%
north Cyprus: agriculture 15.1%, industry 27%, services 57.9% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:

Republic of Cyprus: 3.2%; north Cyprus: 5.6% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

Republic of Cyprus: 2.4% (2003 est.); north Cyprus: 12.6% (2003 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

Republic of Cyprus: 17.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: Republic of Cyprus - $5.616 billion (2004 est.), north Cyprus - $404.3 million (2003 est.)
expenditures: Republic of Cyprus - $685.7 million, including capital expenditures of $685.7 million, north Cyprus - $775.7 million, including capital expenditures of $91.4 million (2004 est.)

Public debt:

Republic of Cyprus: 74.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables, poultry, pork, lamb, kids, dairy, cheese

Industries:

tourism, food and beverage processing; cement and gypsum production; ship repair and refurbishment; textiles; light chemicals; metal products; wood, paper, stone, and clay products

Industrial production growth rate:

Republic of Cyprus: 0.4% (2002); north Cyprus: -0.3% (2002)

Electricity - production:

4 billion kWh; north Cyprus: NA kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

Republic of Cyprus: 3.663 billion kWh (2003); north Cyprus: 602 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

300 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

Republic of Cyprus: 49,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-619.9 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

Republic of Cyprus: $1.094 billion f.o.b. north Cyprus: $49.3 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

Republic of Cyprus: citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, cement, clothing and cigarettes; north Cyprus: citrus, potatoes, textiles

Exports - partners:

UK 27.2%, Greece 11.9%, Germany 5%, UAE 4.8% (2004)

Imports:

Republic of Cyprus: $5.258 billion f.o.b. north Cyprus: $415.2 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

Republic of Cyprus: consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants, intermediate goods, machinery, transport equipment; north Cyprus: vehicles, fuel, cigarettes, food, minerals, chemicals, machinery

Imports - partners:

Greece 15.2%, Italy 10.5%, Germany 8.9%, UK 8.6%, France 6.3%, Japan 4.7%, Israel 4.4%, China 4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

Republic of Cyprus: $3.385 billion
north Cyprus: $941.6 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

Republic of Cyprus: $7.327 billion; north Cyprus: $NA (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

Republic of Cyprus - $17 million (1998); north Cyprus - $700 million from Turkey in grants and loans, which are usually forgiven (2003)

Currency (code):

Greek Cypriot area: Cypriot pound (CYP); Turkish Cypriot area: Turkish lira (TRL)

Currency code:

CYP; TRL

Exchange rates:

Cypriot pounds per US dollar - 0.4686 (2004), 0.5174 (2003), 0.6107 (2002), 0.6431 (2001), 0.6224 (2000), Turkish lira per US dollar 1.426 million (2004), 1.501 million (2003), 1.507 million (2002), 1.226 million (2001), 625,200 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Cyprus

Telephones - main lines in use:

Republic of Cyprus: 427,400 (2002); north Cyprus: 86,228 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

Republic of Cyprus: 417,900 (2002); north Cyprus: 143,178 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: excellent in both Republic of Cyprus and north Cyprus areas
domestic: open-wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay
international: country code - 357; 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:

Republic of Cyprus: AM 7, FM 60, shortwave 1 (1998); north Cyprus: AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

Greek Cypriot area: 310,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: 56,450 (1994)

Television broadcast stations:

Republic of Cyprus: 4 (plus 225 low-power repeaters) (September 1995); north Cyprus: 4 (plus 5 repeaters) (September 1995)

Televisions:

Greek Cypriot area: 248,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: 52,300 (1994)

Internet country code:

.cy

Internet hosts:

5,901 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6 (2000)

Internet users:

210,000 (2002)

Transportation

Cyprus

Highways:

total: 13,943 km (Republic of Cyprus: 11,593 km; north Cyprus: 2,350 km)
paved: Republic of Cyprus: 7,211 km; north Cyprus: 1,370 km
unpaved: Republic of Cyprus: 4,382 km; north Cyprus: 980 km (2002/1996 est.)

Ports and harbors:

Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos

Merchant marine:

total: 972 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 22,016,374 GRT/35,760,004 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 384, cargo 248, chemical tanker 45, container 125, liquefied gas 4, passenger 8, passenger/cargo 19, petroleum tanker 103, refrigerated cargo 19, roll on/roll off 12, vehicle carrier 5
foreign-owned: 899 (Austria 2, Belgium 1, Canada 10, China 8, Croatia 3, Cuba 5, Egypt 1, Estonia 3, France 1, Germany 236, Greece 396, Hong Kong 2, India 2, Iran 2, Israel 3, Japan 18, Latvia 7, Monaco 1, Netherlands 12, Norway 14, Philippines 1, Poland 20, Portugal 2, Russia 56, Singapore 2, Slovenia 4, South Korea 1, Spain 4, Sweden 6, Switzerland 4, Syria 2, Ukraine 3, UAE 11, United Kingdom 24, United States 31, Vietnam 1)
registered in other countries: 54 (2005)

Airports:

17 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

10 (2004 est.)

Military

Cyprus

Military branches:

Republic of Cyprus: Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG; includes air and naval elements)
north Cyprus: Turkish Cypriot Security Force (GKK)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 184,352 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 150,750 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 6,578 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$384 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3.8% (FY02)

Transnational Issues

Cyprus

Disputes - international:

hostilities in 1974 divided the island into two de facto autonomous entities, the internationally recognized Cypriot Government and a Turkish-Cypriot community (north Cyprus); the 1,000-strong UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) has served in Cyprus since 1964 and maintains the buffer zone between north and south; March 2003 reunification talks failed, but Turkish-Cypriots later opened their borders to temporary visits by Greek Cypriots; on 24 April 2004, the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities voted in simultaneous and parallel referenda on whether to approve the UN-brokered Annan Plan that would have ended the thirty-year division of the island by establishing a new "United Cyprus Republic," a majority of Greek Cypriots voted "no"; on 1 May 2004, Cyprus entered the European Union still divided, with the EU's body of legislation and standards (acquis communitaire) suspended in the north

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 265,000 (both Turkish and Greek Cypriots; many displaced for over 30 years) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

minor transit point for heroin and hashish via air routes and container traffic to Europe, especially from Lebanon and Turkey; some cocaine transits as well; despite a strengthening of anti-money-laundering legislation, remains highly vulnerable to money laundering; identification of benefiting owners and reporting of suspicious transactions by nonresident-controlled companies in offshore sector remains weak

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Denmark

Introduction

Denmark

Background:

Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north European power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation that is participating in the general political and economic integration of Europe. It joined NATO in 1949 and the EEC (now the EU) in 1973. However, the country has opted out of certain elements of the European Union's Maastricht Treaty, including the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), European defense cooperation, and issues concerning certain justice and home affairs.

Geography

Denmark

Location:

Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, on a peninsula north of Germany (Jutland); also includes two major islands (Sjaelland and Fyn)

Geographic coordinates:

56 00 N, 10 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 43,094 sq km
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 (the Jutland Peninsula, and the major islands of Sjaelland and Fyn), but excludes the Faroe Islands and Greenland

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts

Land boundaries:

total: 68 km
border countries: Germany 68 km

Coastline:

7,314 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

temperate; humid and overcast; mild, windy winters and cool summers

Terrain:

low and flat to gently rolling plains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m
highest point: Yding Skovhoej 173 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, fish, salt, limestone, chalk, stone, gravel and sand

Land use:

arable land: 54.02%
permanent crops: 0.19%
other: 45.79% (2001)

Irrigated land:

4,760 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

flooding is a threat in some areas of the country (e.g., parts of Jutland, along the southern coast of the island of Lolland) that are protected from the sea by a system of dikes

Environment - current issues:

air pollution, principally from vehicle and power plant emissions; nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea; drinking and surface water becoming polluted from animal wastes and pesticides

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

controls Danish Straits (Skagerrak and Kattegat) linking Baltic and North Seas; about one-quarter of the population lives in greater Copenhagen

People

Denmark

Population:

5,432,335 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 18.8% (male 524,250/female 497,683)
15-64 years: 66.1% (male 1,811,787/female 1,780,907)
65 years and over: 15.1% (male 349,458/female 468,250) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 39.47 years
male: 38.55 years
female: 40.4 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.34% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

11.36 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

10.43 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.53 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.56 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.62 years
male: 75.34 years
female: 80.03 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.74 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

5,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Dane(s)
adjective: Danish

Ethnic groups:

Scandinavian, Inuit, Faroese, German, Turkish, Iranian, Somali

Religions:

Evangelical Lutheran 95%, other Protestant and Roman Catholic 3%, Muslim 2%

Languages:

Danish, Faroese, Greenlandic (an Inuit dialect), German (small minority)
note: English is the predominant second language

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%

Government

Denmark

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Denmark
conventional short form: Denmark
local long form: Kongeriget Danmark
local short form: Danmark

Government type:

constitutional monarchy

Capital:

Copenhagen

Administrative divisions:

metropolitan Denmark - 14 counties (amter, singular - amt) and 2 boroughs* (amtskommuner, singular - amtskommune); Arhus, Bornholm, Frederiksberg*, Frederiksborg, Fyn, Kobenhavn, Kobenhavn (Copenhagen)*, Nordjylland, Ribe, Ringkobing, Roskilde, Sonderjylland, Storstrom, Vejle, Vestsjalland, Viborg
note: since 2005 Bornholm may have become a borough; in the future the counties may be replaced by regions; see separate entries for the Faroe Islands and Greenland, which are part of the Kingdom of Denmark and are self-governing overseas administrative divisions

Independence:

first organized as a unified state in 10th century; in 1849 became a constitutional monarchy

National holiday:

none designated; Constitution Day, 5 June (1849) is generally viewed as the National Day

Constitution:

5 June 1849 adoption of original constitution; a major overhaul of 5 June 1953 allowed for a unicameral legislature and a female chief of state

Legal system:

civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972); Heir Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder son of the monarch (born 26 May 1968)
head of government: Prime Minister Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN (since 27 November 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by parliament
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch

Legislative branch:

unicameral People's Assembly or Folketinget (179 seats, including 2 from Greenland and 2 from the Faroe Islands; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 8 February 2005 (next to be held February 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - Liberal Party 29%, Social Democrats 25.9%, Danish People's Party 13.2%, Conservative Party 10.3%, Social Liberal Party 9.2%, Socialist People's Party 6%, Unity List 3.4%; seats by party - Liberal Party 52, Social Democrats 47, Danish People's Party 24, Conservative Party 18, Social Liberal Party 17, Socialist People's Party 11, Unity List 6; note - does not include the 2 seats from Greenland and the 2 seats from the Faroe Islands

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the monarch for life)

Political parties and leaders:

Center Democratic Party [Mimi JAKOBSEN]; Christian Democrats (was Christian People's Party) [Marianne KARLSMOSE]; Conservative Party (sometimes known as Conservative People's Party) [Bendt BENDTSEN]; Danish People's Party [Pia KJAERSGAARD]; Liberal Party [Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN]; Social Democratic Party [Helle THORNING-SCHMIDT]; Social Liberal Party (sometimes called the Radical Left) [Marianne JELVED, leader; Soren BALD, chairman]; Socialist People's Party [Villy SOEVNDAL]; Red-Green Unity List (bloc includes Left Socialist Party, Communist Party of Denmark, Socialist Workers' Party) [collective leadership]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Friis PETERSEN
chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-4300
FAX: [1] (202) 328-1470
consulate(s) general: Chicago and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Sally M. LIGHT
embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen
mailing address: PSC 73, APO AE 09716
telephone: [45] 35 55 31 44
FAX: [45] 35 43 02 23

Flag description:

red with a white cross that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side, and that design element of the Dannebrog (Danish flag) was subsequently adopted by the other Nordic countries of Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden

Economy

Denmark

Economy - overview:

This thoroughly modern market economy features high-tech agriculture, up-to-date small-scale and corporate industry, extensive government welfare measures, comfortable living standards, a stable currency, and high dependence on foreign trade. Denmark is a net exporter of food and energy and enjoys a comfortable balance of payments surplus. Government objectives include streamlining the bureaucracy and further privatization of state assets. The government has been successful in meeting, and even exceeding, the economic convergence criteria for participating in the third phase (a common European currency) of the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), but Denmark has decided not to join 12 other EU members in the euro; even so, the Danish krone remains pegged to the euro. Growth in 2004 was sluggish, yet above the scanty 0.3% of 2003. Because of high GDP per capita, welfare benefits, a low Gini index, and political stability, the Danish people enjoy living standards topped by no other nation. A major long-term issue will be the sharp decline in the ratio of workers to retirees.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$174.4 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.1% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $32,200 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.2%
industry: 25.5%
services: 72.3% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

2.87 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 4%, industry 17%, services 79% (2002 est.)

Unemployment rate:

6.2% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 24% (2000 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

24.7 (1992)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.4% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $136.1 billion
expenditures: $133.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $500 million (2004 est.)

Public debt:

42.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

barley, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets; pork, dairy products; fish

Industries:

iron, steel, nonferrous metals, chemicals, food processing, machinery and transportation equipment, textiles and clothing, electronics, construction, furniture and other wood products, shipbuilding and refurbishment, windmills

Industrial production growth rate:

1.7% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

36.38 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 82.7%
hydro: 0.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 17.3% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

31.63 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

11.1 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

8.9 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

346,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

218,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

332,100 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:

195,000 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

1.23 billion bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

8.38 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

5.28 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

3.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

81.98 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$6.529 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$73.06 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, dairy products, fish, chemicals, furniture, ships, windmills

Exports - partners:

Germany 18%, Sweden 13.2%, UK 8.7%, US 5.8%, Netherlands 5.5%, Norway 5.4%, France 5% (2004)

Imports:

$63.45 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, raw materials and semimanufactures for industry, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, consumer goods

Imports - partners:

Germany 22.3%, Sweden 13.5%, Netherlands 6.8%, UK 6.1%, France 4.5%, Norway 4.5%, Italy 4.1%, China 4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$37.98 billion (2003)

Debt - external:

$21.7 billion (2000)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $1.63 billion (1999)

Currency (code):

Danish krone (DKK)

Currency code:

DKK

Exchange rates:

Danish kroner per US dollar - 5.9911 (2004), 6.5877 (2003), 7.8947 (2002), 8.3228 (2001), 8.0831 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Denmark

Telephones - main lines in use:

3,610,100 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

4,785,300 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: excellent telephone and telegraph services
domestic: buried and submarine cables and microwave radio relay form trunk network, 4 cellular mobile communications systems
international: country code - 45; 18 submarine fiber-optic cables linking Denmark with Canada, Faroe Islands, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden, and UK; satellite earth stations - 6 Intelsat, 10 Eutelsat, 1 Orion, 1 Inmarsat (Blaavand-Atlantic-East); note - the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) share the Danish earth station and the Eik, Norway, station for worldwide Inmarsat access (1997)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 355, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

6.02 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

26 (plus 51 repeaters) (1998)

Televisions:

3.121 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.dk

Internet hosts:

1,219,925 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

13 (2000)

Internet users:

2.756 million (2002)

Transportation

Denmark

Railways:

total: 2,628 km
standard gauge: 2,628 km 1.435-m gauge (595 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 71,847 km
paved: 71,847 km (including 918 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2002)

Waterways:

417 km (2001)

Pipelines:

condensate 12 km; gas 3,892 km; oil 455 km; oil/gas/water 2 km; unknown (oil/water) 64 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Aalborg, Aarhus, Asnaesvaerkets, Copenhagen, Elsinore, Ensted, Esbjerg, Fredericia, Frederikshavn, Graasten, Kalundborg, Odense, Roenne

Merchant marine:

total: 287 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,952,473 GRT/9,030,444 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 67, chemical tanker 40, container 79, liquefied gas 10, livestock carrier 2, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 42, petroleum tanker 25, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 8, specialized tanker 4
foreign-owned: 23 (Bahamas 14, France 1, Greece 1, Greenland 1, Norway 2, Sweden 2, UAE 1, Vietnam 1)
registered in other countries: 487 (2005)

Airports:

97 (2004 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: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 69
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 63 (2004 est.)

Military

Denmark

Military branches:

Royal Danish Army, Royal Danish Navy, Royal Danish Air Force, Home Guard (Hjemmevaernet)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and volunteer military service; conscripts serve an initial training period that varies from 4 to 12 months according to specialization; reservists are assigned to mobilization units following completion of their conscript service (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,175,108 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 955,168 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 31,317 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$3,271.6 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.5% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Denmark

Disputes - international:

Iceland disputes the Faroe Islands' fisheries median line; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm; Faroese continue to study proposals for full independence; uncontested sovereignty dispute with Canada over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Ellesmere Island and Greenland

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Djibouti

Introduction

Djibouti

Background:

The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas became Djibouti in 1977. Hassan Gouled APTIDON installed an authoritarian one-party state and proceeded to serve as president until 1999. Unrest among the Afars minority during the 1990s led to a civil war that ended in 2001 following the conclusion of a peace accord between Afar rebels and the Issa-dominated government. Djibouti's first multi-party presidential elections in 1999 resulted in the election of Ismail Omar GUELLEH. Djibouti occupies a very strategic geographic location at the mouth of the Red Sea and serves as an important transshipment location for goods entering and leaving the east African highlands. The present leadership favors close ties to France, which maintains a significant military presence in the country, but has also developed increasingly stronger ties with the United States in recent years. Djibouti currently hosts the only United States military base in sub-Saharan Africa and is a front-line state in the global war on terrorism.

Geography

Djibouti

Location:

Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, between Eritrea and Somalia

Geographic coordinates:

11 30 N, 43 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 23,000 sq km
land: 22,980 sq km
water: 20 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Land boundaries:

total: 516 km
border countries: Eritrea 109 km, Ethiopia 349 km, Somalia 58 km

Coastline:

314 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

desert; torrid, dry

Terrain:

coastal plain and plateau separated by central mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Lac Assal -155 m
highest point: Moussa Ali 2,028 m

Natural resources:

geothermal areas, gold, clay, granite, limestone, marble, salt, diatomite, gypsum, pumice, petroleum

Land use:

arable land: 0.04%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.96% (2001)

Irrigated land:

10 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods

Environment - current issues:

inadequate supplies of potable water; limited arable land; desertification; endangered species

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location near world's busiest shipping lanes and close to Arabian oilfields; terminus of rail traffic into Ethiopia; mostly wasteland; Lac Assal (Lake Assal) is the lowest point in Africa

People

Djibouti

Population:

476,703 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 43.3% (male 103,516/female 102,860)
15-64 years: 53.5% (male 133,168/female 121,823)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 7,748/female 7,588) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.23 years
male: 18.77 years
female: 17.69 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.06% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

39.98 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

19.39 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 104.13 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 111.82 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 96.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 43.1 years
male: 41.84 years
female: 44.39 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.4 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

2.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

9,100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

690 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Djiboutian(s)
adjective: Djiboutian

Ethnic groups:

Somali 60%, Afar 35%, French, Arab, Ethiopian, and Italian 5%

Religions:

Muslim 94%, Christian 6%

Languages:

French (official), Arabic (official), Somali, Afar

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.9%
male: 78%
female: 58.4% (2003 est.)

Government

Djibouti

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Djibouti
conventional short form: Djibouti
former: French Territory of the Afars and Issas, French Somaliland

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Djibouti

Administrative divisions:

5 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); 'Ali Sabih, Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjoura

Independence:

27 June 1977 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 27 June (1977)

Constitution:

multiparty constitution approved by referendum 4 September 1992

Legal system:

based on French civil law system, traditional practices, and Islamic law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal adult

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Ismail Omar GUELLEH (since 8 May 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed Dileita DILEITA (since 4 March 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 8 April 2005 (next to be held by April 2011); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Ismail Omar GUELLEH reelected president; percent of vote - Ismail Omar GUELLEH 100%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (65 seats; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)
elections: last held 10 January 2003 (next to be held January 2008)
election results: percent of vote - RPP 62.2%, FRUD 36.9%; seats - RPP 65, FRUD 0; note - RPP (the ruling party) dominated the election

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic National Party or PND [ADEN Robleh Awaleh]; Democratic Renewal Party or PRD [Abdillahi HAMARITEH]; Djibouti Development Party or PDD [Mohamed Daoud CHEHEM]; Front pour la Restauration de l'Unite Democratique or FRUD [Ali Mohamed DAOUD]; People's Progress Assembly or RPP (governing party) [Ismail Omar GUELLEH]; Peoples Social Democratic Party or PPSD [Moumin Bahdon FARAH]; Republican Alliance for Democracy or ARD [Ahmed Dini AHMED]; Union for Democracy and Justice or UDJ [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Union for Presidential Majority UMP (coalition includes RPP, FRUD, PPSD and PND); Union for Democratic Changeover or UAD (opposition coalition includes ARD, MRDD, UDJ, and PDD) [Ahmed Dini AHMED]

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador ROBLE Olhaye
chancery: Suite 515, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 331-0270
FAX: [1] (202) 331-0302

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Marguerita RAGSDALE
embassy: Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti
mailing address: B. P. 185, Djibouti
telephone: [253] 35 39 95
FAX: [253] 35 39 40

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of light blue (top) and light green with a white isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bearing a red five-pointed star in the center

Economy

Djibouti

Economy - overview:

The economy is based on service activities connected with the country's strategic location and status as a free trade zone in northeast Africa. Two-thirds of the inhabitants live in the capital city, the remainder are mostly nomadic herders. Scanty rainfall limits crop production to fruits and vegetables, and most food must be imported. Djibouti provides services as both a transit port for the region and an international transshipment and refueling center. Djibouti has few natural resources and little industry. The nation is, therefore, heavily dependent on foreign assistance to help support its balance of payments and to finance development projects. An unemployment rate of at least 50% continues to be a major problem. While inflation is not a concern, due to the fixed tie of the Djiboutian franc to the US dollar, the artificially high value of the Djiboutian franc adversely affects Djibouti's balance of payments. Per capita consumption dropped an estimated 35% over the last seven years because of recession, civil war, and a high population growth rate (including immigrants and refugees). Faced with a multitude of economic difficulties, the government has fallen in arrears on long-term external debt and has been struggling to meet the stipulations of foreign aid donors.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$619 million (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.5% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3.5%
industry: 15.8%
services: 80.7% (2001 est.)

Labor force:

282,000 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:

NA

Unemployment rate:

50% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

50% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2% (2002 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $135 million
expenditures: $182 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1999 est.)

Agriculture - products:

fruits, vegetables; goats, sheep, camels, animal hides

Industries:

construction, agricultural processing, salt

Industrial production growth rate:

3% (1996 est.)

Electricity - production:

180 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

167.4 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

11,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$155 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:

reexports, hides and skins, coffee (in transit)

Exports - partners:

Somalia 63.8%, Yemen 22.6%, Ethiopia 5% (2004)

Imports:

$665 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products

Imports - partners:

Saudi Arabia 19.7%, India 12.4%, Ethiopia 11.8%, China 8.1%, France 5.6%, US 4.8% (2004)

Debt - external:

$366 million (2002 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$36 million (2001)

Currency (code):

Djiboutian franc (DJF)

Currency code:

DJF

Exchange rates:

Djiboutian francs per US dollar - 177.72 (2004), 177.72 (2003), 177.72 (2002), 177.72 (2001), 177.72 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Djibouti

Telephones - main lines in use:

9,500 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

23,000 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: telephone facilities in the city of Djibouti are adequate as are the microwave radio relay connections to outlying areas of the country
domestic: microwave radio relay network
international: country code - 253; submarine cable to Jiddah, Suez, Sicily, Marseilles, Colombo, and Singapore; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; Medarabtel regional microwave radio relay telephone network

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)

Radios:

52,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2002)

Televisions:

28,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.dj

Internet hosts:

702 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

6,500 (2003)

Transportation

Djibouti

Railways:

total: 100 km (Djibouti segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway)
narrow gauge: 100 km 1.000-m gauge
note: railway under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia (2004)

Highways:

total: 2,890 km
paved: 364 km
unpaved: 2,526 km (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors:

Djibouti

Merchant marine:

total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,369 GRT/3,030 DWT
by type: cargo 1 (2005)

Airports:

13 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1524 to 2437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Military

Djibouti

Military branches:

Djibouti National Army (includes Navy and Air Force)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 95,328 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 46,020 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$28.6 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

4.4% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Djibouti

Disputes - international:

Djibouti maintains economic ties and border accords with "Somaliland" leadership while maintaining some political ties to various factions in Somalia; although most of the 26,000 Somali refugees in Djibouti who fled civil unrest in the early 1990s have returned, several thousand still await repatriation in UNHCR camps

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 25,474 (Somalia) (2004)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Dominica

Introduction

Dominica

Background:

Dominica was the last of the Caribbean islands to be colonized by Europeans, due chiefly to the fierce resistance of the native Caribs. France ceded possession to Great Britain in 1763, which made the island a colony in 1805. In 1980, two years after independence, Dominica's fortunes improved when a corrupt and tyrannical administration was replaced by that of Mary Eugenia CHARLES, the first female prime minister in the Caribbean, who remained in office for 15 years. Some 3,000 Carib Indians still living on Dominica are the only pre-Columbian population remaining in the eastern Caribbean.

Geography

Dominica

Location:

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic coordinates:

15 25 N, 61 20 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 754 sq km
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:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; moderated by northeast trade winds; heavy rainfall

Terrain:

rugged mountains of volcanic origin

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Morne Diablatins 1,447 m

Natural resources:

timber, hydropower, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 6.67%
permanent crops: 20%
other: 73.33% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes can be expected during the late summer months

Environment - current issues:

NA

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

known as "The Nature Island of the Caribbean" due to its spectacular, lush, and varied flora and fauna, which are protected by an extensive natural park system; the most mountainous of the Lesser Antilles, its volcanic peaks are cones of lava craters and include Boiling Lake, the second-largest, thermally active lake in the world

People

Dominica

Population:

69,029 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 26.7% (male 9,328/female 9,125)
15-64 years: 65.4% (male 23,225/female 21,900)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 2,193/female 3,258) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 29.59 years
male: 29.26 years
female: 29.95 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.27% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

15.73 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.81 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-11.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 14.15 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 18.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.65 years
male: 71.73 years
female: 77.71 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.96 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Dominican(s)
adjective: Dominican

Ethnic groups:

black, mixed black and European, European, Syrian, Carib Amerindian

Religions:

Roman Catholic 77%, Protestant 15% (Methodist 5%, Pentecostal 3%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3%, Baptist 2%, other 2%), other 6%, none 2%

Languages:

English (official), French patois

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 94%
male: 94%
female: 94% (2003 est.)

Government

Dominica

Country name:

conventional long form: Commonwealth of Dominica
conventional short form: Dominica

Government type:

parliamentary democracy; republic within the Commonwealth

Capital:

Roseau

Administrative divisions:

10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint Paul, Saint Peter

Independence:

3 November 1978 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 3 November (1978)

Constitution:

3 November 1978

Legal system:

based on English common law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Nicholas J. O. LIVERPOOL (since October 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister Roosevelt SKERRIT (since 8 January 2004); note - assumed post after death of Prime Minister Pierre CHARLES
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
elections: president elected by the House of Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 1 October 2003 (next to be held October 2008); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Nicholas LIVERPOOL elected president; percent of legislative vote - NA%

Legislative branch:

unicameral House of Assembly (30 seats, 9 appointed senators, 21 elected by popular vote; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 5 May 2005 (next to be held by 5 August 2010); note - tradition dictates that the election will be held within five years of the last election, but technically it is five years from the first seating of parliament (12 May 2005) plus a 90-day grace period
election results: percent of vote by party - DLP 52.08%, UWP 43.6%, DFP 3.15%; seats by party - DLP 12, UWP 8, independent 1

Judicial branch:

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the Court of Appeal and the High Court (located in Saint Lucia; one of the six judges must reside in Dominica and preside over the Court of Summary Jurisdiction)

Political parties and leaders:

Dominica Freedom Party or DFP [Charles SAVARIN]; Dominica Labor Party or DLP [Roosevelt SKERRIT]; United Workers Party or UWP [Edison JAMES]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Dominica Liberation Movement or DLM (a small leftist party)

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Swinburne LESTRADE
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 364-6781
FAX: [1] (202) 364-6791
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Dominica

Flag description:

green, with a centered cross of three equal bands - the vertical part is yellow (hoist side), black, and white and the horizontal part is yellow (top), black, and white; superimposed in the center of the cross is a red disk bearing a sisserou parrot encircled by 10 green, five-pointed stars edged in yellow; the 10 stars represent the 10 administrative divisions (parishes)

Economy

Dominica

Economy - overview:

The Dominican economy depends on agriculture, primarily bananas, and remains highly vulnerable to climatic conditions and international economic developments. Production of bananas dropped precipitously in 2003, a major reason for the 1% decline in GDP. Tourism increased in 2003 as the government sought to promote Dominica as an "ecotourism" destination. Development of the tourism industry remains difficult, however, because of the rugged coastline, lack of beaches, and the absence of an international airport. The government began a comprehensive restructuring of the economy in 2003 - including elimination of price controls, privatization of the state banana company, and tax increases - to address Dominica's economic crisis and to meet IMF targets. In order to diversify the island's production base the government is attempting to develop an offshore financial sector and is planning to construct an oil refinery on the eastern part of the island.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$384 million (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

-1% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $5,500 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 18%
industry: 24%
services: 58% (2002 est.)

Labor force:

25,000 (1999 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 40%, industry and commerce 32%, services 28%

Unemployment rate:

23% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:

30% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1% (2001 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $73.9 million
expenditures: $84.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2001)

Agriculture - products:

bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, coconuts, cocoa; forest and fishery potential not exploited

Industries:

soap, coconut oil, tourism, copra, furniture, cement blocks, shoes

Industrial production growth rate:

-10% (1997 est.)

Electricity - production:

68.41 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 47.1%
hydro: 52.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

63.62 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

600 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$39 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities:

bananas, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges

Exports - partners:

UK 21.6%, Jamaica 14.8%, Antigua and Barbuda 8.8%, Guyana 7.5%, Japan 5.4%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.8%, US 4.3%, Saint Lucia 4% (2004)

Imports:

$98.2 million f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Imports - commodities:

manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals

Imports - partners:

China 20.4%, US 16.8%, Trinidad and Tobago 12.3%, UK 6.9%, South Korea 4.6%, Japan 4.3% (2004)

Debt - external:

$161.5 million (2001)

Economic aid - recipient:

$22.8 million (2003 est.)

Currency (code):

East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Currency code:

XCD

Exchange rates:

East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003), 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Communications

Dominica

Telephones - main lines in use:

23,700 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

9,400 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: fully automatic network
international: country code - 1-767; microwave radio relay and SHF radiotelephone links to Martinique and Guadeloupe; VHF and UHF radiotelephone links to Saint Lucia

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

46,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2004)

Televisions:

6,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.dm

Internet hosts:

681 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

16 (2000)

Internet users:

12,500 (2002)

Transportation

Dominica

Highways:

total: 780 km
paved: 393 km
unpaved: 387 km (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors:

Portsmouth, Roseau

Merchant marine:

total: 32 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 13,771 GRT/19,736 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 19, chemical tanker 2, container 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 21 (Estonia 6, Greece 3, Pakistan 1, Russia 2, Singapore 6, Syria 2, UAE 1) (2005)

Airports:

2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Military

Dominica

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force (includes Coast Guard)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Transnational Issues

Dominica

Disputes - international:

joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the Caribbean Sea

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for narcotics bound for the US and Europe; minor cannabis producer; anti-money-laundering enforcement is weak, making the country particularly vulnerable to money laundering

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Jarvis Island

Introduction

Jarvis Island

Background:

First discovered by the British in 1821, the uninhabited island was annexed by the US in 1858, but abandoned in 1879 after tons of guano had been removed. The UK annexed the island in 1889, but never carried out plans for further exploitation. The US occupied and reclaimed the island in 1935. Abandoned after World War II, the island is currently a National Wildlife Refuge administered by the US Department of the Interior; a day beacon is situated near the middle of the west coast.

Geography

Jarvis Island

Location:

Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and the Cook Islands

Geographic coordinates:

0 22 S, 160 03 W

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 4.5 sq km
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:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun

Terrain:

sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 7 m

Natural resources:

guano (deposits worked until late 1800s), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island poses a maritime hazard

Environment - current issues:

no natural fresh water resources

Geography - note:

sparse bunch grass, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife

People

Jarvis Island

Population:

uninhabited
note: Millersville settlement on western side of island occasionally used as a weather station from 1935 until World War II, when it was abandoned; reoccupied in 1957 during the International Geophysical Year by scientists who left in 1958; public entry is by special-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and generally restricted to scientists and educators; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife Service (July 2005 est.)

Government

Jarvis Island

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Jarvis Island

Dependency status:

unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system

Legal system:

the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

Flag description:

the flag of the US is used

Economy

Jarvis Island

Economy - overview:

no economic activity

Transportation

Jarvis Island

Ports and harbors:

none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boat landing area in the middle of the west coast and another near the southwest corner of the island

Transportation - note:

there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast

Military

Jarvis Island

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard

Transnational Issues

Jarvis Island

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Dominican Republic

Introduction

Dominican Republic

Background:

Explored and claimed by Columbus on his first voyage in 1492, the island of Hispaniola became a springboard for Spanish conquest of the Caribbean and the American mainland. In 1697, Spain recognized French dominion over the western third of the island, which in 1804 became Haiti. The remainder of the island, by then known as Santo Domingo, sought to gain its own independence in 1821, but was conquered and ruled by the Haitians for 22 years; it finally attained independence as the Dominican Republic in 1844. In 1861, the Dominicans voluntarily returned to the Spanish Empire, but two years later they launched a war that restored independence in 1865. A legacy of unsettled, mostly non-representative, rule for much of its subsequent history was brought to an end in 1966 when Joaquin BALAGUER became president. He maintained a tight grip on power for most of the next 30 years when international reaction to flawed elections forced him to curtail his term in 1996. Since then, regular competitive elections have been held in which opposition candidates have won the presidency. The Dominican economy has had one of the fastest growth rates in the hemisphere over the past decade.

Geography

Dominican Republic

Location:

Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti

Geographic coordinates:

19 00 N, 70 40 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 48,730 sq km
land: 48,380 sq km
water: 350 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire

Land boundaries:

total: 360 km
border countries: Haiti 360 km

Coastline:

1,288 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 6 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall

Terrain:

rugged highlands and mountains with fertile valleys interspersed

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m
highest point: Pico Duarte 3,175 m

Natural resources:

nickel, bauxite, gold, silver

Land use:

arable land: 22.65%
permanent crops: 10.33%
other: 67.02% (2001)

Irrigated land:

2,590 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

water shortages; soil eroding into the sea damages coral reefs; deforestation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti

People

Dominican Republic

Population:

8,950,034 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 32.9% (male 1,505,964/female 1,438,809)
15-64 years: 61.7% (male 2,815,544/female 2,703,012)
65 years and over: 5.4% (male 226,372/female 260,333) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 23.88 years
male: 23.68 years
female: 24.09 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.29% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

23.28 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

7.35 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-3.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 32.38 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 34.81 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 29.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.44 years
male: 69.94 years
female: 73.03 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.86 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.7% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

88,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

7,900 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Dominican(s)
adjective: Dominican

Ethnic groups:

white 16%, black 11%, mixed 73%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 95%

Languages:

Spanish

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.7%
male: 84.6%
female: 84.8% (2003 est.)

Government

Dominican Republic

Country name:

conventional long form: Dominican Republic
conventional short form: The Dominican
local long form: Republica Dominicana
local short form: La Dominicana

Government type:

representative democracy

Capital:

Santo Domingo

Administrative divisions:

31 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, Elias Pina, El Seibo, Espaillat, Hato Mayor, Independencia, La Altagracia, La Romana, La Vega, Maria Trinidad Sanchez, Monsenor Nouel, Monte Cristi, Monte Plata, Pedernales, Peravia, Puerto Plata, Salcedo, Samana, Sanchez Ramirez, San Cristobal, San Jose de Ocoa, San Juan, San Pedro de Macoris, Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Santo Domingo, Valverde

Independence:

27 February 1844 (from Haiti)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 27 February (1844)

Constitution:

28 November 1966; amended 25 July 2002

Legal system:

based on French civil codes; undergoing modification in 2004 towards an accusatory system

Suffrage:

18 years of age, universal and compulsory; married persons regardless of age
note: members of the armed forces and national police cannot vote

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August 2004); Vice President Rafael ALBURQUERQUE de Castro (since 16 August 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna (since 16 August 2004); Vice President Rafael ALBURQUERQUE de Castro (since 16 August 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 16 May 2004 (next to be held in May 2008)
election results: Leonel FERNANDEZ elected president; percent of vote - Leonel FERNANDEZ (PLD) 57.1%, Rafael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez (PRD) 33.7%, Eduardo ESTRELLA (PRSC) 8.7%

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the Senate or Senado (32 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (150 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 16 May 2002 (next to be held May 2006); Chamber of Deputies - last held 16 May 2002 (next to be held May 2006)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PRD 29, PLD 2, PRSC 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PRD 73, PLD 41, PRSC 36

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are appointed by a the National Judicial Council comprised of the President, the leaders of both chambers of congress, the President of the Supreme Court, and an opposition or non-governing party member)

Political parties and leaders:

Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna]; Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Vicente Sanchez BARET]; Social Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Enrique ATUN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Collective of Popular Organizations or COP; Citizen Participation Group (Participacion Ciudadania); Foundation for Institution-Building (FINJUS)

International organization participation:

ACP, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Flavio Dario Espinal JACOBO
chancery: 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-6280
FAX: [1] (202) 265-8057
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Mayaguez (Puerto Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Hans H. HERTELL
embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo Navarro, Santo Domingo
mailing address: Unit 5500, APO AA 34041-5500
telephone: [1] (809) 221-2171
FAX: [1] (809) 686-7437

Flag description:

a centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag into four rectangles - the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms featuring a shield supported by an olive branch (left) and a palm branch (right) is at the center of the cross; above the shield a blue ribbon displays the motto, DIOS, PATRIA, LIBERTAD (God, Fatherland, Liberty), and below the shield, REPUBLICA DOMINICANA appears on a red ribbon

Economy

Dominican Republic

Economy - overview:

The Dominican Republic is a Caribbean representative democracy which enjoyed GDP growth of more than 7% in 1998-2000. Growth subsequently plummeted as part of the global economic slowdown. Although the country has long been viewed primarily as an exporter of sugar, coffee, and tobacco, in recent years the service sector has overtaken agriculture as the economy's largest employer, due to growth in tourism and free trade zones. The country suffers from marked income inequality; the poorest half of the population receives less than one-fifth of GNP, while the richest 10% enjoys nearly 40% of national income. Growth turned negative in 2003 with reduced tourism, a major bank fraud, and limited growth in the US economy (the source of about 85% of export revenues), but recovered slightly in 2004. Resumption of a badly needed IMF loan, slowed due to government repurchase of electrical power plants, is basic to the restoration of social and economic stability. Newly elected President FERNANDEZ in mid-2004 promised belt-tightening reform. His administration has passed tax reform and is working to meet preconditions for a $600 IMF standby arrangement to ease the country's fiscal situation.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$55.68 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.7% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $6,300 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 10.7%
industry: 31.5%
services: 57.8% (2003)

Labor force:

2.3 million - 2.6 million (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 17%, industry 24.3%, services and government 58.7% (1998 est.)

Unemployment rate:

17% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

25%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 37.9% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

47.4 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

55% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

18.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $2.625 billion
expenditures: $3.382 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.1 billion (2004 est.)

Public debt:

61.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice, beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, beef, eggs

Industries:

tourism, sugar processing, ferronickel and gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco

Industrial production growth rate:

2% (2001 est.)

Electricity - production:

9.583 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 92%
hydro: 7.6%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.4% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

8.912 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

129,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

129,900 bbl/day (2003)

Current account balance:

$762.2 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$5.446 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

ferronickel, sugar, gold, silver, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, meats, consumer goods

Exports - partners:

US 80%, South Korea 2.1%, Canada 1.9% (2004)

Imports:

$8.093 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners:

US 48.1%, Venezuela 13.5%, Colombia 4.8%, Mexico 4.8% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$426 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$7.745 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$239.6 million (1995)

Currency (code):

Dominican peso (DOP)

Currency code:

DOP

Exchange rates:

Dominican pesos per US dollar - 42.12 (2004), 30.831 (2003), 18.61 (2002), 16.952 (2001), 16.415 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Dominican Republic

Telephones - main lines in use:

901,800 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2,120,400 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: relatively efficient system based on island-wide microwave radio relay network
international: country code - 1-809; 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 (2003)

Televisions:

770,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.do

Internet hosts:

64,197 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

24 (2000)

Internet users:

500,000 (2003)

Transportation

Dominican Republic

Railways:

total: 1,743 km
standard gauge: 375 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 142 km 0.762-m gauge
note: additional 1,226 km operated by sugar companies in 1.076-m, 0.889-m, and 0.762-m gauges (2004)

Highways:

total: 12,600 km
paved: 6,224 km
unpaved: 6,376 km (1999)

Ports and harbors:

Boca Chica, Puerto Plata, Rio Haina, Santo Domingo

Merchant marine:

total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 11,230 GRT/17,011 DWT
by type: cargo 3 (2005)

Airports:

31 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 13
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 10 (2004 est.)

Military

Dominican Republic

Military branches:

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,108,197 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,420,693 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 91,597 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$180 million (1998)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.1% (1998)

Transnational Issues

Dominican Republic

Disputes - international:

increasing numbers of illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage each year to Puerto Rico to find work

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; has become a transshipment point for ecstasy from the Netherlands and Belgium destined for US and Canada; substantial money-laundering activity; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor the Dominican Republic for illicit financial transactions

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Dhekelia

Introduction

Dhekelia

Background:

By terms of the 1960 Treaty of Establishment that created the independent Republic of Cyprus, the UK retained full sovereignty and jurisdiction over two areas of almost 254 square kilometers in total: Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The larger of these is the Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area, which is also referred to as the Eastern Sovereign Base Area.

Geography

Dhekelia

Location:

on the southeast coast of Cyprus near Famagusta

Geographic coordinates:

34 59 N, 33 45 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 130.8 sq km
note: area surrounds three Cypriot enclaves

Area - comparative:

about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

total: NA; note - boundary with Cyprus is being resurveyed

Coastline:

27.5 km

Climate:

temperate; Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and cool winters

Environment - current issues:

netting and trapping of small migrant songbirds in the spring and autumn

Geography - note:

British extraterritorial rights also extended to several small off-post sites scattered across Cyprus

People

Dhekelia

Population:

no indigenous personnel
note: approximately 2,200 military personnel are on the base; there are another 5,000 British citizens who are families of military personnel or civilian staff on both the bases of Akrotiri and Dhekelia; Cyprus citizens work on the base, but do not live there

Languages:

English, Greek

Government

Dhekelia

Country name:

conventional long form: Dhekelia Sovereign Base Area
conventional short form: Dhekelia

Dependency status:

overseas territory of UK; administered by an administrator who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus

Capital:

Episkopi Cantonment; located in Akrotiri

Legal system:

the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Administrator Maj. Gen. Peter Tomas Clayton PEARSON (since 9 May 2003); note - reports to the British Ministry of Defence
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the administrator is 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:

the flag of the UK is used

Economy

Dhekelia

Economy - overview:

Economic activity is limited to providing services to the military and their families located in Dhekelia. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.

Industries:

none

Military

Dhekelia

Military - note:

includes Dheklia Garrison and Ayios Nikolaos Station connected by a roadway

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Ecuador

Introduction

Ecuador

Background:

The "Republic of the Equator" was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Colombia and Venezuela). Between 1904 and 1942, Ecuador lost territories in a series of conflicts with its neighbors. A border war with Peru that flared in 1995 was resolved in 1999. Although Ecuador marked 25 years of civilian governance in 2004, the period has been marred by political instability. Seven presidents have governed Ecuador since 1996.

Geography

Ecuador

Location:

Western South America, bordering the Pacific Ocean at the Equator, between Colombia and Peru

Geographic coordinates:

2 00 S, 77 30 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total: 283,560 sq km
land: 276,840 sq km
water: 6,720 sq km
note: includes Galapagos Islands

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Nevada

Land boundaries:

total: 2,010 km
border countries: Colombia 590 km, Peru 1,420 km

Coastline:

2,237 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 200 nm
continental shelf: 100 nm from 2,500 meter isobath

Climate:

tropical along coast, becoming cooler inland at higher elevations; tropical in Amazonian jungle lowlands

Terrain:

coastal plain (costa), inter-Andean central highlands (sierra), and flat to rolling eastern jungle (oriente)

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, fish, timber, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 5.85%
permanent crops: 4.93%
other: 89.22% (2001)

Irrigated land:

8,650 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; floods; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically sensitive areas of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

Cotopaxi in Andes is highest active volcano in world

People

Ecuador

Population:

13,363,593 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 33.5% (male 2,282,252/female 2,195,942)
15-64 years: 61.5% (male 4,094,146/female 4,130,096)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 310,336/female 350,821) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 23.27 years
male: 22.82 years
female: 23.74 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.24% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

22.67 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

4.24 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-6.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 23.66 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 28.36 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.21 years
male: 73.35 years
female: 79.22 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.72 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.3% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

21,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

1,700 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Ecuadorian(s)
adjective: Ecuadorian

Ethnic groups:

mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish and others 7%, black 3%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 95%, other 5%

Languages:

Spanish (official), Amerindian languages (especially Quechua)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.5%
male: 94%
female: 91% (2003 est.)

Government

Ecuador

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Ecuador
conventional short form: Ecuador
local long form: Republica del Ecuador
local short form: Ecuador

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Quito

Administrative divisions:

22 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Azuay, Bolivar, Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Galapagos, Guayas, Imbabura, Loja, Los Rios, Manabi, Morona-Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Pichincha, Sucumbios, Tungurahua, Zamora-Chinchipe

Independence:

24 May 1822 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day (independence of Quito), 10 August (1809)

Constitution:

10 August 1998

Legal system:

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

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal, compulsory for literate persons ages 18-65, optional for other eligible voters

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Alfredo PALACIO (since 20 April 2005); Vice President Nicanor Alejandro SERRANO Aguilar (since 5 May 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; former President Lucio GUTIERREZ was removed from office by congress effective 20 April 2005
head of government: President Alfredo PALACIO (since 20 April 2005); Vice President Nicanor Alejandro SERRANO Aguilar (since 5 May 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: the president and vice president are elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a four-year term (no immediate reelection); election last held 20 October 2002; runoff election held 24 November 2002 (next to be held October 2006)
election results: results of the 24 November 2002 runoff election - Lucio GUTIERREZ elected president; percent of vote - Lucio GUTIERREZ 54.3%; Alvaro NOBOA 45.7%; note - Vice President Alfredo PALACIO assumed the presidency on 20 April 2005 after congress removed Lucio GUTIERREZ from office

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (100 seats; members are popularly elected by province to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 20 October 2002 (next to be held October 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PSC 25, PRE 15, ID 16, PRIAN 10, PSP 9, Pachakutik Movement 6, MPD 5, DP 4, PS-FA 3, independents 7; note - defections by members of National Congress are commonplace, resulting in frequent changes in the numbers of seats held by the various parties

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (according to the Constitution, new justices are elected by the full Supreme Court; in December 2004, however, Congress successfully replaced the entire court via a simple-majority resolution)

Political parties and leaders:

Concentration of Popular Forces or CFP [Averroes BUCARAM]; Democratic Left or ID [Guillermo LANDAZURI]; National Action Institutional Renewal Party or PRIAN [Alvaro NOBOA]; Pachakutik Movement [Gilberto TALAHUA]; Patriotic Society Party or PSP [Lucio GUTIERREZ Borbua]; Popular Democracy or DP [Dr. Juan Manuel FUERTES]; Popular Democratic Movement or MPD [Gustavo TERAN Acosta]; Radical Alfarista Front or FRA [Fabian ALARCON, director]; Roldosist Party or PRE [Abdala BUCARAM Ortiz, director]; Social Christian Party or PSC [Leon FEBRES CORDERO]; Socialist Party - Broad Front or PS-FA [Victor GRANDA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador or CONAIE [Luis MACAS, president]; Coordinator of Social Movements or CMS [F. Napoleon SANTOS]; Federation of Indigenous Evangelists of Ecuador or FEINE [Marco MURILLO, president]; National Federation of Indigenous Afro-Ecuatorianos and Peasants or FENOCIN [Pedro DE LA CRUZ, president]; Popular Front or FP [Luis VILLACIS]

International organization participation:

CAN, CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: 2535 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-7200
FAX: [1] (202) 667-3482
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Jersey City (New Jersey), Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Kristie Anne KENNEY
embassy: Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quito
mailing address: APO AA 34039
telephone: [593] (2) 256-2890
FAX: [593] (2) 250-2052
consulate(s) general: Guayaquil

Flag description:

three horizontal bands of yellow (top, double width), blue, and red with the coat of arms superimposed at the center of the flag; similar to the flag of Colombia, which is shorter and does not bear a coat of arms

Economy

Ecuador

Economy - overview:

Ecuador has substantial petroleum resources, which have accounted for 40% of the country's export earnings and one-fourth of central government budget revenues in recent years. Consequently, fluctuations in world market prices can have a substantial domestic impact. In the late 1990s, Ecuador suffered its worst economic crisis, with natural disasters and sharp declines in world petroleum prices driving Ecuador's economy into free fall in 1999. Real GDP contracted by more than 6%, with poverty worsening significantly. The banking system also collapsed, and Ecuador defaulted on its external debt later that year. The currency depreciated by some 70% in 1999, and, on the brink of hyperinflation, the MAHAUD government announced it would dollarize the economy. A coup, however, ousted MAHAUD from office in January 2000, and after a short-lived junta failed to garner military support, Vice President Gustavo NOBOA took over the presidency. In March 2000, Congress approved a series of structural reforms that also provided the framework for the adoption of the US dollar as legal tender. Dollarization stabilized the economy, and growth returned to its pre-crisis levels in the years that followed. Under the administration of Lucio GUTIERREZ - January 2003 to April 2005 - Ecuador benefited from higher world petroleum prices, but the government has made little progress on economic reforms necessary to reduce Ecuador's vulnerability to petroleum price swings and financial crises.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$49.51 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.8% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $3,700 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 8.7%
industry: 30.5%
services: 60.9% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

4.53 million (urban) (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 8%, industry 24%, services 68% (2001)

Unemployment rate:

11.1%; note - underemployment of 47% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

45% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 32%
note: data for urban households only (October 2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

42
note: data are for urban households (2003)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

20.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $7.9 billion
expenditures: planned $7.3 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.6 billion (2004 est.)

Public debt:

49.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca), plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy products; balsa wood; fish, shrimp

Industries:

petroleum, food processing, textiles, wood products, chemicals

Industrial production growth rate:

10% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

11.54 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 81%
hydro: 19%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

10.79 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

57 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

523,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

129,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

387,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

4.408 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

160 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

160 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

106.5 billion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$261.1 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$7.56 billion (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp

Exports - partners:

US 42.9%, Panama 14.3%, Peru 7.9%, Italy 4.6% (2004)

Imports:

$7.65 billion (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

vehicles, medicinal products, telecommunications equipment, electricity

Imports - partners:

US 16.5%, Colombia 14.1%, China 9.2%, Venezuela 7.1%, Brazil 6.5%, Chile 4.6%, Japan 4.5%, Mexico 4.3% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.436 billion (December 2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$16.81 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$216 million (2002)

Currency (code):

US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

USD

Exchange rates:

25,000 (2004), 25,000 (2003), 25,000 (2002), 25,000 (2001), 24,988 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Ecuador

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.549 million (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2,394,400 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: generally elementary but being expanded
domestic: facilities generally inadequate and unreliable
international: country code - 593; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 392, FM 35, shortwave 29 (2001)

Radios:

5 million (2001)

Television broadcast stations:

7 (plus 14 repeaters) (2001)

Televisions:

2.5 million (2001)

Internet country code:

.ec

Internet hosts:

3,188 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

31 (2001)

Internet users:

569,700 (2003)

Transportation

Ecuador

Railways:

total: 966 km
narrow gauge: 966 km 1.067-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 43,197 km
paved: 8,164 km
unpaved: 35,033 km (2002)

Waterways:

1,500 km (most inaccessible) (2003)

Pipelines:

extra heavy crude 578 km; gas 71 km; oil 1,386 km; refined products 1,185 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta, Puerto Bolivar

Merchant marine:

total: 31 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 241,403 GRT/391,898 DWT
by type: chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas 1, passenger 8, petroleum tanker 20
foreign-owned: 3 (Germany 1, Greece 1, Paraguay 1) (2005)

Airports:

205 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 62
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 19
under 914 m: 18 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 143
914 to 1,523 m: 30
under 914 m: 113 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

Ecuador

Military branches:

Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry, Naval Aviation, Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana, FAE)

Military service age and obligation:

20 years of age for conscript military service; 12-month service obligation (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 20-49: 2,792,770 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 20-49: 2,338,428 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 133,922 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$655 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.2% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Ecuador

Disputes - international:

organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia penetrate across Ecuador's shared border and caused over 20,000 refugees to flee into Ecuador in 2004

Illicit drugs:

significant transit country for cocaine originating in Colombia and Peru; importer of precursor chemicals used in production of illicit narcotics; attractive location for cash-placement by drug traffickers laundering money because of dollarization and weak anti-money-laundering regime, especially vulnerable along the border with Colombia; increased activity on the northern frontier by trafficking groups and Colombian insurgents

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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European Union

Introduction

European Union

Preliminary statement:

The evolution of the European Union (EU) from a regional economic agreement among six neighboring states in 1951 to today's supranational organization of 25 countries across the European continent stands as an unprecedented phenomenon in the annals of history. Dynastic unions for territorial consolidation were long the norm in Europe. On a few occasions even country-level unions were arranged - the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Austro-Hungarian Empire were examples - but for such a large number of nation-states to cede some of their sovereignty to an overarching entity is truly unique. Although the EU is not a federation in the strict sense, it is far more than a free-trade association such as ASEAN, NAFTA, or Mercosur, and it has many of the attributes associated with independent nations: its own flag, anthem, founding date, and currency, as well as an incipient common foreign and security policy in its dealings with other nations. In the future, many of these nation-like characteristics are likely to be expanded. Thus, inclusion of basic intelligence on the EU has been deemed appropriate as a new, separate entity in The World Factbook. However, because of the EU's special status, this description is placed after the regular country entries.

Background:

Following the two devastating World Wars of the first half of the 20th century, a number of European leaders in the late 1940s became convinced that the only way to establish a lasting peace was to unite the two chief belligerent nations - France and Germany - both economically and politically. In 1950, the French Foreign Minister Robert SCHUMAN proposed an eventual union of all Europe, the first step of which would be the integration of the coal and steel industries of Western Europe. The following year the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) was set up when six members, Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, signed the Treaty of Paris. The ECSC was so successful that within a few years the decision was made to integrate other parts of the countries' economies. In 1957, the Treaties of Rome created the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), and the six member states undertook to eliminate trade barriers among themselves by forming a common market. In 1967, the institutions of all three communities were formally merged into the European Community (EC), creating a single Commission, a single Council of Ministers, and the European Parliament. Members of the European Parliament were initially selected by national parliaments, but in 1979 the first direct elections were undertaken and they have been held every five years since. In 1973, the first enlargement of the EC took place with the addition of Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. The 1980s saw further membership expansion with Greece joining in 1981 and Spain and Portugal in 1986. The 1992 Treaty of Maastricht laid the basis for further forms of cooperation in foreign and defense policy, in judicial and internal affairs, and in the creation of an economic and monetary union - including a common currency. This further integration created the European Union (EU). In 1995, Austria, Finland, and Sweden joined the EU, raising the membership total to 15. A new currency, the euro, was launched in world money markets on 1 January 1999; it become the unit of exchange for all of the EU states except the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Denmark. In 2002, citizens of the 12 euro-area countries began using the euro banknotes and coins. Ten new countries joined the EU in 2004 - Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia - bringing the current membership to 25. In order to ensure that the EU can continue to function efficiently with an expanded membership, the 2003 Treaty of Nice set forth rules streamlining the size and procedures of EU institutions. An EU Constitutional Treaty, signed in Rome on 29 October 2004, gave member states two years to ratify the document before it was scheduled to take effect on 1 November 2006. Referenda held in France and the Netherlands in May-June 2005 that rejected the constitution suspended the ratification effort. Despite the expansion of membership and functions, "Eurosceptics" in various countries have raised questions about the erosion of national cultures and the imposition of a flood of regulations from the EU capital in Brussels. Failure by all member states to ratify the constitution or the inability of newcomer countries to meet euro currency standards might force a loosening of some EU agreements and perhaps lead to several levels of EU participation. These "tiers" might eventually range from an "inner" core of politically integrated countries to a looser "outer" economic association of members.

Geography

European Union

Location:

Europe between Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, southeastern Europe, and the North Atlantic Ocean

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 3,976,372 sq km

Area - comparative:

less than one-half the size of the US

Land boundaries:

total: 11,214.8 km
border countries: Albania 282 km, Andorra 120.3 km, Belarus 1,050 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Croatia 999 km, Holy See 3.2 km, Liechtenstein 34.9 km, Macedonia 246 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Norway 2,348 km, Romania 443 km, Russia 2,257 km, San Marino 39 km, Serbia and Montenegro 151 km, Switzerland 1,811 km, Turkey 206 km, Ukraine 726 km
note: data for European Continent only

Coastline:

65,413.9 km

Maritime claims:

NA

Climate:

cold temperate; potentially subarctic in the north to temperate; mild wet winters; hot dry summers in the south

Terrain:

fairly flat along the Baltic and Atlantic coast; mountainous in the central and southern areas

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Lammefjord, Denmark -7 m; Zuidplaspolder, Netherlands -7 m
highest point: Mount Blanc, France/Italy 4,807 m

Natural resources:

iron ore, arable land, natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, lead, zinc, hydropower, uranium, potash, fish

Land use:

arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
other: NA%

Irrigated land:

115,807 sq km

Natural hazards:

flooding along coasts; avalanches in mountainous area; earthquakes in the south; volcanic eruptions in Italy; periodic droughts in Spain; ice floes in the Baltic

Environment - current issues:

NA

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 82, Tropical Timber 94
signed but not ratified: Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds

People

European Union

Population:

456,953,258 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.03% (male 37,608,010/female 35,632,351)
15-64 years: 67.17% (male 154,439,536/female 152,479,619)
65 years and over: 16.81% (male 31,515,921/female 45,277,821) (2005 est.)

Median age:

NA

Population growth rate:

0.15% (July 2005 est.)

Birth rate:

10 births/1,000 population (July 2005 est.)

Death rate:

10.1 deaths/1,000 population (July 2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (July 2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: NA
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and older: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (July 2004 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.1 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births (July 2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.3 years
male: 75.1 years
female: 81.6 years (July 2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.47 children born/woman (July 2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Religions:

Roman Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Muslim, Jewish

Languages:

Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish, Swedish; note - only official languages are listed; Irish (Gaelic) will become the twenty-first language on 1 January 2007

Government

European Union

Union name:

conventional long form: European Union
abbreviation: EU

Political structure:

a hybrid intergovernmental and supranational organization

Capital:

Brussels, Belgium
note: the Council of the European Union meets in Brussels, the European Parliament meets in Strasbourg, France, and the Court of Justice of the European Communities meets in Luxembourg

Member states:

25 countries: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK; note - Canary Islands (Spain), Azores and Madeira (Portugal), and French Guyana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Reunion (France) are sometimes listed separately even though they are legally a part of Spain, Portugal, and France; candidate countries: Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Turkey

Independence:

7 February 1992 (Maastricht Treaty signed establishing the EU); 1 November 1993 (Maastricht Treaty entered into force)

National holiday:

Europe Day 9 May (1950); note - a Union-wide holiday, the day that Robert Schuman proposed the creation of an organized Europe

Constitution:

based on a series of treaties: the Treaty of Paris, which set up the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in 1951; the Treaties of Rome, which set up the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) in 1957; the Single European Act in 1986; the Treaty on European Union (Maastricht) in 1992; the Treaty of Amsterdam in 1997; and the Treaty of Nice in 2001; note - a new draft Constitutional Treaty, signed on 29 October 2004 in Rome, gave member states two years for ratification either by parliamentary vote or national referendum before it was scheduled to take effect on 1 November 2006; defeat in French and Dutch referenda in May-June 2005 caused a suspension of the ratification process

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of union: President of the European Commission Jose DURAO BARROSO (since 22 November 2004)
cabinet: European Commission (composed of 25 members, one from each member country; each commissioner responsible for one or more policy areas)
elections: the president of the European Commission is designated by member governments; the president-designate then chooses the other Commission members; the European Parliament confirms the entire Commission for a five-year term; election last held 18 November 2004 (next to be held 2009)
election results: European Parliament approved the European Commission by an approval vote of 449 to 149 with 82 abstentions
note: the European Council brings together heads of state and government and the president of the European Commission and meets at least twice a year; its aim is to provide the impetus for the major political issues relating to European integration and to issue general policy guidelines

Legislative branch:

Council of the European Union (25 member-state ministers having 321 votes; the number of votes is roughly proportional to member-states' population); note - the Council is the main decision-making body of the EU; European Parliament (732 seats; seats allocated among member states by proportion to population); members elected by direct universal suffrage for a five-year term
elections: last held 10-13 June 2004 (next to be held June 2009)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats by party - EPP-ED 268, PES 202, ALDE 88, Greens/EFA 42, EUL/NGL 41, IND/DEM 36, UEN 27, independents 28

Judicial branch:

Court of Justice of the European Communities (ensures that the treaties are interpreted and applied correctly) - 25 justices (one from each member state) appointed for a six-year term; note - for the sake of efficiency, the court can sit with 11 justices known as the "Grand Chamber"; Court of First Instance - 25 justices appointed for a six-year term

Political parties and leaders:

Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe or ALDE [Graham R. WATSON]; Independence/Democracy Group or IND/DEM [Jens-Peter BONDE and Nigel FARAGE]; Group of Greens/European Free Alliance or Greens/EFA [Monica FRASSONI and Daniel Marc COHN-BENDIT]; Socialist Group in the European Parliament or PES [Martin SCHULZ]; Confederal Group of the European United Left-Nordic Green Left or EUL/NGL [Francis WURTZ]; European People's Party-European Democrats or EPP-ED [Hans-Gert POETTERING]; Union for Europe of the Nations Group or UEN [Brian CROWLEY and Cristiana MUSCARDINI]

International organization participation:

European Union: ASEAN (dialogue member), ARF (dialogue member), EBRD, IDA, OAS (observer), OECD, WTO
European Commission: Australian Group, CBSS, CERN, FAO, G-10, NSG (observer), UN (observer)
European Central Bank: BIS
European Investment Bank: WADB (nonregional member)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador John BRUTON
chancery: 2300 M Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 862-9500
FAX: [1] (202) 429-1766

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Rockwell SCHNABEL
embassy: 13 Zinnerstraat/Rue Zinner, B-1000 Brussels
mailing address: same as above
telephone: [32] (2) 508-2222
FAX: [32] (2) 512-5720

Flag description:

on a blue field, 12 five-pointed gold stars arranged in a circle, representing the union of the peoples of Europe; the number of stars is fixed

Economy

European Union

Economy - overview:

Domestically, the European Union attempts to lower trade barriers, adopt a common currency, and move toward convergence of living standards. Internationally, the EU aims to bolster Europe's trade position and its political and economic power. Because of the great differences in per capita income (from $10,000 to $28,000) and historic national animosities, the European Community faces difficulties in devising and enforcing common policies. For example, both Germany and France since 2003 have flouted the member states' treaty obligation to prevent their national budgets from running more than a 3% deficit. In 2004, the EU admitted 10 central and eastern European countries that are, in general, less advanced technologically and economically than the existing 15. Twelve EU member states introduced the euro as their common currency on 1 January 1999. The UK, Sweden, and Denmark do not now participate; the 10 new member states may choose to adopt the euro when they meet the EU's fiscal and monetary criteria and the member states so agree.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$11.65 trillion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.4% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $26,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.2%
industry: 28.3%
services: 69.4% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

215 million (various)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 4.5%, industry 27.4%, services 66.9%
note: the remainder is in miscellaneous public and private sector industries and services (2004)

Unemployment rate:

9.5% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

See individual country listings

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 25.4% (1995 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

31.2 (2003 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.1% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

percent of GDP - 19.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, barley, oilseeds, sugar beets, wine, grapes, dairy products, cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry, fish

Industries:

among the world's largest and most technologically advanced, the European Union industrial base includes: ferrous and non-ferrous metal production and processing, metal products, petroleum, coal, cement, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, rail transportation equipment, passenger and commercial vehicles, construction equipment, industrial equipment, shipbuilding, electrical power equipment, machine tools and automated manufacturing systems, electronics and telecommunications equipment, fishing, food and beverage processing, furniture, paper, textiles, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

2.4% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

2.888 trillion kWh (2002 est.)

Electricity - consumption:

2.661 trillion kWh (2002 est.)

Electricity - exports:

270.8 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

268.5 billion kWh (2002 est.)

Oil - production:

2.648 million bbl/day (2001)

Oil - consumption:

14.54 million bbl/day (2001)

Oil - exports:

5.322 million bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:

15.69 million bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

28.21 billion bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

242.6 billion cu m (2001)

Natural gas - consumption:

467.7 billion cu m (2001)

Natural gas - exports:

78.1 billion cu m (2001)

Natural gas - imports:

297.8 billion cu m (2001)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

3.256 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$NA

Exports:

$1.109 trillion
note: external exports, excluding intra EU trade (2003)

Exports - commodities:

machinery, motor vehicles, aircraft, plastics, pharmaceuticals and other chemicals, fuels, iron and steel, nonferrous metals, wood pulp and paper products, textiles, meat, dairy products, fish, alcoholic beverages.

Exports - partners:

US 22.9%, Switzerland 6.9%, China 4.1%, Japan 4%

Imports:

$1.123 trillion
note: external imports, excluding intra-EU trade (2003)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, vehicles, aircraft, plastics, crude oil, chemicals, textiles, metals, foodstuffs, clothing

Imports - partners:

US 15.1%, China 9.7%, Japan 6.7%, Switzerland 5.6%

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$NA

Currency (code):

euro, British pound, Danish kroner, Swedish kroner, Cypriot pound, koruny (Czech Republic), krooni (Estonia), forint (Hungary), lati (Latvia), litai (Lithuania), Maltese liri, zloty (Poland), koruny (Slovakia), tolar (Slovenia)

Currency code:

EUR

Exchange rates:

euros per US dollar - 0.81 (2004), 0.89 (2003), 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000)

Fiscal year:

NA

Communications

European Union

Telephones - main lines in use:

238,763,162 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

314,644,700 (2002)

Telephone system:

note - see individual country entries of member states

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 866, FM 13,396, shortwave 73 (1998); note - sum of individual country radio broadcast stations; there is also a European-wide station (Euroradio)

Television broadcast stations:

2,791 (1995); note - does not include repeaters; sum of individual country television broadcast stations; there is also a European-wide station (Eurovision)

Internet country code:

.eu (effective 2005); note - see country entries of member states for individual country codes

Internet hosts:

22,000,414 (2004); note - sum of individual country Internet hosts

Internet users:

206,032,067 (September 2004)

Transportation

European Union

Railways:

total: 222,293 km
broad gauge: 28,438 km
standard gauge: 186,405 km
narrow gauge: 7,427 km
other: 23 km (2003)

Highways:

total: 4,634,810 km (including 56,704 km of expressways)
paved: 4,161,318 km
unpaved: 473,492 km (1999-2000)

Waterways:

53,512 km

Ports and harbors:

Antwerp (Belgium), Barcelona (Spain), Bremen (Germany), Copenhagen (Denmark), Gdansk (Poland), Hamburg (Germany), Helsinki (Finland), Las Palmas (Canary Islands, Spain), Le Havre (France), Lisbon (Portugal), London (UK), Marseille (France), Naples (Italy), Peiraiefs or Piraeus (Greece), Riga (Latvia), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Stockholm (Sweden), Talinn (Estonia)

Airports:

3,130 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1,834

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1,296

Heliports:

94 (2004)

Military

European Union

Military - note:

In November 2004, the European Union heads of government signed a "Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe" that offers possibilities - with some limits - for increased defense and security cooperation. If ratified, in a process that may take some two years, this treaty will in effect make operational the European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP) approved in the 2000 Nice Treaty. Despite limits of cooperation for some EU members, development of a European military planning unit is likely to continue. So is creation of a rapid-reaction military force and a humanitarian aid system, which the planning unit will support. France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Italy continue to press for wider coordination. The five-nation Eurocorps - created in 1992 by France, Germany, Belgium, Spain, and Luxembourg - has already deployed troops and police on peacekeeping missions to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo and assumed command of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan in August 2004. Eurocorps directly commands the 5,000-man Franco-German Brigade, the Multinational Command Support Brigade, and EUFOR, which took over from SFOR in Bosnia in December 2004. Other troop contributions are under national command - committments to provide 67,100 troops were made at the Helsinki EU session in 2000. Some 56,000 EU troops were actually deployed in 2003. In August 2004, the new European Defense Agency, tasked with promoting cooperative European defense capabilities, began operations. In November 2004, the EU Council of Ministers formally committed to creating thirteen 1,500-man "battle groups" by the end of 2007, to respond to international crises on a rotating basis. Twenty-two of the EU's 25 nations have agreed to supply troops. France, Italy, and the UK are to form the first three battle groups in 2005, with Spain to follow. In May 2005, Norway, Sweden, and Finland agreed to establish one of the battle groups, possibly to include Estonian forces. The remaining groups are to be formed by 2007. (2005)

Transnational Issues

European Union

Disputes - international:

the EU has no border disputes with neighboring countries; it has set up a Schengen area - consisting of 13 EU member states that have signed the convention implementing the Schengen agreements (1985 and 1990) on the free movement of persons and the harmonization of border controls in Europe; the Schengen agreements ("acquis") became incorporated into EU law with the implementation of the 1997 Treaty of Amsterdam on 1 May 1999; member states are: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden; in addition, non-EU states Iceland and Norway (as part of the Nordic Union) have been included in the Schengen area since 1996 (full members in 2001), bringing the total current membership to 15; the UK (since 2000) and Ireland (since 2002) take part in some aspects of the Schengen area, especially with respect to police and criminal matters; the 10 new member states that joined the EU in 2004 eventually are expected to participate in Schengen, following a transition period to upgrade their border controls and procedures

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Egypt

Introduction

Egypt

Background:

The regularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood, coupled with semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and west, allowed for the development of one of the world's great civilizations. A unified kingdom arose circa 3200 B.C. and a series of dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia. The last native dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 B.C., who in turn were replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. It was the Arabs who introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and who ruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, the Mamluks took control about 1250 and continued to govern after the conquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517. Following the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869, Egypt became an important world transportation hub, but also fell heavily into debt. Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control of Egypt's government in 1882, but nominal allegiance to the Ottoman Empire continued until 1914. Partially independent from the UK in 1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty following World War II. The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake Nasser have altered the time-honored place of the Nile River in the agriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence on the Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society. The government has struggled to ready the economy for the new millennium through economic reform and massive investment in communications and physical infrastructure.

Geography

Egypt

Location:

Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Libya and the Gaza Strip, and the Red Sea north of Sudan, and includes the Asian Sinai Peninsula

Geographic coordinates:

27 00 N, 30 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 1,001,450 sq km
land: 995,450 sq km
water: 6,000 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico

Land boundaries:

total: 2,665 km
border countries: Gaza Strip 11 km, Israel 266 km, Libya 1,115 km, Sudan 1,273 km

Coastline:

2,450 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

desert; hot, dry summers with moderate winters

Terrain:

vast desert plateau interrupted by Nile valley and delta

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Qattara Depression -133 m
highest point: Mount Catherine 2,629 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, phosphates, manganese, limestone, gypsum, talc, asbestos, lead, zinc

Land use:

arable land: 2.87%
permanent crops: 0.48%
other: 96.65% (2001)

Irrigated land:

33,000 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash floods, landslides; hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring; dust storms, sandstorms

Environment - current issues:

agricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown sands; increasing soil salination below Aswan High Dam; desertification; oil pollution threatening coral reefs, beaches, and marine habitats; other water pollution from agricultural pesticides, raw sewage, and industrial effluents; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Nile which is the only perennial water source; rapid growth in population overstraining the Nile and natural resources

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

controls Sinai Peninsula, only land bridge between Africa and remainder of Eastern Hemisphere; controls Suez Canal, a sea link between Indian Ocean and Mediterranean Sea; size, and juxtaposition to Israel, establish its major role in Middle Eastern geopolitics; dependence on upstream neighbors; dominance of Nile basin issues; prone to influxes of refugees

People

Egypt

Population:

77,505,756 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 33% (male 13,106,043/female 12,483,899)
15-64 years: 62.6% (male 24,531,266/female 23,972,216)
65 years and over: 4.4% (male 1,457,097/female 1,955,235) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 23.68 years
male: 23.31 years
female: 24.05 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.78% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

23.32 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

5.26 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 32.59 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 33.31 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 31.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71 years
male: 68.5 years
female: 73.62 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.88 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

12,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

700 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Egyptian(s)
adjective: Egyptian

Ethnic groups:

Eastern Hamitic stock (Egyptians, Bedouins, and Berbers) 99%, Greek, Nubian, Armenian, other European (primarily Italian and French) 1%

Religions:

Muslim (mostly Sunni) 94%, Coptic Christian and other 6%

Languages:

Arabic (official), English and French widely understood by educated classes

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.7%
male: 68.3%
female: 46.9% (2003 est.)

Government

Egypt

Country name:

conventional long form: Arab Republic of Egypt
conventional short form: Egypt
local long form: Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah
local short form: Misr
former: United Arab Republic (with Syria)

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Cairo

Administrative divisions:

26 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ad Daqahliyah, Al Bahr al Ahmar, Al Buhayrah, Al Fayyum, Al Gharbiyah, Al Iskandariyah, Al Isma'iliyah, Al Jizah, Al Minufiyah, Al Minya, Al Qahirah, Al Qalyubiyah, Al Wadi al Jadid, Ash Sharqiyah, As Suways, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id, Dumyat, Janub Sina', Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina', Suhaj

Independence:

28 February 1922 (from UK)

National holiday:

Revolution Day, 23 July (1952)

Constitution:

11 September 1971; amended 22 May 1980

Legal system:

based on English common law, Islamic law, and Napoleonic codes; judicial review by Supreme Court and Council of State (oversees validity of administrative decisions); accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14 October 1981)
head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed NAZIF (since 9 July 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for six-year term; note - a national referendum in May 2005 approved a constitutional amendment that changed the presidential election to a multicandidate popular vote; previously the president was nominated by the People's Assembly and the nomination was validated by a national, popular referendum; last referendum held 26 September 1999; first election under terms of constitutional amendment held 7 September 2005; next election scheduled for 2011
election results: Hosni MUBARAK reelected president; percent of vote - Hosni MUBARAK 88.6%, Ayman NOUR 7.6%, Noman GOMAA 2.9%

Legislative branch:

bicameral system consists of the People's Assembly or Majlis al-Sha'b (454 seats; 444 elected by popular vote, 10 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms) and the Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura - which functions only in a consultative role (264 seats; 176 elected by popular vote, 88 appointed by the president; members serve six-year terms; mid-term elections for half the members)
elections: People's Assembly - three-phase voting - last held 19 October, 29 October, 8 November 2000 (next to be held October-November 2005); Advisory Council - last held May-June 2004 (next to be held May-June 2007)
election results: People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDP 388, Tagammu 6, NWP 7, Nasserists 3, Al-Ahrar 1, independents 37 (2 seats determined by a later byelection, 10 seats appointed by President); Advisory Council - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA

Judicial branch:

Supreme Constitutional Court

Political parties and leaders:

Al-Ahrar Party [Helmi SALEM]; Nasserist Arab Democratic Party or Nasserists [Dia' al-din DAWUD]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (governing party)]; National Progressive Unionist Grouping or Tagammu [Rifaat EL-SAID]; New Wafd Party or NWP [No'man GOMAA]
note: formation of political parties must be approved by the government

Political pressure groups and leaders:

despite a constitutional ban against religious-based parties, the technically illegal Muslim Brotherhood constitutes MUBARAK's potentially most significant political opposition; MUBARAK tolerated limited political activity by the Brotherhood for his first two terms, but moved more aggressively since then to block its influence; civic society groups are sanctioned, but constrained in practical terms; trade unions and professional associations are officially sanctioned

International organization participation:

ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, BSEC (observer), CAEU, EBRD, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, ONUB, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador M. Nabil FAHMY
chancery: 3521 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 895-5400
FAX: [1] (202) 244-4319
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador designate Francis J. RICCIARDONE, Jr
embassy: 8 Kamal El Din Salah St., Garden City, Cairo
mailing address: Unit 64900, Box 15, APO AE 09839-4900
telephone: [20] (2) 797-3300
FAX: [20] (2) 797-3200

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; the national emblem (a gold Eagle of Saladin facing the hoist side with a shield superimposed on its chest above a scroll bearing the name of the country in Arabic) centered in the white band; design is based on the Arab Liberation flag and similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars, Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band, and Yemen, which has a plain white band

Economy

Egypt

Economy - overview:

Lack of substantial progress on economic reform since the mid 1990s has limited foreign direct investment in Egypt and kept annual GDP growth in the range of 2%-3% in 2001-03. However, in 2004 Egypt implemented several measures to boost foreign direct investment. In September 2004, Egypt pushed through custom reforms, proposed income and corporate tax reforms, reduced energy subsidies, and privatized several enterprises. The budget deficit rose to an estimated 8% of GDP in 2004 compared to 6.1% of GDP the previous year, in part as a result of these reforms. Monetary pressures on an overvalued Egyptian pound led the government to float the currency in January 2003, leading to a sharp drop in its value and consequent inflationary pressure. In 2004, the Central Bank implemented measures to improve currency liquidity. Egypt reached record tourism levels, despite the Taba and Nuweiba bombings in September 2004. The development of an export market for natural gas is a bright spot for future growth prospects, but improvement in the capital-intensive hydrocarbons sector does little to reduce Egypt's persistent unemployment.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$316.3 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $4,200 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 17.2%
industry: 33%
services: 49.8% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

20.71 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 32%, industry 17%, services 51% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate:

10.9% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

16.7% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 4.4%
highest 10%: 25% (1995)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

34.4 (2001)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

9.5% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

15.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $15.42 billion
expenditures: $20.76 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.7 billion (2004 est.)

Public debt:

102.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats

Industries:

textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, hydrocarbons, construction, cement, metals

Industrial production growth rate:

2.5% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

81.27 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 81%
hydro: 19%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

75.58 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

740,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

562,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

2.7 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

21.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

21.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.264 trillion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$2.113 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$11 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal products, chemicals

Exports - partners:

Italy 11.9%, US 10.8%, UK 7%, Syria 6.2%, Germany 4.7%, Spain 4.2% (2004)

Imports:

$19.21 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, wood products, fuels

Imports - partners:

US 12.2%, Germany 7%, Italy 6.6%, France 5.7%, China 5.4%, UK 4.7%, Saudi Arabia 4.1% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$14.03 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$33.75 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $1.12 billion (2002)

Currency (code):

Egyptian pound (EGP)

Currency code:

EGP

Exchange rates:

Egyptian pounds per US dollar - 6.1963 (2004), 5.8509 (2003), 4.4997 (2002), 3.973 (2001), 3.4721 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Communications

Egypt

Telephones - main lines in use:

9.6 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

8,583,940 (2005)

Telephone system:

general assessment: large system; underwent extensive upgrading during 1990s and is reasonably modern; Internet access and cellular service are available
domestic: principal centers at Alexandria, Cairo, Al Mansurah, Ismailia, Suez, and Tanta are connected by coaxial cable and microwave radio relay
international: country code - 20; 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

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 42 (plus 15 repeaters), FM 14, shortwave 3 (1999)

Radios:

20.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

98 (September 1995)

Televisions:

7.7 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.eg

Internet hosts:

3,401 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

50 (2000)

Internet users:

4.2 million (2005)

Transportation

Egypt

Railways:

total: 5,063 km
standard gauge: 5,063 km 1.435-m gauge (62 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 64,000 km
paved: 49,984 km
unpaved: 14,016 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

3,500 km
note: includes Nile River, Lake Nasser, Alexandria-Cairo Waterway, and numerous smaller canals in delta; Suez Canal (193.5 km including approaches) navigable by oceangoing vessels drawing up to 17.68 m (2004)

Pipelines:

condensate 289 km; condensate/gas 94 km; gas 6,115 km; liquid petroleum gas 852 km; oil 5,032 km; oil/gas/water 36 km; refined products 246 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Alexandria, Damietta, El Dekheila, Port Said, Suez, Zeit

Merchant marine:

total: 77 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,194,696 GRT/1,754,815 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 14, cargo 34, container 2, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 14, roll on/roll off 8
foreign-owned: 10 (Denmark 1, Greece 6, Lebanon 2, Turkey 1)
registered in other countries: 34 (2005)

Airports:

87 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 72
over 3,047 m: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 38
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 15
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 7 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

2 (2004 est.)

Military

Egypt

Military branches:

Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for conscript military service; 3-year service obligation (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 18,347,560 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 15,540,234 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 802,920 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$2.44 billion (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3.4% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Egypt

Disputes - international:

Egypt and Sudan retain claims to administer the two triangular areas that extend north and south of the 1899 Treaty boundary along the 22nd Parallel, but have withdrawn their military presence; Egypt is developing the Hala'ib Triangle north of the Treaty line; since the attack on Taba and other Egyptian resort towns on the Red Sea in October 2004, Egypt vigilantly monitors the Sinai and borders with Israel and the Gaza Strip; Egypt does not extend domestic asylum to some 70,000 persons who identify as Palestinians but who largely lack UNRWA assistance and, until recently, UNHCR recognition as refugees

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 70,215 (Palestinian Territories) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

transit point for Southwest Asian and Southeast Asian heroin and opium moving to Europe, Africa, and the US; transit stop for Nigerian couriers; concern as money-laundering site due to lax financial regulations and enforcement

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Ireland

Introduction

Ireland

Background:

Celtic tribes arrived on the island between 600-150 B.C. Invasions by Norsemen that began in the late 8th century were finally ended when King Brian BORU defeated the Danes in 1014. English invasions began in the 12th century and set off more than seven centuries of Anglo-Irish struggle marked by fierce rebellions and harsh repressions. A failed 1916 Easter Monday Rebellion touched off several years of guerrilla warfare that in 1921 resulted in independence from the UK for 26 southern counties; six northern (Ulster) counties remained part of the United Kingdom. In 1948 Ireland withdrew from the British Commonwealth; it joined the European Community in 1973. Irish governments have sought the peaceful unification of Ireland and have cooperated with Britain against terrorist groups. A peace settlement for Northern Ireland, known as the Good Friday Agreement and approved in 1998, is being implemented with some difficulties.

Geography

Ireland

Location:

Western Europe, occupying five-sixths of the island of Ireland in the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain

Geographic coordinates:

53 00 N, 8 00 W

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 70,280 sq km
land: 68,890 sq km
water: 1,390 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries:

total: 360 km
border countries: UK 360 km

Coastline:

1,448 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time

Terrain:

mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Carrauntoohil 1,041 m

Natural resources:

natural gas, peat, copper, lead, zinc, silver, barite, gypsum, limestone, dolomite

Land use:

arable land: 15.2%
permanent crops: 0.03%
other: 84.77% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural runoff

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, 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: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

strategic location on major air and sea routes between North America and northern Europe; over 40% of the population resides within 100 km of Dublin

People

Ireland

Population:

4,015,676 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 20.9% (male 434,225/female 406,730)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 1,358,086/female 1,354,148)
65 years and over: 11.5% (male 203,614/female 258,873) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 33.7 years
male: 32.9 years
female: 34.49 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.16% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

14.47 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

7.85 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

4.93 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.39 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.91 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.56 years
male: 74.95 years
female: 80.34 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.87 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

2,800 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Irishman(men), Irishwoman(women), Irish (collective plural)
adjective: Irish

Ethnic groups:

Celtic, English

Religions:

Roman Catholic 88.4%, Church of Ireland 3%, other Christian 1.6%, other 1.5%, unspecified 2%, none 3.5% (2002 census)

Languages:

English (official) is the language generally used, Irish (official) (Gaelic or Gaeilge) spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98% (1981 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Ireland

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Ireland
local long form: none
local short form: Eire

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Dublin

Administrative divisions:

26 counties; Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow
note: Cavan, Donegal, and Monaghan are part of Ulster Province

Independence:

6 December 1921 (from UK by treaty)

National holiday:

Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March

Constitution:

adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite; effective 29 December 1937

Legal system:

based on English common law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Mary MCALEESE (since 11 November 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Bertie AHERN (since 26 June 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with previous nomination by the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 31 October 1997 (next scheduled for October 2011); note - Mary MCALEESE appointed to a second term when no other candidate qualified for the 2004 presidential election; 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:

bicameral Parliament or Oireachtas consists of the Senate or Seanad Eireann (60 seats - 49 elected by the universities and from candidates put forward by five vocational panels, 11 are nominated by the prime minister; members serve five-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Dail Eireann (166 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 16 and 17 July 2002 (next to be held by July 2007); House of Representatives - last held 17 May 2002 (next to be held by May 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Fianna Fail 30, Fine Gael 15, Labor Party 5, Progressive Democrats 4, independents and others 6; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - Fianna Fail 41.5%, Fine Gael 22.5%, Labor Party 10.8%, Sinn Fein 6.5%, Progressive Democrats 4.0%, Green Party 3.8%, others 10.9%; seats by party - Fianna Fail 81, Fine Gael 31, Labor Party 21, Progressive Democrats 8, Green Party 6, Sinn Fein 5, others 14

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister and cabinet)

Political parties and leaders:

Fianna Fail [Bertie AHERN]; Fine Gael [Enda KENNY]; Green Party [Trevor SARGENT]; Labor Party [Pat RABITTE]; Progressive Democrats [Mary HARNEY]; Sinn Fein [Gerry ADAMS]; Socialist Party [Joe HIGGINS]; The Workers' Party [Sean GARLAND]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

Australia Group, BIS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Noel FAHEY
chancery: 2234 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-3939
FAX: [1] (202) 232-5993
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, New York, and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador James C. KENNY
embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [353] (1) 668-8777
FAX: [353] (1) 668-9946

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and orange; similar to the flag of Cote d'Ivoire, which is shorter and has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is shorter and has colors of green (hoist side), white, and red

Economy

Ireland

Economy - overview:

Ireland is a small, modern, trade-dependent economy with growth averaging a robust 7% in 1995-2004. Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry and services. Industry accounts for 46% of GDP, about 80% of exports, and 29% of the labor force. Although exports remain the primary engine for Ireland's growth, the economy has also benefited from a rise in consumer spending, construction, and business investment. Per capita GDP is 10% above that of the four big European economies and the second highest in the EU behind Luxembourg. Over the past decade, the Irish Government has implemented a series of national economic programs designed to curb price and wage inflation, reduce government spending, increase labor force skills, and promote foreign investment. Ireland joined in circulating the euro on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU nations.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$126.4 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.1% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $31,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 5%
industry: 46%
services: 49% (2002 est.)

Labor force:

1.92 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 8%, industry 29%, services 63% (2002 est.)

Unemployment rate:

4.3% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

10% (1997 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 27.3% (1997)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

35.9 (1987)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.2% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

23.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $62.51 billion
expenditures: $63.52 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.5 billion (2004 est.)

Public debt:

31.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; beef, dairy products

Industries:

steel, lead, zinc, silver, aluminum, barite, and gypsum mining processing; food products, brewing, textiles, clothing; chemicals, pharmaceuticals; machinery, rail transportation equipment, passenger and commercial vehicles, ship construction and refurbishment; glass and crystal; software, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

7% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

22.88 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 95.9%
hydro: 2.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1.7% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

21.78 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

100 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

600 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

174,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

27,450 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:

178,600 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

815 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

4.199 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

3.384 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

9.911 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$-2.881 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$103.8 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals; live animals, animal products

Exports - partners:

US 19.7%, UK 17.7%, Belgium 14.7%, Germany 7.7%, France 6%, Netherlands 4.6%, Italy 4.5% (2004)

Imports:

$60.65 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

data processing equipment, other machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products, textiles, clothing

Imports - partners:

UK 35.6%, US 13.8%, Germany 8.9%, Netherlands 4.3%, France 4.2% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$4.152 billion (2003)

Debt - external:

$11 billion (1998)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $283 million (2001)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries

Currency code:

EUR

Exchange rates:

euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Ireland

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.955 million (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

3.4 million (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern digital system using cable and microwave radio relay
domestic: microwave radio relay
international: country code - 353; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 9, FM 106, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

2.55 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

4 (many low-power repeaters) (2001)

Televisions:

1.82 million (2001)

Internet country code:

.ie

Internet hosts:

162,228 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

22 (2000)

Internet users:

1.26 million (2003)

Transportation

Ireland

Railways:

total: 3,312 km
broad gauge: 1,947 km 1.600-m gauge (46 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,365 km 0.914-m gauge (operated by the Irish Peat Board to transport peat to power stations and briquetting plants) (2004)

Highways:

total: 95,736 km
paved: 95,736 km (including 125 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2002)

Waterways:

753 km (pleasure craft only) (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 1,795 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Cork, Dublin, New Ross, Shannon Foynes, Waterford

Merchant marine:

total: 39
by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 27, chemical tanker 1, container 1, passenger/cargo 4, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 11 (Germany 3, Italy 3, Norway 1, Switzerland 1, United Kingdom 3)
registered in other countries: 18 (2005)

Airports:

36 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 15
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 6 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 21
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 17 (2004 est.)

Military

Ireland

Military branches:

Army (includes Naval Service and Air Corps)

Military service age and obligation:

17 years of age for voluntary military service; enlistees under the age of 17 can be recruited for specialist positions (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 17-49: 977,092 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 17-49: 814,768 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 29,327 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$700 million (FY00/01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.9% (FY00/01)

Transnational Issues

Ireland

Disputes - international:

Ireland, Iceland, and the UK dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for and consumer of hashish from North Africa to the UK and Netherlands and of European-produced synthetic drugs; minor transshipment point for heroin and cocaine destined for Western Europe; despite recent legislation, narcotics-related money laundering using bureaux de change, trusts, and shell companies involving the offshore financial community remains a concern

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Equatorial Guinea

Introduction

Equatorial Guinea

Background:

Equatorial Guinea gained independence in 1968 after 190 years of Spanish rule. This tiny country, composed of a mainland portion plus five inhabited islands, is one of the smallest on the African continent. President OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO has ruled the country for over two decades since seizing power from his uncle, then President MACIAS, in a 1979 coup. Although nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, the 1996 and 2002 presidential elections - as well as the 1999 legislative elections - were widely seen as being flawed. The president controls most opposition parties through the judicious use of patronage. Despite the country's economic windfall from oil production resulting in a massive increase in government revenue in recent years, there have been few improvements in the country's living standards.

Geography

Equatorial Guinea

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between Cameroon and Gabon

Geographic coordinates:

2 00 N, 10 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 28,051 sq km
land: 28,051 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries:

total: 539 km
border countries: Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350 km

Coastline:

296 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; always hot, humid

Terrain:

coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are volcanic

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico Basile 3,008 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, timber, gold, bauxite, diamonds, tantalum, sand and gravel, clay

Land use:

arable land: 4.63%
permanent crops: 3.57%
other: 91.8% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

violent windstorms, flash floods

Environment - current issues:

tap water is not potable; deforestation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

insular and continental regions rather widely separated

People

Equatorial Guinea

Population:

535,881 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 41.7% (male 112,326/female 111,244)
15-64 years: 54.5% (male 140,568/female 151,500)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 8,900/female 11,343) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.83 years
male: 18.2 years
female: 19.46 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.42% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

36.18 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

12 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 85.13 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 91.28 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 78.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 49.7 years
male: 48.01 years
female: 51.44 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.62 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

3.4% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

5,900 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

370 (2001 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)
adjective: Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean

Ethnic groups:

Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio Muni (primarily Fang), Europeans less than 1,000, mostly Spanish

Religions:

nominally Christian and predominantly Roman Catholic, pagan practices

Languages:

Spanish (official), French (official), pidgin English, Fang, Bubi, Ibo

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85.7%
male: 93.3%
female: 78.4% (2003 est.)

Government

Equatorial Guinea

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Equatorial Guinea
conventional short form: Equatorial Guinea
local long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial
local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial
former: Spanish Guinea

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Malabo

Administrative divisions:

7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas

Independence:

12 October 1968 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 12 October (1968)

Constitution:

approved by national referendum 17 November 1991; amended January 1995

Legal system:

partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal adult

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979 when he seized power in a military coup)
head of government: Prime Minister Miguel Abia BITEO BORICO (since 14 June 2004); First Deputy Prime Minister Mercelino Oyono NTUTUMU (since 15 June 2004); Deputy Prime Minister Ricardo Mangue Obama NFUBEA (since 15 June 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 15 December 2002 (next to be held December 2009); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
election results: Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected president; percent of vote - Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO 97.1%, Celestino Bonifacio BACALE 2.2%; elections marred by widespread fraud

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 25 April 2004 (next to be held NA 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDGE 98, NA 2
note: Parliament has little power since the constitution vests all executive authority in the president

Judicial branch:

Supreme Tribunal

Political parties and leaders:

Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS [Placido MIKO Abogo]; Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE (ruling party) [Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO]; Party for Progress of Equatorial Guinea or PPGE [Severo MOTO]; Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea or APGE [Miguel Esono EMAN]; Popular Union or UP [Andres Moises Bda ADA]; Progressive Democratic Alliance or ADP [Victorino Bolekia BONAY]; Union of Independent Democrats of UDI [Daniel OYONO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WToO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Teodoro Biyogo NSUE
chancery: 2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 518-5700
FAX: [1] (202) 518-5252

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Equatorial Guinea (embassy closed September 1995); the US ambassador to Cameroon is accredited to Equatorial Guinea; the US State Department is considering opening a Consulate Agency in Malabo

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side and the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms has six yellow six-pointed stars (representing the mainland and five offshore islands) above a gray shield bearing a silk-cotton tree and below which is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace, Justice)

Economy

Equatorial Guinea

Economy - overview:

The discovery and exploitation of large oil reserves have contributed to dramatic economic growth in recent years. Forestry, farming, and fishing are also major components of GDP. Subsistence farming predominates. Although pre-independence Equatorial Guinea counted on cocoa production for hard currency earnings, the neglect of the rural economy under successive regimes has diminished potential for agriculture-led growth (the government has stated its intention to reinvest some oil revenue into agriculture). A number of aid programs sponsored by the World Bank and the IMF have been cut off since 1993 because of corruption and mismanagement. No longer eligible for concessional financing because of large oil revenues, the government has been unsuccessfully trying to agree on a "shadow" fiscal management program with the World Bank and IMF. Businesses, for the most part, are owned by government officials and their family members. Undeveloped natural resources include titanium, iron ore, manganese, uranium, and alluvial gold. Growth presumably remained strong in 2004, led by oil.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.27 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

20% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $2,700 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3%
industry: 95.7%
services: 1.3% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

NA

Unemployment rate:

30% (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% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

50.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $813.2 million
expenditures: $375.3 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (tapioca), bananas, palm oil nuts; livestock; timber

Industries:

petroleum, fishing, sawmilling, natural gas

Industrial production growth rate:

30% (2002 est.)

Electricity - production:

26.69 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 94.3%
hydro: 5.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

24.82 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

350,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

2,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

563.5 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

20 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

20 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

68.53 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$-578.6 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$2.771 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum, methanol, timber, cocoa

Exports - partners:

US 29.3%, China 22.8%, Spain 16%, Taiwan 14.9%, Canada 6.8% (2004)

Imports:

$1.167 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum sector equipment, other equipment

Imports - partners:

US 26.8%, Cote d'Ivoire 21.4%, Spain 13.6%, France 8.8%, UK 7.8%, Italy 4.4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$235.2 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$248 million (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$33.8 million (1995)

Currency (code):

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States

Currency code:

XAF

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 January - 31 December

Communications

Equatorial Guinea

Telephones - main lines in use:

9,600 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

41,500 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: poor system with adequate government services
domestic: NA
international: country code - 240; international communications from Bata and Malabo to African and European countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 5 (2002)

Radios:

180,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2002)

Televisions:

4,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.gq

Internet hosts:

3 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:

1,800 (2002)

Transportation

Equatorial Guinea

Highways:

total: 2,880 km (1999 est.)

Pipelines:

condensate 37 km; gas 39 km; liquid natural gas 4 km; oil 24 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Malabo

Merchant marine:

total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,556 GRT/9,704 DWT
by type: cargo 1 (2005)

Airports:

4 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
less than 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Equatorial Guinea

Military branches:

Army, Navy, Air Force (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.) (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 106,571 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 66,379 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$126.2 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.5% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Equatorial Guinea

Disputes - international:

in 2002, ICJ ruled on an equidistance settlement of Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf of Guinea, but a dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River, imprecisely defined maritime coordinates in the ICJ decision, and the unresolved Bakasi allocation contribute to the delay in implementation; UN has been pressing Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to pledge to resolve the sovereignty dispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane Island and create a maritime boundary in the hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Estonia

Introduction

Estonia

Background:

After centuries of Danish, Swedish, German, and Russian rule, Estonia attained independence in 1918. Forcibly incorporated into the USSR in 1940, it regained its freedom in 1991, with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Since the last Russian troops left in 1994, Estonia has been free to promote economic and political ties with Western Europe. It joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.

Geography

Estonia

Location:

Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland, between Latvia and Russia

Geographic coordinates:

59 00 N, 26 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 45,226 sq km
land: 43,211 sq km
water: 2,015 sq km
note: includes 1,520 islands in the Baltic Sea

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined

Land boundaries:

total: 633 km
border countries: Latvia 339 km, Russia 294 km

Coastline:

3,794 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: limits fixed in coordination with neighboring states

Climate:

maritime, wet, moderate winters, cool summers

Terrain:

marshy, lowlands; flat in the north, hilly in the south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m

Natural resources:

oil shale, peat, phosphorite, clay, limestone, sand, dolomite, arable land, sea mud

Land use:

arable land: 16.04%
permanent crops: 0.45%
other: 83.51% (2001)

Irrigated land:

40 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

sometimes flooding occurs in the spring

Environment - current issues:

air polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning power plants in northeast; however, the amount of pollutants emitted to the air have fallen steadily, the emissions of 2000 were 80% less than in 1980; the amount of unpurified wastewater discharged to water bodies in 2000 was one twentieth the level of 1980; in connection with the start-up of new water purification plants, the pollution load of wastewater decreased; Estonia has more than 1,400 natural and manmade lakes, the smaller of which in agricultural areas need to be monitored; coastal seawater is polluted in certain locations

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ship Pollution, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the mainland terrain is flat, boggy, and partly wooded; offshore lie more than 1,500 islands

People

Estonia

Population:

1,332,893 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 15.5% (male 106,300/female 100,446)
15-64 years: 67.7% (male 429,843/female 472,034)
65 years and over: 16.8% (male 74,037/female 150,233) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 39.06 years
male: 35.52 years
female: 42.35 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.65% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

9.91 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

13.21 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-3.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.49 male(s)/female
total population: 0.84 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 7.87 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.06 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.77 years
male: 66.28 years
female: 77.6 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.39 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

7,800 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Estonian(s)
adjective: Estonian

Ethnic groups:

Estonian 67.9%, Russian 25.6%, Ukrainian 2.1%, Belarusian 1.3%, Finn 0.9%, other 2.2% (2000 census)

Religions:

Evangelical Lutheran 13.6%, Orthodox 12.8%, other Christian (including Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal) 1.4%, unaffiliated 34.1%, other and unspecified 32%, none 6.1% (2000 census)

Languages:

Estonian (official) 67.3%, Russian 29.7%, other 2.3%, unknown 0.7% (2000 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2003 est.)

Government

Estonia

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Estonia
conventional short form: Estonia
local long form: Eesti Vabariik
local short form: Eesti
former: Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:

parliamentary republic

Capital:

Tallinn

Administrative divisions:

15 counties (maakonnad, singular - maakond): Harjumaa (Tallinn), Hiiumaa (Kardla), Ida-Virumaa (Johvi), Jarvamaa (Paide), Jogevamaa (Jogeva), Laanemaa (Haapsalu), Laane-Virumaa (Rakvere), Parnumaa (Parnu), Polvamaa (Polva), Raplamaa (Rapla), Saaremaa (Kuressaare), Tartumaa (Tartu), Valgamaa (Valga), Viljandimaa (Viljandi), Vorumaa (Voru)
note: counties have the administrative center name following in parentheses

Independence:

20 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 24 February (1918); note - 24 February 1918 is the date Estonia declared its independence from Soviet Russia; 20 August 1991 is the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union

Constitution:

adopted 28 June 1992

Legal system:

based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Arnold RUUTEL (since 8 October 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Andrus ANSIP (since 12 April 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; if a candidate does not secure two-thirds of the votes after three rounds of balloting in the Parliament, then an electoral assembly (made up of Parliament plus members of local governments) elects the president, choosing between the two candidates with the largest percentage of votes; election last held 21 September 2001 (next to be held in the fall of 2006); prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament
election results: Arnold RUUTEL elected president on 21 September 2001 by a 367-member electoral assembly that convened following Parliament's failure in August to elect then-President MERI's successor; on the second ballot of voting, RUUTEL received 186 votes to Parliament Speaker Toomas SAVI's 155; the remaining 26 ballots were either left blank or invalid

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Riigikogu (101 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 2 March 2003 (next to be held NA March 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - Center Party 25.4%, Res Publica 24.6%, Reform Party 17.7%, Estonian People's Union 13%, Pro Patria Union (Fatherland League) 7.3% People's Party Moodukad 7%; seats by party - Center Party 28, Res Publica 28, Reform Party 19, Estonian People's Union 13, Pro Patria Union 7, People's Party Moodukad 6

Judicial branch:

National Court (chairman appointed by Parliament for life)

Political parties and leaders:

Center Party of Estonia (Keskerakond) [Edgar SAVISAAR, chairman]; Estonian People's Union (Rahvaliit) [Villu REILJAN, chairman]; Estonian Reform Party (Reformierakond) [Andrus ANSIP]; Estonian United Russian People's Party or EUVRP [Yevgeniy TOMBERG, chairman]; Pro Patria Union (Isamaaliit) [Tunne KELAM, chairman]; Res Publica [Juhan PARTS, chairman]; Social Democratic Party (formerly People's Party Moodukad or Moderates) [Ivari PADAR, chairman]; Social Liberals (group of 8 parliamentarians, former Center Party members) [Peeter Kreitzberg]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (member affiliate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Juri LUIK
chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 588-0101
FAX: [1] (202) 588-0108
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Aldona Zofia WOS
embassy: Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [372] 668-8100
FAX: [372] 668-8134

Flag description:

pre-1940 flag restored by Supreme Soviet in May 1990 - three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), black, and white

Economy

Estonia

Economy - overview:

Estonia, as a new member of the World Trade Organization and the European Union, has transitioned effectively to a modern market economy with strong ties to the West, including the pegging of its currency to the euro. The economy benefits from strong electronics and telecommunications sectors and is greatly influenced by developments in Finland, Sweden, and Germany, three major trading partners. The current account deficit remains high; however, the state budget enjoyed a surplus of $130 million in 2003.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$19.23 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $14,300 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 4.1%
industry: 28.9%
services: 67% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

660,000 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 11%, industry 20%, services 69% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:

9.6% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA (2000)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 29.8% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

37 (1999)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

28.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $4.622 billion
expenditures: $4.601 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

5.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

potatoes, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish

Industries:

engineering, electronics, wood and wood products, textile; information technology, telecommunications

Industrial production growth rate:

5% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:

8.301 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 99.8%
hydro: 0.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.2% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

6.358 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

1.562 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

200 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

5,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

24,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.27 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

1.27 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Current account balance:

$-1.169 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$5.701 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and equipment 33%, wood and paper 15%, textiles 14%, food products 8%, furniture 7%, metals, chemical products (2001)

Exports - partners:

Finland 23.1%, Sweden 15.3%, Germany 8.4%, Latvia 7.9%, Russia 5.7%, Lithuania 4.4% (2004)

Imports:

$7.318 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment 33.5%, chemical products 11.6%, textiles 10.3%, foodstuffs 9.4%, transportation equipment 8.9% (2001)

Imports - partners:

Finland 22.1%, Germany 12.9%, Sweden 9.7%, Russia 9.2%, Lithuania 5.3%, Latvia 4.7% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.503 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$8.373 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$108 million (2000)

Currency (code):

Estonian kroon (EEK)

Currency code:

EEK

Exchange rates:

krooni per US dollar - 12.596 (2004), 13.856 (2003), 16.612 (2002), 17.478 (2001), 16.969 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Estonia

Telephones - main lines in use:

475,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

881,000 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: foreign investment in the form of joint business ventures greatly improved telephone service; substantial fiber-optic cable systems carry telephone, TV, and radio traffic in the digital mode; Internet services are available throughout most of the country - only about 11,000 subscriber requests were unfilled by September 2000
domestic: a wide range of high quality voice, data, and Internet services is available throughout the country
international: country code - 372; fiber-optic cables to Finland, Sweden, Latvia, and Russia provide worldwide packet-switched service; two international switches are located in Tallinn (2001)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 98, shortwave 0 (2001)

Radios:

1.01 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (2001)

Televisions:

605,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ee

Internet hosts:

82,142 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

38 (2001)

Internet users:

444,000 (2002)

Transportation

Estonia

Railways:

total: 958 km
broad gauge: 958 km 1.520-m/1.524-m gauge (132 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 55,944 km
paved: 13,874 km (including 99 km of expressways)
unpaved: 42,070 km (2002)

Waterways:

500 km (2003)

Pipelines:

gas 859 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Kopli, Kuivastu, Muuga, Tallinn, Virtsu

Merchant marine:

total: 43 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 212,998 GRT/177,488 DWT
by type: cargo 17, passenger/cargo 20, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 4
foreign-owned: 6 (Norway 6)
registered in other countries: 51 (2005)

Airports:

29 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 14
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 15
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 6 (2004 est.)

Military

Estonia

Military branches:

Estonian Defense Forces: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force and Air Defense Staff, Republic Security Forces (internal and border troops), Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit), Maritime Border Guard, Coast Guard
note: Border Guards and Ministry of Internal Affairs become part of the Estonian Defense Forces in wartime; the Coast Guard is subordinate to the Ministry of Defense in peacetime and the Estonian Navy in wartime

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service, with 11-month service obligation; Estonia has committed to retaining conscription for men and women up to 2010; 17 years of age for volunteers (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 291,696 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 200,382 (2005 est.)
: note - in 2004, 51% of the young men called up for service were determined to be unfit; main obstacles to conscription were psychiatric and behavioral

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 11,146 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$155 million (2002 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2% (2002 est.)

Transnational Issues

Estonia

Disputes - international:

in 1996, the Estonia-Russia technical border agreement was initialed but both states have been hesitant to sign and ratify it, with Russia asserting that Estonia needs to better assimilate Russian-speakers and Estonian groups pressing for realignment of the boundary based more closely on the 1920 Tartu Peace Treaty that would bring the now divided ethnic Setu people and parts of the Narva region within Estonia; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Estonia must implement the strict Schengen border rules

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Southwest Asia and the Caucasus via Russia, cocaine from Latin America to Western Europe and Scandinavia, and synthetic drugs from Western Europe to Scandinavia; increasing domestic drug abuse problem; possible precursor manufacturing and/or trafficking; potential money laundering related to organized crime and drug trafficking is a concern as is possible use of the gambling sector to launder funds

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Eritrea

Introduction

Eritrea

Background:

Eritrea was awarded to Ethiopia in 1952 as part of a federation. Ethiopia's annexation of Eritrea as a province 10 years later sparked a 30-year struggle for independence that ended in 1991 with Eritrean rebels defeating governmental forces; independence was overwhelmingly approved in a 1993 referendum. A two-and-a-half-year border war with Ethiopia that erupted in 1998 ended under UN auspices on 12 December 2000. Eritrea currently hosts a UN peacekeeping operation that is monitoring a 25 km-wide Temporary Security Zone on the border with Ethiopia. An international commission, organized to resolve the border dispute, posted its findings in 2002 but final demarcation is on hold due to Ethiopian objections.

Geography

Eritrea

Location:

Eastern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Djibouti and Sudan

Geographic coordinates:

15 00 N, 39 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 121,320 sq km
land: 121,320 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries:

total: 1,626 km
border countries: Djibouti 109 km, Ethiopia 912 km, Sudan 605 km

Coastline:

2,234 km total; mainland on Red Sea 1,151 km, islands in Red Sea 1,083 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate:

hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler and wetter in the central highlands (up to 61 cm of rainfall annually); semiarid in western hills and lowlands; rainfall heaviest during June-September except in coastal desert

Terrain:

dominated by extension of Ethiopian north-south trending highlands, descending on the east to a coastal desert plain, on the northwest to hilly terrain and on the southwest to flat-to-rolling plains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: near Kulul within the Denakil depression -75 m
highest point: Soira 3,018 m

Natural resources:

gold, potash, zinc, copper, salt, possibly oil and natural gas, fish

Land use:

arable land: 4.95%
permanent crops: 0.03%
other: 95.02% (2001)

Irrigated land:

220 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

frequent droughts; locust swarms

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing; loss of infrastructure from civil warfare

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic geopolitical position along world's busiest shipping lanes; Eritrea retained the entire coastline of Ethiopia along the Red Sea upon de jure independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993

People

Eritrea

Population:

4,561,599 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 44.8% (male 1,023,898/female 1,019,389)
15-64 years: 51.9% (male 1,170,823/female 1,194,741)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 74,312/female 78,436) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 17.54 years
male: 17.35 years
female: 17.73 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.51% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

38.62 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

13.53 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: UNHCR began repatriating about 150,000 Eritrean refugees from Sudan in 2001 following the restoration of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2000 (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 74.87 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 82.28 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 67.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 58.47 years
male: 56.96 years
female: 60.02 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.61 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

2.7% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

60,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

6,300 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria is a high risk in some locations (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Eritrean(s)
adjective: Eritrean

Ethnic groups:

ethnic Tigrinya 50%, Tigre and Kunama 40%, Afar 4%, Saho (Red Sea coast dwellers) 3%, other 3%

Religions:

Muslim, Coptic Christian, Roman Catholic, Protestant

Languages:

Afar, Arabic, Tigre and Kunama, Tigrinya, other Cushitic languages

Literacy:

definition: NA
total population: 58.6%
male: 69.9%
female: 47.6% (2003 est.)

Government

Eritrea

Country name:

conventional long form: State of Eritrea
conventional short form: Eritrea
local long form: Hagere Ertra
local short form: Ertra
former: Eritrea Autonomous Region in Ethiopia

Government type:

transitional government
note: following a successful referendum on independence for the Autonomous Region of Eritrea on 23-25 April 1993, a National Assembly, composed entirely of the People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ, was established as a transitional legislature; a Constitutional Commission was also established to draft a constitution; ISAIAS Afworki was elected president by the transitional legislature; the constitution, ratified in May 1997, did not enter into effect, pending parliamentary and presidential elections; parliamentary elections had been scheduled in December 2001, but were postponed indefinitely; currently the sole legal party is the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ)

Capital:

Asmara

Administrative divisions:

6 regions (zobatat, singular - zoba); Anseba, Debub (Southern), Debubawi K'eyih Bahri (Southern Red Sea), Gash Barka, Ma'akel (Central), Semenawi Keyih Bahri (Northern Red Sea)

Independence:

24 May 1993 (from Ethiopia)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 24 May (1993)

Constitution:

a transitional constitution, decreed on 19 May 1993, was replaced by a new constitution adopted on 23 May 1997, but not yet implemented

Legal system:

primary basis is the Ethiopian legal code of 1957, with revisions; new civil, commercial, and penal codes have not yet been promulgated; also relies on customary and post-independence-enacted laws and, for civil cases involving Muslims, Sharia law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government and is head of the State Council and National Assembly
head of government: President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government and is head of the State Council and National Assembly
cabinet: State Council is the collective executive authority; members appointed by the president
elections: president elected by the National Assembly; election last held 8 June 1993 (next election date uncertain as the National Assembly did not hold a presidential election in December 2001 as anticipated)
election results: ISAIAS Afworki elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - ISAIAS Afworki 95%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; term limits not established)
elections: in May 1997, following the adoption of the new constitution, 75 members of the PFDJ Central Committee (the old Central Committee of the EPLF), 60 members of the 527-member Constituent Assembly, that had been established in 1997 to discuss and ratify the new constitution, and 15 representatives of Eritreans living abroad were formed into a Transitional National Assembly to serve as the country's legislative body until countrywide elections to a National Assembly were held; although only 75 of 150 members of the Transitional National Assembly were elected, the constitution stipulates that once past the transition stage, all members of the National Assembly will be elected by secret ballot of all eligible voters; National Assembly elections scheduled for December 2001 were postponed indefinitely

Judicial branch:

High Court - regional, subregional, and village courts; also have military and special courts

Political parties and leaders:

People's Front for Democracy and Justice or PFDJ, the only party recognized by the government [ISAIAS Afworki]; note - a National Assembly committee drafted a law on political parties in January 2001, but the full National Assembly has not yet debated or voted on it

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Eritrean Islamic Jihad or EIJ [leader NA] (also including Eritrean Islamic Jihad Movement or EIJM (also known as the Abu Sihel Movement) [leader NA]); Eritrean Islamic Salvation or EIS (also known as the Arafa Movement) [leader NA]; Eritrean Liberation Front or ELF [ABDULLAH Muhammed]; Eritrean National Alliance or ENA (a coalition including EIJ, EIS, ELF, and a number of ELF factions) [HERUY Tedla Biru]; Eritrean Public Forum or EPF [ARADOM Iyob]

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (observer), IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador GIRMA Asmerom
chancery: 1708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 319-1991
FAX: [1] (202) 319-1304
consulate(s) general: Oakland (California)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Scott H. DELISI
embassy: Franklin D. Roosevelt Street, Asmara
mailing address: P. O. Box 211, Asmara
telephone: [291] (1) 120004
FAX: [291] (1) 127584

Flag description:

red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) dividing the flag into two right triangles; the upper triangle is green, the lower one is blue; a gold wreath encircling a gold olive branch is centered on the hoist side of the red triangle

Economy

Eritrea

Economy - overview:

Since independence from Ethiopia on 24 May 1993, Eritrea has faced the economic problems of a small, desperately poor country. Like the economies of many African nations, the economy is largely based on subsistence agriculture, with 80% of the population involved in farming and herding. The Ethiopian-Eritrea war in 1998-2000 severely hurt Eritrea's economy. GDP growth fell to zero in 1999 and to -12.1% in 2000. The May 2000 Ethiopian offensive into northern Eritrea caused some $600 million in property damage and loss, including losses of $225 million in livestock and 55,000 homes. The attack prevented planting of crops in Eritrea's most productive region, causing food production to drop by 62%. Even during the war, Eritrea developed its transportation infrastructure, asphalting new roads, improving its ports, and repairing war damaged roads and bridges. Since the war ended, the government has maintained a firm grip on the economy, expanding the use of the military and party-owned businesses to complete Eritrea's development agenda. Erratic rainfall and the delayed demobilization of agriculturalists from the military kept cereal production well below normal, holding down growth in 2002-04. Eritrea's economic future depends upon its ability to master social problems such as illiteracy, unemployment, and low skills, and to open its economy to private enterprise so the diaspora's money and expertise can foster economic growth.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$4.154 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $900 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 12.4%
industry: 25.9%
services: 61.7% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

NA

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 80%, industry and services 20%

Unemployment rate:

NA (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line:

50% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

10% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

26.3% of GDP (2002)

Budget:

revenues: $235.2 million
expenditures: $373.2 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

sorghum, lentils, vegetables, corn, cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal; livestock, goats; fish

Industries:

food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles, salt, cement, commercial ship repair

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

246.6 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

229.4 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

6,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-144.9 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$64.44 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small manufactures (2000)

Exports - partners:

Malaysia 26.6%, Italy 17.1%, Japan 8%, Germany 6.6%, China 5%, UK 4.9%, US 4.7%, France 4.4%, Poland 4.2% (2004)

Imports:

$622 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, petroleum products, food, manufactured goods (2000)

Imports - partners:

Ireland 26.6%, US 18.6%, Italy 16.6%, Turkey 6.4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$30.87 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$311 million (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$77 million (1999)

Currency (code):

nakfa (ERN)

Currency code:

ERN

Exchange rates:

nakfa (ERN) per US dollar - 13.788 (2004), 13.878 (2003), 13.958 (2002), 11.31 (2001), 9.625 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Eritrea

Telephones - main lines in use:

38,100 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

NA

Telephone system:

general assessment: inadequate
domestic: very inadequate; most telephones are in Asmara; government is seeking international tenders to improve the system (2002)
international: country code - 291; note - international connections exist

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM NA, shortwave 2 (2000)

Radios:

345,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2000)

Televisions:

1,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.er

Internet hosts:

1,047 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2001)

Internet users:

9,500 (2003)

Transportation

Eritrea

Railways:

total: 306 km
narrow gauge: 306 km 0.950-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 4,010 km
paved: 874 km
unpaved: 3,136 km (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors:

Assab, Massawa

Merchant marine:

total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 16,069 GRT/19,549 DWT
by type: cargo 3, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1
registered in other countries: 1 (2005)

Airports:

17 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 4
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 13
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Military

Eritrea

Military branches:

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 16 months (2004)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: NA (2005)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$151 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

13.4% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Eritrea

Disputes - international:

Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by 2002 Ethiopia-Eritrea Boundary Commission's (EEBC) delimitation decision, but despite international intervention, mutual animosities, accusations and armed posturing prevail, preventing demarcation; Ethiopia refuses to withdraw to the delimited boundary until technical errors made by the EEBC that ignored "human geography" are addressed, including the award of Badme, the focus of the 1998-2000 war; Eritrea insists that the EEBC decision be implemented immediately without modifications; since 2000, the UN Peacekeeping Mission to Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) monitors the 25km-wide Temporary Security Zone in Eritrea until the demarcation; Sudan accuses Eritrea of supporting Sudanese rebel groups; Eritrea protests Yemeni fishing around the Hanish Islands awarded to Eritrea by the ICJ in 1999

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 59,000 (border war with Ethiopia from 1998-2000; most IDPs are near the central border region) (2004)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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El Salvador

Introduction

El Salvador

Background:

El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821 and from the Central American Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war, which cost about 75,000 lives, was brought to a close in 1992 when the government and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided for military and political reforms.

Geography

El Salvador

Location:

Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras

Geographic coordinates:

13 50 N, 88 55 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 21,040 sq km
land: 20,720 sq km
water: 320 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Land boundaries:

total: 545 km
border countries: Guatemala 203 km, Honduras 342 km

Coastline:

307 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; rainy season (May to October); dry season (November to April); tropical on coast; temperate in uplands

Terrain:

mostly mountains with narrow coastal belt and central plateau

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m

Natural resources:

hydropower, geothermal power, petroleum, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 31.85%
permanent crops: 12.07%
other: 56.08% (2001)

Irrigated land:

360 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes very destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible to hurricanes

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution; contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

smallest Central American country and only one without a coastline on Caribbean Sea

People

El Salvador

Population:

6,704,932 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 36.5% (male 1,250,901/female 1,198,589)
15-64 years: 58.3% (male 1,860,084/female 2,051,140)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 153,133/female 191,085) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 21.57 years
male: 20.44 years
female: 22.69 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.75% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

27.04 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

5.85 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-3.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 25.1 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 27.98 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 22.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.22 years
male: 67.61 years
female: 75.01 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.16 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.7% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

29,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

2,200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Salvadoran(s)
adjective: Salvadoran

Ethnic groups:

mestizo 90%, white 9%, Amerindian 1%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 83%, other 17%
note: there is extensive activity by Protestant groups throughout the country; by the end of 1992, there were an estimated 1 million Protestant evangelicals in El Salvador

Languages:

Spanish, Nahua (among some Amerindians)

Literacy:

definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 80.2%
male: 82.8%
female: 77.7% (2003 est.)

Government

El Salvador

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of El Salvador
conventional short form: El Salvador
local long form: Republica de El Salvador
local short form: El Salvador

Government type:

republic

Capital:

San Salvador

Administrative divisions:

14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz, La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, Santa Ana, San Vicente, Sonsonate, Usulutan

Independence:

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution:

23 December 1983

Legal system:

based on civil and Roman law, with traces of common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez (since 1 June 2004); Vice President Ana Vilma DE ESCOBAR (since 1 June 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez (since 1 June 2004); Vice President Ana Vilma DE ESCOBAR (since 1 June 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 21 March 2004 (next to be held March 2009)
election results: Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez elected president; percent of vote - Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez (ARENA) 57.7%, Schafik HANDAL (FMLN) 35.6%, Hector SILVA (CDU-PDC) 3.9%, other 2.8%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Assembly or Asamblea Legislativa (84 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 16 March 2003 (next to be held March 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FMLN 31, ARENA 28, PCN 15, PDC 5, CD 5

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are selected by the Legislative Assembly)

Political parties and leaders:

Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Rodolfo PARKER]; Democratic Convergence or CD (formerly United Democratic Center or CDU) [Ruben ZAMORA, secretary general]; Democratic Party or PD [Jorge MELENDEZ]; Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front or FMLN [Medardo GONZALEZ]; Liberal Democratic Party or PLD [Kirio Waldo SALGADO, president]; National Action Party or PAN [Gustavo Rogelio SALINAS, secretary general]; National Conciliation Party or PCN [Ciro CRUZ ZEPEDA, president]; National Republican Alliance or ARENA [Elias Antonio SACA Gonzalez]; Social Christian Union or USC (formed by the merger of Christian Social Renewal Party or PRSC and Unity Movement or MU) [Abraham RODRIGUEZ, president]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Juan MEDRANO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

labor organizations - Electrical Industry Union of El Salvador or SIES; Federation of the Construction Industry, Similar Transport and other activities, or FESINCONTRANS; National Confederation of Salvadoran Workers or CNTS; National Union of Salvadoran Workers or UNTS; Port Industry Union of El Salvador or SIPES; Salvadoran Union of Ex-Petrolleros and Peasant Workers or USEPOC; Salvadoran Workers Central or CTS; Workers Union of Electrical Corporation or STCEL; business organizations - National Association of Small Enterprise or ANEP; Salvadoran Assembly Industry Association or ASIC; Salvadoran Industrial Association or ASI

International organization participation:

BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Rene Antonio LEON Rodriguez
chancery: 2308 California Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-9671
FAX: [1] (202) 234-3834
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York (2), San Francisco, and Washington, DC
consulate(s): Boston

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador H. Douglas BARCLAY
embassy: Final Boulevard Santa Elena Sur, Antiguo Cuscatlan, La Libertad, San Salvador
mailing address: Unit 3116, APO AA 34023
telephone: [503] 278-4444
FAX: [503] 278-5522

Flag description:

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

Economy

El Salvador

Economy - overview:

GDP per capita is roughly half that of Brazil, Argentina, and Chile, and the distribution of income is highly unequal. The government is striving to open new export markets, encourage foreign investment, modernize the tax and healthcare systems, and stimulate the sluggish economy. Implementation of the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement, ratified by El Salvador in 2004, is viewed as a key policy to help achieve these objectives. The trade deficit has been offset by annual remittances from Salvadorans living abroad - 16% of GDP in 2004 - and external aid. With the adoption of the US dollar as its currency, El Salvador has lost control over monetary policy and must concentrate on maintaining a disciplined fiscal policy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$32.35 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.8% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $4,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 9.2%
industry: 31.1%
services: 59.7% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

2.75 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 17.1%, industry 17.1%, services 65.8% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:

6.3% - but the economy has much underemployment (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

36.1% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.4%
highest 10%: 39.3% (2001)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

52.5 (2001)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.4% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

16.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $2.491 billion
expenditures: $2.782 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

41.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, sugar, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton, sorghum; shrimp; beef, dairy products

Industries:

food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer, textiles, furniture, light metals

Industrial production growth rate:

0.7% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

4.158 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 44%
hydro: 30.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 25.1% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

4.45 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:

91 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:

473 million kWh (2004)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

39,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-880.5 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$3.249 billion (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, shrimp, textiles, chemicals, electricity

Exports - partners:

US 65.6%, Guatemala 11.8%, Honduras 6.3% (2004)

Imports:

$5.968 billion (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels, foodstuffs, petroleum, electricity

Imports - partners:

US 46.3%, Guatemala 8.1%, Mexico 6% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.888 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$4.792 billion (September 2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$125 million of which, $53 million from US (2003)

Currency (code):

US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

USD

Exchange rates:

the US dollar became El Salvador's currency in 2001

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

El Salvador

Telephones - main lines in use:

752,600 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,149,800 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system
international: country code - 503; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 61 (plus 24 repeaters), FM 30, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

2.75 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

5 (1997)

Televisions:

600,000 (1990)

Internet country code:

.sv

Internet hosts:

4,084 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

4 (2000)

Internet users:

550,000 (2003)

Transportation

El Salvador

Railways:

total: 283 km
narrow gauge: 283 km 0.914-m gauge
note: length of operational route reduced from 562 km to 283 km by disuse and lack of maintenance (2004)

Highways:

total: 10,029 km
paved: 1,986 km (including 327 km of expressways)
unpaved: 8,043 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

Rio Lempa partially navigable (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco

Airports:

73 (2004 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 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 69
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 54 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

El Salvador

Military branches:

Army, Navy (FNES), Air Force (FAS)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service, with 12-month service obligation; 16 years of age for volunteers (2002)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,391,278 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 960,315 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 70,286 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$157 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.1% (2003)

Transnational Issues

El Salvador

Disputes - international:

in 1992, the ICJ ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras boundary, but despite OAS intervention and a further ICJ ruling in 2003, full demarcation of the border remains stalled; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca advocating Honduran access to the Pacific; El Salvador continues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not identified in the ICJ decision, off Honduras in the Gulf of Fonseca

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for cocaine; small amounts of marijuana produced for local consumption; domestic cocaine abuse on the rise

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Ethiopia

Introduction

Ethiopia

Background:

Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule, with the exception of the 1936-41 Italian occupation during World War II. In 1974 a military junta, the Derg, deposed Emperor Haile SELASSIE (who had ruled since 1930) and established a socialist state. Torn by bloody coups, uprisings, wide-scale drought, and massive refugee problems, the regime was finally toppled in 1991 by a coalition of rebel forces, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). A constitution was adopted in 1994 and Ethiopia's first multiparty elections were held in 1995. A two and a half year border war with Eritrea ended with a peace treaty on 12 December 2000. Final demarcation of the boundary is currently on hold due to Ethiopian objections to an international commission's finding requiring it to surrender sensitive territory.

Geography

Ethiopia

Location:

Eastern Africa, west of Somalia

Geographic coordinates:

8 00 N, 38 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 1,127,127 sq km
land: 1,119,683 sq km
water: 7,444 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 5,328 km
border countries: Djibouti 349 km, Eritrea 912 km, Kenya 861 km, Somalia 1,600 km, Sudan 1,606 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

tropical monsoon with wide topographic-induced variation

Terrain:

high plateau with central mountain range divided by Great Rift Valley

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Denakil Depression -125 m
highest point: Ras Dejen 4,620 m

Natural resources:

small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 10.71%
permanent crops: 0.75%
other: 88.54% (2001)

Irrigated land:

1,900 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor management

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

landlocked - entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 24 May 1993; the Blue Nile, the chief headstream of the Nile by water volume, rises in T'ana Hayk (Lake Tana) in northwest Ethiopia; three major crops are believed to have originated in Ethiopia: coffee, grain sorghum, and castor bean

People

Ethiopia

Population:

73,053,286
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 43.9% (male 16,082,504/female 15,999,602)
15-64 years: 53.4% (male 19,452,737/female 19,525,746)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 905,648/female 1,087,049) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 17.75 years
male: 17.64 years
female: 17.85 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.36% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

38.61 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

15.06 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: repatriation of Ethiopians who fled to Sudan for refuge from war and famine in earlier years is expected to continue for several years; some Sudanese and Somali refugees, who fled to Ethiopia from the fighting or famine in their own countries, continue to return to their homes (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 95.32 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 105.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 85.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 48.83 years
male: 47.67 years
female: 50.03 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.33 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

4.4% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

1.5 million (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

120,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid fever, and hepatitis E
vectorborne diseases: malaria and cutaneous leishmaniasis are high risks in some locations
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
animal contact disease: rabies
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Ethiopian(s)
adjective: Ethiopian

Ethnic groups:

Oromo 40%, Amhara and Tigre 32%, Sidamo 9%, Shankella 6%, Somali 6%, Afar 4%, Gurage 2%, other 1%

Religions:

Muslim 45%-50%, Ethiopian Orthodox 35%-40%, animist 12%, other 3%-8%

Languages:

Amharic, Tigrinya, Oromigna, Guaragigna, Somali, Arabic, other local languages, English (major foreign language taught in schools)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.7%
male: 50.3%
female: 35.1% (2003 est.)

Government

Ethiopia

Country name:

conventional long form: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
conventional short form: Ethiopia
local long form: Ityop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik
local short form: Ityop'iya
former: Abyssinia, Italian East Africa
abbreviation: FDRE

Government type:

federal republic

Capital:

Addis Ababa

Administrative divisions:

9 ethnically-based states (kililoch, singular - kilil) and 2 self-governing administrations* (astedaderoch, singular - astedader); Adis Abeba* (Addis Ababa), Afar, Amara (Amhara), Binshangul Gumuz, Dire Dawa*, Gambela Hizboch (Gambela Peoples), Hareri Hizb (Harari People), Oromiya (Oromia), Sumale (Somali), Tigray, Ye Debub Biheroch Bihereseboch na Hizboch (Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples)

Independence:

oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years

National holiday:

National Day (defeat of MENGISTU regime), 28 May (1991)

Constitution:

ratified December 1994, effective 22 August 1995

Legal system:

currently transitional mix of national and regional courts

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President GIRMA Woldegiorgis (since 8 October 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister MELES Zenawi (since NA August 1995)
cabinet: Council of Ministers as provided for in the December 1994 constitution; ministers are selected by the prime minister and approved by the House of People's Representatives
elections: president elected by the House of People's Representatives for a six-year term; election last held 8 October 2001 (next to be held October 2007); prime minister designated by the party in power following legislative elections
election results: GIRMA Woldegiorgis elected president; percent of vote by the House of People's Representatives - 100%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the House of Federation or upper chamber (108 seats; members are chosen by state assemblies to serve five-year terms) and the House of People's Representatives or lower chamber (548 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote from single-member districts to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 15 May 2005 (next to be held NA 2010)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats by party - OPDO 177, ANDM 134, TPLF 38, WGGPDO 27, EPRDF 19, SPDO 18, GNDM 15, KSPDO 10, ANDP 8, GPRDF 7, SOPDM 7, BGPDUF 6, BMPDO 5, KAT 4, other regional political groupings 22, independents 8; note - 43 seats unconfirmed
note: irregularities and violence at some polling stations necessitated the rescheduling of voting in certain constituencies; voting postponed in Somali regional state because of severe drought

Judicial branch:

Federal Supreme Court (the president and vice president of the Federal Supreme Court are recommended by the prime minister and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; for other federal judges, the prime minister submits to the House of People's Representatives for appointment candidates selected by the Federal Judicial Administrative Council)

Political parties and leaders:

Afar National Democratic Party or ANDP [leader NA]; Benishangul Gumuz People's Democratic Unity Front or BGPDUF [Mulualem BESSE]; Coalition for Unity and Democracy or CUD [HAILU Shawil]; Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front or EPRDF [MELES Zenawi] (an alliance of ANDM, OPDO, SEPDF, and TPLF); Gurage Nationalities' Democratic Movement or GNDM [leader NA]; United Ethopian Democratic Forces or UEDF [MERARA Gudina]; dozens of small parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Afar Revolutionary Democratic Union Front or ARDUF [leader NA]; Council of Alternative Forces for Peace and Democracy in Ethiopia or CAFPDE [BEYANE Petros]; Southern Ethiopia People's Democratic Coalition or SEPDC [BEYANE Petros]

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador KASSAHUN Ayele
chancery: 3506 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 364-1200
FAX: [1] (202) 686-9551
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles
consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Aurelia A. BRAZEAL
embassy: Entoto Street, Addis Ababa
mailing address: P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa
telephone: [251] (1) 550666
FAX: [251] (1) 551328

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red with a yellow pentagram and single yellow rays emanating from the angles between the points on a light blue disk centered on the three bands; Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, and the three main colors of her flag were so often adopted by other African countries upon independence that they became known as the pan-African colors

Economy

Ethiopia

Economy - overview:

Ethiopia's poverty-stricken economy is based on agriculture, accounting for half of GDP, 60% of exports, and 80% of total employment. The agricultural sector suffers from frequent drought and poor cultivation practices. Coffee is critical to the Ethiopian economy with exports of some $156 million in 2002, but historically low prices have seen many farmers switching to qat to supplement income. The war with Eritrea in 1998-2000 and recurrent drought have buffeted the economy, in particular coffee production. In November 2001, Ethiopia qualified for debt relief from the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Under Ethiopia's land tenure system, the government owns all land and provides long-term leases to the tenants; the system continues to hamper growth in the industrial sector as entrepreneurs are unable to use land as collateral for loans. Drought struck again late in 2002, leading to a 2% decline in GDP in 2003. Normal weather patterns late in 2003 helped agricultural and GDP growth recover in 2004.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$54.89 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

11.6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 47%
industry: 12.4%
services: 40.6% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

NA (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture and animal husbandry 80%, industry and construction 8%, government and services 12% (1985)

Unemployment rate:

NA (2002)

Population below poverty line:

50% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 33.7% (1995)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

40 (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.4% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

17.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.887 billion
expenditures: $2.388 billion, including capital expenditures of $788 million (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed, sugarcane, potatoes, qat; hides, cattle, sheep, goats

Industries:

food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, metals processing, cement

Industrial production growth rate:

6.7% (2001 est.)

Electricity - production:

2.149 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 1.3%
hydro: 97.6%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1.2% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

1.998 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

23,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

214,000 bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

12.46 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$-464.4 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$562.8 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

coffee, qat, gold, leather products, live animals, oilseeds

Exports - partners:

Djibouti 13.3%, Germany 10%, Japan 8.4%, Saudi Arabia 5.6%, US 5.2%, UAE 5%, Italy 4.6% (2004)

Imports:

$2.104 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food and live animals, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, machinery, motor vehicles, cereals, textiles

Imports - partners:

Saudi Arabia 25.3%, US 15.8%, China 6.6% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$923.1 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$2.9 billion (2001 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$308 million (FY00/01)

Currency (code):

birr (ETB)

Currency code:

ETB

Exchange rates:

birr per US dollar - 8.68 (2004), 8.5997 (2003), 8.5678 (2002), 8.4575 (2001), 8.2173 (2000)
note: since 24 October 2001 exchange rates are determined on a daily basis via interbank transactions regulated by the Central Bank

Fiscal year:

8 July - 7 July

Communications

Ethiopia

Telephones - main lines in use:

435,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

97,800 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate for government use
domestic: open-wire; microwave radio relay; radio communication in the HF, VHF, and UHF frequencies; two domestic satellites provide the national trunk service
international: country code - 251; open-wire to Sudan and Djibouti; microwave radio relay to Kenya and Djibouti; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 8, FM 0, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios:

15.2 million (2002)

Television broadcast stations:

1 plus 24 repeaters (2002)

Televisions:

682,000 (2002)

Internet country code:

.et

Internet hosts:

9 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:

75,000 (2003)

Transportation

Ethiopia

Railways:

total: 681 km (Ethiopian segment of the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railroad)
narrow gauge: 681 km 1.000-m gauge
note: railway under joint control of Djibouti and Ethiopia (2004)

Highways:

total: 33,297 km
paved: 3,996 km
unpaved: 29,301 km (2002)

Ports and harbors:

Ethiopia is landlocked and has used ports of Assab and Massawa in Eritrea and port of Djibouti

Merchant marine:

total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 81,933 GRT/101,287 DWT
by type: cargo 6, roll on/roll off 2 (2005)

Airports:

83 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 14
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 69
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 27
under 914 m: 23 (2004 est.)

Military

Ethiopia

Military branches:

Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF): Ground Forces, Air Force
note: Ethiopia is landlocked and has no navy; following the secession of Eritrea, Ethiopian naval facilities remained in Eritrean possession (2003)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 14,568,277 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 8,072,755 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 803,777 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$337.1 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

4.6% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Ethiopia

Disputes - international:

Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by the 2002 Eritrea-Ethiopia Boundary Commission's (EEBC) delimitation decision, but despite international intervention, mutual animosities, accusations and armed posturing prevail, preventing demarcation; Ethiopia refuses to withdraw to the delimited boundary until technical errors made by the EEBC that ignored "human geography" are addressed, including the award of Badme, the focus of the 1998-2000 war; Eritrea insists that the EEBC decision be implemented immediately without modifications; Ethiopia has only an administrative line and no international border with the Oromo region of southern Somalia where it maintains alliances with local clans in opposition to the unrecognized Somali Interim Government in Mogadishu; "Somaliland" secessionists provide port facilities and trade ties to landlocked Ethiopia; the UNHCR expects most of the remaining 23,000 Somali refugees in Ethiopia to be repatriated in 2005; efforts to demarcate the porous boundary with Sudan have been delayed by civil war

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 93,032 (Sudan) 23,578 (Somalia)
IDPs: 132,000 (border war with Eritrea from 1998-2000 and ethnic clashes in Gambela; most IDPs are in Tigray and Gambela Provinces) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

Transit hub for heroin originating in Southwest and Southeast Asia and destined for Europe and North America as well as cocaine destined for markets in southern Africa; cultivates qat (khat) for local use and regional export, principally to Djibouti and Somalia (legal in all three countries); the lack of a well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Europa Island

Introduction

Europa Island

Background:

A French possession since 1897, the island is heavily wooded; it is the site of a small military garrison that staffs a weather station.

Geography

Europa Island

Location:

Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about half way 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:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical

Terrain:

low and flat

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 24 m

Natural resources:

NEGL

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (mangrove forests and woodlands) (2001)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

wildlife sanctuary

People

Europa Island

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a small French military garrison and a few meteorologists; visited by scientists (July 2005 est.)

Government

Europa Island

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Europa Island
local long form: none
local short form: Ile Europa

Dependency status:

possession of France; administered by the Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Legal system:

the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Flag description:

the flag of France is used

Economy

Europa Island

Economy - overview:

no economic activity

Industries:

none

Communications

Europa Island

Communications - note:

1 meteorological station

Transportation

Europa Island

Ports and harbors:

none; offshore anchorage only

Airports:

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Europa Island

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

Europa Island

Disputes - international:

claimed by Madagascar

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Czech Republic

Introduction

Czech Republic

Background:

Following the First World War, the closely related Czechs and Slovaks of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire merged to form Czechoslovakia. During the interwar years, the new country's leaders were frequently preoccupied with meeting the demands of other ethnic minorities within the republic, most notably the Sudeten Germans and the Ruthenians (Ukrainians). After World War II, a truncated Czechoslovakia fell within the Soviet sphere of influence. In 1968, an invasion by Warsaw Pact troops ended the efforts of the country's leaders to liberalize Communist party rule and create "socialism with a human face." Anti-Soviet demonstrations the following year ushered in a period of harsh repression. With the collapse of Soviet authority in 1989, Czechoslovakia regained its freedom through a peaceful "Velvet Revolution." On 1 January 1993, the country underwent a "velvet divorce" into its two national components, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Czech Republic joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004.

Geography

Czech Republic

Location:

Central Europe, southeast of Germany

Geographic coordinates:

49 45 N, 15 30 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 78,866 sq km
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:

temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters

Terrain:

Bohemia in the west consists of rolling plains, hills, and plateaus surrounded by low mountains; Moravia in the east consists of very hilly country

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Elbe River 115 m
highest point: Snezka 1,602 m

Natural resources:

hard coal, soft coal, kaolin, clay, graphite, timber

Land use:

arable land: 39.8%
permanent crops: 3.05%
other: 57.15% (2001)

Irrigated land:

240 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

flooding

Environment - current issues:

air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia and in northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks; acid rain damaging forests; efforts to bring industry up to EU code should improve domestic pollution

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; strategically located astride some of oldest and most significant land routes in Europe; Moravian Gate is a traditional military corridor between the North European Plain and the Danube in central Europe

People

Czech Republic

Population:

10,241,138 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 14.7% (male 773,028/female 731,833)
15-64 years: 71.1% (male 3,651,018/female 3,627,006)
65 years and over: 14.2% (male 565,374/female 892,879) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 38.97 years
male: 37.2 years
female: 40.82 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.05% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

9.07 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

10.54 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 3.93 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.28 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.02 years
male: 72.74 years
female: 79.49 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.2 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

2,500 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 10 (2001 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Czech(s)
adjective: Czech

Ethnic groups:

Czech 90.4%, Moravian 3.7%, Slovak 1.9%, other 4% (2001 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 26.8%, Protestant 2.1%, other 3.3%, unspecified 8.8%, unaffiliated 59% (2001 census)

Languages:

Czech

Literacy:

definition: NA
total population: 99.9% (1999 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Czech Republic

Country name:

conventional long form: Czech Republic
conventional short form: Czech Republic
local long form: Ceska Republika
local short form: Ceska Republika

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Prague

Administrative divisions:

13 regions (kraje, singular - kraj) and 1 capital city* (hlavni mesto); Jihocesky Kraj, Jihomoravsky Kraj, Karlovarsky Kraj, Kralovehradecky Kraj, Liberecky Kraj, Moravskoslezsky Kraj, Olomoucky Kraj, Pardubicky Kraj, Plzensky Kraj, Praha (Prague)*, Stredocesky Kraj, Ustecky Kraj, Vysocina, Zlinsky Kraj

Independence:

1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia)

National holiday:

Czech Founding Day, 28 October (1918)

Constitution:

ratified 16 December 1992, effective 1 January 1993

Legal system:

civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to bring it in line with Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) obligations and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Vaclav KLAUS (since 7 March 2003)
note: the Czech Republic's first president Vaclav HAVEL stepped down from office on 2 February 2003 having served exactly 10 years; parliament finally elected a successor on 28 February 2003 after two inconclusive elections in January 2003
head of government: Prime Minister Jiri PAROUBEK (since 25 April 2005), Deputy Prime Ministers Zdenek SKROMACH (since 4 August 2004), Martin JAHN (since 4 August 2004), Pavel NEMEC (since 4 August 2004), Milan SIMONOVSKY (since 4 August 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; last successful election held 28 February 2003 (after earlier elections held 15 and 24 January 2003 were inconclusive; next election to be held January 2008); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Vaclav KLAUS elected president on 28 February 2003; Vaclav KLAUS 142 votes, Jan SOKOL 124 votes (third round; combined votes of both chambers of parliament)

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat (81 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms; one-third elected every two years) and the Chamber of Deputies or Poslanecka Snemovna (200 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held in two rounds 5-6 November and 12-13 November 2004 (next to be held November 2006); Chamber of Deputies - last held 14-15 June 2002 (next to be held by June 2006)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - ODS 37, KDU-CSL 14, Open Democracy 13, CSSD 7, Caucus Open Democracy 7, independents 3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - CSSD 30.2%, ODS 24.5%, KSCM 18.5%, KDU-CSL & US-DEU coalition 14.3%, other minor 12.5%; seats by party - CSSD 70, ODS 57, KSCM 41, KDU-CSL 21, US-DEU 10, independent 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; chairman and deputy chairmen are appointed by the president for a 10-year term

Political parties and leaders:

Caucus SNK [Josef ZOSER]; Christian and Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party or KDU-CSL [Miroslav KALOUSEK, chairman]; Civic Democratic Alliance or ODA [Jirina NOVAKOVA, chairman]; Civic Democratic Party or ODS [Mirek TOPOLANEK, chairman]; Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia or KSCM [Miroslav GREBENICEK, chairman]; Communist Party of Czechoslovakia or KSC [Miroslav STEPAN, chairman]; Czech National Social Party of CSNS [Jaroslav ROVNY, chairman]; Czech Social Democratic Party or CSSD [Stanislav GROSS, acting chairman]; European Democrats [Jan KASL]; Freedom Union-Democratic Union or US-DEU [Hana Marvanova, chairwoman]; Open Democracy [Sona PAUKRTOVA, chairwoman]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Bohemian and Moravian Trade Union Confederation [Milan STECH]

International organization participation:

ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (member affiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Martin PALOUS
chancery: 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 274-9100
FAX: [1] (202) 966-8540
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador William J. CABANISS
embassy: Trziste 15, 11801 Prague 1
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [420] (2) 5753-0663
FAX: [420] (2) 5753-0583

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side (identical to the flag of the former Czechoslovakia)

Economy

Czech Republic

Economy - overview:

The Czech Republic is one of the most stable and prosperous of the post-Communist states of Central and Eastern Europe. Growth in 2000-04 was supported by exports to the EU, primarily to Germany, and a strong recovery of foreign and domestic investment. Domestic demand is playing an ever more important role in underpinning growth as interest rates drop and the availability of credit cards and mortgages increases. Current account deficits of around 5% of GDP are beginning to decline as demand for Czech products in the European Union increases. Inflation is under control. Recent accession to the EU gives further impetus and direction to structural reform. In early 2004 the government passed increases in the Value Added Tax (VAT) and tightened eligibility for social benefits with the intention to bring the public finance gap down to 4% of GDP by 2006, but more difficult pension and healthcare reforms will have to wait until after the next elections. Privatization of the state-owned telecommunications firm Cesky Telecom is scheduled to take place in 2005. Intensified restructuring among large enterprises, improvements in the financial sector, and effective use of available EU funds should strengthen output growth.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$172.2 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.7% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $16,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3.4%
industry: 39.3%
services: 57.3% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

5.25 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 4%, industry 38%, services 58% (2002 est.)

Unemployment rate:

10.6% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 4.3%
highest 10%: 22.4% (1996)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

25.4 (1996)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.2% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

29% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $39.31 billion
expenditures: $45.8 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

33.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, poultry

Industries:

metallurgy, machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, glass, armaments

Industrial production growth rate:

4.7% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

71.75 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 76.1%
hydro: 2.9%
nuclear: 20%
other: 1% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

55.33 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

20.9 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

9.5 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

7,419 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

175,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

26,670 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:

192,300 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

17.25 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

160 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

9.892 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

1 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

9.521 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

3.057 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$-5.73 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$66.51 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment 52%, chemicals 5%, raw materials and fuel 9% (2003)

Exports - partners:

Germany 36.1%, Slovakia 8.4%, Austria 6%, Poland 5.3%, UK 4.7%, France 4.7%, Italy 4.3%, Netherlands 4.3% (2004)

Imports:

$68.19 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment 46%, raw materials and fuels 15%, chemicals 10% (2003)

Imports - partners:

Germany 31.7%, Slovakia 5.4%, Italy 5.3%, China 5.2%, Poland 4.8%, France 4.8%, Russia 4.1% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$32.78 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$36.28 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$2.4 billion in available EU structural adjustment and cohesion funds (2004-06)

Currency (code):

Czech koruna (CZK)

Currency code:

CZK

Exchange rates:

koruny per US dollar - 25.7 (2004), 28.209 (2003), 32.739 (2002), 38.035 (2001), 38.598 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Czech Republic

Telephones - main lines in use:

3.626 million (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

9,708,700 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: privatization and modernization of the Czech telecommunication system got a late start but is advancing steadily; growth in the use of mobile cellular telephones is particularly vigorous
domestic: 86% of exchanges now digital; existing copper subscriber systems now being enhanced with Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) equipment to accommodate Internet and other digital signals; trunk systems include fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay
international: country code - 420; satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions), 1 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat, 1 Globalstar

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 31, FM 304, shortwave 17 (2000)

Radios:

3,159,134 (December 2000)

Television broadcast stations:

150 (plus 1,434 repeaters) (2000)

Televisions:

3,405,834 (December 2000)

Internet country code:

.cz

Internet hosts:

295,677 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

more than 300 (2000)

Internet users:

2.7 million (2003)

Transportation

Czech Republic

Railways:

total: 9,543 km
standard gauge: 9,421 km 1.435-m gauge (2,893 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 122 km 0.760-m gauge (23 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 127,204 km
paved: 127,204 km (including 518 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2002)

Waterways:

664 km (on Elbe, Vltava, and Oder rivers) (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 7,020 km; oil 547 km; refined products 94 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem

Merchant marine:

registered in other countries: 3

Airports:

120 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 44
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 17 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 76
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 27
under 914 m: 48 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

2 (2004 est.)

Military

Czech Republic

Military branches:

Army of the Czech Republic (ACR): Joint Forces Command, Support and Training Forces Command (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18-50 years of age for voluntary military service; military service transformed into a fully professional, all-volunteer force no longer dependent on conscription beginning in January 2004 (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,414,728 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,996,631 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 66,583 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$2.17 billion (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.02% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Czech Republic

Disputes - international:

in February 2005, the ICJ refused to rule on the restitution of Liechtenstein's land and property assets in the Czech Republic confiscated in 1945 as German property; individual Sudeten Germans seek restitution for property confiscated in connection with their expulsion after World War II

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and minor transit point for Latin American cocaine to Western Europe; producer of synthetic drugs for local and regional markets; susceptible to money laundering related to drug trafficking, organized crime

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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French Guiana

Introduction

French Guiana

Background:

First settled by the French in 1604, French Guiana was the site of notorious penal settlements until 1951. The European Space Agency launches its communication satellites from Kourou.

Geography

French Guiana

Location:

Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname

Geographic coordinates:

4 00 N, 53 00 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total: 91,000 sq km
land: 89,150 sq km
water: 1,850 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Indiana

Land boundaries:

total: 1,183 km
border countries: Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km

Coastline:

378 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:

low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Bellevue de l'Inini 851 m

Natural resources:

bauxite, timber, gold (widely scattered), petroleum, kaolin, fish, niobium, tantalum, clay

Land use:

arable land: 0.14%
permanent crops: 0.05%
other: 99.81% (90% forest, 10% other) (2001)

Irrigated land:

20 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

high frequency of heavy showers and severe thunderstorms; flooding

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

mostly an unsettled wilderness; the only non-independent portion of the South American continent

People

French Guiana

Population:

195,506 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 29.3% (male 29,262/female 27,947)
15-64 years: 64.7% (male 67,895/female 58,534)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 6,038/female 5,830) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 28.45 years
male: 29.49 years
female: 27.31 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.1% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

20.7 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

4.85 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

5.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.16 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.04 male(s)/female
total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 12.07 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 12.91 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.09 years
male: 73.77 years
female: 80.58 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.01 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: French Guianese (singular and plural)
adjective: French Guianese

Ethnic groups:

black or mulatto 66%, white 12%, East Indian, Chinese, Amerindian 12%, other 10%

Religions:

Roman Catholic

Languages:

French

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83%
male: 84%
female: 82% (1982 est.)

Government

French Guiana

Country name:

conventional long form: Department of Guiana
conventional short form: French Guiana
local long form: none
local short form: Guyane

Dependency status:

overseas department of France

Government type:

NA

Capital:

Cayenne

Administrative divisions:

none (overseas department of France)

Independence:

none (overseas department of France)

National holiday:

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Constitution:

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system:

French legal system

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Ange MANCINI (since 31 July 2002)
head of government: President of the General Council Joseph HO-TEN-YOU (since 26 March 2001); President of the Regional Council Antoine KARAM (since 22 March 1992)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; presidents of the General and Regional Councils are appointed by the members of those councils

Legislative branch:

unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a unicameral Regional Council or Conseil Regional (31 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: General Council - last held NA March 2000 (next to be held NA 2006); Regional Council - last held 15 March 1998 (next to be held NA 2004)
election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PSG 5, various left-wing parties 5, independents 7, other 2; Regional Council - percent of vote by party - PS 28.28%, various left parties 22.56%, RPR 15.91%, independents 8.6%, Walwari Committee 6%; seats by party - PS 11, various left parties 9, RPR 6, independents 3, Walwari Committee 2
note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on 27 September 1998 (next to be held September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; 2 seats were elected to the French National Assembly on 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP/RPR 1, Walwari Committee 1

Judicial branch:

Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel (highest local court based in Martinique with jurisdiction over Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana)

Political parties and leaders:

Guyanese Democratic Action or ADG [Andre LECANTE]; Guyanese Socialist Party or PSG [Marie-Claude VERDAN]; Guyana Democratic Forces or FDG [Georges OTHILY]; Popular National Guyanese Party or PNPG [Jose DORCY]; Socialist Party or PS [Paul DEBRIETTE]; Union for a Popular Movement or UMP (includes RPR) [Muriel ICARE]; Walwari Committee (aligned with the PRG in France) [Christine TAUBIRA-DELANON]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

UPU, WCL, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas department of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas department of France)

Flag description:

the flag of France is used

Economy

French Guiana

Economy - overview:

The economy is tied closely to the much larger French economy through subsidies and imports. Besides the French space center at Kourou (which accounts for 25% of GDP), fishing and forestry are the most important economic activities. Forest and woodland cover 90% of the country. The large reserves of tropical hardwoods, not fully exploited, support an expanding sawmill industry that provides sawn logs for export. Cultivation of crops is limited to the coastal area, where the population is largely concentrated; rice and manioc are the major crops. French Guiana is heavily dependent on imports of food and energy. Unemployment is a serious problem, particularly among younger workers.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.551 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

NA%

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $8,300 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA% (2001 est.)

Labor force:

58,800 (1997)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 18.2%, industry 21.2%, services, government, and commerce 60.6% (1980)

Unemployment rate:

22% (2001)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.5% (2002 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $225 million
expenditures: $390 million, including capital expenditures of $105 million (1996)

Agriculture - products:

corn, rice, manioc (tapioca), sugar, cocoa, vegetables, bananas; cattle, pigs, poultry

Industries:

construction, shrimp processing, forestry products, rum, gold mining

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

460.1 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

427.9 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

6,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$155 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:

shrimp, timber, gold, rum, rosewood essence, clothing

Exports - partners:

France 62%, Switzerland 7%, US 2% (2001)

Imports:

$625 million c.i.f. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food (grains, processed meat), machinery and transport equipment, fuels and chemicals

Imports - partners:

France 63%, US, Trinidad and Tobago, Italy (2002 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.2 billion (1988)

Economic aid - recipient:

NA

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)

Currency code:

EUR

Exchange rates:

Euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

French Guiana

Telephones - main lines in use:

51,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

138,200 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: fair open-wire and microwave radio relay system
international: country code - 594; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 14 (including 6 repeaters), shortwave 6 (including 5 repeaters) (1998)

Radios:

104,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (plus eight low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

30,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.gf

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

3,200 (2002)

Transportation

French Guiana

Highways:

total: 817 km (1998)

Waterways:

3,760 km
note: 460 km navigable by small oceangoing vessels and coastal and river steamers, 3,300 km by native craft (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Degrad des Cannes

Merchant marine:

registered in other countries: 3

Airports:

11 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)

Military

French Guiana

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Gendarmerie

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 47,809 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 38,676 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

French Guiana

Disputes - international:

Suriname claims area between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa) in French Guiana

Illicit drugs:

small amount of marijuana grown for local consumption; minor transshipment point to Europe

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Finland

Introduction

Finland

Background:

Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden from the 12th to the 19th centuries and an autonomous grand duchy of Russia after 1809. It won its complete independence in 1917. During World War II, it was able to successfully defend its freedom and resist invasions by the Soviet Union - albeit with some loss of territory. In the subsequent half century, the Finns made a remarkable transformation from a farm/forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy; per capita income is now on par with Western Europe. As a member of the European Union, Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro system at its initiation in January 1999.

Geography

Finland

Location:

Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, and Gulf of Finland, between Sweden and Russia

Geographic coordinates:

64 00 N, 26 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 338,145 sq km
land: 304,473 sq km
water: 33,672 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Montana

Land boundaries:

total: 2,681 km
border countries: Norway 727 km, Sweden 614 km, Russia 1,340 km

Coastline:

1,250 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm (in the Gulf of Finland - 3 nm)
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm; extends to continental shelf boundary with Sweden

Climate:

cold temperate; potentially subarctic but comparatively mild because of moderating influence of the North Atlantic Current, Baltic Sea, and more than 60,000 lakes

Terrain:

mostly low, flat to rolling plains interspersed with lakes and low hills

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Haltiatunturi 1,328 m

Natural resources:

timber, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, nickel, gold, silver, limestone

Land use:

arable land: 7.19%
permanent crops: 0.03%
other: 92.78% (2001)

Irrigated land:

640 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

air pollution from manufacturing and power plants contributing to acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes, agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

long boundary with Russia; Helsinki is northernmost national capital on European continent; population concentrated on small southwestern coastal plain

People

Finland

Population:

5,223,442 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 17.3% (male 460,977/female 443,859)
15-64 years: 66.8% (male 1,764,874/female 1,723,385)
65 years and over: 15.9% (male 328,952/female 501,395) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 40.97 years
male: 39.43 years
female: 42.52 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.16% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

10.5 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

9.79 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 3.57 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 3.89 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.35 years
male: 74.82 years
female: 82.02 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.73 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

1,500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Finn(s)
adjective: Finnish

Ethnic groups:

Finn 93.4%, Swede 5.7%, Russian 0.4%, Estonian 0.2%, Roma 0.2%, Sami 0.1%

Religions:

Lutheran National Church 84.2%, Greek Orthodox in Finland 1.1%, other Christian 1.1%, other 0.1%, none 13.5% (2003)

Languages:

Finnish 92% (official), Swedish 5.6% (official), other 2.4% (small Sami- and Russian-speaking minorities) (2003)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100% (2000 est.)
male: 100%
female: 100%

Government

Finland

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Finland
conventional short form: Finland
local long form: Suomen Tasavalta
local short form: Suomi

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Helsinki

Administrative divisions:

6 provinces (laanit, singular - laani); Aland, Etela-Suomen Laani, Ita-Suomen Laani, Lansi-Suomen Laani, Lappi, Oulun Laani

Independence:

6 December 1917 (from Russia)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 6 December (1917)

Constitution:

1 March 2000

Legal system:

civil law system based on Swedish law; the president may request the Supreme Court to review laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Tarja HALONEN (since 1 March 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Matti VANHANEN (since 24 June 2003) and Deputy Prime Minister Eero HEINALUOMA (since 24 September 2005)
cabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsible to parliament
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 16 January 2000 and 6 February 2000 (next to be held February 2006); the president appoints the prime minister and deputy prime minister from the majority party or the majority coalition after parliamentary elections and the parliament must approve the appointment
election results: Tarja HALONEN elected president; percent of vote - Tarja HALONEN (SDP) 51.6%, Esko AHO (Kesk) 48.4%
note: government coalition - Kesk, SDP, and SFP

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 16 March 2003 (next to be held March 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - Kesk 24.7%, SDP 24.5%, Kok 18.5%, VAS 9.9%, VIHR 8%, KD 5.3%, SFP 4.6%; seats by party - Kesk 55, SDP 53, Kok 40, VAS 19, VIHR 14, KD 7, SFP 8, others 4

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Korkein Oikeus (judges appointed by the president)

Political parties and leaders:

Center Party or Kesk [Matti VANHANEN]; Christian Democrats or KD [Paivi RASANEN]; Green League or VIHR [Tarja CRONBERG]; Left Alliance or VAS composed of People's Democratic League and Democratic Alternative [Suvi-Anne SIIMES]; National Coalition (conservative) Party or Kok [Jyrki KATAINEN]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Eero HEINALUOMA]; Swedish People's Party or SFP [Jan-Erik ENESTAM]

International organization participation:

AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jukka Robert VALTASAARI
chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 298-5800
FAX: [1] (202) 298-6030
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Earle I. MACK
embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14B, 00140 Helsinki
mailing address: APO AE 09723
telephone: [358] (9) 616250
FAX: [358] (9) 6162 5800

Flag description:

white with a blue cross extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Economy

Finland

Economy - overview:

Finland has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy, with per capita output roughly that of the UK, France, Germany, and Italy. Its key economic sector is manufacturing - principally the wood, metals, engineering, telecommunications, and electronics industries. Trade is important, with exports equaling two-fifths of GDP. Finland excels in high-tech exports, e.g., mobile phones. Except for timber and several minerals, Finland depends on imports of raw materials, energy, and some components for manufactured goods. Because of the climate, agricultural development is limited to maintaining self-sufficiency in basic products. Forestry, an important export earner, provides a secondary occupation for the rural population. Rapidly increasing integration with Western Europe - Finland was one of the 12 countries joining the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) - will dominate the economic picture over the next several years. Growth in 2003 was held back by the global slowdown but picked up in 2004. High unemployment remains a persistent problem.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$151.2 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $29,000 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3.3%
industry: 30.2%
services: 66.5% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

2.66 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture and forestry 8%, industry 22%, construction 6%, commerce 14%, finance, insurance, and business services 10%, transport and communications 8%, public services 32%

Unemployment rate:

8.9% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 4.2%
highest 10%: 21.6% (1991)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

25.6 (1991)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

0.7% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

18.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $96.43 billion
expenditures: $91.95 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

46.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

barley, wheat, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; fish

Industries:

metals and metal products, electronics, machinery and scientific instruments, shipbuilding, pulp and paper, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, clothing

Industrial production growth rate:

2% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

71.59 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 39%
hydro: 18.7%
nuclear: 30.4%
other: 11.8% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

78.58 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

1.5 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

13.5 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

211,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

101,000 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:

318,300 bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

4.557 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

4.567 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Current account balance:

$11.39 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$61.04 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; timber, paper, pulp (1999)

Exports - partners:

Sweden 11.1%, Germany 10.7%, Russia 8.9%, UK 7%, US 6.4%, Netherlands 5.1% (2004)

Imports:

$45.17 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics, grains (1999)

Imports - partners:

Germany 16.2%, Sweden 14.3%, Russia 12.8%, Netherlands 6.3%, Denmark 5.2%, UK 4.6%, France 4.3% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$11.17 billion (2003)

Debt - external:

$30 billion (December 1993)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $379 million (2001)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries

Currency code:

EUR

Exchange rates:

euros per US dollar - 0.81 (2004), 0.89 (2003), 1.06 (2002), 1.12 (2001), 1.09 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Finland

Telephones - main lines in use:

2.548 million (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

4.7 million (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system with excellent service
domestic: digital fiber-optic fixed-line network and an extensive cellular network provide domestic needs
international: country code - 358; 1 submarine cable (Finland Estonia Connection); satellite earth stations - access to Intelsat transmission service via a Swedish satellite earth station, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Finland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 186, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

7.7 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

120 (plus 431 repeaters) (1999)

Televisions:

3.2 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.fi

Internet hosts:

1,219,173 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2002)

Internet users:

2.65 million (2002)

Transportation

Finland

Railways:

total: 5,851 km
broad gauge: 5,851 km 1.524-m gauge (2,400 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 78,197 km
paved: 50,539 km (including 794 km of expressways)
unpaved: 27,658 km (2004)

Waterways:

7,842 km
note: includes Saimaa Canal system of 3,577 km; southern part leased from Russia (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 694 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Hamina, Hanko, Helsinki, Kotka, Naantali, Pori, Porvou, Raahe, Rauma, Turku

Merchant marine:

total: 94 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,152,175 GRT/1,053,906 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 27, chemical tanker 6, container 1, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 20, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 25
foreign-owned: 2 (Norway 1, United States 1)
registered in other countries: 42 (2005)

Airports:

148 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 75
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 13 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 73
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 69 (2004 est.)

Military

Finland

Military branches:

Finnish Defense Forces: Army, Navy (includes Coastal Defense Forces), Air Force (2003)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service (October 2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,121,275 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 913,617 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 32,040 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$1.8 billion (FY98/99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2% (FY98/99)

Transnational Issues

Finland

Disputes - international:

various groups in Finland advocate restoration of Karelia and other areas ceded to the Soviet Union, but the Finnish Government asserts no territorial demands

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Fiji

Introduction

Fiji

Background:

Fiji became independent in 1970, after nearly a century as a British colony. Democratic rule was interrupted by two military coups in 1987, caused by concern over a government perceived as dominated by the Indian community (descendants of contract laborers brought to the islands by the British in the 19th century). A 1990 constitution favored native Melanesian control of Fiji, but led to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians became the majority. Amendments enacted in 1997 made the constitution more equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a government led by an Indo-Fijian, but a coup in May 2000 ushered in a prolonged period of political turmoil. Parliamentary elections held in August 2001 provided Fiji with a democratically elected government and gave a mandate to the government of Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE.

Geography

Fiji

Location:

Oceania, island group in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Geographic coordinates:

18 00 S, 175 00 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 18,270 sq km
land: 18,270 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

1,129 km

Maritime claims:

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; rectilinear shelf claim added

Climate:

tropical marine; only slight seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:

mostly mountains of volcanic origin

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m

Natural resources:

timber, fish, gold, copper, offshore oil potential, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 10.95%
permanent crops: 4.65%
other: 84.4% (2001)

Irrigated land:

30 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

cyclonic storms can occur from November to January

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

includes 332 islands of which approximately 110 are inhabited

People

Fiji

Population:

893,354 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 31.4% (male 143,066/female 137,346)
15-64 years: 64.5% (male 288,434/female 287,720)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 16,797/female 19,991) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 24.28 years
male: 23.84 years
female: 24.74 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.4% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

22.73 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

5.65 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-3.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 12.62 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 69.53 years
male: 67.05 years
female: 72.14 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.75 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

600 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Fijian(s)
adjective: Fijian

Ethnic groups:

Fijian 51% (predominantly Melanesian with a Polynesian admixture), Indian 44%, European, other Pacific Islanders, overseas Chinese, and other 5% (1998 est.)

Religions:

Christian 52% (Methodist 37%, Roman Catholic 9%), Hindu 38%, Muslim 8%, other 2%
note: Fijians are mainly Christian, Indians are Hindu, and there is a Muslim minority (1986)

Languages:

English (official), Fijian, Hindustani

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.7%
male: 95.5%
female: 91.9% (2003 est.)

Government

Fiji

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of the Fiji Islands
conventional short form: Fiji

Government type:

republic
note: military coup leader Maj. Gen. Sitiveni RABUKA formally declared Fiji a republic on 6 October 1987

Capital:

Suva (Viti Levu)

Administrative divisions:

4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern, Rotuma*, Western

Independence:

10 October 1970 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, second Monday of October (1970)

Constitution:

promulgated on 25 July 1990; amended on 25 July 1997 to allow nonethnic Fijians greater say in government and to make multiparty government mandatory; effective 28 July 1998

Legal system:

based on British system

Suffrage:

21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda (since 18 July 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE (since 10 September 2000)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament; note - there is also a Presidential Council that advises the president on matters of national importance and a Great Council of Chiefs, which consists of the highest ranking members of the traditional chief system
elections: president elected by the Great Council of Chiefs for a five-year term; prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Ratu Josefa ILOILOVATU Uluivuda elected president by the Great Council of Chiefs; percent of vote - NA%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (34 seats; 24 appointed by the President on the advice of the Great Council of Chiefs, nine appointed by the president, and one appointed by the council of Rotuma) and the House of Representatives (71 seats; 23 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 19 reserved for ethnic Indians, three reserved for other ethnic groups, one reserved for the council of Rotuma constituency encompassing the whole of Fiji, and 25 open seats; members serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 25 August through 1 September and 19 September 2001 (next to be held not later than September 2006)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - FLP 26.5%, SDL 27.5%, NFP 1.2%, MV 4.2%, NLUP 1.3%, UGP .3%, independents 1.4%; seats by party - FLP 27, SDL 32, MV 6, NFP 1, NLUP 2, UGP 1, independents 2

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); Court of Appeal; High Court; Magistrates' Courts

Political parties and leaders:

Bai Kei Viti Party or BKV [Ratu Tevita MOMOEDONU]; Conservative Alliance Party/Matanitu Vanua or MV [Ratu Rakuita VAKALALABURE]; Dodonu Ni Taukei Party or DNT [Fereti S. DEWA]; Fiji Democratic Party or FDP [Felipe BOLE] (a merger of the Christian Democrat Alliance or VLV [Poesci Waqalevu BUNE], Fijian Association Party or FAP [Adi Kuini SPEED], Fijian Political Party or SVT (primarily Fijian) [Felipe BOLE], and New Labor Unity Party or NLUP [Tupeni BABA]); Fiji Labor Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDRHRY]; General Voters Party or GVP [leader NA] (became part of United General Party); Girmit Heritage Party or GHP [leader NA]; Justice and Freedom Party or AIM [leader NA]; Lio 'On Famor Rotuma Party or LFR [leader NA]; National Federation Party or NFP (primarily Indian) [Pramond RAE]; Nationalist Vanua Takolavo Party or NVTLP [Saula TELAWA]; Party of National Unity or PANU [Meli BOGILEKA]; Party of the Truth or POTT [leader NA]; United Fiji Party/Sogosogo Duavata ni Lewenivanua or SDL [Laisenia QARASE]; United General Party or UGP [Millis Mick BEDDOES]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMISET, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Mr. Paula NAVUNISARAVI (Charge D'Affaires ad Interim)
chancery: 2233 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 240, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 337-8320
FAX: [1] (202) 337-1996

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador David L. LYON
embassy: 31 Loftus Street, Suva
mailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suva
telephone: [679] 331-4466
FAX: [679] 330-0081

Flag description:

light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Fijian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield depicts a yellow lion above a white field quartered by the cross of Saint George featuring stalks of sugarcane, a palm tree, bananas, and a white dove

Economy

Fiji

Economy - overview:

Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources, is one of the most developed of the Pacific island economies, though still with a large subsistence sector. Sugar exports and a growing tourist industry - with 300,000 to 400,000 tourists annually - are the major sources of foreign exchange. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial activity, but is inefficient. Long-term problems include low investment, uncertain land ownership rights, and the government's ability to manage its budget. Yet short-run economic prospects are good, provided tensions do not again erupt between indigenous Fijians and Indo-Fijians. Overseas remittances from Fijians working in Kuwait and Iraq have increased significantly.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$5.173 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $5,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 16.6%
industry: 22.4%
services: 61% (2001 est.)

Labor force:

137,000 (1999)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture, including subsistence agriculture 70% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate:

7.6% (1999)

Population below poverty line:

25.5% (1990-91)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.6% (2002 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $427.9 million
expenditures: $531.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000 est.)

Agriculture - products:

sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes, bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish

Industries:

tourism, sugar, clothing, copra, gold, silver, lumber, small cottage industries

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

750 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 18.5%
hydro: 81.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

697.5 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

5,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$609 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities:

sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil

Exports - partners:

US 24%, Australia 19%, UK 12.6%, Samoa 6.5%, Japan 4.1% (2004)

Imports:

$835 million c.i.f. (2002)

Imports - commodities:

manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products, food, chemicals

Imports - partners:

Australia 25.9%, Singapore 23.1%, New Zealand 21.1% (2004)

Debt - external:

$188.1 million (2001 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$40.3 million (1995)

Currency (code):

Fijian dollar (FJD)

Currency code:

FJD

Exchange rates:

Fijian dollars per US dollar - 1.7331 (2004), 1.8958 (2003), 2.1869 (2002), 2.2766 (2001), 2.1286 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Fiji

Telephones - main lines in use:

102,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

109,900 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern local, interisland, and international (wire/radio integrated) public and special-purpose telephone, telegraph, and teleprinter facilities; regional radio communications center
domestic: NA
international: country code - 679; access to important cable links between US and Canada as well as between NZ and Australia; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 13, FM 40, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

541,476 (1999)

Television broadcast stations:

NA

Televisions:

88,110 (1999)

Internet country code:

.fj

Internet hosts:

493 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

55,000 (2003)

Transportation

Fiji

Railways:

total: 597 km
narrow gauge: 597 km 0.600-m gauge
note: belongs to the government-owned Fiji Sugar Corporation; used to haul sugarcane during harvest season (May to December) (2003)

Highways:

total: 3,440 km
paved: 1,692 km
unpaved: 1,748 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

203 km
note: 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Lambasa, Lautoka, Suva

Merchant marine:

total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,372 GRT/7,453 DWT
by type: passenger 3, passenger/cargo 2, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Australia 1) (2005)

Airports:

28 (2004 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 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 19 (2004 est.)

Military

Fiji

Military branches:

Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF): Land Forces, Naval Division (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 215,104 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 163,960 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 9,266 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$36 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.2% (FY02)

Transnational Issues

Fiji

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Introduction

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Background:

Although first sighted by an English navigator in 1592, the first landing (English) did not occur until almost a century later in 1690, and the first settlement (French) was not established until 1764. The colony was turned over to Spain two years later and the islands have since been the subject of a territorial dispute, first between Britain and Spain, then between Britain and Argentina. The UK asserted its claim to the islands by establishing a naval garrison there in 1833. Argentina invaded the islands on 2 April 1982. The British responded with an expeditionary force that landed seven weeks later and after fierce fighting forced Argentine surrender on 14 June 1982.

Geography

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Location:

Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of southern Argentina

Geographic coordinates:

51 45 S, 59 00 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total: 12,173 sq km
land: 12,173 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes the two main islands of East and West Falkland and about 200 small islands

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

1,288 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

cold marine; strong westerly winds, cloudy, humid; rain occurs on more than half of days in year; average annual rainfall is 24 inches in Stanley; occasional snow all year, except in January and February, but does not accumulate

Terrain:

rocky, hilly, mountainous with some boggy, undulating plains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m

Natural resources:

fish, squid, wildlife, calcified seaweed, sphagnum moss

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (99% permanent pastures, 1% other) (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

strong winds persist throughout the year

Environment - current issues:

overfishing by unlicensed vessels is a problem; reindeer were introduced to the islands in 2001 for commercial reasons; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the world unaffected by the Chornobyl disaster

Geography - note:

deeply indented coast provides good natural harbors; short growing season

People

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Population:

2,967 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.44% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

NA births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

NA deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: NA
male: NA
female: NA (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

NA children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Falkland Islander(s)
adjective: Falkland Island

Ethnic groups:

British

Religions:

primarily Anglican, Roman Catholic, United Free Church, Evangelist Church, Jehovah's Witnesses, Lutheran, Seventh-Day Adventist

Languages:

English

Government

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Dependency status:

overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina

Government type:

NA

Capital:

Stanley

Administrative divisions:

none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)

Independence:

none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)

National holiday:

Liberation Day, 14 June (1982)

Constitution:

3 October 1985; amended 1997 and 1998

Legal system:

English common law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Governor Howard PEARCE (since 3 December 2002); Chief Executive Chris SIMPKINS (since NA March 2003); Financial Secretary Derek F. HOWATT (since NA)
cabinet: Executive Council; three members elected by the Legislative Council, two ex officio members (chief executive and the financial secretary), and the governor
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Council (10 seats - 2 ex officio, 8 elected by popular vote, members serve four-year terms); presided over by the governor
elections: last held 22 November 2001 (next to be held November 2005)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 8; note - 71% voter turnout

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (chief justice is a nonresident); Magistrates Court (senior magistrate presides over civil and criminal divisions); Court of Summary Jurisdiction

Political parties and leaders:

none; all independents

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

ICFTU, UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK; also claimed by Argentina)

Flag description:

blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Falkland Island coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms contains a white ram (sheep raising was once the major economic activity) above the sailing ship Desire (whose crew discovered the islands) with a scroll at the bottom bearing the motto DESIRE THE RIGHT

Economy

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Economy - overview:

The economy was formerly based on agriculture, mainly sheep farming, but today fishing contributes the bulk of economic activity. In 1987 the government began selling fishing licenses to foreign trawlers operating within the Falklands exclusive fishing zone. These license fees total more than $40 million per year, which goes to support the island's health, education, and welfare system. Squid accounts for 75% of the fish taken. Dairy farming supports domestic consumption; crops furnish winter fodder. Exports feature shipments of high-grade wool to the UK and the sale of postage stamps and coins. The islands are now self-financing except for defense. The British Geological Survey announced a 200-mile oil exploration zone around the islands in 1993, and early seismic surveys suggest substantial reserves capable of producing 500,000 barrels per day; to date no exploitable site has been identified. An agreement between Argentina and the UK in 1995 seeks to defuse licensing and sovereignty conflicts that would dampen foreign interest in exploiting potential oil reserves. Tourism, especially eco-tourism, is increasing rapidly, with about 30,000 visitors in 2001. Another large source of income is interest paid on money the government has in the bank. The British military presence also provides a sizeable economic boost.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$75 million (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

NA%

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $25,000 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Labor force:

1,100 (est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing)

Unemployment rate:

full employment; labor shortage (2001)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.6% (1998)

Budget:

revenues: $66.2 million
expenditures: $67.9 million, including capital expenditures of $23.2 million (FY98/99 est.)

Agriculture - products:

fodder and vegetable crops; sheep, dairy products

Industries:

fish and wool processing; tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

19.06 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

17.72 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

200 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$82 million (2002)

Exports - commodities:

wool, hides, meat

Exports - partners:

Spain 77.4%, UK 9.4%, US 4.9% (2004)

Imports:

$53 million (2002)

Imports - commodities:

fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing

Imports - partners:

UK 63.2%, Spain 30.3%, France 3.6% (2004)

Debt - external:

$NA

Economic aid - recipient:

$0 (1997 est.)

Currency (code):

Falkland pound (FKP)

Currency code:

FKP

Exchange rates:

Falkland pounds per US dollar - 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002), 0.6947 (2001), 0.6609 (2000)
note: the Falkland pound is at par with the British pound

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Telephones - main lines in use:

2,400 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

0 (2001)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: government-operated radiotelephone and private VHF/CB radiotelephone networks provide effective service to almost all points on both islands
international: country code - 500; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) with links through London to other countries

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 7, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

1,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (operated by the British Forces Broadcasting Service)
note: cable television is available in Stanley (2002)

Televisions:

1,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.fk

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

NA; however one-half of all households are reported to have internet access (2002)

Transportation

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Highways:

total: 440 km
paved: 50 km
unpaved: 390 km (2002)

Ports and harbors:

Stanley

Merchant marine:

none

Airports:

5 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Military

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Military branches:

no regular military forces

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Disputes - international:

Argentina, which claims the islands in its constitution and briefly occupied the islands by force in 1982, agreed in 1995 to no longer seek settlement by force; UK continues to reject Argentine requests for sovereignty talks

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Micronesia, Federated States of

Introduction

Micronesia, Federated States of

Background:

In 1979 the Federated States of Micronesia, a UN Trust Territory under US administration, adopted a constitution. In 1986 independence was attained under a Compact of Free Association with the US, which was amended and renewed in 2004. Present concerns include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and overdependence on US aid.

Geography

Micronesia, Federated States of

Location:

Oceania, island group in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Indonesia

Geographic coordinates:

6 55 N, 158 15 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 702 sq km
land: 702 sq km
water: 0 sq km (fresh water only)
note: includes Pohnpei (Ponape), Chuuk (Truk) Islands, Yap Islands, and Kosrae (Kosaie)

Area - comparative:

four times the size of Washington, DC (land area only)

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

6,112 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; heavy year-round rainfall, especially in the eastern islands; located on southern edge of the typhoon belt with occasionally severe damage

Terrain:

islands vary geologically from high mountainous islands to low, coral atolls; volcanic outcroppings on Pohnpei, Kosrae, and Chuuk

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m

Natural resources:

forests, marine products, deep-seabed minerals, phosphate

Land use:

arable land: 5.71%
permanent crops: 45.71%
other: 48.58% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA

Natural hazards:

typhoons (June to December)

Environment - current issues:

overfishing, climate change, pollution

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

four major island groups totaling 607 islands

People

Micronesia, Federated States of

Population:

108,105 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 37.1% (male 20,439/female 19,674)
15-64 years: 59.8% (male 32,382/female 32,313)
65 years and over: 3% (male 1,461/female 1,836) (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.08% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

25.11 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

4.87 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-21.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

NA

Infant mortality rate:

total: 30.21 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 33.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 26.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 69.75 years
male: 67.96 years
female: 71.62 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.25 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Micronesian(s)
adjective: Micronesian; Chuukese, Kosraen(s), Pohnpeian(s), Yapese

Ethnic groups:

nine ethnic Micronesian and Polynesian groups

Religions:

Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 47%

Languages:

English (official and common language), Trukese, Pohnpeian, Yapese, Kosrean, Ulithian, Woleaian, Nukuoro, Kapingamarangi

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 91%
female: 88% (1980 est.)

Government

Micronesia, Federated States of

Country name:

conventional long form: Federated States of Micronesia
conventional short form: none
former: Ponape, Truk, and Yap Districts (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)
abbreviation: FSM

Government type:

constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 3 November 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force May 2004

Capital:

Palikir

Administrative divisions:

4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae (Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap

Independence:

3 November 1986 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)

National holiday:

Constitution Day, 10 May (1979)

Constitution:

10 May 1979

Legal system:

based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since 11 May 2003); Vice President Redley KILLION (11 May 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Joseph J. URUSEMAL (since 11 May 2003); Vice President Redley KILLION (11 May 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: president and vice president elected by Congress from among the four senators at large for four-year terms; election last held 11 May 2003 (next to be held May 2007); note - a proposed constitutional amendment to establish popular elections for president and vice president failed
election results: Joseph J. URUSEMAL elected president; percent of Congress vote - NA%; Redley KILLION elected vice president; percent of Congress vote - NA%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Congress (14 seats; four - one elected from each state to serve four-year terms and 10 - elected from single-member districts delineated by population to serve two-year terms; members elected by popular vote)
elections: elections for four-year term seats last held 4 March 2003 (next to be held March 2007); elections for two-year term seats last held 8 March 2005 (next to be held March 2007)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 14

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

no formal parties

International organization participation:

ACP, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jesse Bibiano MAREHALAU
chancery: 1725 N Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 223-4383
FAX: [1] (202) 223-4391
consulate(s) general: Honolulu and Tamuning (Guam)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Suzanne K. HALE
embassy: 101 Upper Pics Road, Kolonia
mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia 96941
telephone: [691] 320-2187
FAX: [691] 320-2186

Flag description:

light blue with four white five-pointed stars centered; the stars are arranged in a diamond pattern

Economy

Micronesia, Federated States of

Economy - overview:

Economic activity consists primarily of subsistence farming and fishing. The islands have few mineral deposits worth exploiting, except for high-grade phosphate. The potential for a tourist industry exists, but the remote location, a lack of adequate facilities, and limited air connections hinder development. The Amended Compact of Free Association with the US guarantees the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) millions of dollars in annual aid through 2023, and establishes a Trust Fund into which the US and the FSM make annual contributions in order to provide annual payouts to the FSM in perpetuity after 2023. The country's medium-term economic outlook appears fragile due not only to the reduction in US assistance but also to the slow growth of the private sector. Geographical isolation and a poorly developed infrastructure remain major impediments to long-term growth.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$277 million
note: GDP is supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $2,000 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 50%
industry: 4%
services: 46% (2000 est.)

Labor force:

NA

Labor force - by occupation:

two-thirds are government employees

Unemployment rate:

16% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line:

26.7%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1% (2002 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $161 million ($69 million less grants)
expenditures: $160 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1998 est.)

Agriculture - products:

black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), betel nuts, sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens

Industries:

tourism, construction, fish processing, specialized aquaculture, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

192 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

NA

Electricity - consumption:

178.6 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Exports:

$22 million (f.o.b.) (FY99/00 est.)

Exports - commodities:

fish, garments, bananas, black pepper

Exports - partners:

Japan, US, Guam (2000)

Imports:

$149 million f.o.b. (FY99/00 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages

Imports - partners:

US, Australia, Japan (2000)

Debt - external:

$53.1 million (FY02/03 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

under terms of the Compact of Free Association, the US pledged $1.3 billion in grant aid during the period 1986-2001; the level of aid has been subsequently reduced

Currency (code):

US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

USD

Exchange rates:

the US dollar is used

Fiscal year:

1 October - 30 September

Communications

Micronesia, Federated States of

Telephones - main lines in use:

10,100 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,800 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate system
domestic: islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes), satellite (Intelsat) ground stations, and some coaxial and fiber-optic cable; cellular service available on Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap
international: country code - 691; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2002)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

9,400 (1996)

Television broadcast stations:

3; note - cable TV also available (2004)

Televisions:

2,800 (1999)

Internet country code:

.fm

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

6,000 (2002)

Transportation

Micronesia, Federated States of

Highways:

total: 240 km
paved: 42 km
unpaved: 198 km (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors:

Tomil Harbor

Merchant marine:

total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,423 GRT/1,551 DWT
by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 1
foreign-owned: 2 (United States 2) (2005)

Airports:

6 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Military

Micronesia, Federated States of

Military branches:

no ministry of defense and no standing armed forces; the paramilitary Maritime Wing, a small maritime law enforcement unit, is responsible to the Division of Maritime Surveillance within the Office of the Attorney General (2003)

Military - note:

Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is a sovereign, self-governing state in free association with the US; FSM is totally dependent on the US for its defense

Transnational Issues

Micronesia, Federated States of

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Faroe Islands

Introduction

Faroe Islands

Background:

The population of the Faroe Islands is largely descended from Viking settlers who arrived in the 9th century. The islands have been connected politically to Denmark since the 14th century. A high degree of self-government was attained in 1948.

Geography

Faroe Islands

Location:

Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to Norway

Geographic coordinates:

62 00 N, 7 00 W

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 1,399 sq km
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:

territorial sea: 3 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line

Climate:

mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy

Terrain:

rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m

Natural resources:

fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas

Land use:

arable land: 2.14%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.86% (2001)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and one uninhabited island, and a few uninhabited islets; strategically located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic; precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands

People

Faroe Islands

Population:

46,962 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 21.3% (male 4,997/female 4,999)
15-64 years: 64.9% (male 16,120/female 14,360)
65 years and over: 13.8% (male 2,923/female 3,563) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 35.11 years
male: 34.64 years
female: 35.68 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.62% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

13.97 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

8.69 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 6.24 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.54 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.21 years
male: 75.77 years
female: 82.67 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.2 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Faroese (singular and plural)
adjective: Faroese

Ethnic groups:

Scandinavian

Religions:

Evangelical Lutheran

Languages:

Faroese (derived from Old Norse), Danish

Literacy:

definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
note: probably the same as Denmark proper

Government

Faroe Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Faroe Islands
local long form: none
local short form: Foroyar

Dependency status:

part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948

Government type:

NA

Capital:

Torshavn

Administrative divisions:

none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 49 municipalities

Independence:

none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

National holiday:

Olaifest (Olavasoka), 29 July

Constitution:

5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)

Legal system:

Danish

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Birgit KLEIS, chief administrative officer (since 1 November 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Joannes EIDESGAARD (since 3 February 2004)
cabinet: Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held 20 January 2004 (next to be held no later than January 2008)
election results: Joannes EIDESGAARD elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote - NA%
note: coalition of Social Democrats, Union Party, and People's Party

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 20 January 2004 (next to be held no later than January 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - Union Party 23.7%, Social Democrats 21.8%, Republican Party 21.7%, People's Party 20.6%, Center Party 5.2%, Independence Party 4.6%; seats by party - Union Party 7, Social Democrats 7, Republican Party 8, People's Party 7, Center Party 2, Independence Party 1
note: election of 2 seats to the Danish Parliament was last held on 8 February 2005 (next to be held February 2009); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Republican Party 1, People's Party 1

Judicial branch:

none

Political parties and leaders:

Center Party [Jenis A. RANA]; Independence Party [Kari P. HOJGAARD]; People's Party [Anfinn KALLSBERG]; Republican Party [Hogni HOYDAL]; Social Democratic Party [Joannes EIDESGAARD]; Union Party [Kaj Oeo JOHANNESEN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

IMO (associate), NC, NIB, UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Flag description:

white with a red cross outlined in blue extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted toward the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Economy

Faroe Islands

Economy - overview:

The Faroese economy has had a strong performance since 1994, mostly as a result of increasing fish landings and high and stable export prices. Unemployment is minimal and there are signs of labor shortages in several sectors. The positive economic development has helped the Faroese Home Rule Government produce increasing budget surpluses, which in turn has helped to reduce the large public debt, most of it owed to Denmark. However, the total dependence on fishing makes the Faroese economy extremely vulnerable, and the present fishing efforts appear in excess of what is a sustainable level of fishing in the long term. Oil finds close to the Faroese area give hope for deposits in the immediate Faroese area, which may eventually lay the basis for a more diversified economy and thus lessen dependence on Danish economic assistance. Aided by a substantial annual subsidy (15% of GDP) from Denmark, the Faroese have a standard of living not far below the Danes and other Scandinavians.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

10% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $22,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 27%
industry: 11%
services: 62% (1999)

Labor force:

24,250 (October 2000)

Labor force - by occupation:

fishing, fish processing, and manufacturing 33%, construction and private services 33%, public services 34%

Unemployment rate:

1% (October 2000)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.1% (1999)

Budget:

revenues: $488 million
expenditures: $484 million, including capital expenditures of $21 million (1999)

Agriculture - products:

milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon, other fish

Industries:

fishing, fish processing, small ship repair and refurbishment, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate:

8% (1999 est.)

Electricity - production:

220 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 62.4%
hydro: 37.6%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

204.6 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

4,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$408 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities:

fish and fish products 94%, stamps, ships (1999)

Exports - partners:

Denmark 33.5%, UK 29.7%, Norway 8.4%, Nigeria 7.2% (2004)

Imports:

$466 million c.i.f. (2002)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment 29%, consumer goods 36%, raw materials and semi-manufactures 32%, fuels, fish and salt (1999)

Imports - partners:

Denmark 52.8%, Norway 18.3%, Iceland 4.4%, Sweden 4.2% (2004)

Debt - external:

$64 million (1999)

Economic aid - recipient:

$135 million (annual subsidy from Denmark) (1998)

Currency (code):

Danish krone (DKK)

Currency code:

DKK

Exchange rates:

Danish kroner per US dollar - 5.9911 (2004), 6.5877 (2003), 7.8947 (2002), 8.3228 (2001), 8.0831 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Faroe Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:

23,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

30,700 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: good international communications; good domestic facilities
domestic: digitalization was completed in 1998; both NMT (analog) and GSM (digital) mobile telephone systems are installed
international: country code - 298; satellite earth stations - 1 Orion; 1 fiber-optic submarine cable to the Shetland Islands, linking the Faroe Islands with Denmark and Iceland; fiber-optic submarine cable connection to Canada-Europe cable

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

26,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (plus 43 low-power repeaters) (September 1995)

Televisions:

15,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.fo

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

25,000 (2002)

Transportation

Faroe Islands

Highways:

total: 463 km
paved: 454 km
unpaved: 9 km (1999)

Ports and harbors:

Torshavn

Merchant marine:

total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 24,051 GRT/11,998 DWT
by type: cargo 6, container 1, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 2
foreign-owned: 8 (Denmark 2, Germany 1, Iceland 2, Norway 2, United Kingdom 1) (2005)

Airports:

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Faroe Islands

Military branches:

no regular military forces

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Denmark

Transnational Issues

Faroe Islands

Disputes - international:

because anticipated offshore hydrocarbon resources have not been realized, earlier Faroese proposals for full independence have been deferred; Iceland disputes the Faroe Islands' fisheries median line boundary; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

French Polynesia

Introduction

French Polynesia

Background:

The French annexed various Polynesian island groups during the 19th century. In September 1995, France stirred up widespread protests by resuming nuclear testing on the Mururoa atoll after a three-year moratorium. The tests were suspended in January 1996.

Geography

French Polynesia

Location:

Oceania, archipelagoes in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from South America to Australia

Geographic coordinates:

15 00 S, 140 00 W

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 4,167 sq km (118 islands and atolls)
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:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical, but moderate

Terrain:

mixture of rugged high islands and low islands with reefs

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m

Natural resources:

timber, fish, cobalt, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 0.82%
permanent crops: 5.46%
other: 93.72% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

occasional cyclonic storms in January

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

includes five archipelagoes (4 volcanic, 1 coral); Makatea in French Polynesia is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Nauru

People

French Polynesia

Population:

270,485 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 26.7% (male 36,947/female 35,403)
15-64 years: 67.4% (male 94,710/female 87,546)
65 years and over: 5.9% (male 8,018/female 7,861) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 27.48 years
male: 27.84 years
female: 27.1 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.52% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

16.93 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

4.63 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

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: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 8.44 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.73 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.9 years
male: 73.5 years
female: 78.42 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.04 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: French Polynesian(s)
adjective: French Polynesian

Ethnic groups:

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

Religions:

Protestant 54%, Roman Catholic 30%, other 10%, no religion 6%

Languages:

French 61.1% (official), Polynesian 31.4% (official), Asian languages 1.2%, other 0.3%, unspecified 6% (2002 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 14 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1977 est.)

Government

French Polynesia

Country name:

conventional long form: Overseas Lands of French Polynesia
conventional short form: French Polynesia
local long form: Pays d'outre-mer de la Polynesie Francaise
local short form: Polynesie Francaise
former: French Colony of Oceania

Dependency status:

overseas lands of France; overseas territory of France from 1946-2004

Government type:

NA

Capital:

Papeete

Administrative divisions:

none (overseas lands 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 lands of France)

National holiday:

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Constitution:

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system:

based on French system

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Michel MATHIEU (since 24 October 2001); note - Michel MATHIER leaves 30 July 2005, replaced by Jacques MICHAUT (acting high commissioner), until the arrival of Anne BOQUET in early September 2005
head of government: President of the Territorial Government of French Polynesia Oscar TEMARU (since 3 March 2005); President of the Territorial Assembly Antony GEROS (since 9 May 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members of the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve as ministers
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Government and the president of the Territorial Assembly are elected by the members of the assembly

Legislative branch:

unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (57 seats - changed from 49 seats for May 2004 election; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 23 May 2004 (next to be held May 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - People's Rally for the Republic (Gaullist) 28, Union for Democracy 27, New Star 1, This Country is Yours 1; after by-elections of 13 February 2005 seating was as follows: People's Rally for the Republic 27, Union for Democracy 27, and Alliance for a New Democracy 3
note: one seat was elected to the French Senate on 27 September 1998 (next to be held September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; two seats were elected to the French National Assembly on 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP/RPR 1, UMP 1

Judicial branch:

Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Court of the First Instance or Tribunal de Premiere Instance; Court of Administrative Law or Tribunal Administratif

Political parties and leaders:

Independent Front for the Liberation of Polynesia (Tavini Huiraatira) [Oscar TEMARU]; New Fatherland Party (Ai'a Api) [Emile VERNAUDON]; People's Rally for the Republic of Polynesia or RPR (Tahoeraa Huiraatira) [Gaston FLOSSE]; The New Star (Te Fetia Api) [Philippe SHYLE]; This Country is Yours (No Oe E Te Nunaa) [Nicle BOUTEAU]; Union for Democracy or UPD [Oscar TEMARU]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

FZ, ICFTU, PIF (observer), UPU, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas lands of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas lands of France)

Flag description:

two narrow red horizontal bands encase a wide white band; centered on the white band is a disk with blue and white wave pattern on the lower half and gold and white ray pattern on the upper half; a stylized red, blue and white ship rides on the wave pattern; the French flag is used for official occasions

Economy

French Polynesia

Economy - overview:

Since 1962, when France stationed military personnel in the region, French Polynesia has changed from a subsistence agricultural economy to one in which a high proportion of the work force is either employed by the military or supports the tourist industry. With the halt of French nuclear testing in 1996, the military contribution to the economy fell sharply. Tourism accounts for about one-fourth of GDP and is a primary source of hard currency earnings. Other sources of income are pearl farming and deep-sea commercial fishing. The small manufacturing sector primarily processes agricultural products. The territory benefits substantially from development agreements with France aimed principally at creating new businesses and strengthening social services.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$4.58 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

NA% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $17,500 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 4%
industry: 18%
services: 78% (2002)

Labor force:

70,000 (1996)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 13%, industry 19%, services 68% (2002)

Unemployment rate:

11.8% (1994)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.5% (2002 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1 billion
expenditures: $900 million, including capital expenditures of $185 million (1996)

Agriculture - products:

coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits; poultry, beef, dairy products, coffee

Industries:

tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

380 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 60.7%
hydro: 39.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

353.4 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

4,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$244 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities:

cultured pearls, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark meat

Exports - partners:

France 36.6%, Japan 22.7%, US 16.1%, Niger 13%, Thailand 4.1% (2004)

Imports:

$1.341 billion f.o.b. (2002)

Imports - commodities:

fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment

Imports - partners:

France 47.6%, New Zealand 8.8%, Singapore 8.4%, Australia 8.3%, US 7.1% (2004)

Debt - external:

NA

Economic aid - recipient:

$367 million (1997)

Currency (code):

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)

Currency code:

XPF

Exchange rates:

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 96.04 (2004), 105.66 (2003), 126.71 (2002), 133.26 (2001), 129.43 (2000)
note: pegged at the rate of 119.25 XPF to the euro

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

French Polynesia

Telephones - main lines in use:

52,500 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

90,000 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 689; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:

128,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

7 (plus 17 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

40,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.pf

Internet hosts:

5,123 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

35,000 (2002)

Transportation

French Polynesia

Highways:

total: 2,590 km
paved: 1,735 km
unpaved: 855 km (1999)

Ports and harbors:

Papeete

Merchant marine:

total: 15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 17,537 GRT/15,150 DWT
by type: cargo 4, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 5, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 1 (France 1) (2005)

Airports:

50 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 37
over 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 7 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 8 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

French Polynesia

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Gendarmerie and National Police Force

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

French Polynesia

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Baker Island

Introduction

Baker Island

Background:

The US took possession of the island in 1857, and its guano deposits were mined by US and British companies during the second half of the 19th century. In 1935, a short-lived attempt at colonization was begun on this island - as well as on nearby Howland Island - but was disrupted by World War II and thereafter abandoned. Presently the island is a National Wildlife Refuge run by the US Department of the Interior; a day beacon is situated near the middle of the west coast.

Geography

Baker Island

Location:

Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and Australia

Geographic coordinates:

0 13 N, 176 31 W

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 1.4 sq km
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:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun

Terrain:

low, nearly level coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 8 m

Natural resources:

guano (deposits worked until 1891), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard

Environment - current issues:

no natural fresh water resources

Geography - note:

treeless, sparse, and scattered vegetation consisting of grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife

People

Baker Island

Population:

uninhabited
note: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and generally restricted to scientists and educators; a cemetery and remnants of structures from early settlement are located near the middle of the west coast; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife Service (2005 est.)

Government

Baker Island

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Baker Island

Dependency status:

unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system

Legal system:

the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

Flag description:

the flag of the US is used

Economy

Baker Island

Economy - overview:

no economic activity

Transportation

Baker Island

Ports and harbors:

none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boat landing area along the middle of the west coast

Airports:

1 abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m, completely covered with vegetation and unusable (2004 est.)

Transportation - note:

there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast

Military

Baker Island

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard

Transnational Issues

Baker Island

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

France

Introduction

France

Background:

Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, France suffered extensive losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, and rank as a dominant nation-state. Nevertheless, France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations. Since 1958, it has constructed a presidential democracy resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier parliamentary democracies. In recent years, its reconciliation and cooperation with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of Europe, including the introduction of a common exchange currency, the euro, in January 1999. At present, France is at the forefront of efforts to develop the EU's military capabilities to supplement progress toward an EU foreign policy.

Geography

France

Location:

Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English Channel, between Belgium and Spain, southeast of the UK; bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Spain

Geographic coordinates:

46 00 N, 2 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 547,030 sq km
land: 545,630 sq km
water: 1,400 sq km
note: includes only metropolitan France; excludes the overseas administrative divisions

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of Colorado

Land boundaries:

total: 2,889 km
border countries: Andorra 56.6 km, Belgium 620 km, Germany 451 km, Italy 488 km, Luxembourg 73 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Spain 623 km, Switzerland 573 km

Coastline:

3,427 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (does not apply to the Mediterranean)
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

generally cool winters and mild summers, but mild winters and hot summers along the Mediterranean; occasional strong, cold, dry, north-to-northwesterly wind known as mistral

Terrain:

mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west; remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m
highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m

Natural resources:

coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, uranium, antimony, arsenic, potash, feldspar, fluorospar, gypsum, timber, fish

Land use:

arable land: 33.53%
permanent crops: 2.07%
other: 64.4% (2001)

Irrigated land:

20,000 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

flooding; avalanches; midwinter windstorms; drought; forest fires in south near the Mediterranean

Environment - current issues:

some forest damage from acid rain; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes, agricultural runoff

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

largest West European nation

People

France

Population:

60,656,178 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 18.4% (male 5,717,761/female 5,440,060)
15-64 years: 65.2% (male 19,784,749/female 19,752,432)
65 years and over: 16.4% (male 4,084,193/female 5,876,983) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 38.85 years
male: 37.3 years
female: 40.39 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.37% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

12.15 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

9.08 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.26 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.6 years
male: 75.96 years
female: 83.42 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.85 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.4% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

120,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 1,000 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
adjective: French

Ethnic groups:

Celtic and Latin with Teutonic, Slavic, North African, Indochinese, Basque minorities

Religions:

Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%-10%, unaffiliated 4%

Languages:

French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages (Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1980 est.)

Government

France

Country name:

conventional long form: French Republic
conventional short form: France
local long form: Republique Francaise
local short form: France

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Paris

Administrative divisions:

22 regions (regions, singular - region); Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne, Basse-Normandie, Bourgogne, Bretagne, Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse, Franche-Comte, Haute-Normandie, Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, Rhone-Alpes
note: metropolitan France is divided into 22 regions (including the "territorial collectivity" of Corse or Corsica) and is subdivided into 96 departments; see separate entries for the overseas departments (French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion) and the overseas territorial collectivities (Mayotte, Saint Pierre and Miquelon)

Dependent areas:

Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, New Caledonia, Tromelin Island, Wallis and Futuna
note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica

Independence:

486 (unified by Clovis)

National holiday:

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Constitution:

adopted by referendum 28 September 1958, effective 4 October 1958; amended concerning election of president in 1962; amended to comply with provisions of 1992 EC Maastricht Treaty, 1996 Amsterdam Treaty, 2000 Treaty of Nice; amended to tighten immigration laws in 1993; amended in 2000 to change the seven-year presidential term to a five-year term

Legal system:

civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of administrative but not legislative acts

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995)
head of government: Prime Minister Dominique DE VILLEPIN (since 31 May 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the suggestion of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (changed from seven-year term in October 2000); election last held 21 April and 5 May 2002 (next to be held, first round April 2007, second round May 2007); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly majority and appointed by the president
election results: Jacques CHIRAC reelected president; percent of vote, second ballot - Jacques CHIRAC (RPR) 81.96%, Jean-Marie LE PEN (FN) 18.04%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (321 seats - 296 for metropolitan France, 13 for overseas departments and territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad; members are indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve nine-year terms; elected by thirds every three years); note - between now and 2010, 25 new seats will be added to the Senate for a total of 346 seats - 326 for metropolitan France and overseas departments, 2 for New Caledonia, 2 for Mayotte, 1 for Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, 3 for overseas territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad; members will be indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve six-year terms, with one-half the seats being renewed every three years; and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (577 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a single-member majority system to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 26 September 2004 (next to be held September 2007); National Assembly - last held 8-16 June 2002 (next to be held not later than June 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP 156, PS 97, UDF 33, PCF 23, RDSE 15, other 7; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP 355, PS 140, UDF 29, PCF 21, Radical Party 7, Greens 3, other 22

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation (judges are appointed by the president from nominations of the High Council of the Judiciary); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (three members appointed by the president, three appointed by the president of the National Assembly, and three appointed by the president of the Senate); Council of State or Conseil d'Etat

Political parties and leaders:

Citizen and Republican Movement or MCR [Jean Pierre CHEVENEMENT]; Democratic and European Social Rally or RDSE (mainly Radical Republican and Socialist Parties, and PRG) [Jacques PELLETIER]; French Communist Party or PCF [Marie-George BUFFET]; Left Radical Party or PRG (previously Radical Socialist Party or PRS and the Left Radical Movement or MRG) [Jean-Michel BAYLET]; Movement for France or MPF [Philippe DE VILLIERS]; National Front or NF [Jean-Marie LE PEN]; Rally for France or RPF [Charles PASQUA]; Socialist Party or PS [Francois HOLLANDE]; Greens [Yann WEHRLING, national secretary]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Francois BAYROU]; Union for a Popular Movement or UMP (including RPR, DL, and a part of UDF) [Nicolas SARKOZY]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

historically-Communist labor union (Confederation Generale du Travail) or CGT, approximately 700,000 members (claimed); left-leaning labor union (Confederation Francaise Democratique du Travail) or CFDT, approximately 889,000 members (claimed); independent labor union (Confederation Generale du Travail - Force Ouvriere) or FO, 300,000 members (est.); independent white-collar union (Confederation Generale des Cadres) or CGC, 196,000 members (claimed); employers' union (Mouvement des Entreprises de France) or MEDEF, 750,000 companies as members (claimed)

International organization participation:

ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BDEAC, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, FZ, G- 5, G- 7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jean-David LEVITTE
chancery: 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 944-6000
FAX: [1] (202) 944-6166
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Howard H. LEACH
embassy: 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75008 Paris Cedex 08
mailing address: PSC 116, APO AE 09777
telephone: [33] (1) 43-12-22-22
FAX: [33] (1) 42 66 97 83
consulate(s) general: Marseille, Strasbourg

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red; known as the "Le drapeau tricolore" (French Tricolor), the origin of the flag dates to 1790 and the French Revolution; the design and/or colors are similar to a number of other flags, including those of Belgium, Chad, Ireland, Cote d'Ivoire, Luxembourg, and Netherlands; the official flag for all French dependent areas

Economy

France

Economy - overview:

France is in the midst of transition, from a well-to-do modern economy that has featured extensive government ownership and intervention to one that relies more on market mechanisms. The government has partially or fully privatized many large companies, banks, and insurers. It retains controlling stakes in several leading firms, including Air France, France Telecom, Renault, and Thales, and is dominant in some sectors, particularly power, public transport, and defense industries. The telecommunications sector is gradually being opened to competition. France's leaders remain committed to a capitalism in which they maintain social equity by means of laws, tax policies, and social spending that reduce income disparity and the impact of free markets on public health and welfare. The government has lowered income taxes and introduced measures to boost employment and reform the pension system. In addition, it is focusing on the problems of the high cost of labor and labor market inflexibility resulting from the 35-hour workweek and restrictions on lay-offs. The tax burden remains one of the highest in Europe (43.8% of GDP in 2003). The lingering economic slowdown and inflexible budget items have pushed the budget deficit above the eurozone's 3%-of-GDP limit. Finance Minister Herve GAYMARD has promised that the 2005 deficit will fall below 3%.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.737 trillion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.1% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $28,700 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.7%
industry: 24.3%
services: 73% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

27.7 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 4.1%, industry 24.4%, services 71.5% (1999)

Unemployment rate:

10.1% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

6.5% (2000)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 25.1% (1995)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

32.7 (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.3% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.005 trillion
expenditures: $1.08 trillion, including capital expenditures of $23 billion (2004 est.)

Public debt:

67.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef, dairy products; fish

Industries:

machinery, chemicals, automobiles, metallurgy, aircraft, electronics; textiles, food processing; tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

1.7% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

528.6 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 8.2%
hydro: 14%
nuclear: 77.1%
other: 0.7% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

414.7 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

79.9 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

3 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

34,920 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

2.026 million bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

409,600 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:

2.281 million bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

144.3 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

1.898 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

42.01 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

1.725 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

40.26 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

12.86 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$-305 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$419 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages

Exports - partners:

Germany 15%, Spain 9.5%, UK 9.3%, Italy 9%, Belgium 7.2%, US 6.7% (2004)

Imports:

$419.7 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft, plastics, chemicals

Imports - partners:

Germany 19.2%, Belgium 9.9%, Italy 8.8%, Spain 7.4%, UK 7%, Netherlands 6.7%, US 5.1% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$70.76 billion (2003)

Debt - external:

$NA

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $5.4 billion (2002)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries

Currency code:

EUR

Exchange rates:

euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

France

Telephones - main lines in use:

33,905,400 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

41,683,100 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: highly developed
domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay; extensive introduction of fiber-optic cable; domestic satellite system
international: country code - 33; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (with total of 5 antennas - 2 for Indian Ocean and 3 for Atlantic Ocean), NA Eutelsat, 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region); HF radiotelephone communications with more than 20 countries

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 41, FM about 3,500 (this figure is an approximation and includes many repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:

55.3 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

584 (plus 9,676 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

34.8 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.fr

Internet hosts:

2,396,761 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

62 (2000)

Internet users:

21.9 million (2003)

Transportation

France

Railways:

total: 29,519 km
standard gauge: 29,352 km 1.435-m gauge (14,481 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 167 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 893,100 km
paved: 893,100 km (including 12,000 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2002)

Waterways:

8,500 km (1,686 km accessible to craft of 3,000 metric tons) (2000)

Pipelines:

gas 14,232 km; oil 3,024 km; refined products 4,889 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Bordeaux, Calais, Dunkerque, La Pallice, Le Havre, Marseille, Nantes, Paris, Rouen, Strasbourg

Merchant marine:

total: 56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 703,639 GRT/889,705 DWT
by type: cargo 4, chemical tanker 6, liquefied gas 4, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 30, petroleum tanker 8, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 6 (Sweden 5, Switzerland 1)
registered in other countries: 139 (2005)

Airports:

478 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 283
over 3,047 m: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 28
1,524 to 2,437 m: 95
914 to 1,523 m: 82
under 914 m: 65 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 195
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 72
under 914 m: 120 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

3 (2004 est.)

Military

France

Military branches:

Army (includes Marines, Foreign Legion, Army Light Aviation), Navy (includes naval air), Air Force (includes Air Defense), National Gendarmerie

Military service age and obligation:

17 years of age with consent for voluntary military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 17-49: 13,676,509 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 17-49: 11,262,661 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 389,204 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$45,238.1 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.6% (2003)

Transnational Issues

France

Disputes - international:

Madagascar claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova Island; Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; territorial dispute between Suriname and the French overseas department of French Guiana; France asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie Land); France and Vanuatu claim Matthew and Hunter Islands, east of New Caledonia

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for and consumer of South American cocaine, Southwest Asian heroin, and European synthetics

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Introduction

French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Background:

The Southern Lands consist of two archipelagos, Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen, and two volcanic islands, Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul. They contain no permanent inhabitants and are visited only by researchers studying the native fauna. The Antarctic portion consists of "Adelie Land," a thin slice of the Antarctic continent discovered and claimed by the French in 1840.

Geography

French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Location:

southeast of Africa, islands in the southern Indian Ocean, about equidistant between Africa, Antarctica, and Australia; note - French Southern and Antarctic Lands include Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet, and Iles Kerguelen in the southern Indian Ocean, along with the French-claimed sector of Antarctica, "Adelie Land"; the US does not recognize the French claim to "Adelie Land"

Geographic coordinates:

43 00 S, 67 00 E

Map references:

Antarctic Region

Area:

total: 7,829 sq km
land: 7,829 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Ile Amsterdam, Ile Saint-Paul, Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen; excludes "Adelie Land" claim of about 500,000 sq km in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US

Area - comparative:

slightly less than 1.3 times the size of Delaware

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

1,232 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm from Iles Kerguelen (does not include the rest of French Southern and Antarctic Lands)

Climate:

antarctic

Terrain:

volcanic

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Ross on Iles Kerguelen 1,850 m

Natural resources:

fish, crayfish

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul are extinct volcanoes

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

islands component is widely scattered across remote locations in the southern Indian Ocean

People

French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants (July 2005 est.)
note: in 2002, there were 145 researchers whose numbers vary from winter (July) to summer (January) (July 2005 est.)

Government

French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Country name:

conventional long form: Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands
conventional short form: French Southern and Antarctic Lands
local long form: Territoire des Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises
local short form: Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises

Dependency status:

overseas territory of France since 1955; administered from Paris by Administrateur Superieur Michel CHAMPON (since 20 December 2004), assisted by Secretary General Jean-Yves HERMOSO (since NA)

Administrative divisions:

none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 districts named Ile Crozet, Iles Kerguelen, and Iles Saint-Paul et Amsterdam; excludes "Adelie Land" claim in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US

Legal system:

the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of France)

Flag description:

the flag of France is used

Economy

French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Economy - overview:

Economic activity is limited to servicing meteorological and geophysical research stations and French and other fishing fleets. The fish catches landed on Iles Kerguelen by foreign ships are exported to France and Reunion.

Communications

French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Internet country code:

.tf

Transportation

French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Ports and harbors:

none; offshore anchorage only

Merchant marine:

total: 75 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 3,092,387 GRT/5,056,658 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 1, chemical tanker 21, container 19, liquefied gas 7, petroleum tanker 15, roll on/roll off 6, vehicle carrier 4
foreign-owned: 71 (Belgium 5, Denmark 2, France 45, Germany 2, Greece 2, Hong Kong 5, Japan 4, Saudi Arabia 1, Sweden 5) (2005)

Airports:

none (2004 est.)

Military

French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Disputes - international:

French claim to "Adelie Land" in Antarctica is not recognized by the United States

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Gambia, The

Introduction

Gambia, The

Background:

The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965; it formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia with Senegal between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty. A military coup in 1994 overthrew the president and banned political activity, but a 1996 constitution and presidential elections, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. The country undertook another round of presidential and legislative elections in late 2001 and early 2002. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH, the leader of the coup, has been elected president in all subsequent elections.

Geography

Gambia, The

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Geographic coordinates:

13 28 N, 16 34 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 11,300 sq km
land: 10,000 sq km
water: 1,300 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of Delaware

Land boundaries:

total: 740 km
border countries: Senegal 740 km

Coastline:

80 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: not specified
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)

Terrain:

flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 53 m

Natural resources:

fish, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon, silica sand, clay, petroleum

Land use:

arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0.5%
other: 74.5% (2001)

Irrigated land:

20 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years)

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases prevalent

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa

People

Gambia, The

Population:

1,593,256 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 44.5% (male 356,079/female 352,894)
15-64 years: 52.8% (male 416,809/female 424,429)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 22,111/female 20,934) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 17.59 years
male: 17.45 years
female: 17.74 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.93% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

39.86 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

11.81 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.06 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 72.02 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 78.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 65.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 53.75 years
male: 51.91 years
female: 55.64 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.38 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

6,800 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

600 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, yellow fever are high risks in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Gambian(s)
adjective: Gambian

Ethnic groups:

African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-African 1%

Religions:

Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%

Languages:

English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.1%
male: 47.8%
female: 32.8% (2003 est.)

Government

Gambia, The

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
conventional short form: The Gambia

Government type:

republic under multiparty democratic rule

Capital:

Banjul

Administrative divisions:

5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Central River, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, Western

Independence:

18 February 1965 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

Constitution:

24 April 1970; suspended July 1994; rewritten and approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; reestablished January 1997

Legal system:

based on a composite of English common law, Koranic law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996; note - from 1994 to 1996 he was Chairman of the Junta); Vice President Isatou Njie SAIDY (since 20 March 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996; note - from 1994 to 1996 was he Chairman of the Junta); Vice President Isatou Njie SAIDY (since 20 March 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 18 October 2001 (next to be held October 2006)
election results: Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH reelected president; percent of vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 52.9%, Ousainou DARBOE 32.7%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 elected by popular vote, five appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 17 January 2002 (next to be held February 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - APRC 45, PDOIS 2, NRP 1,

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC - the ruling party [Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH]; Gambian People's Party-Progressive People's Party-United Democratic Party or GPP-PPP-UDP Coalition [Ousainou DARBOE]; National Convention Party or NCP [Sheriff DIBBA]; National Reconciliation Party or NRP [Hamat N. K. BAH]; People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS [Sidia JATTA]
note: in August 2001, an independent electoral commission allowed the reregistration of the GPP, NCP, and PPP, three parties banned since 1996

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: Suite 905, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379
FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph D. STAFFORD, III
embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, Banjul
mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul
telephone: [220] 392856, 392858, 391971
FAX: [220] 392475

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green

Economy

Gambia, The

Economy - overview:

The Gambia has no significant mineral or natural resource deposits and has a limited agricultural base. About 75% of the population depends on crops and livestock for its livelihood. Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of peanuts, fish, and hides. Reexport trade normally constitutes a major segment of economic activity, but a 1999 government-imposed preshipment inspection plan, and instability of the Gambian dalasi (currency) have drawn some of the reexport trade away from The Gambia. The government's 1998 seizure of the private peanut firm Alimenta eliminated the largest purchaser of Gambian groundnuts; the following two marketing seasons saw substantially lower prices and sales. Despite an announced program to begin privatizing key parastatals, no plans have been made public that would indicate that the government intends to follow through on its promises. Unemployment and underemployment rates remain extremely high; short-run economic progress depends on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid, on responsible government economic management, on continued technical assistance from the IMF and bilateral donors, and on expected growth in the construction sector.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.799 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 26.8%
industry: 14.5%
services: 58.7% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

400,000 (1996)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 75%, industry, commerce, and services 19%, government 6%

Unemployment rate:

NA (2002 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

25.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $44.85 million
expenditures: $59.94 million, including capital expenditures of $4.1 million (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava (tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats

Industries:

processing peanuts, fish, and hides; tourism; beverages; agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking; clothing

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

90.31 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

83.99 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1,900 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-16.4 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$114.4 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels, re-exports

Exports - partners:

India 21.4%, Thailand 15.1%, UK 13.7%, France 12.9%, Germany 8.7%, Italy 7.5% (2004)

Imports:

$180.9 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment

Imports - partners:

China 23.7%, Senegal 11.6%, Brazil 5.9%, UK 5.5%, Netherlands 4.5%, US 4.4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$113.1 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$476 million (2001 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$45.4 million (1995)

Currency (code):

dalasi (GMD)

Currency code:

GMD

Exchange rates:

dalasi per US dollar - 27.306 (2003), 27.306 (2003), 19.918 (2002), 15.687 (2001), 12.788 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Gambia, The

Telephones - main lines in use:

38,400 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

100,000 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate; a packet switched data network is available
domestic: adequate network of microwave radio relay and open-wire
international: country code - 220; microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)

Radios:

196,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (government-owned) (1997)

Televisions:

5,000 (2000)

Internet country code:

.gm

Internet hosts:

568 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2001)

Internet users:

25,000 (2002)

Transportation

Gambia, The

Highways:

total: 2,700 km
paved: 956 km
unpaved: 1,744 km (1999)

Waterways:

390 km (on River Gambia; small ocean-going vessels can reach 190 km) (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Banjul

Merchant marine:

total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 30,976 GRT/10,978 DWT
by type: passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Switzerland 1) (2005)

Airports:

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Gambia, The

Military branches:

Gambian National Army (GNA), Gambian Navy (GN), Presidential Guard, National Guard

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 309,279 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 188,117 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$1 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.3% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Gambia, The

Disputes - international:

attempts to stem refugees, cross-border raids, arms smuggling, and other illegal activities by separatists from southern Senegal's Casamance region as well as from conflicts in other west African states

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Gabon

Introduction

Gabon

Background:

Only two autocratic presidents have ruled Gabon since independence from France in 1960. Gabon's current President, El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-serving heads of state in the world - has dominated Gabon's political scene for almost four decades. President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty system and a new constitution in the early 1990s. However, the low turnout and allegations of electoral fraud during the most recent local elections in 2002-03 have exposed the weaknesses of formal political structures in Gabon. Presidential elections scheduled for 2005 are unlikely to bring change since the opposition remains weak, divided, and financially dependent on the current regime. Despite political conditions, a small population, abundant natural resources, and considerable foreign support have helped make Gabon one of the more prosperous and stable African countries.

Geography

Gabon

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the Atlantic Ocean at the Equator, between Republic of the Congo and Equatorial Guinea

Geographic coordinates:

1 00 S, 11 45 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 267,667 sq km
land: 257,667 sq km
water: 10,000 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Colorado

Land boundaries:

total: 2,551 km
border countries: Cameroon 298 km, Republic of the Congo 1,903 km, Equatorial Guinea 350 km

Coastline:

885 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; always hot, humid

Terrain:

narrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Iboundji 1,575 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 1.26%
permanent crops: 0.66%
other: 98.08% (2001)

Irrigated land:

150 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; poaching

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

a small population and oil and mineral reserves have helped Gabon become one of Africa's wealthier countries; in general, these circumstances have allowed the country to maintain and conserve its pristine rain forest and rich biodiversity

People

Gabon

Population:

1,389,201
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 42.1% (male 293,668/female 291,816)
15-64 years: 53.8% (male 372,134/female 374,850)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 23,551/female 33,182) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.57 years
male: 18.34 years
female: 18.8 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.45% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

36.24 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

11.72 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 53.64 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 63.21 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 43.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 55.02 years
male: 53.63 years
female: 56.45 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.77 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

8.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

48,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

3,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Gabonese (singular and plural)
adjective: Gabonese

Ethnic groups:

Bantu tribes including four major tribal groupings (Fang, Bapounou, Nzebi, Obamba), other Africans and Europeans 154,000, including 10,700 French and 11,000 persons of dual nationality

Religions:

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

Languages:

French (official), Fang, Myene, Nzebi, Bapounou/Eschira, Bandjabi

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 63.2%
male: 73.7%
female: 53.3% (1995 est.)

Government

Gabon

Country name:

conventional long form: Gabonese Republic
conventional short form: Gabon
local long form: Republique Gabonaise
local short form: Gabon

Government type:

republic; multiparty presidential regime (opposition parties legalized in 1990)

Capital:

Libreville

Administrative divisions:

9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie, Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem

Independence:

17 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday:

Founding of the Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG), 12 March (1968)

Constitution:

adopted 14 March 1991

Legal system:

based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba (since 2 December 1967)
head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Francois NTOUTOUME-EMANE (since 23 January 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held NA 2005); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: President El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba reelected; percent of vote - El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba 66.6%, Pierre MAMBOUNDOU 16.5%, Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE 13.4%

Legislative branch:

bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (91 seats; members elected by members of municipal councils and departmental assemblies) and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held 9 and 23 December 2001 (next to be held December 2006); Senate - last held 26 January and 9 February 2003 (next to be held by January 2009)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PDG 86, RNB-RPG 8, PGP 3, ADERE 3, CLR 2, PUP 1, PSD 1, independents 13, others 3; Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PDG 53, RNB 20, PGP 4, ADERE 3, RDP 1, CLR 1, independents 9

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consisting of three chambers - Judicial, Administrative, and Accounts; Constitutional Court; Courts of Appeal; Court of State Security; County Courts

Political parties and leaders:

Circle of Liberal Reformers or CLR [General Jean Boniface ASSELE]; Congress for Democracy and Justice or CDJ [Jules Aristide Bourdes OGOULIGUENDE]; Democratic and Republican Alliance or ADERE [Divungui-di-Ndinge DIDJOB]; Gabonese Democratic Party or PDG, former sole party [Simplice Nguedet MANZELA]; Gabonese Party for Progress or PGP [Pierre-Louis AGONDJO-OKAWE]; National Rally of Woodcutters-Rally for Gabon or RNB-RPG (Bucherons) [Fr. Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE]; People's Unity Party or PUP [Louis Gaston MAYILA]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Pierre EMBONI]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Pierre Claver MAGANGA-MOUSSAVOU]; Union for Democracy and Social Integration or UDIS [leader NA]; Union of Gabonese People or UPG [Pierre MAMBOUNDOU]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jules Marius OGOUEBANDJA
chancery: Suite 200, 2034 20th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 797-1000
FAX: [1] (202) 332-0668
consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Barrie R. WALKLEY
embassy: Boulevard du Bord de Mer, Libreville
mailing address: Centre Ville, B. P. 4000, Libreville
telephone: [241] 76 20 03 through 76 20 04, after hours - 74 34 92
FAX: [241] 74 55 07

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and blue

Economy

Gabon

Economy - overview:

Gabon enjoys a per capita income four times that of most of sub-Saharan African nations. This has supported a sharp decline in extreme poverty; yet because of high income inequality a large proportion of the population remains poor. Gabon depended on timber and manganese until oil was discovered offshore in the early 1970s. The oil sector now accounts for 50% of GDP. Gabon continues to face fluctuating prices for its oil, timber, and manganese exports. Despite the abundance of natural wealth, poor fiscal management hobbles the economy. Devaluation of its currency by 50% in January 1994 sparked a one-time inflationary surge, to 35%; the rate dropped to 6% in 1996. The IMF provided a one-year standby arrangement in 1994-95, a three-year Enhanced Financing Facility (EFF) at near commercial rates beginning in late 1995, and stand-by credit of $119 million in October 2000. Those agreements mandate progress in privatization and fiscal discipline. France provided additional financial support in January 1997 after Gabon had met IMF targets for mid-1996. In 1997, an IMF mission to Gabon criticized the government for overspending on off-budget items, overborrowing from the central bank, and slipping on its schedule for privatization and administrative reform. The rebound of oil prices in 1999-2000 helped growth, but drops in production hampered Gabon from fully realizing potential gains. In December 2000, Gabon signed a new agreement with the Paris Club to reschedule its official debt. A follow-up bilateral repayment agreement with the US was signed in December 2001. Gabon signed a 14 month Stand-By Arrangement with the IMF in May 2004, and received Paris Club debt rescheduling later that year. Short-term progress depends on an upbeat world economy and fiscal and other adjustments in line with IMF policies.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$7.966 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $5,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 7.4%
industry: 46.7%
services: 45.9% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

650,000 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 60%, industry 15%, services 25%

Unemployment rate:

21% (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% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $2.129 billion
expenditures: $1.64 billion, including capital expenditures of $310 million (2004 est.)

Public debt:

29.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber; cattle; okoume (a tropical softwood); fish

Industries:

petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, and gold mining; chemicals; ship repair; food and beverage; textile; lumbering and plywood; cement

Industrial production growth rate:

1.6% (2002 est.)

Electricity - production:

1.161 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 34.5%
hydro: 65.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

1.08 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

264,900 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

2.022 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

80 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

80 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

66.47 billion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$196.8 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$3.71 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

crude oil 77%, timber, manganese, uranium (2001)

Exports - partners:

US 53.3%, China 8.5%, France 7.4% (2004)

Imports:

$1.225 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, construction materials

Imports - partners:

France 43.8%, US 6.3%, UK 5.9%, Netherlands 4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$268.6 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$3.804 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$331 million (1995)

Currency (code):

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note - responsible authority is the Bank of the Central African States

Currency code:

XAF

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US dollar - 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Gabon

Telephones - main lines in use:

38,400 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

300,000 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate service by African standards and improving with the help of the growing mobile cell system
domestic: adequate system of cable, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, radiotelephone communication stations, and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
international: country code - 241; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 6, FM 7 (and 11 repeaters), shortwave 4 (2001)

Radios:

208,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

4 (plus four low-power repeaters) (2001)

Televisions:

63,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ga

Internet hosts:

93 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2001)

Internet users:

35,000 (2003)

Transportation

Gabon

Railways:

total: 814 km
standard gauge: 814 km 1.435-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 8,464 km
paved: 838 km
unpaved: 7,626 km (2000 est.)

Waterways:

1,600 km (310 km on Ogooue River) (2003)

Pipelines:

gas 210 km; oil 1,385 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Gamba, Libreville, Lucinda, Owendo, Port-Gentil

Airports:

56 (2004 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 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 45
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 23 (2004 est.)

Military

Gabon

Military branches:

Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 276,310 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 156,632 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 15,150 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$184.8 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Gabon

Disputes - international:

UN presses Equatorial Guinea and Gabon to resolve the sovereignty dispute over Gabon-occupied Mbane Island and to establish a maritime boundary in hydrocarbon-rich Corisco Bay; only a few hundred out of the 20,000 Republic of the Congo refugees who fled militia fighting in 2000 remain in Gabon

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Georgia

Introduction

Georgia

Background:

The region of present-day Georgia contained the ancient kingdoms of Colchis and Kartli-Iberia. The area came under Roman influence in the first centuries AD and Christianity became the state religion in the 330s. Domination by Persians, Arabs, and Turks was followed by a Georgian golden age (11th to the 13th centuries) that was cut short by the Mongol invasion of 1236. Subsequently, the Ottoman and Persian empires competed for influence in the region. Georgia was absorbed into the Russian Empire in the 19th century. Independent for three years (1918-1921) following the Russian revolution, it was forcibly incorporated into the USSR until the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. Despite myriad problems, some progress on market reforms and democratization has been made since then. An attempt by the government to manipulate legislative elections in November 2003 touched off widespread protests that led to the resignation of Eduard SHEVARDNADZE, president since 1995. New elections in early 2004 swept Mikheil SAAKASHVILI into power along with his National Movement Party.

Geography

Georgia

Location:

Southwestern Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Turkey and Russia

Geographic coordinates:

42 00 N, 43 30 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 69,700 sq km
land: 69,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries:

total: 1,461 km
border countries: Armenia 164 km, Azerbaijan 322 km, Russia 723 km, Turkey 252 km

Coastline:

310 km

Maritime claims:

NA

Climate:

warm and pleasant; Mediterranean-like on Black Sea coast

Terrain:

largely mountainous with Great Caucasus Mountains in the north and Lesser Caucasus Mountains in the south; Kolkhet'is Dablobi (Kolkhida Lowland) opens to the Black Sea in the west; Mtkvari River Basin in the east; good soils in river valley flood plains, foothills of Kolkhida Lowland

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Mt'a Shkhara 5,201 m

Natural resources:

forests, hydropower, manganese deposits, iron ore, copper, minor coal and oil deposits; coastal climate and soils allow for important tea and citrus growth

Land use:

arable land: 11.44%
permanent crops: 3.86%
other: 84.7% (2001)

Irrigated land:

4,700 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

air pollution, particularly in Rust'avi; heavy pollution of Mtkvari River and the Black Sea; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil pollution from toxic chemicals

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategically located east of the Black Sea; Georgia controls much of the Caucasus Mountains and the routes through them

People

Georgia

Population:

4,677,401 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 18% (male 444,779/female 398,162)
15-64 years: 65.9% (male 1,480,557/female 1,603,743)
65 years and over: 16% (male 300,859/female 449,301) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 37.36 years
male: 34.93 years
female: 39.7 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.35% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

10.25 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

9.09 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-4.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.16 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 18.59 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 20.71 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.88 years
male: 72.59 years
female: 79.67 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.41 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

3,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Georgian(s)
adjective: Georgian

Ethnic groups:

Georgian 83.8%, Azeri 6.5%, Armenian 5.7%, Russian 1.5%, other 2.5% (2002 census)

Religions:

Orthodox Christian 83.9%, Armenian-Gregorian 3.9%, Catholic 0.8%, Muslim 9.9%, other 0.8%, none 0.7% (2002 census)

Languages:

Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri 6%, other 7%
note: Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 100%
female: 98% (1999 est.)

Government

Georgia

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Georgia
local long form: none
local short form: Sak'art'velo
former: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:

republic

Capital:

T'bilisi

Administrative divisions:

9 regions (mkharebi, singular - mkhare), 9 cities (k'alak'ebi, singular - k'alak'i), and 2 autonomous republics (avtomnoy respubliki, singular - avtom respublika)
: regions: Guria, Imereti, Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, Samegrelo and Zemo Svaneti, Samtskhe-Javakheti, Shida Kartli
: cities: Chiat'ura, Gori, K'ut'aisi, P'ot'i, Rust'avi, T'bilisi, Tqibuli, Tsqaltubo, Zugdidi
: autonomous republics: Abkhazia or Ap'khazet'is Avtonomiuri Respublika (Sokhumi), Ajaria or Acharis Avtonomiuri Respublika (Bat'umi)
note: the administrative centers of the 2 autonomous republics are shown in parentheses

Independence:

9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 26 May (1918); note - 26 May 1918 is the date of independence from Soviet Russia, 9 April 1991 is the date of independence from the Soviet Union

Constitution:

adopted 24 August 1995

Legal system:

based on civil law system

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI (since 25 January 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government for the power ministries: state security (includes interior) and defense
head of government: President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI (since 25 January 2004); Prime Minister Zurab NOGHAIDELI (since 17 February 2005); note - the president is the chief of state and head of government for the power ministries: state security (includes interior) and defense; the prime minister is head of the remaining ministries of government
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 4 January 2004 (next to be held NA 2009)
election results: Mikheil SAAKASHVILI elected president; percent of vote - Mikheil SAAKASHVILI 96.3%, Temur SHASHIASHVILI 1.9%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Supreme Council (commonly referred to as Parliament) or Umaghiesi Sabcho (235 seats - 150 elected by party lists); members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 28 March 2004 (next to be held spring 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - National Movement-Democrats 67.6%, Rightist Opposition 7.6%, all other parties received less than 7% each; seats by party - National Movement-Democrats 135, Rightist Opposition 15

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges elected by the Supreme Council on the president's recommendation); Constitutional Court; first and second instance courts

Political parties and leaders:

Burjanadze-Democrats [Nino BURJANADZE]; Georgian People's Front [Nodar NATADZE]; Georgian United Communist Party or UCPG [Panteleimon GIORGADZE]; Greens [Giorgi GACHECHILADZE]; Industry Will Save Georgia (Industrialists) or IWSG [Georgi TOPADZE]; Labor Party [Shalva NATELASHVILI]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Bachuki KARDAVA]; National Movement Democratic Front [Mikheil SAAKASHVILI] bloc composed of National Movement and Burjanadze-Democrats; National Movement [Mikheil SAAKASHVILI]; New Right [David GAMKRELIDZE]; Republican Party [David BERDZENISHVILI]; Rightist Opposition [David GAMKRELIDZE] bloc composed of Industrialists and New Right Party; Socialist Party or SPG [Irakli MINDELI]; Traditionalists [Akaki ASATIANI]; Union of National Forces-Conservatives [Koba DAVITASHVILI and Zviad DZIDZIGURI]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Georgian independent deputies from Abkhaz government in exile; separatists in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia; supporters of the late ousted President Zviad GAMSAKHURDYA

International organization participation:

BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Levan MIKELADZE
chancery: Suite 602, 1101 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 387-4537
FAX: [1] (202) 393-4537

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Richard M. MILES
embassy: #25 Atoneli Street, T'bilisi 0105
mailing address: 7060 Tbilisi Place, Washington, DC 20521-7060
telephone: [995] (32) 989-967/68
FAX: [995] (32) 933-759

Flag description:

white rectangle, in its central portion a red cross connecting all four sides of the flag; in each of the four corners is a small red bolnur-katskhuri cross; the five-cross flag appears to date back to the 14th century

Economy

Georgia

Economy - overview:

Georgia's main economic activities include the cultivation of agricultural products such as citrus fruits, tea, hazelnuts, and grapes; mining of manganese and copper; and output of a small industrial sector producing alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, metals, machinery, and chemicals. The country imports the bulk of its energy needs, including natural gas and oil products. Its only sizable internal energy resource is hydropower. Despite the severe damage the economy has suffered due to civil strife, Georgia, with the help of the IMF and World Bank, has made substantial economic gains since 1995, achieving positive GDP growth and curtailing inflation. However, the Georgian Government has suffered from limited resources due to a chronic failure to collect tax revenues. Georgia's new government is making progress in reforming the tax code, enforcing taxes, and cracking down on corruption. Georgia also suffers from energy shortages; it privatized the T'bilisi electricity distribution network in 1998, but payment collection rates remain low, both in T'bilisi and throughout the regions. The country is pinning its hopes for long-term growth on its role as a transit state for pipelines and trade. The construction on the Baku-T'bilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Baku-T'bilisi-Erzerum gas pipeline have brought much-needed investment and job opportunities.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$14.45 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

9.5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $3,100 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 20.5%
industry: 22.6%
services: 56.9% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

2.1 million (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 40%, industry 20%, services 40% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:

17% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:

54% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 27.9% (1996)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

37.1 (1996)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.5% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

18.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $671.7 million
expenditures: $804.7 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

citrus, grapes, tea, hazelnuts, vegetables; livestock

Industries:

steel, aircraft, machine tools, electrical appliances, mining (manganese and copper), chemicals, wood products, wine

Industrial production growth rate:

3% (2000)

Electricity - production:

6.732 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 19.7%
hydro: 80.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

6.811 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

300 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

850 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

2,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

31,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Natural gas - production:

60 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.16 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

1.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Current account balance:

$-632.9 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$909.4 million (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

scrap metal, machinery, chemicals; fuel reexports; citrus fruits, tea, wine

Exports - partners:

Turkey 18.3%, Turkmenistan 17.8%, Russia 16.2%, Armenia 8.4%, UK 4.9% (2004)

Imports:

$1.806 billion (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

fuels, machinery and parts, transport equipment, grain and other foods, pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners:

Russia 14%, Turkey 11%, UK 9.3%, Azerbaijan 8.5%, Germany 8.2%, Ukraine 7.7%, US 6% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$231.4 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.8 billion (2002)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA $150 million (2000 est.)

Currency (code):

lari (GEL)

Currency code:

GEL

Exchange rates:

lari per US dollar - 1.9167 (2004), 2.1457 (2003), 2.1957 (2002), 2.073 (2001), 1.9762 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Georgia

Telephones - main lines in use:

650,500 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

522,300 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: local - T'bilisi and K'ut'aisi have cellular telephone networks; urban telephone density is about 20 per 100 people; rural telephone density is about 4 per 100 people; intercity facilities include a fiber-optic line between T'bilisi and K'ut'aisi; nationwide pager service is available
international: country code - 995; Georgia and Russia are working on a fiber-optic line between P'ot'i and Sochi (Russia); present international service is available by microwave, landline, and satellite through the Moscow switch; international electronic mail and telex service are available

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 7, FM 12, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios:

3.02 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

12 (plus repeaters) (1998)

Televisions:

2.57 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.ge

Internet hosts:

5,160 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6 (2000)

Internet users:

150,500 (2003)

Transportation

Georgia

Railways:

total: 1,612 km (1,612 km electrified)
broad gauge: 1,575 km 1.520-m gauge (1,575 electrified)
narrow gauge: 37 km 0.912-m gauge (37 electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 20,229 km
paved: 18,914 km
unpaved: 1,315 km (2002)

Pipelines:

gas 1,697 km; oil 1,027 km; refined products 232 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Bat'umi, P'ot'i

Merchant marine:

total: 175 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 855,908 GRT/1,288,812 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 22, cargo 133, container 3, liquefied gas 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 6, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 105 (Albania 1, Azerbaijan 2, Cyprus 2, Egypt 3, Estonia 1, Germany 1, Greece 4, Israel 1, Lebanon 3, Romania 6, Russia 8, Syria 27, Turkey 14, Ukraine 30, UAE 2)
registered in other countries: 1 (2005)

Airports:

30 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 17
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 10 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

2 (2004 est.)

Transportation - note:

transportation network is in poor condition resulting from ethnic conflict, criminal activities, and fuel shortages; network lacks maintenance and repair

Military

Georgia

Military branches:

Ground Forces (includes National Guard), Air and Air Defense Forces, Maritime Defense Force, Interior Forces

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,038,736 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 827,281 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 38,857 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$23 million (FY00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.59% (FY00)

Military - note:

a CIS peacekeeping force of Russian troops is deployed in the Abkhazia region of Georgia together with a UN military observer group; a Russian peacekeeping battalion is deployed in South Ossetia

Transnational Issues

Georgia

Disputes - international:

Russia and Georgia agree on delimiting 80% of their common border, leaving certain small, strategic segments and the maritime boundary unresolved; OSCE observers monitor volatile areas such as the Pankisi Gorge in the Akhmeti region and the Argun Gorge in Abkhazia; UN Observer Mission in Georgia has maintained a peacekeeping force in Georgia since 1993; Meshkheti Turks scattered throughout the former Soviet Union seek to return to Georgia; boundary with Armenia remains undemarcated; ethnic Armenian groups in Javakheti region of Georgia seek greater autonomy from the Georgian government; Azerbaijan and Georgia cannot resolve the alignment of their boundary at certain crossing areas

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 260,000 (displaced from Abkhazia and South Ossetia) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for domestic consumption; used as transshipment point for opiates via Central Asia to Western Europe and Russia

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Ghana

Introduction

Ghana

Background:

Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast and the Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became the first sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to gain its independence. A long series of coups resulted in the suspension of the constitution in 1981 and a ban on political parties. A new constitution, restoring multiparty politics, was approved in 1992. Lt. Jerry RAWLINGS, head of state since 1981, won presidential elections in 1992 and 1996, but was constitutionally prevented from running for a third term in 2000. John KUFUOR, who defeated former Vice President Atta MILLS in a free and fair election, succeeded him.

Geography

Ghana

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Cote d'Ivoire and Togo

Geographic coordinates:

8 00 N, 2 00 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 239,460 sq km
land: 230,940 sq km
water: 8,520 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries:

total: 2,094 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 549 km, Cote d'Ivoire 668 km, Togo 877 km

Coastline:

539 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; warm and comparatively dry along southeast coast; hot and humid in southwest; hot and dry in north

Terrain:

mostly low plains with dissected plateau in south-central area

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Afadjato 880 m

Natural resources:

gold, timber, industrial diamonds, bauxite, manganese, fish, rubber, hydropower, petroleum, silver, salt, limestone

Land use:

arable land: 16.26%
permanent crops: 9.67%
other: 74.07% (2001)

Irrigated land:

110 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds occur from January to March; droughts

Environment - current issues:

recurrent drought in north severely affects agricultural activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

Lake Volta is the world's largest artificial lake

People

Ghana

Population:

21,029,853
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 37.1% (male 3,946,326/female 3,862,390)
15-64 years: 59.1% (male 6,203,035/female 6,235,107)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 366,472/female 416,523) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 20.45 years
male: 20.2 years
female: 20.7 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.25% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

23.97 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

10.84 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 51.43 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 54.25 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 48.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 58.47 years
male: 57.7 years
female: 59.26 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.02 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

3.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

350,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

30,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever are high risks in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Ghanaian(s)
adjective: Ghanaian

Ethnic groups:

black African 98.5% (major tribes - Akan 44%, Moshi-Dagomba 16%, Ewe 13%, Ga 8%, Gurma 3%, Yoruba 1%), European and other 1.5% (1998)

Religions:

Christian 63%, Muslim 16%, indigenous beliefs 21%

Languages:

English (official), African languages (including Akan, Moshi-Dagomba, Ewe, and Ga)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74.8%
male: 82.7%
female: 67.1% (2003 est.)

Government

Ghana

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Ghana
conventional short form: Ghana
former: Gold Coast

Government type:

constitutional democracy

Capital:

Accra

Administrative divisions:

10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western

Independence:

6 March 1957 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 6 March (1957)

Constitution:

approved 28 April 1992

Legal system:

based on English common law and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President John Agyekum KUFUOR (since 7 January 2001); Vice President Alhaji Aliu MAHAMA (since 7 January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President John Agyekum KUFUOR (since 7 January 2001); Vice President Alhaji Aliu MAHAMA (since 7 January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers; president nominates members subject to approval by Parliament
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 7 December 2004 (next to be held December 2008)
election results: John Agyekum KUFUOR reelected president in election; percent of vote - John KUFUOR 53.4%, John Atta MILLS 43.7%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament (230 seats; note - increased from 200 seats in last election; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 7 December 2004 (next to be held December 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NPP 128, NDC 92, other 10

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

Convention People's Party or CPP [Nii Noi DOWUONA, general secretary]; Every Ghanaian Living Everywhere or EGLE [Owuraku AMOFA, chairman]; Great Consolidated Popular Party or GCPP [Dan LARTY]; National Convention Party or NCP [Sarpong KUMA-KUMA]; National Democratic Congress or NDC [Dr. Huudu YAHAYA, general secretary]; New Patriotic Party or NPP [Samuel Arthur ODOI-SYKES]; People's Convention Party or PCP [P. K. DONKOH-AYIFI, acting chairman]; People's Heritage Party or PHP [Emmanuel Alexander ERSKINE]; People's National Convention or PNC [Edward MAHAMA]; Reform Party [Kyeretwie OPUKU, general secretary]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Alan J. KYEREMATEN
chancery: 3512 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 686-4520
FAX: [1] (202) 686-4527
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Carlin YATES
embassy: 6th and 10th Lanes, 798/1 Osu, Accra
mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra
telephone: [233] (21) 775-347, 775-348
FAX: [233] (21) 701-813

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), yellow, and green with a large black five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia; similar to the flag of Bolivia, which has a coat of arms centered in the yellow band

Economy

Ghana

Economy - overview:

Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has roughly twice the per capita output of the poorer countries in West Africa. Even so, Ghana remains heavily dependent on international financial and technical assistance. Gold, timber, and cocoa production are major sources of foreign exchange. The domestic economy continues to revolve around subsistence agriculture, which accounts for 34% of GDP and employs 60% of the work force, mainly small landholders. Ghana opted for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) program in 2002. Priorities include tighter monetary and fiscal policies, accelerated privatization, and improvement of social services. Receipts from the gold sector helped sustain GDP growth in 2004. Inflation should ease, but remain a major internal problem.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$48.27 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.4% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $2,300 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 34.3%
industry: 24.2%
services: 41.4% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

10.24 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 60%, industry 15%, services 25% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:

20% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line:

31.4% (1992 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.2%
highest 10%: 30.1% (1999)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

40.7 (1999)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

13% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $2.17 billion
expenditures: $2.56 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

cocoa, rice, coffee, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea nuts, bananas; timber

Industries:

mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, food processing, cement, small commercial ship building

Industrial production growth rate:

3.8% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:

6.922 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 5%
hydro: 95%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

6.137 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

500 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

200 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

7,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

38,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

8.255 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

11.89 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$83.87 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$3.01 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore, diamonds

Exports - partners:

Mexico 69.8%, Netherlands 3.7%, UK 3% (2004)

Imports:

$3.699 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Nigeria 12.6%, China 11.4%, UK 6.6%, US 6.4%, France 4.9%, Netherlands 4.2% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.267 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$7.396 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$6.9 billion (1999)

Currency (code):

cedi (GHC)

Currency code:

GHC

Exchange rates:

cedis per US dollar - 9,004.6 (2004), 8,677.4 (2003), 7,932.7 (2002), 7,170.8 (2001), 5,455.1 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Ghana

Telephones - main lines in use:

302,300 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

799,900 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: poor to fair system; Internet accessible; many rural communities not yet connected; expansion of services is underway
domestic: primarily microwave radio relay; wireless local loop has been installed
international: country code - 233; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay link to Panaftel system connects Ghana to its neighbors; fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 49, shortwave 3 (2001)

Radios:

12.5 million (2001)

Television broadcast stations:

10 (2001)

Televisions:

1.9 million (2001)

Internet country code:

.gh

Internet hosts:

407 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

12 (2000)

Internet users:

170,000 (2002)

Transportation

Ghana

Railways:

total: 953 km
narrow gauge: 953 km 1.067-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 46,176 km
paved: 8,496 km
unpaved: 37,679 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

1,293 km
note: 168 km for launches and lighters on Volta, Ankobra, and Tano rivers; 1,125 km of arterial and feeder waterways on Lake Volta (2003)

Pipelines:

refined products 74 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Takoradi, Tema

Merchant marine:

total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 19,086 GRT/26,185 DWT
by type: petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3
foreign-owned: 1 (Brazil 1) (2005)

Airports:

12 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Military

Ghana

Military branches:

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and volunteer military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 4,761,226 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,721,239 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 250,782 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$49.2 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.6% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Ghana

Disputes - international:

Ghana struggles to accommodate returning nationals who worked in the cocoa plantations and escaped rebel fighting in Cote d'Ivoire

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 42,466 (Liberia) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

illicit producer of cannabis for the international drug trade; major transit hub for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and, to a lesser extent, South American cocaine destined for Europe and the US; widespread crime and money laundering problem, but the lack of a well-developed financial infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Gibraltar

Introduction

Gibraltar

Background:

Strategically important, Gibraltar was ceded to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. In referendums held in 1967 and 2002, Gibraltarians ignored Spanish pressure and voted overwhelmingly to remain a British dependency.

Geography

Gibraltar

Location:

Southwestern Europe, bordering the Strait of Gibraltar, which links the Mediterranean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southern coast of Spain

Geographic coordinates:

36 8 N, 5 21 W

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 6.5 sq km
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 nm

Climate:

Mediterranean with mild winters and warm summers

Terrain:

a narrow coastal lowland borders the Rock of Gibraltar

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m

Natural resources:

none

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

limited natural freshwater resources: large concrete or natural rock water catchments collect rainwater (no longer used for drinking water) and adequate desalination plant

Geography - note:

strategic location on Strait of Gibraltar that links the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea

People

Gibraltar

Population:

27,884 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 17.8% (male 2,529/female 2,426)
15-64 years: 66% (male 9,442/female 8,970)
65 years and over: 16.2% (male 2,008/female 2,509) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 39.4 years
male: 39.12 years
female: 39.63 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.17% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

10.87 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

9.18 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.13 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.71 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.67 years
male: 76.8 years
female: 82.7 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.65 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Gibraltarian(s)
adjective: Gibraltar

Ethnic groups:

Spanish, Italian, English, Maltese, Portuguese, German, North Africans

Religions:

Roman Catholic 78.1%, Church of England 7%, other Christian 3.2%, Muslim 4%, Jewish 2.1%, Hindu 1.8%, other or unspecified 0.9%, none 2.9% (2001 census)

Languages:

English (used in schools and for official purposes), Spanish, Italian, Portuguese

Literacy:

definition: NA
total population: above 80%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Gibraltar

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Gibraltar

Dependency status:

overseas territory of the UK

Government type:

NA

Capital:

Gibraltar

Administrative divisions:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Independence:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:

National Day, 10 September (1967); note - day of the national referendum to decide whether to remain with the UK or go with Spain

Constitution:

30 May 1969

Legal system:

English law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal, plus other UK subjects who have been residents six months or more

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor and Commander-in-Chief Sir Francis RICHARDS (since 27 May 2003)
head of government: Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed from among the 15 elected members of the House of Assembly by the governor in consultation with the chief minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed chief minister by the governor

Legislative branch:

unicameral House of Assembly (18 seats - 15 elected by popular vote, one appointed for the Speaker, and two ex officio members; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 27 November 2003 (next to be held not later than February 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - GSD 58%, GSLP 41%; seats by party - GSD 8, GSLP 7

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders:

Gibraltar Liberal Party [Joseph GARCIA]; Gibraltar Social Democrats or GSD [Peter CARUANA]; Gibraltar Socialist Labor Party or GSLP [Joseph John BOSSANO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Chamber of Commerce; Gibraltar Representatives Organization; Women's Association

International organization participation:

Interpol (subbureau), UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag description:

two horizontal bands of white (top, double width) and red with a three-towered red castle in the center of the white band; hanging from the castle gate is a gold key centered in the red band

Economy

Gibraltar

Economy - overview:

Self-sufficient Gibraltar benefits from an extensive shipping trade, offshore banking, and its position as an international conference center. The British military presence has been sharply reduced and now contributes about 7% to the local economy, compared with 60% in 1984. The financial sector, tourism (almost 5 million visitors in 1998), shipping services fees, and duties on consumer goods also generate revenue. The financial sector, the shipping sector, and tourism each contribute 25%-30% of GDP. Telecommunications accounts for another 10%. In recent years, Gibraltar has seen major structural change from a public to a private sector economy, but changes in government spending still have a major impact on the level of employment.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$769 million (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

NA%

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $27,900 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA% (2002 est.)

Labor force:

14,800 (including non-Gibraltar laborers) (1999)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture negligible, industry 40%, services 60%

Unemployment rate:

2% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.5% (1998)

Budget:

revenues: $307 million
expenditures: $284 million, including capital expenditures of NA (FY00/01 est.)

Agriculture - products:

none

Industries:

tourism, banking and finance, ship repairing, tobacco

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

104 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

96.76 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

42,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$136 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities:

(principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%, other 8%

Exports - partners:

France 19.4%, Spain 14.1%, Turkmenistan 12.1%, Switzerland 11.7%, Germany 10.1%, UK 9.1%, Greece 6.8% (2004)

Imports:

$1.743 billion c.i.f. (2002)

Imports - commodities:

fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Spain 19.9%, Russia 18.4%, UK 10.8%, Italy 8.8%, Germany 7.5%, US 5.1%, Sweden 4.7%, France 4.2% (2004)

Debt - external:

$NA (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$NA

Currency (code):

Gibraltar pound (GIP)

Currency code:

GIP

Exchange rates:

Gibraltar pounds per US dollar - 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002), 0.6947 (2001), 0.6609 (2000)
note: the Gibraltar pound is at par with the British pound

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Communications

Gibraltar

Telephones - main lines in use:

24,512 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

9,797 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate, automatic domestic system and adequate international facilities
domestic: automatic exchange facilities
international: country code - 350; radiotelephone; microwave radio relay; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

37,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (plus three low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

10,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.gi

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

6,200 (2002)

Transportation

Gibraltar

Highways:

total: 29 km
paved: 29 km
unpaved: 0 km (2002)

Ports and harbors:

Gibraltar

Merchant marine:

total: 161 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 980,636 GRT/1,254,661 DWT
by type: barge carrier 3, bulk carrier 2, cargo 96, chemical tanker 21, container 22, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 11, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 142 (Belgium 1, Cyprus 1, Finland 1, France 1, Germany 105, Greece 12, Iceland 1, Ireland 1, Italy 1, Latvia 1, Norway 8, Sweden 2, Switzerland 1, Taiwan 1, United Kingdom 3, United States 2) (2005)

Airports:

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Gibraltar

Military branches:

Royal Gibraltar Regiment

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK; the last British regular infantry forces left Gibraltar in 1992, replaced by the Royal Gibraltar Regiment

Transnational Issues

Gibraltar

Disputes - international:

in 2003, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to remain a British colony and against a "total shared sovereignty" arrangement while demanding participation in talks between the UK and Spain; Spain disapproves of UK plans to grant Gibraltar even greater autonomy

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Grenada

Introduction

Grenada

Background:

One of the smallest independent countries in the western hemisphere, Grenada was seized by a Marxist military council on 19 October 1983. Six days later the island was invaded by US forces and those of six other Caribbean nations, which quickly captured the ringleaders and their hundreds of Cuban advisers. Free elections were reinstituted the following year.

Geography

Grenada

Location:

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic coordinates:

12 07 N, 61 40 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 344 sq km
land: 344 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

121 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; tempered by northeast trade winds

Terrain:

volcanic in origin with central mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Saint Catherine 840 m

Natural resources:

timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors

Land use:

arable land: 5.88%
permanent crops: 29.41%
other: 64.71% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to November

Environment - current issues:

NA

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada

People

Grenada

Population:

89,502 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 33.9% (male 15,329/female 14,997)
15-64 years: 62.7% (male 29,711/female 26,436)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 1,431/female 1,598) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 21.26 years
male: 21.73 years
female: 20.76 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.19% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

22.3 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

7.17 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-13.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 14.62 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 14.18 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 64.53 years
male: 62.74 years
female: 66.31 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.37 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Grenadian(s)
adjective: Grenadian

Ethnic groups:

black 82%, mixed black and European 13%, European and East Indian 5%, and trace of Arawak/Carib Amerindian

Religions:

Roman Catholic 53%, Anglican 13.8%, other Protestant 33.2%

Languages:

English (official), French patois

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 98%
female: 98% (1970 est.)

Government

Grenada

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Grenada

Government type:

constitutional monarchy with Westminster-style parliament

Capital:

Saint George's

Administrative divisions:

6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and Petit Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick

Independence:

7 February 1974 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 7 February (1974)

Constitution:

19 December 1973

Legal system:

based on English common law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Daniel WILLIAMS (since 9 August 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Keith MITCHELL (since 22 June 1995)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (a 13-member body, 10 appointed by the government and three by the leader of the opposition) and the House of Representatives (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 27 November 2003 (next to be held by November 2008)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NNP 8, NDC 7

Judicial branch:

West Indies Associate States Supreme Court (an associate judge resides in Grenada)

Political parties and leaders:

Grenada United Labor Party or GULP [Gloria Payne BANFIELD]; National Democratic Congress or NDC [Tillman THOMAS]; New National Party or NNP [Keith MITCHELL]; People Labor Movement or PLM [Dr. Francis ALEXIS]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Denis G. ANTOINE
chancery: 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 265-2561
FAX: [1] (202) 265-2468
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Grenada
embassy: Lance-aux-Epines Stretch, Saint George's
mailing address: P. O. Box 54, Saint George's, Grenada, West Indies
telephone: [1] (473) 444-1173 through 1176
FAX: [1] (473) 444-4820

Flag description:

a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top and bottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer side), with a red border around the flag; there are seven yellow, five-pointed stars with three centered in the top red border, three centered in the bottom red border, and one on a red disk superimposed at the center of the flag; there is also a symbolic nutmeg pod on the hoist-side triangle (Grenada is the world's second-largest producer of nutmeg, after Indonesia); the seven stars represent the seven administrative divisions

Economy

Grenada

Economy - overview:

Grenada relies on tourism as its main source of foreign exchange, especially since the construction of an international airport in 1985. Strong performances in construction and manufacturing, together with the development of an offshore financial industry, have also contributed to growth in national output.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$440 million (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.5% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 7.7%
industry: 23.9%
services: 68.4% (2000)

Labor force:

42,300 (1996)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 24%, industry 14%, services 62% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:

12.5% (2000)

Population below poverty line:

32% (2000)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.8% (2001 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $85.8 million
expenditures: $102.1 million, including capital expenditures of $28 million (1997)

Agriculture - products:

bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, mace, citrus, avocados, root crops, sugarcane, corn, vegetables

Industries:

food and beverages, textiles, light assembly operations, tourism, construction

Industrial production growth rate:

0.7% (1997 est.)

Electricity - production:

149 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

138.6 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$46 million (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:

bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace

Exports - partners:

Saint Lucia 12.7%, US 12.2%, Antigua and Barbuda 8.7%, Netherlands 7.9%, Saint Kitts and Nevis 7.8%, Dominica 7.8%, Germany 7.1%, France 4.6% (2004)

Imports:

$208 million (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food, manufactured goods, machinery, chemicals, fuel

Imports - partners:

Trinidad and Tobago 29.6%, US 27.8%, UK 4.8% (2004)

Debt - external:

$196 million (2000)

Economic aid - recipient:

$8.3 million (1995)

Currency (code):

East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Currency code:

XCD

Exchange rates:

East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003), 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Grenada

Telephones - main lines in use:

33,500 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

7,600 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: automatic, islandwide telephone system
domestic: interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone links
international: country code - 1-473; new SHF radiotelephone links to Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to Trinidad

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

57,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (1997)

Televisions:

33,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.gd

Internet hosts:

18 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

14 (2000)

Internet users:

15,000 (2002)

Transportation

Grenada

Highways:

total: 1,040 km
paved: 638 km
unpaved: 402 km (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors:

Saint George's

Airports:

3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Grenada

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Royal Grenada Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Transnational Issues

Grenada

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

small-scale cannabis cultivation; lesser transshipment point for marijuana and cocaine to US

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Guernsey

Introduction

Guernsey

Background:

The island of Guernsey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy, which held sway in both France and England. The islands were the only British soil occupied by German troops in World War II.

Geography

Guernsey

Location:

Western Europe, islands in the English Channel, northwest of France

Geographic coordinates:

49 28 N, 2 35 W

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 78 sq km
land: 78 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Alderney, Guernsey, Herm, Sark, and some other smaller islands

Area - comparative:

about one-half the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

50 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm

Climate:

temperate with mild winters and cool summers; about 50% of days are overcast

Terrain:

mostly level with low hills in southwest

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Sark 114 m

Natural resources:

cropland

Land use:

arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
other: NA%

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port

People

Guernsey

Population:

65,228 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 15.4% (male 5,084/female 4,937)
15-64 years: 66.9% (male 21,611/female 22,002)
65 years and over: 17.8% (male 4,882/female 6,712) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 40.99 years
male: 40.03 years
female: 41.91 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.29% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

9.01 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

9.95 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

3.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.71 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.26 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 80.3 years
male: 77.3 years
female: 83.41 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.38 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Channel Islander(s)
adjective: Channel Islander

Ethnic groups:

UK and Norman-French descent with small percentages from other European countries

Religions:

Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, Methodist

Languages:

English, French, Norman-French dialect spoken in country districts

Literacy:

definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Guernsey

Country name:

conventional long form: Bailiwick of Guernsey
conventional short form: Guernsey

Dependency status:

British crown dependency

Government type:

NA

Capital:

Saint Peter Port

Administrative divisions:

none (British crown dependency); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 10 parishes including Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson, Vale, Castel, Saint Saviour, Saint Pierre du Bois, Torteval, Forest, Saint Martin, Saint Andrew

Independence:

none (British crown dependency)

National holiday:

Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

Constitution:

unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice

Legal system:

English law and local statutes; justice is administered by the Royal Court

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor and Commander-in-Chief Lt. Gen. Sir John FOLEY (since NA 2000)
head of government: Chief Minister Laurie MORGAN (since 1 May 2004)
cabinet: Policy Council elected by the States of Deliberation
elections: the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister is elected by States of Delibertion
election results: Laurie MORGAN elected chief minister, percent of vote of the States of Deliberation NA%

Legislative branch:

unicameral States of Deliberation (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote for 4 years); note - Alderney and Sark have their own parliaments
elections: last held 21 April 2004 (next to be held NA 2008)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - all independents

Judicial branch:

Royal Court

Political parties and leaders:

none; all independents

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (British crown dependency)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (British crown dependency)

Flag description:

white with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) extending to the edges of the flag and a yellow equal-armed cross of William the Conqueror superimposed on the Saint George cross

Economy

Guernsey

Economy - overview:

Financial services - banking, fund management, insurance - account for about 55% of total income in this tiny, prosperous Channel Island economy. Tourism, manufacturing, and horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining. Light tax and death duties make Guernsey a popular tax haven. The evolving economic integration of the EU nations is changing the environment under which Guernsey operates.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.59 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $40,000 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3%
industry: 10%
services: 87% (2000)

Labor force:

32,290 (2001)

Unemployment rate:

0.5% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.9% (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $539.2 million
expenditures: $448.3 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2002 est.)

Agriculture - products:

tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant, fruit; Guernsey cattle

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:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Exports:

$NA

Exports - commodities:

tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, other vegetables

Exports - partners:

UK (regarded as internal trade)

Imports:

$NA

Imports - commodities:

coal, gasoline, oil, machinery and equipment

Imports - partners:

UK (regarded as internal trade)

Debt - external:

$NA

Economic aid - recipient:

NA

Currency (code):

British pound (GBP); note - there is also a Guernsey pound

Currency code:

GBP

Exchange rates:

Guernsey pounds per US dollar - 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002), 0.6947 (2001), 0.6609 (2000)
note: the Guernsey pound is at par with the British pound

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Guernsey

Telephones - main lines in use:

55,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

31,500 (2001)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: 1 submarine cable

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

NA

Television broadcast stations:

1 (1997)

Televisions:

NA

Internet country code:

.gg

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

NA

Internet users:

NA

Transportation

Guernsey

Highways:

total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km

Ports and harbors:

Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson

Airports:

2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Guernsey

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues

Guernsey

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Greenland

Introduction

Greenland

Background:

The world's largest island, Greenland is about 81% ice-capped. Vikings reached the island in the 10th century from Iceland; Danish colonization began in the 18th century and Greenland was made an integral part of Denmark in 1953. It joined the European Community (now the European Union) with Denmark in 1973 but withdrew in 1985 over a dispute over stringent fishing quotas. Greenland was granted self-government in 1979 by the Danish parliament. The law went into effect the following year. Denmark continues to exercise control of Greenland's foreign affairs.

Geography

Greenland

Location:

Northern North America, island between the Arctic Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Canada

Geographic coordinates:

72 00 N, 40 00 W

Map references:

Arctic Region

Area:

total: 2,166,086 sq km
land: 2,166,086 sq km (410,449 sq km ice-free, 1,755,637 sq km ice-covered) (2000 est.)

Area - comparative:

slightly more than three times the size of Texas

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

44,087 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line

Climate:

arctic to subarctic; cool summers, cold winters

Terrain:

flat to gradually sloping icecap covers all but a narrow, mountainous, barren, rocky coast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Gunnbjorn 3,700 m

Natural resources:

coal, iron ore, lead, zinc, molybdenum, gold, platinum, uranium, fish, seals, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the island

Environment - current issues:

protection of the arctic environment; preservation of the Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting

Geography - note:

dominates North Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe; sparse population confined to small settlements along coast, but close to one-quarter of the population lives in the capital, Nuuk; world's second largest ice cap

People

Greenland

Population:

56,375 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 25% (male 7,216/female 6,888)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 20,897/female 17,823)
65 years and over: 6.3% (male 1,672/female 1,879) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 33.83 years
male: 35.15 years
female: 32.14 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.02% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

15.93 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

7.77 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-8.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.17 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 15.82 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 17.15 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 69.65 years
male: 66.07 years
female: 73.31 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.41 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

100 (1999)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Greenlander(s)
adjective: Greenlandic

Ethnic groups:

Greenlander 88% (Inuit and Greenland-born whites), Danish and others 12% (January 2000)

Religions:

Evangelical Lutheran

Languages:

Greenlandic (East Inuit), Danish, English

Literacy:

definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%
note: similar to Denmark proper

Government

Greenland

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Greenland
local long form: none
local short form: Kalaallit Nunaat

Dependency status:

part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1979

Government type:

parliamentary democracy within a constitutional monarchy

Capital:

Nuuk (Godthab)

Administrative divisions:

3 districts (landsdele); Avannaa (Nordgronland), Tunu (Ostgronland), Kitaa (Vestgronland)
note: there are 18 municipalities in Greenland

Independence:

none (part of the Kingdom of Denmark; foreign affairs is the responsibility of Denmark, but Greenland actively participates in international agreements relating to Greenland)

National holiday:

June 21 (longest day)

Constitution:

5 June 1953 (Danish constitution)

Legal system:

Danish

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Peter LAURITEEN (since NA 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Hans ENOKSEN (since 14 December 2002)
cabinet: Home Rule Government is elected by the parliament (Landstinget) on the basis of the strength of parties
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by the monarch; prime minister is elected by parliament (usually the leader of the majority party); election last held 3 December 2002 (next to be held December 2006)
election results: Hans ENOKSEN elected prime minister
note: government coalition - Siumut and Inuit Ataqatigiit

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Landstinget (31 seats; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 3 December 2002 (next to be held by December 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - Siumut 28.7%, Inuit Ataqatigiit 25.5%, Atassut Party 20.4%, Demokratiit 15.6%, Katusseqatigiit 5.3%; seats by party - Siumut 10, Inuit Ataqatigiit 8, Atassut 7, Demokratiit 5, Katusseqatigiit 1
note: two representatives were elected to the Danish Parliament or Folketing on 8 February 2005 (next to be held February 2009); percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Siumut 1, Inuit Ataqatigiit 1

Judicial branch:

High Court or Landsret (appeals can be made to the Ostre Landsret or Eastern Division of the High Court or Supreme Court in Copenhagen)

Political parties and leaders:

Atassut Party (Solidarity, a conservative party favoring continuing close relations with Denmark) [Augusta SALLING]; Demokratiit [Per BERTHELSEN]; Inuit Ataqatigiit or IA (Eskimo Brotherhood, a leftist party favoring complete independence from Denmark rather than home rule) [Josef MOTZFELDT]; Issituup (Polar Party) [Nicolai HEINRICH]; Kattusseqatigiit (Candidate List, an independent right-of-center party with no official platform [leader NA]; Siumut (Forward Party, a social democratic party advocating more distinct Greenlandic identity and greater autonomy from Denmark) [Hans ENOKSEN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

NC, NIB, UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark)

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red with a large disk slightly to the hoist side of center - the top half of the disk is red, the bottom half is white

Economy

Greenland

Economy - overview:

The economy remains critically dependent on exports of fish and substantial support from the Danish Government, which supplies about half of government revenues. The public sector, including publicly-owned enterprises and the municipalities, plays the dominant role in the economy. Despite several interesting hydrocarbon and minerals exploration activities, it will take several years before production can materialize. Tourism is the only sector offering any near-term potential, and even this is limited due to a short season and high costs.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.1 billion (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.8% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $20,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Labor force:

24,500 (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:

10% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.6% (1999 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $646 million
expenditures: $629 million, including capital expenditures of $85 million (1999)

Agriculture - products:

forage crops, garden and greenhouse vegetables; sheep, reindeer; fish

Industries:

fish processing (mainly shrimp and Greenland halibut); gold, niobium, tantalite, uranium, iron and diamond mining; handicrafts, hides and skins, small shipyards

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

245 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0%
note: Greenland is shifting its electricity production from fossil fuel to hydropower production (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

227.9 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

3,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$388 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities:

fish and fish products 94% (prawns 63%)

Exports - partners:

Denmark 63.8%, Japan 12.6%, China 3.9% (2004)

Imports:

$445 million c.i.f. (2002)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, petroleum products

Imports - partners:

Denmark 78.7%, Sweden 11.9%, Norway 2.7% (2004)

Debt - external:

$25 million (1999)

Economic aid - recipient:

$380 million subsidy from Denmark (1997)

Currency (code):

Danish krone (DKK)

Currency code:

DKK

Exchange rates:

Danish kroner per US dollar - 5.9911 (2004), 6.5877 (2003), 7.8947 (2002), 8.3228 (2001), 8.0831 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Greenland

Telephones - main lines in use:

26,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

16,747 (2001)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate domestic and international service provided by satellite, cables and microwave radio relay; totally digitalized in 1995
domestic: microwave radio relay and satellite
international: country code - 299; satellite earth stations - 12 Intelsat, 1 Eutelsat, 2 Americom GE-2 (all Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 5, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

30,000 (1998 est.)

Television broadcast stations:

1 publicly-owned station, some local low-power stations, and three AFRTS (US Air Force) stations (1997)

Televisions:

30,000 (1998 est.)

Internet country code:

.gl

Internet hosts:

2,642 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

20,000 (2002)

Transportation

Greenland

Highways:

total: NA (there are no roads between towns) (2003)

Ports and harbors:

Sisimiut

Merchant marine:

total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,593 GRT/3,640 DWT
by type: cargo 1, passenger 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Denmark 1)
registered in other countries: 1 (2005)

Airports:

14 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 9
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Military

Greenland

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Denmark

Transnational Issues

Greenland

Disputes - international:

uncontested dispute between Canada and Denmark over Hans Island in the Kennedy Channel between Canada's Ellesmere Island and Greenland

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Germany

Introduction

Germany

Background:

As Europe's largest economy and most populous nation, Germany remains a key member of the continent's economic, political, and defense organizations. European power struggles immersed Germany in two devastating World Wars in the first half of the 20th century and left the country occupied by the victorious Allied powers of the US, UK, France, and the Soviet Union in 1945. With the advent of the Cold War, two German states were formed in 1949: the western Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and the eastern German Democratic Republic (GDR). The democratic FRG embedded itself in key Western economic and security organizations, the EC, which became the EU, and NATO, while the Communist GDR was on the front line of the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact. The decline of the USSR and the end of the Cold War allowed for German unification in 1990. Since then, Germany has expended considerable funds to bring Eastern productivity and wages up to Western standards. In January 1999, Germany and 10 other EU countries introduced a common European exchange currency, the euro.

Geography

Germany

Location:

Central Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and the North Sea, between the Netherlands and Poland, south of Denmark

Geographic coordinates:

51 00 N, 9 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 357,021 sq km
land: 349,223 sq km
water: 7,798 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Montana

Land boundaries:

total: 3,621 km
border countries: Austria 784 km, Belgium 167 km, Czech Republic 646 km, Denmark 68 km, France 451 km, Luxembourg 138 km, Netherlands 577 km, Poland 456 km, Switzerland 334 km

Coastline:

2,389 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

temperate and marine; cool, cloudy, wet winters and summers; occasional warm mountain (foehn) wind

Terrain:

lowlands in north, uplands in center, Bavarian Alps in south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Neuendorf bei Wilster -3.54 m
highest point: Zugspitze 2,963 m

Natural resources:

coal, lignite, natural gas, iron ore, copper, nickel, uranium, potash, salt, construction materials, timber, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 33.85%
permanent crops: 0.59%
other: 65.56% (2001)

Irrigated land:

4,850 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

flooding

Environment - current issues:

emissions from coal-burning utilities and industries contribute to air pollution; acid rain, resulting from sulfur dioxide emissions, is damaging forests; pollution in the Baltic Sea from raw sewage and industrial effluents from rivers in eastern Germany; hazardous waste disposal; government established a mechanism for ending the use of nuclear power over the next 15 years; government working to meet EU commitment to identify nature preservation areas in line with the EU's Flora, Fauna, and Habitat directive

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location on North European Plain and along the entrance to the Baltic Sea

People

Germany

Population:

82,431,390 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 14.4% (male 6,078,885/female 5,766,065)
15-64 years: 66.7% (male 28,006,268/female 27,003,958)
65 years and over: 18.9% (male 6,359,776/female 9,216,438) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 42.16 years
male: 40.88 years
female: 43.53 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

8.33 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

10.55 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.16 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.61 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.65 years
male: 75.66 years
female: 81.81 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.39 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

43,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 1,000 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: German(s)
adjective: German

Ethnic groups:

German 91.5%, Turkish 2.4%, other 6.1% (made up largely of Greek, Italian, Polish, Russian, Serbo-Croatian, Spanish)

Religions:

Protestant 34%, Roman Catholic 34%, Muslim 3.7%, unaffiliated or other 28.3%

Languages:

German

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1997 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Germany

Country name:

conventional long form: Federal Republic of Germany
conventional short form: Germany
local long form: Bundesrepublik Deutschland
local short form: Deutschland
former: German Empire, German Republic, German Reich

Government type:

federal republic

Capital:

Berlin

Administrative divisions:

13 states (Laender, singular - Land) and 3 free states* (Freistaaten, singular - Freistaat); Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bayern*, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Saarland, Sachsen*, Sachsen-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Thueringen*

Independence:

18 January 1871 (German Empire unification); divided into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and later, France) in 1945 following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) proclaimed 23 May 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed 7 October 1949 and included the former USSR zone; unification of West Germany and East Germany took place 3 October 1990; all four powers formally relinquished rights 15 March 1991

National holiday:

Unity Day, 3 October (1990)

Constitution:

23 May 1949, known as Basic Law; became constitution of the united German people 3 October 1990

Legal system:

civil law system with indigenous concepts; judicial review of legislative acts in the Federal Constitutional Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Horst KOEHLER (since 1 July 2004)
head of government: Chancellor Gerhard SCHROEDER (since 27 October 1998); Vice Chancellor Joschka FISCHER (since 17 October 1998)
cabinet: Cabinet or Bundesminister (Federal Ministers) appointed by the president on the recommendation of the chancellor
elections: president elected for a five-year term by a Federal Convention including all members of the Federal Assembly and an equal number of delegates elected by the state parliaments; election last held 23 May 2004 (next to be held 23 May 2009); chancellor elected by an absolute majority of the Federal Assembly for a four-year term; election last held 22 September 2002 (next to be held September 2006)
election results: Horst KOEHLER elected president; received 604 votes of the Federal Convention against 589 for Gesine SCHWAN; Gerhard SCHROEDER elected chancellor; percent of Federal Assembly vote 50.7%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Federal Assembly or Bundestag (613 seats; elected by popular vote under a system combining direct and proportional representation; a party must win 5% of the national vote or three direct mandates to gain representation; members serve four-year terms) and the Federal Council or Bundesrat (69 votes; state governments are directly represented by votes; each has 3 to 6 votes depending on population and are required to vote as a block)
elections: Federal Assembly - last held 18 September 2005 (next to be held September 2009); note - there are no elections for the Bundesrat; composition is determined by the composition of the state-level governments; the composition of the Bundesrat has the potential to change any time one of the 16 states holds an election
election results: Federal Assembly - percent of vote by party - CDU/CSU 35.2%, SPD 34.3%, FDP 9.8%, Left 8.7%, Greens 8.1%; seats by party - CDU/CSU 225, SPD 222, FDP 61, Left 54, Greens 51; Federal Council - current composition - NA

Judicial branch:

Federal Constitutional Court or Bundesverfassungsgericht (half the judges are elected by the Bundestag and half by the Bundesrat)

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance '90/Greens [Angelika BEER and Reinhard BUETIKOFER]; Christian Democratic Union or CDU [Angela MERKEL]; Christian Social Union or CSU [Edmund STOIBER, chairman]; Free Democratic Party or FDP [Guido WESTERWELLE, chairman]; Left Party or PDS/WASG [Oskar LAFONTAINE and Gregor GYSI]; Party of Democratic Socialism or PDS [Lothar BISKY]; Social Democratic Party or SPD [Franz MUENTEFERING]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

business associations, employers' organizations; expellee, refugee, trade unions, and veterans groups

International organization participation:

AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CDB, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 5, G- 7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMOVIC, UNOMIG, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Wolfgang Friedrich ISCHINGER
chancery: 4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 298-8140
FAX: [1] (202) 298-4249
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel R. COATS
embassy: Neustaedtische Kirchstrasse 4-5, 10117 Berlin; note - a new embassy will be built near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin; ground was broken in October 2004 and completion is scheduled for 2008
mailing address: PSC 120, Box 1000, APO AE 09265
telephone: [49] (030) 8305-0
FAX: [49] (030) 8305-1215
consulate(s) general: Duesseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and gold

Economy

Germany

Economy - overview:

Germany's affluent and technologically powerful economy - the fifth largest in the world - has become one of the slowest growing economies in the euro zone. A quick turnaround is not in the offing in the foreseeable future. Growth in 2001-03 fell short of 1%, rising to 1.7% in 2004. The modernization and integration of the eastern German economy continues to be a costly long-term process, with annual transfers from west to east amounting to roughly $70 billion. Germany's aging population, combined with high unemployment, has pushed social security outlays to a level exceeding contributions from workers. Structural rigidities in the labor market - including strict regulations on laying off workers and the setting of wages on a national basis - have made unemployment a chronic problem. Corporate restructuring and growing capital markets are setting the foundations that could allow Germany to meet the long-term challenges of European economic integration and globalization, particularly if labor market rigidities are further addressed. In the short run, however, the fall in government revenues and the rise in expenditures have raised the deficit above the EU's 3% debt limit.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.362 trillion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.7% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $28,700 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1%
industry: 31%
services: 68% (2002 est.)

Labor force:

42.63 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 2.8%, industry 33.4%, services 63.8% (1999)

Unemployment rate:

10.6% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 25.1% (1997)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

30 (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.6% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

17.6% of GDP (2004)

Budget:

revenues: $1.2 trillion
expenditures: $1.3 trillion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

65.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, fruit, cabbages; cattle, pigs, poultry

Industries:

among the world's largest and most technologically advanced producers of iron, steel, coal, cement, chemicals, machinery, vehicles, machine tools, electronics, food and beverages; shipbuilding; textiles

Industrial production growth rate:

2.2% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

560 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 61.8%
hydro: 4.2%
nuclear: 29.9%
other: 4.1% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

519.5 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:

53.8 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:

45.8 billion kWh (2003)

Oil - production:

74,100 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - consumption:

2.891 million bbl/day (2003)

Oil - exports:

12,990 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports:

2.135 million bbl/day (2003)

Oil - proved reserves:

395.8 million bbl (1 January 2004)

Natural gas - production:

21 billion cu m (2003)

Natural gas - consumption:

99.55 billion cu m (2003)

Natural gas - exports:

7.731 billion cu m (2003)

Natural gas - imports:

85.02 billion cu m (2003)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

293 billion cu m (1 January 2004)

Current account balance:

$73.59 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$893.3 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery, vehicles, chemicals, metals and manufactures, foodstuffs, textiles

Exports - partners:

France 10.3%, US 8.8%, UK 8.3%, Italy 7.2%, Netherlands 6.2%, Belgium 5.6%, Austria 5.4%, Spain 5% (2004)

Imports:

$716.7 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, vehicles, chemicals, foodstuffs, textiles, metals

Imports - partners:

France 9%, Netherlands 8.3%, US 7%, Italy 6.1%, UK 5.9%, China 5.6%, Belgium 4.9%, Austria 4.2% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$96.84 billion (2003)

Debt - external:

NA

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $5.6 billion (1998)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries

Currency code:

EUR

Exchange rates:

euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Germany

Telephones - main lines in use:

54.35 million (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

64.8 million (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: Germany has one of the world's most technologically advanced telecommunications systems; as a result of intensive capital expenditures since reunification, the formerly backward system of the eastern part of the country, dating back to World War II, has been modernized and integrated with that of the western part
domestic: Germany is served by an extensive system of automatic telephone exchanges connected by modern networks of fiber-optic cable, coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, and a domestic satellite system; cellular telephone service is widely available, expanding rapidly, and includes roaming service to many foreign countries
international: country code - 49; Germany's international service is excellent worldwide, consisting of extensive land and undersea cable facilities as well as earth stations in the Inmarsat, Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik satellite systems (2001)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 51, FM 787, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios:

77.8 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

373 (plus 8,042 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

51.4 million (1998)

Internet country code:

.de

Internet hosts:

2,686,119 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

200 (2001)

Internet users:

39 million (2003)

Transportation

Germany

Railways:

total: 46,142 km (20,100 km electrified)
standard gauge: 45,928 km 1.435-m gauge (20,084 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 214 km 1.000-m gauge (16 km electrified); 24 km 0.750-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 230,735 km
paved: 230,735 km (including 11,515 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (1999)

Waterways:

7,300 km
note: Rhine River carries most goods; Main-Danube Canal links North Sea and Black Sea (2004)

Pipelines:

condensate 325 km; gas 25,293 km; oil 3,540 km; refined products 3,827 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Bremen, Bremerhaven, Brunsbuttel, Duisburg, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Mainz, Rostock, Wilhemshaven

Merchant marine:

total: 332 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,721,495 GRT/6,810,631 DWT
by type: cargo 69, chemical tanker 13, container 208, liquefied gas 3, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 25, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 4
foreign-owned: 5 (Finland 2, Netherlands 1, Switzerland 1, UAE 1)
registered in other countries: 2,289 (2005)

Airports:

550 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 331
over 3,047 m: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 51
1,524 to 2,437 m: 62
914 to 1,523 m: 71
under 914 m: 134 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 219
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 31
under 914 m: 185 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

34 (2004 est.)

Military

Germany

Military branches:

Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr): Army (Heer), Navy (Deutsche Marine, includes naval air arm), Air Force (Luftwaffe), Joint Support Service, Central Medical Service

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (conscripts serve a nine-month tour of compulsory military service) (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 18,917,537 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 15,258,931 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 497,048 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$35.063 billion (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.5% (2003)

Transnational Issues

Germany

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

source of precursor chemicals for South American cocaine processors; transshipment point for and consumer of Southwest Asian heroin, Latin American cocaine, and European-produced synthetic drugs; major financial center

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Glorioso Islands

Introduction

Glorioso Islands

Background:

A French possession since 1892, the Glorioso Islands are composed of two lushly vegetated coral islands (Ile Glorieuse and Ile du Lys) and three rock islets. A military garrison operates a weather and radio station on Ile Glorieuse.

Geography

Glorioso Islands

Location:

Southern Africa, group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of Madagascar

Geographic coordinates:

11 30 S, 47 20 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 5 sq km
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:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical

Terrain:

low and flat

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 12 m

Natural resources:

guano, coconuts

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (all lush vegetation and coconut palms) (2001)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

periodic cyclones

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

the islands and rocks are surrounded by an extensive reef system

People

Glorioso Islands

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a small French military garrison along with a few meteorologists; visited by scientists (July 2005 est.)

Government

Glorioso Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Glorioso Islands
local long form: none
local short form: Iles Glorieuses

Dependency status:

possession of France; administered by the Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Legal system:

the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (possession of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (possession of France)

Flag description:

the flag of France is used

Economy

Glorioso Islands

Economy - overview:

no economic activity

Communications

Glorioso Islands

Communications - note:

1 meteorological station

Transportation

Glorioso Islands

Ports and harbors:

none; offshore anchorage only

Airports:

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Glorioso Islands

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

Glorioso Islands

Disputes - international:

claimed by Madagascar

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Guadeloupe

Introduction

Guadeloupe

Background:

Guadeloupe has been a French possession since 1635. The island of Saint Martin is shared with the Netherlands; its southern portion is named Sint Maarten and is part of the Netherlands Antilles and its northern portion is named Saint-Martin and is part of Guadeloupe

Geography

Guadeloupe

Location:

Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Puerto Rico

Geographic coordinates:

16 15 N, 61 35 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 1,780 sq km
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 Desirade, Iles des Saintes (2), Saint-Barthelemy, Iles de la Petite Terre, and Saint-Martin (French part of the island of Saint Martin)

Area - comparative:

10 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

total: 10.2 km
border countries: Netherlands Antilles (Sint Maarten) 10.2 km

Coastline:

306 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

subtropical tempered by trade winds; moderately high humidity

Terrain:

Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven other islands are volcanic in origin

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Soufriere 1,484 m

Natural resources:

cultivable land, beaches and climate that foster tourism

Land use:

arable land: 11.24%
permanent crops: 3.55%
other: 85.21% (2001)

Irrigated land:

20 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

hurricanes (June to October); Soufriere de Guadeloupe is an active volcano

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

a narrow channel, the Riviere Salee, divides Guadeloupe proper into two islands: the larger, western Basse-Terre and the smaller, eastern Grande-Terre

People

Guadeloupe

Population:

448,713 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 24% (male 55,072/female 52,677)
15-64 years: 66.9% (male 148,880/female 151,238)
65 years and over: 9.1% (male 17,032/female 23,814) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 31.81 years
male: 30.91 years
female: 32.73 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.92% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

15.42 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.06 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.15 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 8.6 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.81 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.9 years
male: 74.74 years
female: 81.21 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.91 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Guadeloupian(s)
adjective: Guadeloupe

Ethnic groups:

black or mulatto 90%, white 5%, East Indian, Lebanese, Chinese less than 5%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 4%, Protestant 1%

Languages:

French (official) 99%, Creole patois

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90%
male: 90%
female: 90% (1982 est.)

Government

Guadeloupe

Country name:

conventional long form: Department of Guadeloupe
conventional short form: Guadeloupe
local long form: Departement de la Guadeloupe
local short form: Guadeloupe

Dependency status:

overseas department of France

Government type:

NA

Capital:

Basse-Terre

Administrative divisions:

none (overseas department of France)

Independence:

none (overseas department of France)

National holiday:

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Constitution:

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system:

French legal system

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Paul GIROT DE LANGLADE (since 17 August 2004)
head of government: President of the General Council Jacques GILLOT (since 26 March 2001); President of the Regional Council Victorin LUREL (since 2 April 2004)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; the presidents of the General and Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils
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 March 2004 (next to be held by NA 2010); Regional Council - last held 28 March 2004 (next to be held NA 2010)
election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - left-wing candidates 11, PS 8, RPR 8, PPDG 6, right-wing candidates 5, PCG 3, UDF 1; Regional Council (second round) - percent of vote by party - PS 58.4%, UMP 41.6%; seats by party - PS 29, UMP 12
note: Guadeloupe elects two representatives to the French Senate; elections last held September 2004 (next to be held September 2013); percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA, Guadeloupe elects four representatives to the French National Assembly; elections last held 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RPR 2, PS 1, different right parties 1

Judicial branch:

Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel with jurisdiction over Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique

Political parties and leaders:

Communist Party of Guadeloupe or PCG [Mona CADOCE]; FGPS [Dominique LARIFLA]; Left Radical Party or PRG [Flavien FERRANT]; Progressive Democratic Party or PPDG [Henri BANGOU]; Socialist Party or PS [Marlene MELISSE and Favrot DAVRAIN]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Marcel ESDRAS]; Union for a Popular Movement or UMP (including RPR) [Robert JOYEUX]

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; The Socialist Renewal Movement

International organization participation:

WCL, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas department of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas department of France)

Flag description:

the flag of France is used

Economy

Guadeloupe

Economy - overview:

The Caribbean economy depends on agriculture, tourism, light industry, and services. It also depends on France for large subsidies and imports. Tourism is a key industry, with most tourists from the US; an increasingly large number of cruise ships visit the islands. The traditional sugarcane crop is slowly being replaced by other crops, such as bananas (which now supply about 50% of export earnings), eggplant, and flowers. Other vegetables and root crops are cultivated for local consumption, although Guadeloupe is still dependent on imported food, mainly from France. Light industry features sugar and rum production. Most manufactured goods and fuel are imported. Unemployment is especially high among the young. Hurricanes periodically devastate the economy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$3.513 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

NA%

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $7,900 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 15%
industry: 17%
services: 68% (1997 est.)

Labor force:

125,900 (1997)

Labor force - by occupation:

NA

Unemployment rate:

27.8% (1998)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

NA%

Budget:

revenues: $225 million
expenditures: $390 million, including capital expenditures of $105 million (1996)

Agriculture - products:

bananas, sugarcane, tropical fruits and vegetables; cattle, pigs, goats

Industries:

construction, cement, rum, sugar, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

1.16 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

1.079 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$140 million f.o.b. (1997)

Exports - commodities:

bananas, sugar, rum

Exports - partners:

France 60%, Martinique 18%, US 4% (1999)

Imports:

$1.7 billion c.i.f. (1997)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, fuels, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods, construction materials

Imports - partners:

France 63%, Germany 4%, US 3%, Japan 2%, Netherlands Antilles 2% (1999)

Debt - external:

$NA (yearend 2003 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

NA; note - substantial annual French subsidies (2004)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)

Currency code:

EUR

Exchange rates:

euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 j(2001), 1.0854 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Guadeloupe

Telephones - main lines in use:

210,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

323,500 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: domestic facilities inadequate
domestic: NA
international: country code - 590; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); microwave radio relay to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Martinique

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 17, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

113,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

5 (plus several low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

118,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.gp

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2000)

Internet users:

20,000 (2002)

Transportation

Guadeloupe

Highways:

total: 947 km (2002)

Ports and harbors:

Basse-Terre, Gustavia, Pointe-a-Pitre

Merchant marine:

total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,240 GRT/109 DWT
by type: passenger 1
foreign-owned: 1 (France 1) (2005)

Airports:

9 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 8
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Guadeloupe

Military branches:

no regular military forces

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

Guadeloupe

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Guam

Introduction

Guam

Background:

Guam was ceded to the US by Spain in 1898. Captured by the Japanese in 1941, it was retaken by the US three years later. The military installation on the island is one of the most strategically important US bases in the Pacific.

Geography

Guam

Location:

Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines

Geographic coordinates:

13 28 N, 144 47 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 549 sq km
land: 549 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:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to June, rainy season from July to December; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:

volcanic origin, surrounded by coral reefs; relatively flat coralline limestone plateau (source of most fresh water), with steep coastal cliffs and narrow coastal plains in north, low hills in center, mountains in south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Lamlam 406 m

Natural resources:

fishing (largely undeveloped), tourism (especially from Japan)

Land use:

arable land: 9.09%
permanent crops: 16.36%
other: 74.55% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA

Natural hazards:

frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare, but potentially very destructive typhoons (June - December)

Environment - current issues:

extirpation of native bird population by the rapid proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive species

Geography - note:

largest and southernmost island in the Mariana Islands archipelago; strategic location in western North Pacific Ocean

People

Guam

Population:

168,564 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 29.4% (male 25,645/female 23,887)
15-64 years: 64.1% (male 55,115/female 52,935)
65 years and over: 6.5% (male 5,157/female 5,825) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 28.38 years
male: 28.16 years
female: 28.61 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.46% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

19.03 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

4.41 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 6.94 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.61 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.4 years
male: 75.34 years
female: 81.64 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.6 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Guamanian(s)
adjective: Guamanian

Ethnic groups:

Chamorro 37.1%, Filipino 26.3%, other Pacific islander 11.3%, white 6.9%, other Asian 6.3%, other ethnic origin or race 2.3%, mixed 9.8% (2000 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 85%, other 15% (1999 est.)

Languages:

English 38.3%, Chamorro 22.2%, Philippine languages 22.2%, other Pacific island languages 6.8%, Asian languages 7%, other languages 3.5% (2000 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1990 est.)

Government

Guam

Country name:

conventional long form: Territory of Guam
conventional short form: Guam
local long form: Guahan

Dependency status:

organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between Guam and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior

Government type:

NA

Capital:

Hagatna (Agana)

Administrative divisions:

none (territory of the US)

Independence:

none (territory of the US)

National holiday:

Discovery Day, first Monday in March (1521)

Constitution:

Organic Act of 1 August 1950

Legal system:

modeled on US; US federal laws apply

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal; US citizens, but do not vote in US presidential elections

Executive branch:

chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)
head of government: Governor Felix P. P. CAMACHO (since 6 January 2003) and Lieutenant Governor Kaleo MOYLAN (since 6 January 2003)
cabinet: executive departments; heads appointed by the governor with the consent of the Guam legislature
elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for a four-year term; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year term; election last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held November 2006)
election results: Felix P. P. CAMACHO elected governor; percent of vote - Felix P. P. CAMACHO (Republican Party) 55.4%, Robert A. UNDERWOOD (Democratic Party) 44.6%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislature (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Democratic Party 6, Republican Party 9
note: Guam elects one nonvoting delegate to the US House of Representatives; election last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2006); results - Madeleine BORDALLO (Democratic Party) was elected as delegate; percent of vote by party - Democratic Party 64.6%, Republican Party 35.4%; seats by party - Democratic Party 1

Judicial branch:

Federal District Court (judge is appointed by the president); Territorial Superior Court (judges appointed for eight-year terms by the governor)

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Party [leader Michael PHILLIPS]; Republican Party (controls the legislature) [leader Philip J. FLORES]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (territory of the US)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territory of the US)

Flag description:

territorial flag is dark blue with a narrow red border on all four sides; centered is a red-bordered, pointed, vertical ellipse containing a beach scene, outrigger canoe with sail, and a palm tree with the word GUAM superimposed in bold red letters; US flag is the national flag

Economy

Guam

Economy - overview:

The economy depends on US military spending, tourism, and the export of fish and handicrafts. Total US grants, wage payments, and procurement outlays amounted to $1 billion in 1998. Over the past 20 years, the tourist industry has grown rapidly, creating a construction boom for new hotels and the expansion of older ones. More than 1 million tourists visit Guam each year. The industry had recently suffered setbacks because of the continuing Japanese slowdown; the Japanese normally make up almost 90% of the tourists. Most food and industrial goods are imported. Guam faces the problem of building up the civilian economic sector to offset the impact of military downsizing.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$3.2 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

NA

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $21,000 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 7%
industry: 15%
services: 78% (2002 est.)

Labor force:

60,000 (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

private 74% (industry 10%, trade 24%, other services 40%), federal and territorial government 26% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

15% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:

23% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

0% (1999 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $340 million
expenditures: $445 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000 est.)

Agriculture - products:

fruits, copra, vegetables; eggs, pork, poultry, beef

Industries:

US military, tourism, construction, transshipment services, concrete products, printing and publishing, food processing, textiles

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

835 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

776.6 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

20,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$38 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:

mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products; construction materials, fish, food and beverage products

Exports - partners:

Japan 66.1%, South Korea 9.9%, Singapore 8.4% (2004)

Imports:

$462 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods

Imports - partners:

Singapore 39.5%, South Korea 20.8%, Japan 19%, Hong Kong 9%, Philippines 4.3% (2004)

Debt - external:

NA

Economic aid - recipient:

Guam receives large transfer payments from the US Federal Treasury ($143 million in 1997) into which Guamanians pay no income or excise taxes; under the provisions of a special law of Congress, the Guam Treasury, rather than the US Treasury, receives federal income taxes paid by military and civilian Federal employees stationed in Guam (2001 est.)

Currency (code):

US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

USD

Exchange rates:

the US dollar is used

Fiscal year:

1 October - 30 September

Communications

Guam

Telephones - main lines in use:

84,134 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

32,600 (2001)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system, integrated with US facilities for direct dialing, including free use of 800 numbers
domestic: modern digital system, including cellular mobile service and local access to the Internet
international: country code - 1-671; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); submarine cables to US and Japan (Guam is a trans-Pacific communications hub for MCI, Sprint, AT&T, IT&E, and GTE, linking the US and Asia)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 4, FM 7, shortwave 2 (2003)

Radios:

221,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

5 (1997)

Televisions:

106,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.gu

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

20 (2000)

Internet users:

50,000 (2002)

Transportation

Guam

Highways:

total: 977 km
paved: 962 km
unpaved: 15 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Apra Harbor

Airports:

5 (2004 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 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Guam

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues

Guam

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Greece

Introduction

Greece

Background:

Greece achieved its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between royalist supporters of the king and communist rebels. Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece was able to join NATO in 1952. A military dictatorship, which in 1967 suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country, lasted seven years. The 1974 democratic elections and a referendum created a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy. Greece joined the European Community or EC in 1981 (which became the EU in 1992); it became the 12th member of the euro zone in 2001.

Geography

Greece

Location:

Southern Europe, bordering the Aegean Sea, Ionian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, between Albania and Turkey

Geographic coordinates:

39 00 N, 22 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 131,940 sq km
land: 130,800 sq km
water: 1,140 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Alabama

Land boundaries:

total: 1,228 km
border countries: Albania 282 km, Bulgaria 494 km, Turkey 206 km, Macedonia 246 km

Coastline:

13,676 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

temperate; mild, wet winters; hot, dry summers

Terrain:

mostly mountains with ranges extending into the sea as peninsulas or chains of islands

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 m

Natural resources:

lignite, petroleum, iron ore, bauxite, lead, zinc, nickel, magnesite, marble, salt, hydropower potential

Land use:

arable land: 21.1%
permanent crops: 8.78%
other: 70.12% (2001)

Irrigated land:

14,220 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

severe earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

air pollution; water pollution

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, 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

Geography - note:

strategic location dominating the Aegean Sea and southern approach to Turkish Straits; a peninsular country, possessing an archipelago of about 2,000 islands

People

Greece

Population:

10,668,354 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 14.4% (male 791,227/female 744,178)
15-64 years: 66.8% (male 3,561,689/female 3,564,675)
65 years and over: 18.8% (male 884,497/female 1,122,088) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 40.5 years
male: 39.39 years
female: 41.65 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.19% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

9.72 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

10.15 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

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: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.53 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.08 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.09 years
male: 76.59 years
female: 81.76 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.33 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

9,100 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Greek(s)
adjective: Greek

Ethnic groups:

Greek 98%, other 2%
note: the Greek Government states there are no ethnic divisions in Greece

Religions:

Greek Orthodox 98%, Muslim 1.3%, other 0.7%

Languages:

Greek 99% (official), English, French

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.5%
male: 98.6%
female: 96.5% (2003 est.)

People - note:

women, men, and children are trafficked to and within Greece for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor

Government

Greece

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

Government type:

parliamentary republic; monarchy rejected by referendum 8 December 1974

Capital:

Athens

Administrative divisions:

51 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos) and 1 autonomous region*; Agion Oros* (Mt. Athos), Achaia, Aitolia kai Akarmania, Argolis, Arkadia, Arta, Attiki, Chalkidiki, Chanion, Chios, Dodekanisos, Drama, Evros, Evrytania, Evvoia, Florina, Fokidos, Fthiotis, Grevena, Ileia, Imathia, Ioannina, Irakleion, Karditsa, Kastoria, Kavala, Kefallinia, Kerkyra, Kilkis, Korinthia, Kozani, Kyklades, Lakonia, Larisa, Lasithi, Lefkas, Lesvos, Magnisia, Messinia, Pella, Pieria, Preveza, Rethynnis, Rodopi, Samos, Serrai, Thesprotia, Thessaloniki, Trikala, Voiotia, Xanthi, Zakynthos

Independence:

1829 (from the Ottoman Empire)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 25 March (1821)

Constitution:

11 June 1975; amended March 1986 and April 2001

Legal system:

based on codified Roman law; judiciary divided into civil, criminal, and administrative courts

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Karolos PAPOULIAS (since 12 March 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Konstandinos KARAMANLIS (since 7 March 2004)
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 8 February 2005 (next to be held by February 2010); according to the Greek Constitution, presidents may only serve two terms; president appoints leader of the party securing plurality of vote in election to become prime minister and form a government
election results: Karolos PAPOULIAS elected president; number of parlimentary votes, 279 out of 300

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 7 March 2004 (next to be held by March 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - ND 45.4%, PASOK 40.6%, KKE 5.9%, Synaspismos 3.3%; seats by party - ND 165, PASOK 117, KKE 12, Synaspismos 6

Judicial branch:

Supreme Judicial Court; Special Supreme Tribunal; all judges appointed for life by the president after consultation with a judicial council

Political parties and leaders:

Coalition of the Left and Progress (Synaspismos) [Alekos ALAVANOS]; Communist Party of Greece or KKE [Aleka PAPARIGA]; New Democracy or ND (conservative) [Konstandinos KARAMANLIS]; Panhellenic Socialist Movement or PASOK [Yiorgos PAPANDREOU]; Popular Orthodox Rally [Yeoryios KARATZAFERIS]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

General Confederation of Greek Workers or GSEE [Khristos POLYZOGOPOLOS]; Federation of Greek Industries or SEV [Odysseas KYRIAKOPOULOS]; Civil Servants Confederation or ADEDY [Spyros PAPASPYROS]

International organization participation:

Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, G- 6, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UPU, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Yeoryios SAVVAIDIS
chancery: 2221 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-1300
FAX: [1] (202) 939-1324
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Tampa
consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston, and New Orleans

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Charles RIES
embassy: 91 Vasilissis Sophias Avenue, 10160 Athens
mailing address: PSC 108, APO AE 09842-0108
telephone: [30] (210) 721-2951
FAX: [30] (210) 645-6282
consulate(s) general: Thessaloniki

Flag description:

nine equal horizontal stripes of blue alternating with white; there is a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white cross; the cross symbolizes Greek Orthodoxy, the established religion of the country

Economy

Greece

Economy - overview:

Greece has a capitalist economy with the public sector accounting for about 40% of GDP and with per capita GDP 70% of the leading euro-zone economies. Tourism provides 15% of GDP. Immigrants make up nearly one-fifth of the work force, mainly in menial jobs. Greece is a major beneficiary of EU aid, equal to about 3.3% of annual GDP. The Greek economy grew by about 4.0% for the past two years, largely because of an investment boom and infrastructure upgrades for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. Despite strong growth, Greece has failed to meet the EU's Growth and Stability Pact budget deficit criteria of 3% of GDP since 2000; public debt, inflation, and unemployment are also above the eurozone average. Further restructuring of the economy will need to include privatizing of several state enterprises, undertaking pension and other reforms, and minimizing bureaucratic inefficiencies.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$226.4 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.7% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $21,300 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 7%
industry: 22%
services: 71% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

4.4 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 12%, industry 20%, services 68% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

10% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 28.3% (1998 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

35.4 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.9% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

27% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $54.39 billion
expenditures: $64.4 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

112% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine, tobacco, potatoes; beef, dairy products

Industries:

tourism; food and tobacco processing, textiles; chemicals, metal products; mining, petroleum

Industrial production growth rate:

4.1% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

47.22 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 94.5%
hydro: 3.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1.7% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

47.42 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

1.1 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

4.6 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

5,992 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

405,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

84,720 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:

468,300 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

4.5 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

35 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

2.021 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

2.018 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

254.9 million cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$-8 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$15.5 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products, chemicals, textiles

Exports - partners:

Germany 13.2%, Italy 10.3%, UK 7.5%, Bulgaria 6.3%, US 5.3%, Cyprus 4.6%, Turkey 4.5%, France 4.2% (2004)

Imports:

$54.28 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, transport equipment, fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners:

Germany 13.3%, Italy 12.8%, France 6.4%, Netherlands 5.5%, Russia 5.5%, US 4.4%, UK 4.2%, South Korea 4.1% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$7.3 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$67.23 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$8 billion from EU (2000-06)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries

Currency code:

EUR

Exchange rates:

euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Greece

Telephones - main lines in use:

5,205,100 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

8,936,200 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate, modern networks reach all areas; good mobile telephone and international service
domestic: microwave radio relay trunk system; extensive open-wire connections; submarine cable to offshore islands
international: country code - 30; tropospheric scatter; 8 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 26, FM 88, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios:

5.02 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

36 (plus 1,341 low-power repeaters); also two stations in the US Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (1995)

Televisions:

2.54 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.gr

Internet hosts:

208,977 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

27 (2000)

Internet users:

1,718,400 (2003)

Transportation

Greece

Railways:

total: 2,571 km (764 km electrified)
standard gauge: 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 961 km 1.000-m gauge; 22 km 0.750-m gauge
dual gauge: 23 km combined 1.435-m and 1.000-m gauges (three rail system) (2004)

Highways:

total: 117,000 km
paved: 107,406 km (including 470 km of expressways)
unpaved: 9,594 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

6 km
note: Corinth Canal (6 km) crosses the Isthmus of Corinth; shortens sea voyage by 325 km (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 1,166 km; oil 94 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Agioitheodoroi, Aspropyrgos, Irakleion, Pachi, Peiraiefs, Thessaloniki

Merchant marine:

total: 861 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 30,186,624 GRT/52,943,968 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 296, cargo 65, chemical tanker 47, combination ore/oil 2, container 46, liquefied gas 2, passenger 13, passenger/cargo 121, petroleum tanker 252, roll on/roll off 17
foreign-owned: 25 (Chile 1, China 1, Cyprus 5, Norway 6, Sweden 1, United Kingdom 11)
registered in other countries: 2,208 (2005)

Airports:

80 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 66
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 16
1,524 to 2,437 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 16
under 914 m: 9 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

7 (2004 est.)

Military

Greece

Military branches:

Hellenic Army, Hellenic Navy, Hellenic Air Force (Polemiki Aeroporia, EPA)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service; during wartime the law allows for recruitment after reaching January of the year of inductee's 18th birthday, thus including 17 year olds; 17 years of age for volunteers; conscript service obligation - 12 months for the Army and Air Force, 15 months for Navy (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,459,988 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,018,557 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 58,399 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$5.89 billion (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

4.3% (2003)

Transnational Issues

Greece

Disputes - international:

Greece and Turkey continue discussions to resolve their complex maritime, air, territorial, and boundary disputes in the Aegean Sea; Cyprus question with Turkey; Greece rejects the use of the name Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia

Illicit drugs:

a gateway to Europe for traffickers smuggling cannabis and heroin from the Middle East and Southwest Asia to the West and precursor chemicals to the East; some South American cocaine transits or is consumed in Greece; money laundering related to drug trafficking and organized crime

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Guatemala

Introduction

Guatemala

Background:

The Maya civilization flourished in Guatemala and surrounding regions during the first millennium A.D. After almost three centuries as a Spanish colony, Guatemala won its independence in 1821. During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced a variety of military and civilian governments as well as a 36-year guerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a peace agreement formally ending the conflict, which had left more than 100,000 people dead and had created some 1 million refugees.

Geography

Guatemala

Location:

Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between El Salvador and Mexico, and bordering the Gulf of Honduras (Caribbean Sea) between Honduras and Belize

Geographic coordinates:

15 30 N, 90 15 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 108,890 sq km
land: 108,430 sq km
water: 460 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Tennessee

Land boundaries:

total: 1,687 km
border countries: Belize 266 km, El Salvador 203 km, Honduras 256 km, Mexico 962 km

Coastline:

400 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid in lowlands; cooler in highlands

Terrain:

mostly mountains with narrow coastal plains and rolling limestone plateau (Peten)

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, nickel, rare woods, fish, chicle, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 12.54%
permanent crops: 5.03%
other: 82.43% (2001)

Irrigated land:

1,250 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent earthquakes; Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes and other tropical storms

Environment - current issues:

deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water pollution

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

no natural harbors on west coast

People

Guatemala

Population:

14,655,189 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 42.4% (male 3,185,037/female 3,033,947)
15-64 years: 54.2% (male 4,019,052/female 3,928,984)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 226,745/female 261,424) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.47 years
male: 18.25 years
female: 18.71 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.57% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

34.11 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.81 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 35.93 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 36.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 35.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 69.06 years
male: 67.37 years
female: 70.84 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.53 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

78,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

5,800 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Guatemalan(s)
adjective: Guatemalan

Ethnic groups:

Mestizo (mixed Amerindian-Spanish - in local Spanish called Ladino) and European 59.4%, K'iche 9.1%, Kaqchikel 8.4%, Mam 7.9%, Q'eqchi 6.3%, other Mayan 8.6%, indigenous non-Mayan 0.2%, other 0.1% (2001 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic, Protestant, indigenous Mayan beliefs

Languages:

Spanish 60%, Amerindian languages 40% (23 officially recognized Amerindian languages, including Quiche, Cakchiquel, Kekchi, Mam, Garifuna, and Xinca)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 70.6%
male: 78%
female: 63.3% (2003 est.)

Government

Guatemala

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Guatemala
conventional short form: Guatemala
local long form: Republica de Guatemala
local short form: Guatemala

Government type:

constitutional democratic republic

Capital:

Guatemala

Administrative divisions:

22 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Alta Verapaz, Baja Verapaz, Chimaltenango, Chiquimula, El Progreso, Escuintla, Guatemala, Huehuetenango, Izabal, Jalapa, Jutiapa, Peten, Quetzaltenango, Quiche, Retalhuleu, Sacatepequez, San Marcos, Santa Rosa, Solola, Suchitepequez, Totonicapan, Zacapa

Independence:

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution:

31 May 1985, effective 14 January 1986; note - suspended 25 May 1993 by former President SERRANO; reinstated 5 June 1993 following ouster of president; amended November 1993

Legal system:

civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal (active duty members of the armed forces may not vote and are restricted to their barracks on election day)

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Oscar Jose Rafael BERGER Perdomo (since 14 January 2004); Vice President Eduardo STEIN Barillas (since 14 January 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Oscar Jose Rafael BERGER Perdomo (since 14 January 2004); Vice President Eduardo STEIN Barillas (since 14 January 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 9 November 2003; runoff held 28 December 2003 (next to be held November 2007)
election results: Oscar BERGER Perdomo elected president; percent of vote - Oscar BERGER Perdomo (GANA) 54.1%, Alvarado COLOM (UNE) 45.9%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Congress of the Republic or Congreso de la Republica (158 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 9 November 2003 (next to be held November 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - GANA 49, FRG 41, UNE 33, PAN 17, other 18
note: for the 9 November 2003 election, the number of congressional seats increased from 113 to 158

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court or Corte de Constitutcionalidad is Guatemala's highest court (five judges are elected for concurrent five-year terms by Congress, each serving one year as president of the Constitutional Court; one is elected by Congress, one elected by the Supreme Court of Justice, one appointed by the President, one elected by Superior Counsel of Universidad San Carlos de Guatemala, and one by Colegio de Abogados); Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (13 members serve concurrent five-year terms and elect a president of the Court each year from among their number; the president of the Supreme Court of Justice also supervises trial judges around the country, who are named to five-year terms)

Political parties and leaders:

Authentic Integral Development or DIA [Eduardo SUGER]; Democratic Union or UD [Rodolfo PAIZ Andrade]; Grand National Alliance or GANA [Oscar BERGER Perdomo]; Green Party or LOV [Rodolfo ROSALES Garcis-Salaz]; Guatemalan Christian Democracy or DCG [Vinicio CEREZO Arevalo]; Guatemalan National Revolutionary Unity or URNG [Alba ESTELA Maldonado, secretary general]; Guatemalan Republican Front or FRG [Efrain RIOS Montt]; Movement for Guatemalan Unity or MGU [Jacobo ARBENZ Villanueva]; Movement for Principals and Values or MPV [Francisco BIANCHI]; National Advancement Party or PAN [Leonel LOPEZ Rodas, secretary general]; National Unity for Hope or UNE [Alvarado COLOM Caballeros]; New Nation Alliance or ANN (formed by an alliance of DIA, URNG, and several splinter groups most of whom subsequently defected) [led by three co-equal partners - Nineth Varenca MONTENEGRO Cottom, Rodolfo BAUER Paiz, and Jorge Antonio BALSELLS TUT]; Patriot Party or PP [retired General Otto PEREZ Molina]; Progressive Liberator Party or PLP [Acisclo VALLADARES Molina]; Reform Movement or MR [Alfredo SKINNER-KLEE, secretary general]; Unionista Party [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Agrarian Owners Group or UNAGRO; Alliance Against Impunity or AAI; Committee for Campesino Unity or CUC; Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associations or CACIF; Mutual Support Group or GAM

International organization participation:

BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, ONUB, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Guillermo CASTILLO
chancery: 2220 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 745-4952
FAX: [1] (202) 745-1908
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador John R. HAMILTON
embassy: 7-01 Avenida Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City
mailing address: APO AA 34024
telephone: [502] 2331-1541/55
FAX: [502] 2334-8477

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of light blue (hoist side), white, and light blue with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms includes a green and red quetzal (the national bird) and a scroll bearing the inscription LIBERTAD 15 DE SEPTIEMBRE DE 1821 (the original date of independence from Spain) all superimposed on a pair of crossed rifles and a pair of crossed swords and framed by a wreath

Economy

Guatemala

Economy - overview:

Guatemala is the largest and most populous of the Central American countries with a GDP per capita roughly one-half that of Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. The agricultural sector accounts for about one-fourth of GDP, two-thirds of exports, and half of the labor force. Coffee, sugar, and bananas are the main products. The 1996 signing of peace accords, which ended 36 years of civil war, removed a major obstacle to foreign investment, but widespread political violence and corruption scandals continue to dampen investor confidence. The distribution of income remains highly unequal, with perhaps 75% of the population below the poverty line. Other ongoing challenges include increasing government revenues, negotiating further assistance from international donors, upgrading both government and private financial operations, curtailing drug trafficking, and narrowing the trade deficit.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$59.47 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $4,200 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 22.7%
industry: 19.5%
services: 57.9% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

3.68 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 50%, industry 15%, services 35% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:

7.5% (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line:

75% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 46% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

55.8 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7.2% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

14.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $2.878 billion
expenditures: $3.411 billion, including capital expenditures of $750 million (2004 est.)

Public debt:

32% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens

Industries:

sugar, textiles and clothing, furniture, chemicals, petroleum, metals, rubber, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

4.1% (1999)

Electricity - production:

6.608 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 51.9%
hydro: 35.2%
nuclear: 0%
other: 12.9% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

5.76 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

440 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

55 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

25,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

61,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

3,104 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

263 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.543 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$-1.381 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$2.911 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

coffee, sugar, petroleum, apparel, bananas, fruits and vegetables, cardamom

Exports - partners:

US 53%, El Salvador 11.4%, Honduras 7.1%, Mexico 4.1% (2004)

Imports:

$7.77 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials, grain, fertilizers, electricity

Imports - partners:

US 34%, Mexico 8.1%, South Korea 6.8%, China 6.6%, Japan 4.4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$3.084 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$5.969 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$250 million (2000 est.)

Currency (code):

quetzal (GTQ), US dollar (USD), others allowed

Currency code:

GTQ; USD

Exchange rates:

quetzales per US dollar - 7.9465 (2004), 7.9409 (2003), 7.8216 (2002), 7.8586 (2001), 7.7632 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Guatemala

Telephones - main lines in use:

846,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,577,100 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: fairly modern network centered in the city of Guatemala
domestic: NA
international: country code - 502; connected to Central American Microwave System; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 130, FM 487, shortwave 15 (2000)

Radios:

835,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

26 (plus 27 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

1.323 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.gt

Internet hosts:

20,360 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2000)

Internet users:

400,000 (2002)

Transportation

Guatemala

Railways:

total: 886 km
narrow gauge: 886 km 0.914-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 14,118 km
paved: 4,871 km (including 74 km of expressways)
unpaved: 9,247 km (1999)

Waterways:

990 km
note: 260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable during high-water season (2004)

Pipelines:

oil 480 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomas de Castilla

Airports:

452 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 441
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 109
under 914 m: 323 (2004 est.)

Military

Guatemala

Military branches:

Army, Navy (includes Marines), Air Force

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 30 months (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 3,020,292 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,106,847 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 161,964 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$201.9 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.8% (2003)

Transnational Issues

Guatemala

Disputes - international:

Guatemalan squatters continue to settle in the rain forests of Belize's border region; OAS is attempting to revive the 2002 failed Differendum that created a small adjustment to land boundary, a Guatemalan maritime corridor in Caribbean, a joint ecological park for the disputed Sapodilla Cays, and a substantial US-UK financial package; Guatemalans enter Mexico illegally seeking work or transit to the US

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 250,000 (government's scorched-earth offensive in 1980s against indigenous people) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

major transit country for cocaine and heroin; minor producer of illicit opium poppy and cannabis for mostly domestic consumption; proximity to Mexico makes Guatemala a major staging area for drugs (particularly for cocaine); money laundering is a serious problem; corruption is a major problem; remains on Financial Action Task Force Non-Cooperative Countries and Territories List for continued failure to address deficiencies in money-laundering control regime

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Guinea

Introduction

Guinea

Background:

Guinea has had only two presidents since gaining its independence from France in 1958. Lansana CONTE came to power in 1984, when the military seized the government after the death of the first president, Sekou TOURE. Guinea did not hold democratic elections until 1993 when Gen. CONTE (head of the military government) was elected president of the civilian government. He was reelected in 1998 and again in 2003. Unrest in Sierra Leone and Liberia has spilled over into Guinea on several occasions over the past decade, threatening stability and creating humanitarian emergencies.

Geography

Guinea

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone

Geographic coordinates:

11 00 N, 10 00 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 245,857 sq km
land: 245,857 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries:

total: 3,399 km
border countries: Cote d'Ivoire 610 km, Guinea-Bissau 386 km, Liberia 563 km, Mali 858 km, Senegal 330 km, Sierra Leone 652 km

Coastline:

320 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds

Terrain:

generally flat coastal plain, hilly to mountainous interior

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m

Natural resources:

bauxite, iron ore, diamonds, gold, uranium, hydropower, fish, salt

Land use:

arable land: 3.63%
permanent crops: 2.58%
other: 93.79% (2001)

Irrigated land:

950 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water; desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing, overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices have led to environmental damage

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the Niger and its important tributary the Milo have their sources in the Guinean highlands

People

Guinea

Population:

9,467,866 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 44.4% (male 2,123,207/female 2,079,475)
15-64 years: 52.4% (male 2,478,820/female 2,486,300)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 131,130/female 168,934) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 17.67 years
male: 17.42 years
female: 17.93 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.37% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

42.03 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

15.38 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-2.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: as a result of conflict in neighboring countries, Guinea is host to approximately 150,000 Liberian and Sierra Leonean refugees (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 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 (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 90.37 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 95.82 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 84.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 49.36 years
male: 48.19 years
female: 50.57 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.83 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

3.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

140,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

9,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever are high risks in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Guinean(s)
adjective: Guinean

Ethnic groups:

Peuhl 40%, Malinke 30%, Soussou 20%, smaller ethnic groups 10%

Religions:

Muslim 85%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 7%

Languages:

French (official), each ethnic group has its own language

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 35.9%
male: 49.9%
female: 21.9% (1995 est.)

Government

Guinea

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Guinea
conventional short form: Guinea
local long form: Republique de Guinee
local short form: Guinee
former: French Guinea

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Conakry

Administrative divisions:

33 prefectures and 1 special zone (zone special)*; Beyla, Boffa, Boke, Conakry*, Coyah, Dabola, Dalaba, Dinguiraye, Dubreka, Faranah, Forecariah, Fria, Gaoual, Gueckedou, Kankan, Kerouane, Kindia, Kissidougou, Koubia, Koundara, Kouroussa, Labe, Lelouma, Lola, Macenta, Mali, Mamou, Mandiana, Nzerekore, Pita, Siguiri, Telimele, Tougue, Yomou

Independence:

2 October 1958 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 2 October (1958)

Constitution:

23 December 1990 (Loi Fundamentale)

Legal system:

based on French civil law system, customary law, and decree; legal codes currently being revised; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Lansana CONTE (head of military government since 5 April 1984, elected president 19 December 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Cellou Dalein DIALLO (since 4 December 2004)
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 21 December 2003 (next to be held December 2008); the prime minister is appointed by the president
election results: Lansana CONTE reelected president; percent of vote - Lansana CONTE (PUP) 95.3%, Mamadou Boye BARRY (UPR) 4.6%

Legislative branch:

unicameral People's National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale Populaire (114 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 30 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - PUP 61.6%, UPR 26.6%, other 11.8%; seats by party - PUP 85, UPR 20, other 9

Judicial branch:

Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Party of Guinea-African Democratic Rally or PDG-RDA [El Hadj Ismael Mohamed Gassim GUSHEIN]; National Union for Progress or UPN [Mamadou Bhoye BARRY]; Party for Unity and Progress or PUP [Lansana CONTE] - the governing party; People's Party of Guinea or PPG [Pascal TOLNO]; Rally for the Guinean People or RPG [Alpha CONDE]; Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea or UFDG [Mamadou BA]; Union of Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE]; Union for Progress and Renewal or UPR [Siradiou DIALLO]; Union for Progress of Guinea or UPG [Jean-Marie DORE, secretary-general]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Rafiou Alpha Oumar BARRY
chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 986-4300
FAX: [1] (202) 478-3010

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jackson MCDONALD
embassy: Rue Ka 038, Conakry
mailing address: B. P. 603, Conakry
telephone: [224] 41 15 20, 41 15 21, 41 15 23
FAX: [224] 41 15 22

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of red (hoist side), yellow, and green; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy

Guinea

Economy - overview:

Guinea possesses major mineral, hydropower, and agricultural resources, yet remains an underdeveloped nation. The country possesses over 30% of the world's bauxite reserves and is the second-largest bauxite producer. The mining sector accounted for about 75% of exports in 1999. Long-run improvements in government fiscal arrangements, literacy, and the legal framework are needed if the country is to move out of poverty. Fighting along the Sierra Leonean and Liberian borders, as well as refugee movements, have caused major economic disruptions, aggravating a loss in investor confidence. Foreign mining companies have reduced expatriate staff. Panic buying has created food shortages and inflation and caused riots in local markets. Guinea is not receiving multilateral aid. The IMF and World Bank cut off most assistance in 2003. Growth rose slightly in 2004, primarily due to increases in global demand and commodity prices on world markets.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$19.5 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $2,100 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 25%
industry: 38.2%
services: 36.8% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

3 million (1999)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 80%, industry and services 20% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

NA (2002 est.)

Population below poverty line:

40% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 32% (1994)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

40.3 (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

18% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

21% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $382.7 million
expenditures: $711.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (tapioca), bananas, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber

Industries:

bauxite, gold, diamonds; alumina refining; light manufacturing and agricultural processing industries

Industrial production growth rate:

3.2% (1994)

Electricity - production:

855 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 45.5%
hydro: 54.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

795.2 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

8,600 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-308.3 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$709.2 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural products

Exports - partners:

France 17.7%, Belgium 14.7%, UK 14.7%, Switzerland 12.8%, Ukraine 4.2% (2004)

Imports:

$641.5 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment, textiles, grain and other foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Cote d'Ivoire 15.5%, France 9%, Belgium 6.1%, China 6%, South Africa 4.8% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$201.7 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$3.25 billion (2001 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$359.2 million (1998)

Currency (code):

Guinean franc (GNF)

Currency code:

GNF

Exchange rates:

Guinean francs per US dollar - 2,550 (2004), 1,984.9 (2003), 1,975.8 (2002), 1,950.6 (2001), 1,746.9 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Guinea

Telephones - main lines in use:

26,200 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

111,500 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: poor to fair system of open-wire lines, small radiotelephone communication stations, and new microwave radio relay system
domestic: microwave radio relay and radiotelephone communication
international: country code - 224; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 4 (one station is inactive), FM 1 (plus 7 repeaters), shortwave 3 (2001)

Radios:

357,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

6 low-power stations (2001)

Televisions:

85,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.gn

Internet hosts:

380 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

4 (2001)

Internet users:

40,000 (2003)

Transportation

Guinea

Railways:

total: 837 km
standard gauge: 175 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 662 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 30,500 km
paved: 5,033 km
unpaved: 25,467 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

1,295 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft) (2003)

Ports and harbors:

Kamsar

Airports:

16 (2004 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 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Military

Guinea

Military branches:

Army (includes Presidential Guard, Republican Guard), Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, General Directorate of National Police

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,853,316 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,038,036 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$56.7 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.7% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Guinea

Disputes - international:

conflicts among rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs in neighboring states has spilled over into Guinea, resulting in domestic instability; Sierra Leone pressures Guinea to remove its forces from the town of Yenga occupied since 1998

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 133,175 (Liberia) 13,633 (Sierra Leone) 7,064 (Cote d'Ivoire)
IDPs: 100,000 (cross-border incursions from Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cote d'Ivoire) (2004)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Guyana

Introduction

Guyana

Background:

Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to black settlement of urban areas and the importation of indentured servants from India to work the sugar plantations. This ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, but until the early 1990s it was ruled mostly by socialist-oriented governments. In 1992, Cheddi JAGAN was elected president, in what is considered the country's first free and fair election since independence. Upon his death five years later, he was succeeded by his wife Janet, who resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001.

Geography

Guyana

Location:

Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Suriname and Venezuela

Geographic coordinates:

5 00 N, 59 00 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total: 214,970 sq km
land: 196,850 sq km
water: 18,120 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Idaho

Land boundaries:

total: 2,462 km
border countries: Brazil 1,119 km, Suriname 600 km, Venezuela 743 km

Coastline:

459 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid, moderated by northeast trade winds; two rainy seasons (May to mid-August, mid-November to mid-January)

Terrain:

mostly rolling highlands; low coastal plain; savanna in south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Roraima 2,835 m

Natural resources:

bauxite, gold, diamonds, hardwood timber, shrimp, fish

Land use:

arable land: 2.44%
permanent crops: 0.15%
other: 97.41% (2001)

Irrigated land:

1,500 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

flash floods are a constant threat during rainy seasons

Environment - current issues:

water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial chemicals; deforestation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the third-smallest country in South America after Suriname and Uruguay; substantial portions of its western and eastern territories are claimed by Venezuela and Suriname respectively

People

Guyana

Population:

765,283
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 26.4% (male 103,054/female 99,279)
15-64 years: 68.5% (male 263,953/female 260,000)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 16,801/female 22,196) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 26.91 years
male: 26.44 years
female: 27.4 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.26% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

18.45 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

8.32 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-7.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 33.26 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 36.94 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 29.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 65.5 years
male: 62.86 years
female: 68.28 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.05 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

2.5% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

11,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

1,100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Guyanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Guyanese

Ethnic groups:

East Indian 50%, black 36%, Amerindian 7%, white, Chinese, and mixed 7%

Religions:

Christian 50%, Hindu 35%, Muslim 10%, other 5%

Languages:

English, Amerindian dialects, Creole, Hindi, Urdu

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98.8%
male: 99.1%
female: 98.5% (2003 est.)

Government

Guyana

Country name:

conventional long form: Co-operative Republic of Guyana
conventional short form: Guyana
former: British Guiana

Government type:

republic within the Commonwealth

Capital:

Georgetown

Administrative divisions:

10 regions; Barima-Waini, Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Demerara-Mahaica, East Berbice-Corentyne, Essequibo Islands-West Demerara, Mahaica-Berbice, Pomeroon-Supenaam, Potaro-Siparuni, Upper Demerara-Berbice, Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo

Independence:

26 May 1966 (from UK)

National holiday:

Republic Day, 23 February (1970)

Constitution:

6 October 1980

Legal system:

based on English common law with certain admixtures of Roman-Dutch law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Bharrat JAGDEO (since 11 August 1999); note - assumed presidency after resignation of President Janet JAGAN
head of government: Prime Minister Samuel HINDS (since December 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president, responsible to the legislature
elections: president elected by the majority party in the National Assembly following legislative elections, which must be held at least every five years; elections last held 19 March 2001 (next to be held by March 2006); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: President Bharrat JAGDEO reelected; percent of legislative vote - NA%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly (68 seats, 65 elected by popular vote, 1 elected Speaker of the National Assembly, and 2 nonvoting members appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 19 March 2001 (next to be held March 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PPP/C 34, PNC 27, GAP and WPA 2, ROAR 1, TUF 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Judicature; Judicial Court of Appeal; High Court

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance for Guyana or AFG (includes Guyana Labor Party or GLP and Working People's Alliance or WPA) [Rupert ROOPNARAINE]; Guyana Action Party or GAP [Paul HARDY]; Guyana Labor Party or GLP [leader NA]; People's National Congress or PNC [Robert Herman Orlando CORBIN]; People's Progressive Party/Civic or PPP/C [Bharrat JAGDEO]; Rise, Organize, and Rebuild or ROAR [Ravi DEV]; The United Force or TUF [Manzoor NADIR]; Working People's Alliance or WPA [Rupert ROOPNARAINE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Civil Liberties Action Committee or CLAC; Guyana Council of Indian Organizations or GCIO; Trades Union Congress or TUC
note: the GCIO and the CLAC are small and active but not well organized

International organization participation:

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Bayney KARRAN
chancery: 2490 Tracy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-6900
FAX: [1] (202) 232-1297
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Roland BULLEN
embassy: 100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown
mailing address: P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown
telephone: [592] 225-4900 through 4909
FAX: [592] 225-8497

Flag description:

green, with a red isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a long, yellow arrowhead; there is a narrow, black border between the red and yellow, and a narrow, white border between the yellow and the green

Economy

Guyana

Economy - overview:

The Guyanese economy exhibited moderate economic growth in 2001-02, based on expansion in the agricultural and mining sectors, a more favorable atmosphere for business initiatives, a more realistic exchange rate, fairly low inflation, and the continued support of international organizations. Growth then slowed in 2003 and came back gradually in 2004, buoyed largely by increased export earnings. Chronic problems include a shortage of skilled labor and a deficient infrastructure. The government is juggling a sizable external debt against the urgent need for expanded public investment. The bauxite mining sector should benefit in the near term from restructuring and partial privatization.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.899 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $3,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 38.3%
industry: 19.9%
services: 41.8% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

418,000 (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Unemployment rate:

9.1% (understated) (2000)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.5% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

34.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $287.6 million
expenditures: $371.6 million, including capital expenditures of $93.4 million (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

sugarcane, rice, wheat, vegetable oils; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish, shrimp

Industries:

bauxite, sugar, rice milling, timber, textiles, gold mining

Industrial production growth rate:

7.1% (1997 est.)

Electricity - production:

808 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 99.4%
hydro: 0.6%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

751.4 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

11,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-129.4 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$570.2 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

sugar, gold, bauxite/alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses, rum, timber

Exports - partners:

Canada 23.2%, US 19.2%, UK 10.9%, Portugal 9%, Belgium 6.4%, Jamaica 5.2% (2004)

Imports:

$650.1 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food

Imports - partners:

Trinidad and Tobago 24.8%, US 24.5%, Cuba 6.8%, UK 5.4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$280.6 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.2 billion (2002)

Economic aid - recipient:

$84 million (1995), Heavily Indebted Poor Country Initiative (HIPC) $253 million (1997)

Currency (code):

Guyanese dollar (GYD)

Currency code:

GYD

Exchange rates:

Guyanese dollars per US dollar - 198.33 (2004), 193.88 (2003), 190.67 (2002), 187.32 (2001), 182.43 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Guyana

Telephones - main lines in use:

80,400 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

87,300 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: fair system for long-distance service
domestic: microwave radio relay network for trunk lines
international: country code - 592; tropospheric scatter to Trinidad; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

420,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (one public station; two private stations which relay US satellite services) (1997)

Televisions:

46,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.gy

Internet hosts:

613 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2000)

Internet users:

125,000 (2002)

Transportation

Guyana

Railways:

total: 187 km
standard gauge: 139 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 48 km 0.914-m gauge
note: all dedicated to ore transport (2001 est.)

Highways:

total: 7,970 km
paved: 590 km
unpaved: 7,380 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

1,077 km
note: Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo rivers are navigable by oceangoing vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km respectively (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Georgetown

Merchant marine:

total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 7,475 GRT/8,758 DWT
by type: cargo 5, refrigerated cargo 1
registered in other countries: 3 (2005)

Airports:

49 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 41
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 32 (2004 est.)

Military

Guyana

Military branches:

Guyana Defense Force: Ground Forces, Coast Guard, Air Corps, Guyana People's Militia

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 206,098 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 137,964 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$6.5 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.9% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Guyana

Disputes - international:

all of the area west of the Essequibo (river) is claimed by Venezuela preventing any discussion of a maritime boundary; Guyana has expressed its intention to join Barbados in asserting claims before UNCLOS that Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuela extends into their waters; Suriname claims a triangle of land between the New and Kutari/Koetari rivers in a historic dispute over the headwaters of the Courantyne; Guyana seeks UNCLOS arbitration to resolve the long-standing dispute with Suriname over the axis of the territorial sea boundary in potentially oil-rich waters

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for narcotics from South America - primarily Venezuela - to Europe and the US; producer of cannabis

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Gaza Strip

Introduction

Gaza Strip

Background:

The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements (the DOP), signed in Washington on 13 September 1993, provided for a transitional period not exceeding five years of Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Under the DOP, Israel agreed to transfer certain powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, which includes the Palestinian Legislative Council elected in January 1996, as part of the interim self-governing arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A transfer of powers and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip and Jericho took place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area and in additional areas of the West Bank pursuant to the Israel-PLO 28 September 1995 Interim Agreement, the Israel-PLO 15 January 1997 Protocol Concerning Redeployment in Hebron, the Israel-PLO 23 October 1998 Wye River Memorandum, and the 4 September 1999 Sharm el-Sheikh Agreement. The DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility during the transitional period for external and internal security and for public order of settlements and Israeli citizens. Direct negotiations to determine the permanent status of Gaza and West Bank began in September 1999 after a three-year hiatus, but were derailed by a second intifadah that broke out in September 2000. The resulting widespread violence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Israel's military response, and instability within the Palestinian Authority continued to undermine progress toward a permanent agreement. Following the death of longtime Palestinian leader Yasir ARAFAT in November 2004, the election of his successor Mahmud ABBAS in January 2005 brought about a turning point in the conflict. In February 2005 the Israeli Government voted to disengage from the Gaza Strip by dismantling all Israeli settlements and removing all Israeli settlers. This process was completed in September 2005. Nonetheless, Israel maintains offshore maritime control as well as airspace control. The future political status of the Gaza Strip has yet to be determined.

Geography

Gaza Strip

Location:

Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Israel

Geographic coordinates:

31 25 N, 34 20 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 360 sq km
land: 360 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

total: 62 km
border countries: Egypt 11 km, Israel 51 km

Coastline:

40 km

Maritime claims:

Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation

Climate:

temperate, mild winters, dry and warm to hot summers

Terrain:

flat to rolling, sand- and dune-covered coastal plain

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Auda) 105 m

Natural resources:

arable land, natural gas

Land use:

arable land: 28.95%
permanent crops: 21.05%
other: 50% (2001)

Irrigated land:

120 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

droughts

Environment - current issues:

desertification; salination of fresh water; sewage treatment; water-borne disease; soil degradation; depletion and contamination of underground water resources

Geography - note:

there are 25 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Gaza Strip (February 2002 est.)

People

Gaza Strip

Population:

1,376,289
note: in addition, there are more than 5,000 Israeli settlers in the Gaza Strip (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 48.5% (male 342,186/female 325,899)
15-64 years: 48.8% (male 342,927/female 329,354)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 15,036/female 20,887) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 15.65 years
male: 15.5 years
female: 15.81 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.77% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

40.03 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

3.87 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 22.93 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 24.05 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.79 years
male: 70.5 years
female: 73.15 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.91 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: NA
adjective: NA

Ethnic groups:

Palestinian Arab and other 99.4%, Jewish 0.6%

Religions:

Muslim (predominantly Sunni) 98.7%, Christian 0.7%, Jewish 0.6%

Languages:

Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many Palestinians), English (widely understood)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.9%
male: 96.3%
female: 87.4% (2003 est.)

Government

Gaza Strip

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Gaza Strip
local long form: none
local short form: Qita Ghazzah

Economy

Gaza Strip

Economy - overview:

High population density, limited land access, and strict internal and external controls have kept economic conditions in the Gaza Strip - the smaller of the two areas under the Palestinian Authority - even more degraded than in the West Bank. An anticipated Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in 2005 may offer some medium-term opportunities for economic growth. The beginning of the second intifadah in September 2000 sparked an economic downturn, largely the result of Israeli closure policies; these policies, which were imposed in response to security interests in Israel, disrupted labor and commodity relationships with the Gaza Strip. In 2001, and even more severely in 2003, Israeli military measures in Palestinian Authority areas resulted in the destruction of much capital plant, the disruption of administrative structure, and widespread business closures. Including the West Bank, the UN estimates that more than 100,000 Palestinians out of the 125,000 who used to work in Israel or in joint industrial zones have lost their jobs. International aid of $2 billion to Gaza Strip and the West Bank in 2004 prevented the complete collapse of the economy and allowed some reforms in the government's financial operations. Meanwhile unemployment has continued at half the labor force. ARAFAT's death in 2004 leaves open more political options that could affect the economy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$768 million (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.5% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $600 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 9%
industry: 28%
services: 63% (includes West Bank) (2002 est.)

Labor force:

725,000 (2004)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 14%, industry 19%, services 66% (2004)

Unemployment rate:

50% (includes West Bank) (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line:

81% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.2% (includes West Bank) (2001 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $676.6 million
expenditures: $1.155 billion, including capital expenditures of NA; note - these budget data include West Bank (2003)

Agriculture - products:

olives, citrus, vegetables; beef, dairy products

Industries:

generally small family businesses that produce textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis have established some small-scale modern industries in an industrial center

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Israel

Electricity - consumption:

NA kWh

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2001)

Electricity - imports:

NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Israel (2001)

Exports:

$205 million f.o.b., includes West Bank (2002)

Exports - commodities:

citrus, flowers

Exports - partners:

Israel, Egypt, West Bank

Imports:

$1.9 billion c.i.f., includes West Bank (2002)

Imports - commodities:

food, consumer goods, construction materials

Imports - partners:

Israel, Egypt, West Bank

Debt - external:

$108 million (includes West Bank) (1997 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$2 billion (includes West Bank) (2004 est.)

Currency (code):

new Israeli shekel (ILS)

Currency code:

ILS

Exchange rates:

new Israeli shekels per US dollar - 4.482 (2004), 4.5541 (2003), 4.7378 (2002), 4.2057 (2001), 4.0773 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Gaza Strip

Telephones - main lines in use:

95,729 (total for Gaza Strip and West Bank) (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

320,000 (cellular subscribers in both Gaza Strip and West Bank) (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: rudimentary telephone services provided by an open-wire system
international: NA

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

NA; note - most Palestinian households have radios (1999)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (operated by the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation) (1997)

Televisions:

NA; note - most Palestinian households have televisions (1997)

Internet country code:

.ps

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (1999)

Internet users:

60,000 (includes West Bank) (2001)

Transportation

Gaza Strip

Highways:

total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
note: small, poorly developed road network

Ports and harbors:

Gaza

Airports:

2 (2001)
note: includes Gaza International Airport (GIA), inaugurated on 24 November 1998 as part of agreements stipulated in the September 1995 Oslo II Accord and the 23 October 1998 Wye River Memorandum; GIA has been largely closed since October 2000 by Israeli orders and its runway was destroyed by the Israeli Defense Forces in December 2001 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

Gaza Strip

Military branches:

in accordance with the peace agreement, the Palestinian Authority is not permitted conventional military forces; there are, however, public security forces (2002)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Transnational Issues

Gaza Strip

Disputes - international:

West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; Israel announced its intention to pull out settlers and withdraw from the Gaza Strip in 2005

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 922,674 (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)) (2004)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Haiti

Introduction

Haiti

Background:

The native Arawak Amerindians - who inhabited the island of Hispaniola when it was discovered by Columbus in 1492 - were virtually annihilated by Spanish settlers within 25 years. In the early 17th century, the French established a presence on Hispaniola, and in 1697, Spain ceded to the French the western third of the island - Haiti. The French colony, based on forestry and sugar-related industries, became one of the wealthiest in the Caribbean, but only through the heavy importation of African slaves and considerable environmental degradation. In the late 18th century, Haiti's nearly half million slaves revolted under Toussaint L'OUVERTURE and after a prolonged struggle, became the first black republic to declare its independence in 1804. Haiti has been plagued by political violence for most of its history. It is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.

Geography

Haiti

Location:

Caribbean, western one-third of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic

Geographic coordinates:

19 00 N, 72 25 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 27,750 sq km
land: 27,560 sq km
water: 190 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries:

total: 360 km
border countries: Dominican Republic 360 km

Coastline:

1,771 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation

Climate:

tropical; semiarid where mountains in east cut off trade winds

Terrain:

mostly rough and mountainous

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Chaine de la Selle 2,680 m

Natural resources:

bauxite, copper, calcium carbonate, gold, marble, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 28.3%
permanent crops: 11.61%
other: 60.09% (2001)

Irrigated land:

750 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land is being cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion; inadequate supplies of potable water

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Hazardous Wastes

Geography - note:

shares island of Hispaniola with Dominican Republic (western one-third is Haiti, eastern two-thirds is the Dominican Republic)

People

Haiti

Population:

8,121,622
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 42.6% (male 1,741,622/female 1,721,436)
15-64 years: 53.9% (male 2,137,225/female 2,242,639)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 124,383/female 154,317) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.03 years
male: 17.63 years
female: 18.44 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.26% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

36.59 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

12.34 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 73.45 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 79.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 66.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 52.92 years
male: 51.58 years
female: 54.31 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.02 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

5.6% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

280,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

24,000 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Haitian(s)
adjective: Haitian

Ethnic groups:

black 95%, mulatto and white 5%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 80%, Protestant 16% (Baptist 10%, Pentecostal 4%, Adventist 1%, other 1%), none 1%, other 3% (1982)
note: roughly half of the population practices Voodoo

Languages:

French (official), Creole (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 52.9%
male: 54.8%
female: 51.2% (2003 est.)

Government

Haiti

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Haiti
conventional short form: Haiti
local long form: Republique d'Haiti
local short form: Haiti

Government type:

elected government

Capital:

Port-au-Prince

Administrative divisions:

9 departments (departements, singular - departement); Artibonite, Centre, Grand 'Anse, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est

Independence:

1 January 1804 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 1 January (1804)

Constitution:

approved March 1987; suspended June 1988 with most articles reinstated March 1989; in October 1991 government claimed to be observing the constitution; returned to constitutional rule in October 1994

Legal system:

based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Interim President Boniface ALEXANDRE (since 29 February 2004)
note: Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE resigned as president on 29 February 2004; ALEXANDRE, as Chief of the Supreme Court, constitutionally succeeded Aristide
head of government: Interim Prime Minister Gerald LATORTUE (since 12 March 2004), chosen by extraconstitutional Council of Eminent Persons representing cross-section of political and civic interests
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 26 November 2000 (next to be held in November 2005); prime minister appointed by the president, ratified by the National Assembly
election results: Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE elected president; percent of vote - Jean-Bertrand ARISTIDE 92%

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale consists of the Senate (27 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms; one-third elected every two years) and the Chamber of Deputies (83 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms); note - the National Assembly stopped functioning in January 2004 when the terms of all Deputies and two-thirds of sitting Senators expired; no replacements have been elected; the President is currently ruling by decree
elections: Senate - last held for two-thirds of seats 21 May 2000 with runoffs on 9 July boycotted by the opposition; seven seats still disputed; election for remaining one-third held on 26 November 2000 (next to be held in 2005); Chamber of Deputies - last held 21 May 2000 with runoffs on 30 July boycotted by the opposition; one vacant seat rerun 26 November 2000 (next to be held in November 2005)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FL 26, independent 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FL 73, MOCHRENA 3, PLB 2, OPL 1, vacant 1, other minor parties and independents 3

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Cour de Cassation

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance for the Liberation and Advancement of Haiti or ALAH [Reynold GEORGES]; Assembly of Progressive National Democrats or RDNP [Leslie MANIGAT]; Ayiti Kapab [Ernst VERDIEU]; Convention for Democratic Unity or KID [Evans PAUL]; National Congress of Democratic Movements or KONAKOM [Victor BENOIT]; Nationalist Progressive Revolutionary Party or PANPRA [Serge GILLES]; Democratic Movement for the Liberation of Haiti or MODELH [Francois LATORTUE]; Grand Center Right Front coalition (composed of MDN, MRN, and PDCH) [Hubert de RONCERAY, Jean BUTEAU, Osner FEVRY and Marie-Denise CLAUDE]; Haitian Christian Democratic Party or PDCH [Osner FEVRY and Marie-Denise CLAUDE]; Haitian Democratic Party or PADEMH [Clark PARENT]; Haitian Democratic and Reform Movement or MODEREH [Dany TOUSSAINT and Pierre Soncon PRINCE]; Heads Together [Dr. Gerard BLOT]; Lavalas Family or FL [leader NA]; Liberal Party of Haiti or PLH [Michael MADSEN]; Mobilization for National Development or MDN [Hubert DE RONCERAY]; Movement for National Reconstruction or MRN [Jean Henold BUTEAU]; Movement for the Installation of Democracy in Haiti or MIDH [Marc BAZIN]; National Front for the Reconstruction of Haiti or FRON [Guy PHILIPPE]; National Progressive Democratic Party or PNDPH [Turneb DELPE]; New Christian Movement for a New Haiti or MOCHRENA [Luc MESADIEU]; Open the Gate Party (Parti Louvri Bayre) or PLB [leader NA]; Popular Party for the Renewal of Haiti, or Generation 2000 [Claude ROMAIN and Daniel SUPPLICE]; Struggling People's Organization or OPL [Edgard LEBLANC]; MNP28 [Dejean BELIZAIRE]; KOMBA [Evans LESCOUFLAIR]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Autonomous Organizations of Haitian Workers or CATH [Fignole ST-CYR]; Confederation of Haitian Workers or CTH; Federation of Workers Trade Unions or FOS; Group of 184 Civil Society Organization, or G-184 [Andy APAID]; National Popular Assembly or APN; Papaye Peasants Movement or MPP [Chavannes JEAN-BAPTISTE]; Popular Organizations Gathering Power or PROP; Roman Catholic Church; Protestant Federation of Haiti

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, Caricom (suspended), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAES, MIGA, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires Raymond JOSEPH (as of November 2004)
chancery: 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-4090
FAX: [1] (202) 745-7215
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Miami, New York, and San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador James B. FOLEY
embassy: 5 Harry S Truman Boulevard, Port-au-Prince
mailing address: P. O. Box 1761, Port-au-Prince
telephone: [509] 222-0354, 222-0269, 222-0200, 222-0327
FAX: [509] 223-1641 or 222-0200 ext 460

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a centered white rectangle bearing the coat of arms, which contains a palm tree flanked by flags and two cannons above a scroll bearing the motto L'UNION FAIT LA FORCE (Union Makes Strength)

Economy

Haiti

Economy - overview:

In this poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, 80% of the population lives in abject poverty, and natural disasters frequently sweep the nation. Two-thirds of all Haitians depend on the agriculture sector, which consists mainly of small-scale subsistence farming. Following legislative elections in May 2000, fraught with irregularities, international donors - including the US and EU - suspended almost all aid to Haiti. The economy shrank an estimated 1.2% in 2001, 0.9% in 2002, grew 0.4% in 2003, and shrank by 3.5% in 2004. Suspended aid and loan disbursements totaled more than $500 million at the start of 2003. Haiti also suffers from rampant inflation, a lack of investment, and a severe trade deficit. In early 2005 Haiti paid its arrears to the World Bank, paving the way to reengagement with the Bank. The resumption of aid flows from all donors is alleviating but not ending the nation's bitter economic problems. Civil strife in 2004 combined with extensive damage from flooding in southern Haiti in May 2004 and Tropical Storm Jeanne in northwestern Haiti in September 2004 further impoverished Haiti.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$12.05 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

-3.5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,500 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 30%
industry: 20%
services: 50% (2001 est.)

Labor force:

3.6 million
note: shortage of skilled labor, unskilled labor abundant (1995)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 66%, industry 9%, services 25%

Unemployment rate:

widespread unemployment and underemployment; more than two-thirds of the labor force do not have formal jobs (2002 est.)

Population below poverty line:

80% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

22% (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $330.2 million
expenditures: $529.6 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, mangoes, sugarcane, rice, corn, sorghum, wood

Industries:

sugar refining, flour milling, textiles, cement, light assembly industries based on imported parts

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

618 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 60.3%
hydro: 39.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

574.7 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

11,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-27.63 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$338.1 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

manufactures, coffee, oils, cocoa, mangoes

Exports - partners:

US 81.2%, Dominican Republic 7.3%, Canada 4.1% (2004)

Imports:

$1.085 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food, manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, raw materials

Imports - partners:

US 34.8%, Netherlands Antilles 18%, Malaysia 5.1%, Colombia 4.7% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$80.64 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.2 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$150 million (FY04 est.)

Currency (code):

gourde (HTG)

Currency code:

HTG

Exchange rates:

gourdes per US dollar - 38.352 (2004), 42.367 (2003), 29.251 (2002), 24.429 (2001), 21.171 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 October - 30 September

Communications

Haiti

Telephones - main lines in use:

130,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

140,000 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: domestic facilities barely adequate; international facilities slightly better
domestic: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay trunk service
international: country code - 509; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 41, FM 26, shortwave 0 (1999)

Radios:

415,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (plus a cable TV service) (1997)

Televisions:

38,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ht

Internet hosts:

NA

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2000)

Internet users:

80,000 (2002)

Transportation

Haiti

Highways:

total: 4,160 km
paved: 1,011 km
unpaved: 3,149 km (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors:

Cap-Haitien

Airports:

13 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)

Military

Haiti

Military branches:

the regular Haitian Armed Forces (FAdH) - Army, Navy, and Air Force - have been demobilized but still exist on paper until or unless they are constitutionally abolished

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary recruitment into the police force (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,626,491 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 948,320 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 98,554 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$26 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.9% (2003)

Transnational Issues

Haiti

Disputes - international:

since 2004, about 8,000 peacekeepers from the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) maintain civil order in Haiti; despite efforts to control illegal migration, Haitians fleeing economic privation and civil unrest continue to cross into Dominican Republic and to sail to neighboring countries; Haiti claims US-administered Navassa Island

Illicit drugs:

major Caribbean transshipment point for cocaine en route to the US and Europe; substantial money-laundering activity; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor Haiti for illicit financial transactions; pervasive corruption

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Hong Kong

Introduction

Hong Kong

Background:

Occupied by the UK in 1841, Hong Kong was formally ceded by China the following year; various adjacent lands were added later in the 19th century. Pursuant to an agreement signed by China and the UK on 19 December 1984, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 1 July 1997. In this agreement, China has promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's socialist economic system will not be imposed on Hong Kong and that Hong Kong will enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs for the next 50 years.

Geography

Hong Kong

Location:

Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

Geographic coordinates:

22 15 N, 114 10 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 1,092 sq km
land: 1,042 sq km
water: 50 sq km

Area - comparative:

six times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

total: 30 km
regional border: China 30 km

Coastline:

733 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate:

tropical monsoon; cool and humid in winter, hot and rainy from spring through summer, warm and sunny in fall

Terrain:

hilly to mountainous with steep slopes; lowlands in north

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m

Natural resources:

outstanding deepwater harbor, feldspar

Land use:

arable land: 5.05%
permanent crops: 1.01%
other: 93.94% (2001)

Irrigated land:

20 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

occasional typhoons

Environment - current issues:

air and water pollution from rapid urbanization

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Marine Dumping (associate member)

Geography - note:

more than 200 islands

People

Hong Kong

Population:

6,898,686 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 13.8% (male 498,771/female 454,252)
15-64 years: 73.5% (male 2,479,656/female 2,591,170)
65 years and over: 12.7% (male 404,308/female 470,529) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 39.4 years
male: 39.3 years
female: 39.6 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.65% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

7.23 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

5.98 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

5.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 2.97 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 3.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 81.5 years
male: 78.81 years
female: 84.41 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

0.91 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

2,600 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Chinese/Hong Konger
adjective: Chinese/Hong Kong

Ethnic groups:

Chinese 95%, other 5%

Religions:

eclectic mixture of local religions 90%, Christian 10%

Languages:

Chinese (Cantonese), English; both are official

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 93.5%
male: 96.9%
female: 89.6% (2002)

Government

Hong Kong

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

Dependency status:

special administrative region of China

Government type:

limited democracy

Administrative divisions:

none (special administrative region of China)

Independence:

none (special administrative region of China)

National holiday:

National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949); note - 1 July 1997 is celebrated as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day

Constitution:

Basic Law, approved in March 1990 by China's National People's Congress, is Hong Kong's "mini-constitution"

Legal system:

based on English common law

Suffrage:

direct election 18 years of age; universal for permanent residents living in the territory of Hong Kong for the past seven years; indirect election limited to about 200,000 members of functional constituencies and an 800-member election committee drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government bodies

Executive branch:

chief of state: President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003)
head of government: Chief Executive Donald TSANG (since 24 June 2005)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of seven non-official members and 14 official members
elections: previous chief executive TUNG Chee-hwa was elected to second five-year term in March 2002 by 800-member election committee dominated by pro-Beijing forces, resignation accepted 12 March 2005; Donald TSANG acted as chief executive between 12 March 2005 and 25 May 2005; Henry TANG acted as chief executive between 25 May 2005 and 24 June 2005; last election 16 June 2005 to fill final two years of TUNG's term (next to be held in June 2007)

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (60 seats; in 2004 30 seats indirectly elected by functional constituencies, 30 elected by popular vote; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 12 September 2004 (next to be held in September 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - pro-democracy group 62%; seats by party - (pro-Beijing 34) DAB 12, Liberal Party 10, independents 11, FTU 1; (pro-democracy 25) independents 11, Democratic Party 9, CTU 2, ADPL 1, Frontier Party 1, NWSC 1; other 1

Judicial branch:

Court of Final Appeal in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

Political parties and leaders:

Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood or ADPL [Frederick FUNG Kin-kee, chairman]; Citizens Party [Alex CHAN Kai-chung]; Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong or DAB [MA Lik, chairman]; Democratic Party [LEE Wing-tat, chairman]; Frontier Party [Emily LAU Wai-hing, chairwoman]; Liberal Party [James TIEN Pei-chun, chairman]
note: political blocs include: pro-democracy - Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood, 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 or CTU (pro-democracy) [LAU Chin-shek, president; LEE Cheuk-yan, general secretary]; Federation of Hong Kong Industries; Federation of Trade Unions or FTU (pro-China) [CHENG Yiu-tong, executive councilor]; Hong Kong Alliance in Support of the Patriotic Democratic Movement in China [Szeto WAH, chairman]; Hong Kong and Kowloon Trade Union Council (pro-Taiwan); Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce; Hong Kong Professional Teachers' Union [CHEUNG Man-kwong, president]; Neighborhood and Workers' Service Center or NWSC (pro-democracy); The Alliance [Bernard CHAN, exco member]

International organization participation:

APEC, AsDB, BIS, ICC, ICFTU, IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ISO (correspondent), UPU, WCL, WCO, WMO, WToO (associate), WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (special administrative region of China)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Consul General James B. CUNNINGHAM
consulate(s) general: 26 Garden Road, Hong Kong
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 1, FPO AP 96521-0006
telephone: [852] 2523-9011
FAX: [852] 2524-0860

Flag description:

red with a stylized, white, five-petal bauhinia flower in the center

Economy

Hong Kong

Economy - overview:

Hong Kong has a free market, entrepot economy, highly dependent on international trade. Natural resources are limited, and food and raw materials must be imported. Gross imports and exports (i.e., including reexports to and from third countries) each exceed GDP in dollar value. Even before Hong Kong reverted to Chinese administration on 1 July 1997, it had extensive trade and investment ties with China. Hong Kong has been further integrating its economy with China because China's growing openness to the world economy has made manufacturing in China much more cost effective. Hong Kong's reexport business to and from China is a major driver of growth. Per capita GDP is comparable to that of the four big economies of Western Europe. GDP growth averaged a strong 5% from 1989 to 1997, but Hong Kong suffered two recessions in the past six years because of the Asian financial crisis in 1998 and the global downturn in 2001 and 2002. Although the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak also battered Hong Kong's economy, a boom in tourism from the mainland because of China's easing of travel restrictions, a return of consumer confidence, and a solid rise in exports resulted in the resumption of strong growth in late 2003 and in 2004.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$234.5 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $34,200 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 11.3%
services: 88.6% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

3.54 million (October 2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

manufacturing 7.5%, construction 2.9%, wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels 43.7%, financing, insurance, and real estate 19.2%, transport and communications 7.9%, community and social services 18.5%
note: above data exclude public sector (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

6.7% (2004 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% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

22.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $26.6 billion
expenditures: $31.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.9 billion (2004 est.)

Public debt:

2.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

fresh vegetables, poultry, fish, pork

Industries:

textiles, clothing, tourism, banking, shipping, electronics, plastics, toys, watches, clocks

Industrial production growth rate:

1% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

35.51 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

38.45 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:

3 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:

10.4 billion kWh (2003)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption:

257,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Natural gas - production:

NA

Natural gas - consumption:

680.9 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

680.9 million cu m (2001 est.)

Current account balance:

$14.85 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$268.1 billion f.o.b., including reexports (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

electrical machinery and appliances, textiles, apparel, footwear, watches and clocks, toys, plastics, precious stones, printed material

Exports - partners:

China 44%, US 17%, Japan 5.3% (2004)

Imports:

$275.9 billion (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

raw materials and semi-manufactures, consumer goods, capital goods, foodstuffs, fuel (most is re-exported)

Imports - partners:

China 43.5%, Japan 12.1%, Taiwan 7.3%, US 5.3%, Singapore 5.3%, South Korea 4.8% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$123.6 billion (31 December 2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$66.94 billion (2004 est.)

Currency (code):

Hong Kong dollar (HKD)

Currency code:

HKD

Exchange rates:

Hong Kong dollars per US dollar - 7.788 (2004), 7.7868 (2003), 7.7989 (2002), 7.7988 (2001), 7.7912 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

Hong Kong

Telephones - main lines in use:

3,801,300 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

7,241,400 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern facilities provide excellent domestic and international services
domestic: microwave radio relay links and extensive fiber-optic network
international: country code - 852; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); coaxial cable to Guangzhou, China; access to 5 international submarine cables providing connections to ASEAN member nations, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 5, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

4.45 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

4 (2004)

Televisions:

1.84 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.hk

Internet hosts:

591,993 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

17 (2000)

Internet users:

3,212,800 (2003)

Transportation

Hong Kong

Highways:

total: 1,831 km
paved: 1,831 km
unpaved: 0 km (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors:

Hong Kong

Merchant marine:

total: 837 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 20,478,042 GRT/34,554,455 DWT
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 446, cargo 119, chemical tanker 44, combination ore/oil 2, container 105, liquefied gas 20, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 75, roll on/roll off 5, vehicle carrier 8
foreign-owned: 453 (Australia 1, Bahamas 1, Belgium 3, Canada 9, China 246, Denmark 3, France 5, Germany 13, Greece 19, India 1, Indonesia 1, Israel 1, Japan 51, Norway 16, Philippines 13, Singapore 17, South Korea 8, Taiwan 5, Thailand 4, UAE 1, United Kingdom 32, United States 3)
registered in other countries: 373 (2005)

Airports:

4 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

2 (2004 est.)

Military

Hong Kong

Military branches:

no regular indigenous military forces; Hong Kong garrison of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) includes elements of the PLA Ground Forces, PLA Navy, and PLA Air Force; these forces are under the direct leadership of the Central Military Commission in Beijing and under administrative control of the adjacent Guangzhou Military Region

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,743,972 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,403,088 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 40,343 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

Hong Kong garrison is funded by China; figures are NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of China

Transnational Issues

Hong Kong

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

makes strenuous law enforcement efforts, but faces difficult challenges in controlling transit of heroin and methamphetamine to regional and world markets; modern banking system provides conduit for money laundering; rising indigenous use of synthetic drugs, especially among young people

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Introduction

Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Background:

These uninhabited, barren, sub-Antarctic islands were transferred from the UK to Australia in 1947. Populated by large numbers of seal and bird species, the islands have been designated a nature preserve.

Geography

Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Location:

islands in the Indian Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica

Geographic coordinates:

53 06 S, 72 31 E

Map references:

Antarctic Region

Area:

total: 412 sq km
land: 412 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than two times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

101.9 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

antarctic

Terrain:

Heard Island - 80% ice-covered, bleak and mountainous, dominated by a large massif (Big Ben) and an active volcano (Mawson Peak); McDonald Islands - small and rocky

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mawson Peak, on Big Ben 2,745 m

Natural resources:

fish

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km

Natural hazards:

Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is on Heard Island

Environment - current issues:

NA

People

Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Population:

uninhabited (July 2005 est.)

Government

Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands
conventional short form: Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Dependency status:

territory of Australia; administered from Canberra by the Australian Antarctic Division of the Department of the Environment and Heritage

Legal system:

the laws of Australia, where applicable, apply

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territory of Australia)

Flag description:

the flag of Australia is used

Economy

Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Economy - overview:

No indigenous economic activity, but the Australian Government allows limited fishing around the islands.

Communications

Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Internet country code:

.hm

Transportation

Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Ports and harbors:

none; offshore anchorage only

Military

Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Australia; Australia conducts fisheries patrols

Transnational Issues

Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Honduras

Introduction

Honduras

Background:

Once part of Spain's vast empire in the New World, Honduras became an independent nation in 1821. After two and a half decades of mostly military rule, a freely elected civilian government came to power in 1982. During the 1980s, Honduras proved a haven for anti-Sandinista contras fighting the Marxist Nicaraguan Government and an ally to Salvadoran Government forces fighting leftist guerrillas. The country was devastated by Hurricane Mitch in 1998, which killed about 5,600 people and caused approximately $2 billion in damage.

Geography

Honduras

Location:

Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the Gulf of Fonseca (North Pacific Ocean), between El Salvador and Nicaragua

Geographic coordinates:

15 00 N, 86 30 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 112,090 sq km
land: 111,890 sq km
water: 200 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Tennessee

Land boundaries:

total: 1,520 km
border countries: Guatemala 256 km, El Salvador 342 km, Nicaragua 922 km

Coastline:

820 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: natural extension of territory or to 200 nm

Climate:

subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains

Terrain:

mostly mountains in interior, narrow coastal plains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro Las Minas 2,870 m

Natural resources:

timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coal, fish, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 9.55%
permanent crops: 3.22%
other: 87.23% (2001)

Irrigated land:

760 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; extremely susceptible to damaging hurricanes and floods along the Caribbean coast

Environment - current issues:

urban population expanding; deforestation results from logging and the clearing of land for agricultural purposes; further land degradation and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled development and improper land use practices such as farming of marginal lands; mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the country's largest source of fresh water), as well as several rivers and streams, with heavy metals

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

has only a short Pacific coast but a long Caribbean shoreline, including the virtually uninhabited eastern Mosquito Coast

People

Honduras

Population:

6,975,204
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 40.8% (male 1,452,646/female 1,393,271)
15-64 years: 55.5% (male 1,921,432/female 1,948,656)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 122,146/female 137,053) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 19.15 years
male: 18.75 years
female: 19.56 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.16% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

30.38 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.87 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.95 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 29.32 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 32.84 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 25.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 69.3 years
male: 67.71 years
female: 70.97 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.87 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.8% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

63,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

4,100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Honduran(s)
adjective: Honduran

Ethnic groups:

mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%, Amerindian 7%, black 2%, white 1%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant 3%

Languages:

Spanish, Amerindian dialects

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.2%
male: 76.1%
female: 76.3% (2003 est.)

Government

Honduras

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Honduras
conventional short form: Honduras
local long form: Republica de Honduras
local short form: Honduras

Government type:

democratic constitutional republic

Capital:

Tegucigalpa

Administrative divisions:

18 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Atlantida, Choluteca, Colon, Comayagua, Copan, Cortes, El Paraiso, Francisco Morazan, Gracias a Dios, Intibuca, Islas de la Bahia, La Paz, Lempira, Ocotepeque, Olancho, Santa Barbara, Valle, Yoro

Independence:

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution:

11 January 1982, effective 20 January 1982; amended 1995

Legal system:

rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law with increasing influence of English common law; recent judicial reforms include abandoning Napoleonic legal codes in favor of the oral adversarial system; accepts ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Ricardo (Joest) MADURO (since 27 January 2002); First Vice President Vicente WILLIAMS Agasse (since 27 January 2002); Second Vice President Armida Villela Maria DE LOPEZ Contreras (since 27 January 2002); Third Vice President Alberto DIAZ Lobo (since 27 January 2002); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Ricardo (Joest) MADURO (since 27 January 2002); First Vice President Vicente WILLIAMS Agasse (since 27 January 2002); Second Vice President Armida Villela Maria DE LOPEZ Contreras (since 27 January 2002); Third Vice President Alberto DIAZ Lobo (since 27 January 2002); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 25 November 2001 (next to be held 27 November 2005)
election results: Ricardo (Joest) MADURO (PN) elected president - 52.2%, Raphael PINEDA Ponce (PL) 44.3%, others 3.5%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (128 seats; members are elected proportionally to the number of votes their party's presidential candidate receives to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 25 November 2001 (next to be held 27 November 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PN 61, PL 55, PUD 5, PDC 4, PINU-SD 3

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges are elected for seven-year terms by the National Congress)

Political parties and leaders:

Christian Democratic Party or PDC [Juan Ramon VELAZQUEZ Nassar]; Democratic Unification Party or PUD [Matias FUNES]; Liberal Party or PL [Roberto MICHELETTI Bain]; National Innovation and Unity Party-Social Democratic Party or PINU-SD [Olban F. VALLADARES]; National Party of Honduras or PN [Jose Celin DISCUA Elvir]; United Confederation of Honduran Workers or CUTH

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Committee for the Defense of Human Rights in Honduras or CODEH; Confederation of Honduran Workers or CTH; Coordinating Committee of Popular Organizations or CCOP; General Workers Confederation or CGT; Honduran Council of Private Enterprise or COHEP; National Association of Honduran Campesinos or ANACH; National Union of Campesinos or UNC; Popular Bloc or BP; United Federation of Honduran Workers or FUTH

International organization participation:

ABEDA, BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: Suite 4-M, 3007 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 966-7702
FAX: [1] (202) 966-9751
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco
honorary consulate(s): Boston, Detroit, Jacksonville

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Larry Leon PALMER
embassy: Avenida La Paz, Apartado Postal No. 3453, Tegucigalpa
mailing address: American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa
telephone: [504] 238-5114, 236-9320
FAX: [504] 236-9037

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and blue with five blue, five-pointed stars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band; the stars represent the members of the former Federal Republic of Central America - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua; similar to the flag of El Salvador, which features a round emblem encircled by the words REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Nicaragua, which features a triangle encircled by the word REPUBLICA DE NICARAGUA on top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom, centered in the white band

Economy

Honduras

Economy - overview:

Honduras, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere with an extraordinarily unequal distribution of income and massive unemployment, is banking on expanded trade under the U.S.-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) and on debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. The country has met most of its macroeconomic targets, and began a three-year IMF Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PGRF) program in February 2004. Growth remains dependent on the economy of the US, its largest trading partner, on commodity prices, particularly coffee, and on reduction of the high crime rate.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$18.79 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.2% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $2,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 12.7%
industry: 32.1%
services: 55.3% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

2.47 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 34%, industry 21%, services 45% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate:

28.5% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

53% (1993 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 0.6%
highest 10%: 42.7% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

56.3 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

24.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.467 billion
expenditures: $1.722 billion, including capital expenditures of $106 million (2004 est.)

Public debt:

74.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

bananas, coffee, citrus; beef; timber; shrimp

Industries:

sugar, coffee, textiles, clothing, wood products

Industrial production growth rate:

7.7% (2003 est.)

Electricity - production:

3.626 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 50.2%
hydro: 49.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

3.771 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

16 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

415 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

29,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$258.3 million (2003 est.)

Exports:

$1.457 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

coffee, shrimp, bananas, gold, palm oil, fruit, lobster, lumber

Exports - partners:

US 54.4%, El Salvador 8.1%, Germany 5.9%, Guatemala 5.4% (2004)

Imports:

$3.332 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, industrial raw materials, chemical products, fuels, foodstuffs (2000)

Imports - partners:

US 37.5%, Guatemala 6.9%, Mexico 5.4%, Costa Rica 4.3%, El Salvador 4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.464 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$5.365 billion (September 2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$557.8 million (1999)

Currency (code):

lempira (HNL)

Currency code:

HNL

Exchange rates:

lempiras per US dollar - 18.206 (2004), 17.345 (2003), 16.433 (2002), 15.474 (2001), 14.839 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Honduras

Telephones - main lines in use:

322,500 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

326,500 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: inadequate system
domestic: NA
international: country code - 504; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to Central American Microwave System

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 241, FM 53, shortwave 12 (1998)

Radios:

2.45 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

11 (plus 17 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

570,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.hn

Internet hosts:

1,944 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

8 (2000)

Internet users:

168,600 (2002)

Transportation

Honduras

Railways:

total: 699 km
narrow gauge: 279 km 1.067-m gauge; 420 km 0.914-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 13,603 km
paved: 2,775 km
unpaved: 10,828 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

465 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo, Tela

Merchant marine:

total: 137 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 598,600 GRT/616,158 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 10, cargo 67, chemical tanker 6, container 2, liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 1, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 30, refrigerated cargo 9, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 44 (Canada 1, China 3, Egypt 1, Greece 4, Hong Kong 2, Israel 1, Japan 4, Lebanon 1, Mexico 1, Singapore 12, South Korea 6, Taiwan 2, Tanzania 1, Turkey 1, United States 2, Vanuatu 1, Vietnam 1)
registered in other countries: 1 (2005)

Airports:

115 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 104
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 84 (2004 est.)

Military

Honduras

Military branches:

Army, Navy (includes Naval Infantry), Air Force

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary 2-3 year military service (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,448,369 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 955,019 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 77,399 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$100.6 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.4% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Honduras

Disputes - international:

in 1992, ICJ ruled on the delimitation of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El Salvador-Honduras border, but despite OAS intervention and a further ICJ ruling in 2003, full demarcation of the border remains stalled; the 1992 ICJ ruling advised a tripartite resolution to a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca with consideration of Honduran access to the Pacific; El Salvador continues to claim tiny Conejo Island, not mentioned in the ICJ ruling, off Honduras in the Gulf of Fonseca; Honduras claims Sapodilla Cays off the coast of Belize, but agreed to creation of a joint ecological park and Guatemalan corridor in the Caribbean in the failed 2002 Belize-Guatemala Differendum, which the OAS is attempting to revive; Nicaragua filed a claim against Honduras in 1999 and against Colombia in 2001 at the ICJ over a complex dispute over islands and maritime boundaries in the Caribbean Sea

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for drugs and narcotics; illicit producer of cannabis, cultivated on small plots and used principally for local consumption; corruption is a major problem; some money-laundering activity

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Howland Island

Introduction

Howland Island

Background:

Discovered by the US early in the 19th century, the island was officially claimed by the US in 1857. Both US and British companies mined for guano until about 1890. Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast that was partially destroyed during World War II, but has since been rebuilt; it is named in memory of the famed aviatrix Amelia EARHART. The island is administered by the US Department of the Interior as a National Wildlife Refuge.

Geography

Howland Island

Location:

Oceania, island in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and Australia

Geographic coordinates:

0 48 N, 176 38 W

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 1.6 sq km
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:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

equatorial; scant rainfall, constant wind, burning sun

Terrain:

low-lying, nearly level, sandy, coral island surrounded by a narrow fringing reef; depressed central area

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m

Natural resources:

guano (deposits worked until late 1800s), terrestrial and aquatic wildlife

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km

Natural hazards:

the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard

Environment - current issues:

no natural fresh water resources

Geography - note:

almost totally covered with grasses, prostrate vines, and low-growing shrubs; small area of trees in the center; primarily a nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds, and marine wildlife

People

Howland Island

Population:

uninhabited
note: American civilians evacuated in 1942 after Japanese air and naval attacks during World War II; occupied by US military during World War II, but abandoned after the war; public entry is by special-use permit from US Fish and Wildlife Service only and generally restricted to scientists and educators; visited annually by US Fish and Wildlife Service (July 2005 est.)

Government

Howland Island

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Howland Island

Dependency status:

unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system

Legal system:

the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

Flag description:

the flag of the US is used

Economy

Howland Island

Economy - overview:

no economic activity

Transportation

Howland Island

Ports and harbors:

none; offshore anchorage only; note - there is one small boat landing area along the middle of the west coast

Airports:

airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling stop on the round-the-world flight of Amelia EARHART and Fred NOONAN - they left Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island, but were never seen again; the airstrip is no longer serviceable (2004 est.)

Transportation - note:

Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast that was partially destroyed during World War II, but has since been rebuilt; named in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia EARHART

Military

Howland Island

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US; visited annually by the US Coast Guard

Transnational Issues

Howland Island

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Croatia

Introduction

Croatia

Background:

The lands that today comprise Croatia were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the close of World War I. In 1918, the Croats, Serbs, and Slovenes formed a kingdom known after 1929 as Yugoslavia. Following World War II, Yugoslavia became a federal independent Communist state under the strong hand of Marshal TITO. Although Croatia declared its independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, it took four years of sporadic, but often bitter, fighting before occupying Serb armies were mostly cleared from Croatian lands. Under UN supervision, the last Serb-held enclave in eastern Slavonia was returned to Croatia in 1998.

Geography

Croatia

Location:

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia

Geographic coordinates:

45 10 N, 15 30 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 56,542 sq km
land: 56,414 sq km
water: 128 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries:

total: 2,197 km
border countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina 932 km, Hungary 329 km, Serbia and Montenegro (north) 241 km, Serbia and Montenegro (south) 25 km, Slovenia 670 km

Coastline:

5,835 km (mainland 1,777 km, islands 4,058 km)

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

Mediterranean and continental; continental climate predominant with hot summers and cold winters; mild winters, dry summers along coast

Terrain:

geographically diverse; flat plains along Hungarian border, low mountains and highlands near Adriatic coastline and islands

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Dinara 1,830 m

Natural resources:

oil, some coal, bauxite, low-grade iron ore, calcium, gypsum, natural asphalt, silica, mica, clays, salt, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 26.09%
permanent crops: 2.27%
other: 71.65% (2001)

Irrigated land:

30 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

destructive earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

air pollution (from metallurgical plants) and resulting acid rain is damaging the forests; coastal pollution from industrial and domestic waste; landmine removal and reconstruction of infrastructure consequent to 1992-95 civil strife

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography - note:

controls most land routes from Western Europe to Aegean Sea and Turkish Straits

People

Croatia

Population:

4,495,904 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.4% (male 378,615/female 359,231)
15-64 years: 67% (male 1,497,355/female 1,514,993)
65 years and over: 16.6% (male 283,460/female 462,250) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 39.97 years
male: 38.01 years
female: 41.76 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.02% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

9.57 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

11.38 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 6.84 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.79 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.45 years
male: 70.79 years
female: 78.31 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.39 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

200 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 10 (2001 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Croat(s), Croatian(s)
adjective: Croatian

Ethnic groups:

Croat 89.6%, Serb 4.5%, other 5.9% (including Bosniak, Hungarian, Slovene, Czech, and Roma) (2001 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 87.8%, Orthodox 4.4%, other Christian 0.4%, Muslim 1.3%, other and unspecified 0.9%, none 5.2% (2001 census)

Languages:

Croatian 96.1%, Serbian 1%, other and undesignated 2.9% (including Italian, Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and German) (2001 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.5%
male: 99.4%
female: 97.8% (2003 est.)

Government

Croatia

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Croatia
conventional short form: Croatia
local long form: Republika Hrvatska
local short form: Hrvatska
former: People's Republic of Croatia, Socialist Republic of Croatia

Government type:

presidential/parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Zagreb

Administrative divisions:

20 counties (zupanije, zupanija - singular) and 1 city* (grad - singular); Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska Zupanija, Brodsko-Posavska Zupanija, Dubrovacko-Neretvanska Zupanija, Istarska Zupanija, Karlovacka Zupanija, Koprivnicko-Krizevacka Zupanija, Krapinsko-Zagorska Zupanija, Licko-Senjska Zupanija, Medimurska Zupanija, Osjecko-Baranjska Zupanija, Pozesko-Slavonska Zupanija, Primorsko-Goranska Zupanija, Sibensko-Kninska Zupanija, Sisacko-Moslavacka Zupanija, Splitsko-Dalmatinska Zupanija, Varazdinska Zupanija, Viroviticko-Podravska Zupanija, Vukovarsko-Srijemska Zupanija, Zadarska Zupanija, Zagreb*, Zagrebacka Zupanija

Independence:

25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 8 October (1991); note - 25 June 1991 is the day the Croatian Parliament voted for independence; following a 3-month moratorium to allow the European Community to solve the Yugoslav crisis peacefully, Parliament adopted a decision on 8 October 1991 to sever constitutional relations with Yugoslavia

Constitution:

adopted on 22 December 1990; revised 2000, 2001

Legal system:

based on civil law system

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Stjepan (Stipe) MESIC (since 18 February 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Ivo SANADER (since 9 December 2003); Deputy Prime Ministers Jadranka KOSOR (since 23 December 2003) and Damir POLANEC (since NA February 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and approved by the parliamentary Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 16 January 2005 (next to be held January 2010); the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president and then approved by the Assembly
election results: Stjepan MESIC reelected president; percent of vote - Stjepan MESIC (HNS) 66%, Jadranka KOSOR (HDZ) 34%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Assembly or Sabor (152 seats; note - one seat was added in the November 2003 parliamentary elections; members elected from party lists by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Assembly - last held 23 November 2003 (next to be held in 2007)
election results: Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; number of seats by party - HDZ 66, SDP 34, HSS 10, HNS 10, HSP 8, IDS 4, Libra 3, HSU 3, SDSS 3, other 11
note: minority government coalition - HDZ, DC, HSLS, HSU, SDSS

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; judges for both courts appointed for eight-year terms by the Judicial Council of the Republic, which is elected by the Assembly

Political parties and leaders:

Croatian Bloc or HB [Ivic PASALIC]; Croatian Christian Democratic Union or HKDU [Anto KOVACEVIC]; Croatian Democratic Union or HDZ [Ivo SANADER]; Croatian Party of Rights or HSP [Anto DJAPIC]; Croatian Peasant Party or HSS [Zlatko TOMCIC]; Croatian Pensioner Party or HSU [Vladimir JORDAN]; Croatian People's Party or HNS [Vesna PUSIC] (in 2005 party merged with Libra to become Croatian People's Party-Liberal Democrats or NS-LD [Vesna PUSIC]); Croatian Social Liberal Party or HSLS [Ivan CEHOK]; Croatian True Revival Party or HIP [Miroslav TUDJMAN]; Democratic Centre or DC [Vesna SKARE-OZBOLT]; Independent Democratic Serb Party or SDSS [Vojislav STANIMIROVIC]; Istrian Democratic Assembly or IDS [Ivan JAKOVCIC]; Liberal Party or LS [Zlatko BENASIC]; Party of Liberal Democrats or Libra [Jozo RADOS] (in 2005 merged with HNS); Social Democratic Party of Croatia or SDP [Ivica RACAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ABEDA, BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Neven JURICA
chancery: 2343 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 588-5899
FAX: [1] (202) 588-8936
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph FRANK
embassy: 2 Thomas Jefferson, 10010 Zagreb
mailing address: use street address
telephone: [385] (1) 661-2200
FAX: [385] (1) 661-2373

Flag description:

red, white, and blue horizontal bands with Croatian coat of arms (red and white checkered)

Economy

Croatia

Economy - overview:

Before the dissolution of Yugoslavia, the Republic of Croatia, after Slovenia, was the most prosperous and industrialized area, with a per capita output perhaps one-third above the Yugoslav average. The economy emerged from a mild recession in 2000 with tourism, banking, and public investments leading the way. Unemployment remains high, at about 14 percent, with structural factors slowing its decline. While macroeconomic stabilization has largely been achieved, structural reforms lag because of deep resistance on the part of the public and lack of strong support from politicians. Growth, while impressively about 4% for the last several years, has been achieved through high fiscal and current account deficits. The government is gradually reducing a heavy back log of civil cases, many involving land tenure. The EU accession process should accelerate fiscal and structural reform.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$50.33 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.7% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $11,200 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 8.2%
industry: 30.1%
services: 61.7% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

1.71 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 2.7%, industry 32.8%, services 64.5% (2004)

Unemployment rate:

13.8% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

11% (2003)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 24.5% (2003 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

29 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.5% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

28.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $14.14 billion
expenditures: $15.65 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

41.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed, barley, alfalfa, clover, olives, citrus, grapes, soybeans, potatoes; livestock, dairy products

Industries:

chemicals and plastics, machine tools, fabricated metal, electronics, pig iron and rolled steel products, aluminum, paper, wood products, construction materials, textiles, shipbuilding, petroleum and petroleum refining, food and beverages; tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

2.7% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

12.51 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 33.6%
hydro: 66%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.4% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

15.2 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

406 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

3.966 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

21,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

89,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

93.6 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

1.76 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

2.84 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

1.08 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

34.36 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$-1.925 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$7.845 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

transport equipment, textiles, chemicals, foodstuffs, fuels

Exports - partners:

Italy 23%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 13.4%, Germany 11.4%, Austria 9.6%, Slovenia 7.6% (2004)

Imports:

$16.7 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, transport and electrical equipment, chemicals, fuels and lubricants, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Italy 17.1%, Germany 15.5%, Russia 7.3%, Slovenia 7.1%, Austria 6.9%, France 4.4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$8.563 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$26.4 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA $166.5 million (2002)

Currency (code):

kuna (HRK)

Currency code:

HRK

Exchange rates:

kuna per US dollar - 6.0358 (2004), 6.7035 (2003), 7.8687 (2002), 8.34 (2001), 8.2766 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Croatia

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.825 million (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.553 million (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: reconstruction plan calls for replacement of all analog circuits with digital and enlarging the network; a backup will be included in the plan for the main trunk
international: country code - 385; digital international service is provided through the main switch in Zagreb; Croatia participates in the Trans-Asia-Europe (TEL) fiber-optic project, which consists of two fiber-optic trunk connections with Slovenia and a fiber-optic trunk line from Rijeka to Split and Dubrovnik; Croatia is also investing in ADRIA 1, a joint fiber-optic project with Germany, Albania, and Greece (2000)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 16, FM 98, shortwave 5 (1999)

Radios:

1.51 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

36 (plus 321 repeaters) (September 1995)

Televisions:

1.22 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.hr

Internet hosts:

29,644 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

9 (2000)

Internet users:

1.014 million (2003)

Transportation

Croatia

Railways:

total: 2,726 km
standard gauge: 2,726 km 1.435-m gauge (984 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 28,344 km
paved: 23,979 km (including 455 km of expressways)
unpaved: 4,365 km (2002)

Waterways:

785 km (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 1,340 km; oil 583 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Omisalj, Ploce, Rijeka, Sibenik, Vukovar (on Danube)

Merchant marine:

total: 73 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 750,579 GRT/1,178,786 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 25, cargo 12, chemical tanker 2, passenger/cargo 25, petroleum tanker 4, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 4
foreign-owned: 1 (Denmark 1)
registered in other countries: 31 (2005)

Airports:

68 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 23
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 9 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 45
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 37 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

Croatia

Military branches:

Ground Forces (Hrvatska Vojska, HKoV), Naval Forces (Hrvatska Ratna Mornarica, HRM), Air and Air Defense Forces (Hrvatsko Ratno Zrakoplovstvo i Protuzrakoplovna Obrana, HRZiPZO)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service, with 6-month service obligation; 16 years of age with consent for voluntary service; Croatian Military Police planning to end conscription in 2005 (December 2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,005,058 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 725,914 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 29,020 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$620 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.39% (2002 est.)

Transnational Issues

Croatia

Disputes - international:

discussions continue with Bosnia and Herzegovina over several small disputed sections of the boundary; the Croatia-Slovenia land and maritime boundary agreement, which would have ceded most of Pirin Bay and maritime access to Slovenia and several villages to Croatia, remains un-ratified and in dispute; as a European Union peripheral state, neighboring Slovenia must conform to the strict Schengen border rules to curb illegal migration and commerce through southeastern Europe while encouraging close cross-border ties with Croatia

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 12,600 (Croats and Serbs displaced in 1992-1995 war) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

transit point along the Balkan route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe; has been used as a transit point for maritime shipments of South American cocaine bound for Western Europe

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Hungary

Introduction

Hungary

Background:

Hungary was part of the polyglot Austro-Hungarian Empire, which collapsed during World War I. The country fell under Communist rule following World War II. In 1956, a revolt and announced withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact were met with a massive military intervention by Moscow. Under the leadership of Janos KADAR in 1968, Hungary began liberalizing its economy, introducing so-called "Goulash Communism." Hungary held its first multiparty elections in 1990 and initiated a free market economy. It joined NATO in 1999 and the EU in 2004.

Geography

Hungary

Location:

Central Europe, northwest of Romania

Geographic coordinates:

47 00 N, 20 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 93,030 sq km
land: 92,340 sq km
water: 690 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Indiana

Land boundaries:

total: 2,171 km
border countries: Austria 366 km, Croatia 329 km, Romania 443 km, Serbia and Montenegro 151 km, Slovakia 677 km, Slovenia 102 km, Ukraine 103 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

temperate; cold, cloudy, humid winters; warm summers

Terrain:

mostly flat to rolling plains; hills and low mountains on the Slovakian border

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Tisza River 78 m
highest point: Kekes 1,014 m

Natural resources:

bauxite, coal, natural gas, fertile soils, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 50.09%
permanent crops: 2.06%
other: 47.85% (2001)

Irrigated land:

2,100 sq km (1998 est.)

Environment - current issues:

the upgrading of Hungary's standards in waste management, energy efficiency, and air, soil, and water pollution to meet EU requirements will require large investments

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulfur 94

Geography - note:

landlocked; strategic location astride main land routes between Western Europe and Balkan Peninsula as well as between Ukraine and Mediterranean basin; the north-south flowing Duna (Danube) and Tisza Rivers divide the country into three large regions

People

Hungary

Population:

10,006,835 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 15.8% (male 813,203/female 769,687)
15-64 years: 69.1% (male 3,405,559/female 3,511,141)
65 years and over: 15.1% (male 547,323/female 959,922) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 38.57 years
male: 36.1 years
female: 41.24 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.26% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

9.76 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

13.19 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.57 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 8.57 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.27 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.4 years
male: 68.18 years
female: 76.89 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.32 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

2,800 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 100 (2001 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Hungarian(s)
adjective: Hungarian

Ethnic groups:

Hungarian 92.3%, Roma 1.9%, other or unknown 5.8% (2001 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 51.9%, Calvinist 15.9%, Lutheran 3%, Greek Catholic 2.6%, other Christian 1%, other or unspecified 11.1%, unaffiliated 14.5% (2001 census)

Languages:

Hungarian 93.6%, other or unspecified 6.4% (2001 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.5%
female: 99.3% (2003 est.)

Government

Hungary

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Hungary
conventional short form: Hungary
local long form: Magyar Koztarsasag
local short form: Magyarorszag

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Budapest

Administrative divisions:

19 counties (megyek, singular - megye), 20 urban counties (singular - megyei varos), and 1 capital city (fovaros)
: counties: Bacs-Kiskun, Baranya, Bekes, Borsod-Abauj-Zemplen, Csongrad, Fejer, Gyor-Moson-Sopron, Hajdu-Bihar, Heves, Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok, Komarom-Esztergom, Nograd, Pest, Somogy, Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg, Tolna, Vas, Veszprem, Zala
: urban counties: Bekescsaba, Debrecen, Dunaujvaros, Eger, Gyor, Hodmezovasarhely, Kaposvar, Kecskemet, Miskolc, Nagykanizsa, Nyiregyhaza, Pecs, Sopron, Szeged, Szekesfehervar, Szolnok, Szombathely, Tatabanya, Veszprem, Zalaegerszeg
: capital city: Budapest

Independence:

1001 (unification by King Stephen I)

National holiday:

Saint Stephen's Day, 20 August

Constitution:

18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949; revised 19 April 1972; 18 October 1989 revision ensured legal rights for individuals and constitutional checks on the authority of the prime minister and also established the principle of parliamentary oversight; 1997 amendment streamlined the judicial system

Legal system:

rule of law based on Western model

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Laszlo SOLYOM (since 5 August 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Ferenc GYURCSANY (since 29 September 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 6-7 June 2005 (next to be held by June 2010); prime minister elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president; election last held 29 September 2004
election results: Laszlo SOLYOM elected president by a simple majority in the third round of voting, 185 to 182; Ferenc GYURCSANY elected prime minister; result of legislative vote - 197 to 12
note: to be elected, the president must win two-thirds of legislative vote in the first two rounds or a simple majority in the third round

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Orszaggyules (386 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a system of proportional and direct representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 7 and 21 April 2002 (next to be held NA April 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party (5% or more of the vote required for parliamentary representation in the first round) - Fidesz/MDF 48.70%, MSzP 46.11%, SzDSz 4.92%, other 0.27%; seats by party - Fidesz 164, MSzP 178, MDF 24, SzDSz 20

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court (judges are elected by the National Assembly for nine-year terms)

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance of Free Democrats or SzDSz [Gabor KUNCZE]; Hungarian Civic Alliance or Fidesz [Viktor ORBAN, chairman]; Hungarian Democratic Forum or MDF [Ibolya DAVID]; Hungarian Democratic People's Party or MDNP [Erzsebet PUSZTAI, chairman]; Hungarian Socialist Party or MSzP [Istvan HILLER, chairman]; Hungarian Workers' Party or MMP [Gyula THURMER, chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

Australia Group, BIS, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA (cooperating state), EU (new member), FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (member affiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Andras SIMONYI
chancery: 3910 Shoemaker Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 362-6730
FAX: [1] (202) 966-8135
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador George Herbert WALKER
embassy: Szabadsag ter 12, H-1054 Budapest
mailing address: pouch: American Embassy Budapest, 5270 Budapest Place, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5270
telephone: [36] (1) 475-4400
FAX: [36] (1) 475-4764

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and green

Economy

Hungary

Economy - overview:

Hungary has made the transition from a centrally planned to a market economy, with a per capita income one-half that of the Big Four European nations. Hungary continues to demonstrate strong economic growth and acceded to the European Union in May 2004. The private sector accounts for over 80% of GDP. Foreign ownership of and investment in Hungarian firms are widespread, with cumulative foreign direct investment totaling more than $23 billion since 1989. Hungarian sovereign debt was upgraded in 2000 and together with the Czech Republic holds the highest rating among the Central European transition economies; however, ratings agencies have expressed concerns over Hungary's unsustainable budget and current account deficits. Inflation has declined from 14% in 1998 to 7% in 2004. Unemployment has persisted around the 6% level, but Hungary's labor force participation rate of 57% is one of the lowest in the OECD. Germany is by far Hungary's largest economic partner. Policy challenges include cutting the public sector deficit to 3% of GDP by 2008, from about 5% in 2004, and orchestrating an orderly interest rate reduction without sparking capital outflows.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$149.3 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $14,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3.3%
industry: 31.4%
services: 65.3% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

4.17 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 6.2%, industry 27.1%, services 66.7% (2002)

Unemployment rate:

5.9% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

8.6% (1993 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 20.5% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

24.4 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

22.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $46.07 billion
expenditures: $51.36 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

58.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, corn, sunflower seed, potatoes, sugar beets; pigs, cattle, poultry, dairy products

Industries:

mining, metallurgy, construction materials, processed foods, textiles, chemicals (especially pharmaceuticals), motor vehicles

Industrial production growth rate:

9.6% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

34.07 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 60.1%
hydro: 0.5%
nuclear: 39%
other: 0.3% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

35.99 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

8.3 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

12.6 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

41,190 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

140,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

47,180 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:

136,600 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

110.7 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

3.231 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

13.37 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

4 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

9.587 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

50.45 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$-7.941 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$54.62 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and equipment 61.1%, other manufactures 28.7%, food products 6.5%, raw materials 2%, fuels and electricity 1.6% (2003)

Exports - partners:

Germany 31.4%, Austria 6.8%, France 5.7%, Italy 5.6%, UK 5.1% (2004)

Imports:

$58.68 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment 51.6%, other manufactures 35.7%, fuels and electricity 7.7%, food products 3.1%, raw materials 2.0% (2003)

Imports - partners:

Germany 29.2%, Austria 8.3%, Russia 5.7%, Italy 5.5%, Netherlands 4.9%, China 4.8%, France 4.7% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$14.8 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$57 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$4.2 billion in available EU structural adjustment and cohesion funds (2004-06)

Currency (code):

forint (HUF)

Currency code:

HUF

Exchange rates:

forints per US dollar - 202.75 (2004), 224.31 (2003), 257.89 (2002), 286.49 (2001), 282.18 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Hungary

Telephones - main lines in use:

3,666,400 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

6,862,800 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: the telephone system has been modernized and is capable of satisfying all requests for telecommunication service
domestic: the system is digitalized and highly automated; trunk services are carried by fiber-optic cable and digital microwave radio relay; a program for fiber-optic subscriber connections was initiated in 1996; heavy use is made of mobile cellular telephones
international: country code - 36; Hungary has fiber-optic cable connections with all neighboring countries; the international switch is in Budapest; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean regions), 1 Inmarsat, 1 very small aperture terminal (VSAT) system of ground terminals

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 17, FM 57, shortwave 3 (1998)

Radios:

7.01 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

35 (plus 161 low-power repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

4.42 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.hu

Internet hosts:

383,071 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

16 (2000)

Internet users:

1.6 million (2002)

Transportation

Hungary

Railways:

total: 7,937 km
broad gauge: 36 km 1.524-m gauge
standard gauge: 7,682 km 1.435-m gauge (2,628 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 219 km 0.760-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 159,568 km
paved: 70,050 km (including 533 km of expressways)
unpaved: 89,518 km (2002)

Waterways:

1,622 km (most on Danube River) (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 4,397 km; oil 990 km; refined products 335 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Budapest, Dunaujvaros, Gyor-Gonyu, Csepel, Baja, Mohacs (2003)

Airports:

44 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 18
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 26
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 9 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

5 (2004 est.)

Military

Hungary

Military branches:

Ground Forces, Air Forces

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in June 2004 (June 2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,303,116 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,780,513 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 63,847 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$1.08 billion (2002 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.75% (2002 est.)

Transnational Issues

Hungary

Disputes - international:

in 2004, Hungary amended the status law extending special social and cultural benefits and voted down a referendum to extend dual citizenship to ethnic Hungarians living in neighboring states, which have objected to such measures; consultations continue between Slovakia and Hungary over Hungary's completion of its portion the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros hydroelectric dam project along the Danube; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Hungary must implement the strict Schengen border rules

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and cannabis and for South American cocaine destined for Western Europe; limited producer of precursor chemicals, particularly for amphetamine and methamphetamine; improving, but remains vulnerable to money laundering related to organized crime and drug trafficking

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Iceland

Introduction

Iceland

Background:

Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish) immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland boasts the world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the Althing, established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland was subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Fallout from the Askja volcano of 1875 devastated the Icelandic economy and caused widespread famine. Over the next quarter century, 20% of the island's population emigrated, mostly to Canada and the US. Limited home rule from Denmark was granted in 1874 and complete independence attained in 1944. Literacy, longevity, income, and social cohesion are first-rate by world standards.

Geography

Iceland

Location:

Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of the UK

Geographic coordinates:

65 00 N, 18 00 W

Map references:

Arctic Region

Area:

total: 103,000 sq km
land: 100,250 sq km
water: 2,750 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Kentucky

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

4,988 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; damp, cool summers

Terrain:

mostly plateau interspersed with mountain peaks, icefields; coast deeply indented by bays and fiords

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,119 m (at Vatnajokull glacier)

Natural resources:

fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite

Land use:

arable land: 0.07%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.93% (2001)

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, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Transboundary Air Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

strategic location between Greenland and Europe; westernmost European country; Reykjavik is the northernmost national capital in the world; more land covered by glaciers than in all of continental Europe

People

Iceland

Population:

296,737 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 22.1% (male 33,302/female 32,257)
15-64 years: 66.2% (male 99,513/female 96,886)
65 years and over: 11.7% (male 15,723/female 19,056) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 34 years
male: 33.53 years
female: 34.49 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.91% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

13.73 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.68 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 3.31 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 3.45 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 80.19 years
male: 78.13 years
female: 82.34 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.92 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

220 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Icelander(s)
adjective: Icelandic

Ethnic groups:

homogeneous mixture of descendants of Norse and Celts 94%, population of foreign origin 6%

Religions:

Lutheran Church of Iceland 85.5%, Reykjavik Free Church 2.1%, Roman Catholic Church 2%, Hafnarfjorour Free Church 1.5%, other Christian 2.7%, other or unspecified 3.8%, unaffiliated 2.4% (2004)

Languages:

Icelandic, English, Nordic languages, German widely spoken

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.9% (1997 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Iceland

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Iceland
conventional short form: Iceland
local long form: Lydhveldidh Island
local short form: Island

Government type:

constitutional republic

Capital:

Reykjavik

Administrative divisions:

8 regions; Austurland, Hofudhborgarsvaedhi, Nordhurland Eystra, Nordhurland Vestra, Sudhurland, Sudhurnes, Vestfirdhir, Vesturland

Independence:

1 December 1918 (became a sovereign state under the Danish Crown); 17 June 1944 (from Denmark)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 17 June (1944)

Constitution:

16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944; amended many times

Legal system:

civil law system based on Danish law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON (since 1 August 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Halldor ASGRIMSSON (since 15 September 2004); note - Former Prime Minister David ODDSSON switched positions with former Foreign Minister Halldor ASGRIMMSON
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by parliament
elections: president, which is largely a ceremonial post, elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 26 June 2004 (next to be held June 2008); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually the prime minister
election results: Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON wins with 85.6% of the vote, Baldur AGUSTSSON 12.5%, Astthor MAGNUSSON 1.9%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Althing (63 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 10 May 2003 (next to be held by May 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - Independence Party 33.7%, Social Democratic Alliance 31.0%, Progressive Party 17.7%, Left-Green Alliance 8.8%, Liberal Party 7.4%; seats by party - Independence Party 22, Social Democratic Alliance 20, Progressive Party 12, Left-Green Alliance 5, Liberal Party 4

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Haestirettur (justices are appointed for life by the Minister of Justice); eight district courts (justices are appointed for life by the Minister of Justice)

Political parties and leaders:

Independence Party or IP [David ODDSSON]; Left-Green Alliance or LGP [Steingrimur SIGFUSSON]; Liberal Party or LP [Gudjon KRISTJANSSON]; Progressive Party or PP [Halldor ASGRIMSSON]; Social Democratic Alliance (includes People's Alliance or PA, Social Democratic Party or SDP, Women's List) or SDA [Ingibjorg Solrun GISLADOTTIR]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Helgi AGUSTSSON
chancery: Suite 1200, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1704
telephone: [1] (202) 265-6653
FAX: [1] (202) 265-6656
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador James I. GADSDEN
embassy: Laufasvegur 21, 101 Reykjavik
mailing address: US Embassy, PSC 1003, Box 40, FPO AE 09728-0340
telephone: [354] 562-9100
FAX: [354] 562-9118

Flag description:

blue with a red cross outlined in white extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Economy

Iceland

Economy - overview:

Iceland's Scandinavian-type economy is basically capitalistic, yet with an extensive welfare system (including generous housing subsidies), low unemployment, and remarkably even distribution of income. In the absence of other natural resources (except for abundant geothermal power), the economy depends heavily on the fishing industry, which provides 70% of export earnings and employs 8% of the work force. The economy remains sensitive to declining fish stocks as well as to fluctuations in world prices for its main exports: fish and fish products, aluminum, and ferrosilicon. Government policies include reducing the budget and current account deficits, limiting foreign borrowing, containing inflation, revising agricultural and fishing policies, diversifying the economy, and privatizing state-owned industries. The government remains opposed to EU membership, primarily because of Icelanders' concern about losing control over their fishing resources. Iceland's economy has been diversifying into manufacturing and service industries in the last decade, and new developments in software production, biotechnology, and financial services are taking place. The tourism sector is also expanding, with the recent trends in ecotourism and whale watching. Growth had been remarkably steady in 1996-2001 at 3%-5%, but could not be sustained in 2002 in an environment of global recession. Growth resumed in 2003, and estimates call for strong growth until 2007, slowly dropping until the end of the decade.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$9.373 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.8% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $31,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 11.2%
industry: 9.6%
services: 79.2% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

158,100 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture, fishing and fish processing 10.3%, industry 18.3%, services 71.4% (2003)

Unemployment rate:

3.1% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

23.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $4.154 billion
expenditures: $4.058 billion, including capital expenditures of $467 million (2004 est.)

Public debt:

35.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

potatoes, green vegetables, mutton, dairy products, fish

Industries:

fish processing; aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon production, geothermal power; tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

8.8% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

8.271 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 0.1%
hydro: 82.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 17.5% (geothermal) (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

7.692 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

16,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:

15,470 bbl/day (2001)

Current account balance:

$-570 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$2.902 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

fish and fish products 70%, aluminum, animal products, ferrosilicon, diatomite

Exports - partners:

UK 19.1%, Germany 17.2%, Netherlands 11.5%, US 9.8%, Spain 6.8%, Denmark 4.6% (2004)

Imports:

$3.307 billion (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, petroleum products; foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners:

Germany 12.3%, US 9.9%, Norway 9.7%, Denmark 7.9%, UK 7.2%, Sweden 6.7%, Netherlands 6% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$935 million (2004)

Debt - external:

$3.073 billion (2002)

Economic aid - donor:

$NA

Currency (code):

Icelandic krona (ISK)

Currency code:

ISK

Exchange rates:

Icelandic kronur per US dollar - 70.192 (2004), 76.709 (2003), 91.662 (2002), 97.425 (2001), 78.616 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Iceland

Telephones - main lines in use:

190,700 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

279,100 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: extensive domestic service
domestic: the trunk network consists of coaxial and fiber-optic cables and microwave radio relay links
international: country code - 354; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Iceland shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 3, FM about 70 (including repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

260,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

14 (plus 156 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

98,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.is

Internet hosts:

122,175 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

20 (2001)

Internet users:

195,000 (2003)

Transportation

Iceland

Highways:

total: 13,004 km
paved/oiled gravel: 4,331 km
unpaved: 8,673 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Grundartangi, Hafnarfjordur, Hornafjordhur, Reykjavik, Seydhisfjordhur

Merchant marine:

total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,341 GRT/6,019 DWT
by type: cargo 2, passenger/cargo 1
registered in other countries: 30 (2005)

Airports:

98 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 93
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 29
under 914 m: 61 (2004 est.)

Military

Iceland

Military branches:

no regular armed forces; Icelandic National Police, Icelandic Coast Guard (Islenska Landhelgisgaeslan)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 69,038 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 56,777 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

0

Military - note:

defense is provided by the US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered at Keflavik

Transnational Issues

Iceland

Disputes - international:

Iceland disputes Denmark's alignment of the Faroe Islands' fisheries median line; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Indonesia

Introduction

Indonesia

Background:

The Dutch began to colonize Indonesia in the early 17th century; the islands were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. Indonesia declared its independence after Japan's surrender, but it required four years of intermittent negotiations, recurring hostilities, and UN mediation before the Netherlands agreed to relinquish its colony. Indonesia is the world's largest archipelagic state. Current issues include: alleviating widespread poverty, preventing terrorism, continuing the transition to popularly-elected governments after four decades of authoritarianism, implementing reforms of the banking sector, addressing charges of cronyism and corruption, and holding the military and police accountable for human rights violations. Indonesia has been dealing with armed separatist movements in Aceh and in Papua.

Geography

Indonesia

Location:

Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean

Geographic coordinates:

5 00 S, 120 00 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 1,919,440 sq km
land: 1,826,440 sq km
water: 93,000 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than three times the size of Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 2,830 km
border countries: East Timor 228 km, Malaysia 1,782 km, Papua New Guinea 820 km

Coastline:

54,716 km

Maritime claims:

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

Terrain:

mostly coastal lowlands; larger islands have interior mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Puncak Jaya 5,030 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, tin, natural gas, nickel, timber, bauxite, copper, fertile soils, coal, gold, silver

Land use:

arable land: 11.32%
permanent crops: 7.23%
other: 81.45% (2001)

Irrigated land:

48,150 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

occasional floods, severe droughts, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes, forest fires

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; water pollution from industrial wastes, sewage; air pollution in urban areas; smoke and haze from forest fires

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

archipelago of 17,508 islands (6,000 inhabited); straddles equator; strategic location astride or along major sea lanes from Indian Ocean to Pacific Ocean

People

Indonesia

Population:

241,973,879 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 29.1% (male 35,823,456/female 34,590,631)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 79,447,560/female 79,449,399)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 5,526,389/female 7,136,444) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 26.48 years
male: 26.03 years
female: 26.93 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.45% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

20.71 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.25 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 35.6 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 40.72 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 30.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 69.57 years
male: 67.13 years
female: 72.13 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.44 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

110,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

2,400 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and chikungunya are high risks in some locations (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Indonesian(s)
adjective: Indonesian

Ethnic groups:

Javanese 45%, Sundanese 14%, Madurese 7.5%, coastal Malays 7.5%, other 26%

Religions:

Muslim 88%, Protestant 5%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 2%, Buddhist 1%, other 1% (1998)

Languages:

Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay), English, Dutch, local dialects, the most widely spoken of which is Javanese

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.9%
male: 92.5%
female: 83.4% (2002 est.)

Government

Indonesia

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

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Jakarta

Administrative divisions:

30 provinces (propinsi-propinsi, singular - propinsi), 2 special regions* (daerah-daerah istimewa, singular - daerah istimewa), and 1 special capital city district** (daerah khusus ibukota); Aceh*, Bali, Banten, Bengkulu, Gorontalo, Irian Jaya Barat, Jakarta Raya**, Jambi, Jawa Barat, Jawa Tengah, Jawa Timur, Kalimantan Barat, Kalimantan Selatan, Kalimantan Tengah, Kalimantan Timur, Kepulauan Bangka Belitung, Kepulauan Riau, Lampung, Maluku, Maluku Utara, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Papua, Riau, Sulawesi Barat, Sulawesi Selatan, Sulawesi Tengah, Sulawesi Tenggara, Sulawesi Utara, Sumatera Barat, Sumatera Selatan, Sumatera Utara, Yogyakarta*; note - with the implementation of decentralization on 1 January 2001, the 357 districts or regencies became the key administrative units responsible for providing most government services

Independence:

17 August 1945 (independence proclaimed); 27 December 1949 (Netherlands recognizes Indonesian independence)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 17 August (1945)

Constitution:

August 1945; abrogated by Federal Constitution of 1949 and Provisional Constitution of 1950, restored 5 July 1959

Legal system:

based on Roman-Dutch law, substantially modified by indigenous concepts and by new criminal procedures and election codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

17 years of age; universal and married persons regardless of age

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO (since 20 October 2004) and Vice President Muhammad Yusuf KALLA (since 20 October 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO (since 20 October 2004) and Vice President Muhammad Yusuf KALLA (since 20 October 2004);
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president were elected for five-year terms by direct vote of the citizenry; last held 20 September 2004 (next to be held in September 2009)
election results: Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO elected president receiving 60.6% of vote; MEGAWATI Sukarnoputri received 39.4%

Legislative branch:

unicameral House of Representatives or Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (DPR) (550 seats; members elected to serve five-year terms); House of Regional Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Daerah or DPD), constitutionally mandated role includes providing legislative input to DPR on issues affecting regions; People's Consultative Assembly (Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat or MPR) has role in inaugurating and impeaching President and in amending constitution; consists of popularly-elected members in DPR and DPD; MPR does not formulate national policy
elections: last held 5 April 2004 (next to be held in April 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - Golkar 21.6%, PDI-P 18.5%, PKB 10.6%, PPP 8.2%, PD 7.5%, PKS 7.3%, PAN 6.4%, others 19.9%; seats by party - Golkar 128, PDI-P 109, PPP 58, PD 55, PAN 53, PKB 52, PKS 45, others 50
note: because of election rules, the number of seats won does not always follow the number of votes received by parties

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Mahkamah Agung (justices appointed by the president from a list of candidates approved by the legislature); a separate Constitutional Court or Makhama Konstitusi was invested by the president on 16 August 2003; in March 2004 the Supreme Court assumed administrative and financial responsibility for the lower court system from the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights

Political parties and leaders:

Crescent Moon and Star Party or PBB [Yusril Ihza MAHENDRA, chairman]; Democratic Party or PD [Subur BUDHISANTOSO, chairman]; Functional Groups Party or Golkar [Yusuf KALLA, chairman]; Indonesia Democratic Party-Struggle or PDI-P [MEGAWATI Sukarnoputri, chairperson]; National Awakening Party or PKB [Alwi SHIHAB, chairman]; National Mandate Party or PAN [Amien RAIS, chairman]; Prosperous Justice Party or PKS [MAHFUD, acting chairman]; United Development Party or PPP [Hamzah HAZ, chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, CP, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador SOEMADI Brotodiningrat
chancery: 2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 775-5200
FAX: [1] (202) 775-5365
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador B. Lynn PASCOE
embassy: Jalan 1 Medan Merdeka Selatan 3-5, Jakarta 10110
mailing address: Unit 8129, Box 1, FPO AP 96520
telephone: [62] (21) 3435-9000
FAX: [62] (21) 385-7189
consulate(s) general: Surabaya

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the flag of Monaco, which is shorter; also similar to the flag of Poland, which is white (top) and red

Economy

Indonesia

Economy - overview:

Indonesia, a vast polyglot nation, has restored financial stability and pursued sober fiscal policies since the Asian financial crisis, but many economic development problems remain, including high unemployment, a fragile banking sector, endemic corruption, inadequate infrastructure, a poor investment climate, and unequal resource distribution among regions. Indonesia became a net oil importer in 2004 due to declining production and lack of new exploration investment. As a result, Jakarta is not reaping the benefits of high world oil prices, and the cost of subsidizing domestic fuel prices has placed an increasing strain on the budget. Keys to future growth remain internal reform, building up the confidence of international and domestic investors, and strong global economic growth. In late December 2004, a major tsunami took nearly 127,000 lives, left more than 93,000 missing and nearly 441,000 displaced, and destroyed $4.5 to $5.0 billion worth of property.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$827.4 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $3,500 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 14.6%
industry: 45%
services: 40.4% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

111.5 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 45%, industry 16%, services 39% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:

9.2% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

27% (1999)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 4%
highest 10%: 26.7% (1999)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

37 (2001)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6.1% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

16.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $52.13 billion
expenditures: $55.88 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

56.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

rice, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, rubber, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, copra, poultry, beef, pork, eggs

Industries:

petroleum and natural gas, textiles, apparel, footwear, mining, cement, chemical fertilizers, plywood, rubber, food, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

10.5% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

110.2 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 86.9%
hydro: 10.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 2.6% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

92.35 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

971,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1.183 million bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:

518,100 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports:

370,500 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - proved reserves:

4.9 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

77.6 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

55.3 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

39.7 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

2.549 trillion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$7.338 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$69.86 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

oil and gas, electrical appliances, plywood, textiles, rubber

Exports - partners:

Japan 22.3%, US 12.3%, Singapore 8.4%, South Korea 6.8%, China 6.4%, Malaysia 4.2% (2004)

Imports:

$45.07 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Singapore 13.1%, Japan 13.1%, China 8.8%, US 7%, Thailand 6%, Australia 4.8%, Saudi Arabia 4.2%, South Korea 4.2% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$35.82 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$141.5 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$43 billion
note: Indonesia finished its IMF program in December 2003 but still receives bilateral aid through the Consultative Group on Indonesia (CGI), which pledged $2.8 billion in grants and loans for 2004 and again in 2005; nearly $4 billion in aid money pledged by a variety of foreign governments and other groups following the 2004 tsunami; money is slated for use in relief and rebuilding efforts in Aceh.

Currency (code):

Indonesian rupiah (IDR)

Currency code:

IDR

Exchange rates:

Indonesian rupiahs per US dollar - 8,938.9 (2004), 8,577.1 (2003), 9,311.2 (2002), 10,260.8 (2001), 8,421.8 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year; note - previously was 1 April - 31 March, but starting with 2001, has been changed to calendar year

Communications

Indonesia

Telephones - main lines in use:

7.75 million (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

11.7 million (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: domestic service fair, international service good
domestic: interisland microwave system and HF radio police net; domestic satellite communications system
international: country code - 62; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 678, FM 43, shortwave 82 (1998)

Radios:

31.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

41 (1999)

Televisions:

13.75 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.id

Internet hosts:

62,036 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

24 (2000)

Internet users:

8 million (2002)

Transportation

Indonesia

Railways:

total: 6,458 km
narrow gauge: 5,961 km 1.067-m gauge (125 km electrified); 497 km 0.750-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 342,700 km
paved: 158,670 km
unpaved: 184,030 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

21,579 km
note: Sumatra 5,471 km, Java and Madura 820 km, Kalimantan 10,460 km, Sulawesi (Celebes) 241 km, Irian Jaya 4,587 km (2004)

Pipelines:

condensate 850 km; condensate/gas 128 km; gas 8,506 km; oil 7,472 km; oil/gas/water 66 km; refined products 1,329 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Banjarmasin, Belawan, Ciwandan, Krueg Geukueh, Palembang, Panjang, Sungai Pakning, Tanjung Perak, Tanjung Priok

Merchant marine:

total: 728 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 3,192,847 GRT/4,319,739 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 35, cargo 409, chemical tanker 19, container 36, liquefied gas 7, livestock carrier 1, passenger 41, passenger/cargo 36, petroleum tanker 125, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 13, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 2
foreign-owned: 19 (France 1, Japan 3, Philippines 1, Singapore 11, Switzerland 1, United Kingdom 2)
registered in other countries: 113 (2005)

Airports:

667 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 154
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 44
914 to 1,523 m: 49
under 914 m: 44 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 513
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 27
under 914 m: 480 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

22 (2004 est.)

Military

Indonesia

Military branches:

Indonesia Armed Forces (TNI): Army (TNI-AD), Navy (TNI-AL, includes Marines, Naval Air arm), Air Force (TNI-AU)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2002)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 60,543,028 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 48,687,234 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 2,201,047 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$1.3 billion (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Indonesia

Disputes - international:

East Timor-Indonesia Boundary Committee continues to meet, survey and delimit land boundary, but several sections of the boundary remain unresolved; Indonesia and East Timor contest the sovereignty of the uninhabited coral island of Palau Batek/Fatu Sinai, which hinders a decision on a northern maritime boundary; a 1997 treaty between Indonesia and Australia settled some parts of their maritime boundary but outstanding issues remain; ICJ's award of Sipadan and Ligitan islands to Malaysia in 2002 left maritime boundary in the hydrocarbon-rich Celebes Sea in dispute, culminating in hostile confrontations in March 2005 over concessions to the Ambalat oil block; the ICJ decision has prompted Indonesia to assert claims to and to establish a presence on its smaller outer islands; Indonesia and Singapore pledged in 2005 to finalize their 1973 maritime boundary agreement by defining unresolved areas north of Batam Island; Indonesian secessionists, squatters, and illegal migrants create repatriation problems for Papua New Guinea; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 535,000 (government offensives against rebels in Aceh; most IDPs in Aceh, Central Kalimantan, Maluku, and Central Sulawesi Provinces); 441,000 (resulting from 26 December 2004 tsunmai) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

illicit producer of cannabis largely for domestic use; possible growing role as transshipment point for Golden Triangle heroin

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Man, Isle of

Introduction

Man, Isle of

Background:

Part of the Norwegian Kingdom of the Hebrides until the 13th century when it was ceded to Scotland, the isle came under the British crown in 1765. Current concerns include reviving the almost extinct Manx Gaelic language.

Geography

Man, Isle of

Location:

Western Europe, island in the Irish Sea, between Great Britain and Ireland

Geographic coordinates:

54 15 N, 4 30 W

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 572 sq km
land: 572 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

160 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm

Climate:

temperate; cool summers and mild winters; overcast about one-third of the time

Terrain:

hills in north and south bisected by central valley

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Irish Sea 0 m
highest point: Snaefell 621 m

Natural resources:

none

Land use:

arable land: 9%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 91% (permanent pastures, forests, mountain, and heathland) (2002)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

waste disposal (both household and industrial); transboundary air pollution

Geography - note:

one small islet, the Calf of Man, lies to the southwest, and is a bird sanctuary

People

Man, Isle of

Population:

75,049 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 17.4% (male 6,681/female 6,365)
15-64 years: 65.5% (male 24,693/female 24,482)
65 years and over: 17.1% (male 5,163/female 7,665) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 39.48 years
male: 38.16 years
female: 40.89 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.52% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

11.18 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

11.26 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

5.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.93 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.93 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.34 years
male: 74.98 years
female: 81.87 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.65 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Manxman (men), Manxwoman (women)
adjective: Manx

Ethnic groups:

Manx (Norse-Celtic descent), Briton

Religions:

Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Society of Friends

Languages:

English, Manx Gaelic

Literacy:

definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Man, Isle of

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Isle of Man

Dependency status:

British crown dependency

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Douglas

Administrative divisions:

none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 24 local authorities each with its own elections

Independence:

none (British crown dependency)

National holiday:

Tynwald Day, 5 July

Constitution:

unwritten; note - The Isle of Man Constitution Act of 1961 does not embody the unwritten Manx Constitution

Legal system:

English common law and Manx statute

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor Ian MACFADYEN (since 26 October 2002)
head of government: Chief Minister Donald GELLING (since 14 December 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed by the monarch for a five-year term; the Chief Minister is elected by the Tynwald; election last held 14 December 2004 (next to be held December 2010)
election results: Donald GELLING elected chief minister by the Tynwald; note - Richard CORKILL resigned 2 December 2004

Legislative branch:

bicameral Tynwald consists of the Legislative Council (an 11-member body composed of the President of Tynwald, the Lord Bishop of Sodor and Man, a nonvoting attorney general, and 8 others named by the House of Keys) and the House of Keys (24 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Keys - last held 22 November 2001 (next to be held November 2006)
election results: House of Keys - percent of vote by party - Man Labor Party 17.3%, Alliance for Progressive Government 14.6%; seats by party - Man Labor Party 2, Alliance for Progressive Government 3, independents 19

Judicial branch:

High Court of Justice (justices are appointed by the Lord Chancellor of England on the nomination of the lieutenant governor)

Political parties and leaders:

Man Labor Party [leader NA]; Alliance for Progressive Government [leader NA]; Man Nationalist Party [leader NA]
note: most members sit as independents

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (British crown dependency)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (British crown dependency)

Flag description:

red with the Three Legs of Man emblem (Trinacria), in the center; the three legs are joined at the thigh and bent at the knee; in order to have the toes pointing clockwise on both sides of the flag, a two-sided emblem is used

Economy

Man, Isle of

Economy - overview:

Offshore banking, manufacturing, and tourism are key sectors of the economy. The government's policy of offering incentives to high-technology companies and financial institutions to locate on the island has paid off in expanding employment opportunities in high-income industries. As a result, agriculture and fishing, once the mainstays of the economy, have declined in their shares of GDP. Trade is mostly with the UK. The Isle of Man enjoys free access to EU markets.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.113 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

NA%

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $28,500 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1%
industry: 13%
services: 86% (2000 est.)

Labor force:

39,690 (2001)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture, forestry and fishing 3%, manufacturing 11%, construction 10%, transport and communication 8%, wholesale and retail distribution 11%, professional and scientific services 18%, public administration 6%, banking and finance 18%, tourism 2%, entertainment and catering 3%, miscellaneous services 10%

Unemployment rate:

0.6% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.6% (March 2003 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $485 million
expenditures: $463 million, including capital expenditures of NA (FY00/01 est.)

Agriculture - products:

cereals, vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry

Industries:

financial services, light manufacturing, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

3.2% (FY96/97)

Exports:

$NA

Exports - commodities:

tweeds, herring, processed shellfish, beef, lamb

Exports - partners:

UK (2000)

Imports:

$NA

Imports - commodities:

timber, fertilizers, fish

Imports - partners:

UK (2000)

Debt - external:

$NA

Economic aid - recipient:

NA

Currency (code):

British pound (GBP); note - there is also a Manx pound

Currency code:

GBP

Exchange rates:

Manx pounds per US dollar - 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002), 0.6947 (2001), 0.6609 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

Man, Isle of

Telephones - main lines in use:

51,000 (1999)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

NA

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: landline, telefax, mobile cellular telephone system
international: fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, satellite earth station, submarine cable

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

NA

Television broadcast stations:

0 (receives broadcasts from the UK and satellite) (1999)

Televisions:

27,490 (1999)

Internet country code:

.im

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

NA

Internet users:

NA

Transportation

Man, Isle of

Railways:

total: 61 km (35 km electrified) (2003)

Highways:

total: 800 km
paved: 800 km
unpaved: 0 km (1999)

Ports and harbors:

Castletown, Douglas, Ramsey

Merchant marine:

total: 267 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,834,626 GRT/11,354,689 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 31, cargo 54, chemical tanker 45, combination ore/oil 1, container 15, liquefied gas 46, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 53, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 10, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 5
foreign-owned: 253 (Australia 1, Bahamas 8, Denmark 39, France 2, Germany 55, Greece 20, Hong Kong 3, Italy 7, Japan 4, Netherlands 2, New Zealand 1, Norway 18, Singapore 2, Sweden 1, Turkey 2, United Kingdom 86, United States 2)
registered in other countries: 9 (2005)

Airports:

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Man, Isle of

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues

Man, Isle of

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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India

Introduction

India

Background:

The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world, dates back at least 5,000 years. Aryan tribes from the northwest invaded about 1500 B.C.; their merger with the earlier Dravidian inhabitants created the classical Indian culture. Arab incursions starting in the 8th century and Turkish in the 12th were followed by those of European traders, beginning in the late 15th century. By the 19th century, Britain had assumed political control of virtually all Indian lands. Indian armed forces in the British army played a vital role in both World Wars. Nonviolent resistance to British colonialism led by Mohandas GANDHI and Jawaharlal NEHRU brought independence in 1947. The subcontinent was divided into the secular state of India and the smaller Muslim state of Pakistan. A third war between the two countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. Despite impressive gains in economic investment and output, India faces pressing problems such as the ongoing dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir, massive overpopulation, environmental degradation, extensive poverty, and ethnic and religious strife.

Geography

India

Location:

Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan

Geographic coordinates:

20 00 N, 77 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 3,287,590 sq km
land: 2,973,190 sq km
water: 314,400 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than one-third the size of the US

Land boundaries:

total: 14,103 km
border countries: Bangladesh 4,053 km, Bhutan 605 km, Burma 1,463 km, China 3,380 km, Nepal 1,690 km, Pakistan 2,912 km

Coastline:

7,000 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north

Terrain:

upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Kanchenjunga 8,598 m

Natural resources:

coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world), iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds, petroleum, limestone, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 54.4%
permanent crops: 2.74%
other: 42.86% (2001)

Irrigated land:

590,000 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

droughts; flash floods, as well as widespread and destructive flooding from monsoonal rains; severe thunderstorms; earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; desertification; air pollution from industrial effluents and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage and runoff of agricultural pesticides; tap water is not potable throughout the country; huge and growing population is overstraining natural resources

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important Indian Ocean trade routes

People

India

Population:

1,080,264,388 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 31.2% (male 173,634,432/female 163,932,475)
15-64 years: 63.9% (male 356,932,082/female 333,283,590)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 26,542,025/female 25,939,784) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 24.66 years
male: 24.64 years
female: 24.67 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.4% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

22.32 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

8.28 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 56.29 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 56.86 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 55.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 64.35 years
male: 63.57 years
female: 65.16 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.78 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.9% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

5.1 million (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

310,000 (2001 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and Japanese encephalitis are high risks in some locations
animal contact disease: rabies (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Indian(s)
adjective: Indian

Ethnic groups:

Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and other 3% (2000)

Religions:

Hindu 80.5%, Muslim 13.4%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)

Languages:

English enjoys associate status but is the most important language for national, political, and commercial communication; Hindi is the national language and primary tongue of 30% of the people; there are 14 other official languages: Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Sanskrit; Hindustani is a popular variant of Hindi/Urdu spoken widely throughout northern India but is not an official language

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 59.5%
male: 70.2%
female: 48.3% (2003 est.)

Government

India

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of India
conventional short form: India

Government type:

federal republic

Capital:

New Delhi

Administrative divisions:

28 states and 7 union territories*; Andaman and Nicobar Islands*, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh*, Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli*, Daman and Diu*, Delhi*, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep*, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Pondicherry*, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal

Independence:

15 August 1947 (from UK)

National holiday:

Republic Day, 26 January (1950)

Constitution:

26 January 1950; amended many times

Legal system:

based on English common law; limited judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations; separate personal law codes apply to Muslims, Christians, and Hindus

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President A.P.J. Abdul KALAM (since 26 July 2002); Vice President Bhairon Singh SHEKHAWAT (since 19 August 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Manmohan SINGH (since NA May 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by an electoral college consisting of elected members of both houses of Parliament and the legislatures of the states for a five-year term; election last held July 2002 (next to be held 18 July 2007); vice president elected by both houses of Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 12 August 2002 (next to be held August 2007); prime minister chosen by parliamentary members of the majority party following legislative elections; election last held April - May 2004 (next to be held May 2009)
election results: Abdul KALAM elected president; percent of electoral college vote - 89.6%; Bhairon Singh SHEKHAWAT elected vice president; percent of Parliament vote - 59.8%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament or Sansad consists of the Council of States or Rajya Sabha (a body consisting of not more than 250 members, up to 12 of whom are appointed by the president, the remainder are chosen by the elected members of the state and territorial assemblies; members serve six-year terms) and the People's Assembly or Lok Sabha (545 seats; 543 elected by popular vote, 2 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)
elections: People's Assembly - last held 20 April through 10 May 2004 (next to be held 2009)
election results: People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - INC 145, BJP 138, CPI(M) 43, SP 36, RJD 24, BSP 19, DMK 16, SS 12, BJD 11, CPI 10, NCP 9, JDU 8, SAD 8, PMK 6, TDP 5, TRS 5, JMM 5, LJSP 4, MDMK 4, independents 5, other 30

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president and remain in office until they reach the age of 65)

Political parties and leaders:

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or AIADMK [C. Jayalalitha JAYARAM]; All India Forward Bloc or AIFB, [Debabrata BISWAS]; Asom Gana Parishad [Brindaban GOSWAMI]; Bahujan Samaj Party or BSP [MAYAWATI]; Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP [Lal Krishna ADVANI]; Biju Janata Dal or BJD [Naveen PATNAIK]; Communist Party of India or CPI [Ardhendu Bhushan BARDHAN]; Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI (M) Hakishan Singh SURJEET]; Congress (I) Party [Sonia GANDHI]; Dravida Munnetra Kazagham or DMK (a regional party in Tamil Nadu) [M. KARUNANIDHI]; Indian National Congress or INC [Sonia GANDHI]; Indian National League [Suliaman SAITH]; Janata Dal (Secular) [H. D. Deve GOWDA]; Janata Dal (United) or JDU [Sharad YADAV]; Jharkhand Mukti Morcha or JMM [leader NA]; Kerala Congress (Mani faction) [K. M. MANI]; Lok Jan Shakti Party or LJSP [leader NA]; Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or MDMK [VAIKO]; Muslim League [G. M. BANATWALA]; Nationalist Congress Party or NCP [Sharad PAWAR]; Pattali Makkal Katchi or PMK [leader NA]; Rashtriya Janata Dal or RJD [Laloo Prasad YADAV]; Revolutionary Socialist Party or RSP [Abani ROY]; Samajwadi Party or SP [Mulayam Singh YADAV]; Shiromani Akali Dal or SAD [G. S. TOHRA]; Shiv Sena or SS [Bal THACKERAY]; Tamil Maanila Congress [G. K. VASAN]; Telangana Rashtra Samithi or TRS [leader NA]; Telugu Desam Party or TDP [Chandrababu NAIDU]; Trinamool Congress [Mamata BANERJEE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

numerous religious or militant/chauvinistic organizations, including Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh; various separatist groups seeking greater communal and/or regional autonomy, including the All Parties Hurriyat Conference in the Kashmir Valley and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland in the Northeast

International organization participation:

AfDB, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS, C, CERN (observer), CP, FAO, G- 6, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), ONUB, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ranendra SEN
chancery: 2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; note - Consular Wing located at 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-7000
FAX: [1] (202) 265-4351
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador David C. MULFORD
embassy: Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [91] (11) 2419-8000
FAX: [91] (11) 2419-0017
consulate(s) general: Chennai (Madras), Kolkata (Calcutta), Mumbai (Bombay)

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of saffron (subdued orange) (top), white, and green with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Niger, which has a small orange disk centered in the white band

Economy

India

Economy - overview:

India's diverse economy encompasses traditional village farming, modern agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries, and a multitude of services. Services are the major source of economic growth, though two-thirds of the workforce is in agriculture. The UPA government has committed to furthering economic reforms and developing basic infrastructure to improve the lives of the rural poor and boost economic performance. Government controls on foreign trade and investment have been reduced in some areas, but high tariffs (averaging 20% in 2004) and limits on foreign direct investment are still in place. The government has indicated it will do more to liberalize investment in civil aviation, telecom, and insurance sectors in the near term. Privatization of government-owned industries has proceeded slowly, and continues to generate political debate; continued social, political, and economic rigidities hold back needed initiatives. The economy has posted an excellent average growth rate of 6.8% since 1994, reducing poverty by about 10 percentage points. India is capitalizing on its large numbers of well-educated people skilled in the English language to become a major exporter of software services and software workers. Despite strong growth, the World Bank and others worry about the combined state and federal budget deficit, running at approximately 9% of GDP. The huge and growing population is the fundamental social, economic, and environmental problem. In late December 2004, a major tsunami took nearly 11,000 lives, left almost 6,000 missing, destroyed $1.2 billion worth of property, and severely damaged the fishing fleet.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$3.319 trillion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.2% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $3,100 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 23.6%
industry: 28.4%
services: 48% (2002 est.)

Labor force:

482.2 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 60%, industry 17%, services 23% (1999)

Unemployment rate:

9.2% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

25% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.5%
highest 10%: 33.5% (1997)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

37.8 (1997)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.2% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

23.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $67.3 billion
expenditures: $104 billion, including capital expenditures of $13.5 billion (2004 est.)

Public debt:

59.7% of GDP (federal debt only; state debt not included) (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, potatoes; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats, poultry; fish

Industries:

textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, software

Industrial production growth rate:

7.4% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

547.2 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 81.7%
hydro: 14.5%
nuclear: 3.4%
other: 0.3% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

510.1 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

350 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

1.54 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

780,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

2.13 million bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

5.7 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

22.75 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

22.75 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

542.4 billion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$4.897 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$69.18 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

textile goods, gems and jewelry, engineering goods, chemicals, leather manufactures

Exports - partners:

US 17%, UAE 8.8%, China 5.5%, Hong Kong 4.7%, UK 4.5%, Singapore 4.5% (2004)

Imports:

$89.33 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

crude oil, machinery, gems, fertilizer, chemicals

Imports - partners:

China 6.1%, US 6%, Switzerland 5.2%, Belgium 4.4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$126 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$117.2 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$2.9 billion (FY98/99)

Currency (code):

Indian rupee (INR)

Currency code:

INR

Exchange rates:

Indian rupees per US dollar - 45.317 (2004), 46.583 (2003), 48.61 (2002), 47.186 (2001), 44.942 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

India

Telephones - main lines in use:

48.917 million (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

26,154,400 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: recent deregulation and liberalization of telecommunications laws and policies have prompted rapid change; local and long distance service provided throughout all regions of the country, with services primarily concentrated in the urban areas; steady improvement is taking place with the recent admission of private and private-public investors, but telephone density remains low at about seven for each 100 persons nationwide but only one per 100 persons in rural areas and a national waiting list of over 1.7 million; fastest growth is in cellular service with modest growth in fixed lines
domestic: expansion of domestic service, although still weak in rural areas, resulted from increased competition and dramatic reductions in price led in large part by wireless service; mobile cellular service (both CDMA and GSM) introduced in 1994 and organized nationwide into four metropolitan cities and 19 telecom circles each with about three private service providers and one state-owned service provider; in recent years significant trunk capacity added in the form of fiber-optic cable and one of the world's largest domestic satellite systems, the Indian National Satellite system (INSAT), with five satellites supporting 33,000 very small aperture terminals (VSAT)
international: country code - 91; satellite earth stations - 8 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region); nine gateway exchanges operating from Mumbai (Bombay), New Delhi, Kolkata (Calcutta), Chennai (Madras), Jalandhar, Kanpur, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, and Ernakulam; 5 submarine cables, including Sea-Me-We-3 with landing sites at Cochin and Mumbai (Bombay), Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) with landing site at Mumbai (Bombay), South Africa - Far East (SAFE) with landing site at Cochin, i2icn linking to Singapore with landing sites at Mumbai (Bombay) and Chennai (Madras), and Tata Indicom linking Singapore and Chennai (Madras), provide a significant increase in the bandwidth available for both voice and data traffic (2004)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 153, FM 91, shortwave 68 (1998)

Radios:

116 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

562 (of which 82 stations have 1 kW or greater power and 480 stations have less than 1 kW of power) (1997)

Televisions:

63 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.in

Internet hosts:

86,871 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

43 (2000)

Internet users:

18.481 million (2003)

Transportation

India

Railways:

total: 63,230 km (16,693 km electrified)
broad gauge: 45,718 km 1.676-m gauge
narrow gauge: 14,406 km 1.000-m gauge; 3,106 km 0.762-m gauge and 0.610-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 2,525,989 km
paved: 1,448,655 km
unpaved: 1,077,334 km (1999)

Waterways:

14,500 km
note: 5,200 km on major rivers and 485 km on canals suitable for mechanized vessels (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 6,171 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,195 km; oil 5,613 km; refined products 5,567 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Chennai, Haldia, Jawaharal Nehru, Kandla, Kolkata (Calcutta), Mumbai (Bombay), New Mangalore, Vishakhapatnam

Merchant marine:

total: 299 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,555,507 GRT/11,069,791 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 85, cargo 75, chemical tanker 13, combination ore/oil 1, container 7, liquefied gas 14, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 91, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 10 (Australia 1, China 1, Greece 1, UAE 6, United Kingdom 1)
registered in other countries: 30 (2005)

Airports:

333 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 234
over 3,047 m: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 47
1,524 to 2,437 m: 78
914 to 1,523 m: 74
under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 99
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 42
under 914 m: 45 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

20 (2004 est.)

Military

India

Military branches:

Army, Navy (includes naval air arm), Air Force, Coast Guard, various security or paramilitary forces (includes Border Security Force, Assam Rifles, National Security Guards, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Special Frontier Force, Central Reserve Police Force, Central Industrial Security Force, Railway Protection Force, and Defense Security Corps)

Military service age and obligation:

16 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 287,551,111 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 219,471,999 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 11,446,452 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$18.86 billion (2005)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.93% (2005/06)

Transnational Issues

India

Disputes - international:

China and India launched a security and foreign policy dialogue in 2005, consolidating discussions related to the dispute over most of their rugged, militarized boundary, regional nuclear proliferation, Indian claims that China transferred missiles to Pakistan, and other matters; recent talks and confidence-building measures have begun to defuse tensions over Kashmir, site of the world's largest and most militarized territorial dispute with portions under the de facto administration of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu and Kashmir), and Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas); in 2004, India and Pakistan instituted a cease fire in the Kashmir and in 2005, restored bus service across the highly militarized Line of Control; Pakistan has taken its dispute on the impact and benefits of India's building the Baglihar dam on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir to the World Bank for arbitration; UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) has maintained a small group of peacekeepers since 1949; India does not recognize Pakistan's ceding historic Kashmir lands to China in 1964; disputes persist with Pakistan over Indus River water sharing; to defuse tensions and prepare for discussions on a maritime boundary, in 2004, India and Pakistan resurveyed a portion of the disputed boundary in Sir Creek estuary at the mouth of the Rann of Kutch; Pakistani maps continue to show Junagadh claim in Indian Gujarat State; discussions with Bangladesh remain stalled to delimit a small section of river boundary, to exchange 162 miniscule enclaves in both countries, to allocate divided villages, and to stop illegal cross-border trade, migration, violence, and transit of terrorists through the porous border; Bangladesh protests India's attempts to fence off high-traffic sections; dispute with Bangladesh over New Moore/South Talpatty/Purbasha Island in the Bay of Bengal deters maritime boundary delimitation; India seeks cooperation from Bhutan and Burma to keep Indian Nagaland and Assam separatists from hiding in remote areas along the borders; Joint Border Committee with Nepal continues to demarcate minor disputed boundary sections; India has instituted a stricter border regime to keep out Maoist insurgents and control illegal cross-border activities from Nepal

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 92,394 (Tibet/China) 60,922 (Sri Lanka)
IDPs: 650,000 (Jammu and Kashmir conflicts; most IDPs are Kashmiri Hindus); 113,000 (resulting from 26 December 2004 tsunami) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

world's largest producer of licit opium for the pharmaceutical trade, but an undetermined quantity of opium is diverted to illicit international drug markets; transit point for illicit narcotics produced in neighboring countries; illicit producer of methaqualone; vulnerable to narcotics money laundering through the hawala system

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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British Indian Ocean Territory

Introduction

British Indian Ocean Territory

Background:

Established as a territory of the UK in 1965, a number of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) islands were transferred to the Seychelles when it attained independence in 1976. Subsequently, BIOT has consisted only of the six main island groups comprising the Chagos Archipelago. The largest and most southerly of the islands, Diego Garcia, contains a joint UK-US naval support facility. All of the remaining islands are uninhabited. Former agricultural workers, earlier residents in the islands, were relocated primarily to Mauritius but also to the Seychelles, between 1967 and 1973. In 2000, a British High Court ruling invalidated the local immigration order that had excluded them from the archipelago, but upheld the special military status of Diego Garcia.

Geography

British Indian Ocean Territory

Location:

archipelago in the Indian Ocean, south of India, about one-half the way from Africa to Indonesia

Geographic coordinates:

6 00 S, 71 30 E

Map references:

Political Map of the World

Area:

total: 60 sq km
land: 60 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago

Area - comparative:

about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

698 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical marine; hot, humid, moderated by trade winds

Terrain:

flat and low (most areas do not exceed four meters in elevation)

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m

Natural resources:

coconuts, fish, sugarcane

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

archipelago of 2,300 islands; Diego Garcia, largest and southernmost island, occupies strategic location in central Indian Ocean; island is site of joint US-UK military facility

People

British Indian Ocean Territory

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants
note: approximately 1,200 former agricultural workers resident in the Chagos Archipelago, often referred to as Chagossians or Ilois, were relocated to Mauritius and the Seychelles in the 1960s and 1970s, in November 2000 they were granted the right of return by a British High Court ruling, though no timetable has been set; in 2001, there were approximately 1,500 UK and US military personnel and 2,000 civilian contractors living on the island of Diego Garcia (July 2005 est.)

Government

British Indian Ocean Territory

Country name:

conventional long form: British Indian Ocean Territory
conventional short form: none
abbreviation: BIOT

Dependency status:

overseas territory of the UK; administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London

Legal system:

the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Commissioner Tony CROMBIE (since January 2004); Administrator Tony HUMPHRIES (since February 2005); note - both reside 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 upper hoist-side quadrant; the striped section bears a palm tree and yellow crown centered on the outer half of the flag

Economy

British Indian Ocean Territory

Economy - overview:

All economic activity is concentrated on the largest island of Diego Garcia, where joint UK-US defense facilities are located. Construction projects and various services needed to support the military installations are done by military and contract employees from the UK, Mauritius, the Philippines, and the US. There are no industrial or agricultural activities on the islands. When the Ilois return, they plan to reestablish sugarcane production and fishing.

Electricity - production:

NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by the US military

Electricity - consumption:

NA kWh

Communications

British Indian Ocean Territory

Telephones - main lines in use:

NA

Telephone system:

general assessment: separate facilities for military and public needs are available
domestic: all commercial telephone services are available, including connection to the Internet
international: international telephone service is carried by satellite (2000)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

NA

Television broadcast stations:

1 (1997)

Televisions:

NA

Internet country code:

.io

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Transportation

British Indian Ocean Territory

Highways:

total: NA km
paved: short section of paved road between port and airfield on Diego Garcia
unpaved: NA km

Ports and harbors:

Diego Garcia

Airports:

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

British Indian Ocean Territory

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK; the US lease on Diego Garcia expires in 2016

Transnational Issues

British Indian Ocean Territory

Disputes - international:

Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago and its former inhabitants, who reside chiefly in Mauritius, but in 2001 were granted UK citizenship and the right to repatriation since eviction in 1965; the UK resists the Chagossians' demand for an immediate return to the islands; repatriation is complicated by the exclusive US military lease of Diego Garcia that restricts access to the largest island in the chain

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Clipperton Island

Introduction

Clipperton Island

Background:

This isolated island was named for John CLIPPERTON, a pirate who made it his hideout early in the 18th century. Annexed by France in 1855, it was seized by Mexico in 1897. Arbitration eventually awarded the island to France, which took possession in 1935.

Geography

Clipperton Island

Location:

Middle America, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, 1,120 km southwest of Mexico

Geographic coordinates:

10 17 N, 109 13 W

Map references:

Political Map of the World

Area:

total: 6 sq km
land: 6 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

11.1 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; humid, average temperature 20-32 degrees C, rains May-October

Terrain:

coral atoll

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Rocher Clipperton 29 m

Natural resources:

fish

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (all coral) (2001)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

reef 12 km in circumference

People

Clipperton Island

Population:

uninhabited (July 2005 est.)

Government

Clipperton Island

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

Dependency status:

possession of France; administered by France from French Polynesia by a high commissioner of the Republic

Legal system:

the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Flag description:

the flag of France is used

Economy

Clipperton Island

Economy - overview:

Although 115 species of fish have been identified in the territorial waters of Clipperton Island, the only economic activity is tuna fishing.

Transportation

Clipperton Island

Ports and harbors:

none; offshore anchorage only

Military

Clipperton Island

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

Clipperton Island

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Iran

Introduction

Iran

Background:

Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling monarchy was overthrown and the shah was forced into exile. Conservative clerical forces established a theocratic system of government with ultimate political authority nominally vested in a learned religious scholar. Iranian-US relations have been strained since a group of Iranian students seized the US Embassy in Tehran on 4 November 1979 and held it until 20 January 1981. During 1980-88, Iran fought a bloody, indecisive war with Iraq that eventually expanded into the Persian Gulf and led to clashes between US Navy and Iranian military forces between 1987-1988. Iran has been designated a state sponsor of terrorism for its activities in Lebanon and elsewhere in the world and remains subject to US economic sanctions and export controls because of its continued involvement. Following the elections of a reformist president and Majlis in the late 1990s, attempts to foster political reform in response to popular dissatisfaction have floundered as conservative politicians have prevented reform measures from being enacted, increased repressive measures, and consolidated their control over the government.

Geography

Iran

Location:

Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan

Geographic coordinates:

32 00 N, 53 00 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 1.648 million sq km
land: 1.636 million sq km
water: 12,000 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Alaska

Land boundaries:

total: 5,440 km
border countries: Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km, Azerbaijan-proper 432 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 179 km, Iraq 1,458 km, Pakistan 909 km, Turkey 499 km, Turkmenistan 992 km

Coastline:

2,440 km; note - Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 km)

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: bilateral agreements or median lines in the Persian Gulf
continental shelf: natural prolongation

Climate:

mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast

Terrain:

rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Kuh-e Damavand 5,671 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur

Land use:

arable land: 8.72%
permanent crops: 1.39%
other: 89.89% (2001)

Irrigated land:

75,620 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf; wetland losses from drought; soil degradation (salination); inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution from raw sewage and industrial waste; urbanization

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

strategic location on the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, which are vital maritime pathways for crude oil transport

People

Iran

Population:

68,017,860 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 27.1% (male 9,465,475/female 8,973,828)
15-64 years: 68% (male 23,556,970/female 22,701,065)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 1,637,512/female 1,683,010) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 24.23 years
male: 24.03 years
female: 24.44 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.86% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

16.83 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

5.55 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-2.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 41.58 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 41.75 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 41.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 69.96 years
male: 68.58 years
female: 71.4 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.82 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

31,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

800 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Iranian(s)
adjective: Iranian

Ethnic groups:

Persian 51%, Azeri 24%, Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%, Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%, other 1%

Religions:

Shi'a Muslim 89%, Sunni Muslim 9%, Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i 2%

Languages:

Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.4%
male: 85.6%
female: 73% (2003 est.)

Government

Iran

Country name:

conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Iran
conventional short form: Iran
local long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran
local short form: Iran
former: Persia

Government type:

theocratic republic

Capital:

Tehran

Administrative divisions:

30 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khorasan-e Janubi, Khorasan-e Razavi, Khorasan-e Shemali, Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh va Buyer Ahmad, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan

Independence:

1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)

National holiday:

Republic Day, 1 April (1979)
note: additional holidays celebrated widely in Iran include Revolution Day, 11 February (1979); Noruz (New Year's Day), 21 March; Constitutional Monarchy Day, 5 August (1925)

Constitution:

2-3 December 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers of the presidency and eliminate the prime ministership

Legal system:

the Constitution codifies Islamic principles of government

Suffrage:

15 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June 1989)
head of government: President Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD (since 3 August 2005) First Vice President Dr. Mohammad Reza AREF-Yazdi (since 26 August 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president with legislative approval; the Supreme Leader has some control over appointments to the more sensitive ministries
elections: leader of the Islamic Revolution appointed for life by the Assembly of Experts; president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 17 June 2005 with a two-candidate runoff on 24 June 2005 (next to be held NA 2009)
election results: Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD elected president; percent of vote - Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD 62%, Ali Akbar Hashemi RAFSANJANI 36%; note - 2% of ballots spoiled

Legislative branch:

unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly or Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami (290 seats, note - changed from 270 seats with the 18 February 2000 election; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 20 February 2004 with a runoff held 7 May 2004 (next to be held February 2008)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats by party - conservatives/Islamists 190, reformers 50, independents 43, religious minorities 5, and 2 seats unaccounted for

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court - above a special clerical court, a revolutionary court, and a special administrative court

Political parties and leaders:

formal political parties are a relatively new phenomenon in Iran and most conservatives still prefer to work through political pressure groups rather than parties; a loose pro-reform coalition called the 2nd Khordad front, which includes political parties as well as less formal pressure groups and organizations, achieved considerable success at elections to the sixth Majles in early 2000; groups in the coalition include: Islamic Iran Participation Front (IIPF); Executives of Construction Party (Kargozaran); Solidarity Party; Islamic Labor Party; Mardom Salari; Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization (MIRO); and Militant Clerics Society (Ruhaniyun); the coalition participated in the seventh Majles elections in early 2004; a new apparently conservative group, the Builders of Islamic Iran, took a leading position in the new Majles after winning a majority of the seats in February 2004

Political pressure groups and leaders:

political pressure groups conduct most of Iran's political activities; groups that generally support the Islamic Republic include Ansar-e Hizballah, Muslim Students Following the Line of the Imam, Tehran Militant Clergy Association (Ruhaniyat), Islamic Coalition Party (Motalefeh), and Islamic Engineers Society; active pro-reform student groups include the Organization for Strengthening Unity; opposition groups include Freedom Movement of Iran, the National Front, Marz-e Por Gohar, and various ethnic and Monarchist organizations; armed political groups that have been almost completely repressed by the government include Mujahidin-e Khalq Organization (MEK), People's Fedayeen, Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, and Komala

International organization participation:

CP, ECO, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none; note - Iran has an Interests Section in the Pakistani Embassy; address: Iranian Interests Section, Pakistani Embassy, 2209 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007; telephone: [1] (202) 965-4990; FAX [1] (202) 965-1073

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none; note - protecting power in Iran is Switzerland

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red; the national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah in the shape of a tulip, a symbol of martyrdom) in red is centered in the white band; ALLAH AKBAR (God is Great) in white Arabic script is repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and 11 times along the top edge of the red band

Economy

Iran

Economy - overview:

Iran's economy is marked by a bloated, inefficient state sector, over reliance on the oil sector, and statist policies that create major distortions throughout. Most economic activity is controlled by the state. Private sector activity is typically small-scale - workshops, farming, and services. President KHATAMI has continued to follow the market reform plans of former President RAFSANJANI, with limited progress. Relatively high oil prices in recent years have enabled Iran to amass some $30 billion in foreign exchange reserves, but have not eased economic hardships such as high unemployment and inflation. The proportion of the economy devoted to the development of weapons of mass destruction remains a contentious issue with leading Western nations.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$516.7 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.3% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $7,700 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 11.2%
industry: 40.9%
services: 48.7% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

23 million
note: shortage of skilled labor (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 30%, industry 25%, services 45% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate:

11.2% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

40% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

15.5% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

31.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $43.34 billion
expenditures: $47.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $7.6 billion (2004 est.)

Public debt:

27% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, rice, other grains, sugar beets, fruits, nuts, cotton; dairy products, wool; caviar

Industries:

petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), metal fabrication, armaments

Industrial production growth rate:

3.5% excluding oil (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

129 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 97.1%
hydro: 2.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

119.9 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

3.962 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1.4 million bbl/day (2002 est.)

Oil - exports:

2.5 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

130.8 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

79 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

72.4 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

3.4 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

4.92 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

26.7 trillion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$2.1 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$38.79 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, fruits and nuts, carpets

Exports - partners:

Japan 18.4%, China 9.7%, Italy 6%, South Africa 5.8%, South Korea 5.4%, Taiwan 4.6%, Turkey 4.4%, Netherlands 4% (2004)

Imports:

$31.3 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

industrial raw materials and intermediate goods, capital goods, foodstuffs and other consumer goods, technical services, military supplies

Imports - partners:

Germany 12.8%, France 8.3%, Italy 7.7%, China 7.2%, UAE 7.2%, South Korea 6.1%, Russia 5.4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$29.87 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$13.4 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$408 million (2002 est.)

Currency (code):

Iranian rial (IRR)

Currency code:

IRR

Exchange rates:

rials per US dollar - 8,614 (2004), 8,193.9 (2003), 6,907 (2002), 1,753.6 (2001), 1,764.4 (2000)
note: Iran has been using a managed floating exchange rate regime since unifying multiple exchange rates in March 2002

Fiscal year:

21 March - 20 March

Communications

Iran

Telephones - main lines in use:

14,571,100 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

3,376,500 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: inadequate but currently being modernized and expanded with the goal of not only improving the efficiency and increasing the volume of the urban service but also bringing telephone service to several thousand villages, not presently connected
domestic: as a result of heavy investing in the telephone system since 1994, the number of long-distance channels in the microwave radio relay trunk has grown substantially; many villages have been brought into the net; the number of main lines in the urban systems has approximately doubled; and thousands of mobile cellular subscribers are being served; moreover, the technical level of the system has been raised by the installation of thousands of digital switches
international: country code - 98; HF radio and microwave radio relay to Turkey, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Syria, Kuwait, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; submarine fiber-optic cable to UAE with access to Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line runs from Azerbaijan through the northern portion of Iran to Turkmenistan with expansion to Georgia and Azerbaijan; satellite earth stations - 9 Intelsat and 4 Inmarsat

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 72, FM 5, shortwave 5 (1998)

Radios:

17 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

28 (plus 450 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

4.61 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.ir

Internet hosts:

5,269 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

100 (2002)

Internet users:

4.3 million (2003)

Transportation

Iran

Railways:

total: 7,203 km
broad gauge: 94 km 1.676-m gauge
standard gauge: 7,109 km 1.435-m gauge (189 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 167,157 km
paved: 94,109 km (including 890 km of expressways)
unpaved: 73,048 km (1998)

Waterways:

850 km (on Karun River and Lake Urmia) (2004)

Pipelines:

condensate/gas 212 km; gas 16,998 km; liquid petroleum gas 570 km; oil 8,256 km; refined products 7,808 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Assaluyeh, Bushehr

Merchant marine:

total: 144 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,715,242 GRT/8,240,069 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 38, cargo 49, chemical tanker 4, container 14, liquefied gas 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 30, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 1 (UAE 1)
registered in other countries: 8 (2005)

Airports:

305 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 127
over 3,047 m: 39
2,438 to 3,047 m: 25
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 32
under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 178
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 129
under 914 m: 39 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

13 (2004 est.)

Military

Iran

Military branches:

Islamic Republic of Iran Regular Forces (Artesh): Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force (includes Air Defense)
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (Sepah-e Pasdaran-e Enqelab-e Eslami, IRGC): Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Qods Force (special operations), and Basij Force (Popular Mobilization Army)
Law Enforcement Forces: (2004)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age for volunteers; soldiers as young as 9 were recruited extensively during the Iran-Iraq War; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 18,319,545 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 15,665,725 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 862,056 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$4.3 billion (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3.3% (2003 est.)

Transnational Issues

Iran

Disputes - international:

Iran protests Afghanistan's limiting flow of dammed tributaries to the Helmand River in periods of drought; Iraq's lack of a maritime boundary with Iran prompts jurisdiction disputes beyond the mouth of the Shatt al Arab in the Persian Gulf; Iran and UAE engage in direct talks and solicit Arab League support to resolve disputes over Iran's occupation of Tunb Islands and Abu Musa Island; Iran stands alone among littoral states in insisting upon a division of the Caspian Sea into five equal sectors

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 1,223,823 (Afghanistan) 124,014 (Iraq) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

despite substantial interdiction efforts, Iran remains a key transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin to Europe; domestic narcotics consumption remains a persistent problem and according to official Iranian statistics there are at least two million drug users in the country; lax anti-money-laundering regulations

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Israel

Introduction

Israel

Background:

Following World War II, the British withdrew from their mandate of Palestine, and the UN partitioned the area into Arab and Jewish states, an arrangement rejected by the Arabs. Subsequently, the Israelis defeated the Arabs in a series of wars without ending the deep tensions between the two sides. The territories occupied by Israel since the 1967 war are not included in the Israel country profile, unless otherwise noted. On 25 April 1982, Israel withdrew from the Sinai pursuant to the 1979 Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty. Israel and Palestinian officials signed on 13 September 1993 a Declaration of Principles (also known as the "Oslo accords") guiding an interim period of Palestinian self-rule. Outstanding territorial and other disputes with Jordan were resolved in the 26 October 1994 Israel-Jordan Treaty of Peace. In addition, on 25 May 2000, Israel withdrew unilaterally from southern Lebanon, which it had occupied since 1982. In keeping with the framework established at the Madrid Conference in October 1991, bilateral negotiations were conducted between Israel and Palestinian representatives and Syria to achieve a permanent settlement. On 24 June 2002, US President BUSH laid out a "road map" for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which envisions a two-state solution. However, progress toward a permanent status agreement has been undermined by Palestinian-Israeli violence ongoing since September 2000. The conflict may have reached a turning point with the election in January 2005 of Mahmud ABBAS as the new Palestinian leader following the November 2004 death of Yasir ARAFAT.

Geography

Israel

Location:

Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Lebanon

Geographic coordinates:

31 30 N, 34 45 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 20,770 sq km
land: 20,330 sq km
water: 440 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries:

total: 1,017 km
border countries: Egypt 266 km, Gaza Strip 51 km, Jordan 238 km, Lebanon 79 km, Syria 76 km, West Bank 307 km

Coastline:

273 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation

Climate:

temperate; hot and dry in southern and eastern desert areas

Terrain:

Negev desert in the south; low coastal plain; central mountains; Jordan Rift Valley

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Har Meron 1,208 m

Natural resources:

timber, potash, copper ore, natural gas, phosphate rock, magnesium bromide, clays, sand

Land use:

arable land: 16.39%
permanent crops: 4.17%
other: 79.44% (2001)

Irrigated land:

1,990 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

sandstorms may occur during spring and summer; droughts; periodic earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

limited arable land and natural fresh water resources pose serious constraints; desertification; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from industrial and domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

there are 242 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the West Bank, 42 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, 25 in the Gaza Strip, and 29 in East Jerusalem (February 2002 est.); Sea of Galilee is an important freshwater source

People

Israel

Population:

6,276,883
note: includes about 187,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank, about 20,000 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, more than 5,000 in the Gaza Strip, and fewer than 177,000 in East Jerusalem (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 26.5% (male 851,415/female 812,095)
15-64 years: 63.7% (male 2,010,888/female 1,986,256)
65 years and over: 9.8% (male 264,708/female 351,521) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 29.39 years
male: 28.58 years
female: 30.27 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.2% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

18.21 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.18 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 7.03 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.77 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.32 years
male: 77.21 years
female: 81.55 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.44 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

3,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

100 (2001 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Israeli(s)
adjective: Israeli

Ethnic groups:

Jewish 80.1% (Europe/America-born 32.1%, Israel-born 20.8%, Africa-born 14.6%, Asia-born 12.6%), non-Jewish 19.9% (mostly Arab) (1996 est.)

Religions:

Jewish 76.5%, Muslim 15.9%, Arab Christians 1.7%, other Christian 0.4%, Druze 1.6%, unspecified 3.9% (2003)

Languages:

Hebrew (official), Arabic used officially for Arab minority, English most commonly used foreign language

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 95.4%
male: 97.3%
female: 93.6% (2003 est.)

Government

Israel

Country name:

conventional long form: State of Israel
conventional short form: Israel
local long form: Medinat Yisra'el
local short form: Yisra'el

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Jerusalem; note - Israel proclaimed Jerusalem as its capital in 1950, but the US, like nearly all other countries, maintains its Embassy in Tel Aviv

Administrative divisions:

6 districts (mehozot, singular - mehoz); Central, Haifa, Jerusalem, Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv

Independence:

14 May 1948 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 14 May (1948); note - Israel declared independence on 14 May 1948, but the Jewish calendar is lunar and the holiday may occur in April or May

Constitution:

no formal constitution; some of the functions of a constitution are filled by the Declaration of Establishment (1948), the Basic Laws of the parliament (Knesset), and the Israeli citizenship law

Legal system:

mixture of English common law, British Mandate regulations, and, in personal matters, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim legal systems; in December 1985, Israel informed the UN Secretariat that it would no longer accept compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Moshe KATZAV (since 31 July 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Ariel SHARON (since 7 March 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by prime minister and approved by the Knesset
elections: president is largely a ceremonial role and is elected by the Knesset for a seven-year term; election last held 31 July 2000 (next to be held mid-2007); following legislative elections, the president assigns a Knesset member - traditionally the leader of the largest party - the task of forming a governing coalition; election last held 28 January 2003 (next scheduled to be held fall of 2006)
election results: Moshe KATZAV elected president by the 120-member Knesset with a total of 60 votes, other candidate, Shimon PERES, received 57 votes (there were three abstentions); Ariel SHARON continues as prime minister after Likud Party victory in January 2003 Knesset elections; Likud won 38 seats and then formed coalition government with Shinui, the National Religious Party, and the National Union

Legislative branch:

unicameral Knesset (120 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 28 January 2003 (next scheduled to be held fall of 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - Likud Party 29.4%, Labor 14.5%, Shinui 12.3%, Shas 8.2%, National Union 5.5%, Meretz 5.2%, United Torah Judaism 4.3%, National Religious Party 4.2%, Democratic Front for Peace and Equality 3.0%, One Nation 2.8%, National Democratic Assembly 2.3%, Yisra'el Ba'Aliya (YBA) 2.2%, United Arab List 2.1%, Green Leaf Party 1.2%, Herut 1.2%, other 1.6%; seats by party - Likud 38, Labor 19, Shinui 15, Shas 11, National Union 7, Meretz 6, National Religious Party 6, United Torah Judaism 5, Democratic Front for Peace and Equality 3, One Nation 3, National Democratic Assembly 3, YBA 2, United Arab List 2

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (justices appointed for life by the president)

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (Hadash) [Muhammad BARAKA]; Green Leaf Party (no longer active) [Boaz WACHTEL and Shlomi SANDAK]; Herut (no longer active) [Michael KLEINER]; Labor Party [Shimon PERES]; Likud Party [Ariel SHARON]; Meretz (merged with YAHAD) [Zahava GALON]; National Democratic Assembly (Balad) [Azmi BISHARA]; National Religious Party [Ephraim "Efie" EITAM]; National Union (Haichud Haleumi) [Avigdor LIBERMAN] (includes Tekuma Moledet and Yisra'el Beiteinu); One Nation [David TAL]; Shas [Eliyahu YISHAI]; Shinui [Yosef "Tommy" LAPID]; United Arab List [Abd al-Malik DAHAMSHAH]; United Torah Judaism [Yaakov LITZMAN]; YAHAD [Yossi BEILIN]; Yisra'el Ba'Aliya or YBA (merged with Likud) [Natan SHARANSKY]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Israeli nationalists advocating Jewish settlement on the West Bank and Gaza Strip; Peace Now supports territorial concessions in the West Bank and Gaza Strip; Yesha (settler) Council promotes settler interests and opposes territorial compromise; B'Tselem monitors human rights abuses

International organization participation:

BIS, BSEC (observer), CE (observer), CERN (observer), EBRD, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (observer), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, OAS (observer), OPCW (signatory), OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Daniel AYALON
chancery: 3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 364-5578
FAX: [1] (202) 364-5560
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 Daniel C. KURTZER
embassy: 71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv 63903
mailing address: PSC 98, Box 29, APO AE 09830
telephone: [972] (3) 519-7369/7453/7454/7457/7458/7551/7575
FAX: [972] (3) 516-4390
consulate(s) general: Jerusalem; note - an independent US mission, established in 1928, whose members are not accredited to a foreign government

Flag description:

white with a blue hexagram (six-pointed linear star) known as the Magen David (Shield of David) centered between two equal horizontal blue bands near the top and bottom edges of the flag

Economy

Israel

Economy - overview:

Israel has a technologically advanced market economy with substantial government participation. It depends on imports of crude oil, grains, raw materials, and military equipment. Despite limited natural resources, Israel has intensively developed its agricultural and industrial sectors over the past 20 years. Israel imports substantial quantities of grain, but is largely self-sufficient in other agricultural products. Cut diamonds, high-technology equipment, and agricultural products (fruits and vegetables) are the leading exports. Israel usually posts sizable current account deficits, which are covered by large transfer payments from abroad and by foreign loans. Roughly half of the government's external debt is owed to the US, which is its major source of economic and military aid. The bitter Israeli-Palestinian conflict; difficulties in the high-technology, construction, and tourist sectors; and fiscal austerity in the face of growing inflation led to small declines in GDP in 2001 and 2002. The economy grew at 1% in 2003, with improvements in tourism and foreign direct investment. In 2004, rising business and consumer confidence - as well as higher demand for Israeli exports boosted GDP by 3.9%.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$129 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $20,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.8%
industry: 37.7%
services: 59.5% (2003 est.)

Labor force:

2.68 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture, forestry, and fishing 2.6%, manufacturing 20.2%, construction 7.5%, commerce 12.8%, transport, storage, and communications 6.2%, finance and business 13.1%, personal and other services 6.4%, public services 31.2% (1996)

Unemployment rate:

10.7% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

18% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 28.3% (1997)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

35.5 (2001)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

0% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

17.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $48.09 billion
expenditures: $52.11 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

104.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

citrus, vegetables, cotton; beef, poultry, dairy products

Industries:

high-technology projects (including aviation, communications, computer-aided design and manufactures, medical electronics, fiber optics), wood and paper products, potash and phosphates, food, beverages, and tobacco, caustic soda, cement, construction, metals products, chemical products, plastics, diamond cutting, textiles and footwear

Industrial production growth rate:

4.5% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

42.67 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 99.9%
hydro: 0.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

38.3 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

1.387 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

80 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

260,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

1.92 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

10 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

10 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

20.81 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$211.9 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$34.41 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, agricultural products, chemicals, textiles and apparel

Exports - partners:

US 36.8%, Belgium 7.5%, Hong Kong 4.9% (2004)

Imports:

$36.84 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

raw materials, military equipment, investment goods, rough diamonds, fuels, grain, consumer goods

Imports - partners:

US 15%, Belgium 10.1%, Germany 7.5%, Switzerland 6.5%, UK 6.1% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$28.48 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$74.46 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$662 million from US (2003 est.)

Currency (code):

new Israeli shekel (ILS); note - NIS is the currency abbreviation; ILS is the International Organization for Standarization (ISO) code for the NIS

Currency code:

ILS

Exchange rates:

new Israeli shekels per US dollar - 4.482 (2004), 4.5541 (2003), 4.7378 (2002), 4.2057 (2001), 4.0773 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Israel

Telephones - main lines in use:

3.006 million (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

6.334 million (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: most highly developed system in the Middle East although not the largest
domestic: good system of coaxial cable and microwave radio relay; all systems are digital
international: country code - 972; 3 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 23, FM 15, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:

3.07 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

17 (plus 36 low-power repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

1.69 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.il

Internet hosts:

437,516 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

21 (2000)

Internet users:

2 million (2002)

Transportation

Israel

Railways:

total: 640 km
standard gauge: 640 km 1.435-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 16,903 km
paved: 16,903 km (including 56 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2002)

Pipelines:

gas 140 km; oil 1,509 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Ashdod, Elat (Eilat), Hadera, Haifa

Merchant marine:

total: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 752,873 GRT/881,711 DWT
by type: cargo 1, container 16
registered in other countries: 48 (2005)

Airports:

51 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 28
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 23
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 20 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

3 (2004 est.)

Military

Israel

Military branches:

Israel Defense Forces (IDF): Ground Corps, Navy, Air and Space Force (includes Air Defense Forces); historically there have been no separate Israeli military services

Military service age and obligation:

17 years of age for compulsory (Jews, Druzes) and voluntary (Christians, Muslims, Circassians) military service; both sexes are eligible for military service; conscript service obligation - 36 months for men, 21 months for women (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 17-49: 1,492,125
females age 17-49: 1,443,916 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 17-49: 1,255,902
females age 17-49: 1,212,394 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 53,760
females: 51,293 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$9.11 billion (FY03)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

8.7% (FY02)

Transnational Issues

Israel

Disputes - international:

West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; Israel continues construction of a "seam line" separation barrier along parts of the Green Line and within the West Bank; Israel announced its intention to pull out Israeli settlers and withdraw from the Gaza Strip and four settlements in the northern West Bank in 2005; Golan Heights is Israeli-occupied (Lebanon claims the Shab'a Farms area of Golan Heights); since 1948, about 350 peacekeepers from the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO) headquartered in Jerusalem monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated incidents from escalating, and assist other UN personnel in the region

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 276,000 (Arab villagers displaced from homes in northern Israel) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

increasingly concerned about cocaine and heroin abuse; drugs arrive in country from Lebanon and, increasingly, from Jordan; money-laundering center

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Italy

Introduction

Italy

Background:

Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the city-states of the peninsula, along with Sardinia and Sicily, were united under King Victor EMMANUEL II. An era of parliamentary government came to a close in the early 1920s when Benito MUSSOLINI established a Fascist dictatorship. His disastrous alliance with Nazi Germany led to Italy's defeat in World War II. A democratic republic replaced the monarchy in 1946 and economic revival followed. Italy was a charter member of NATO and the European Economic Community (EEC). It has been at the forefront of European economic and political unification, joining the Economic and Monetary Union in 1999. Persistent problems include illegal immigration, organized crime, corruption, high unemployment, sluggish economic growth, and the low incomes and technical standards of southern Italy compared with the prosperous north.

Geography

Italy

Location:

Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia

Geographic coordinates:

42 50 N, 12 50 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 301,230 sq km
land: 294,020 sq km
water: 7,210 sq km
note: includes Sardinia and Sicily

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Arizona

Land boundaries:

total: 1,932.2 km
border countries: Austria 430 km, France 488 km, Holy See (Vatican City) 3.2 km, San Marino 39 km, Slovenia 232 km, Switzerland 740 km

Coastline:

7,600 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

predominantly Mediterranean; Alpine in far north; hot, dry in south

Terrain:

mostly rugged and mountainous; some plains, coastal lowlands

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) de Courmayeur 4,748 m (a secondary peak of Mont Blanc)

Natural resources:

coal, mercury, zinc, potash, marble, barite, asbestos, pumice, fluorospar, feldspar, pyrite (sulfur), natural gas and crude oil reserves, fish, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 27.79%
permanent crops: 9.53%
other: 62.68% (2001)

Irrigated land:

26,980 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

regional risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land subsidence in Venice

Environment - current issues:

air pollution from industrial emissions such as sulfur dioxide; coastal and inland rivers polluted from industrial and agricultural effluents; acid rain damaging lakes; inadequate industrial waste treatment and disposal facilities

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geography - note:

strategic location dominating central Mediterranean as well as southern sea and air approaches to Western Europe

People

Italy

Population:

58,103,033 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 13.9% (male 4,166,213/female 3,919,288)
15-64 years: 66.7% (male 19,554,416/female 19,174,629)
65 years and over: 19.4% (male 4,698,441/female 6,590,046) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 41.77 years
male: 40.24 years
female: 43.35 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.07% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

8.89 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

10.3 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.94 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.55 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.68 years
male: 76.75 years
female: 82.81 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.28 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.5% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

140,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 1,000 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Italian(s)
adjective: Italian

Ethnic groups:

Italian (includes small clusters of German-, French-, and Slovene-Italians in the north and Albanian-Italians and Greek-Italians in the south)

Religions:

predominately Roman Catholic with mature Protestant and Jewish communities and a growing Muslim immigrant community

Languages:

Italian (official), German (parts of Trentino-Alto Adige region are predominantly German speaking), French (small French-speaking minority in Valle d'Aosta region), Slovene (Slovene-speaking minority in the Trieste-Gorizia area)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.6%
male: 99%
female: 98.3% (2003 est.)

Government

Italy

Country name:

conventional long form: Italian Republic
conventional short form: Italy
local long form: Repubblica Italiana
local short form: Italia
former: Kingdom of Italy

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Rome

Administrative divisions:

16 regions (regioni, singular - regione) and 4 autonomous regions* (regioni autonome, singular - regione autonoma); Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia*, Lazio, Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise, Piemonte, Puglia, Sardegna*, Sicilia, Toscana, Trentino-Alto Adige*, Umbria, Valle d'Aosta*, Veneto

Independence:

17 March 1861 (Kingdom of Italy proclaimed; Italy was not finally unified until 1870)

National holiday:

Republic Day, 2 June (1946)

Constitution:

passed 11 December 1947, effective 1 January 1948; amended many times

Legal system:

based on civil law system; appeals treated as new trials; judicial review under certain conditions in Constitutional Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal (except in senatorial elections, where minimum age is 25)

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Carlo Azeglio CIAMPI (since 13 May 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister (referred to in Italy as the president of the Council of Ministers) Silvio BERLUSCONI (since 10 June 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and approved by the president
elections: president elected by an electoral college consisting of both houses of parliament and 58 regional representatives for a seven-year term; election last held 13 May 1999 (next to be held 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%
note: a four-party government coalition includes Forza Italia, National Alliance, Northern League, and Union of Christian Democrats and Center Democrats

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament or Parlamento consists of the Senate or Senato della Repubblica (315 seats elected by popular vote of which 232 are directly elected and 83 are elected by regional proportional representation; in addition, there are a small number of senators-for-life including former presidents of the republic; members serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camera dei Deputati (630 seats; 475 are directly elected, 155 by regional proportional representation; members serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 13 May 2001 (next to be held 2006); Chamber of Deputies - last held 13 May 2001 (next to be held May 2006)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - House of Liberties 172 (Forza Italia 77, National Alliance 47, UDC 31, Lega Padana 17), Olive Tree 108 (Democrats of the Left 63, Daisy Alliance 35, Greens 10), Per le Autonomie 10, other 25; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - House of Liberties 337 (Forza Italia 176, National Alliance 97, UDC 36, Northern League 28), Olive Tree 214 (Democrats of the Left 135, Daisy Alliance 79), Rifondazione Communista (Italian Communist Party) 11, other 68

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court or Corte Costituzionale (composed of 15 judges: one-third appointed by the president, one-third elected by parliament, one-third elected by the ordinary and administrative Supreme Courts)

Political parties and leaders:

Center-Left Olive Tree Coalition [Francesco RUTELLI] - Democrats of the Left, Daisy Alliance (including Italian Popular Party, Italian Renewal, Union of Democrats for Europe, The Democrats), Sunflower Alliance (including Green Federation, Italian Democratic Socialists), Italian Communist Party; Center-Right Freedom House Coalition [Silvio BERLUSCONI] (formerly House of Liberties and Freedom Alliance) - Forza Italia, National Alliance, The Whiteflower Alliance (includes Christian Democratic Center, United Christian Democrats), Northern League; Democrats of the Left or DS [Piero FASSINO]; Forza Italia or FI [Silvio BERLUSCONI]; Green Federation [Alfonso Pecoraro SCANIO]; Italian Communist Party or PdCI [Armando COSSUTTA]; Italian Renewal or RI [Lamberto DINI]; merged with PPI and I Democratici to form La Margherita (or The Daisy Alliance); Italian Social Democrats or SDI [Enrico BOSELLI]; Lega Padana [Roberto BERNARDELLI]; National Alliance or AN [Gianfranco FINI]; Northern League or NL [Umberto BOSSI]; Per le Autonomie [leader NA]; Socialist Movement-Tricolor Flame or MS-Fiamma [Luca ROMAGNOLI]; South Tyrol People's Party or SVP (German speakers) [Elmar Pichler ROLLE]; Sunflower Alliance (includes Green Federation, Italian Social Democrats); The Daisy Alliance (includes Italian Popular Party, Italian Renewal, Union of Democrats for Europe, The Democrats) [Francesco RUTELLI]; The Democrats [Arturo PARISI]; The Radicals (formerly Pannella Reformers and Autonomous List) [Marco PANNELLA]; Union of Democrats for Europe or UDEUR [Clemente MASTELLA]; Union of Christian and Center Democrats or UDC [Marco FOLLINI]

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 [Guglielmo EPIFANI] which is left wing, Confederazione Italiana dei Sindacati Lavoratori or CISL [Savino PEZZOTTA], which is Roman Catholic centrist, and Unione Italiana del Lavoro or UIL [Luigi ANGELETTI] which is lay centrist)

International organization participation:

AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CDB, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Giovanni CASTELLANETA
chancery: 3000 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 612-4400
FAX: [1] (202) 518-2151
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and San Francisco
consulate(s): Detroit and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Melvin F. SEMBLER
embassy: Via Vittorio Veneto 119/A, 00187-Rome
mailing address: PSC 59, Box 100, APO AE 09624
telephone: [39] (06) 46741
FAX: [39] (06) 488-2672, 4674-2356
consulate(s) general: Florence, Milan, Naples

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and is green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of the Cote d'Ivoire, which has the colors reversed - orange (hoist side), white, and green
note: inspired by the French flag brought to Italy by Napoleon in 1797

Economy

Italy

Economy - overview:

Italy has a diversified industrial economy with roughly the same total and per capita output as France and the UK. This capitalistic economy remains divided into a developed industrial north, dominated by private companies, and a less developed, welfare-dependent agricultural south, with 20% unemployment. Most raw materials needed by industry and more than 75% of energy requirements are imported. Over the past decade, Italy has pursued a tight fiscal policy in order to meet the requirements of the Economic and Monetary Unions and has benefited from lower interest and inflation rates. The current government has enacted numerous short-term reforms aimed at improving competitiveness and long-term growth. Italy has moved slowly, however, on implementing needed structural reforms, such as lightening the high tax burden and overhauling Italy's rigid labor market and over-generous pension system, because of the current economic slowdown and opposition from labor unions. But the leadership faces a severe economic constraint: the budget has breached the 3% EU deficit ceiling.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.609 trillion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.3% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $27,700 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.3%
industry: 28.8%
services: 68.9% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

24.27 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 5%, industry 32%, services 63% (2001)

Unemployment rate:

8.6% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 26.6% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

27.3 (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.3% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $768.9 billion
expenditures: $820.1 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

105.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes, sugar beets, soybeans, grain, olives; beef, dairy products; fish

Industries:

tourism, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, food processing, textiles, motor vehicles, clothing, footwear, ceramics

Industrial production growth rate:

0.7% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

261.6 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 78.6%
hydro: 18.4%
nuclear: 0%
other: 3% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

293.9 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

900 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

51.5 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

79,460 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1.866 million bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

456,600 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:

2.158 million bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

586.6 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

15.49 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

71.18 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

61 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

54.78 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

209.7 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$-21.1 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$336.4 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

engineering products, textiles and clothing, production machinery, motor vehicles, transport equipment, chemicals; food, beverages and tobacco; minerals and nonferrous metals

Exports - partners:

Germany 13.6%, France 12.3%, US 8%, Spain 7.2%, UK 6.9%, Switzerland 4.2% (2004)

Imports:

$329.3 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

engineering products, chemicals, transport equipment, energy products, minerals and nonferrous metals, textiles and clothing; food, beverages and tobacco

Imports - partners:

Germany 18%, France 10.9%, Netherlands 5.9%, Spain 4.6%, Belgium 4.4%, UK 4.3%, China 4.2% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$61.5 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$913.9 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $1 billion (2002 est.)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries

Currency code:

EUR

Exchange rates:

euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Italy

Telephones - main lines in use:

26.596 million (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

55.918 million (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern, well developed, fast; fully automated telephone, telex, and data services
domestic: high-capacity cable and microwave radio relay trunks
international: country code - 39; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (with a total of 5 antennas - 3 for Atlantic Ocean and 2 for Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region), and NA Eutelsat; 21 submarine cables

Radio broadcast stations:

AM about 100, FM about 4,600, shortwave 9 (1998)

Radios:

50.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

358 (plus 4,728 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

30.3 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.it

Internet hosts:

1,437,511 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

93 (Italy and Holy See) (2000)

Internet users:

18.5 million (2003)

Transportation

Italy

Railways:

total: 19,319 km (11,613 km electrified)
standard gauge: 18,001 km 1.435-m gauge (11,333 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 123 km 1.000-m gauge (122 km electrified); 1,195 km 0.950-m gauge (158 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 479,688 km
paved: 479,688 km (including 6,621 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (1999)

Waterways:

2,400 km
note: used for commercial traffic; of limited overall value compared to road and rail (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 17,335 km; oil 1,136 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Augusta, Genoa, Livorno, Melilli Oil Terminal, Ravenna, Taranto, Trieste, Venice

Merchant marine:

total: 565 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 8,970,017 GRT/10,354,685 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 38, cargo 43, chemical tanker 128, combination ore/oil 1, container 19, liquefied gas 38, livestock carrier 2, passenger 16, passenger/cargo 152, petroleum tanker 53, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 34, specialized tanker 11, vehicle carrier 26
foreign-owned: 47 (France 3, Greece 7, Monaco 2, Switzerland 5, Taiwan 8, Turkey 2, United Kingdom 5, United States 15)
registered in other countries: 125 (2005)

Airports:

134 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 96
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 32
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 30
under 914 m: 12 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 38
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 18 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

4 (2004 est.)

Military

Italy

Military branches:

Army (Esercito Italiano, EI), Navy (Marina Militare Italiana, MMI), Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana, AMI), Carabinieri Corps (Corpo dei Carabinieri, CC) (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 13,491,260 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 10,963,513 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 286,344 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$28,182.8 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.8% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Italy

Disputes - international:

Italy's long coastline and developed economy entices tens of thousands of illegal immigrants from southeastern Europe and northern Africa

Illicit drugs:

important gateway for and consumer of Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin entering the European market; money laundering by organized crime and from smuggling

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Cote d'Ivoire

Introduction

Cote d'Ivoire

Background:

Close ties to France since independence in 1960, the development of cocoa production for export, and foreign investment made Cote d'Ivoire one of the most prosperous of the tropical African states, but did not protect it from political turmoil. On 25 December 1999, a military coup - the first ever in Cote d'Ivoire's history - overthrew the government led by President Henri Konan BEDIE. Junta leader Robert GUEI held elections in late 2000, but excluded prominent opposition leader Alassane OUATTARA, blatantly rigged the polling results, and declared himself winner. Popular protest forced GUEI to step aside and brought runner-up Laurent GBAGBO into power. Ivorian dissidents and disaffected members of the military launched a failed coup attempt in September 2002. Rebel forces claimed the northern half of the country and in January 2003 were granted ministerial positions in a unity government under the auspices of the Linas-Marcoussis Peace Accord. President GBAGBO and rebel forces resumed implementation of the peace accord in December 2003 after a three-month stalemate, but issues that sparked the civil war, such as land reform and grounds for nationality remain unresolved. The central government has yet to exert control over the northern regions and tensions remain high between GBAGBO and rebel leaders. Several thousand French and West African troops remain in Cote d'Ivoire to maintain peace and facilitate the disarmament, demobilization, and rehabilitation process.

Geography

Cote d'Ivoire

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Ghana and Liberia

Geographic coordinates:

8 00 N, 5 00 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 322,460 sq km
land: 318,000 sq km
water: 4,460 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries:

total: 3,110 km
border countries: Burkina Faso 584 km, Ghana 668 km, Guinea 610 km, Liberia 716 km, Mali 532 km

Coastline:

515 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical along coast, semiarid in far north; three seasons - warm and dry (November to March), hot and dry (March to May), hot and wet (June to October)

Terrain:

mostly flat to undulating plains; mountains in northwest

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Gulf of Guinea 0 m
highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, diamonds, manganese, iron ore, cobalt, bauxite, copper, gold, nickel, tantalum, silica sand, clay, cocoa beans, coffee, palm oil, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 9.75%
permanent crops: 13.84%
other: 76.41% (2001)

Irrigated land:

730 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during the rainy season torrential flooding is possible

Environment - current issues:

deforestation (most of the country's forests - once the largest in West Africa - have been heavily logged); water pollution from sewage and industrial and agricultural effluents

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

most of the inhabitants live along the sandy coastal region; apart from the capital area, the forested interior is sparsely populated

People

Cote d'Ivoire

Population:

17,298,040
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 41% (male 3,490,536/female 3,596,208)
15-64 years: 56.3% (male 4,920,726/female 4,820,326)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 231,514/female 238,730) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 19.05 years
male: 19.36 years
female: 18.76 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.06% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

35.51 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

14.94 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.97 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 90.83 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 107.64 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 73.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 48.62 years
male: 46.05 years
female: 51.27 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.58 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

7% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

570,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

47,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, yellow fever, and others are high risks in some locations
water contact: schistosomiasis (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Ivoirian(s)
adjective: Ivoirian

Ethnic groups:

Akan 42.1%, Voltaiques or Gur 17.6%, Northern Mandes 16.5%, Krous 11%, Southern Mandes 10%, other 2.8% (includes 130,000 Lebanese and 14,000 French) (1998)

Religions:

Christian 20-30%, Muslim 35-40%, indigenous 25-40% (2001)
note: the majority of foreigners (migratory workers) are Muslim (70%) and Christian (20%)

Languages:

French (official), 60 native dialects with Dioula the most widely spoken

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 50.9%
male: 57.9%
female: 43.6% (2003 est.)

Government

Cote d'Ivoire

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Cote d'Ivoire
conventional short form: Cote d'Ivoire
local long form: Republique de Cote d'Ivoire
local short form: Cote d'Ivoire
former: Ivory Coast

Government type:

republic; multiparty presidential regime established 1960

Capital:

Yamoussoukro; note - although Yamoussoukro has been the official capital since 1983, Abidjan remains the commercial and administrative center; the US, like other countries, maintains its Embassy in Abidjan

Administrative divisions:

19 regions; Agneby, Bafing, Bas-Sassandra, Denguele, Dix-Huit Montagnes, Fromager, Haut-Sassandra, Lacs, Lagunes, Marahoue, Moyen-Cavally, Moyen-Comoe, N'zi-Comoe, Savanes, Sud-Bandama, Sud-Comoe, Vallee du Bandama, Worodougou, Zanzan

Independence:

7 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 7 August (1960)

Constitution:

new constitution adopted 4 August 2000

Legal system:

based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Laurent GBAGBO (since 26 October 2000);
head of government: Prime Minister Seydou DIARRA (since 25 January 2003); note - appointed as transitional Prime Minister by President GBAGBO as part of a French brokered peace plan
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 26 October 2000 (next to be held October 2005); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Laurent GBAGBO elected president; percent of vote - Laurent GBAGBO 59.4%, Robert GUEI 32.7%, Francis WODIE 5.7%, other 2.2%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (225 seats; members are elected in single- and multi-district elections by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: elections last held 10 December 2000 with by-elections on 14 January 2001 (next to be held October 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - FPI 96, PDCI-RDA 94, RDR 5, PIT 4, other 2, independents 22, vacant 2
note: a Senate is scheduled to be created in the next full election in 2005

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme consists of four chambers: Judicial Chamber for criminal cases, Audit Chamber for financial cases, Constitutional Chamber for judicial review cases, and Administrative Chamber for civil cases; there is no legal limit to the number of members

Political parties and leaders:

Citizen's Democratic Union or UDCY [Eg Theodore MEL]; Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire-African Democratic Rally or PDCI-RDA [Henri Konan BEDIE]; Ivorian Popular Front or FPI [Laurent GBAGBO]; Ivorian Worker's Party or PIT [Francis WODIE]; Rally of the Republicans or RDR [Alassane OUATTARA]; Union for Democracy and Peace or UDPCI [Paul Akoto YAO]; over 20 smaller parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Daouda DIABATE
chancery: 3421 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 797-0300
FAX: [1] (202) 462-9444

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Aubrey HOOKS
embassy: 5 Rue Jesse Owens, Abidjan
mailing address: B. P. 1712, Abidjan 01
telephone: [225] 20 21 09 79
FAX: [225] 20 22 32 59

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of orange (hoist side), white, and green; similar to the flag of Ireland, which is longer and has the colors reversed - green (hoist side), white, and orange; also similar to the flag of Italy, which is green (hoist side), white, and red; design was based on the flag of France

Economy

Cote d'Ivoire

Economy - overview:

Cote d'Ivoire is among the world's largest producers and exporters of coffee, cocoa beans, and palm oil. Consequently, the economy is highly sensitive to fluctuations in international prices for these products and weather conditions. Despite government attempts to diversify the economy, it is still heavily dependent on agriculture and related activities, engaging roughly 68% of the population. After several years of lagging performance, the Ivorian economy began a comeback in 1994, due to the 50% devaluation of the CFA franc and improved prices for cocoa and coffee, growth in nontraditional primary exports such as pineapples and rubber, limited trade and banking liberalization, offshore oil and gas discoveries, and generous external financing and debt rescheduling by multilateral lenders and France. Moreover, government adherence to donor-mandated reforms led to a jump to 5% annual growth during 1996-99. Growth was negative in 2000-03 because of the difficulty of meeting the conditions of international donors, continued low prices of key exports, and severe civil war. In November 2004 the situation deteriorated when President GBAGBO's troops attacked and killed nine French peacekeeping forces, and the UN imposed an arms embargo. Political uncertainty has clouded the economic outlook for 2005, with fear among Ivorians spreading, foreign investment shriveling, businessmen fleeing, travel within the country falling, and criminal elements that traffic in weapons and diamonds gaining ground.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$24.78 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

-1% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,500 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 27.8%
industry: 19.4%
services: 52.8% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

6.7 million (68% agricultural) (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

13% in urban areas (1998)

Population below poverty line:

37% (1995)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 28.8% (1995)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

36.7 (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.4% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

11.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $2.412 billion
expenditures: $2.767 billion, including capital expenditures of $420 million (2004 est.)

Public debt:

74.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, cocoa beans, bananas, palm kernels, corn, rice, manioc (tapioca), sweet potatoes, sugar, cotton, rubber; timber

Industries:

foodstuffs, beverages; wood products, oil refining, truck and bus assembly, textiles, fertilizer, building materials, electricity, ship construction and repair

Industrial production growth rate:

15% (1998 est.)

Electricity - production:

4.759 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 61.9%
hydro: 38.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

2.976 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

1.45 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

29,300 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

32,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

220 million bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

1.35 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.35 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

14.87 billion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$-421.5 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$5.124 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

cocoa, coffee, timber, petroleum, cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm oil, fish

Exports - partners:

US 11.6%, Netherlands 10.3%, France 9.5%, Italy 5.5%, Belgium 4.7%, Germany 4.7% (2004)

Imports:

$3.36 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

fuel, capital equipment, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

France 24.3%, Nigeria 19.2%, UK 4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.95 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$11.81 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $1 billion (1996 est.)

Currency (code):

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States

Currency code:

XOF

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Cote d'Ivoire

Telephones - main lines in use:

328,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.236 million (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: well developed by African standards but operating well below capacity
domestic: open-wire lines and microwave radio relay; 90% digitalized
international: country code - 225; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); 2 submarine cables (June 1999)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (1998)

Radios:

2.26 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

14 (1999)

Televisions:

1.09 million (2000)

Internet country code:

.ci

Internet hosts:

3,795 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2001)

Internet users:

90,000 (2002)

Transportation

Cote d'Ivoire

Railways:

total: 660 km
narrow gauge: 660 km 1.000-meter gauge
note: an additional 622 km of this railroad extends into Burkina Faso (2004)

Highways:

total: 50,400 km
paved: 4,889 km
unpaved: 45,511 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

980 km (navigable rivers, canals, and numerous coastal lagoons) (2003)

Pipelines:

condensate 107 km; gas 223 km; oil 104 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Abidjan, Aboisso, Dabou, San-Pedro

Airports:

37 (2004 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: 4 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 30
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 8 (2004 est.)

Military

Cote d'Ivoire

Military branches:

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 3,696,106 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,973,265 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 189,354 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$180.2 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.2% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Cote d'Ivoire

Disputes - international:

rebel and ethnic fighting against the central government in 2002 has spilled into neighboring states, driven out foreign cocoa workers from nearby countries, and, in 2004, resulted in 6,000 peacekeepers deployed as part of UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI) assisting 4,000 French troops already in-country; the Ivorian Government accuses Burkina Faso and Liberia of supporting Ivorian rebels

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 71,711 (Liberia)
IDPs: 500,000 (2002 coup; most IDPs are in western regions) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

illicit producer of cannabis, mostly for local consumption; transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin to Europe and occasionally to the US, and for Latin American cocaine destined for Europe and South Africa; while rampant corruption and inadequate supervision leave the banking system vulnerable to money laundering, the lack of a developed financial system limits the country's utility as a major money-laundering center

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Iraq

Introduction

Iraq

Background:

Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by Britain during the course of World War I; in 1920, it was declared a League of Nations mandate under UK administration. In stages over the next dozen years, Iraq attained its independence as a kingdom in 1932. A "republic" was proclaimed in 1958, but in actuality a series of military strongmen ruled the country, the latest was SADDAM Husayn. Territorial disputes with Iran led to an inconclusive and costly eight-year war (1980-88). In August 1990, Iraq seized Kuwait, but was expelled by US-led, UN coalition forces during the Gulf War of January-February 1991. Following Kuwait's liberation, the UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to scrap all weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles and to allow UN verification inspections. Continued Iraqi noncompliance with UNSC resolutions over a period of 12 years resulted in the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and the ouster of the SADDAM Husayn regime. Coalition forces remain in Iraq, helping to restore degraded infrastructure and facilitating the establishment of a freely elected government, while simultaneously dealing with a robust insurgency. The Coalition Provisional Authority transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi Interim Government (IG) in June 2004. Iraqis voted on 30 January 2005 to elect a 275-member Transitional National Assembly that will draft a permanent constitution and pave the way for new national elections at the end of 2005.

Geography

Iraq

Location:

Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait

Geographic coordinates:

33 00 N, 44 00 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 437,072 sq km
land: 432,162 sq km
water: 4,910 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than twice the size of Idaho

Land boundaries:

total: 3,650 km
border countries: Iran 1,458 km, Jordan 181 km, Kuwait 240 km, Saudi Arabia 814 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 352 km

Coastline:

58 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: not specified

Climate:

mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers; northern mountainous regions along Iranian and Turkish borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy snows that melt in early spring, sometimes causing extensive flooding in central and southern Iraq

Terrain:

mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: unnamed peak; 3,611 m; note - this peak is not Gundah Zhur 3,607 m or Kuh-e Hajji-Ebrahim 3,595 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur

Land use:

arable land: 13.15%
permanent crops: 0.78%
other: 86.07% (2001)

Irrigated land:

35,250 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

dust storms, sandstorms, floods

Environment - current issues:

government water control projects have drained most of the inhabited marsh areas east of An Nasiriyah by drying up or diverting the feeder streams and rivers; a once sizable population of Marsh Arabs, who inhabited these areas for thousands of years, has been displaced; furthermore, the destruction of the natural habitat poses serious threats to the area's wildlife populations; inadequate supplies of potable water; development of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers system contingent upon agreements with upstream riparian Turkey; air and water pollution; soil degradation (salination) and erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Geography - note:

strategic location on Shatt al Arab waterway and at the head of the Persian Gulf

People

Iraq

Population:

26,074,906 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 40% (male 5,293,709/female 5,130,826)
15-64 years: 57% (male 7,530,619/female 7,338,109)
65 years and over: 3% (male 367,832/female 413,811) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 19.43 years
male: 19.35 years
female: 19.51 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.7% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

32.5 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

5.49 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 50.25 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 56.06 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 44.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 68.7 years
male: 67.49 years
female: 69.97 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.28 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

less than 500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Iraqi(s)
adjective: Iraqi

Ethnic groups:

Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian or other 5%

Religions:

Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3%

Languages:

Arabic, Kurdish (official in Kurdish regions), Assyrian, Armenian

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.4%
male: 55.9%
female: 24.4% (2003 est.)

Government

Iraq

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Iraq
conventional short form: Iraq
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Iraqiyah
local short form: Al Iraq

Government type:

none; note - the Iraqi Interim Government (IG) was appointed on 1 June 2004

Capital:

Baghdad

Administrative divisions:

18 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Anbar, Al Basrah, Al Muthanna, Al Qadisiyah, An Najaf, Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah, At Ta'mim, Babil, Baghdad, Dahuk, Dhi Qar, Diyala, Karbala', Maysan, Ninawa, Salah ad Din, Wasit

Independence:

3 October 1932 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration); note - on 28 June 2004 the Coalition Provisional Authority transferred sovereignty to the Iraqi Interim Government

National holiday:

Revolution Day, 17 July (1968); note - this holiday was celebrated under the SADDAM Husayn regime but the Iraqi Interim Government has yet to declare a new national holiday

Constitution:

interim constitution signed 8 March 2004; note - the Transitional Administrative Law (TAL) was enacted 8 March 2004 to govern the country until an elected Iraqi Government can draft and ratify a new constitution in 2005

Legal system:

based on civil and Islamic law under the Iraqi Interim Government (IG) and Transitional Administrative Law (TAL)

Suffrage:

formerly 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Iraqi Transitional Government (ITG) President Jalal TALABANI (since 6 April 2005); Deputy Presidents Adil Abd AL-MAHDI and Ghazi al-Ujayl al-YAWR (since 6 April 2005); note - the President and Deputy Presidents comprise the Presidency Council)
head of government: Iraqi Transitional Government (ITG) Prime Minister Ibrahim al-JAFARI (since April 2005); Deputy Prime Ministers Rowsch SHAWAYS, Ahmad CHALABI, and Abid al-Mutlaq al-JABBURI (since May 2005)
cabinet: 32 ministers appointed by the Presidency Council, plus Prime Minister Ibrahim al-JAFARI, Deputy Prime Ministers Rowsch SHAWAYS, Ahmad CHALABI, and Abid al-Mutlaq al-JABBURI
elections: held 30 January 2005 to elect a 275-member Transitional National Assembly that will draft a permanent constitution and pave the way for new national elections at the end of 2005

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Mejlis Watani (consisting of 275 members elected by a closed-list, proportional-representation system for the period between the National Assembly election and the formation of a permanent Iraqi government pursuant to the establishment of a permanent constitution)
elections: held 30 January 2005 to elect a 275-member Transitional National Assembly that will draft a permanent constitution and pave the way for new national elections at the end of 2005
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - United Iraqi Alliance 48.2%, Democratic Patriotic Alliance of Kurdistan 25.7%, Iraqi List 13.8%, others 12.3%; number of seats by party - United Iraqi Alliance 140, Democratic Patriotic Alliance of Kurdistan 75, Iraqi List 40, others 20

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court appointed by the Prime Minister, confirmed by the Presidency Council

Political parties and leaders:

Al-Sadr Movement [Muqtada Al-SADR]; Constitutional Monarchy Movement or CMM [Sharif Ali Bin al-HUSAYN]; Da'wa Party [Ibrahim al-JA'FARI]; Independent Iraqi Alliance or IIA [Falah al-NAQIB]; Iraqi Hizballah [Karim Mahud al-MUHAMMADAWI]; Iraqi Independent Democrats or IID [Adnan PACHACHI, Mahdi al-HAFIZ]; Iraqi Islamic Party or IIP [Muhsin Abd al-HAMID, Hajim al-HASSANI]; Iraqi National Accord or INA [Ayad ALLAWI]; Iraqi National Congress or INC [Ahmad CHALABI]; Iraqi National Unity Movement or INUM [Ahmad al-KUBAYSI, chairman]; Jama'at al Fadilah or JAF [Ayatollah Muhammad ' Ali al-YAQUBI]; Kurdistan Democratic Party or KDP [Masud BARZANI]; Muslim Ulama Council or MUC [Harith Sulayman al-DARI, secretary general]; Patriotic Union of Kurdistan or PUK [Jalal TALABANI]
note: the Democratic Patriotic Alliance of Kurdistan, the Iraqi List, and the United Iraqi Alliance were only electoral slates consisting of the representatives from the various Iraqi political parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

an insurgency against the Iraqi Interim Government and Coalition forces is primarily concentrated in Baghdad and in areas west and north of the capital; the diverse, multigroup insurgency is led principally by Sunni Arabs whose only common denominator is a shared desire to oust the Coalition and end US influence in Iraq

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer), WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Rend Rahim FRANCKE
chancery: 1801 P Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 483-7500
FAX: [1] (202) 462-5066

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires James F. JEFFREY
embassy: Baghdad
mailing address: APO AE 09316
telephone: 00-1-240-553-0584 ext. 4354; note - Consular Section
FAX: NA

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with three green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; the phrase ALLAHU AKBAR (God is Great) in green Arabic script - Allahu to the right of the middle star and Akbar to the left of the middle star - was added in January 1991 during the Persian Gulf crisis; similar to the flag of Syria, which has two stars but no script, Yemen, which has a plain white band, and that of Egypt which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band; design is based upon the Arab Liberation colors

Economy

Iraq

Economy - overview:

Iraq's economy is dominated by the oil sector, which has traditionally provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. Iraq's seizure of Kuwait in August 1990, subsequent international economic sanctions, and damage from military action by an international coalition beginning in January 1991 drastically reduced economic activity. Although government policies supporting large military and internal security forces and allocating resources to key supporters of the regime hurt the economy, implementation of the UN's oil-for-food program beginning in December 1996 helped improve conditions for the average Iraqi citizen. Iraq was allowed to export limited amounts of oil in exchange for food, medicine, and some infrastructure spare parts. In December 1999, the UN Security Council authorized Iraq to export under the program as much oil as required to meet humanitarian needs. The drop in GDP in 2001-02 was largely the result of the global economic slowdown and lower oil prices. Per capita food imports increased significantly, while medical supplies and health care services steadily improved. Per capita output and living standards were still well below the pre-1991 level, but any estimates have a wide range of error. The military victory of the US-led coalition in March-April 2003 resulted in the shutdown of much of the central economic administrative structure. Although a comparatively small amount of capital plant was damaged during the hostilities, looting, insurgent attacks, and sabotage have undermined efforts to rebuild the economy. Despite continuing political uncertainty, the Iraqi Interim Government (IG) has founded the institutions needed to implement economic policy, and has successfully concluded a debt reduction agreement with the Paris Club. The high percentage gain estimated for GDP in 2004 is the result of starting from a low base.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$54.4 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

52.3% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $2,100 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 13.6%
industry: 58.6%
services: 27.8% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

6.7 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA

Unemployment rate:

25% to 30% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

25.4% (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $17.1 billion
expenditures: $28.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.6 billion (2004 budget)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep, poultry

Industries:

petroleum, chemicals, textiles, construction materials, food processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

32.6 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 98.4%
hydro: 1.6%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

33.7 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:

1.1 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:

2.25 million bbl/day (2004 est.); note - prewar production (in 2002) was 2.03 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

383,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:

1.49 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

112.5 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

2.35 billion cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

2.35 billion cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

3.149 trillion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$-560 million (2003 est.)

Exports:

$10.1 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

crude oil (83.9%), crude materials excluding fuels (8.0%), food and live animals (5.0%)

Exports - partners:

US 51.9%, Spain 7.3%, Japan 6.6%, Italy 5.7%, Canada 5.2% (2004)

Imports:

$9.9 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food, medicine, manufactures

Imports - partners:

Syria 22.9%, Turkey 19.5%, US 9.2%, Jordan 6.7%, Germany 4.9% (2004)

Debt - external:

$125 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

more than $33 billion in foreign aid pledged for 2004-07 (2004)

Currency (code):

New Iraqi dinar (NID) as of 22 January 2004

Currency code:

NID, IQD prior to 22 January 2004

Exchange rates:

New Iraqi dinars per US dollar - 1,890 (second half, 2003), 0.3109 (2002), 0.3109 (2001), 0.3109 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Iraq

Telephones - main lines in use:

675,000; note - an unknown number of telephone lines were damaged or destroyed during the March-April 2003 war (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

20,000 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: the 2003 war severely disrupted telecommunications throughout Iraq including international connections; USAID is overseeing the repair of switching capability and the construction of mobile and satellite communication facilities
domestic: repairs to switches and lines destroyed in the recent fighting continue, but sabotage remains a problem; cellular service is expected to be in place within two years
international: country code - 964; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 1 Arabsat (inoperative); coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Jordan, Kuwait, Syria, and Turkey; Kuwait line is probably nonoperational

Radio broadcast stations:

after 17 months of unregulated media growth, there are approximately 80 radio stations on the air inside Iraq (2004)

Radios:

4.85 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

21 (2004)

Televisions:

1.75 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.iq

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

25,000 (2002)

Transportation

Iraq

Railways:

total: 2,200 km
standard gauge: 2,200 km 1.435-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 45,550 km
paved: 38,399 km
unpaved: 7,151 km (1999)

Waterways:

5,275 km (not all navigable)
note: Euphrates River (2,815 km), Tigris River (1,895 km), and Third River (565 km) are principal waterways (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 1,739 km; oil 5,418 km; refined products 1,343 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Al Basrah, Khawr az Zubayr, Umm Qasr

Merchant marine:

total: 14 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 83,221 GRT/125,255 DWT
by type: cargo 11, petroleum tanker 3 (2005)

Airports:

111; note - unknown number were damaged during the March-April 2003 war (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 79
over 3,047 m: 21
2,438 to 3,047 m: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 10 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 32
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 9 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

6 (2004 est.)

Military

Iraq

Military branches:

Iraqi Armed Forces: Iraqi Regular Army (includes Iraqi Special Operations Force, Iraqi Intervention Force), Iraqi Navy (former Iraqi Coastal Defense Force), Iraqi Air Force (former Iraqi Army Air Corps) (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age; the Iraqi Interim Government is creating a new professional Iraqi military force of men aged 18 to 40 to defend Iraq from external threats and the current insurgency (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 5,870,640 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 4,930,074 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 298,518 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$1.3 billion (FY00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Transnational Issues

Iraq

Disputes - international:

coalition forces assist Iraqis in monitoring boundary security; Iraq's lack of a maritime boundary with Iran prompts jurisdiction disputes beyond the mouth of the Shatt al Arab in the Persian Gulf; Turkey has expressed concern over the status of Kurds in Iraq

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 150,000 (Palestinian Territories)
IDPs: 1,340,280 (ongoing US-led war and Kurds' subsequent return) (2004)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Japan

Introduction

Japan

Background:

In 1603, a Tokugawa shogunate (military dictatorship) ushered in a long period of isolation from foreign influence in order to secure its power. For 250 years this policy enabled Japan to enjoy stability and a flowering of its indigenous culture. Following the Treaty of Kanagawa with the United States in 1854, Japan opened its ports and began to intensively modernize and industrialize. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Japan became a regional power that was able to defeat the forces of both China and Russia. It occupied Korea, Formosa (Taiwan), and southern Sakhalin Island. In 1933 Japan occupied Manchuria and in 1937 it launched a full-scale invasion of China. Japan attacked US forces in 1941 - triggering America's entry into World War II - and soon occupied much of East and Southeast Asia. After its defeat in World War II, Japan recovered to become an economic power and a staunch ally of the US. While the emperor retains his throne as a symbol of national unity, actual power rests in networks of powerful politicians, bureaucrats, and business executives. The economy experienced a major slowdown starting in the 1990s following three decades of unprecedented growth, but Japan still remains a major economic power, both in Asia and globally. In 2005, Japan began a two-year term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Geography

Japan

Location:

Eastern Asia, island chain between the North Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan, east of the Korean Peninsula

Geographic coordinates:

36 00 N, 138 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 377,835 sq km
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:

slightly smaller than California

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

29,751 km

Maritime claims:

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
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

varies from tropical in south to cool temperate in north

Terrain:

mostly rugged and mountainous

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m
highest point: Mount Fuji 3,776 m

Natural resources:

negligible mineral resources, fish

Land use:

arable land: 12.19%
permanent crops: 0.96%
other: 86.85% (2001)

Irrigated land:

26,790 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors) every year; tsunamis; typhoons

Environment - current issues:

air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain; acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality and threatening aquatic life; Japan is one of the largest consumers of fish and tropical timber, contributing to the depletion of these resources in Asia and elsewhere

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

Geography - note:

strategic location in northeast Asia

People

Japan

Population:

127,417,244 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 14.3% (male 9,328,584/female 8,866,772)
15-64 years: 66.2% (male 42,462,533/female 41,942,835)
65 years and over: 19.5% (male 10,435,284/female 14,381,236) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 42.64 years
male: 40.87 years
female: 44.44 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.05% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

9.47 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

8.95 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 3.26 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 3.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 81.15 years
male: 77.86 years
female: 84.61 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.39 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

12,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

500 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Japanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Japanese

Ethnic groups:

Japanese 99%, others 1% (Korean 511,262, Chinese 244,241, Brazilian 182,232, Filipino 89,851, other 237,914)
note: up to 230,000 Brazilians of Japanese origin migrated to Japan in the 1990s to work in industries; some have returned to Brazil (2004)

Religions:

observe both Shinto and Buddhist 84%, other 16% (including Christian 0.7%)

Languages:

Japanese

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2002)

Government

Japan

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Japan

Government type:

constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government

Capital:

Tokyo

Administrative divisions:

47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka, Fukushima, Gifu, Gumma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita, Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata, Yamaguchi, Yamanashi

Independence:

660 BC (traditional founding by Emperor JIMMU)

National holiday:

Birthday of Emperor AKIHITO, 23 December (1933)

Constitution:

3 May 1947

Legal system:

modeled after European civil law system with English-American influence; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

20 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Emperor AKIHITO (since 7 January 1989)
head of government: Prime Minister Junichiro KOIZUMI (since 26 April 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
elections: Diet designates prime minister; constitution requires that prime minister commands parliamentary majority; following legislative elections, leader of majority party or leader of majority coalition in House of Representatives usually becomes prime minister; KOIZUMI's term as leader of the LDP is scheduled to end in September 2006; a new prime minister may be chosen at that time; monarch is hereditary

Legislative branch:

bicameral Diet or Kokkai consists of the House of Councillors or Sangi-in (242 seats - members elected for six-year terms; half reelected every three years; 144 members in multi-seat constituencies and 98 by proportional representation) and the House of Representatives or Shugi-in (480 seats - members elected for four-year terms; 300 in single-seat constituencies; 180 members by proportional representation in 11 regional blocs)
elections: House of Councillors - last held 11 July 2004 (next to be held in July 2007); House of Representatives - last held 11 September 2005 (next election by September 2009)
election results: House of Councillors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - LDP 115, DPJ 82, Komeito 24, JCP 9, SDP 5, others 7; distribution of seats as of October 2004 - LDP 114, DPJ 84, Komeito 24, JCP 9, SDP 5, others 6
: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - LDP 47.8%, DPJ 36.4%, others 15.8%; seats by party - LDP 296, DPJ 113, Komeito 31, JCP 9, SDP 7, others 24 (2005)

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the monarch after designation by the cabinet; all other justices are appointed by the cabinet)

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Party of Japan or DPJ [Seiji MAEHARA, leader; Yukio HATOYAMA, secretary general]; Japan Communist Party or JCP [Kazuo SHII, chairman; Tadayoshi ICHIDA, secretary general]; Komeito [Takenori KANZAKI, president; Tetsuzo FUYUSHIBA, secretary general]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Junichiro KOIZUMI, president; Tsutomu TAKEBE, secretary general]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Mizuho FUKUSHIMA, chairperson; Seiji MATAICHI, secretary general]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

AfDB, APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CP, EBRD, FAO, G-5, G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA, MIGA, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE (partner), Paris Club, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMOVIC, UNRWA, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ryozo KATO
chancery: 2520 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 238-6700
FAX: [1] (202) 328-2187
consulate(s) general: Anchorage, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Detroit, Agana (Guam), Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Portland (Oregon), San Francisco, and Seattle
consulate(s): Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador J. Thomas SCHIEFFER
embassy: 10-5 Akasaka 1-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420
mailing address: Unit 45004, Box 258, APO AP 96337-5004
telephone: [81] (03) 3224-5000
FAX: [81] (03) 3505-1862
consulate(s) general: Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo
consulate(s): Fukuoka, Nagoya

Flag description:

white with a large red disk (representing the sun without rays) in the center

Economy

Japan

Economy - overview:

Government-industry cooperation, a strong work ethic, mastery of high technology, and a comparatively small defense allocation (1% of GDP) helped Japan advance with extraordinary rapidity to the rank of second most technologically-powerful economy in the world after the US and third-largest economy after the US and China, measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis. (Using market exhange rates rather than PPP rates, Japan's economy is larger than China's.) One notable characteristic of the economy is the working together of manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors in closely-knit groups called keiretsu. A second basic feature has been the guarantee of lifetime employment for a substantial portion of the urban labor force. Both features are now eroding. Industry, the most important sector of the economy, is heavily dependent on imported raw materials and fuels. The tiny agricultural sector is highly subsidized and protected, with crop yields among the highest in the world. Usually self sufficient in rice, Japan must import about 50% of its requirements of other grain and fodder crops. Japan maintains one of the world's largest fishing fleets and accounts for nearly 15% of the global catch. For three decades overall real economic growth had been spectacular: a 10% average in the 1960s, a 5% average in the 1970s, and a 4% average in the 1980s. Growth slowed markedly in the 1990s, averaging just 1.7%, largely because of the after effects of overinvestment during the late 1980s and contractionary domestic policies intended to wring speculative excesses from the stock and real estate markets. From 2000 to 2003, government efforts to revive economic growth met with little success and were further hampered by the slowing of the US, European, and Asian economies. In 2004, growth improved and the lingering fears of deflation in prices and economic activity lessened. Japan's huge government debt, which totals more than 160% of GDP, and the aging of the population are two major long-run problems. A rise in taxes could be viewed as endangering the revival of growth. Robotics constitutes a key long-term economic strength with Japan possessing 410,000 of the world's 720,000 "working robots." Internal conflict over the proper way to reform the ailing banking system continues.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$3.745 trillion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $29,400 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1.3%
industry: 24.7%
services: 74.1% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

66.97 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 5%, industry 25%, services 70% (2002 est.)

Unemployment rate:

4.7% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 4.8%
highest 10%: 21.7% (1993)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

24.9 (1993)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

-0.1% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

24% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.401 trillion
expenditures: $1.748 trillion, including capital expenditures (public works only) of about $71 billion (2004 est.)

Public debt:

164.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit, pork, poultry, dairy products, eggs, fish

Industries:

among world's largest and technologically advanced producers of motor vehicles, electronic equipment, machine tools, steel and nonferrous metals, ships, chemicals, textiles, processed foods

Industrial production growth rate:

6.6% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

1.044 trillion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 60%
hydro: 8.4%
nuclear: 29.8%
other: 1.8% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

971 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

17,330 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

5.29 million bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

93,360 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:

5.449 million bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

29.29 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

2.519 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

80.42 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

77.73 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

20.02 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$170.2 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$538.8 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

transport equipment, motor vehicles, semiconductors, electrical machinery, chemicals

Exports - partners:

US 22.7%, China 13.1%, South Korea 7.8%, Taiwan 7.4%, Hong Kong 6.3% (2004)

Imports:

$401.8 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, fuels, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles, raw materials (2001)

Imports - partners:

China 20.7%, US 14%, South Korea 4.9%, Australia 4.3%, Indonesia 4.1%, Saudi Arabia 4.1%, UAE 4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$664.6 billion (2003)

Debt - external:

NA (2002 est.)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $7.9 billion (FY03/04)

Currency (code):

yen (JPY)

Currency code:

JPY

Exchange rates:

yen per US dollar - 108.19 (2004), 115.93 (2003), 125.39 (2002), 121.53 (2001), 107.77 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

Japan

Telephones - main lines in use:

71.149 million (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

86,658,600 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: excellent domestic and international service
domestic: high level of modern technology and excellent service of every kind
international: country code - 81; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (4 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region), and 1 Inmarsat (Pacific and Indian Ocean regions); submarine cables to China, Philippines, Russia, and US (via Guam) (1999)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 215 plus 370 repeaters, FM 89 plus 485 repeaters, shortwave 21 (2001)

Radios:

120.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

211 plus 7,341 repeaters
note: in addition, US Forces are served by 3 TV stations and 2 TV cable services (1999)

Televisions:

86.5 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.jp

Internet hosts:

12,962,065 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

73 (2000)

Internet users:

57.2 million (2002)

Transportation

Japan

Railways:

total: 23,577 km (16,519 km electrified)
standard gauge: 3,204 km 1.435-m gauge (3,204 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 77 km 1.372-m gauge (77 km electrified); 20,265 km 1.067-m gauge (13,227 km electrified); 11 km 0.762-m gauge (11 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 1,171,647 km
paved: 903,340 km (including 6,851 km of expressways)
unpaved: 268,307 km (2001)

Waterways:

1,770 km (seagoing vessels use inland seas) (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 2,719 km; oil 170 km; oil/gas/water 60 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Chiba, Kawasaki, Kiire, Kisarazu, Kobe, Mizushima, Nagoya, Osaka, Tokyo, Yohohama

Merchant marine:

total: 702 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 10,149,196 GRT/12,680,544 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 136, cargo 29, chemical tanker 23, container 13, liquefied gas 53, passenger 16, passenger/cargo 157, petroleum tanker 160, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 52, vehicle carrier 59
registered in other countries: 2,233 (2005)

Airports:

174 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 143
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 37
1,524 to 2,437 m: 39
914 to 1,523 m: 28
under 914 m: 32 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 31
over 3047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 26 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

15 (2004 est.)

Military

Japan

Military branches:

Ground Self-Defense Force (Army), Maritime Self-Defense Force (Navy), Air Self-Defense Force (Air Force)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 27,003,112 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 22,234,663 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 683,147 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$45.841 billion (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Japan

Disputes - international:

the sovereignty dispute over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, and Shikotan, and the Habomai group, known in Japan as the "Northern Territories" and in Russia as the "Southern Kuril Islands", occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia and claimed by Japan, remains the primary sticking point to signing a peace treaty formally ending World War II hostilities; Japan and South Korea claim Liancourt Rocks (Take-shima/Tok-do), occupied by South Korea since 1954; China and Taiwan dispute both Japan's claims to the uninhabited islands of the Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) and Japan's unilaterally declared exclusive economic zone in the East China Sea, the site of intensive hydrocarbon prospecting

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Jersey

Introduction

Jersey

Background:

The island of Jersey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy that held sway in both France and England. These islands were the only British soil occupied by German troops in World War II.

Geography

Jersey

Location:

Western Europe, island in the English Channel, northwest of France

Geographic coordinates:

49 15 N, 2 10 W

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 116 sq km
land: 116 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about two-thirds the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

70 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm

Climate:

temperate; mild winters and cool summers

Terrain:

gently rolling plain with low, rugged hills along north coast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 143 m

Natural resources:

arable land

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

largest and southernmost of Channel Islands; about 30% of population concentrated in Saint Helier

People

Jersey

Population:

90,812 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 17.5% (male 8,222/female 7,658)
15-64 years: 67% (male 30,296/female 30,561)
65 years and over: 15.5% (male 6,176/female 7,899) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 40.89 years
male: 40.13 years
female: 41.63 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.32% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

9.66 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

9.19 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.24 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.24 years
male: 76.77 years
female: 81.91 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.57 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Channel Islander(s)
adjective: Channel Islander

Ethnic groups:

Jersey 51.1%, British 34.8%, Irish, French, and other white 6.6%, Portuguese/Madeiran 6.4%, other 1.1% (2001 census)

Religions:

Anglican, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Congregational New Church, Methodist, Presbyterian

Languages:

English 94.5% (official), Portuguese 4.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census)

Literacy:

definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Jersey

Country name:

conventional long form: Bailiwick of Jersey
conventional short form: Jersey

Dependency status:

British crown dependency

Government type:

NA

Capital:

Saint Helier

Administrative divisions:

none (British crown dependency)

Independence:

none (British crown dependency)

National holiday:

Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

Constitution:

unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice

Legal system:

English law and local statute; justice is administered by the Royal Court

Suffrage:

NA years of age; universal adult

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Lieutenant Governor and Commander in Chief Air Chief Marshall Sir John CHESHIRE (since 24 January 2001) and Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE (since NA February 1995)
cabinet: committees appointed by the Assembly of the States
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 (elected for 6-year terms), 12 constables or heads of parishes (elected for 3-year terms), 29 deputies (elected for 3-year terms); the bailiff and the deputy bailiff; and 3 non-voting members - the Dean of Jersey, the Attorney General, and the Solicitor General all appointed by the monarch)
elections: last held NA (next to be held NA)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 53

Judicial branch:

Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff)

Political parties and leaders:

none; all independents

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (British crown dependency)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (British crown dependency)

Flag description:

white with a diagonal red cross extending to the corners of the flag; in the upper quadrant, surmounted by a yellow crown, a red shield with the three lions of England in yellow

Economy

Jersey

Economy - overview:

The Channel Island economy is based on international financial services, agriculture, and tourism. In 1996 the finance sector accounted for about 60% of the island's output. Potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes, and especially flowers are important export crops, shipped mostly to the UK. The Jersey breed of dairy cattle is known worldwide and represents an important export income earner. Milk products go to the UK and other EU countries. Tourism accounts for 24% of GDP. In recent years, the government has encouraged light industry to locate in Jersey, with the result that an electronics industry has developed alongside the traditional manufacturing of knitwear. All raw material and energy requirements are imported, as well as a large share of Jersey's food needs. Light taxes and death duties make the island a popular tax haven. Living standards come close to those of the UK.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$3.6 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

NA%

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $40,000 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 5%
industry: 2%
services: 93% (1996)

Labor force:

52,790 (2004)

Unemployment rate:

0.9% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.3% (2004)

Budget:

revenues: $601 million
expenditures: $588 million, including capital expenditures of $98 million (2000 est.)

Agriculture - products:

potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products

Industries:

tourism, banking and finance, dairy

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - consumption:

630.1 million kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - imports:

NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France

Exports:

$NA

Exports - commodities:

light industrial and electrical goods, foodstuffs, textiles

Exports - partners:

UK

Imports:

$NA

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners:

UK

Debt - external:

none

Economic aid - recipient:

none

Currency (code):

British pound (GBP); note - there is also a Jersey pound

Currency code:

GBP

Exchange rates:

Jersey pounds per US dollar - 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002), 0.6947 (2001), 0.6609 (2000)
note: the Jersey pound is at par with the British pound

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

Jersey

Telephones - main lines in use:

73,900 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

61,400 (2001)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: 3 submarine cables

Radio broadcast stations:

AM NA, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

NA

Television broadcast stations:

2 (1997)

Televisions:

NA

Internet country code:

.je

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

NA

Internet users:

NA

Transportation

Jersey

Highways:

total: 577 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km

Ports and harbors:

Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier

Airports:

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Jersey

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues

Jersey

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Jamaica

Introduction

Jamaica

Background:

Jamaica gained full independence within the British Commonwealth in 1962. Deteriorating economic conditions during the 1970s led to recurrent violence and a drop off in tourism. Elections in 1980 saw the democratic socialists voted out of office. Political violence marred elections during the 1990s.

Geography

Jamaica

Location:

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, south of Cuba

Geographic coordinates:

18 15 N, 77 30 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 10,991 sq km
land: 10,831 sq km
water: 160 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

1,022 km

Maritime claims:

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid; temperate interior

Terrain:

mostly mountains, with narrow, discontinuous coastal plain

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m

Natural resources:

bauxite, gypsum, limestone

Land use:

arable land: 16.07%
permanent crops: 10.16%
other: 73.77% (2001)

Irrigated land:

250 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

hurricanes (especially July to November)

Environment - current issues:

heavy rates of deforestation; coastal waters polluted by industrial waste, sewage, and oil spills; damage to coral reefs; air pollution in Kingston results from vehicle emissions

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location between Cayman Trench and Jamaica Channel, the main sea lanes for the Panama Canal

People

Jamaica

Population:

2,731,832 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 27.5% (male 385,099/female 367,398)
15-64 years: 65.6% (male 897,953/female 893,509)
65 years and over: 6.9% (male 83,632/female 104,241) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 27.25 years
male: 26.55 years
female: 27.97 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.71% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

16.56 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

5.37 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-4.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 12.36 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.33 years
male: 71.63 years
female: 75.12 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.95 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

22,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

900 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Jamaican(s)
adjective: Jamaican

Ethnic groups:

black 90.9%, East Indian 1.3%, white 0.2%, Chinese 0.2%, mixed 7.3%, other 0.1%

Religions:

Protestant 61.3% (Church of God 21.2%, Baptist 8.8%, Anglican 5.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 9%, Pentecostal 7.6%, Methodist 2.7%, United Church 2.7%, Brethren 1.1%, Jehovah's Witness 1.6%, Moravian 1.1%), Roman Catholic 4%, other including some spiritual cults 34.7%

Languages:

English, patois English

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 87.9%
male: 84.1%
female: 91.6% (2003 est.)

Government

Jamaica

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Jamaica

Government type:

constitutional parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Kingston

Administrative divisions:

14 parishes; Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston, Manchester, Portland, Saint Andrew, Saint Ann, Saint Catherine, Saint Elizabeth, Saint James, Saint Mary, Saint Thomas, Trelawny, Westmoreland
note: for local government purposes, Kingston and Saint Andrew were amalgamated in 1923 into the present single corporate body known as the Kingston and Saint Andrew Corporation

Independence:

6 August 1962 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 6 August (1962)

Constitution:

6 August 1962

Legal system:

based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Howard Felix COOKE (since 1 August 1991)
head of government: Prime Minister Percival James PATTERSON (since 30 March 1992)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition in the House of Representatives is appointed prime minister by the governor general; the deputy prime minister is recommended by the prime minister

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (a 21-member body appointed by the governor general on the recommendations of the prime minister and the leader of the opposition; ruling party is allocated 13 seats, and the opposition is allocated eight seats) and the House of Representatives (60 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 16 October 2002 (next to be held in October 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - PNP 52%, JLP 47.3%; seats by party - PNP 34, JLP 26

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister); Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders:

Jamaica Labor Party or JLP [Bruce GOLDING]; National Democratic Movement or NDM [Hyacinth BENNETT]; People's National Party or PNP [Percival James PATTERSON]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

New Beginnings Movement or NBM; Rastafarians (black religious/racial cultists, pan-Africanists)

International organization participation:

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Gordon SHIRLEY
chancery: 1520 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 452-0660
FAX: [1] (202) 452-0081
consulate(s) general: Miami and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Sue McCourt COBB
embassy: Jamaica Mutual Life Center, 2 Oxford Road, 3rd floor, Kingston 5
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [1] (876) 929-4850 through 4859
FAX: [1] (876) 935-6001

Flag description:

diagonal yellow cross divides the flag into four triangles - green (top and bottom) and black (hoist side and outer side)

Economy

Jamaica

Economy - overview:

The Jamaican economy is heavily dependent on services, which now account for 60% of GDP. The country continues to derive most of its foreign exchange from tourism, remittances, and bauxite/alumina. The global economic slowdown, particularly after the terrorist attacks in the US on 11 September 2001, stunted economic growth; the economy rebounded moderately in 2003-04, with brisk tourist seasons. But the economy faces serious long-term problems: high interest rates; increased foreign competition; a pressured, sometimes sliding, exchange rate; a sizable merchandise trade deficit; large-scale unemployment; and a growing internal debt, the result of government bailouts to ailing sectors of the economy. The ratio of debt to GDP is close to 150%. Inflation, previously a bright spot, is expected to remain in the double digits. Uncertain economic conditions have led to increased civil unrest, including gang violence fueled by the drug trade. In 2004, the government faced the difficult prospect of having to achieve fiscal discipline in order to maintain debt payments while simultaneously attacking a serious and growing crime problem which is hampering economic growth. Attempts at deficit control were derailed by Hurricane Ivan in September 2004, which required substantial government spending to repair the damage. Despite the hurricane, tourism looks set to enjoy solid growth for the foreseeable future.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$11.13 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $4,100 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 6.1%
industry: 32.7%
services: 61.3% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

1.14 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 20.1%, industry 16.6%, services 63.4% (2003)

Unemployment rate:

15% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

19.7% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 30.3% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

37.9 (2000)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

12.4% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

32% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $2.793 billion
expenditures: $3.157 billion, including capital expenditures of $236 million (2004 est.)

Public debt:

146.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus, yams, vegetables, poultry, goats, milk, crustaceans, and mollusks

Industries:

tourism, bauxite/alumina, textiles, agro processing, wearing apparel, light manufactures, rum, cement, metal, paper, chemical products, telecommunications

Industrial production growth rate:

-2% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:

6.289 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 96.8%
hydro: 1.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1.4% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

5.849 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

66,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-830.7 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$1.679 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

alumina, bauxite, sugar, bananas, rum, coffee, yams, beverages, chemicals, wearing apparel, mineral fuels

Exports - partners:

US 17.4%, Canada 14.8%, France 13%, China 10.5%, UK 8.7%, Netherlands 7.5%, Norway 6%, Germany 5.9% (2004)

Imports:

$3.624 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food and other consumer goods, industrial supplies, fuel, parts and accessories of capital goods, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials

Imports - partners:

US 38.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 13.2%, France 5.6%, Japan 4.7% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.4 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$5.964 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$16 million (2003)

Currency (code):

Jamaican dollar (JMD)

Currency code:

JMD

Exchange rates:

Jamaican dollars per US dollar - 61.197 (2004), 57.741 (2003), 48.416 (2002), 45.996 (2001), 42.986 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

Jamaica

Telephones - main lines in use:

444,400 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.4 million (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: fully automatic domestic telephone network
domestic: NA
international: country code - 1-876; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); 3 coaxial submarine cables

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 10, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

1.215 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

7 (1997)

Televisions:

460,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.jm

Internet hosts:

1,480 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

21 (2000)

Internet users:

600,000 (2002)

Transportation

Jamaica

Railways:

total: 272 km
standard gauge: 272 km 1.435-m gauge
note: 207 of these km belonging to the Jamaica Railway Corporation had been in common carrier service until 1992 but are no longer operational; 57 km of the remaining track is privately owned and used by ALCAN to transport bauxite (2003)

Highways:

total: 18,700 km
paved: 13,109 km
unpaved: 5,591 km (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors:

Kingston, Port Esquivel, Port Kaiser, Port Rhoades, Rocky Point

Merchant marine:

total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 74,881 GRT/100,682 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 5, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned: 8 (Germany 2, Greece 5, UAE 1) (2005)

Airports:

35 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 22 (2004 est.)

Military

Jamaica

Military branches:

Jamaica Defense Force: Ground Forces, Coast Guard, Air Wing

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; younger recruits may be conscripted with parental consent (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 696,900 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 587,006 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 26,080 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$31.2 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.4% (2003)

Transnational Issues

Jamaica

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

major transshipment point for cocaine from South America to North America and Europe; illicit cultivation of cannabis; government has an active manual cannabis eradication program; corruption is a major concern; substantial money-laundering activity; Colombian narcotics traffickers favor Jamaica for illicit financial transactions

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Jan Mayen

Introduction

Jan Mayen

Background:

This desolate, mountainous island was named after a Dutch whaling captain who indisputably discovered it in 1614 (earlier claims are inconclusive). Visited only occasionally by seal hunters and trappers over the following centuries, the island came under Norwegian sovereignty in 1929. The long dormant Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg volcano resumed activity in 1970; it is the northernmost active volcano on earth.

Geography

Jan Mayen

Location:

Northern Europe, island between the Greenland Sea and the Norwegian Sea, northeast of Iceland

Geographic coordinates:

71 00 N, 8 00 W

Map references:

Arctic Region

Area:

total: 373 sq km
land: 373 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

124.1 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 4 nm
contiguous zone: 10 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

arctic maritime with frequent storms and persistent fog

Terrain:

volcanic island, partly covered by glaciers

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
highest point: Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg 2,277 m

Natural resources:

none

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

dominated by the volcano Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg; volcanic activity resumed in 1970

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

barren volcanic island with some moss and grass

People

Jan Mayen

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants
note: personnel operate the Long Range Navigation (Loran-C) base and the weather and coastal services radio station (July 2005 est.)

Government

Jan Mayen

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Jan Mayen

Dependency status:

territory of Norway; since August 1994, administered from Oslo through the county governor (fylkesmann) of Nordland; however, authority has been delegated to a station commander of the Norwegian Defense Communication Service

Legal system:

the laws of Norway, where applicable, apply

Flag description:

the flag of Norway is used

Economy

Jan Mayen

Economy - overview:

Jan Mayen is a volcanic island with no exploitable natural resources. Economic activity is limited to providing services for employees of Norway's radio and meteorological stations on the island.

Communications

Jan Mayen

Radio broadcast stations:

AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
note: there is one radio and meteorological station (1998)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

13 (Jan Mayen and Svalbard) (2000)

Transportation

Jan Mayen

Ports and harbors:

none; offshore anchorage only

Airports:

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Jan Mayen

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Norway

Transnational Issues

Jan Mayen

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Jordan

Introduction

Jordan

Background:

For most of its history since independence from British administration in 1946, Jordan was ruled by King HUSSEIN (1953-99). A pragmatic ruler, he successfully navigated competing pressures from the major powers (US, USSR, and UK), various Arab states, Israel, and a large internal Palestinian population, despite several wars and coup attempts. In 1989 he reinstituted parliamentary elections and gradual political liberalization; in 1994 he signed a formal peace treaty with Israel. King ABDALLAH II - the eldest son of King HUSSEIN and Princess MUNA - assumed the throne following his father's death in February 1999. Since then, he has consolidated his power and undertaken an aggressive economic reform program. Jordan acceded to the World Trade Organization in 2000, and began to participate in the European Free Trade Association in 2001. After a two-year delay, parliamentary and municipal elections took place in the summer of 2003. The Prime Minister and government appointed in April 2005 declared they would build upon the previous government's achievements to respect political and human rights and improve living standards.

Geography

Jordan

Location:

Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia

Geographic coordinates:

31 00 N, 36 00 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 92,300 sq km
land: 91,971 sq km
water: 329 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Indiana

Land boundaries:

total: 1,635 km
border countries: Iraq 181 km, Israel 238 km, Saudi Arabia 744 km, Syria 375 km, West Bank 97 km

Coastline:

26 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm

Climate:

mostly arid desert; rainy season in west (November to April)

Terrain:

mostly desert plateau in east, highland area in west; Great Rift Valley separates East and West Banks of the Jordan River

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Jabal Ram 1,734 m

Natural resources:

phosphates, potash, shale oil

Land use:

arable land: 2.67%
permanent crops: 1.83%
other: 95.5% (2001)

Irrigated land:

750 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

droughts; periodic earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location at the head of the Gulf of Aqaba and as the Arab country that shares the longest border with Israel and the occupied West Bank

People

Jordan

Population:

5,759,732 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 34.5% (male 1,015,084/female 973,220)
15-64 years: 61.7% (male 1,897,643/female 1,656,570)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 106,168/female 111,047) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 22.62 years
male: 23.25 years
female: 21.94 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.56% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

21.76 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

2.63 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

6.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.15 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 17.35 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 20.75 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.24 years
male: 75.75 years
female: 80.88 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.71 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

600 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 500 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Jordanian(s)
adjective: Jordanian

Ethnic groups:

Arab 98%, Circassian 1%, Armenian 1%

Religions:

Sunni Muslim 92%, Christian 6% (majority Greek Orthodox, but some Greek and Roman Catholics, Syrian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox, and Protestant denominations), other 2% (several small Shi'a Muslim and Druze populations) (2001 est.)

Languages:

Arabic (official), English widely understood among upper and middle classes

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.3%
male: 95.9%
female: 86.3% (2003 est.)

Government

Jordan

Country name:

conventional long form: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
conventional short form: Jordan
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Urduniyah al Hashimiyah
local short form: Al Urdun
former: Transjordan

Government type:

constitutional monarchy

Capital:

'Amman

Administrative divisions:

12 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ajlun, Al 'Aqabah, Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al Mafraq, 'Amman, At Tafilah, Az Zarqa', Irbid, Jarash, Ma'an, Madaba

Independence:

25 May 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under British administration)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 25 May (1946)

Constitution:

1 January 1952; amended 1974, 1976, 1984

Legal system:

based on Islamic law and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in a specially provided High Tribunal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: King ABDALLAH II (since 7 February 1999); Prince HUSSEIN (born 1994), son of King ABDALLAH, is first in line to inherit the throne
head of government: Prime Minister Adnan BADRAN (since 7 April 2005); Deputy Prime Ministers Marwan al-MUASHER and Hisham al-TEL (since 3 July 2005)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-'Umma consists of the Senate, also called the House of Notables (Majlis al-Ayan) (55 seats; members appointed by the monarch from designated categories of public figures; members serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives, also called the House of Deputies (Majlis al-Nuwaab) (110 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms; note - six seats are reserved for women and are allocated by a special electoral panel if no women are elected)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 17 June 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - independents and others 89.6%, Islamic Action Front (IAF) 10.4%; seats by party - independents and others 92, Islamic Action Front 18; note - one of the six quota seats was given to a female IAF candidate
note: the House of Representatives has been convened and dissolved by the monarch several times since 1974; in November 1989, the first parliamentary elections in 22 years were held; political parties were not legalized until 1992; King ABDALLAH delayed the 2001 elections until 2003

Judicial branch:

Court of Cassation; Supreme Court (court of final appeal)

Political parties and leaders:

Al-Ajyal [Muhammad KHALAYLEH, secretary general]; Al-Umma (Nation) Party [Ahmad al-HANANDEH, secretary general]; Arab Land Party [Dr. Ayishah Salih HIJAZAYN, secretary general]; Ba'th Arab Progressive Party [Fu'ad DABBUR, secretary general]; Communist Party [Munir HAMARINAH, secretary general]; Constitutional National Party [Ahmad al-SHUNNAQ, secretary general; Democratic Arab Islamic Movement [Yusuf ABU BAKR, president]; Green Party [Muhammad BATAYNEH, secretary general]; Islamic Action Front [Hazma MANSOUR, secretary general]; Islamic al-Walsat Party [Marwan al-FAURI], secretary general; Jordanian Democratic Left Party [Musa MA'AYTEH, secretary general]; Jordanian Democratic Popular Unity Party [Sa'id Dhiyab Ali MUSTAFA, secretary general]; Jordanian People's Democratic (Hashd) Party [Ahmad YUSUF, secretary general]; Jordanian Progressive Party [Fawwaz al-ZUBI, secretary general]; Labor Party [Dr. Mazin Sulayman Jiryis HANNA, secretary general]; Muslim Centrist Party [leader NA]; National Action (Haqq) Party [Tariq al-KAYYALI, secretary general]; National Constitutional Party [Abdul Hadi MAJALI, secretary general]; National Movement for Direct Democracy [Mahmud al-NUWAYHI, secretary general]; Pan-Arab (Democratic) Movement [Mahmud al-NUWAYHI, secretary general]; (Arab) Socialist Ba'th Party [Taysir al-HIMSI, secretary general]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Anti-Normalization Committee [Ali Abu SUKKAR, president vice chairman]; Jordanian Bar Association [Saleh ARMOUTI, president]; Jordanian Press Association [Sayf al-SHARIF, president]; Muslim Brotherhood [Abd-al-Majid DHUNAYBAT, secretary general]

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Karim Tawfiq KAWAR
chancery: 3504 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 966-2664
FAX: [1] (202) 966-3110

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires David M. HALE
embassy: Abdoun, Amman
mailing address: P. O. Box 354, Amman 11118 Jordan; Unit 70200, Box 5, APO AE 09892-0200
telephone: [962] (6) 592-0101
FAX: [962] (6) 592-4102

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of black (top), representing the Abbassid Caliphate, white, representing the Ummayyad Caliphate, and green, representing the Fatimid Caliphate; a red isosceles triangle on the hoist side, representing the Great Arab Revolt of 1916, and bearing a small white seven-pointed star symbolizing the seven verses of the opening Sura (Al-Fatiha) of the Holy Koran; the seven points on the star represent faith in One God, humanity, national spirit, humility, social justice, virtue, and aspirations; design is based on the Arab Revolt flag of World War I

Economy

Jordan

Economy - overview:

Jordan is a small Arab country with inadequate supplies of water and other natural resources such as oil. Debt, poverty, and unemployment are fundamental problems, but King ABDALLAH, since assuming the throne in 1999, has undertaken some broad economic reforms in a long-term effort to improve living standards. Amman in the past three years has worked closely with the IMF, practiced careful monetary policy, and made substantial headway with privatization. The government also has liberalized the trade regime sufficiently to secure Jordan's membership in the WTO (2000), a free trade accord with the US (2001), and an association agreement with the EU (2001). These measures have helped improve productivity and have put Jordan on the foreign investment map. Jordan imported most of its oil from Iraq, but the US-led war in Iraq in 2003 made Jordan more dependent on oil from other Gulf nations forcing the Jordanian government to raise retail petroleum product prices and the sales tax base. Jordan's export market, which is heavily dependent on exports to Iraq, was also affected by the war but recovered quickly while contributing to the Iraq recovery effort. The main challenges facing Jordan are reducing dependence on foreign grants, reducing the budget deficit, and creating investment incentives to promote job creation.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$25.5 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.1% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $4,500 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.4%
industry: 26%
services: 71.5% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

1.41 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 5%, industry 12.5%, services 82.5% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate:

15% official rate; unofficial rate is approximately 30% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

30% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.3%
highest 10%: 29.8% (1997)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

36.4 (1997)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.2% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

11.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $3.483 billion
expenditures: $3.616 billion, including capital expenditures of $782 million (2004 est.)

Public debt:

85.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, barley, citrus, tomatoes, melons, olives; sheep, goats, poultry

Industries:

phosphate mining, pharmaceuticals, petroleum refining, cement, potash, inorganic chemicals, light manufacturing, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

5% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

7.307 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 99.4%
hydro: 0.6%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

7.094 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

2 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

300 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

40 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

103,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - imports:

100,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

445,000 bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

290 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

290 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

3.256 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$203.2 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$3.2 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

clothing, phosphates, fertilizers, potash, vegetables, manufactures, pharmaceuticals

Exports - partners:

US 28.9%, Iraq 17.6%, India 7.1%, Saudi Arabia 5.6% (2004)

Imports:

$7.6 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

crude oil, textile fabrics, machinery, transport equipment, manufactured goods

Imports - partners:

Saudi Arabia 19.8%, China 8.4%, Germany 6.8%, US 6.8% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$5.457 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$7.32 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $500 million (2004 est.)

Currency (code):

Jordanian dinar (JOD)

Currency code:

JOD

Exchange rates:

Jordanian dinars per US dollar - 0.709 (2004), 0.709 (2003), 0.709 (2002), 0.709 (2001), 0.709 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Jordan

Telephones - main lines in use:

622,600 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,325,300 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: service has improved recently with increased use of digital switching equipment, but better access to the telephone system is needed in the rural areas and easier access to pay telephones is needed by the urban public
domestic: microwave radio relay transmission and coaxial and fiber-optic cable are employed on trunk lines; considerable use of mobile cellular systems; Internet service is available
international: country code - 962; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat, 1 Arabsat, and 29 land and maritime Inmarsat terminals; fiber-optic cable to Saudi Arabia and microwave radio relay link with Egypt and Syria; connection to international submarine cable FLAG (Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe); participant in MEDARABTEL; international links total about 4,000

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1999)

Radios:

1.66 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

20 (plus 96 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

500,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.jo

Internet hosts:

3,160 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2000)

Internet users:

457,000 (2003)

Transportation

Jordan

Railways:

total: 505 km
narrow gauge: 505 km 1.050-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 7,301 km
paved: 7,301 km
unpaved: 0 km (2002)

Pipelines:

gas 10 km; oil 743 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Al 'Aqabah

Merchant marine:

total: 20 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 78,814 GRT/92,695 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 7, container 2, passenger/cargo 5, roll on/roll off 4
foreign-owned: 12 (Greece 3, UAE 9)
registered in other countries: 14 (2005)

Airports:

17 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 15
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

Jordan

Military branches:

Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF): Royal Jordanian Land Force, Royal Jordanian Navy, Royal Jordanian Air Force, and Special Operations Command (SOCOM); note - Public Security Directorate normally falls under Ministry of Interior but comes under JAF in wartime or crisis situations

Military service age and obligation:

17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription at age 18 was suspended in 1999, although all males under age 37 are required to register (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 17-49: 1,573,995 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 17-49: 1,348,076 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 60,625 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$1.46 billion (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

14.6% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Jordan

Disputes - international:

2004 Agreement settles border dispute with Syria pending demarcation

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 1,740,170 (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA))
IDPs: 800,000 (1967 Arab-Israeli War) (2004)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Johnston Atoll

Introduction

Johnston Atoll

Background:

Both the US and the Kingdom of Hawaii annexed Johnston Atoll in 1858, but it was the US that mined the guano deposits until the late 1880s. Johnston and Sand Islands were designated wildlife refuges in 1926. The US Navy took over the atoll in 1934, and subsequently the US Air Force assumed control in 1948. The site was used for high-altitude nuclear tests in the 1950s and 1960s, and until late in 2000 the atoll was maintained as a storage and disposal site for chemical weapons. Munitions destruction is now complete. Cleanup and closure of the facility was completed in 2004.

Geography

Johnston Atoll

Location:

Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean 717 nm (1328 km) southwest of Honolulu, Hawaii, about one-third of the way from Hawaii to the Marshall Islands

Geographic coordinates:

16 45 N, 169 31 W

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 2.8 sq km
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:

34 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical, but generally dry; consistent northeast trade winds with little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:

mostly flat

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Summit Peak 5 m

Natural resources:

guano deposits worked until depletion about 1890, terrestrial and aquatic wildlife

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

no natural fresh water resources

Geography - note:

strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; Johnston Island and Sand Island are natural islands, which have been expanded by coral dredging; North Island (Akau) and East Island (Hikina) are manmade islands formed from coral dredging; the egg-shaped reef is 34 km in circumference; closed to the public; a former US nuclear weapons test site; site of now-closed Johnston Atoll Chemical Agent Disposal System (JACADS); most facilities dismantled and cleanup complete in 2004; some low-growing vegetation

People

Johnston Atoll

Population:

361 no indigenous inhabitants
note: in previous years, there was an average of 1,100 US military and civilian contractor personnel present; as of September 2001, population had decreased significantly when US Army Chemical Activity Pacific (USACAP) departed; as of January 2004 the island population was just above 200 personnel, including US Air Force, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and civilian contractor personnel (July 2005 est.)

Government

Johnston Atoll

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Johnston Atoll

Dependency status:

unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Honolulu, HI, by Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base, and the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system

Legal system:

the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

Flag description:

the flag of the US is used

Economy

Johnston Atoll

Economy - overview:

Economic activity is limited to providing services to US military personnel and contractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.

Communications

Johnston Atoll

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: 512 KB satellite link to Hawaii teleport; 20 (POTS) voice and data lines
international: NA (2002)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 256 KB circuit to US Department of Defense-run Nonsecure Internet Protocol Router Network (NIPRNET) (2002)

Transportation

Johnston Atoll

Ports and harbors:

Johnston Island

Airports:

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Johnston Atoll

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues

Johnston Atoll

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Juan de Nova Island

Introduction

Juan de Nova Island

Background:

Named after a famous 15th century Spanish navigator and explorer, the island has been a French possession since 1897. It has been exploited for its guano and phosphate. Presently a small military garrison oversees a meteorological station.

Geography

Juan de Nova Island

Location:

Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-third of the way between Madagascar and Mozambique

Geographic coordinates:

17 03 S, 42 45 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 4.4 sq km
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:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

tropical

Terrain:

low and flat

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 10 m

Natural resources:

guano deposits and other fertilizers

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (90% forest) (2001)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

periodic cyclones

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

wildlife sanctuary

People

Juan de Nova Island

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants
note: there is a small French military garrison along with a few meteorologists; occasionally visited by scientists (July 2005 est.)

Government

Juan de Nova Island

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Juan de Nova Island
local long form: none
local short form: Ile Juan de Nova

Dependency status:

possession of France; administered by the Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Legal system:

the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (possession of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (possession of France)

Flag description:

the flag of France is used

Economy

Juan de Nova Island

Economy - overview:

Up to 12,000 tons of guano are mined per year.

Communications

Juan de Nova Island

Communications - note:

1 meteorological station

Transportation

Juan de Nova Island

Ports and harbors:

none; offshore anchorage only

Airports:

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Juan de Nova Island

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

Juan de Nova Island

Disputes - international:

claimed by Madagascar

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Kenya

Introduction

Kenya

Background:

Founding president and liberation struggle icon Jomo KENYATTA led Kenya from independence until his death in 1978, when President Daniel Toroitich arap MOI took power in a constitutional succession. The country was a de facto one-party state from 1969 until 1982 when the ruling Kenya African National Union (KANU) made itself the sole legal party in Kenya. MOI acceded to internal and external pressure for political liberalization in late 1991. The ethnically fractured opposition failed to dislodge KANU from power in elections in 1992 and 1997, which were marred by violence and fraud, but are viewed as having generally reflected the will of the Kenyan people. President MOI stepped down in December of 2002 following fair and peaceful elections. Mwai KIBAKI, running as the candidate of the multiethnic, united opposition group, the National Rainbow Coalition, defeated KANU candidate Uhuru KENYATTA and assumed the presidency following a campaign centered on an anticorruption platform.

Geography

Kenya

Location:

Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania

Geographic coordinates:

1 00 N, 38 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 582,650 sq km
land: 569,250 sq km
water: 13,400 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than twice the size of Nevada

Land boundaries:

total: 3,477 km
border countries: Ethiopia 861 km, Somalia 682 km, Sudan 232 km, Tanzania 769 km, Uganda 933 km

Coastline:

536 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior

Terrain:

low plains rise to central highlands bisected by Great Rift Valley; fertile plateau in west

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m

Natural resources:

limestone, soda ash, salt, gemstones, fluorspar, zinc, diatomite, gypsum, wildlife, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 8.08%
permanent crops: 0.98%
other: 90.94% (2001)

Irrigated land:

670 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

recurring drought; flooding during rainy seasons

Environment - current issues:

water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; poaching

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the Kenyan Highlands comprise one of the most successful agricultural production regions in Africa; glaciers are found on Mount Kenya, Africa's second highest peak; unique physiography supports abundant and varied wildlife of scientific and economic value

People

Kenya

Population:

33,829,590
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 42.5% (male 7,252,075/female 7,124,034)
15-64 years: 55.2% (male 9,378,428/female 9,295,471)
65 years and over: 2.3% (male 356,116/female 423,466) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.19 years
male: 18.08 years
female: 18.3 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.56% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

40.13 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

14.65 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: according to UNHCR, by the end of 2001 Kenya was host to 220,000 refugees from neighboring countries, including: Somalia 145,000 and Sudan 68,000 (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 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 (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 61.47 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 64.26 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 58.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 47.99 years
male: 48.87 years
female: 47.09 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.96 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

6.7% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

1.2 million (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

150,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria is a high risk in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Kenyan(s)
adjective: Kenyan

Ethnic groups:

Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%

Religions:

Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, indigenous beliefs 10%, Muslim 10%, other 2%
note: a large majority of Kenyans are Christian, but estimates for the percentage of the population that adheres to Islam or indigenous beliefs vary widely

Languages:

English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85.1%
male: 90.6%
female: 79.7% (2003 est.)

Government

Kenya

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Kenya
conventional short form: Kenya
former: British East Africa

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Nairobi

Administrative divisions:

7 provinces and 1 area*; Central, Coast, Eastern, Nairobi Area*, North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western

Independence:

12 December 1963 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 12 December (1963)

Constitution:

12 December 1963; amended as a republic 1964; reissued with amendments 1979, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1997, and 2001

Legal system:

based on Kenyan statutory law, Kenyan and English common law, tribal law, and Islamic law; judicial review in High Court; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations; constitutional amendment of 1982 making Kenya a de jure one-party state repealed in 1991

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Mwai KIBAKI (since 30 December 2002) and Vice President Moody AWORI (since 25 September 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Mwai KIBAKI (since 30 December 2002) and Vice President Moody AWORI (since 25 September 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; in addition to receiving the largest number of votes in absolute terms, the presidential candidate must also win 25% or more of the vote in at least five of Kenya's seven provinces and one area to avoid a runoff; election last held 27 December 2002 (next to be held December 2007); vice president appointed by the president
election results: President Mwai KIBAKI elected; percent of vote - Mwai KIBAKI 63%, Uhuru KENYATTA 30%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (224 seats; 210 members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms, 12 so-called "nominated" members who are appointed by the president but selected by the parties in proportion to their parliamentary vote totals, 2 ex-officio members)
elections: last held 27 December 2002 (next to be held by early 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NARC 125, KANU 64, FORD-P 14, other 7; ex-officio 2; seats appointed by the president - NARC 7, KANU 4, FORD-P 1

Judicial branch:

Court of Appeal (chief justice is appointed by the president); High Court

Political parties and leaders:

Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-People or FORD-People [Kimaniwa NYOIKE, chairman]; Kenya African National Union or KANU [Uhuru KENYATTA]; National Rainbow Coalition or NARC [Mwai KIBAKI] - the governing party

Political pressure groups and leaders:

human rights groups; labor unions; Muslim organizations; National Convention Executive Council or NCEC, a proreform coalition of political parties and nongovernment organizations [Kivutha KIBWANA]; Protestant National Council of Churches of Kenya or NCCK [Mutava MUSYIMI]; Roman Catholic and other Christian churches; Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims or SUPKEM [Shaykh Abdul Gafur al-BUSAIDY]

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, EADB, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Leonard NGAITHE
chancery: 2249 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-6101
FAX: [1] (202) 462-3829
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador William M. BELLAMY
embassy: US Embassy, United Nations Ave., Gigiri; P. O. Box 606 Village Market Nairobi
mailing address: Box 21A, Unit 64100, APO AE 09831
telephone: [254] (20) 537-800
FAX: [254] (20) 537-810

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green; the red band is edged in white; a large warrior's shield covering crossed spears is superimposed at the center

Economy

Kenya

Economy - overview:

The regional hub for trade and finance in East Africa, Kenya has been hampered by corruption and by reliance upon several primary goods whose prices have remained low. In 1997, the IMF suspended Kenya's Enhanced Structural Adjustment Program due to the government's failure to maintain reforms and curb corruption. A severe drought from 1999 to 2000 compounded Kenya's problems, causing water and energy rationing and reducing agricultural output. As a result, GDP contracted by 0.2% in 2000. The IMF, which had resumed loans in 2000 to help Kenya through the drought, again halted lending in 2001 when the government failed to institute several anticorruption measures. Despite the return of strong rains in 2001, weak commodity prices, endemic corruption, and low investment limited Kenya's economic growth to 1.2%. Growth lagged at 1.1% in 2002 because of erratic rains, low investor confidence, meager donor support, and political infighting up to the elections. In the key 27 December 2002 elections, Daniel Arap MOI's 24-year-old reign ended, and a new opposition government took on the formidable economic problems facing the nation. In 2003, progress was made in rooting out corruption and encouraging donor support, with GDP growth edging up to 1.7%. GDP grew a moderate 2.2% in 2004.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$34.68 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.2% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 19.3%
industry: 18.5%
services: 62.4% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

11.4 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 75% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:

40% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:

50% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 37.2% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

44.9 (1997)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

9% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

14.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $2.89 billion
expenditures: $3.443 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

74.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

tea, coffee, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs

Industries:

small-scale consumer goods (plastic, furniture, batteries, textiles, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products; oil refining, aluminum, steel, lead, cement; commercial ship repair, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

2.6% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

4.475 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 17.7%
hydro: 71%
nuclear: 0%
other: 11.3% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

4.337 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

175 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

57,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-459.2 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$2.589 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

tea, horticultural products, coffee, petroleum products, fish, cement

Exports - partners:

Uganda 13.3%, UK 11.4%, US 10.6%, Netherlands 8.2%, Egypt 4.9%, Tanzania 4.5%, Pakistan 4.3% (2004)

Imports:

$4.19 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, motor vehicles, iron and steel, resins and plastics

Imports - partners:

UAE 12.6%, Saudi Arabia 9.1%, South Africa 8.8%, US 7.7%, India 7.2%, UK 6.7%, China 6.4%, Japan 5% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.5 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$6.792 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$453 million (1997)

Currency (code):

Kenyan shilling (KES)

Currency code:

KES

Exchange rates:

Kenyan shillings per US dollar - 79.174 (2004), 75.936 (2003), 78.749 (2002), 78.563 (2001), 76.176 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Communications

Kenya

Telephones - main lines in use:

328,400 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,590,800 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: unreliable; little attempt to modernize except for service to business
domestic: trunks are primarily microwave radio relay; business data commonly transferred by a very small aperture terminal (VSAT) system
international: country code - 254; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 24, FM 18, shortwave 6 (2001)

Radios:

3.07 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

8 (2002)

Televisions:

730,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ke

Internet hosts:

8,325 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

65 (2001)

Internet users:

400,000 (2002)

Transportation

Kenya

Railways:

total: 2,778 km
narrow gauge: 2,778 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 63,942 km
paved: 7,737 km
unpaved: 56,205 km (2000)

Waterways:

part of Lake Victoria system is within boundaries of Kenya (2004)

Pipelines:

refined products 752 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Mombasa

Merchant marine:

total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,049 GRT/7,082 DWT
by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1
registered in other countries: 6 (2005)

Airports:

221 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 15
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 206
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 110
under 914 m: 84 (2004 est.)

Military

Kenya

Military branches:

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.) (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 7,303,153 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 3,963,532 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$177.1 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.3% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Kenya

Disputes - international:

Kenya served as an important mediator in brokering Sudan's north-south separation in February 2005; Kenya provides shelter to approximately a quarter of a million refugees including Ugandans who flee across the border periodically to seek protection from Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels; Kenya's administrative limits extend beyond the treaty border into the Sudan, creating the Ilemi Triangle

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 154,272 (Somalia) 11,139 (Ethiopia) 63,197 (Sudan)
IDPs: 350,000 (KANU attacks on opposition tribal groups in 1990s) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

widespread harvesting of small plots of marijuana; transit country for South Asian heroin destined for Europe and North America; Indian methaqualone also transits on way to South Africa; significant potential for money-laundering activity given the country's status as a regional financial center; massive corruption, and relatively high levels of narcotics-associated activities

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Kyrgyzstan

Introduction

Kyrgyzstan

Background:

A Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions, Kyrgyzstan was annexed by Russia in 1864; it achieved independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Nation-wide demonstrations in the spring of 2005 resulted in the ouster of President Askar AKAYEV, who had run the country since 1990. Subsequent presidential elections in July of 2005 were won overwhelmingly by former prime minister Kurmanbek BAKIYEV. Current concerns include: privatization of state-owned enterprises, expansion of democracy and political freedoms, interethnic relations, and combating terrorism.

Geography

Kyrgyzstan

Location:

Central Asia, west of China

Geographic coordinates:

41 00 N, 75 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 198,500 sq km
land: 191,300 sq km
water: 7,200 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than South Dakota

Land boundaries:

total: 3,878 km
border countries: China 858 km, Kazakhstan 1,051 km, Tajikistan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,099 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

dry continental to polar in high Tien Shan; subtropical in southwest (Fergana Valley); temperate in northern foothill zone

Terrain:

peaks of Tien Shan and associated valleys and basins encompass entire nation

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Kara-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 132 m
highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m

Natural resources:

abundant hydropower; significant deposits of gold and rare earth metals; locally exploitable coal, oil, and natural gas; other deposits of nepheline, mercury, bismuth, lead, and zinc

Land use:

arable land: 7.3%
permanent crops: 0.35%
other: 92.35%
note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural growth walnut forest (2001)

Irrigated land:

10,740 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

water pollution; many people get their water directly from contaminated streams and wells; as a result, water-borne diseases are prevalent; increasing soil salinity from faulty irrigation practices

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; entirely mountainous, dominated by the Tien Shan range; many tall peaks, glaciers, and high-altitude lakes

People

Kyrgyzstan

Population:

5,146,281 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 31.6% (male 827,751/female 796,029)
15-64 years: 62.3% (male 1,571,476/female 1,632,506)
65 years and over: 6.2% (male 123,992/female 194,527) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 23.39 years
male: 22.52 years
female: 24.27 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.29% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

22.48 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

7.13 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-2.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 35.64 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 40.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 30.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 68.16 years
male: 64.16 years
female: 72.38 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.7 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

3,900 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Kyrgyzstani(s)
adjective: Kyrgyzstani

Ethnic groups:

Kyrgyz 64.9%, Uzbek 13.8%, Russian 12.5%, Dungan 1.1%, Ukrainian 1%, Uygur 1%, other 5.7% (1999 census)

Religions:

Muslim 75%, Russian Orthodox 20%, other 5%

Languages:

Kyrgyz (official), Russian (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.7%
male: 99.3%
female: 98.1% (1999 est.)

Government

Kyrgyzstan

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

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Bishkek

Administrative divisions:

7 provinces (oblastlar, singular - oblasty) and 1 city* (shaar); Batken Oblasty, Bishkek Shaary*, Chuy Oblasty (Bishkek), Jalal-Abad Oblasty, Naryn Oblasty, Osh Oblasty, Talas Oblasty, Ysyk-Kol Oblasty (Karakol)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Independence:

31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 31 August (1991)

Constitution:

adopted 5 May 1993; note - amendment proposed by President AKAYEV and passed in a national referendum on 2 February 2003 significantly expands the powers of the president at the expense of the legislature

Legal system:

based on civil law system

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Kurmanbek BAKIYEV (since 14 August 2005); note - former President Askar AKAYEV resigned effective 11 April 2005 following widespread protests that forced him to flee the country on 24 March 2005
head of government: Prime Minister Feliks KULOV (since 1 September 2005)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: Kurmanbek BAKIYEV elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 10 July 2005 (next scheduled for NA 2010); prime minister nominated by the president for approval by Parliament
election results: Kurmanbek BAKIYEV elected president; percent of vote - Kurmanbek BAKIYEV 88.6%, Tursunbai BAKIR-UULU 3.9%, other candidates 7.5%; Feliks KULOV approved as prime minister 55-8

Legislative branch:

bicameral Supreme Council or Jorgorku 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); note - in accordance with a 2003 referendum, the Parliament is slated to become unicameral with 75 deputies after the 27 February 2005 elections
elections: Assembly of People's Representatives - last held 20 February and 12 March 2000; Legislative Assembly - last held 20 February and 12 March 2000; elections for the new unicameral body or Jorgorku Kenesh were held 27 February 2005, but the vast majority of positions remained undecided and were to be contested in a runoff election scheduled for 13 March 2005; election irregularities caused widespread protests that resulted in the president being forced to flee the country; new legislative elections have not yet been rescheduled
election results: Assembly of People's Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; and Legislative Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; note - total seats by party in the Supreme Council were as follows: Union of Democratic Forces 12, Communists 6, My Country Party of Action 4, independents 73, other 10
note: the legislature became bicameral for the 5 February 1995 elections; the 2000 election results include both the Assembly of People's Representatives and the Legislative Assembly

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are appointed for 10-year terms by the Supreme Council on the recommendation of the president); Constitutional Court; Higher Court of Arbitration

Political parties and leaders:

Adilet (Justice) Party [Toychubek KASYMOV]; Agrarian Labor Party of Kyrgyzstan [Uson SYDYKOV]; Agrarian Party of Kyrgyzstan [Erkin ALIYEV]; Alga, Kyrgyzstan (Forward, Kyrgyzstan) [Bolot BEGALIYEV]; Ar-Namys (Dignity) Party [Emil ALIYEV]; Asaba (Banner National Revival Party) [Azimbek BEKNAZAROV]; Ata-Meken (Fatherland) [Omurbek TEKEBAYEV]; Communist Party of Kyrgyzstan [Klara ADZHIBEKOVA]; Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan or DDK [Jypar JEKSHEYEV]; Erkin Kyrgyzstan Progressive and Democratic Party [Bektur ASANOV]; Erkindik (Freedom) Party [Topchubek TURGUNALIYEV]; Future of Kyrgyzstan [Balbak TULEBAYEV]; Jany Kyrgyzstan (New Kyrgyzstan) [Dosbol NUR UULU]; Kairan El [Dooronbek SADYKOV]; Kyrgyz National Party [Bakyt BESHIMOV]; Kyrgyzstan Kelechegi [Ruslan CHYNYBAYEV]; Manas El (Party of Spiritual Restoration) [Chingiz AITMATOV]; Moya Strana (My Country Party of Action) [Joomart OTORBAYEV]; Party of Communists of Kyrgyzstan or KCP [Bakytbek BEKBOYEV]; Party of Justice and Progress [Muratbek IMANALIEV]; Party of Peasants [Esengul ISAKOV]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Council of Free Trade Unions; Kyrgyz Committee on Human Rights [Ramazan DYRYLDAYEV]; National Unity Democratic Movement; Union of Entrepreneurs

International organization participation:

AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMIL, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Zamira SYDYKOVA
chancery: 1732 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 338-5141
FAX: [1] (202) 338-5139
consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen M. YOUNG
embassy: 171 Prospect Mira, Bishkek 720016
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [996] (312) 551-241, (517) 777-217
FAX: [996] (312) 551-264

Flag description:

red field with a yellow sun in the center having 40 rays representing the 40 Kyrgyz tribes; on the obverse side the rays run counterclockwise, on the reverse, clockwise; in the center of the sun is a red ring crossed by two sets of three lines, a stylized representation of the roof of the traditional Kyrgyz yurt

Economy

Kyrgyzstan

Economy - overview:

Kyrgyzstan is a poor, mountainous country with a predominantly agricultural economy. Cotton, tobacco, wool, and meat are the main agricultural products, although only tobacco and cotton are exported in any quantity. Industrial exports include gold, mercury, uranium, and natural gas and electricity. Kyrgyzstan has been fairly progressive in carrying out market reforms, such as an improved regulatory system and land reform. Kyrgyzstan was the first CIS country to be accepted into the World Trade Organization. With fits and starts, inflation has been lowered to an estimated 7% in 2001, 2.1% in 2002, 4% in 2003, and 3.2% in 2004. Much of the government's stock in enterprises has been sold. Drops in production had been severe after the breakup of the Soviet Union in December 1991, but by mid-1995 production began to recover and exports began to increase. Kyrgyzstan has distinguished itself by adopting relatively liberal economic policies. The drop in output at the Kumtor gold mine sparked a 0.5% decline in GDP in 2002, but GDP growth bounced back to 6% in 2003 and 2004. The government has made steady strides in controlling its substantial fiscal deficit and aims to reduce the deficit to 3% of GDP in 2004. The government and the international financial institutions have been engaged in a comprehensive medium-term poverty reduction and economic growth strategy. Further restructuring of domestic industry and success in attracting foreign investment are keys to future growth.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$8.495 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 38.5%
industry: 22.8%
services: 38.7% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

2.7 million (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 55%, industry 15%, services 30% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

18% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

40% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.9%
highest 10%: 23.3% (2001)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

29 (2001)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.2% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

17% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $431.3 million
expenditures: $445.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

tobacco, cotton, potatoes, vegetables, grapes, fruits and berries; sheep, goats, cattle, wool

Industries:

small machinery, textiles, food processing, cement, shoes, sawn logs, refrigerators, furniture, electric motors, gold, rare earth metals

Industrial production growth rate:

6% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:

11.72 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 7.6%
hydro: 92.4%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

10.21 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

1.062 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

375 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

2,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

20,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Natural gas - production:

16 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

2.016 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

2 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Current account balance:

$-87.92 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$646.7 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

cotton, wool, meat, tobacco; gold, mercury, uranium, natural gas, hydropower; machinery; shoes

Exports - partners:

UAE 28.2%, Russia 19.1%, China 12%, Kazakhstan 11.1%, Switzerland 6.3% (2004)

Imports:

$775.1 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

oil and gas, machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

China 26.3%, Russia 22.3%, Kazakhstan 17.1%, Turkey 5.4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$498.7 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.97 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$50 million from the US (2001)

Currency (code):

Currency code:

KGS

Exchange rates:

soms per US dollar - 42.65 (2004), 43.648 (2003), 46.937 (2002), 48.378 (2001), 47.704 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Kyrgyzstan

Telephones - main lines in use:

394,800 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

53,100 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: poorly developed; about 100,000 unsatisfied applications for household telephones
domestic: principally microwave radio relay; one cellular provider, probably limited to Bishkek region
international: country code - 996; connections with other CIS countries by landline or microwave radio relay and with other countries by leased connections with Moscow international gateway switch and by satellite; satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik and 1 Intelsat; connected internationally by the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 12 (plus 10 repeater stations), FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:

520,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

NA (repeater stations throughout the country relay programs from Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkey) (1997)

Televisions:

210,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.kg

Internet hosts:

12,299 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

NA

Internet users:

152,000 (2002)

Transportation

Kyrgyzstan

Railways:

total: 470 km
broad gauge: 470 km 1.520-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 18,500 km
paved: 16,854 km (including 140 km of expressways)
unpaved: 1,646 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

600 km (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 367 km; oil 13 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)

Airports:

52 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 16
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 31 (2004 est.)

Military

Kyrgyzstan

Military branches:

Army, Air Force, National Guard (2004)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,193,529 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 871,493 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 61,091 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$19.2 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.4% (FY01)

Transnational Issues

Kyrgyzstan

Disputes - international:

delimitation with Kazakhstan is complete; disputes in Isfara Valley delay completion of delimitation with Tajikistan; delimitation is underway with Uzbekistan but serious disputes around enclaves and elsewhere continue to mar progress for some 130 km of border

Illicit drugs:

limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy for CIS markets; limited government eradication of illicit crops; transit point for Southwest Asian narcotics bound for Russia and the rest of Europe

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Korea, North

Introduction

Korea, North

Background:

An independent kingdom under Chinese suzerainty for most of the past millennium, Korea was occupied by Japan in 1905 following the Russo-Japanese War; five years later, Japan formally annexed the entire peninsula. Following World War II, Korea was split with the northern half coming under Soviet-sponsored Communist domination. After failing in the Korean War (1950-53) to conquer the US-backed republic in the southern portion by force, North Korea, under its founder President KIM Il Sung, adopted a policy of ostensible diplomatic and economic "self-reliance" as a check against excessive Soviet or Communist Chinese influence. It molded political, economic, and military policies around the core ideological objective of eventual unification of Korea under Pyongyang's control. KIM's son, the current ruler KIM Jong Il, was officially designated as KIM's successor in 1980 and assumed a growing political and managerial role until his father's death in 1994. He assumed full power without opposition. After decades of economic mismanagement and resource misallocation, the North since the mid-1990s has relied heavily on international aid to feed its population while continuing to expend resources to maintain an army of about 1 million. North Korea's long-range missile development and research into nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and massive conventional armed forces are of major concern to the international community. In December 2002, following revelations it was pursuing a nuclear weapons program based on enriched uranium in violation of a 1994 agreement with the United States to freeze and ultimately dismantle its existing plutonium-based program, North Korea expelled monitors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In January 2003, it declared its withdrawal from the international Non-Proliferation Treaty. In mid-2003 Pyongyang announced it had completed the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel rods (to extract weapons-grade plutonium) and was developing a "nuclear deterrent." From August 2003, North Korea has participated on and off in six-party talks with the China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, and the United States to resolve the stalemate over its nuclear programs.

Geography

Korea, North

Location:

Eastern Asia, northern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Korea Bay and the Sea of Japan, between China and South Korea

Geographic coordinates:

40 00 N, 127 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 120,540 sq km
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 without permission are banned

Climate:

temperate with rainfall concentrated in summer

Terrain:

mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys; coastal plains wide in west, discontinuous in east

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
highest point: Paektu-san 2,744 m

Natural resources:

coal, lead, tungsten, zinc, graphite, magnesite, iron ore, copper, gold, pyrites, salt, fluorspar, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 20.76%
permanent crops: 2.49%
other: 76.75% (2001)

Irrigated land:

14,600 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding; occasional typhoons during the early fall

Environment - current issues:

water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water; waterborne disease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

strategic location bordering China, South Korea, and Russia; mountainous interior is isolated and sparsely populated

People

Korea, North

Population:

22,912,177 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 24.2% (male 2,816,844/female 2,735,478)
15-64 years: 67.9% (male 7,668,581/female 7,883,267)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 625,819/female 1,182,188) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 31.74 years
male: 30.47 years
female: 33 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.9% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

16.09 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

7.05 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.53 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 24.04 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 25.77 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 22.23 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.37 years
male: 68.65 years
female: 74.22 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.15 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Korean(s)
adjective: Korean

Ethnic groups:

racially homogeneous; there is a small Chinese community and a few ethnic Japanese

Religions:

traditionally Buddhist and Confucianist, some Christian and syncretic Chondogyo (Religion of the Heavenly Way)
note: autonomous religious activities now almost nonexistent; government-sponsored religious groups exist to provide illusion of religious freedom

Languages:

Korean

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99%

Government

Korea, North

Country name:

conventional long form: Democratic People's Republic of Korea
conventional short form: North Korea
local long form: Choson-minjujuui-inmin-konghwaguk
local short form: none
note: the North Koreans generally use the term "Choson" to refer to their country
abbreviation: DPRK

Government type:

Communist state one-man dictatorship

Capital:

Pyongyang

Administrative divisions:

9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 4 municipalities (si, singular and plural)
: provinces: Chagang-do (Chagang), Hamgyong-bukto (North Hamgyong), Hamgyong-namdo (South Hamgyong), Hwanghae-bukto (North Hwanghae), Hwanghae-namdo (South Hwanghae), Kangwon-do (Kangwon), P'yongan-bukto (North P'yongan), P'yongan-namdo (South P'yongan), Yanggang-do (Yanggang)
: municipalites: Kaesong-si (Kaesong), Najin Sonbong-si (Najin), Namp'o-si (Namp'o), P'yongyang-si (Pyongyang)

Independence:

15 August 1945 (from Japan)

National holiday:

Founding of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), 9 September (1948)

Constitution:

adopted 1948; completely revised 27 December 1972, revised again in April 1992, and September 1998

Legal system:

based on German civil law system with Japanese influences and Communist legal theory; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

17 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: KIM Jong Il (since July 1994); note - on 3 September 2003, rubberstamp Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) reelected KIM Jong Il Chairman of the National Defense Commission, a position accorded nation's "highest administrative authority"; SPA reelected KIM Yong Nam President of its Presidium also with responsibility of representing state and receiving diplomatic credentials; SPA appointed PAK Pong Ju Premier
head of government: Premier PAK Pong Ju (since 3 September 2003); Vice Premiers KWAK Pom Gi (since 5 September 1998), JON Sung Hun (since 3 September 2003), RO Tu Chol (since 3 September 2003)
cabinet: Cabinet (Naegak), members, except for the Minister of People's Armed Forces, are appointed by the SPA
elections: election last held in September 2003 (next to be held in September 2008)
election results: KIM Jong Il and KIM Yong Nam were only nominees for positions and ran unopposed

Legislative branch:

unicameral Supreme People's Assembly or Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui (687 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 3 August 2003 (next to be held in August 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; ruling party approves a list of candidates who are elected without opposition; some seats are held by minor parties

Judicial branch:

Central Court (judges are elected by the Supreme People's Assembly)

Political parties and leaders:

major party - Korean Workers' Party or KWP [KIM Jong Il, general secretary]; minor parties - Chondoist Chongu Party [RYU Mi Yong, chairwoman] (under KWP control); Social Democratic Party [KIM Yong Dae, chairman] (under KWP control)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

ARF, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none; North Korea has a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang represents the US as consular protecting power)

Flag description:

three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in white; on the hoist side of the red band is a white disk with a red five-pointed star

Economy

Korea, North

Economy - overview:

North Korea, one of the world's most centrally planned and isolated economies, faces desperate economic conditions. Industrial capital stock is nearly beyond repair as a result of years of underinvestment and spare parts shortages. Industrial and power output have declined in parallel. The nation has suffered its eleventh year of food shortages because of a lack of arable land, collective farming, weather-related problems, and chronic shortages of fertilizer and fuel. Massive international food aid deliveries have allowed the regime to escape mass starvation since 1995, but the population remains the victim of prolonged malnutrition and deteriorating living conditions. Large-scale military spending eats up resources needed for investment and civilian consumption. In July 2002, the government took limited steps toward a freer market economy. In 2004, heightened political tensions with key donor countries and general donor fatigue threatened the flow of desperately needed food aid and fuel aid. Black market prices have continued to rise following the increase in official prices and wages in the summer of 2002, leaving some vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and unemployed, less able to buy goods. In 2004, the regime allowed private markets to sell a wider range of goods and permitted private farming on an experimental basis in an effort to boost agricultural output. Firm political control remains the Communist government's overriding concern, which will constrain any further loosening of economic regulations.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$40 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 30.2%
industry: 33.8%
services: 36% (2002 est.)

Labor force:

9.6 million

Labor force - by occupation:

agricultural 36%, nonagricultural 64%

Unemployment rate:

NA (2003)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

NA (2003 est.)

Budget:

revenues: NA
expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA

Agriculture - products:

rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; cattle, pigs, pork, eggs

Industries:

military products; machine building, electric power, chemicals; mining (coal, iron ore, magnesite, graphite, copper, zinc, lead, and precious metals), metallurgy; textiles, food processing; tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

33.62 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 29%
hydro: 71%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

31.26 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

85,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

11,500 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Exports:

$1.2 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities:

minerals, metallurgical products, manufactures (including armaments); textiles and fishery products

Exports - partners:

China 29.9%, South Korea 24.1%, Japan 13.2% (2004)

Imports:

$2.1 billion c.i.f. (2003)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum, coking coal, machinery and equipment; textiles, grain

Imports - partners:

China 32.9%, Thailand 10.7%, Japan 4.8% (2004)

Debt - external:

$12 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

NA; note - over $117 million in food aid through the World Food Program in 2003 plus additional aid from bilateral donors and non-governmental organizations

Currency (code):

North Korean won (KPW)

Currency code:

KPW

Exchange rates:

official: North Korean won per US dollar - 170 (December 2004), 150 (December 2002), 2.15 (December 2001); market: North Korean won per US dollar - 300-600 (December 2002)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Korea, North

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.1 million (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

NA

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 850; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Russian (Indian Ocean region); other international connections through Moscow and Beijing

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 17 (including 11 stations of Korean Central Broadcasting Station), FM 14, shortwave 14 (2003)

Radios:

3.36 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

4 (includes Korean Central Television, Mansudae Television, Korean Educational and Cultural Network, and Kaesong Television targeting South Korea) (2003)

Televisions:

1.2 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.kp

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

NA

Transportation

Korea, North

Railways:

total: 5,214 km
standard gauge: 5,214 km 1.435-m gauge (3,500 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 31,200 km
paved: 1,997 km
unpaved: 29,203 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

2,250 km
note: most navigable only by small craft (2004)

Pipelines:

oil 154 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam (Hamhung), Kimch'aek, Kosong, Najin, Namp'o, Sinuiju, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Ungsang, Wonsan

Merchant marine:

total: 238 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 985,108 GRT/1,389,389 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 13, cargo 191, container 2, livestock carrier 4, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 13, refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned: 52 (China 1, Denmark 2, France 1, Greece 4, Italy 1, Lebanon 4, Lithuania 1, Netherlands 1, Pakistan 2, Romania 10, Russia 2, Singapore 2, South Korea 2, Syria 9, Turkey 6, Ukraine 1, UAE 3) (2005)

Airports:

78 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 35
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 23
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 43
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 8 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

19 (2004 est.)

Military

Korea, North

Military branches:

North Korean People's Army: Ground Force, Navy, Air Force; Civil Security Forces (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

17 years of age (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 17-49: 5,851,801 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 17-49: 4,810,831 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 194,605 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$5,217.4 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Transnational Issues

Korea, North

Disputes - international:

China seeks to stem illegal migration of tens of thousands of North Koreans escaping famine, economic privation, and political oppression; North Korea and China dispute the sovereignty of certain islands in Yalu and Tumen rivers and a section of boundary around Paektu-san (mountain) is indefinite; Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North from South Korea since 1953; periodic maritime disputes with South over the Northern Limit Line; North Korea supports South Korea in rejecting Japan's claim to Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima)

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 50,000-250,000 (government repression and famine) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

for years, from the 1970's into the 2000's, citizens of the Democratic People's Republic of (North) Korea (DPRK), many of them diplomatic employees of the government, were apprehended abroad while trafficking in narcotics, including two in Turkey in December 2004; in recent years, police investigations in Taiwan and Japan have linked North Korea to large illicit shipments of heroin and methamphetamine, including an attempt by the North Korean merchant ship Pong Su to deliver 150 kg of heroin to Australia in April 2003; all indications point to North Korea emerging as an important regional source of illicit drugs targeting markets in Japan, Taiwan, the Russian Far East, and China

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Kingman Reef

Introduction

Kingman Reef

Background:

The US annexed the reef in 1922. Its sheltered lagoon served as a way station for flying boats on Hawaii-to-American Samoa flights during the late 1930s. There are no terrestrial plants on the reef, which is frequently awash, but it does support abundant and diverse marine fauna and flora. In 2001, the waters surrounding the reef out to 12 nm were designated a US National Wildlife Refuge.

Geography

Kingman Reef

Location:

Oceania, reef in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa

Geographic coordinates:

6 24 N, 162 24 W

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 1 sq km
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:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; moderated by prevailing winds

Terrain:

low and nearly level

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 1 m

Natural resources:

terrestrial and aquatic wildlife

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of about 1 meter makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard

Environment - current issues:

none

Geography - note:

barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; closed to the public

People

Kingman Reef

Population:

uninhabited (July 2005 est.)

Government

Kingman Reef

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Kingman Reef

Dependency status:

unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the US Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior
note: on 1 September 2000, the Department of the Interior accepted restoration of its administrative jurisdiction over Kingman Reef from the Department of the Navy; Executive Order 3223 signed 18 January 2001 established Kingman Reef National Wildlife Refuge to be administered by the Director, US Fish and Wildlife Service; this refuge is managed to protect the terrestrial and aquatic wildlife of Kingman Reef out to the 12-nautical-mile territorial sea limit

Legal system:

the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

Flag description:

the flag of the US is used

Economy

Kingman Reef

Economy - overview:

no economic activity

Transportation

Kingman Reef

Ports and harbors:

none; offshore anchorage only

Airports:

lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii and American Samoa by Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937 and 1938 (2004 est.)

Military

Kingman Reef

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues

Kingman Reef

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Kiribati

Introduction

Kiribati

Background:

The Gilbert Islands were granted self-rule by the UK in 1971 and complete independence in 1979 under the new name of Kiribati. The US relinquished all claims to the sparsely inhabited Phoenix and Line Island groups in a 1979 treaty of friendship with Kiribati.

Geography

Kiribati

Location:

Oceania, group of 33 coral atolls in the Pacific Ocean, straddling the equator; the capital Tarawa is about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia; note - on 1 January 1995, Kiribati proclaimed that all of its territory lies in the same time zone as its Gilbert Islands group (GMT +12) even though the Phoenix Islands and the Line Islands under its jurisdiction lie on the other side of the International Date Line

Geographic coordinates:

1 25 N, 173 00 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 811 sq km
land: 811 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, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

1,143 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; marine, hot and humid, moderated by trade winds

Terrain:

mostly low-lying coral atolls surrounded by extensive reefs

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Banaba 81 m

Natural resources:

phosphate (production discontinued in 1979)

Land use:

arable land: 2.74%
permanent crops: 50.68%
other: 46.58% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA

Natural hazards:

typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March; occasional tornadoes; low level of some of the islands make them very sensitive to changes in sea level

Environment - current issues:

heavy pollution in lagoon of south Tarawa atoll due to heavy migration mixed with traditional practices such as lagoon latrines and open-pit dumping; ground water at risk

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

21 of the 33 islands are inhabited; Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Makatea in French Polynesia, and Nauru

People

Kiribati

Population:

103,092 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 38.9% (male 20,342/female 19,806)
15-64 years: 57.7% (male 29,362/female 30,136)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 1,477/female 1,969) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 20.05 years
male: 19.61 years
female: 20.58 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.25% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

30.86 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

8.37 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 48.52 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 53.64 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 43.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 61.71 years
male: 58.71 years
female: 64.86 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.2 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: I-Kiribati (singular and plural)
adjective: I-Kiribati

Ethnic groups:

Micronesian 98.8%, other 1.2% (2000 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 52%, Protestant (Congregational) 40%, some Seventh-Day Adventist, Muslim, Baha'i, Latter-day Saints, and Church of God (1999)

Languages:

I-Kiribati, English (official)

Literacy:

definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Kiribati

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Kiribati
conventional short form: Kiribati
note: pronounced keer-ree-bahss
former: Gilbert Islands

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Tarawa

Administrative divisions:

3 units; Gilbert Islands, Line Islands, Phoenix Islands; note - in addition, there are 6 districts (Banaba, Central Gilberts, Line Islands, Northern Gilberts, Southern Gilberts, Tarawa) and 21 island councils - one for each of the inhabited islands (Abaiang, Abemama, Aranuka, Arorae, Banaba, Beru, Butaritari, Kanton, Kiritimati, Kuria, Maiana, Makin, Marakei, Nikunau, Nonouti, Onotoa, Tabiteuea, Tabuaeran, Tamana, Tarawa, Teraina)

Independence:

12 July 1979 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 12 July (1979)

Constitution:

12 July 1979

Legal system:

NA

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003); Vice President Teima ONORIO; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Anote TONG (since 10 July 2003); Vice President Teima ONORIO; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: 12-member Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the House of Parliament
elections: the House of Parliament chooses the presidential candidates from among its members and then those candidates compete in a general election; president is elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 4 July 2003 (next to be held not later than July 2007); vice president appointed by the president
election results: Anote TONG 47.4%, Harry TONG 43.5%, Banuera BERINA 9.1%

Legislative branch:

unicameral House of Parliament or Maneaba Ni Maungatabu (42 seats; 39 elected by popular vote, one ex officio member - the attorney general, one appointed to represent Banaba, and one other; members serve four-year terms)
elections: first round elections last held 29 November 2002; second round elections held 6 December 2002 (next to be held by November 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - BTK 17, MTM 16, independents 7, other 2 (includes attorney general)
note: legislative elections were held in two rounds - the first round on 9 May 2003 and the second round on 14 May 2003

Judicial branch:

Court of Appeal; High Court; 26 Magistrates' courts; judges at all levels are appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders:

Boutokaan Te Koaua Party or BTK [Taberannang TIMEON]; Maneaban Te Mauri Party or MTM [Teburoro TITO]; Maurin Kiribati Pati or MKP [leader NA]; National Progressive Party or NPP [Dr. Harry TONG]
note: there is no tradition of formally organized political parties in Kiribati; they more closely resemble factions or interest groups because they have no party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

Kiribati does not have an embassy in the US; there is an honorary consulate in Honolulu

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Kiribati; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Kiribati

Flag description:

the upper half is red with a yellow frigate bird flying over a yellow rising sun, and the lower half is blue with three horizontal wavy white stripes to represent the ocean

Economy

Kiribati

Economy - overview:

A remote country of 33 scattered coral atolls, Kiribati has few natural resources. Commercially viable phosphate deposits were exhausted at the time of independence from the UK in 1979. Copra and fish now represent the bulk of production and exports. The economy has fluctuated widely in recent years. Economic development is constrained by a shortage of skilled workers, weak infrastructure, and remoteness from international markets. Tourism provides more than one-fifth of GDP. The financial sector is at an early stage of development as is the expansion of private sector initiatives. Foreign financial aid from UK, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and China equals 25%-50% of GDP. Remittances from workers abroad account for more than $5 million each year.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$79 million - supplemented by a nearly equal amount from external sources (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.5% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $800 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 30%
industry: 7%
services: 63% (1998 est.)

Labor force:

7,870 economically active, not including subsistence farmers (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate:

2%; underemployment 70% (1992 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.5% (2001 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $28.4 million
expenditures: $37.2 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000 est.)

Agriculture - products:

copra, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; fish

Industries:

fishing, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate:

0.7% (1991 est.)

Electricity - production:

7 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

6.51 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

190 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$35 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities:

copra 62%, coconuts, seaweed, fish

Exports - partners:

France 45.7%, Japan 29.2%, US 9.1%, Thailand 5.4% (2004)

Imports:

$83 million c.i.f. (2002)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured goods, fuel

Imports - partners:

Australia 33.6%, Fiji 29.8%, Japan 10.3%, New Zealand 6.9%, France 4.1% (2004)

Debt - external:

$10 million (1999 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$15.5 million largely from UK and Japan (2001 est.)

Currency (code):

Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code:

AUD

Exchange rates:

Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001), 1.7248 (2000)

Fiscal year:

NA

Communications

Kiribati

Telephones - main lines in use:

4,500 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

500 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: generally good quality national and international service
domestic: wire line service available on Tarawa and Kiritimati; connections to outer islands by HF/VHF radiotelephone; wireless service available in Tarawa since 1999
international: country code - 686; Kiribati is being linked to the Pacific Ocean Cooperative Telecommunications Network, which should improve telephone service; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1
note: the shortwave station may be inactive (2002)

Radios:

17,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (not reported to be active) (2002)

Televisions:

1,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ki

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

2,000 (2002)

Transportation

Kiribati

Highways:

total: 670 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

5 km (small network of canals in Line Islands) (2003)

Ports and harbors:

Betio

Merchant marine:

total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,291 GRT/1,295 DWT
by type: passenger/cargo 1 (2005)

Airports:

20 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 17
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)

Military

Kiribati

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Police Force (carries out law enforcement functions and paramilitary duties; small police posts are on all islands)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Military - note:

Kiribati does not have military forces; defense assistance is provided by Australia and NZ

Transnational Issues

Kiribati

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Korea, South

Introduction

Korea, South

Background:

Korea was an independent kingdom under Chinese suzerainty for most of the past millennium. Following its victory in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905, Japan occupied Korea; five years later it formally annexed the entire peninsula. After World War II, a republic was set up in the southern half of the Korean Peninsula while a Communist-style government was installed in the north. During the Korean War (1950-53), US and other UN forces intervened to defend South Korea from North Korean attacks supported by the Chinese. An armistice was signed in 1953, splitting the peninsula along a demilitarized zone at about the 38th parallel. Thereafter, South Korea achieved rapid economic growth with per capita income rising to roughly 14 times the level of North Korea. In 1987, South Korean voters elected ROH Tae-woo to the presidency, ending 26 years of military dictatorships. South Korea today is a fully functioning modern democracy. In June 2000, a historic first North-South summit took place between the South's President KIM Tae-chung and the North's leader KIM Jong Il.

Geography

Korea, South

Location:

Eastern Asia, southern half of the Korean Peninsula bordering the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea

Geographic coordinates:

37 00 N, 127 30 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 98,480 sq km
land: 98,190 sq km
water: 290 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Indiana

Land boundaries:

total: 238 km
border countries: North Korea 238 km

Coastline:

2,413 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm; between 3 nm and 12 nm in the Korea Strait
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: not specified

Climate:

temperate, with rainfall heavier in summer than winter

Terrain:

mostly hills and mountains; wide coastal plains in west and south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
highest point: Halla-san 1,950 m

Natural resources:

coal, tungsten, graphite, molybdenum, lead, hydropower potential

Land use:

arable land: 17.18%
permanent crops: 1.95%
other: 80.87% (2001)

Irrigated land:

11,590 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods; low-level seismic activity common in southwest

Environment - current issues:

air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents; drift net fishing

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, 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: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location on Korea Strait

People

Korea, South

Population:

48,422,644 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 19.4% (male 4,952,177/female 4,450,821)
15-64 years: 72% (male 17,715,267/female 17,147,808)
65 years and over: 8.6% (male 1,670,971/female 2,485,600) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 34.51 years
male: 33.53 years
female: 35.53 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.38% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

10.08 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.26 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 7.05 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.85 years
male: 73.42 years
female: 80.57 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.26 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

8,300 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Korean(s)
adjective: Korean

Ethnic groups:

homogeneous (except for about 20,000 Chinese)

Religions:

no affiliation 46%, Christian 26%, Buddhist 26%, Confucianist 1%, other 1%

Languages:

Korean, English widely taught in junior high and high school

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.9%
male: 99.2%
female: 96.6% (2002)

Government

Korea, South

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Korea
conventional short form: South Korea
local long form: Taehan-min'guk
local short form: none
note: the South Koreans generally use the term "Han'guk" to refer to their country
abbreviation: ROK

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Seoul

Administrative divisions:

9 provinces (do, singular and plural) and 7 metropolitan cities (gwangyoksi, singular and plural)
: provinces: Cheju-do, Cholla-bukto (North Cholla), Cholla-namdo (South Cholla), Ch'ungch'ong-bukto (North Ch'ungch'ong), Ch'ungch'ong-namdo (South Ch'ungch'ong), Kangwon-do, Kyonggi-do, Kyongsang-bukto (North Kyongsang), Kyongsang-namdo (South Kyongsang)
: metropolitan cities: Inch'on-gwangyoksi (Inch'on), Kwangju-gwangyoksi (Kwangju), Pusan-gwangyoksi (Pusan), Soul-t'ukpyolsi (Seoul), Taegu-gwangyoksi (Taegu), Taejon-gwangyoksi (Taejon), Ulsan-gwangyoksi (Ulsan)

Independence:

15 August 1945 (from Japan)

National holiday:

Liberation Day, 15 August (1945)

Constitution:

17 July 1948

Legal system:

combines elements of continental European civil law systems, Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought

Suffrage:

20 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President ROH Moo-hyun (since 25 February 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister LEE Hae-chan (since 25 May 2004); Deputy Prime Ministers HAN Duck-soo (14 March 2005), KIM Jin-pyo (since 28 January 2005), and OH Myung (since 18 October 2004)
cabinet: State Council appointed by the president on the prime minister's recommendation
elections: president elected by popular vote for single five-year term; election last held 19 December 2002 (next to be held in February 2008); prime minister appointed by president with consent of National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by president on prime minister's recommendation
election results: results of the 19 December 2002 election - ROH Moo-hyun elected president; percent of vote - ROH Moo-hyun (MDP) 48.9%; LEE Hoi-chang (GNP) 46.6%; other 4.5%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Kukhoe (299 seats - members elected for four-year terms; 243 in single-seat constituencies, 56 by proportional representation
elections: last held 15 April 2004 (next to be held in April 2008; byelections held on 30 April 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - Uri 51%, GNP 41%, DLP 3%, DP 3%, others 2%; seats by party - Uri 146, GNP 125, DLP 10, DP 9, ULD 3, independents 6
note: percent of vote is for 2004 general election; seats by party reflect results of 2005 byelections involving six seats; MDP became DP in May 2005 (2005)

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (justices appointed by president with consent of National Assembly); Constitutional Court (justices appointed by president based partly on nominations by National Assembly and Chief Justice of the court)

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Labor Party or DLP [KIM Hye-kyung, chairwoman]; Democratic Party or DP [HAHN Hwa-kap, chairman]; Grand National Party or GNP [PARK Geun-hye, chairwoman]; United Liberal Democrats or ULD [KIM Hak-won, chairman]; Uri Party [MOON Hee-sang, chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Federation of Korean Industries; Federation of Korean Trade Unions; Korean Confederation of Trade Unions; Korean National Council of Churches; Korean Traders Association; Korean Veterans' Association; National Council of Labor Unions; National Democratic Alliance of Korea; National Federation of Farmers' Associations; National Federation of Student Associations

International organization participation:

AfDB, APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CP, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Lee Tae-sik (designated)
chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-5600
FAX: [1] (202) 387-0205
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle
consulate(s): Agana (Guam) and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher R. HILL
embassy: 82 Sejong-no, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-710
mailing address: American Embassy, Unit 15550, APO AP 96205-5550
telephone: [82] (2) 397-4114
FAX: [82] (2) 738-8845

Flag description:

white with a red (top) and blue yin-yang symbol in the center; there is a different black trigram from the ancient I Ching (Book of Changes) in each corner of the white field

Economy

Korea, South

Economy - overview:

Since the early 1960s, South Korea has achieved an incredible record of growth and integration into the high-tech modern world economy. Four decades ago GDP per capita was comparable with levels in the poorer countries of Africa and Asia. In 2004, it joined the trillion dollar club of world economies. Today its GDP per capita is 14 times North Korea's and equal to the lesser economies of the European Union. This success through the late 1980s was achieved by a system of close government/business ties, including directed credit, import restrictions, sponsorship of specific industries, and a strong labor effort. The government promoted the import of raw materials and technology at the expense of consumer goods and encouraged savings and investment over consumption. The Asian financial crisis of 1997-99 exposed longstanding weaknesses in South Korea's development model, including high debt/equity ratios, massive foreign borrowing, and an undisciplined financial sector. Growth plunged to a negative 6.9% in 1998, then strongly recovered to 9.5% in 1999 and 8.5% in 2000. Growth fell back to 3.3% in 2001 because of the slowing global economy, falling exports, and the perception that much-needed corporate and financial reforms had stalled. Led by consumer spending and exports, growth in 2002 was an impressive 7.0%, despite anemic global growth. Economic growth fell to 3.1% in 2003 because of a downturn in consumer spending and recovered to an estimated 4.6% in 2004 on the strength of rapid export growth. The government plans to boost infrastructure spending in 2005. Moderate inflation, low unemployment, an export surplus, and fairly equal distribution of income characterize this solid economy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$925.1 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $19,200 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3.2%
industry: 40.4%
services: 56.3% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

22.9 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 8%, industry 19%, services 73% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

3.6% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

4% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 22.5% (1999 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

35.8 (2000)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.6% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

28.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $150.5 billion
expenditures: $155.8 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

21.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit; cattle, pigs, chickens, milk, eggs; fish

Industries:

electronics, telecommunications, automobile production, chemicals, shipbuilding, steel

Industrial production growth rate:

10.1% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

322.5 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 62.4%
hydro: 0.8%
nuclear: 36.6%
other: 0.2% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

293.6 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2003)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

2.07 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:

630,100 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports:

2.263 million bbl/day (2003)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

20.92 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

21.11 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Current account balance:

$26.78 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$250.6 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

semiconductors, wireless telecommunications equipment, motor vehicles, computers, steel, ships, petrochemicals

Exports - partners:

China 19.7%, US 17%, Japan 8.6%, Hong Kong 7.2% (2004)

Imports:

$214.2 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel, transport equipment, organic chemicals, plastics

Imports - partners:

Japan 20.6%, China 13.2%, US 12.9%, Saudi Arabia 5.3% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$199.1 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$160 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA $334 million (2003)

Currency (code):

South Korean won (KRW)

Currency code:

KRW

Exchange rates:

South Korean won per US dollar - 1,145.3 (2004), 1,191.6 (2003), 1,251.1 (2002), 1,291 (2001), 1,131 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Korea, South

Telephones - main lines in use:

22.877 million (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

33,591,800 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: excellent domestic and international services
domestic: NA
international: country code - 82; fiber-optic submarine cable to China; the Russia-Korea-Japan submarine cable; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat (Pacific Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 58, FM 150, shortwave 2 (2004)

Radios:

47.5 million (2000)

Television broadcast stations:

64 (additionally 119 Cable Operators; 239 Relay Cable Operators) (2004)

Televisions:

15.9 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.kr

Internet hosts:

694,206 (2001)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

11 (2000)

Internet users:

29.22 million (2003)

Transportation

Korea, South

Railways:

total: 3,472 km
standard gauge: 3,472 km 1.435-m gauge (1,342 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 86,990 km
paved: 66,721 km (including 1,996 km of expressways)
unpaved: 20,269 km (2001)

Waterways:

1,608 km
note: most navigable only by small craft (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 1,433 km; refined products 827 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Inch'on, Masan, P'ohang, Pusan, Ulsan

Merchant marine:

total: 601 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,992,656 GRT/11,081,142 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 125, cargo 196, chemical tanker 88, container 71, liquefied gas 20, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 22, petroleum tanker 51, refrigerated cargo 15, roll on/roll off 5, vehicle carrier 3
foreign-owned: 2 (Germany 1, United Kingdom 1)
registered in other countries: 366 (2005)

Airports:

179 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 88
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 21
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 38 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 91
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 88 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

206 (2004 est.)

Military

Korea, South

Military branches:

Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Maritime Police (Coast Guard)

Military service age and obligation:

20-30 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 24-28 months, depending on the military branch involved; 18 years of age for voluntary military service; some 4,000 women serve as commissioned and noncommissioned officers, approx. 2.3% of all officers; women, in service since 1950, are admitted to seven service branches, including infantry; excluded from artillery, armor, anti-air, and chaplaincy corps (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 20-49: 12,458,257 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 20-49: 9,932,026 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 344,723 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$16.18 billion (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.8% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Korea, South

Disputes - international:

Military Demarcation Line within the 4-km wide Demilitarized Zone has separated North from South Korea since 1953; periodic maritime disputes with North Korea over the Northern Limit Line; South Korea and Japan claim Liancourt Rocks (Tok-do/Take-shima), occupied by South Korea since 1954

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Christmas Island

Introduction

Christmas Island

Background:

Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed and settlement was begun by the UK in 1888. Phosphate mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to Australia in 1958. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared a national park.

Geography

Christmas Island

Location:

Southeastern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of Indonesia

Geographic coordinates:

10 30 S, 105 40 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 135 sq km
land: 135 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

138.9 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical with a wet and dry season; heat and humidity moderated by trade winds; wet season December to April

Terrain:

steep cliffs along coast rise abruptly to central plateau

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Murray Hill 361 m

Natural resources:

phosphate, beaches

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100%
note: mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a national park (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean

People

Christmas Island

Population:

361 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate:

0% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

NA

Death rate:

NA

Net migration rate:

NA

Sex ratio:

NA

Infant mortality rate:

total: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Total fertility rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Christmas Islander(s)
adjective: Christmas Island

Ethnic groups:

Chinese 70%, European 20%, Malay 10%
note: no indigenous population (2001)

Religions:

Buddhist 36%, Muslim 25%, Christian 18%, other 21% (1997)

Languages:

English (official), Chinese, Malay

Literacy:

NA

People - note:

the Australian Bureau of Statistics reports a population of 1,508 as of the 2001 Census

Government

Christmas Island

Country name:

conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island
conventional short form: Christmas Island

Dependency status:

territory of Australia; administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services

Government type:

NA

Capital:

The Settlement

Administrative divisions:

none (territory of Australia)

Independence:

none (territory of Australia)

National holiday:

Australia Day, 26 January (1788)

Constitution:

Christmas Island Act of 1958-59 (1 October 1958)

Legal system:

under the authority of the governor general of Australia and Australian law

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator Evan WILLIAMS (since 1 November 2003)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia

Legislative branch:

unicameral Christmas Island Shire Council (9 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: held every two years with half the members standing for election; last held 3 May 2003 (next to be held in 2005)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; District Court; Magistrate's Court

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

none

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territory of Australia)

Flag description:

the flag of Australia is used; note - in early 1986, the Christmas Island Assembly held a design competition for an island flag, however, the winning design has never been formally adopted as the official flag of the territory

Economy

Christmas Island

Economy - overview:

Phosphate mining had been the only significant economic activity, but in December 1987 the Australian Government closed the mine. In 1991, the mine was reopened. With the support of the government, a $34 million casino opened in 1993. The casino closed in 1998. The Australian Government in 2001 agreed to support the creation of a commercial space-launching site on the island, projected to begin operations in the near future

GDP (purchasing power parity):

NA

GDP - real growth rate:

NA

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA
industry: NA
services: NA

Labor force:

NA

Labor force - by occupation:

NA

Budget:

revenues: NA
expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA

Agriculture - products:

NA

Industries:

tourism, phosphate extraction (near depletion)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: NA
hydro: NA
nuclear: NA
other: NA

Exports:

NA

Exports - commodities:

phosphate

Exports - partners:

Australia, NZ

Imports:

NA

Imports - commodities:

consumer goods

Imports - partners:

principally Australia

Economic aid - recipient:

NA

Currency (code):

Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code:

AUD

Exchange rates:

Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001), 1.7248 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Communications

Christmas Island

Telephones - main lines in use:

NA

Telephones - mobile cellular:

NA

Telephone system:

general assessment: service provided by the Australian network
domestic: GSM mobile telephone service replaced older analog system in February 2005
international: country code - 61-891; satellite earth stations - one Intelsat earth station provides telephone and telex service (2000)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

1,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

NA

Televisions:

600 (1997)

Internet country code:

.cx

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

NA

Transportation

Christmas Island

Highways:

total: 240 km
paved: 30 km
unpaved: 210 km (2000)

Ports and harbors:

Flying Fish Cove

Airports:

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Christmas Island

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Australia

Transnational Issues

Christmas Island

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Kuwait

Introduction

Kuwait

Background:

Britain oversaw foreign relations and defense for the ruling Kuwaiti AL-SABAH dynasty from 1899 until independence in 1961. Kuwait was attacked and overrun by Iraq on 2 August 1990. Following several weeks of aerial bombardment, a US-led, UN coalition began a ground assault on 23 February 1991 that liberated Kuwait in four days. Kuwait spent more than $5 billion to repair oil infrastructure damaged during 1990-91.

Geography

Kuwait

Location:

Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia

Geographic coordinates:

29 30 N, 45 45 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 17,820 sq km
land: 17,820 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries:

total: 462 km
border countries: Iraq 240 km, Saudi Arabia 222 km

Coastline:

499 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate:

dry desert; intensely hot summers; short, cool winters

Terrain:

flat to slightly undulating desert plain

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 306 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, fish, shrimp, natural gas

Land use:

arable land: 0.73%
permanent crops: 0.11%
other: 99.16% (2001)

Irrigated land:

60 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April and bring heavy rain, which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust storms occur throughout the year, but are most common between March and August

Environment - current issues:

limited natural fresh water resources; some of world's largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much of the water; air and water pollution; desertification

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping

Geography - note:

strategic location at head of Persian Gulf

People

Kuwait

Population:

2,335,648
note: includes 1,291,354 non-nationals (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 27.2% (male 323,382/female 311,700)
15-64 years: 70.1% (male 1,045,589/female 591,243)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 40,439/female 23,295) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 25.86 years
male: 28.05 years
female: 22.12 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.44%
note: this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of expatriates (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

21.88 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

2.42 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

14.96 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.77 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.74 male(s)/female
total population: 1.52 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 9.95 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 10.96 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.03 years
male: 76.01 years
female: 78.1 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.97 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.12% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Kuwaiti(s)
adjective: Kuwaiti

Ethnic groups:

Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%

Religions:

Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shi'a 30%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other 15%

Languages:

Arabic (official), English widely spoken

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 83.5%
male: 85.1%
female: 81.7% (2003 est.)

Government

Kuwait

Country name:

conventional long form: State of Kuwait
conventional short form: Kuwait
local long form: Dawlat al Kuwayt
local short form: Al Kuwayt

Government type:

nominal constitutional monarchy

Capital:

Kuwait

Administrative divisions:

5 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al Farwaniyah, Al 'Asimah, Al Jahra', Hawalli

Independence:

19 June 1961 (from UK)

National holiday:

National Day, 25 February (1950)

Constitution:

approved and promulgated 11 November 1962

Legal system:

civil law system with Islamic law significant in personal matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

adult males who have been naturalized for 30 years or more or have resided in Kuwait since before 1920 and their male descendants at age 21
note: only 10% of all citizens are eligible to vote; in 1996, naturalized citizens who do not meet the pre-1920 qualification but have been naturalized for 30 years were eligible to vote for the first time

Executive branch:

chief of state: Amir JABIR al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 31 December 1977); Crown Prince SAAD al-Abdullah al-Salim al-Sabah
head of government: Prime Minister SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 13 July 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior NAWWAF al-Ahmad al-Sabah (since 2003); Deputy Prime Ministers JABIR MUBARAK al-Hamad al-Sabah (since 2001) and Muhammad Dayfallah al-SHARAR (since 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister and approved by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (50 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 6 July 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - Islamists 21, government supporters 14, liberals 3, and independents 12; note - all cabinet ministers are also ex officio members of the National Assembly

Judicial branch:

High Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders:

none; formation of political parties is illegal

Political pressure groups and leaders:

several political groups act as de facto parties: Bedouins, merchants, Sunni and Shi'a activists, and secular leftists and nationalists

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, BDEAC, CAEU, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador SALIM Abdallah al-Jabir al-Sabah
chancery: 2940 Tilden Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 966-0702
FAX: [1] (202) 364-2868

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Richard LEBARON
embassy: Bayan, Area 14, Al-Masjed Al-Aqsa Street (near the Bayan palace), Kuwait City
mailing address: P. O. Box 77 Safat 13001 Kuwait; or PSC 1280 APO AE 09880-9000
telephone: [965] 539-5307, 5308
FAX: [965] 538-0282

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a black trapezoid based on the hoist side; design, which dates to 1961, based on the Arab revolt flag of World War I

Economy

Kuwait

Economy - overview:

Kuwait is a small, rich, relatively open economy with proved crude oil reserves of about 96 billion barrels - 10% of world reserves. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 95% of export revenues, and 80% of government income. Kuwait's climate limits agricultural development. Consequently, with the exception of fish, it depends almost wholly on food imports. About 75% of potable water must be distilled or imported. Kuwait continues its discussions with foreign oil companies to develop fields in the northern part of the country.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$48 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.8% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $21,300 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 0.4%
industry: 60.5%
services: 39.1% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

1.42 million
note: non-Kuwaitis represent about 80% of the labor force (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture NA, industries NA, services NA

Unemployment rate:

2.2% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.3% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $35.82 billion
expenditures: $19.53 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

29.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

practically no crops; fish

Industries:

petroleum, petrochemicals, cement, shipbuilding and repair, desalination, food processing, construction materials

Industrial production growth rate:

-5% (2002 est.)

Electricity - production:

32.43 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

30.16 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

2.319 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

293,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:

1.97 million bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

96.5 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

8.7 billion cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

8.7 billion cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2002 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.548 trillion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$12.04 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$27.42 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

oil and refined products, fertilizers

Exports - partners:

Japan 20.5%, South Korea 13.7%, US 12.4%, Singapore 11.3%, Taiwan 9.9% (2004)

Imports:

$11.12 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing

Imports - partners:

US 12.9%, Germany 11.9%, Japan 7.9%, UK 5.5%, Saudi Arabia 5.5%, Italy 5%, France 4.5%, China 4.1% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$7.333 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$15.02 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

NA (2001)

Currency (code):

Kuwaiti dinar (KD)

Currency code:

KWD

Exchange rates:

Kuwaiti dinars per US dollar - 0.2947 (2004), 0.298 (2003), 0.3039 (2002), 0.3067 (2001), 0.3068 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

Kuwait

Telephones - main lines in use:

486,900 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.42 million (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: the quality of service is excellent
domestic: new telephone exchanges provide a large capacity for new subscribers; trunk traffic is carried by microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and open-wire and fiber-optic cable; a cellular telephone system operates throughout Kuwait, and the country is well supplied with pay telephones
international: country code - 965; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia; linked to Bahrain, Qatar, UAE via the Fiber-Optic Gulf (FOG) cable; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean, 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean), and 2 Arabsat

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 6, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

1.175 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

13 (plus several satellite channels) (1997)

Televisions:

875,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.kw

Internet hosts:

3,437 (2001)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2000)

Internet users:

567,000 (2003)

Transportation

Kuwait

Highways:

total: 4,450 km
paved: 3,587 km
unpaved: 863 km (1999 est.)

Pipelines:

gas 169 km; oil 540 km; refined products 57 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Mina' 'Abd Allah, Mina' al Ahmadi, Mina' Su'ud

Merchant marine:

total: 39 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,319,082 GRT/3,768,828 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 3, container 6, liquefied gas 5, livestock carrier 5, petroleum tanker 20
registered in other countries: 19 (2005)

Airports:

7 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

3 (2004 est.)

Military

Kuwait

Military branches:

Land Forces, Navy, Air Force (includes Air Defense Force), National Guard (2002)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 864,745 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 737,292 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 18,743 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$2,584.5 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

5.3% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Kuwait

Disputes - international:

Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue negotiating a joint maritime boundary with Iran; no maritime boundary exists with Iraq in the Persian Gulf

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Kazakhstan

Introduction

Kazakhstan

Background:

Native Kazakhs, a mix of Turkic and Mongol nomadic tribes who migrated into the region in the 13th century, were rarely united as a single nation. The area was conquered by Russia in the 18th century and Kazakhstan became a Soviet Republic in 1936. During the 1950s and 1960s agricultural "Virgin Lands" program, Soviet citizens were encouraged to help cultivate Kazakhstan's northern pastures. This influx of immigrants (mostly Russians, but also some other deported nationalities) skewed the ethnic mixture and enabled non-Kazakhs to outnumber natives. Independence in 1991 caused many of these newcomers to emigrate. Current issues include: developing a cohesive national identity; expanding the development of the country's vast energy resources and exporting them to world markets; achieving a sustainable economic growth outside the oil, gas, and mining sectors; and strengthening relations with neighboring states and other foreign powers.

Geography

Kazakhstan

Location:

Central Asia, northwest of China; a small portion west of the Ural River in eastern-most Europe

Geographic coordinates:

48 00 N, 68 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 2,717,300 sq km
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, now split into two bodies of water (1,070 km), and the Caspian Sea (1,894 km)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

continental, cold winters and hot summers, arid and semiarid

Terrain:

extends from the Volga to the Altai Mountains and from the plains in western Siberia to oases and desert in Central Asia

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Vpadina Kaundy -132 m
highest point: Khan Tangiri Shyngy (Pik Khan-Tengri) 6,995 m

Natural resources:

major deposits of petroleum, natural gas, coal, iron ore, manganese, chrome ore, nickel, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, lead, zinc, bauxite, gold, uranium

Land use:

arable land: 7.98%
permanent crops: 0.05%
other: 91.97% (2001)

Irrigated land:

23,320 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

earthquakes in the south, mudslides around Almaty

Environment - current issues:

radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with former defense industries and test ranges scattered throughout the country pose health risks for humans and animals; industrial pollution is severe in some cities; because the two main rivers which flowed into the Aral Sea have been diverted for irrigation, it is drying up and leaving behind a harmful layer of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then picked up by the wind and blown into noxious dust storms; pollution in the Caspian Sea; soil pollution from overuse of agricultural chemicals and salination from poor infrastructure and wasteful irrigation practices

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography - note:

landlocked; Russia leases approximately 6,000 sq km of territory enclosing the Baykonur Cosmodrome; in January 2004, Kazakhstan and Russia extended the lease to 2050

People

Kazakhstan

Population:

15,185,844 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 23.7% (male 1,834,535/female 1,758,988)
15-64 years: 68.4% (male 5,075,243/female 5,312,536)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 424,341/female 780,201) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 28.52 years
male: 26.92 years
female: 30.25 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.3% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

15.78 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

9.46 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-3.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.54 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 29.21 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 33.85 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 24.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 66.55 years
male: 61.21 years
female: 72.2 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.89 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

16,500 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Kazakhstani(s)
adjective: Kazakhstani

Ethnic groups:

Kazakh (Qazaq) 53.4%, Russian 30%, Ukrainian 3.7%, Uzbek 2.5%, German 2.4%, Tatar 1.7%, Uygur 1.4%, other 4.9% (1999 census)

Religions:

Muslim 47%, Russian Orthodox 44%, Protestant 2%, other 7%

Languages:

Kazakh (Qazaq, state language) 64.4%, Russian (official, used in everyday business, designated the "language of interethnic communication") 95% (2001 est.)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.4%
male: 99.1%
female: 97.7% (1999 est.)

Government

Kazakhstan

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Kazakhstan
conventional short form: Kazakhstan
local long form: Qazaqstan Respublikasy
local short form: none
former: Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:

republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch

Capital:

Astana; note - the government moved from Almaty to Astana in December 1998

Administrative divisions:

14 provinces (oblystar, singular - oblys) and 3 cities* (qala, singular - qalasy); Almaty Oblysy, Almaty Qalasy*, Aqmola Oblysy (Astana), Aqtobe Oblysy, Astana Qalasy*, Atyrau Oblysy, Batys Qazaqstan Oblysy (Oral), Bayqongyr Qalasy*, Mangghystau Oblysy (Aqtau), Ongtustik Qazaqstan Oblysy (Shymkent), Pavlodar Oblysy, Qaraghandy Oblysy, Qostanay Oblysy, Qyzylorda Oblysy, Shyghys Qazaqstan Oblysy (Oskemen), Soltustik Qazaqstan Oblysy (Petropavlovsk), Zhambyl Oblysy (Taraz)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses); in 1995, the Governments of Kazakhstan and Russia entered into an agreement whereby Russia would lease for a period of 20 years an area of 6,000 sq km enclosing the Baykonur space launch facilities and the city of Bayqongyr (Baykonur, formerly Leninsk); in 2004, a new agreement extended the lease to 2050

Independence:

16 December 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 16 December (1991)

Constitution:

first post-independence constitution adopted 28 January 1993; new constitution adopted by national referendum 30 August 1995

Legal system:

based on civil law system

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV (chairman of the Supreme Soviet from 22 February 1990, elected president 1 December 1991)
head of government: Prime Minister Daniyal AKHMETOV (since 13 June 2003); First Deputy Prime Minister Akhmetzhan YESIMOV (since 14 May 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 10 January 1999, a year before it was previously scheduled (next to be held NA 2006); note - President NAZARBAYEV's previous term was extended to 2000 by a nationwide referendum held 30 April 1995; prime minister and first deputy prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV 81.7%, Serikbolsyn ABDILDIN 12.1%, Gani KASYMOV 4.7%, Engels GABBASSOV 1.5%
note: President NAZARBAYEV arranged a referendum in 1995 that expanded his presidential powers: 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:

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (39 seats; 7 senators are appointed by the president; other members are popularly elected, two from each of the 14 oblasts, the capital of Astana, and the city of Almaty, to serve six-year terms; note - formerly composed of 47 seats) and the Majilis (77 seats; 10 out of the 77 Majilis members are elected from the winning party's lists; members are popularly elected to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - (indirect) last held 17 September 1999 (next to be held December 2005); Majilis - last held 19 September and 3 October 2004 (next to be held September 2009)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; candidates nominated by local councils; Majilis - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Otan 42, AIST 11, ASAR (All Together) 4, Ak Zhol (Bright Path) 1, Democratic Party 1, independent 18; note - most independent candidates are affiliated with parastatal enterprises and other pro-government institutions

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (44 members); Constitutional Council (7 members)

Political parties and leaders:

Agrarian Party [Romin MADINOV]; Ak Zhol Party "Bright Path" [Bulat ABILOV, Uraz ZHANDOSOV, Lyudmila ZHULANOVA, Alikhan BAYMENOV, Altynbek SARSENBAYEV, co-chairs]; ASAR "All Together" [Dariga NAZARBAYEVA, chairwoman]; AUL "Village" [Gani KALIYEV]; Civic Party [Azat PERUASHEV, first secretary]; Communist Party or KPK [Serikbolsyn ABDILDIN, first secretary]; Communist People's Party of Kazakhstan [Vladislav KOSAREV]; Democratic Party of Kazakhstan [Maksut NARIKBAEV]; Otan "Fatherland" [Bakhytzhan ZHUMAGULOV, acting chairman]; Patriots' Party [Gani KASYMOV]; Rukhaniyat [Altynshash JAGANOVA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Adil-Soz [Tamara KALEYEVA]; Almaty Helsinki Group [Ninel FOKINA]; Confederation of Free Trade Unions [Sergei BELKIN]; Kazakhstan International Bureau on Human Rights [Yevgeniy ZHOVTIS, executive director]; Pensioners Movement or Pokoleniye [Irina SAVOSTINA, chairwoman]; Republican Network of International Monitors [Dos KUSHIM]; Transparency International [Sergei ZLOTNIKOV]

International organization participation:

AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Kanat B. SAUDABAYEV
chancery: 1401 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 232-5488
FAX: [1] (202) 232-5845
consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador John M. ORDWAY
embassy: 99/97A Fumanova, Samal-2, Almaty, 480099
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [7] (3272) 50-48-02
FAX: [7] (3272) 50-48-84

Flag description:

sky blue background representing the endless sky and a gold sun with 32 rays soaring above a golden steppe eagle in the center; on the hoist side is a "national ornamentation" in gold

Economy

Kazakhstan

Economy - overview:

Kazakhstan, the largest of the former Soviet republics in territory, excluding Russia, possesses enormous fossil fuel reserves as well as plentiful supplies of other minerals and metals. It also has a large agricultural sector featuring livestock and grain. Kazakhstan's industrial sector rests on the extraction and processing of these natural resources and also on a growing machine-building sector specializing in construction equipment, tractors, agricultural machinery, and some defense items. The breakup of the USSR in December 1991 and the collapse in demand for Kazakhstan's traditional heavy industry products resulted in a short-term contraction of the economy, with the steepest annual decline occurring in 1994. In 1995-97, the pace of the government program of economic reform and privatization quickened, resulting in a substantial shifting of assets into the private sector. Kazakhstan enjoyed double-digit growth in 2000-01 - and a solid 9.5% in 2002 - thanks largely to its booming energy sector, but also to economic reform, good harvests, and foreign investment. Growth remained at the high 9% level in 2003 and 2004. The opening of the Caspian Consortium pipeline in 2001, from western Kazakhstan's Tengiz oilfield to the Black Sea, substantially raised export capacity. The country has embarked upon an industrial policy designed to diversify the economy away from overdependence on the oil sector, by developing light industry. Additionally, the policy aims to reduce the influence of foreign investment and foreign personnel; the government has engaged in several disputes with foreign oil companies over the terms of production agreements, and tensions continue.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$118.4 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

9.1% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $7,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 7.4%
industry: 37.8%
services: 54.8% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

7.95 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 20%, industry 30%, services 50% (2002 est.)

Unemployment rate:

8% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

19% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.3%
highest 10%: 26.5% (2004 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

31.5 (2003)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6.9% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

23.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $8.67 billion
expenditures: $8.968 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

13.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

grain (mostly spring wheat), cotton; livestock

Industries:

oil, coal, iron ore, manganese, chromite, lead, zinc, copper, titanium, bauxite, gold, silver, phosphates, sulfur, iron and steel; tractors and other agricultural machinery, electric motors, construction materials

Industrial production growth rate:

10.6% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

66.82 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 84.3%
hydro: 15.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

62.21 billion kWh (203)

Electricity - exports:

4.975 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:

2.506 billion kWh (2003)

Oil - production:

1.2 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

189,400 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:

890,000 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports:

47,000 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - proved reserves:

26 billion bbl (1 January 2004)

Natural gas - production:

11.6 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

14.3 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

11.01 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

8.696 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.8 trillion cu m (1 January 2004)

Current account balance:

$-39.02 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$18.47 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

oil and oil products 58%, ferrous metals 24%, chemicals 5%, machinery 3%, grain, wool, meat, coal (2001)

Exports - partners:

Russia 15.1%, Bermuda 13.8%, Germany 11%, China 9.9%, France 6.6%, Italy 4% (2004)

Imports:

$13.07 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment 41%, metal products 28%, foodstuffs 8% (2001)

Imports - partners:

Russia 34.6%, China 15.4%, Germany 8.2%, France 5.7%, Ukraine 4.6% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$14.35 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$26.03 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$74.2 million in US assistance programs, 1992-2000 (FY2004)

Currency (code):

tenge (KZT)

Currency code:

KZT

Exchange rates:

tenge per US dollar - 136.04 (2004), 149.58 (2003), 153.28 (2002), 146.74 (2001), 142.13 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Kazakhstan

Telephones - main lines in use:

2,081,900 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.027 million (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: service is poor; equipment antiquated
domestic: intercity by landline and microwave radio relay; mobile cellular systems are available in most of Kazakhstan
international: country code - 7; international traffic with other former Soviet republics and China carried by landline and microwave radio relay and with other countries by satellite and by the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic cable; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 60, FM 17, shortwave 9 (1998)

Radios:

6.47 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

12 (plus nine repeaters) (1998)

Televisions:

3.88 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.kz

Internet hosts:

21,984 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

10 (with their own international channels) (2001)

Internet users:

250,000 (2002)

Transportation

Kazakhstan

Railways:

total: 13,700 km
broad gauge: 13,700 km 1.520-m gauge (3,700 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 82,980 km
paved: 77,918 km
unpaved: 5,062 km (2002)

Waterways:

4,000 km
note: on the Syr Darya (Syrdariya) and Ertis (Irtysh) rivers (2004)

Pipelines:

condensate 18 km; gas 10,370 km; oil 10,158 km; refined products 1,187 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Aqtau (Shevchenko), Atyrau (Gur'yev), Oskemen (Ust-Kamenogorsk), Pavlodar, Semey (Semipalatinsk)

Merchant marine:

total: 3 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,064 GRT/646 DWT
by type: cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 1
foreign-owned: 2 (United Kingdom 2) (2005)

Airports:

314 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 67
over 3,047 m: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 26
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 247
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 27
under 914 m: 197 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

Kazakhstan

Military branches:

Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Naval Force, Republican Guard

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years; minimum age for volunteers NA (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 3,758,255 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,473,529 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 173,129 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$221.8 million (Ministry of Defense expenditures) (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.9% (Ministry of Defense expenditures) (FY02)

Transnational Issues

Kazakhstan

Disputes - international:

in 2005, Kazakhstan agreed with Russia, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to commence demarcating their boundaries; delimitation with Kyrgyzstan is complete; creation of a seabed boundary with Turkmenistan in the Caspian Sea remains unresolved; equidistant seabed treaties have been ratified with Azerbaijan and Russia in the Caspian Sea, but no resolution has been made on dividing the water column among any of the littoral states

Illicit drugs:

significant illicit cultivation of cannabis for CIS markets, as well as limited cultivation of opium poppy and ephedra (for the drug ephedrine); limited government eradication of illicit crops; transit point for Southwest Asian narcotics bound for Russia and the rest of Europe

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Laos

Introduction

Laos

Background:

Laos was under the control of Siam (Thailand) from the late 18th century until the late 19th century when it became part of French Indochina. The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907 defined the current Lao border with Thailand. In 1975, the Communist Pathet Lao took control of the government, ending a six-century-old monarchy. Initial closer ties to Vietnam and socialization were replaced with a gradual return to private enterprise, a liberalization of foreign investment laws, and the admission into ASEAN in 1997.

Geography

Laos

Location:

Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam

Geographic coordinates:

18 00 N, 105 00 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 236,800 sq km
land: 230,800 sq km
water: 6,000 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Utah

Land boundaries:

total: 5,083 km
border countries: Burma 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km, Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)

Terrain:

mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Mekong River 70 m
highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m

Natural resources:

timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones

Land use:

arable land: 3.8%
permanent crops: 0.35%
other: 95.85% (2001)

Irrigated land:

1,640 sq km
note: rainy season irrigation - 2,169 sq km; dry season irrigation - 750 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

floods, droughts

Environment - current issues:

unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; most of the population does not have access to potable water

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested; the Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand

People

Laos

Population:

6,217,141 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 41.6% (male 1,300,094/female 1,289,227)
15-64 years: 55.2% (male 1,693,494/female 1,737,196)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 88,744/female 108,386) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.74 years
male: 18.42 years
female: 19.08 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.42% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

35.99 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

11.83 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 85.22 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 95.04 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 75.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 55.08 years
male: 53.07 years
female: 57.17 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.77 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

1,700 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 200 (2003 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 and the Yao 9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1%

Religions:

Buddhist 60%, animist and other 40% (including various Christian denominations 1.5%)

Languages:

Lao (official), French, English, and various ethnic languages

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 66.4%
male: 77.4%
female: 55.5% (2002)

Government

Laos

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

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, Louangphrabang, Oudomxai, Phongsali, Salavan, Savannakhet, Viangchan (Vientiane)*, Viangchan, Xaignabouli, Xaisomboun**, Xekong, Xiangkhoang

Independence:

19 July 1949 (from France)

National holiday:

Republic Day, 2 December (1975)

Constitution:

promulgated 14 August 1991

Legal system:

based on traditional customs, French legal norms and procedures, and socialist practice

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Gen. KHAMTAI Siphadon (since 26 February 1998) and Vice President Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 27 March 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister BOUNGNANG Volachit (since 27 March 2001); First Deputy Prime Minister Bouasone BOUPHAVANH (since 3 October 2003) Deputy Prime Minister Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli (since May 2002), Deputy Prime Minister THONGLOUN Sisolit (since 27 March 2001), and Deputy Prime Minister SOMSAVAT Lengsavat (since 26 February 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the National Assembly
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 24 February 2002 (next to be held in 2007); prime minister appointed by the president with the approval of the National Assembly for a five-year term
election results: KHAMTAI Siphadon elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly (109 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; note - total number of seats increased from 99 to 109 for the 2002 election)
elections: last held 24 February 2002 (next to be held in 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - LPRP or LPRP-approved (independent, non-party members) 109

Judicial branch:

People's Supreme Court (the president of the People's Supreme Court is elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the National Assembly Standing Committee; the vice president of the People's Supreme Court and the judges are appointed by the National Assembly Standing Committee)

Political parties and leaders:

Lao People's Revolutionary Party or LPRP [KHAMTAI Siphadon, party president]; other parties proscribed

Political pressure groups and leaders:

noncommunist political groups proscribed; most opposition leaders fled the country in 1975

International organization participation:

ACCT, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador PHANTHONG Phommahaxay
chancery: 2222 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-6416
FAX: [1] (202) 332-4923

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia M. HASLACH
embassy: 19 Rue Bartholonie, B. P. 114, Vientiane
mailing address: American Embassy, Box V, APO AP 96546
telephone: [856] (21) 212581, 212582, 212585
FAX: [856] (21) 212584

Flag description:

three horizontal bands of red (top), blue (double width), and red with a large white disk centered in the blue band

Economy

Laos

Economy - overview:

The government of Laos - one of the few remaining official Communist states - began decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise in 1986. The results, starting from an extremely low base, were striking - growth averaged 6% in 1988-2004 except during the short-lived drop caused by the Asian financial crisis beginning in 1997. Despite this high growth rate, Laos remains a country with a primitive infrastructure; it has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, and limited external and internal telecommunications. The government has sponsored major improvements in the road system. Electricity is available in only a few urban areas. Subsistence agriculture accounts for half of GDP and provides 80% of total employment. The economy will continue to benefit from aid from the IMF and other international sources and from new foreign investment in food processing and mining. In late 2004, Laos gained Normal Trade Relations status with the US, allowing Laos-based producers to face lower tariffs on their exports; this may help spur growth.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$11.28 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 49.5%
industry: 27.5%
services: 23% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

2.6 million (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 80% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate:

5.7% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line:

40% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 30.6% (1997)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

37 (1997)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

12.3% (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $284.3 million
expenditures: $416.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice, water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry

Industries:

tin and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

9.7% (2001 est.)

Electricity - production:

3.56 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 1.4%
hydro: 98.6%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

3.036 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

400 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

125 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

2,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-80.76 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$365.5 million (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

garments, wood products, coffee, electricity, tin

Exports - partners:

Thailand 19.3%, Vietnam 13.4%, France 8%, Germany 5.3%, UK 5% (2004)

Imports:

$579.5 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods

Imports - partners:

Thailand 60.5%, China 10.3%, Vietnam 7.1%, Singapore 4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$193.1 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$2.49 billion (2001)

Economic aid - recipient:

$243 million (2001 est.)

Currency (code):

kip (LAK)

Currency code:

LAK

Exchange rates:

kips per US dollar - 10,820 (2004), 10,569 (2003), 10,056.3 (2002), 8,954.6 (2001), 7,887.6 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 October - 30 September

Communications

Laos

Telephones - main lines in use:

61,900 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

55,200 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: service to general public is poor but improving with over 20,000 telephones currently in service and an additional 48,000 expected by 2001; the government relies on a radiotelephone network to communicate with remote areas
domestic: radiotelephone communications
international: country code - 856; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios:

730,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

4 (1999)

Televisions:

52,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.la

Internet hosts:

937 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

15,000 (2002)

Transportation

Laos

Highways:

total: 21,716 km
paved: 9,664 km
unpaved: 12,052 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

4,600 km
note: primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional km are intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m (2003)

Pipelines:

refined products 540 km (2004)

Merchant marine:

total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWT
by type: cargo 1 (2005)

Airports:

44 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 35
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.)

Military

Laos

Military branches:

Lao People's Army (LPA; includes Riverine Force), Air Force

Military service age and obligation:

15 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - minimum 18 months (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 15-49: 1,500,625 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 15-49: 954,816 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 73,167 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$10.7 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.5% (2004)

Military - note:

Laos is one of the world's least developed countries; the Lao People's Armed Forces are small, poorly funded, and ineffectively resourced; there is little political will to allocate sparse funding to the military, and the armed forces' gradual degradation is likely to continue; the massive drug production and trafficking industry centered in the Golden Triangle makes Laos an important narcotics transit country, and armed Wa and Chinese smugglers are active on the Lao-Burma border (2005)

Transnational Issues

Laos

Disputes - international:

Southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; Laos and Thailand pledge to complete demarcation of boundaries in 2005, while ongoing disputes over squatters and boundary encroachment by Thailand including Mekong River islets persist; in 2004 Cambodian-Laotian boundary commission agrees to re-erect missing markers in two adjoining provinces; concern among Mekong Commission members that China's construction of dams on the Mekong River will affect water levels

Illicit drugs:

estimated cultivation in 2004 - 10,000 hectares, a 45% decrease from 2003; estimated potential production in 2004 - 49 metric tons, a significant decrease from 200 metric tons in 2003 (2005)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Lebanon

Introduction

Lebanon

Background:

Lebanon has made progress toward rebuilding its political institutions since 1991 and the end of the devastating 15-year civil war. Under the Ta'if Accord - the blueprint for national reconciliation - the Lebanese have established a more equitable political system, particularly by giving Muslims a greater say in the political process while institutionalizing sectarian divisions in the government. Since the end of the war, the Lebanese have conducted several successful elections, most of the militias have been weakened or disbanded, and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) have extended central government authority over about two-thirds of the country. Hizballah, a radical Shia organization, retains its weapons. During Lebanon's civil war, the Arab League legitimized in the Ta'if Accord Syria's troop deployment, numbering about 16,000 based mainly east of Beirut and in the Bekaa Valley. Damascus justified its continued military presence in Lebanon by citing Beirut's requests and the failure of the Lebanese Government to implement all of the constitutional reforms in the Ta'if Accord. Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon in May 2000, however, encouraged some Lebanese groups to demand that Syria withdraw its forces as well. The passage of UNSCR 1559 in early October 2004 - a resolution calling for Syria to withdraw from Lebanon and end its interference in Lebanese affairs - further emboldened Lebanese groups opposed to Syria's presence in Lebanon. Syria finally withdrew the remainder of its forces from Lebanon in April of 2005.

Geography

Lebanon

Location:

Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Israel and Syria

Geographic coordinates:

33 50 N, 35 50 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 10,400 sq km
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 nm

Climate:

Mediterranean; mild to cool, wet winters with hot, dry summers; Lebanon mountains experience heavy winter snows

Terrain:

narrow coastal plain; El Beqaa (Bekaa Valley) separates Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon Mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Qurnat as Sawda' 3,088 m

Natural resources:

limestone, iron ore, salt, water-surplus state in a water-deficit region, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 16.62%
permanent crops: 13.98%
other: 69.4% (2001)

Irrigated land:

1,200 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

dust storms, sandstorms

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial wastes; pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

Nahr el Litani only major river in Near East not crossing an international boundary; rugged terrain historically helped isolate, protect, and develop numerous factional groups based on religion, clan, and ethnicity

People

Lebanon

Population:

3,826,018 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 26.7% (male 520,270/female 499,609)
15-64 years: 66.4% (male 1,216,738/female 1,324,031)
65 years and over: 6.9% (male 120,176/female 145,194) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 27.34 years
male: 26.28 years
female: 28.43 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.26% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

18.88 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.24 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 24.52 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 27.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.63 years
male: 70.17 years
female: 75.21 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.92 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

2,800 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Lebanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Lebanese

Ethnic groups:

Arab 95%, Armenian 4%, other 1%

Religions:

Muslim 59.7% (Shi'a, Sunni, Druze, Isma'ilite, Alawite or Nusayri), Christian 39% (Maronite Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Melkite Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic, Armenian Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Chaldean, Assyrian, Copt, Protestant), other 1.3%
note: seventeen religious sects recognized

Languages:

Arabic (official), French, English, Armenian

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.4%
male: 93.1%
female: 82.2% (2003 est.)

Government

Lebanon

Country name:

conventional long form: Lebanese Republic
conventional short form: Lebanon
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Lubnaniyah
local short form: Lubnan

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Beirut

Administrative divisions:

6 governorates (mohafazat, singular - mohafazah); Beyrouth, Beqaa, Liban-Nord, Liban-Sud, Mont-Liban, Nabatiye

Independence:

22 November 1943 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 22 November (1943)

Constitution:

23 May 1926; amended a number of times, most recently Charter of Lebanese National Reconciliation (Ta'if Accord) of October 1989

Legal system:

mixture of Ottoman law, canon law, Napoleonic code, and civil law; no judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

21 years of age; compulsory for all males; authorized for women at age 21 with elementary education

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Emile LAHUD (since 24 November 1998)
head of government: Prime Minister Fuad SINIORA (since 30 June 2005); Deputy Prime Minister Elias MURR (since April 2005)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with the president and members of the National Assembly
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a six-year term; election last held 15 October 1998 (next election date NA); note - on 3 September 2004 the National Assembly voted 96 to 29 to extend Emile LAHUD's six-year term by three years; the prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president in consultation with the National Assembly; by agreement, the president is a Maronite Christian, the prime minister is a Sunni Muslim, and the speaker of the legislature is a Shia Muslim
election results: for 15 October 1998 election: Emile LAHUD elected president; National Assembly vote - 118 votes in favor, 0 against, 10 abstentions

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Majlis Alnuwab (Arabic) or Assemblee Nationale (French) (128 seats; members elected by popular vote on the basis of sectarian proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held in four rounds on 29 May, 5, 12, 19 June 2005 (next to be held 2009)
election results: percent of vote by group - NA; seats by group - Future Movement Bloc 36; Democratic Gathering 15; Development and Resistance Bloc 15; Loyalty to the Resistance 14; Free Patriotic Movement 14; Lebanese Forces 6; Qornet Shewan 5; Popular Bloc 4; Tripoli Independent Bloc 3; Syrian National Socialist Party 2; Kataeb Reform Movement 2; Tachnaq Party 2; Democratic Renewal Movement 1; Democratic Left 1; Nasserite Popular Movement 1; Ba'th Party 1; Kataeb Party 1; independent 5

Judicial branch:

four Courts of Cassation (three courts for civil and commercial cases and one court for criminal cases); Constitutional Council (called for in Ta'if Accord - rules on constitutionality of laws); Supreme Council (hears charges against the president and prime minister as needed)

Political parties and leaders:

Ba'th Party [leader NA]; Democratic Gathering [Walid JUNBLATT]; Democratic Left [leader NA]; Development and Resistance Bloc [Nabih BARRI, Amal leader/speaker]; Free Patriotic Movement [Michel AWN]; Future Movement Bloc [Sa'ad HARIRI]; Kataeb Party [leader NA]; Kataeb Reform Movement [leader NA]; Lebanese Forces [leader NA]; Loyalty to the Resistance [Mohammad RA'AD]; Nasserite Popular Movement [leader NA]; Popular Bloc [leader NA]; Qornet Shewan [leader NA]; Syrian National Socialist Party [leader NA]; Tripoli Independent Bloc [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ABEDA, ACCT, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Farid ABBOUD
chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-6300
FAX: [1] (202) 939-6324
consulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, and Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jeffrey D. FELTMAN
embassy: Awkar, Lebanon
mailing address: P. O. Box 70-840, Antelias, Lebanon; PSC 815, Box 2, FPO AE 09836-0002
telephone: [961] (4) 542600, 543600
FAX: [961] (4) 544136

Flag description:

three horizontal bands consisting of red (top), white (middle, double width), and red (bottom) with a green cedar tree centered in the white band

Economy

Lebanon

Economy - overview:

The 1975-91 civil war seriously damaged Lebanon's economic infrastructure, cut national output by half, and all but ended Lebanon's position as a Middle Eastern entrepot and banking hub. In the years since, Lebanon has rebuilt much of its war-torn physical and financial infrastructure by borrowing heavily - mostly from domestic banks. In an attempt to reduce the ballooning national debt, the HARIRI government began an austerity program, reining in government expenditures, increasing revenue collection, and privatizing state enterprises. In November 2002, the government met with international donors at the Paris II conference to seek bilateral assistance in restructuring its massive domestic debt at lower rates of interest. Substantial receipts from donor nations stabilized government finances in 2003, but did little to reduce the debt, which stood at nearly 180% of GDP. In 2004 the HARIRI government issued Eurobonds in an effort to manage maturing debt, and the KARAMI government has continued this practice. However, privatization of state-owned enterprises had not occurred by the end of 2004, as promised during the Paris II conference.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$18.83 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 12%
industry: 21%
services: 67% (2000)

Labor force:

2.6 million
note: in addition, there are as many as 1 million foreign workers (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA

Unemployment rate:

18% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line:

28% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

26% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $4.895 billion
expenditures: $6.642 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

177.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

citrus, grapes, tomatoes, apples, vegetables, potatoes, olives, tobacco; sheep, goats

Industries:

banking, food processing, jewelry, cement, textiles, mineral and chemical products, wood and furniture products, oil refining, metal fabricating

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

8.066 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 97.2%
hydro: 2.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

8.591 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

1.09 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

107,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-2.389 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$1.783 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

authentic jewelry, inorganic chemicals, miscellaneous consumer goods, fruit, tobacco, construction minerals, electric power machinery and switchgear, textile fibers, paper

Exports - partners:

Syria 24.9%, UAE 10%, Turkey 6.9%, Switzerland 6.7%, Saudi Arabia 5.3% (2004)

Imports:

$8.162 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum products, cars, medicinal products, clothing, meat and live animals, consumer goods, paper, textile fabrics, tobacco

Imports - partners:

Italy 11.2%, France 10.3%, Syria 9.8%, Germany 8.6%, China 5.8%, US 5.5%, UK 4.6% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$16.3 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$15.84 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$2.2 billion received (2003), out of the $4.2 billion in soft loans pledged at the November 2002 Paris II Aid Conference

Currency (code):

Lebanese pound (LBP)

Currency code:

LBP

Exchange rates:

Lebanese pounds per US dollar - 1,507.5 (2004), 1,507.5 (2003), 1,507.5 (2002), 1,507.5 (2001), 1,507.5 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Lebanon

Telephones - main lines in use:

678,800 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

775,100 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: telecommunications system severely damaged by civil war; rebuilding well underway
domestic: primarily microwave radio relay and cable
international: country code - 961; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean) (erratic operations); coaxial cable to Syria; microwave radio relay to Syria but inoperable beyond Syria to Jordan; 3 submarine coaxial cables

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 20, FM 22, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios:

2.85 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

15 (plus 5 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

1.18 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.lb

Internet hosts:

6,998 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

22 (2000)

Internet users:

400,000 (2002)

Transportation

Lebanon

Railways:

total: 401 km
standard gauge: 319 km 1.435-m
narrow gauge: 82 km 1.050-m
note: rail system became unusable because of damage during the civil war in the 1980s; short sections are operable (2004)

Highways:

total: 7,300 km
paved: 6,198 km
unpaved: 1,102 km (1999 est.)

Pipelines:

oil 209 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Beirut, Chekka, Jounie, Tripoli

Merchant marine:

total: 44 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 198,602 GRT/248,313 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 26, livestock carrier 8, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 2, vehicle carrier 3
foreign-owned: 6 (Austria 1, Greece 5)
registered in other countries: 40 (2005)

Airports:

8 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Lebanon

Military branches:

Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF): Army, Navy, and Air Force

Military service age and obligation:

18-30 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 974,363 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 821,762 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$540.6 million (2002) (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3.1% (FY99) (2004)

Transnational Issues

Lebanon

Disputes - international:

intense international pressure prompts the removal of Syrian troops and intelligence personnel from Lebanon; Lebanese Government claims Shab'a Farms area of Israeli-occupied Golan Heights; the roughly 2,000-strong UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has been in place since 1978

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 394,532 (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA))
IDPs: 300,000 (1975-90 civil war, Israeli invasions) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

cannabis cultivation dramatically reduced to 2,500 hectares in 2002; opium poppy cultivation minimal; small amounts of Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin transit country on way to European markets and for Middle Eastern consumption

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Latvia

Introduction

Latvia

Background:

After a brief period of independence between the two World Wars, Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940. It reestablished its independence in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Although the last Russian troops left in 1994, the status of the Russian minority (some 30% of the population) remains of concern to Moscow. Latvia joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.

Geography

Latvia

Location:

Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Estonia and Lithuania

Geographic coordinates:

57 00 N, 25 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 64,589 sq km
land: 63,589 sq km
water: 1,000 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries:

total: 1,150 km
border countries: Belarus 141 km, Estonia 339 km, Lithuania 453 km, Russia 217 km

Coastline:

531 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

maritime; wet, moderate winters

Terrain:

low plain

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m

Natural resources:

peat, limestone, dolomite, amber, hydropower, wood, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 29.67%
permanent crops: 0.47%
other: 69.86% (2001)

Irrigated land:

200 sq km
note: land in Latvia is often too wet, and in need of drainage, not irrigation; approximately 16,000 sq km or 85% of agricultural land has been improved by drainage (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service industries after the country regained independence; the main environmental priorities are improvement of drinking water quality and sewage system, household, and hazardous waste management, as well as reduction of air pollution; in 2001, Latvia closed the EU accession negotiation chapter on environment committing to full enforcement of EU environmental directives by 2010

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

most of the country is composed of fertile, low-lying plains, with some hills in the east

People

Latvia

Population:

2,290,237 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 14.4% (male 169,284/female 161,648)
15-64 years: 69.4% (male 770,839/female 819,309)
65 years and over: 16.1% (male 120,306/female 248,851) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 39.12 years
male: 35.95 years
female: 42.15 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.69% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

9.04 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

13.7 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-2.24 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female
total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 9.55 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 11.55 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.05 years
male: 65.78 years
female: 76.6 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.26 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.6% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

7,600 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 500 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Latvian(s)
adjective: Latvian

Ethnic groups:

Latvian 57.7%, Russian 29.6%, Belarusian 4.1%, Ukrainian 2.7%, Polish 2.5%, Lithuanian 1.4%, other 2% (2002)

Religions:

Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox

Languages:

Latvian (official) 58.2%, Russian 37.5%, Lithuanian and other 4.3% (2000 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.8% (2003 est.)

Government

Latvia

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Latvia
conventional short form: Latvia
local long form: Latvijas Republika
local short form: Latvija
former: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Riga

Administrative divisions:

26 counties (singular - rajons) and 7 municipalities*: Aizkraukles Rajons, Aluksnes Rajons, Balvu Rajons, Bauskas Rajons, Cesu Rajons, Daugavpils*, Daugavpils Rajons, Dobeles Rajons, Gulbenes Rajons, Jekabpils Rajons, Jelgava*, Jelgavas Rajons, Jurmala*, Kraslavas Rajons, Kuldigas Rajons, Liepaja*, Liepajas Rajons, Limbazu Rajons, Ludzas Rajons, Madonas Rajons, Ogres Rajons, Preilu Rajons, Rezekne*, Rezeknes Rajons, Riga*, Rigas Rajons, Saldus Rajons, Talsu Rajons, Tukuma Rajons, Valkas Rajons, Valmieras Rajons, Ventspils*, Ventspils Rajons

Independence:

21 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 18 November (1918); note - 18 November 1918 is the date Latvia declared itself independent from Soviet Russia; 4 May 1990 is when it declared the renewal of independence; 21 August 1991 is the date of de facto independence from the Soviet Union

Constitution:

15 February 1922; an October 1998 amendment on Fundamental Human Rights replaced the 1991 Constitutional Law, which had supplemented the constitution

Legal system:

based on civil law system

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal for Latvian citizens

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA (since 8 July 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Aigars KALVITIS (since 2 December 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and appointed by the Parliament
elections: president reelected by Parliament for a four-year term; election last held 20 June 2003 (next to be held by June 2007); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA reelected president; parliamentary vote - Vaira VIKE-FREIBERGA 88 of 94 votes cast

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Saeima (100 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 5 October 2002 (next to be held NA October 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - JL 23.9%, PCTVL 18.9%, TP 16.7%, ZZS 9.5%, First Party 7.6%, LNNK 5.4%; seats by party - JL 26, PCTVL 24, TP 21, ZZS 12, First Party 10, LNNK 7

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament)

Political parties and leaders:

First Party of Latvia or LPP [Juris LUJANS]; For Human Rights in a United Latvia or PCTVL [Tatjana ZDANOKA, Jakovs PLINERS]; For the Fatherland and Freedom/Latvian National Independence Movement or TB/LNNK [Janis STRAUME]; Harmony Center or SC [Sergejs DOLGOPOLOVS]; Latvian Green Party or LZP [Indulis EMSIS, Viesturs SILENIEKS, Raimonds VEJONIS]; Latvian Farmer's Union or LZS [Augusts BRIGMANIS]; Latvian Social Democratic Workers Party (Social Democrats) or LSDSP [Juris BOJARS]; Latvian Socialist Party or LSP [Alfreds RUBIKS]; Latvia's Way or LC [Ivars GODMANIS]; New Democrats or JD [Maris GULBIS]; New Era Party or JL [Einars REPSE]; People's Harmony Party or TSP [Aivars DATAVS]; People's Party or TP [Atis SLAKTERIS]; Social Democratic Union or SDS [Egils BALDZENS]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Headquarters for the Protection of Russian Schools (SHTAB) [Aleksandr KAZAKOV]

International organization participation:

Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WEU (member affiliate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Maris RIEKSTINS
chancery: 4325 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 726-8213, 8214
FAX: [1] (202) 726-6785

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Catherine TODD-BAILEY
embassy: 7 Raina Boulevard, Riga LV-1510
mailing address: American Embassy Riga, PSC 78, Box Riga, APO AE 09723
telephone: [371] 703-6200
FAX: [371] 782-0047

Flag description:

three horizontal bands of maroon (top), white (half-width), and maroon

Economy

Latvia

Economy - overview:

Latvia's transitional economy recovered from the 1998 Russian financial crisis, largely due to the government's budget stringency and a gradual reorientation of exports toward EU countries, lessening Latvia's trade dependency on Russia. The majority of companies, banks, and real estate have been privatized, although the state still holds sizable stakes in a few large enterprises. Latvia officially joined the World Trade Organization in February 1999. EU membership, a top foreign policy goal, came in May 2004. The current account and internal government deficits remain major concerns, but the government's efforts to increase efficiency in revenue collection may lessen the budget deficit. A growing perception that many of Latvia's banks facilitate illicit activity could damage the country's vibrant financial sector.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$26.53 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $11,500 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 4.4%
industry: 24.8%
services: 70.8% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

1.17 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 15%, industry 25%, services 60% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

8.8% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 25.9% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

32 (1999)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

26.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $4.231 billion
expenditures: $4.504 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

11.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish

Industries:

buses, vans, street and railroad cars, synthetic fibers, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, washing machines, radios, electronics, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, textiles; note - dependent on imports for energy and raw materials

Industrial production growth rate:

8.5% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

4.547 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 29.1%
hydro: 70.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

5.829 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

1.1 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

2.7 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

44,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

1.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Current account balance:

$-1.251 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$3.569 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles, foodstuffs

Exports - partners:

UK 12.8%, Germany 12%, Sweden 10%, Lithuania 9.1%, Estonia 8%, Russia 6.4%, Denmark 5.4% (2004)

Imports:

$5.97 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles

Imports - partners:

Germany 13.9%, Lithuania 12.2%, Russia 8.7%, Estonia 7%, Finland 6.3%, Sweden 6.1%, Poland 5.4%, Belarus 4.8% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.65 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$7.368 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$96.2 million (1995)

Currency (code):

Latvian lat (LVL)

Currency code:

LVL

Exchange rates:

lati per US dollar - 0.5402 (2004), 0.5715 (2003), 0.6182 (2002), 0.6279 (2001), 0.6065 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Latvia

Telephones - main lines in use:

653,900 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,219,600 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: inadequate, but is being modernized to provide an international capability independent of the Moscow international switch; more facilities are being installed for individual use
domestic: expansion underway in intercity trunk line connections, rural exchanges, and mobile systems; still many unsatisfied subscriber applications
international: country code - 371; international connections are now available via cable and a satellite earth station at Riga, enabling direct connections for most calls (1998)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

1.76 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

1.22 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.lv

Internet hosts:

51,758 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

41 (2001)

Internet users:

936,000 (2003)

Transportation

Latvia

Railways:

total: 2,303 km
broad gauge: 2,270 km 1.520-m gauge (257 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 33 km 0.750-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 60,472 km
paved: 57,206 km
unpaved: 3,265 km (2002)

Waterways:

300 km (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 1,097 km; oil 409 km; refined products 415 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Riga, Ventspils

Merchant marine:

total: 19 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 53,153 GRT/37,414 DWT
by type: cargo 7, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 5, roll on/roll off 1
registered in other countries: 86 (2005)

Airports:

50 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 26
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 16 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 24
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 20 (2004 est.)

Military

Latvia

Military branches:

Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze)

Military service age and obligation:

19 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for volunteers; Latvia plans to phase out conscription, tentatively moving to an all-professional force by 2007 (August 2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 19-49: 517,713 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 19-49: 361,098 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 19,137 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$87 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.2% (FY01)

Transnational Issues

Latvia

Disputes - international:

the Latvian-Russian boundary treaty of 1997 remains unsigned and unratified with Russia linking it to better Latvian treatment of ethnic Russians and Latvian politicians demanding Russian agreement to a declaration that admits Soviet aggression during the Second World War and other issues; the Latvian parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil exploration rights; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Latvia must implement the strict Schengen border rules

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for opiates and cannabis from Central and Southwest Asia to Western Europe and Scandinavia and Latin American cocaine and some synthetics from Western Europe to CIS; vulnerable to money laundering despite improved legislation due to nascent enforcement capabilities and comparatively weak regulation of offshore companies and the gaming industry; organized crime (including counterfeiting, corruption, extortion, stolen cars, and prostitution) accounts for most laundered proceeds

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Lithuania

Introduction

Lithuania

Background:

Independent between the two World Wars, Lithuania was annexed by the USSR in 1940. On 11 March 1990, Lithuania became the first of the Soviet republics to declare its independence, but Moscow did not recognize this proclamation until September of 1991 (following the abortive coup in Moscow). The last Russian troops withdrew in 1993. Lithuania subsequently restructured its economy for integration into Western European institutions; it joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.

Geography

Lithuania

Location:

Eastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, between Latvia and Russia

Geographic coordinates:

56 00 N, 24 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 65,200 sq km
land: NA sq km
water: NA sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than West Virginia

Land boundaries:

total: 1,273 km
border countries: Belarus 502 km, Latvia 453 km, Poland 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad) 227 km

Coastline:

99 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate:

transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate winters and summers

Terrain:

lowland, many scattered small lakes, fertile soil

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Juozapines/Kalnas 292 m

Natural resources:

peat, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 45.22%
permanent crops: 0.91%
other: 53.87% (2001)

Irrigated land:

90 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum products and chemicals at military bases

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geography - note:

fertile central plains are separated by hilly uplands that are ancient glacial deposits

People

Lithuania

Population:

3,596,617 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.1% (male 297,271/female 282,269)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 1,206,731/female 1,264,359)
65 years and over: 15.2% (male 186,979/female 359,008) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 37.83 years
male: 35.25 years
female: 40.46 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.3% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

8.62 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

10.92 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female
total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 6.89 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.25 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.97 years
male: 68.94 years
female: 79.28 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.19 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

1,300 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Lithuanian(s)
adjective: Lithuanian

Ethnic groups:

Lithuanian 83.4%, Polish 6.7%, Russian 6.3%, other or unspecified 3.6% (2001 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 79%, Russian Orthodox 4.1%, Protestant (including Lutheran and Evangelical Christian Baptist) 1.9%, other or unspecified 5.5%, none 9.5% (2001 census)

Languages:

Lithuanian (official) 82%, Russian 8%, Polish 5.6%, other and unspecified 4.4% (2001 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6% (2003 est.)

Government

Lithuania

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Lithuania
conventional short form: Lithuania
local long form: Lietuvos Respublika
local short form: Lietuva
former: Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Vilnius

Administrative divisions:

10 counties (apskritys, singular - apskritis); Alytaus, Kauno, Klaipedos, Marijampoles, Panevezio, Siauliu, Taurages, Telsiu, Utenos, Vilniaus

Independence:

11 March 1990 (independence declared from Soviet Union); 6 September 1991 (Soviet Union recognizes Lithuania's independence)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 16 February (1918); note - 16 February 1918 is the date Lithuania declared its independence from Soviet Russia and established its statehood; 11 March 1990 is the date it declared its independence from the Soviet Union

Constitution:

adopted 25 October 1992

Legal system:

based on civil law system; legislative acts can be appealed to the constitutional court

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Valdas ADAMKUS (since 12 July 2004)
head of government: Premier Algirdas Mykolas BRAZAUSKAS (since 3 July 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the nomination of the premier
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 13 June 2004 and 27 June 2004 (next to be held June 2009); premier appointed by the president on the approval of the Parliament
election results: Valdas ADAMKUS elected president; percent of vote - Valdas ADAMKUS 52.2%, Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE 47.8%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Seimas (141 seats, 71 members are directly elected by popular vote, 70 are elected by proportional representation; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 10 and 24 October 2004 (next to be held October 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - Labor 28.6%, Working for Lithuania (Social Democrats and Social Liberals) 20.7%, Homeland Union (Conservatives) 14.6%, For Order and Justice (Liberal Democrats and Lithuanian People's Union) 11.4%, Liberal and Center Union 9.1%, Union of Farmers and New Democracy 6.6%; seats by faction - Labor 39, Homeland Union 25, Social Democrats 20, Liberal and Center Union 18, Social Liberals 11, Union of Farmers and New Democracy Parties 10, Liberal Democrats 10, Electoral Action 2, independents 6

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; judges for all courts appointed by the President

Political parties and leaders:

Electoral Action of Lithuanian Poles [Valdemar TOMASZEVSKI, chairman]; Homeland Union/Conservative Party or TS [Andrius KUBILIUS, chairman]; Labor Party [Viktor USPASKICH, chairman]; Liberal and Center Union [Arturas ZUOKAS, chairman]; Liberal Democratic Party [Valentinas MAZURONIS, chairman]; Lithuanian Christian Democrats or LKD [Valentinas STUNDYS, chairman]; Lithuanian People's Union for a Fair Lithuania; Lithuanian Social Democratic Coalition [Algirdas BRAZAUSKAS, chairman] consists of the Lithuanian Democratic Labor Party or LDDP and the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party or LSDP; New Democracy and Farmer's Union or VNDPS [Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE, chairman]; Social Liberals (New Union) [Arturas PAULAUSKAS, chairman]; Social Union of Christian Conservatives [Gediminas VAGNORIUS, chairman]; Young Lithuania and New Nationalists

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (member affiliate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Vygaudas USACKAS
chancery: 2622 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860
FAX: [1] (202) 328-0466
consulate(s) general: Chicago and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Stephen D. MULL
embassy: 2600 Akmenu 6, Vilnius
mailing address: American Embassy, Vilnius, PSC 78, Box V, APO AE 09723
telephone: [370] (5) 266 5500
FAX: [370] (5) 266 5510

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), green, and red

Economy

Lithuania

Economy - overview:

Lithuania, the Baltic state that has conducted the most trade with Russia, has slowly rebounded from the 1998 Russian financial crisis. Unemployment dropped from 11% in 2003 to 8% in 2004. Growing domestic consumption and increased investment have furthered recovery. Trade has been increasingly oriented toward the West. Lithuania has gained membership in the World Trade Organization and joined the EU in May 2004. Privatization of the large, state-owned utilities, particularly in the energy sector, is nearing completion. Overall, more than 80% of enterprises have been privatized. Foreign government and business support have helped in the transition from the old command economy to a market economy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$45.23 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $12,500 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 6.1%
industry: 33.4%
services: 60.5% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

1.63 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 20%, industry 30%, services 50% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate:

8% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 25.6% (1996)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

34 (1999)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.1% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $6.542 billion
expenditures: $7.121 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

25.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

grain, potatoes, sugar beets, flax, vegetables; beef, milk, eggs; fish

Industries:

metal-cutting machine tools, electric motors, television sets, refrigerators and freezers, petroleum refining, shipbuilding (small ships), furniture making, textiles, food processing, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, optical equipment, electronic components, computers, amber

Industrial production growth rate:

12% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

17.93 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 16.5%
hydro: 5.7%
nuclear: 77.7%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

10.17 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

6.8 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

300 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

4,594 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

72,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

2.76 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

2.76 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Current account balance:

$-1.6 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$8.88 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

mineral products 23%, textiles and clothing 16%, machinery and equipment 11%, chemicals 6%, wood and wood products 5%, foodstuffs 5% (2001)

Exports - partners:

Germany 10.2%, Latvia 10.2%, Russia 9.3%, France 6.3%, UK 5.3%, Sweden 5.1%, Estonia 5%, Poland 4.8%, Netherlands 4.8%, Denmark 4.8%, US 4.7%, Switzerland 4.6% (2004)

Imports:

$11.02 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

mineral products 21%, machinery and equipment 17%, transport equipment 11%, chemicals 9%, textiles and clothing 9%, metals 5% (2001)

Imports - partners:

Russia 23.1%, Germany 16.7%, Poland 7.7%, Netherlands 4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$4.61 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$10.01 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$228.5 million (1995)

Currency (code):

litas (LTL)

Currency code:

LTL

Exchange rates:

litai per US dollar - 2.7806 (2004), 3.0609 (2003), 3.677 (2002), 4 (2001), 4 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Lithuania

Telephones - main lines in use:

824,200 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2,169,900 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: inadequate, but is being modernized to provide an improved international capability and better residential access
domestic: a national, fiber-optic cable, interurban, trunk system is nearing completion; rural exchanges are being improved and expanded; mobile cellular systems are being installed; access to the Internet is available; still many unsatisfied telephone subscriber applications
international: country code - 370; landline connections to Latvia and Poland; major international connections to Denmark, Sweden, and Norway by submarine cable for further transmission by satellite

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 29, FM 142, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios:

1.9 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

27
note: Lithuania has approximately 27 broadcasting stations, but may have as many as 100 transmitters, including repeater stations (2001)

Televisions:

1.7 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.lt

Internet hosts:

67,769 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

32 (2001)

Internet users:

695,700 (2003)

Transportation

Lithuania

Railways:

total: 1,998 km
broad gauge: 1,807 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified)
standard gauge: 22 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 169 km 0.750-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 77,148 km
paved: 69,202 km (including 417 km of expressways)
unpaved: 7,946 km (2002)

Waterways:

600 km (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 1,696 km; oil 331 km; refined products 109 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Klaipeda

Merchant marine:

total: 54 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 296,856 GRT/317,731 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 24, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 13, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 12 (Denmark 12)
registered in other countries: 16 (2005)

Airports:

102 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 28
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 14 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 74
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 68 (2004 est.)

Military

Lithuania

Military branches:

Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force, National Defense Volunteer Forces (SKAT)

Military service age and obligation:

19-45 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for volunteers (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 19-49: 830,368 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 19-49: 590,606 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 29,689 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$230.8 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.9% (FY01)

Transnational Issues

Lithuania

Disputes - international:

in 2003, the Lithuania-Russia land and maritime boundary treaty was ratified and a transit regime established through Lithuania linking Russia and its Kaliningrad coastal exclave, leaving only improvements to the border demarcation in 2005; by 2004, a third of the Belarus-Lithuania boundary had been demarcated; the Latvian parliament has not ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily due to concerns over oil; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Lithuania must implement the strict Schengen border rules

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs from Southwest Asia, Latin America, and Western Europe to Western Europe and Scandinavia; limited production of methamphetamine and ecstasy; susceptible to money laundering despite changes to banking legislation

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Liberia

Introduction

Liberia

Background:

In August 2003, a comprehensive peace agreement ended 14 years of civil war and prompted the resignation of former president Charles TAYLOR, who was exiled to Nigeria. The National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL) - composed of rebel, government, and civil society groups - assumed control in October 2003. Chairman Gyude BRYANT, who was given a two-year mandate to oversee efforts to rebuild Liberia, heads the new government. The United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), which maintains a strong presence throughout the country, completed a disarmament program for former combatants in late 2004, but the security situation is still volatile and the process of rebuilding the social and economic structure of this war-torn country remains sluggish.

Geography

Liberia

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone

Geographic coordinates:

6 30 N, 9 30 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 111,370 sq km
land: 96,320 sq km
water: 15,050 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Tennessee

Land boundaries:

total: 1,585 km
border countries: Guinea 563 km, Cote d'Ivoire 716 km, Sierra Leone 306 km

Coastline:

579 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid; dry winters with hot days and cool to cold nights; wet, cloudy summers with frequent heavy showers

Terrain:

mostly flat to rolling coastal plains rising to rolling plateau and low mountains in northeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m

Natural resources:

iron ore, timber, diamonds, gold, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 3.95%
permanent crops: 2.28%
other: 93.77% (2001)

Irrigated land:

30 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to March)

Environment - current issues:

tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw sewage

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

facing the Atlantic Ocean, the coastline is characterized by lagoons, mangrove swamps, and river-deposited sandbars; the inland grassy plateau supports limited agriculture

People

Liberia

Population:

3,482,211 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 43.6% (male 765,662/female 751,134)
15-64 years: 52.8% (male 896,206/female 940,985)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 64,547/female 63,677) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.06 years
male: 17.69 years
female: 18.42 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.64% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

44.22 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

17.87 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: at least 200,000 Liberian refugees are in surrounding countries; the uncertain security situation has hindered their ability to return (2005 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: 1.01 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 128.87 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 135.64 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 121.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 38.89 years
male: 37.03 years
female: 40.81 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.09 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

5.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

100,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

7,200 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever are high risks in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Liberian(s)
adjective: Liberian

Ethnic groups:

indigenous African tribes 95% (including Kpelle, Bassa, Gio, Kru, Grebo, Mano, Krahn, Gola, Gbandi, Loma, Kissi, Vai, Dei, Bella, Mandingo, and Mende), Americo-Liberians 2.5% (descendants of immigrants from the US who had been slaves), Congo People 2.5% (descendants of immigrants from the Caribbean who had been slaves)

Religions:

indigenous beliefs 40%, Christian 40%, Muslim 20%

Languages:

English 20% (official), some 20 ethnic group languages, of which a few can be written and are used in correspondence

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 57.5%
male: 73.3%
female: 41.6% (2003 est.)

Government

Liberia

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Liberia
conventional short form: Liberia

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Monrovia

Administrative divisions:

15 counties; Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe

Independence:

26 July 1847

National holiday:

Independence Day, 26 July (1847)

Constitution:

6 January 1986

Legal system:

dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American common law for the modern sector and customary law based on unwritten tribal practices for indigenous sector

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Chairman Gyude BRYANT (since 14 October 2003); note - this is an interim position until presidential elections in 2005; the chairman is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: Chairman Gyude BRYANT (since 14 October 2003); note - this is an interim position until presidential elections in 2005; the chairman is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate; note - current cabinet positions are divided among groups participating in the Liberian peace process
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term (renewable); election last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held 11 October 2005)
election results: Charles Ghankay TAYLOR elected president; percent of vote - Charles Ghankay TAYLOR (NPP) 75.3%, Ellen Johnson SIRLEAF (UP) 9.6%, Alhaji KROMAH (ALCOP) 4%, other 11.1%; note - TAYLOR stepped down in August 2003
note: a UN-brokered cease-fire among warring factions and the Liberian government resulted in the August 2003 resignation of former president Charles TAYLOR; a jointly agreed upon replacement, Chairman Gyude BRYANT, assumed office as head of the National Transitional Government on 14 October 2003

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (26 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve nine-year terms) and the House of Representatives (64 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held 11 October 2005); House of Representatives - last held 19 July 1997 (next to be held 11 October 2005)
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

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance of Political Parties (a coalition of LAP and LUP) [leader NA]; All Liberia Coalition Party or ALCOP [Peter KERBAY]; Liberian Action Party or LAP [C. Gyude BRYANT]; Liberian People's Party or LPP [Koffa NAGBE]; Liberia Unification Party or LUP [leader NA]; National Patriotic Party or NPP [Cyril ALLEN] - governing party; United People's Party or UPP [Wesley JOHNSON]; Unity Party or UP [Charles CLARKE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Aaron B. KOLLIE
chancery: 5201 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 723-0437
FAX: [1] (202) 723-0436
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador John William BLANEY III
embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, P. O. Box 10-0098, Mamba Point, 1000 Monrovia, 10 Liberia
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [231] 226-370 through 226-380
FAX: [231] 226-148

Flag description:

11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the US flag

Economy

Liberia

Economy - overview:

Civil war and government mismanagement have destroyed much of Liberia's economy, especially the infrastructure in and around Monrovia, while continued international sanctions on diamonds and timber exports will limit growth prospects for the foreseeable future. Many businessmen have fled the country, taking capital and expertise with them. Some have returned, but many will not. Richly endowed with water, mineral resources, forests, and a climate favorable to agriculture, Liberia had been a producer and exporter of basic products - primarily raw timber and rubber. Local manufacturing, mainly foreign owned, had been small in scope. The departure of the former president, Charles TAYLOR, to Nigeria in August 2003, the establishment of the all-inclusive Transitional Government, and the arrival of a UN mission are all necessary for the eventual end of the political crisis, but thus far have done little to encourage economic development. The reconstruction of infrastructure and the raising of incomes in this ravaged economy will largely depend on generous financial support and technical assistance from donor countries.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.903 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

21.8% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $900 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 76.9%
industry: 5.4%
services: 17.7% (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 70%, industry 8%, services 22% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

85% (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line:

80%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

15% (2003 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $85.4 million
expenditures: $90.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000 est.)

Agriculture - products:

rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm oil, sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber

Industries:

rubber processing, palm oil processing, timber, diamonds

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

488.8 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

454.6 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

3,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$1.079 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:

rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee

Exports - partners:

Denmark 29.5%, Germany 18.9%, Poland 14.3%, US 8.9%, Greece 8% (2004)

Imports:

$5.051 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:

fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods; foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

South Korea 38.8%, Japan 21.2%, Singapore 12.2%, Croatia 5.3%, Germany 4.2% (2004)

Debt - external:

$2.1 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$94 million (1999)

Currency (code):

Liberian dollar (LRD)

Currency code:

LRD

Exchange rates:

Liberian dollars per US dollar - 54.906 (2004), 59.379 (2003), 61.754 (2002), 48.583 (2001), 40.953 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Liberia

Telephones - main lines in use:

7,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2,000 (2001)

Telephone system:

general assessment: the limited services available are found almost exclusively in the capital Monrovia
domestic: fully automatic system with very low density of .21 fixed mainlines per 100 persons; limited wireless service available
international: country code - 231; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 7, shortwave 2 (2001)

Radios:

790,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (plus four low-power repeaters) (2001)

Televisions:

70,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.lr

Internet hosts:

14 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2001)

Internet users:

1,000 (2002)

Transportation

Liberia

Railways:

total: 490 km
standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 145 km 1.067-m gauge
note: none of the railways are in operation because of the civil war (2004)

Highways:

total: 10,600 km
paved: 657 km
unpaved: 9,943 km (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors:

Buchanan, Monrovia

Merchant marine:

total: 1,465 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 50,555,752 GRT/79,125,329 DWT
by type: barge carrier 3, bulk carrier 275, cargo 91, chemical tanker 173, combination ore/oil 22, container 388, liquefied gas 78, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 324, refrigerated cargo 57, roll on/roll off 6, specialized tanker 9, vehicle carrier 35
foreign-owned: 1,392 (Argentina 8, Australia 2, Austria 13, Bahamas 3, Brazil 6, British 1, Canada 2, Chile 1, China 36, Croatia 7, Cyprus 1, Denmark 5, France 3, Germany 511, Greece 149, Hong Kong 29, India 4, Indonesia 1, Isle of Man 5, Israel 7, Italy 12, Japan 106, Latvia 18, Monaco 10, Netherlands 18, Nigeria 1, Norway 57, Pakistan 1, Poland 14, Romania 1, Russia 63, Saudi Arabia 23, Singapore 29, Slovenia 1, South Korea 4, Sweden 12, Switzerland 10, Taiwan 54, Turkey 4, Ukraine 7, UAE 10, United Kingdom 56, United States 84, Uruguay 3) (2005)

Airports:

53 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 51
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 38 (2004 est.)

Military

Liberia

Military branches:

Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL): Army, Navy, Air Force

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 659,795 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 360,373 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$1.5 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.2% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Liberia

Disputes - international:

although Liberia's domestic fighting among disparate rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs was declared over in 2003, civil unrest persists, and in 2004, 133,000 Liberian refugees remained in Guinea, 72,000 in Cote d'Ivoire, 67,000 in Sierra Leone, and 43,000 in Ghana; Liberia, in turn, shelters refugees fleeing turmoil in Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone; since 2003, the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) has maintained about 18,000 peacekeepers in Liberia; the Cote d'Ivoire Government accuses Liberia of supporting Ivoirian rebels; UN sanctions ban Liberia from exporting diamonds and timber

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 13,941 (Sierra Leone) 38,325 (Cote d'Ivoire)
IDPs: 500,000 (civil war from 1990-2004; IDP resettlement began in November 2004) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for Southeast and Southwest Asian heroin and South American cocaine for the European and US markets; corruption, criminal activity, arms-dealing, and diamond trade provide significant potential for money laundering, but the lack of well-developed financial system limits the country's utility as a major money-laundering center

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Slovakia

Introduction

Slovakia

Background:

In 1918 the Slovaks joined the closely related Czechs to form Czechoslovakia. Following the chaos of World War II, Czechoslovakia became a Communist nation within Soviet-ruled Eastern Europe. Soviet influence collapsed in 1989 and Czechoslovakia once more became free. The Slovaks and the Czechs agreed to separate peacefully on 1 January 1993. Slovakia joined both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.

Geography

Slovakia

Location:

Central Europe, south of Poland

Geographic coordinates:

48 40 N, 19 30 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 48,845 sq km
land: 48,800 sq km
water: 45 sq km

Area - comparative:

about twice the size of New Hampshire

Land boundaries:

total: 1,524 km
border countries: Austria 91 km, Czech Republic 215 km, Hungary 677 km, Poland 444 km, Ukraine 97 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

temperate; cool summers; cold, cloudy, humid winters

Terrain:

rugged mountains in the central and northern part and lowlands in the south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Bodrok River 94 m
highest point: Gerlachovsky Stit 2,655 m

Natural resources:

brown coal and lignite; small amounts of iron ore, copper and manganese ore; salt; arable land

Land use:

arable land: 30.16%
permanent crops: 2.62%
other: 67.22% (2001)

Irrigated land:

1,740 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

air pollution from metallurgical plants presents human health risks; acid rain damaging forests

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; most of the country is rugged and mountainous; the Tatra Mountains in the north are interspersed with many scenic lakes and valleys

People

Slovakia

Population:

5,431,363 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 17.1% (male 475,263/female 453,340)
15-64 years: 71% (male 1,919,222/female 1,939,097)
65 years and over: 11.9% (male 241,610/female 402,831) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 35.43 years
male: 33.85 years
female: 37.25 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.15% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

10.62 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

9.43 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 7.41 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.65 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.5 years
male: 70.52 years
female: 78.68 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.32 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 100 (2001 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Slovak(s)
adjective: Slovak

Ethnic groups:

Slovak 85.8%, Hungarian 9.7%, Roma 1.7%, Ruthenian/Ukrainian 1%, other and unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 68.9%, Protestant 10.8%, Greek Catholic 4.1%, other or unspecified 3.2%, none 13% (2001 census)

Languages:

Slovak (official) 83.9%, Hungarian 10.7%, Roma 1.8%, Ukrainian 1%, other or unspecified 2.6% (2001 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6% (2001 est.)

Government

Slovakia

Country name:

conventional long form: Slovak Republic
conventional short form: Slovakia
local long form: Slovenska Republika
local short form: Slovensko

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Bratislava

Administrative divisions:

8 regions (kraje, singular - kraj); Banskobystricky, Bratislavsky, Kosicky, Nitriansky, Presovsky, Trenciansky, Trnavsky, Zilinsky

Independence:

1 January 1993 (Czechoslovakia split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia)

National holiday:

Constitution Day, 1 September (1992)

Constitution:

ratified 1 September 1992, effective 1 January 1993; changed in September 1998 to allow direct election of the president; amended February 2001 to allow Slovakia to apply for NATO and EU membership

Legal system:

civil law system based on Austro-Hungarian codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; legal code modified to comply with the obligations of Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and to expunge Marxist-Leninist legal theory

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Ivan GASPAROVIC (since 15 June 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Mikulas DZURINDA (since 30 October 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Ivan MIKLOS (since 30 October 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Pal CSAKY (since 30 October 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Pavol RUSKO (since May 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by direct, popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 3 April and 17 April 2004 (next to be held April 2009); following National Council elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president
election results: Ivan GASPAROVIC elected president in runoff; percent of vote - Ivan GASPAROVIC 59.9%, Vladimir MECIAR 40.1%; Mikulas DZURINDA reelected prime minister October 2002
note: government coalition - SDKU, SMK, KDH, ANO

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Council of the Slovak Republic or Narodna Rada Slovenskej Republiky (150 seats; members are elected on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 20-21 September 2002 (next to be held September 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - HZDS-LS 19.5%, SDKU 15.1%, Smer 13.5%, SMK 11.2%, KDH 8.3%, ANO 8%, KSS 6.3%; seats by party - governing coalition 69 (SDKU 22, SMK 20, KDH 15, ANO 12), opposition 81 (HZDS 26, Smer 25, KSS 9, Free Forum 6, People's Union 5, and independents 10)

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are elected by the National Council); Constitutional Court (judges appointed by president from group of nominees approved by the National Council)

Political parties and leaders:

Christian Democratic Movement or KDH [Pavol HRUSOVSKY]; Direction (Smer) [Robert FICO]; Free Forum [Zuzana MARTINAKOVA]; Movement for Democracy or HZD [Jozef GRAPA]; Movement for a Democratic Slovakia-People's Party or HZDS-LS [Vladimir MECIAR]; New Citizens Alliance or ANO [Pavol RUSKO]; Party of the Hungarian Coalition or SMK [Bela BUGAR]; People's Union or LU [Gustav KRAJCI]; Slovak Communist Party or KSS [Jozef SEVC]; Slovak Democratic and Christian Union or SDKU [Mikulas DZURINDA]; Slovak National Party or SNS [Peter SULOVSKY]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Association of Employers of Slovakia; Association of Towns and Villages or ZMOS; Confederation of Trade Unions or KOZ; Metal Workers Unions or KOVO and METALURG

International organization participation:

Australia Group, BIS, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (member affiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Rastislav KACER
chancery: 3523 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 237-1054
FAX: [1] (202) 237-6438
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Scott N. THAYER
embassy: Hviezdoslavovo Namestie 4, 81102 Bratislava
mailing address: P.O. Box 309, 814 99 Bratislava
telephone: [421] (2) 5443-3338
FAX: [421] (2) 5443-0096

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red superimposed with the Slovak cross in a shield centered on the hoist side; the cross is white centered on a background of red and blue

Economy

Slovakia

Economy - overview:

Slovakia has mastered much of the difficult transition from a centrally planned economy to a modern market economy. The DZURINDA government made excellent progress during 2001-04 in macroeconomic stabilization and structural reform. Major privatizations are nearly complete, the banking sector is almost completely in foreign hands, and the government has helped facilitate a foreign investment boom with business-friendly policies, such as labor market liberalization and a 19% flat tax. Slovakia's economic growth exceeded expectations in 2001-04, despite the general European slowdown. Unemployment, at an unacceptable 15% in 2003-04, remains the economy's Achilles heel. Slovakia joined the EU on 1 May 2004.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$78.89 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.3% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $14,500 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3.5%
industry: 30.1%
services: 66.4% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

2.2 million (3rd quarter, 2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 5.8%, industry 29.3%, construction 9%, services 55.9% (2003)

Unemployment rate:

13.1% (31 December 2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 5.1%
highest 10%: 18.2% (1992)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

26.3 (1996)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7.5% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

24% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $15.44 billion
expenditures: $16.7 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

46.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, cattle, poultry; forest products

Industries:

metal and metal products; food and beverages; electricity, gas, coke, oil, nuclear fuel; chemicals and manmade fibers; machinery; paper and printing; earthenware and ceramics; transport vehicles; textiles; electrical and optical apparatus; rubber products

Industrial production growth rate:

5.1% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

31.15 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 30.3%
hydro: 16%
nuclear: 53.6%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

28.89 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:

8 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:

6 billion kWh (2003)

Oil - production:

1,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

82,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

4.5 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

190 million cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

6.8 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

6.6 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

7.504 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$-1.4 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$29.24 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

vehicles 25.9%, machinery and electrical equipment 21.3%, base metals 14.6%, chemicals and minerals 10.1%, plastics 5.4%% (2004 est.)

Exports - partners:

Germany 34.4%, Czech Republic 14.7%, Austria 8.2%, Italy 5.8%, Poland 5.3%, US 4.5%, Hungary 4.3% (2004)

Imports:

$29.67 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment 41.1%, intermediate manufactured goods 19.3%, fuels 12.3%, chemicals 9.8%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 10.2% (2003)

Imports - partners:

Germany 26.1%, Czech Republic 21.3%, Russia 9.1%, Austria 6.6%, Poland 4.9%, Italy 4.9% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$14.91 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$19.54 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$2.2 billion in available EU structural adjustment and cohesion funds (2004-06)

Currency (code):

Slovak koruna (SKK)

Currency code:

SKK

Exchange rates:

koruny per US dollar - 32.257 (2004), 36.773 (2003), 45.327 (2002), 48.355 (2001), 46.035 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Slovakia

Telephones - main lines in use:

1,294,700 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

3,678,800 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: a modernization and privatization program is increasing accessibility to telephone service, reducing the waiting time for new subscribers, and generally improving service quality
domestic: predominantly an analog system that is now receiving digital equipment and is being enlarged with fiber-optic cable, especially in the larger cities; mobile cellular capability has been added
international: country code - 421; three international exchanges (one in Bratislava and two in Banska Bystrica) are available; Slovakia is participating in several international telecommunications projects that will increase the availability of external services

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 15, FM 78, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:

3.12 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

6 national broadcasting, 7 regional, 67 local (2004)

Televisions:

2.62 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.sk

Internet hosts:

89,592 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6 (2000)

Internet users:

1,375,800 (2003)

Transportation

Slovakia

Railways:

total: 3,662 km
broad gauge: 100 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge: 3,512 km 1.435-m gauge (1,588 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 50 km (1.000-m or 0.750-m gauge) (2004)

Highways:

total: 42,970 km
paved: 37,698 km (including 302 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,272 km (2002)

Waterways:

172 km (on Danube River) (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 6,769 km; oil 449 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Bratislava, Komarno

Merchant marine:

total: 24 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 41,891 GRT/63,185 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 5, cargo 18, chemical tanker 1
foreign-owned: 18 (Bulgaria 8, Estonia 1, Greece 1, Syria 1, Turkey 6, United Kingdom 1) (2005)

Airports:

34 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 17
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 7 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 17
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 7 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

Slovakia

Military branches:

Army of the Slovak Republic (Armady Slovenskej Republika): Land Command, Air Forces (Vozdushne Sily), Training and Support Command, Logistics Command (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

complete transition to an all-volunteer professional force is planned for 1 January 2007; 82% of Slovak armed forces were volunteers as of January 2005; volunteers include women, with minimum age of 17 years; 18 years of age for compulsory military service (January 2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,351,848 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,089,645 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 41,544 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$406 million (2002)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.89% (2002)

Transnational Issues

Slovakia

Disputes - international:

Hungary amended its status law extending special social and cultural benefits to ethnic Hungarians in Slovakia, to which Slovakia had protested; consultations continue between Slovakia and Hungary over Hungary's completion of its portion of the Gabcikovo-Nagymaros hydroelectric dam project along the Danube; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Slovakia must implement the strict Schengen border rules

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe; producer of synthetic drugs for regional market

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Palmyra Atoll

Introduction

Palmyra Atoll

Background:

The Kingdom of Hawaii claimed the atoll in 1862, and the US included it among the Hawaiian Islands when it annexed the archipelago in 1898. The Hawaii Statehood Act of 1959 did not include Palmyra Atoll, which is now privately owned by the Nature Conservancy. This organization is managing the atoll as a nature preserve. The lagoons and surrounding waters within the 12 nautical mile US territorial seas were transferred to the US Fish and Wildlife Service and were designated a National Wildlife Refuge in January 2001.

Geography

Palmyra Atoll

Location:

Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa

Geographic coordinates:

5 52 N, 162 06 W

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 11.9 sq km
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:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

equatorial, hot, and very rainy

Terrain:

very low

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 2 m

Natural resources:

terrestrial and aquatic wildlife

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (forests and woodlands) (2005)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

about 50 islets covered with dense vegetation, coconut trees, and balsa-like trees up to 30 meters tall

People

Palmyra Atoll

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants; 4 to 20 Nature Conservancy staff, US Fish and Wildlife staff (July 2005 est.)

Government

Palmyra Atoll

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Palmyra Atoll

Dependency status:

incorporated territory of the US; privately owned, but administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior; the Office of Insular Affairs of the US Department of the Interior continues to administer nine excluded areas comprising certain tidal and submerged lands within the 12 nm territorial sea or within the lagoon

Legal system:

the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

Flag description:

the flag of the US is used

Economy

Palmyra Atoll

Economy - overview:

no economic activity

Transportation

Palmyra Atoll

Highways:

most of the roads and many causeways built during World War II are unserviceable and overgrown (2001)

Ports and harbors:

West Lagoon

Airports:

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Palmyra Atoll

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues

Palmyra Atoll

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Liechtenstein

Introduction

Liechtenstein

Background:

The Principality of Liechtenstein was established within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719; it became a sovereign state in 1806. Until the end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria, but the economic devastation caused by that conflict forced Liechtenstein to enter into a customs and monetary union with Switzerland. Since World War II (in which Liechtenstein remained neutral), the country's low taxes have spurred outstanding economic growth. Shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight have resulted in concerns about the use of the financial institutions for money laundering. Liechtenstein has, however, implemented new anti-money-laundering legislation and recently concluded a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US.

Geography

Liechtenstein

Location:

Central Europe, between Austria and Switzerland

Geographic coordinates:

47 16 N, 9 32 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 160 sq km
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 34.9 km, Switzerland 41.1 km

Coastline:

0 km (doubly landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

continental; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow or rain; cool to moderately warm, cloudy, humid summers

Terrain:

mostly mountainous (Alps) with Rhine Valley in western third

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m
highest point: Grauspitz 2,599 m

Natural resources:

hydroelectric potential, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 75% (2001)

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-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

along with Uzbekistan, one of only two doubly landlocked countries in the world; variety of microclimatic variations based on elevation

People

Liechtenstein

Population:

33,717 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 17.6% (male 2,938/female 3,009)
15-64 years: 70.4% (male 11,795/female 11,927)
65 years and over: 12% (male 1,685/female 2,363) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 39.22 years
male: 38.74 years
female: 39.68 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.82% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

10.41 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

7.06 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

4.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.98 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 (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.7 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.55 years
male: 75.96 years
female: 83.16 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.51 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Liechtensteiner(s)
adjective: Liechtenstein

Ethnic groups:

Alemannic 86%, Italian, Turkish, and other 14%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 76.2%, Protestant 7%, unknown 10.6%, other 6.2% (June 2002)

Languages:

German (official), Alemannic dialect

Literacy:

definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%

Government

Liechtenstein

Country name:

conventional long form: Principality of Liechtenstein
conventional short form: Liechtenstein
local long form: Fuerstentum Liechtenstein
local short form: Liechtenstein

Government type:

hereditary constitutional monarchy on a democratic and parliamentary basis

Capital:

Vaduz

Administrative divisions:

11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz

Independence:

23 January 1719 (Principality of Liechtenstein established); 12 July 1806 (independence from the Holy Roman Empire)

National holiday:

Assumption Day, 15 August

Constitution:

5 October 1921

Legal system:

local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Prince HANS ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed executive powers 26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS, son of the monarch (born 11 June 1968); note - on 15 August 2004, HANS ADAM transferred the official duties of the ruling prince to ALOIS, but HANS ADAM retains status of chief of state
head of government: Head of Government Ottmar HASLER (since 5 April 2001) and Deputy Head of Government Rita KIEBER-BECK (since 5 April 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet elected by the parliament, confirmed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the Landtag is usually appointed the head of government by the monarch and the leader of the largest minority party in the Landtag is usually appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Landtag (25 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote under proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 11 and 13 March 2005 (next to be held by NA 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - FBP 48.7%, VU 38.2%, FL 13%; seats by party - FBP 12, VU 10, FL 3

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Court of Appeal or Obergericht

Political parties and leaders:

Patriotic Union (was Fatherland Union) or VU [Heinz FROMMELT]; Progressive Citizens' Party or FBP [Johannes MATT]; The Free List or FL [Dr. Pepo FRICK, Elisabeth TELLENBACH-FRICK, Adolf RITTER]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE
chancery: 1300 Eye Street NW, Suite 550W, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 216-0460
FAX: [1] (202) 216-0459

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein, but the US Ambassador to Switzerland is also accredited to Liechtenstein

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown on the hoist side of the blue band

Economy

Liechtenstein

Economy - overview:

Despite its small size and limited natural resources, Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized, free-enterprise economy with a vital financial service sector and living standards on a par with its large European neighbors. The Liechtenstein economy is widely diversified with a large number of small businesses. Low business taxes - the maximum tax rate is 20% - and easy incorporation rules have induced many holding or so-called letter box companies to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein, providing 30% of state revenues. The country participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its national currency. It imports more than 90% of its energy requirements. Liechtenstein has been a member of the European Economic Area (an organization serving as a bridge between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the EU) since May 1995. The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated Europe.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$825 million (1999 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

11% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $25,000 (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA%
industry: 40%
services: NA% (1999)

Labor force:

29,000 of whom 19,000 are foreigners; 13,000 commute from Austria, Switzerland, and Germany to work each day (31 December 2001)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 1.3%, industry 47.4%, services 51.3% (31 December 2001 est.)

Unemployment rate:

1.3% (September 2002)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1% (2001)

Budget:

revenues: $424.2 million
expenditures: $414.1 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1998 est.)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy products

Industries:

electronics, metal manufacturing, dental products, ceramics, pharmaceuticals, food products, precision instruments, tourism, optical instruments

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Exports:

$2.47 billion (1996)

Exports - commodities:

small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared foodstuffs, electronic equipment, optical products

Exports - partners:

EU 62.6% (Germany 24.3%, Austria 9.5%, France 8.9%, Italy 6.6%, UK 4.6%), US 18.9%, Switzerland 15.7%

Imports:

$917.3 million (1996)

Imports - commodities:

agricultural products, raw materials, machinery, metal goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles

Imports - partners:

EU, Switzerland

Debt - external:

$0 (2001)

Economic aid - recipient:

none

Currency (code):

Swiss franc (CHF)

Currency code:

CHF

Exchange rates:

Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.2435 (2004), 1.3467 (2003), 1.5586 (2002), 1.6876 (2001), 1.6888 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Liechtenstein

Telephones - main lines in use:

19,900 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

11,400 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: automatic telephone system
domestic: NA
international: country code - 423; linked to Swiss networks by cable and microwave radio relay

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

21,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)

Televisions:

12,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.li

Internet hosts:

3,727 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

44 (Liechtenstein and Switzerland) (2000)

Internet users:

20,000 (2002)

Transportation

Liechtenstein

Highways:

total: 250 km
paved: 250 km
unpaved: 0 km

Waterways:

28 km (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 20 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

none

Airports:

none (2004 est.)

Military

Liechtenstein

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Switzerland

Transnational Issues

Liechtenstein

Disputes - international:

in February 2005, the ICJ refused to rule on the restitution of Liechtenstein's land and property assets in the Czech Republic confiscated in 1945 as German property

Illicit drugs:

has strengthened money-laundering controls, but money laundering remains a concern due to Liechtenstein sophisticated offshore financial services sector

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Lesotho

Introduction

Lesotho

Background:

Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence from the UK in 1966. King MOSHOESHOE was exiled in 1990, but returned to Lesotho in 1992 and reinstated in 1995. Constitutional government was restored in 1993 after 23 years of military rule. In 1998, violent protests and a military mutiny following a contentious election prompted a brief but bloody intervention by South African and Botswanan military forces under the aegis of the Southern African Development Community. Constitutional reforms have since restored political stability; peaceful parliamentary elections were held in 2002.

Geography

Lesotho

Location:

Southern Africa, an enclave of South Africa

Geographic coordinates:

29 30 S, 28 30 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 30,355 sq km
land: 30,355 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries:

total: 909 km
border countries: South Africa 909 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

temperate; cool to cold, dry winters; hot, wet summers

Terrain:

mostly highland with plateaus, hills, and mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers 1,400 m
highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m

Natural resources:

water, agricultural and grazing land, diamonds, sand, clay, building stone

Land use:

arable land: 10.87%
permanent crops: 0.13%
other: 89% (2001)

Irrigated land:

10 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, and soil exhaustion; desertification; Highlands Water Project controls, stores, and redirects water to South Africa

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

landlocked, completely surrounded by South Africa; mountainous, more than 80% of the country is 1,800 meters above sea level

People

Lesotho

Population:

1,867,035
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 36.9% (male 346,930/female 342,459)
15-64 years: 57.6% (male 526,642/female 548,096)
65 years and over: 5.5% (male 42,003/female 60,905) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 20.19 years
male: 19.68 years
female: 20.74 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.08% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

26.53 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

25.03 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 84.23 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 89.11 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 79.21 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 34.47 years
male: 35.49 years
female: 33.42 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.35 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

28.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

320,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

29,000 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Mosotho (singular), Basotho (plural)
adjective: Basotho

Ethnic groups:

Sotho 99.7%, Europeans, Asians, and other 0.3%,

Religions:

Christian 80%, indigenous beliefs 20%

Languages:

Sesotho (southern Sotho), English (official), Zulu, Xhosa

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84.8%
male: 74.5%
female: 94.5% (2003 est.)

Government

Lesotho

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Lesotho
conventional short form: Lesotho
former: Basutoland

Government type:

parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Capital:

Maseru

Administrative divisions:

10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru, Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka

Independence:

4 October 1966 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 4 October (1966)

Constitution:

2 April 1993

Legal system:

based on English common law and Roman-Dutch law; judicial review of legislative acts in High Court and Court of Appeal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: King LETSIE III (since 7 February 1996); note - King LETSIE III formerly occupied the throne from November 1990 to February 1995, while his father was in exile
head of government: Prime Minister Pakalitha MOSISILI (since 23 May 1998)
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: none; according to the constitution, the leader of the majority party in the Assembly automatically becomes prime minister; the monarch is hereditary, but, under the terms of the constitution, which came into effect after the March 1993 election, the monarch is a "living symbol of national unity" with no executive or legislative powers; under traditional law the college of chiefs has the power to determine who is next in the line of succession, who shall serve as regent in the event that the successor is not of mature age, and may even depose the monarch

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (33 members - 22 principal chiefs and 11 other members appointed by the ruling party) and the Assembly (120 seats, 80 by direct popular vote and 40 by proportional vote; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms); note - number of seats in the Assembly rose from 80 to 120 in the May 2002 election
elections: last held 25 May 2002 (next to be held May 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - LCD 54%, BNP 21%, LPC 7%, other 18%; seats by party - LCD 76, BNP 21, LPC 5, other 18

Judicial branch:

High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch acting on the advice of the Prime Minister); Court of Appeal; Magistrate's Court; customary or traditional court

Political parties and leaders:

Basotholand African Congress or BAC [Khauhelo RALITAPOLE]; Basotholand Congress Party or BCP [Ntsukunyane MPHANYA]; Basotho National Party or BNP [Maj. Gen. Justine Metsing LEKHANYA]; Lesotho Congress for Democracy or LCD [Pakalitha MOSISILI] - the governing party; Lesotho People's Congress or LPC [Kelebone MAOPE]; Lesotho Workers Party of LWP [Macaefa BILLY]; Marematlou Freedom Party or MFP [Vincent MALEBO]; National Independent Party or NIP [Anthony MANYELI]; National Progressive Party or NPP [Chief Peete Nkoebe PEETE]; Popular Front for Democracy or PFD [Lekhetho RAKUOANE]; Sefate Democratic Party or SDP [Bofihla NKUEBE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, The Commonwealth, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Molelekeng E. RAPOLAKI
chancery: 2511 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 797-5533 through 5536
FAX: [1] (202) 234-6815

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador June Carter PERRY
embassy: 254 Kingsway, Maseru West (Consular Section)
mailing address: P. O. Box 333, Maseru 100, Lesotho
telephone: [266] 22 312666
FAX: [266] 22 310116

Flag description:

divided diagonally from the lower hoist side corner; the upper half is white, bearing the brown silhouette of a large shield with crossed spear and club; the lower half is a diagonal blue band with a green triangle in the corner

Economy

Lesotho

Economy - overview:

Small, landlocked, and mountainous, Lesotho relies on remittances from miners employed in South Africa and customs duties from the Southern Africa Customs Union for the majority of government revenue, but the government has strengthened its tax system to reduce dependency on customs duties. Completion of a major hydropower facility in January 1998 now permits the sale of water to South Africa, also generating royalties for Lesotho. As the number of mineworkers has declined steadily over the past several years, a small manufacturing base has developed based on farm products that support the milling, canning, leather, and jute industries and a rapidly growing apparel-assembly sector. The garment industry has grown significantly, mainly due to Lesotho qualifying for the trade benefits contained in the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act. The economy is still primarily based on subsistence agriculture, especially livestock, although drought has decreased agricultural activity. The extreme inequality in the distribution of income remains a major drawback. Lesotho has signed an Interim Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility with the IMF.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$5.892 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.3% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $3,200 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 15.2%
industry: 43.9%
services: 40.9% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

838,000 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:

86% of resident population engaged in subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in South Africa

Unemployment rate:

45% (2002)

Population below poverty line:

49% (1999)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 0.9%
highest 10%: 43.4%

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

56 (1986-87)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.3% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

39.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $698.5 million
expenditures: $697.6 million, including capital expenditures of $15 million (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock

Industries:

food, beverages, textiles, apparel assembly, handicrafts; construction; tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

15.5% (1999)

Electricity - production:

314 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2002)

Electricity - consumption:

308 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

16 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1,500 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-108.3 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$484.5 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and mohair, food and live animals (2000)

Exports - partners:

US 97%, Canada 2.1%, UK 0.3% (2004)

Imports:

$730.9 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum products (2000)

Imports - partners:

Hong Kong 46.8%, China 25.5%, South Korea 5.6%, Germany 4.8% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$402.2 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$735 million (2002)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA $4.4 million

Economic aid - recipient:

$41.5 million (2000)

Currency (code):

loti (LSL); South African rand (ZAR)

Currency code:

LSL; ZAR

Exchange rates:

maloti per US dollar - 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003), 10.5407 (2002), 8.6092 (2001), 6.9398 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

Lesotho

Telephones - main lines in use:

28,600 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

92,000 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: rudimentary system
domestic: consists of a modest but growing number of landlines, a small microwave radio relay system, and a minor radiotelephone communication system; a cellular mobile telephone system is growing
international: country code - 266; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

NA (2002)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2000)

Televisions:

NA

Internet country code:

.ls

Internet hosts:

119 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

21,000 (2002)

Transportation

Lesotho

Highways:

total: 5,940 km
paved: 1,087 km
unpaved: 4,853 km (1999)

Airports:

28 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.)

Military

Lesotho

Military branches:

Lesotho Defense Force (LDF): Army and Air Wing

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 400,457 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 162,857 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$32.3 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.3% (2004)

Military - note:

the Lesotho Government in 1999 began an open debate on the future structure, size, and role of the armed forces, especially considering the Lesotho Defense Force's (LDF) history of intervening in political affairs

Transnational Issues

Lesotho

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Luxembourg

Introduction

Luxembourg

Background:

Founded in 963, Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815 and an independent state under the Netherlands. It lost more than half of its territory to Belgium in 1839, but gained a larger measure of autonomy. Full independence was attained in 1867. Overrun by Germany in both World Wars, it ended its neutrality in 1948 when it entered into the Benelux Customs Union and when it joined NATO the following year. In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six founding countries of the European Economic Community (later the European Union), and in 1999 it joined the euro currency area.

Geography

Luxembourg

Location:

Western Europe, between France and Germany

Geographic coordinates:

49 45 N, 6 10 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 2,586 sq km
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:

modified continental with mild winters, cool summers

Terrain:

mostly gently rolling uplands with broad, shallow valleys; uplands to slightly mountainous in the north; steep slope down to Moselle flood plain in the southeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Moselle River 133 m
highest point: Buurgplaatz 559 m

Natural resources:

iron ore (no longer exploited), arable land

Land use:

arable land: 23.28%
permanent crops: 0.4%
other: 76.32% (includes Belgium) (2001)

Irrigated land:

40 sq km (includes Belgium) (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of farmland

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Geography - note:

landlocked; the only Grand Duchy in the world

People

Luxembourg

Population:

468,571 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 18.9% (male 45,768/female 42,980)
15-64 years: 66.5% (male 157,453/female 153,927)
65 years and over: 14.6% (male 27,573/female 40,870) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 38.51 years
male: 37.56 years
female: 39.48 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.25% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

12.06 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

8.41 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

8.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.81 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.79 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.74 years
male: 75.45 years
female: 82.24 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.79 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

less than 500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Luxembourger(s)
adjective: Luxembourg

Ethnic groups:

Celtic base (with French and German blend), Portuguese, Italian, Slavs (from Montenegro, Albania, and Kosovo) and European (guest and resident workers)

Religions:

87% Roman Catholic, 13% Protestants, Jews, and Muslims (2000)

Languages:

Luxembourgish (national language), German (administrative language), French (administrative language)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2000 est.)

Government

Luxembourg

Country name:

conventional long form: Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
conventional short form: Luxembourg
local long form: Grand Duche de Luxembourg
local short form: Luxembourg

Government type:

constitutional monarchy

Capital:

Luxembourg

Administrative divisions:

3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg

Independence:

1839 (from the Netherlands)

National holiday:

National Day (Birthday of Grand Duchess Charlotte) 23 June

Constitution:

17 October 1868; occasional revisions

Legal system:

based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: Grand Duke HENRI (since 7 October 2000); Heir Apparent Prince GUILLAUME (son of the monarch, born 11 November 1981)
head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since 1 January 1995) and Vice Prime Minister Jean ASSELBORN (since 31 July 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister and appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following popular elections to the Chamber of Deputies, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; the deputy prime minister is appointed by the monarch; they are responsible to the Chamber of Deputies
note: government coalition - CSV and LSAP

Legislative branch:

unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Chambre des Deputes (60 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 13 June 2004 (next to be held by June 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - CSV 36.1%, LSAP 23.4%, DP 16.1%, Green Party 11.6%, ADR 10%; seats by party - CSV 24, LSAP 14, DP 10, Green Party 7, ADR 5
note: there is also a Council of State that serves as an advisory body to the Chamber of Deputies; the Council of State has 21 members appointed by the Grand Duke on the advice of the prime minister

Judicial branch:

judicial courts and tribunals (3 Justices of the Peace, 2 district courts, and 1 Supreme Court of Appeals); administrative courts and tribunals (State Prosecutor's Office, administrative courts and tribunals, and the Constitutional Court); judges for all courts are appointed for life by the monarch

Political parties and leaders:

Action Committee for Democracy and Justice or ADR [Gast GIBERYEN]; Christian Social People's Party or CSV (known also as Christian Social Party or PCS) [Francois BILTGEN]; Democratic Party or DP [Claude MEISCH]; Green Party [Francois BAUSCH]; Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party or LSAP [Alex BODRY]; Marxist and Reformed Communist Party dei Lenk/la Gauche (the Left) [no formal leadership]; other minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

ABBL (bankers' association); ALEBA (financial sector trade union); Centrale Paysanne (federation of agricultural producers); CEP (professional sector chamber); CGFP (trade union representing civil service); Chambre de Commerce (Chamber of Commerce); Chambre des Metiers (Chamber of Artisans); FEDIL (federation of industrialists); LCGP (center-right trade union); OGBL (center-left trade union)

International organization participation:

ACCT, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Arlette CONZEMIUS-PACCOURD
chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-4171
FAX: [1] (202) 328-8270
consulate(s) general: New York and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Peter TERPELUK, Jr.
embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel Servais, L-2535 Luxembourg City
mailing address: American Embassy Luxembourg, Unit 1410, APO AE 09126-1410 (official mail); American Embassy Luxembourg, PSC 9, Box 9500, APO AE 09123 (personal mail)
telephone: [352] 46 01 23
FAX: [352] 46 14 01

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and light blue; similar to the flag of the Netherlands, which uses a darker blue and is shorter; design was based on the flag of France

Economy

Luxembourg

Economy - overview:

This stable, high-income economy - in between France, Belgium, and Germany - features solid growth, low inflation, and low unemployment. The industrial sector, initially dominated by steel, has become increasingly diversified to include chemicals, rubber, and other products. Growth in the financial sector, which now accounts for about 22% of GDP, has more than compensated for the decline in steel. Most banks are foreign-owned and have extensive foreign dealings. Agriculture is based on small family-owned farms. The economy depends on foreign and cross-border workers for more than 30% of its labor force. Although Luxembourg, like all EU members, has suffered from the global economic slump, the country enjoys an extraordinarily high standard of living.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$27.27 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.3% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $58,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 0.5%
industry: 16.3%
services: 83.1% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

293,700 (of whom 105,000 are foreign cross-border workers commuting primarily from France, Belgium, and Germany) (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 1%, industry 13%, services 86% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

4.5% (December, 2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.4% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $13.74 billion
expenditures: $14.49 billion, including capital expenditures of $760 million (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits, wine grapes; livestock products

Industries:

banking, iron and steel, food processing, chemicals, metal products, engineering, tires, glass, aluminum, information technology, tourism and banking

Industrial production growth rate:

2.9% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

2.511 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 57.3%
hydro: 25.2%
nuclear: 0%
other: 17.5% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

5.735 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

2.9 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

6.3 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

50,650 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

634 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:

50,700 bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

865 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

867 million cu m (2001 est.)

Exports:

$13.4 billion f.o.b. (2003)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals, rubber products, glass

Exports - partners:

Germany 22.1%, France 20.1%, Belgium 10.2%, UK 8.4%, Italy 7.3%, Spain 5.9%, Netherlands 4.3% (2004)

Imports:

$16.3 billion c.i.f. (2003)

Imports - commodities:

minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods

Imports - partners:

Belgium 29.8%, Germany 22.6%, China 12.6%, France 12%, Netherlands 4.2% (2004)

Debt - external:

$NA

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $147 million (2002)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries

Currency code:

EUR

Exchange rates:

euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Luxembourg

Telephones - main lines in use:

355,400 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

473,000 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: highly developed, completely automated and efficient system, mainly buried cables
domestic: nationwide cellular telephone system; buried cable
international: country code - 352; 3 channels leased on TAT-6 coaxial submarine cable (Europe to North America)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)

Radios:

285,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

5 (1999)

Televisions:

285,000 (1998 est.)

Internet country code:

.lu

Internet hosts:

28,214 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

8 (2000)

Internet users:

165,000 (2002)

Transportation

Luxembourg

Railways:

total: 274 km
standard gauge: 274 km 1.435-m gauge (242 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 5,210 km
paved: 5,210 km (including 126 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2002)

Waterways:

37 km (on Moselle River) (2003)

Pipelines:

gas 155 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Mertert

Merchant marine:

total: 40 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 652,454 GRT/805,101 DWT
by type: chemical tanker 16, container 6, liquefied gas 2, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 6, roll on/roll off 6, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 40 (Belgium 12, Finland 3, France 8, Germany 10, Netherlands 4, United States 3) (2005)

Airports:

2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

Luxembourg

Military branches:

Army

Military service age and obligation:

a 1967 law made the Army an all-volunteer force; 17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers under 18 are not deployed into combat or with peacekeeping missions (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 17-49: 110,867 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 17-49: 90,279 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 2,775 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$231.6 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.9% (2003)

Transnational Issues

Luxembourg

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Libya

Introduction

Libya

Background:

From the earliest days of his rule following his 1969 military coup, Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI has espoused his own political system, the Third Universal Theory. The system is a combination of socialism and Islam derived in part from tribal practices and is supposed to be implemented by the Libyan people themselves in a unique form of "direct democracy." QADHAFI has always seen himself as a revolutionary and visionary leader. He used oil funds during the 1970s and 1980s to promote his ideology outside Libya, supporting subversives and terrorists abroad to hasten the end of Marxism and capitalism. In addition, beginning in 1973, he engaged in military operations in northern Chad's Aozou Strip - to gain access to minerals and to use as a base of influence in Chadian politics - but was forced to retreat in 1987. UN sanctions in 1992 isolated QADHAFI politically following the downing of Pan AM Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. Libyan support for terrorism appeared to have decreased after the imposition of sanctions. During the 1990s, QADHAFI also began to rebuild his relationships with Europe. UN sanctions were suspended in April 1999 and finally lifted in September 2003 after Libya resolved the Lockerbie case. In December 2003, Libya announced that it had agreed to reveal and end its programs to develop weapons of mass destruction, and QADHAFI has made significant strides in normalizing relations with western nations since then. He has received various Western European leaders as well as many working-level and commercial delegations, and made his first trip to Western Europe in 15 years when he traveled to Brussels in April 2004. QADHAFI also finally resolved in 2004 several outstanding cases against his government for terrorist activities in the 1980s by paying compensation to the families of victims of the UTA and La Belle disco bombings.

Geography

Libya

Location:

Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Egypt and Tunisia

Geographic coordinates:

25 00 N, 17 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 1,759,540 sq km
land: 1,759,540 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Alaska

Land boundaries:

total: 4,348 km
border countries: Algeria 982 km, Chad 1,055 km, Egypt 1,115 km, Niger 354 km, Sudan 383 km, Tunisia 459 km

Coastline:

1,770 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
note: Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees, 30 minutes north

Climate:

Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior

Terrain:

mostly barren, flat to undulating plains, plateaus, depressions

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m
highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, gypsum

Land use:

arable land: 1.03%
permanent crops: 0.19%
other: 98.78% (2001)

Irrigated land:

4,700 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms

Environment - current issues:

desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources; the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development scheme in the world, is being built to bring water from large aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

more than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert

People

Libya

Population:

5,765,563
note: includes 166,510 non-nationals (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 33.9% (male 997,364/female 955,272)
15-64 years: 62% (male 1,842,775/female 1,729,235)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 117,967/female 122,950) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 22.68 years
male: 22.8 years
female: 22.56 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.33% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

26.82 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

3.48 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 24.6 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 26.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 22.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.5 years
male: 74.29 years
female: 78.82 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.34 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.3% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

10,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: may be a significant risk in some locations during the transmission season (typically April through October) (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Libyan(s)
adjective: Libyan

Ethnic groups:

Berber and Arab 97%, Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, Tunisians

Religions:

Sunni Muslim 97%

Languages:

Arabic, Italian, English, all are widely understood in the major cities

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 82.6%
male: 92.4%
female: 72% (2003 est.)

Government

Libya

Country name:

conventional long form: Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
conventional short form: Libya
local long form: Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah al Ishtirakiyah al Uzma
local short form: none

Government type:

Jamahiriya (a state of the masses) in theory, governed by the populace through local councils; in fact, a military dictatorship

Capital:

Tripoli

Administrative divisions:

25 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ajdabiya, Al 'Aziziyah, Al Fatih, Al Jabal al Akhdar, Al Jufrah, Al Khums, Al Kufrah, An Nuqat al Khams, Ash Shati', Awbari, Az Zawiyah, Banghazi, Darnah, Ghadamis, Gharyan, Misratah, Murzuq, Sabha, Sawfajjin, Surt, Tarabulus, Tarhunah, Tubruq, Yafran, Zlitan; note - the 25 municipalities may have been replaced by 13 regions

Independence:

24 December 1951 (from Italy)

National holiday:

Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)

Constitution:

11 December 1969; amended 2 March 1977

Legal system:

based on Italian civil law system and Islamic law; separate religious courts; no constitutional provision for judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: Revolutionary Leader Col. Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI (since 1 September 1969); note - holds no official title, but is de facto chief of state
head of government: Secretary of the General People's Committee (Prime Minister) Shukri Muhammad GHANIM (since 14 June 2003)
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 elected by the General People's Congress; election last held 2 March 2000 (next to be held NA)
election results: NA

Legislative branch:

unicameral General People's Congress (NA seats; members elected indirectly through a hierarchy of people's committees)

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

various Arab nationalist movements with almost negligible memberships may be functioning clandestinely, as well as some Islamic elements; an anti-QADHAFI Libyan exile movement exists, primarily based in London, but has little influence

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer), WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

Libya does not have an embassy in the US but maintains an interest section under the protective power of the United Arab Emirates Embassy in the US

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US suspended all embassy activities in Tripoli in May 1980, resumed embassy activities in February 2004 under the protective power of the US interests section of the Belgian Embassy in Tripoli, then opened a Liaison Office in Tripoli in June 2004

Flag description:

plain green; green is the traditional color of Islam (the state religion)

Economy

Libya

Economy - overview:

The Libyan economy depends primarily upon revenues from the oil sector, which contribute practically all export earnings and about one-quarter of GDP. These oil revenues and a small population give Libya one of the highest per capita GDPs in Africa, but little of this income flows down to the lower orders of society. Libyan officials in the past four years have made progress on economic reforms as part of a broader campaign to reintegrate the country into the international fold. This effort picked up steam after UN sanctions were lifted in September 2003 and as Libya announced in December 2003 that it would abandon programs to build weapons of mass destruction. Almost all US unilateral sanctions against Libya were removed in April 2004. Libya faces a long road ahead in liberalizing the socialist-oriented economy, but initial steps - including applying for WTO membership, reducing some subsidies, and announcing plans for privatization - are laying the groundwork for a transition to a more market-based economy. The non-oil manufacturing and construction sectors, which account for about 20% of GDP, have expanded from processing mostly agricultural products to include the production of petrochemicals, iron, steel, and aluminum. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit agricultural output, and Libya imports about 75% of its food.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$37.48 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $6,700 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 8.7%
industry: 45.7%
services: 45.6% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

1.59 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 17%, industry 29%, services 54% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate:

30% (2004)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.9% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

9.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $13.52 billion
expenditures: $12.23 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.6 billion (2004 est.)

Public debt:

8.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts, soybeans; cattle

Industries:

petroleum, iron and steel, food processing, textiles, handicrafts, cement

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

20.89 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

19.43 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

1.518 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

216,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

38 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

6.18 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

5.41 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

770 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.321 trillion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$9.895 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$18.65 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas

Exports - partners:

Italy 37%, Germany 16.6%, Spain 11.9%, Turkey 7.1%, France 6.2% (2004)

Imports:

$7.224 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, transport equipment, semi-finished goods, food, consumer products (1999)

Imports - partners:

Italy 25.5%, Germany 11%, South Korea 6.1%, UK 5.4%, Tunisia 4.7%, Turkey 4.6% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$24.18 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$4.069 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$4.4 million ODA (2002)

Currency (code):

Libyan dinar (LYD)

Currency code:

LYD

Exchange rates:

Libyan dinars per US dollar - 1.305 (2004), 1.2929 (2003), 1.2707 (2002), 0.6051 (2001), 0.5122 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Libya

Telephones - main lines in use:

750,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

100,000 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: telecommunications system is being modernized; mobile cellular telephone system became operational in 1996
domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, cellular, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations
international: country code - 218; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat, NA Arabsat, and NA Intersputnik; submarine cables to France and Italy; microwave radio relay to Tunisia and Egypt; tropospheric scatter to Greece; participant in Medarabtel (1999)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 16, FM 3, shortwave 3 (2002)

Radios:

1.35 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

12 (plus one low-power repeater) (1999)

Televisions:

730,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ly

Internet hosts:

67 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:

160,000 (2003)

Transportation

Libya

Railways:

0 km
note: Libya is working on 7 lines totaling 2,757 km of 1.435-m gauge track; it hopes to have trains running by 2008 (2004)

Highways:

total: 83,200 km
paved: 47,590 km
unpaved: 35,610 km (1999 est.)

Pipelines:

condensate 225 km; gas 3,611 km; oil 7,252 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

As Sidrah, Az Zuwaytinah, Marsa al Burayqah, Ra's Lanuf, Tripoli, Zawiyah

Merchant marine:

total: 17 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 129,627 GRT/105,110 DWT
by type: cargo 7, liquefied gas 3, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 4
foreign-owned: 1 (Algeria 1) (2005)

Airports:

139 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 59
over 3,047 m: 23
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 80
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 41
under 914 m: 18 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

Libya

Military branches:

Armed Peoples on Duty (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command

Military service age and obligation:

17 years of age (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 17-49: 1,505,675 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 17-49: 1,291,624 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 62,034 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$1.3 billion (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3.9% (FY99)

Transnational Issues

Libya

Disputes - international:

Libya has claimed more than 32,000 sq km in southeastern Algeria and about 25,000 sq km in Niger in currently dormant disputes; various Chadian rebels from the Aozou region reside in southern Libya

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Madagascar

Introduction

Madagascar

Background:

Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1896, but regained its independence in 1960. During 1992-93, free presidential and National Assembly elections were held, ending 17 years of single-party rule. In 1997, in the second presidential race, Didier RATSIRAKA, the leader during the 1970s and 1980s, was returned to the presidency. The 2001 presidential election was contested between the followers of Didier RATSIRAKA and Marc RAVALOMANANA, nearly causing secession of half of the country. In April 2002, the High Constitutional Court announced RAVALOMANANA the winner.

Geography

Madagascar

Location:

Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Mozambique

Geographic coordinates:

20 00 S, 47 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 587,040 sq km
land: 581,540 sq km
water: 5,500 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of Arizona

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

4,828 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or 100 nm from the 2,500-m deep isobath

Climate:

tropical along coast, temperate inland, arid in south

Terrain:

narrow coastal plain, high plateau and mountains in center

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m

Natural resources:

graphite, chromite, coal, bauxite, salt, quartz, tar sands, semiprecious stones, mica, fish, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 5.07%
permanent crops: 1.03%
other: 93.91% (2001)

Irrigated land:

10,900 sq km (2000 est.)

Natural hazards:

periodic cyclones, drought, and locust infestation

Environment - current issues:

soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing; desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and other organic wastes; several species of flora and fauna unique to the island are endangered

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

world's fourth-largest island; strategic location along Mozambique Channel

People

Madagascar

Population:

18,040,341 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 44.8% (male 4,051,832/female 4,038,837)
15-64 years: 52.1% (male 4,657,346/female 4,745,971)
65 years and over: 3% (male 247,146/female 299,209) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 17.46 years
male: 17.24 years
female: 17.67 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.03% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

41.66 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

11.35 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 76.83 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 85.05 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 68.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 56.95 years
male: 54.57 years
female: 59.4 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.66 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.7% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

140,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

7,500 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague are high risks in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Malagasy (singular and plural)
adjective: Malagasy

Ethnic groups:

Malayo-Indonesian (Merina and related Betsileo), Cotiers (mixed African, Malayo-Indonesian, and Arab ancestry - Betsimisaraka, Tsimihety, Antaisaka, Sakalava), French, Indian, Creole, Comoran

Religions:

indigenous beliefs 52%, Christian 41%, Muslim 7%

Languages:

French (official), Malagasy (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68.9%
male: 75.5%
female: 62.5% (2003 est.)

Government

Madagascar

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Madagascar
conventional short form: Madagascar
local long form: Republique de Madagascar
local short form: Madagascar
former: Malagasy Republic

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Antananarivo

Administrative divisions:

6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Independence:

26 June 1960 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 26 June (1960)

Constitution:

19 August 1992 by national referendum

Legal system:

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

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Marc RAVALOMANANA (since 6 May 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Jacques SYLLA (27 May 2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 16 December 2001 (next to be held November 2006); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: percent of vote - Didier RATSIRAKA (AREMA) 37.7%, Marc RAVALOMANANA (TIM) 50.5%

Legislative branch:

bicameral legislature consists of a National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (160 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and a Senate or Senat (100 seats; two-thirds of the seats filled by regional assemblies whose members will be elected by popular vote; the remaining one-third of the seats appointed by the president; all members will serve four-year terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held 15 December 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - TIM 103, FP 22, AREMA 3, LEADER/Fanilo 2, RPSD 5, others 3, independents 22

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; High Constitutional Court or Haute Cour Constitutionnelle

Political parties and leaders:

Association for the Rebirth of Madagascar or AREMA [Pierrot RAJAONARIVO]; Economic Liberalism and Democratic Action for National Recovery or LEADER/Fanilo [Herizo RAZAFIMAHALEO]; Fihaonana Party or FP [Guy-Willy RAZANAMASY]; I Love Madagascar or TIM [Marc RAVALOMANANA]; Renewal of the Social Democratic Party or RPSD [Evariste MARSON]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Committee for the Defense of Truth and Justice or KMMR; Committee for National Reconciliation or CRN [Albert Zafy]; National Council of Christian Churches or FFKM

International organization participation:

ABEDA, ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Rajaonarivony NARISOA
chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525, 5526
FAX: [1] (202) 483-7603
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Wanda L. NESBITT
embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo 101
mailing address: B. P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivo
telephone: [261] (20) 22-212-57, 22-212-73, 22-209-56
FAX: [261] (20) 22-345-39

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a vertical white band of the same width on hoist side

Economy

Madagascar

Economy - overview:

Having discarded past socialist economic policies, Madagascar has since the mid 1990s followed a World Bank and IMF led policy of privatization and liberalization. This strategy has placed the country on a slow and steady growth path from an extremely low level. Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is a mainstay of the economy, accounting for more than one-fourth of GDP and employing 80% of the population. Exports of apparel have boomed in recent years primarily due to duty-free access to the United States. Deforestation and erosion, aggravated by the use of firewood as the primary source of fuel are serious concerns. President RAVALOMANANA has worked aggressively to revive the economy following the 2002 political crisis, which triggered a 12% drop in GDP that year. Poverty reduction and combating corruption will be the centerpieces of economic policy for the next few years.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$14.56 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 29.3%
industry: 16.7%
services: 54% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

7.3 million (2000)

Population below poverty line:

50% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 29% (1999)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

38.1 (1999)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7.5% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

14.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $783.7 million
expenditures: $1.079 billion, including capital expenditures of $331 million (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products

Industries:

meat processing, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar, textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper, petroleum, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

3% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:

840.2 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 36.1%
hydro: 63.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

781.4 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$-281.9 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$868.2 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar; cotton cloth, chromite, petroleum products

Exports - partners:

US 35.8%, France 30.8%, Germany 7.7% (2004)

Imports:

$1.147 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food

Imports - partners:

France 17.2%, China 9.7%, Hong Kong 6.6%, Iran 6.4%, Mauritius 6.2%, South Africa 5.6% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$500.3 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$4.6 billion (2002)

Economic aid - recipient:

$354 million (2001)

Currency (code):

Madagascar ariary (MGA)

Currency code:

MGF

Exchange rates:

Malagasy francs per US dollar - 1,868.9 (2004), 1,238.3 (2003), 1,366.4 (2002), 1,317.7 (2001), 1,353.5 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Madagascar

Telephones - main lines in use:

59,600 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

279,500 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: system is above average for the region
domestic: open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay, and tropospheric scatter links connect regions
international: country code - 261; submarine cable to Bahrain; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2 (plus a number of repeater stations), FM 9, shortwave 6 (2001)

Radios:

3.05 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (plus 36 repeaters) (2001)

Televisions:

325,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.mg

Internet hosts:

773 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

70,500 (2003)

Transportation

Madagascar

Railways:

total: 732 km
narrow gauge: 732 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 49,827 km
paved: 5,780 km
unpaved: 44,047 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

600 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Merchant marine:

total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 14,865 GRT/17,936 DWT
by type: cargo 5, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2
registered in other countries: 1 (2005)

Airports:

116 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 29
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 87
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 42
under 914 m: 43 (2004 est.)

Military

Madagascar

Military branches:

People's Armed Forces: Intervention Force, Development Force, and Aeronaval (Navy and Air) Force; National Gendarmerie

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.); conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 3,542,797 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,218,662 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 187,000 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$44.6 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.2% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Madagascar

Disputes - international:

claims Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova Island (all administered by France)

Illicit drugs:

illicit producer of cannabis (cultivated and wild varieties) used mostly for domestic consumption; transshipment point for heroin

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Martinique

Introduction

Martinique

Background:

Colonized by France in 1635, the island has subsequently remained a French possession except for three brief periods of foreign occupation.

Geography

Martinique

Location:

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic coordinates:

14 40 N, 61 00 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 1,100 sq km
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:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; moderated by trade winds; rainy season (June to October); vulnerable to devastating cyclones (hurricanes) every eight years on average; average temperature 17.3 degrees C; humid

Terrain:

mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Montagne Pelee 1,397 m

Natural resources:

coastal scenery and beaches, cultivable land

Land use:

arable land: 10.38%
permanent crops: 9.43%
other: 80.19% (2001)

Irrigated land:

30 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic activity (an average of one major natural disaster every five years)

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

the island is dominated by Mount Pelee, which on 8 May 1902 erupted and completely destroyed the city of Saint Pierre, killing 30,000 inhabitants

People

Martinique

Population:

432,900 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 22.4% (male 49,112/female 47,697)
15-64 years: 67.2% (male 145,531/female 145,250)
65 years and over: 10.5% (male 20,423/female 24,887) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 33.61 years
male: 32.95 years
female: 34.28 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.76% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

14.14 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.44 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 7.09 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.73 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.04 years
male: 79.43 years
female: 78.64 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.79 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Martiniquais (singular and plural)
adjective: Martiniquais

Ethnic groups:

African and African-white-Indian mixture 90%, white 5%, East Indian, Chinese less than 5%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 10.5%, Muslim 0.5%, Hindu 0.5%, other 3.5% (1997)

Languages:

French, Creole patois

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.7%
male: 97.4%
female: 98.1% (2003 est.)

Government

Martinique

Country name:

conventional long form: Department of Martinique
conventional short form: Martinique
local long form: Departement de la Martinique
local short form: Martinique

Dependency status:

overseas department of France

Government type:

NA

Capital:

Fort-de-France

Administrative divisions:

none (overseas department of France)

Independence:

none (overseas department of France)

National holiday:

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Constitution:

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system:

French legal system

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995); Prefect Yves DASSONVILLE (since 14 January 2004); note - took office 8 February 2004
head of government: President of the General Council Claude LISE (since 22 March 1992); President of the Regional Council Alfred MARIE-JEANNE (since NA March 1998)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; the presidents of the General and Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils

Legislative branch:

unicameral General Council or Conseil General (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a unicameral Regional Assembly or Conseil Regional (41 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: General Council - last held NA March 2000 (next to be held NA 2006); Regional Assembly - last held on 28 March 2004 (next to be held by March 2010)
election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - left-wing candidates 13, PPM 11, RPR 6, right-wing candidates 5, PCM 3, UDF 3, PMS 2, independents 2; note - the PPM won a plurality; Regional Assembly (second round) - percent of vote by party - MIM 53.8%, PPM 30.6%; seats by party - MIM 28, PPM 9, other 4
note: Martinique elects 2 seats to the French Senate; elections last held NA September 2001 (next to be held September 2004); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PPM 2; Martinique also elects 4 seats to the French National Assembly; elections last held, first round - 9 June 2002, second round - 16 June 2002 (next to be held not later than June 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP-RPR 1, PS 1, MIM 1, left-wing candidate 1 (candidacy of the left-wing candidate was found invalid by the Constitutional Council; new elections will be called)

Judicial branch:

Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel

Political parties and leaders:

Martinique Communist Party or PCM [Georges ERICHOT]; Martinique Independence Movement or MIM [Alfred MARIE-JEANNE]; Martinique Progressive Party or PPM [Pierre SUEDILE]; Martinique Socialist Party or PMS [Ernest WAN-AJOUHU]; Movement of Democrats and Ecologists for a Sovereign Martinique or Modemas [Garcin MALSA]; Rally for the Republic or RPR [Michel CHARLONE]; Socialist Revolution Group or GRS [Philippe PIERRE-CHARLES]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Jean MAREN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Caribbean Revolutionary Alliance or ARC; Central Union for Martinique Workers or CSTM [Marc PULVAR]; Frantz Fanon Circle; League of Workers and Peasants; Proletarian Action Group or GAP

International organization participation:

UPU, WCL, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas department of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas department of France)

Flag description:

a light blue background is divided into four quadrants by a white cross; in the center of each rectangle is a white snake; the flag of France is used for official occasions

Economy

Martinique

Economy - overview:

The economy is based on sugarcane, bananas, tourism, and light industry. Agriculture accounts for about 6% of GDP and the small industrial sector for 11%. Sugar production has declined, with most of the sugarcane now used for the production of rum. Banana exports are increasing, going mostly to France. The bulk of meat, vegetable, and grain requirements must be imported, contributing to a chronic trade deficit that requires large annual transfers of aid from France. Tourism, which employs more than 11,000 people, has become more important than agricultural exports as a source of foreign exchange.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$6.117 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

NA%

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $14,400 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 6%
industry: 11%
services: 83% (1997 est.)

Labor force:

165,900 (1998)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 10%, industry 17%, services 73% (1997)

Unemployment rate:

27.2% (1998)

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)

Budget:

revenues: $900 million
expenditures: $2.5 billion, including capital expenditures of $140 million (1996)

Agriculture - products:

pineapples, avocados, bananas, flowers, vegetables, sugarcane

Industries:

construction, rum, cement, oil refining, sugar, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

1.178 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

1.095 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

13,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$250 million f.o.b. (1997)

Exports - commodities:

refined petroleum products, bananas, rum, pineapples (2001 est.)

Exports - partners:

France 45%, Guadeloupe 28% (2000)

Imports:

$2 billion c.i.f. (1997)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum products, crude oil, foodstuffs, construction materials, vehicles, clothing and other consumer goods

Imports - partners:

France 62%, Venezuela 6%, Germany 4%, Italy 4%, US 3% (2000)

Debt - external:

$180 million (1994)

Economic aid - recipient:

NA; note - substantial annual aid from France (1998)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)

Currency code:

EUR

Exchange rates:

euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Martinique

Telephones - main lines in use:

172,000 est (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

319,900 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: domestic facilities are adequate
domestic: NA
international: country code - 596; microwave radio relay to Guadeloupe, Dominica, and Saint Lucia; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 14, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

82,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

11 (plus nine repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

66,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.mq

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

40,000 (2002)

Transportation

Martinique

Highways:

total: 2,105 km (2000)

Ports and harbors:

Fort-de-France, La Trinite, Marin

Airports:

2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Martinique

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Gendarmerie

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

Martinique

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for the US and Europe

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Macau

Introduction

Macau

Background:

Colonized by the Portuguese in the 16th century, Macau was the first European settlement in the Far East. Pursuant to an agreement signed by China and Portugal on 13 April 1987, Macau became the Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 20 December 1999. China has promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's socialist economic system will not be practiced in Macau, and that Macau will enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs for the next 50 years.

Geography

Macau

Location:

Eastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and China

Geographic coordinates:

22 10 N, 113 33 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 25.4 sq km
land: 25.4 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

total: 0.34 km
regional border: China 0.34 km

Coastline:

41 km

Maritime claims:

not specified

Climate:

subtropical; marine with cool winters, warm summers

Terrain:

generally flat

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Coloane Alto 172.4 m

Natural resources:

NEGL

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100%
note: "green areas" represent 22.4% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

typhoons

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

essentially urban; one causeway and two bridges connect the two islands of Coloane and Taipa to the peninsula on mainland

People

Macau

Population:

449,198 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 17% (male 39,564/female 36,947)
15-64 years: 75.1% (male 160,957/female 176,386)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 14,713/female 20,631) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 35.2 years
male: 34.9 years
female: 35.4 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.87% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

8.04 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

4.23 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

4.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.39 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 82.12 years
male: 79.29 years
female: 85.09 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

0.93 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Chinese
adjective: Chinese

Ethnic groups:

Chinese 95.7%, Macanese (mixed Portuguese and Asian ancestry) 1%, other 3.3% (2001 census)

Religions:

Buddhist 50%, Roman Catholic 15%, none and other 35% (1997 est.)

Languages:

Cantonese 87.9%, Hokkien 4.4%, Mandarin 1.6%, other Chinese dialects 3.1%, other 3% (2001 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.5%
male: 97.2%
female: 92% (2003 est.)

Government

Macau

Country name:

conventional long form: Macau Special Administrative Region
conventional short form: Macau
local long form: Aomen Tebie Xingzhengqu (Chinese); Regiao Administrativa Especial de Macau (Portuguese)
local short form: Aomen (Chinese); Macau (Portuguese)

Dependency status:

special administrative region of China

Government type:

limited democracy

Administrative divisions:

none (special administrative region of China)

Independence:

none (special administrative region of China)

National holiday:

National Day (Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China), 1 October (1949); note - 20 December 1999 is celebrated as Macau Special Administrative Region Establishment Day

Constitution:

Basic Law, approved in March 1993 by China's National People's Congress, is Macau's "mini-constitution"

Legal system:

based on Portuguese civil law system

Suffrage:

direct election 18 years of age, universal for permanent residents living in Macau for the past seven years; indirect election limited to organizations registered as "corporate voters" (257 are currently registered) and a 300-member Election Committee drawn from broad regional groupings, municipal organizations, and central government bodies

Executive branch:

chief of state: President of China HU Jintao (since 15 March 2003)
head of government: Chief Executive Edmund HO Hau-wah (since 20 December 1999)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of one government secretary, four legislators, four businessmen, and one pro-Beijing unionist
elections: chief executive chosen by a 300-member Election Committee for up to two five-year terms
election results: Edmund HO Hau-wah reelected on 29 August 2004; received 296 votes in Election Committee out of 300 possible; 3 members submitted blank ballots; 1 member was absent

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Council or LEGCO (29 seats; 12 elected by popular vote, 10 by indirect vote, and seven appointed by the chief executive; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 26 September 2005 (next in September 2009)
election results: percent of vote - Development Union 12.8%, Macau Development Alliance 9%, Macau United Citizens' Association 16%, New Democratic Macau Association 18.2%, others na; seats by political group - Development Union 2, Macau Development Alliance 1, Macau United Citizens' Association 2, New Democratic Macau Association 2, New Hope 1, Union Forces 2, others 2; 10 seats filled by professional and business groups; seven members appointed by chief executive

Judicial branch:

Court of Final Appeal in Macau Special Administrative Region

Political parties and leaders:

Civil Service Union [Jose Maria Pereira COUTINHO]; Development Union [KWAN Tsui-hang]; Macau Development Alliance [Angela LEONG On-kei]; Macau United Citizens' Association [CHAN Meng-kam]; New Democratic Macau Association [Antonio NG Kuok-cheong]; United Forces [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

IMF, IMO (associate), Interpol (sub-bureau), ISO (correspondent), UNESCO (associate), UPU, WCO, WMO, WToO (associate), WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (special administrative region of China)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US has no offices in Macau; US interests are monitored by the US Consulate General in Hong Kong

Flag description:

light green with a lotus flower above a stylized bridge and water in white, beneath an arc of five gold, five-pointed stars: one large in center of arc and four smaller

Economy

Macau

Economy - overview:

Macau's well-to-do economy has remained one of the most open in the world since its reversion to China in 1999. Apparel exports and tourism are mainstays of the economy. Although the territory was hit hard by the 1998 Asian financial crisis and the global downturn in 2001, its economy grew 9.5% in 2002 and 15.6% in 2003. During the first three quarters of 2004, Macau registered year-on-year GDP increases of more than 20 percent. A rapid rise in the number of mainland visitors because of China's easing of restrictions on travel, increased public works expenditures, and significant investment inflows associated with the liberalization of Macau's gaming industry drove the recovery. The budget also returned to surplus in 2002 because of the surge in visitors from China and a hike in taxes on gambling profits, which generated about 70% of government revenue. The three companies awarded gambling licenses have pledged to invest $2.2 billion in the territory, which will boost GDP growth. Much of Macau's textile industry may move to the mainland as the Multi-Fiber Agreement is phased out. The territory may have to rely more on gambling and trade-related services to generate growth. Two new casinos were opened by new foreign gambling licensees in 2004; development of new infrastructure and facilities in preparation for Macau's hosting of the 2005 East Asian Games will bolster the construction sector. The Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Macau and mainland China that came into effect on 1 January 2004 offers many Macau-made products tariff-free access to the mainland, and the range of products covered by CEPA was to be expanded on 1 January 2005.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$9.1 billion (2003)

GDP - real growth rate:

15.6% (2003)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $19,400 (2003)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 7.2%
services: 92.7% (2002 est.)

Labor force:

231,500 (3rd Quarter, 2004)

Labor force - by occupation:

manufacturing 18.3%, construction 8%, transport and communications 7%, wholesale and retail trade 16.2%, restaurants and hotels 10.9%, gambling 11.6%, public sector 8.8%, other services and agriculture 19.2% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:

4.7% (3rd Quarter, 2004)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2% (3rd quarter, 2004)

Budget:

revenues: $1.84 billion
expenditures: $1.57 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2003)

Agriculture - products:

only 2% of land area is cultivated, mainly by vegetable growers; fishing, mostly for crustaceans, is important, some of catch is exported to Hong Kong; most food requirements are met by imports, primarily from China

Industries:

tourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, electronics, footwear, toys

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

1.719 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

1.772 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:

1 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:

179.7 million kWh (2003)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

11,190 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$2.58 billion f.o.b., including reexports (2003)

Exports - commodities:

clothing, textiles, footwear, toys, electronics, machinery and parts

Exports - partners:

US 48.7%, China 13.9%, Germany 8.3%, Hong Kong 7.6%, UK 4.4% (2004)

Imports:

$2.76 billion c.i.f. (2003)

Imports - commodities:

raw materials and semi-manufactured goods, consumer goods (foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco), capital goods, mineral fuels and oils

Imports - partners:

China 44.4%, Hong Kong 10.6%, Japan 9.6%, Taiwan 4.9%, Singapore 4.1%, US 4.1% (2004)

Debt - external:

$2.7 billion (2003)

Economic aid - recipient:

NA

Currency (code):

pataca (MOP)

Currency code:

MOP

Exchange rates:

patacas per US dollar - 8.022 (2004), 8.021 (2003), 8.033 (2002), 8.034 (2001), 8.026 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Macau

Telephones - main lines in use:

174,600 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

364,000 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: fairly modern communication facilities maintained for domestic and international services
domestic: NA
international: country code - 853; HF radiotelephone communication facility; access to international communications carriers provided via Hong Kong and China; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

160,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2003)

Televisions:

49,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.mo

Internet hosts:

89 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

120,000 (2003)

Transportation

Macau

Highways:

total: 341 km
paved: 341 km
unpaved: 0 km (2002)

Ports and harbors:

Macau

Airports:

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Macau

Military branches:

China's People's Revolutionary Army (PLA) constitutes the only armed force in Macau; several police forces constitute the Security Forces of Macau (SFM) that are subordinate to the General Secretariat of Security, a body comparable to a ministry of interior (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 112,744 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 91,299 (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues

Macau

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Moldova

Introduction

Moldova

Background:

Formerly part of Romania, Moldova was incorporated into the Soviet Union at the close of World War II. Although independent from the USSR since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory east of the Dniester River supporting the Slavic majority population, mostly Ukrainians and Russians, who have proclaimed a "Transnistria" republic. The poorest nation in Europe, Moldova became the first former Soviet state to elect a Communist as its president in 2001.

Geography

Moldova

Location:

Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania

Geographic coordinates:

47 00 N, 29 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 33,843 sq km
land: 33,371 sq km
water: 472 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Maryland

Land boundaries:

total: 1,389 km
border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

moderate winters, warm summers

Terrain:

rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Dniester River 2 m
highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m

Natural resources:

lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone

Land use:

arable land: 55.3%
permanent crops: 10.79%
other: 33.91% (2001)

Irrigated land:

3,070 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

landslides (57 cases in 1998)

Environment - current issues:

heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; well endowed with various sedimentary rocks and minerals including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone

People

Moldova

Population:

4,455,421 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 20.2% (male 459,452/female 442,725)
15-64 years: 69.5% (male 1,489,813/female 1,606,202)
65 years and over: 10.3% (male 169,038/female 288,191) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 32.22 years
male: 30.14 years
female: 34.27 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.22% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

15.27 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

12.79 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 40.42 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 43.11 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 37.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 65.18 years
male: 61.12 years
female: 69.43 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.81 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

5,500 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 300 (2001 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Moldovan(s)
adjective: Moldovan

Ethnic groups:

Moldovan/Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%, Russian 13%, Jewish 1.5%, Bulgarian 2%, Gagauz and other 5.2% (1989 est.)
note: internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the Transnistrian region

Religions:

Eastern Orthodox 98%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5% (2000)

Languages:

Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian language), Russian, Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.1%
male: 99.6%
female: 98.7% (2003 est.)

Government

Moldova

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Moldova
conventional short form: Moldova
local long form: Republica Moldova
local short form: none
former: Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic; Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Chisinau

Administrative divisions:

32 raions (raioane, singular - raionul), 3 municipalities (municipiul), 1 autonomous territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala autonoma), and 1 territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala)
: counties: Anenii Noi, Basarabeasca, Briceni, Cahul, Cantemir, Calarasi, Causeni, Cimislia, Criuleni, Donduseni, Drochia, Dubasari, Edinet, Falesti, Floresti, Glodeni, Hincesti, Ialoveni, Leova, Nisporeni, Ocnita, Orhei, Rezina, Riscani, Singerei, Soldanesti, Soroca, Stefan-Voda, Straseni, Taraclia, Telenesti, Ungheni
: municipalities: Balti, Bender, Chisinau
: autonomous territorial unit: Gagauzia
: territorial unit: Stinga Nistrului

Independence:

27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 27 August (1991)

Constitution:

new constitution adopted 29 July 1994, effective 27 August 1994; replaced old Soviet constitution of 1979

Legal system:

based on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legality of legislative acts and governmental decisions of resolution; it is unclear if Moldova accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction but accepts many UN and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) documents

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Vladimir VORONIN (since 4 April 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Vasile TARLEV (since 15 April 2001), First Deputy Prime Minister Vasile IOVV (since 29 January 2002)
cabinet: selected by president, subject to approval of Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term; election last held 4 April 2005 (next to be held NA 2009); note - prime minister designated by the president, upon consultation with Parliament; within 15 days from designation, the prime minister-designate must request a vote of confidence from the Parliament regarding his/her work program and entire cabinet; prime minister designated 15 April 2001, cabinet received a vote of confidence 19 April 2001
election results: Vladimir VORONIN reelected president; parliamentary votes - Vladimir VORONIN 75, Gheorghe DUCA 1; Vasile TARLEV designated prime minister; parliamentary votes of confidence - 75 of 101

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Parlamentul (101 seats; parties and electoral blocs elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 6 March 2005 (next to be held NA 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - PCRM 46.1%, Democratic Moldova Bloc 28.4%, PPCD 9.1%, other parties 16.4%; seats by party - PCRM 56, Democratic Moldova Bloc 34, PPCD 11

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Constitutional Court (the sole authority for constitutional judicature)

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Modova Bloc [Serafim URECHEANU] includes: Democratic Party [Dumitru DIACOV], Our Moldova Alliance [Dumitru BRAGHIS, Serafim URECHEANU], Social Liberal Party [Oleg SEREBRIAN]; Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova or PCRM [Vladimir VORONIN, first chairman]; Popular Christian Democratic Party or PPCD [Iurie ROSCA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT, BSEC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mihail MANOLI
chancery: 2101 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 667-1130
FAX: [1] (202) 667-1204

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Heather M. HODGES
embassy: 103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [373] (22) 408-300
FAX: [373] (22) 23-30-44

Flag description:

same color scheme as Romania - three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; emblem in center of flag is of a Roman eagle of gold outlined in black with a red beak and talons carrying a yellow cross in its beak and a green olive branch in its right talons and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on its breast is a shield divided horizontally red over blue with a stylized ox head, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined yellow

Economy

Moldova

Economy - overview:

Moldova remains one of the poorest countries in Europe despite recent progress from its small economic base. It enjoys a favorable climate and good farmland but has no major mineral deposits. As a result, the economy depends heavily on agriculture, featuring fruits, vegetables, wine, and tobacco. Moldova must import almost all of its energy supplies from Russia. Energy shortages contributed to sharp production declines after the breakup of the Soviet Union in December 1991. As part of an ambitious reform effort after independence, Moldova introduced a convertible currency, freed prices, stopped issuing preferential credits to state enterprises, backed steady land privatization, removed export controls, and freed interest rates. The government entered into agreements with the World Bank and the IMF to promote growth and reduce poverty. The economy returned to positive growth of 2.1% in 2000, 6.1% in 2001, 7.2% in 2002, 6.3% in 2003, and 6.8% in 2004. Further reforms will come slowly because of strong political forces backing government controls. The economy remains vulnerable to higher fuel prices, poor agricultural weather, and the skepticism of foreign investors.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$8.581 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.8% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 22.4%
industry: 24.8%
services: 52.8% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

1.36 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 40%, industry 14%, services 46% (1998)

Unemployment rate:

8% (roughly 25% of working age Moldovans are employed abroad) (2002 est.)

Population below poverty line:

80% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.2%
highest 10%: 30.7% (1997)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

40.6 (1997)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

11.5% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

17.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $648.1 million
expenditures: $634.8 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

63.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, tobacco; beef, milk

Industries:

food processing, agricultural machinery, foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, hosiery, sugar, vegetable oil, shoes, textiles

Industrial production growth rate:

17% (2003 est.)

Electricity - production:

3.876 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 90.6%
hydro: 9.4%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

4.605 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

1 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

24,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

2.05 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

2.05 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Current account balance:

$-148.4 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$1.03 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

foodstuffs, textiles, machinery

Exports - partners:

Russia 35.8%, Italy 13.9%, Romania 10%, Germany 7.3%, Ukraine 6.6%, Belarus 6%, US 4.6% (2004)

Imports:

$1.83 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

mineral products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals, textiles (2000)

Imports - partners:

Ukraine 24.6%, Russia 12.2%, Romania 9.3%, Germany 8.5%, Italy 7.4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$390 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.4 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$100 million (2000)

Currency (code):

Moldovan leu (MDL)

Currency code:

MDL

Exchange rates:

lei per US dollar - 12.33 (2004), 13.945 (2003), 13.571 (2002), 12.865 (2001), 12.434 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Moldova

Telephones - main lines in use:

706,900 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

338,200 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: inadequate, outmoded, poor service outside Chisinau; some effort to modernize is under way
domestic: new subscribers face long wait for service; mobile cellular telephone service being introduced
international: country code - 373; service through Romania and Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 7, FM 50, shortwave 3 (1998)

Radios:

3.22 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (plus 30 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

1.26 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.md

Internet hosts:

11,984 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (1999)

Internet users:

150,000 (2002)

Transportation

Moldova

Railways:

total: 1,138 km
broad gauge: 1,124 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge: 14 km 1.435-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 12,719 km
paved: 10,977 km
unpaved: 1,742 km (2002)

Waterways:

424 km (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 606 km (2004)

Merchant marine:

total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,636 GRT/1,088 DWT
by type: cargo 2 (2005)

Airports:

23 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 17
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.)

Military

Moldova

Military branches:

National Army: Ground Forces, Air Force

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service; national service obligation - 12 months (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,066,459 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 693,913 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 43,729 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$8.7 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.4% (FY02)

Transnational Issues

Moldova

Disputes - international:

Moldova and Ukraine have established joint customs posts to monitor transit through Moldova's break-away Transnistria Region which remains under OSCE supervision

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 1,000 (internal secessionist uprising in Transdniestrian region in 1991) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for CIS consumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia via Central Asia to Russia, Western Europe, and possibly the US; widespread crime and underground economic activity

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Mayotte

Introduction

Mayotte

Background:

Mayotte was ceded to France along with the other islands of the Comoros group in 1843. It was the only island in the archipelago that voted in 1974 to retain its link with France and forego independence.

Geography

Mayotte

Location:

Southern Africa, island in the Mozambique Channel, about one-half of the way from northern Madagascar to northern Mozambique

Geographic coordinates:

12 50 S, 45 10 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 374 sq km
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:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; marine; hot, humid, rainy season during northeastern monsoon (November to May); dry season is cooler (May to November)

Terrain:

generally undulating, with deep ravines and ancient volcanic peaks

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Benara 660 m

Natural resources:

NEGL

Land use:

arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
other: NA%

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

cyclones during rainy season

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

part of Comoro Archipelago; 18 islands

People

Mayotte

Population:

193,633 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 46.2% (male 44,926/female 44,521)
15-64 years: 52.1% (male 54,713/female 46,156)
65 years and over: 1.7% (male 1,666/female 1,651) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 16.96 years
male: 18.04 years
female: 15.87 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.93% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

41.58 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

7.9 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

5.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.18 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female
total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 62.4 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 68.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 56.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 61.39 years
male: 59.22 years
female: 63.62 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.89 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Mahorais (singular and plural)
adjective: Mahoran

Ethnic groups:

NA

Religions:

Muslim 97%, Christian (mostly Roman Catholic)

Languages:

Mahorian (a Swahili dialect), French (official language) spoken by 35% of the population

Literacy:

definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Mayotte

Country name:

conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Mayotte
conventional short form: Mayotte

Dependency status:

territorial collectivity of France

Government type:

NA

Capital:

Mamoutzou

Administrative divisions:

none (territorial collectivity of France)

Independence:

none (territorial collectivity of France)

National holiday:

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Constitution:

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system:

French law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Jean-Paul KIHL (since 17 January 2005)
head of government: President of the General Council Said Omar OILI (since NA 2004)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; president of the General Council 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 21 and 28 March 2004 (next to be held NA 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - MDM 23.3%, UMP 22.8%, PS 10.2%, MRC 8.9%, FRAP 6.5%, MPM 1.2%; seats by party - MDM 6, UMP 9, MRC 2, MPM 1, diverse left 1
note: Mayotte elects one member of the French Senate; elections last held 24 September 2001 (next to be held September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; Mayotte also elects one member to the French National Assembly; elections last held 16 June 2002 (next to be held as a special election in June 2005); results - percent of vote by party - UMP-RPR 55.08%, UDF 44.92%; seats by party - UMP-RPR 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Front or FD [Youssouf MOUSSA]; Mahoran Popular Movement or MPM [Ahmed MADI]; FARC [leader NA]; Federation of Mahorans or RPR (UMP) [Mansour KAMARDINE]; Movement for Department Status Mayotte or MDM [Mouhoutar SALIM]; Renewed Communist Party of Mayotte or MRC [Omar SIMBA]; Socialist Party or PS (local branch of French Parti Socialiste) [Ibrahim ABUBACAR]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Henri JEAN-BAPTISTE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (territorial collectivity of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territorial collectivity of France)

Flag description:

the flag of France is used

Economy

Mayotte

Economy - overview:

Economic activity is based primarily on the agricultural sector, including fishing and livestock raising. Mayotte is not self-sufficient and must import a large portion of its food requirements, mainly from France. The economy and future development of the island are heavily dependent on French financial assistance, an important supplement to GDP. Mayotte's remote location is an obstacle to the development of tourism.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$466.8 million (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

NA%

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $2,600 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Labor force:

48,800 (2000)

Unemployment rate:

38% (1999)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

NA%

Budget:

revenues: NA
expenditures: $73 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1991 est.)

Agriculture - products:

vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), coffee, copra

Industries:

newly created lobster and shrimp industry, construction

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

NA kWh

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 0%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0%

Electricity - consumption:

NA kWh

Exports:

$3.44 million f.o.b. (1997)

Exports - commodities:

ylang-ylang (perfume essence), vanilla, copra, coconuts, coffee, cinnamon

Exports - partners:

France 80%, Comoros 15%, Reunion (2000)

Imports:

$141.3 million f.o.b. (1997)

Imports - commodities:

food, machinery and equipment, transportation equipment, metals, chemicals

Imports - partners:

France 66%, Africa 14%, Southeast Asia 11% (2000 est.)

Debt - external:

$NA

Economic aid - recipient:

$107.7 million; note - extensive French financial assistance (1995)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)

Currency code:

EUR

Exchange rates:

euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Mayotte

Telephones - main lines in use:

10,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

21,700 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: small system administered by French Department of Posts and Telecommunications
domestic: NA
international: country code - 269; microwave radio relay and HF radiotelephone communications to Comoros (2001)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2001)

Radios:

NA

Television broadcast stations:

3 (2001)

Televisions:

3,500 (1994)

Internet country code:

.yt

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

NA

Internet users:

NA

Transportation

Mayotte

Highways:

total: 93 km
paved: 72 km
unpaved: 21 km

Ports and harbors:

Dzaoudzi

Airports:

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Mayotte

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France; small contingent of French forces stationed on the island

Transnational Issues

Mayotte

Disputes - international:

claimed by Comoros

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Mongolia

Introduction

Mongolia

Background:

The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under Chinggis KHAN they conquered a huge Eurasian empire. After his death the empire was divided into several powerful Mongol states, but these broke apart in the 14th century. The Mongols eventually retired to their original steppe homelands and later came under Chinese rule. Mongolia won its independence in 1921 with Soviet backing. A Communist regime was installed in 1924. During the early 1990s, the ex-Communist Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) gradually yielded its monopoly on power to the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC), which defeated the MPRP in a national election in 1996. Since then, parliamentary elections returned the MPRP overwhelmingly to power in 2000 and produced a coalition government in 2004.

Geography

Mongolia

Location:

Northern Asia, between China and Russia

Geographic coordinates:

46 00 N, 105 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 1,564,116 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Alaska

Land boundaries:

total: 8,220 km
border countries: China 4,677 km, Russia 3,543 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

desert; continental (large daily and seasonal temperature ranges)

Terrain:

vast semidesert and desert plains, grassy steppe, mountains in west and southwest; Gobi Desert in south-central

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Hoh Nuur 518 m
highest point: Nayramadlin Orgil (Huyten Orgil) 4,374 m

Natural resources:

oil, coal, copper, molybdenum, tungsten, phosphates, tin, nickel, zinc, fluorspar, gold, silver, iron

Land use:

arable land: 0.77%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.23% (2001)

Irrigated land:

840 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

dust storms, grassland and forest fires, drought, and "zud," which is harsh winter conditions

Environment - current issues:

limited natural fresh water resources in some areas; the policies of former Communist regimes promoted rapid urbanization and industrial growth that had negative effects on the environment; the burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of environmental laws severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar; deforestation, overgrazing, and the converting of virgin land to agricultural production increased soil erosion from wind and rain; desertification and mining activities had a deleterious effect on the environment

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

People

Mongolia

Population:

2,791,272 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 28.7% (male 407,547/female 392,440)
15-64 years: 67.7% (male 943,418/female 945,063)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 44,413/female 58,391) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 24.28 years
male: 23.93 years
female: 24.64 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.45% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

21.52 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

7.03 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 53.79 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 57.25 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 50.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 64.52 years
male: 62.3 years
female: 66.86 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.26 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

less than 500 (2003 est)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Mongolian(s)
adjective: Mongolian

Ethnic groups:

Mongol (mostly Khalkha) 94.9%, Turkic (mostly Kazakh) 5%, other (including Chinese and Russian) 0.1% (2000)

Religions:

Buddhist Lamaist 50%, none 40%, Shamanist and Christian 6%, Muslim 4% (2004)

Languages:

Khalkha Mongol 90%, Turkic, Russian (1999)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.8%
male: 98%
female: 97.5% (2002)

Government

Mongolia

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Mongolia
local long form: none
local short form: Mongol Uls
former: Outer Mongolia

Government type:

mixed parliamentary/presidential

Capital:

Ulaanbaatar

Administrative divisions:

21 provinces (aymguud, singular - aymag) and 1 municipality* (singular - hot); Arhangay, Bayanhongor, Bayan-Olgiy, Bulgan, Darhan Uul, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan, Govi-Altay, Govi-Sumber, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Orhon, Ovorhangay, Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs

Independence:

11 July 1921 (from China)

National holiday:

Independence Day/Revolution Day, 11 July (1921)

Constitution:

12 February 1992

Legal system:

blend of Soviet, German, and US systems that combine "continental" or "civil" code and case-precedent; constitution ambiguous on judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR (since 24 June 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Tsakhi ELBEGDORJ (since 20 August 2004); Deputy Prime Minister Chultem ULAAN (since 28 September 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the State Great Hural (parliament) in consultation with the president
elections: presidential candidates nominated by political parties represented in State Great Hural and elected by popular vote for a four-year term; presidential tenure limited to two four-year terms; election last held 22 May 2005 (next to be held in May 2009); following legislative elections, leader of majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by State Great Hural
election results: Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR elected president; percent of vote - Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR (MPRP) 53.44%, Mendsaikhanin ENKHSAIKHAN (DP) 20.05%, Bazarsadyn JARGALSAIKHAN (MRP) 13.92%, Badarchyn ERDENEBAT (M-MNSDP) 12.59%; Tsakhi ELBEGDORJ elected prime minister by the State Great Hural 74 to 0

Legislative branch:

unicameral State Great Hural 76 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms
elections: last held 27 June 2004 (next to be held in June 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - MPRP 48.78%, MDC 44.8%, independents 3.5%, Republican Party 1.5%, others 1.42%; seats by party - MPRP 36, MDC 34, others 4; note - following June 2004 election, two seats in dispute and unoccupied

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (serves as appeals court for people's and provincial courts but rarely overturns verdicts of lower courts; judges are nominated by the General Council of Courts and approved by the president)

Political parties and leaders:

Citizens' Will Republican Party or CWRP (also called Civil Courage Republican Party or CCRP) [Sanjaasurengiin OYUN]; Democratic Party or DP [R. GONCHIKDORJ]; Motherland-Mongolian New Socialist Democratic Party or M-MNSDP [Badarchyn ERDENEBAT]; Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party or MPRP [Nambaryn ENKHBAYAR]; Mongolian Republican Party or MRP [Bazarsadyn JARGALSAIKHAN]
note: DP and M-MNSDP formed Motherland-Democracy Coalition (MDC) in 2003 and with CWRP contested June 2004 elections as single party; MDC's leadership dissolved coalition in December 2004

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ARF, AsDB, CP, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, OSCE (partner), SCO (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ravdangiyn BOLD
chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 333-7117
FAX: [1] (202) 298-9227
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela J. SLUTZ
embassy: Micro Region 11, Big Ring Road, C.P.O. 1021, Ulaanbaatar 13
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002
telephone: [976] (11) 329095
FAX: [976] (11) 320776

Flag description:

three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), blue, and red; centered on the hoist-side red band in yellow is the national emblem ("soyombo" - a columnar arrangement of abstract and geometric representation for fire, sun, moon, earth, water, and the yin-yang symbol)

Economy

Mongolia

Economy - overview:

Economic activity in Mongolia has traditionally been based on herding and agriculture. Mongolia has extensive mineral deposits; copper, coal, molybdenum, tin, tungsten and gold account for a large part of industrial production. Soviet assistance, at its height one-third of GDP, disappeared almost overnight in 1990 and 1991 at the time of the dismantlement of the USSR. The following decade saw Mongolia endure both deep recession due to political inaction and natural disasters, as well as economic growth due to reform embracing free-market economics and extensive privatization of the formerly state-run economy. Severe winters and summer droughts in 2000, 2001, and 2002 resulted in massive livestock die-off and zero or negative GDP growth. This was compounded by falling prices for Mongolia's primary sector exports and widespread opposition to privatization. Growth improved from 2002 at 4% to 2003 at 5%, due largely to high copper prices and new gold production, with the government claiming a 10.6% growth rate for 2004 that is unconfirmed. Mongolia's economy continues to be heavily impacted by its neighbors. For example, Mongolia purchases 80% of its petroleum products and a substantial amount of electric power from Russia, leaving it vulnerable to price increases. China is Mongolia's chief export partner and a main source of the "shadow" or "grey" economy. The World Bank and other international financial institutions estimate the grey economy to be at least equal to that of the official economy. The actual size of this grey - largely cash - economy is difficult to calculate since the money does not pass through the hands of tax authorities or the banking sector. Remittances from Mongolians working abroad both legally and illegally constitute a sizeable portion. Money laundering is growing as an accompanying concern. Mongolia settled its $11 billion debt with Russia at the end of 2003 on very favorable terms. Mongolia, which joined the World Trade Organization in 1997, seeks to expand its participation and integration into Asian regional economic and trade regimes.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$5.332 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

10.6% according to official estimate (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 20.6%
industry: 21.4%
services: 58% (2003 est.)

Labor force:

1.488 million (2003)

Labor force - by occupation:

herding/agriculture 42%, mining 4%, manufacturing 6%, trade 14%, services 29%, public sector 5%, other 3.7% (2003)

Unemployment rate:

6.7% (2003)

Population below poverty line:

36.1% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 37% (1995)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

44 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

11% (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $582 million
expenditures: $602 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, barley, vegetables, forage crops, sheep, goats, cattle, camels, horses

Industries:

construction and construction materials; mining (coal, copper, molybdenum, fluorspar, and gold); oil; food and beverages; processing of animal products, cashmere and natural fiber manufacturing

Industrial production growth rate:

4.1% (2002 est.)

Electricity - production:

2.692 billion kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

2.209 billion kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - exports:

8.2 million kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - imports:

130.5 million kWh (2004 est.)

Oil - production:

542 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

11,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:

497 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - imports:

11,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Exports:

$853 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

copper, apparel, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides, fluorspar, other nonferrous metals

Exports - partners:

China 47.8%, US 17.9%, UK 15.7% (2004)

Imports:

$1 billion c.i.f. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, fuel, cars, food products, industrial consumer goods, chemicals, building materials, sugar, tea

Imports - partners:

Russia 33.3%, China 23.6%, Japan 7.4%, South Korea 6%, US 4.6% (2004)

Debt - external:

$1.191 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$215 million (2003)

Currency (code):

togrog/tugrik (MNT)

Currency code:

MNT

Exchange rates:

togrogs/tugriks per US dollar - 1,185.3 (2004), 1,146.5 (2003), 1,110.3 (2002), 1,097.7 (2001), 1,076.7 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Mongolia

Telephones - main lines in use:

142,300 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

404,400 (2004)

Telephone system:

general assessment: network is improving with international direct dialing available in many areas
domestic: very low density of about 6.5 telephones for each thousand persons; two wireless providers cover all but two provinces
international: country code - 976; satellite earth station - 1 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean Region)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 7, FM 62, shortwave 3 (2004)

Radios:

155,900 (1999)

Television broadcast stations:

52 (plus 21 provincial repeaters and many low power repeaters) (2004)

Televisions:

168,800 (1999)

Internet country code:

.mn

Internet hosts:

1,000 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2001)

Internet users:

220,000 (2004)

Transportation

Mongolia

Railways:

total: 1,810 km
broad gauge: 1,810 km 1.524-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 49,256 km
paved: 8,874 km
unpaved: 40,376 km (2002)

Waterways:

580 km
note: only waterway in operation is Lake Khovsgol (135 km); Selenge River (270 km) and Orkhon River (175 km) are navigable but carry little traffic; lakes and rivers freeze in winter, are open from May to September (2004)

Merchant marine:

total: 65 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 339,423 GRT/533,853 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 54, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 38 (China 2, Lebanon 1, Philippines 1, Russia 10, Singapore 10, South Korea 1, Syria 1, Thailand 1, Ukraine 1, UAE 4, Vietnam 6) (2005)

Airports:

46 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 15
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 31
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

2 (2004 est.)

Military

Mongolia

Military branches:

Mongolian Armed Forces: Mongolian People's Army (MPA), Mongolian People's Air Force (MPAF) (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18-25 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 736,182 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 570,435 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 34,674 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$23.1 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.2% (FY02)

Transnational Issues

Mongolia

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Montserrat

Introduction

Montserrat

Background:

Much of this island was devastated and two-thirds of the population fled abroad because of the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano that began on 18 July 1995. Montserrat has endured volcanic activity since, with the last eruption occurring in July 2003.

Geography

Montserrat

Location:

Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of Puerto Rico

Geographic coordinates:

16 45 N, 62 12 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 102 sq km
land: 102 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:

territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; little daily or seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:

volcanic island, mostly mountainous, with small coastal lowland

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Chances Peak (in the Soufriere Hills volcanic complex) 914 m

Natural resources:

NEGL

Land use:

arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 80% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions (Soufriere Hills volcano has erupted continuously since 1995)

Environment - current issues:

land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for cultivation

Geography - note:

the island is entirely volcanic in origin and contains seven active volcanoes

People

Montserrat

Population:

9,341
note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 23.3% (male 1,109/female 1,072)
15-64 years: 65.6% (male 2,923/female 3,201)
65 years and over: 11.1% (male 536/female 500) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 28.56 years
male: 28.29 years
female: 28.79 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.04% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

17.56 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

7.17 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 1.07 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 7.35 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.55 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.71 years
male: 76.54 years
female: 80.98 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.78 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Montserratian(s)
adjective: Montserratian

Ethnic groups:

black, white

Religions:

Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Christian denominations

Languages:

English

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97% (1970 est.)

Government

Montserrat

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Montserrat

Dependency status:

overseas territory of the UK

Government type:

NA

Capital:

Plymouth (abandoned in 1997 due to volcanic activity; interim government buildings have been built at Brades Estate, in the Carr's Bay/Little Bay vicinity at the northwest end of Montserrat)

Administrative divisions:

3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter

Independence:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:

Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)

Constitution:

effective 19 December 1989

Legal system:

English common law and statutory law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Deborah BARNES-JONES (since 10 May 2004)
head of government: Chief Minister John OSBORNE (since 5 April 2001)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, the chief minister, three other ministers, the attorney general, and the finance secretary
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually becomes chief minister

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Council (11 seats, 9 popularly elected; members serve five-year terms)
note: expanded in 2001 from 7 to 9 elected members with attorney general and financial secretary sitting as ex-officio members
elections: last held April 2001 (next to be held by November 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NPLM 7, NPP 2
note: in 2001, the Elections Commission instituted a single constituency/voter-at-large system whereby all eligible voters cast ballots for all nine seats of the Legislative Council

Judicial branch:

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based in Saint Lucia, one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court)

Political parties and leaders:

National Progressive Party or NPP [Reuben T. MEADE]; New People's Liberation Movement or NPLM [John A. OSBORNE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

Caricom, CDB, ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), OECS, UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag description:

blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Montserratian coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms features a woman standing beside a yellow harp with her arm around a black cross

Economy

Montserrat

Economy - overview:

Severe volcanic activity, which began in July 1995, has put a damper on this small, open economy. A catastrophic eruption in June 1997 closed the airports and seaports, causing further economic and social dislocation. Two-thirds of the 12,000 inhabitants fled the island. Some began to return in 1998, but lack of housing limited the number. The agriculture sector continued to be affected by the lack of suitable land for farming and the destruction of crops. Prospects for the economy depend largely on developments in relation to the volcano and on public sector construction activity. The UK has launched a three-year $122.8 million aid program to help reconstruct the economy. Half of the island is expected to remain uninhabitable for another decade.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$29 million (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

-1% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $3,400 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 5.4%
industry: 13.6%
services: 81% (1996 est.)

Labor force:

4,521 (lowered by flight of people from volcanic activity) (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Unemployment rate:

6% (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.6% (2002 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $31.4 million
expenditures: $31.6 million, including capital expenditures of $8.4 million (1997 est.)

Agriculture - products:

cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers, livestock products

Industries:

tourism, rum, textiles, electronic appliances

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

1.8 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

1.674 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$700,000 (2001)

Exports - commodities:

electronic components, plastic bags, apparel, hot peppers, live plants, cattle

Exports - partners:

US, Antigua and Barbuda

Imports:

$17 million (2001)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transportation equipment, foodstuffs, manufactured goods, fuels, lubricants, and related materials

Imports - partners:

US, UK, Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, Canada

Debt - external:

$8.9 million (1997)

Economic aid - recipient:

Country Policy Plan (2001) is a three-year program for spending $122.8 million in British budgetary assistance (2002 est.)

Currency (code):

East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Currency code:

XCD

Exchange rates:

East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003), 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7 (2000)
note: fixed rate since 1976

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

Montserrat

Telephones - main lines in use:

NA

Telephones - mobile cellular:

70 (1994)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern and fully digitalized
domestic: NA
international: country code - 1-664

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

7,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (1997)

Televisions:

3,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ms

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

17 (2000)

Internet users:

NA

Transportation

Montserrat

Highways:

total: 227 km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km
note: volcanic eruptions beginning in 1995 destroyed most of the road system (2003)

Ports and harbors:

Plymouth

Airports:

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Montserrat

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Police Force (2005)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues

Montserrat

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Malawi

Introduction

Malawi

Background:

Established in 1891, the British protectorate of Nyasaland became the independent nation of Malawi in 1964. After three decades of one-party rule under President Hastings Kamuzu BANDA the country held multiparty elections in 1994, under a provisional constitution, which came into full effect the following year. Current President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA, elected in May 2004 after the previous president failed to amend the constitution to permit another term, has struggled to assert his authority against his predecessor, who still leads their shared political party. MATHARIKA's anti-corruption efforts have led to several high-level arrests but no convictions. Increasing corruption, population growth, increasing pressure on agricultural lands, and HIV/AIDS pose major problems for the country.

Geography

Malawi

Location:

Southern Africa, east of Zambia

Geographic coordinates:

13 30 S, 34 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 118,480 sq km
land: 94,080 sq km
water: 24,400 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Land boundaries:

total: 2,881 km
border countries: Mozambique 1,569 km, Tanzania 475 km, Zambia 837 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

sub-tropical; rainy season (November to May); dry season (May to November)

Terrain:

narrow elongated plateau with rolling plains, rounded hills, some mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international boundary with Mozambique 37 m
highest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m

Natural resources:

limestone, arable land, hydropower, unexploited deposits of uranium, coal, and bauxite

Land use:

arable land: 23.38%
permanent crops: 1.49%
other: 75.13% (2001)

Irrigated land:

280 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of spawning grounds endangers fish populations

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

landlocked; Lake Nyasa, some 580 km long, is the country's most prominent physical feature

People

Malawi

Population:

12,158,924
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 46.9% (male 2,877,568/female 2,823,296)
15-64 years: 50.4% (male 3,041,352/female 3,081,762)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 132,175/female 202,771) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 16.34 years
male: 16.04 years
female: 16.65 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.06% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

43.95 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

23.39 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 103.32 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 107.44 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 99.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 41.43 years
male: 41.66 years
female: 41.2 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.98 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

14.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

900,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

84,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague are high risks in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Malawian(s)
adjective: Malawian

Ethnic groups:

Chewa, Nyanja, Tumbuka, Yao, Lomwe, Sena, Tonga, Ngoni, Ngonde, Asian, European

Religions:

Christian 79.9%, Muslim 12.8%, other 3%, none 4.3% (1998 census)

Languages:

Chichewa 57.2% (official), Chinyanja 12.8%, Chiyao 10.1%, Chitumbuka 9.5%, Chisena 2.7%, Chilomwe 2.4%, Chitonga 1.7%, other 3.6% (1998 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 62.7%
male: 76.1%
female: 49.8% (2003 est.)

Government

Malawi

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Malawi
conventional short form: Malawi
former: British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland Protectorate, Nyasaland

Government type:

multiparty democracy

Capital:

Lilongwe

Administrative divisions:

27 districts; Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Chitipa, Dedza, Dowa, Karonga, Kasungu, Likoma, Lilongwe, Machinga (Kasupe), Mangochi, Mchinji, Mulanje, Mwanza, Mzimba, Ntcheu, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Nsanje, Ntchisi, Phalombe, Rumphi, Salima, Thyolo, Zomba

Independence:

6 July 1964 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day (Republic Day), 6 July (1964)

Constitution:

18 May 1994

Legal system:

based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Appeal; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (since 24 May 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: 46-member Cabinet named by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 20 May 2004 (next to be held May 2009)
election results: Bingu wa MUTHARIKA elected president; percent of vote - Bingu wa MUTHARIKA (UDF) 35.9%, John TEMBO (MCP) 27.1%, Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA (MC) 25.7%, Brown MPINGANJIRA (NDA) 8.7%, Justin MALEWEZI (independent) 2.5%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly (193 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 20 May 2004 (next to be held May 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UDF 74, MCP 60, Independents 24, RP 16, others 18, vacancies 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Appeal; High Court (chief justice appointed by the president, puisne judges appointed on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission); magistrate's courts

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance for Democracy or AFORD [Chakufwa CHIHANA]; Malawi Congress Party or MCP [John TEMBO]; Malawi Democratic Party or MDP [Kampelo KALUA]; Malawi Forum for Unity and Development or MAFUNDE [George MNESA]; Mgwirizano Coalition or MC (coalition of MAFUNDE, MDP, MGODE, NUP, PETRA, PPM, RP) [Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA]; Movement for Genuine Democratic Change or MGODE [Sam Kandodo BANDA]; National Democratic Alliance or NDA [Brown MPINGANJIRA]; National Unity Party or NUP [Harry CHIUME]; New Congress for Democracy or NCD [Hetherwick NTABA]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Aleke BANDA]; People's Transformation Movement or PETRA [Kamuzu CHIBAMBO]; Republican Party or RP [Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA]; United Democratic Front or UDF [Bingu wa MUTHARIKA] - governing party

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMIL, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Bernard Herbert SANDE
chancery: 1156 15th Street, NW, Suite 320, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 721-0270
FAX: [1] (202) 721-0288

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires David GILMOUR
embassy: Area 40, Plot 24, Kenyatta Road
mailing address: P. O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi
telephone: [265] (1) 773 166
FAX: [265] (1) 770 471

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of black (top), red, and green with a radiant, rising, red sun centered in the black band

Government - note:

the executive exerts considerable influence over the legislature

Economy

Malawi

Economy - overview:

Landlocked Malawi ranks among the world's least developed countries. The economy is predominately agricultural, with about 90% of the population living in rural areas. Agriculture accounted for nearly 40% of GDP and 88% of export revenues in 2001. The performance of the tobacco sector is key to short-term growth as tobacco accounts for over 50% of exports. The economy depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF, the World Bank, and individual donor nations. In late 2000, Malawi was approved for relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program. The government faces strong challenges, including developing a market economy, improving educational facilities, facing up to environmental problems, dealing with the rapidly growing problem of HIV/AIDS, and satisfying foreign donors that fiscal discipline is being tightened. In 2005, the anticorruption campaign championed by President MUTHARIKA may help encourage investment and economic growth.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$7.41 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $600 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 54.8%
industry: 19.2%
services: 26% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

4.5 million (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 90% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:

NA (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line:

55% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

12% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

10.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $536 million
expenditures: $635.6 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

228.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava (tapioca), sorghum, pulses; groundnuts, Macadamia nuts; cattle, goats

Industries:

tobacco, tea, sugar, sawmill products, cement, consumer goods

Industrial production growth rate:

1.4% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

1.088 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 3.3%
hydro: 96.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

1.012 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

5,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-55.5 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$503.4 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

tobacco 60%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products, apparel

Exports - partners:

South Africa 13.5%, US 12%, Germany 11.6%, Egypt 8.4%, UK 6.6%, Mozambique 4.5% (2004)

Imports:

$521.1 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods, transportation equipment

Imports - partners:

South Africa 37.3%, India 8.1%, Mozambique 7.7%, Zimbabwe 7.2%, Tanzania 4.6%, Germany 4.1% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$160.5 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$3.129 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$540 million (1999)

Currency (code):

Malawian kwacha (MWK)

Currency code:

MWK

Exchange rates:

Malawian kwachas per US dollar - 108.894 (2004), 97.433 (2003), 76.687 (2002), 72.197 (2001), 59.544 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Communications

Malawi

Telephones - main lines in use:

85,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

135,100 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: system employs open-wire lines, microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations
international: country code - 265; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 9, FM 5 (plus 15 repeater stations), shortwave 2 (plus a third station held in standby status) (2001)

Radios:

2.6 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2001)

Televisions:

NA

Internet country code:

.mw

Internet hosts:

18 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2002)

Internet users:

36,000 (2003)

Transportation

Malawi

Railways:

total: 797 km
narrow gauge: 797 km 1.067-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 28,400 km
paved: 5,254 km
unpaved: 23,146 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

700 km
note: on Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and Shire River (2003)

Ports and harbors:

Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba

Airports:

42 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 20 (2004 est.)

Military

Malawi

Military branches:

Malawi Armed Forces: Army (includes Air Wing and Naval Detachment), Police (includes Mobile Force Unit)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,320,190 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 995,084 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$11.1 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.7% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Malawi

Disputes - international:

disputes with Tanzania over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Macedonia

Introduction

Macedonia

Background:

International recognition of Macedonia's independence from Yugoslavia in 1991 was delayed by Greece's objection to the new state's use of what it considered a Hellenic name and symbols. Greece finally lifted its trade blockade in 1995 and the two countries agreed to normalize relations, although differences over Macedonia's name remain. The undetermined status of neighboring Kosovo, implementation of the Framework Agreement - which ended the 2001 ethnic Albanian armed insurgency - and a weak economy continue to be challenges for Macedonia.

Geography

Macedonia

Location:

Southeastern Europe, north of Greece

Geographic coordinates:

41 50 N, 22 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 25,333 sq km
land: 24,856 sq km
water: 477 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Vermont

Land boundaries:

total: 766 km
border countries: Albania 151 km, Bulgaria 148 km, Greece 246 km, Serbia and Montenegro 221 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

warm, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall

Terrain:

mountainous territory covered with deep basins and valleys; three large lakes, each divided by a frontier line; country bisected by the Vardar River

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Vardar River 50 m
highest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,764 m

Natural resources:

low-grade iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromite, manganese, nickel, tungsten, gold, silver, asbestos, gypsum, timber, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 22.26%
permanent crops: 1.81%
other: 75.93% (2001)

Irrigated land:

550 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

high seismic risks

Environment - current issues:

air pollution from metallurgical plants

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; major transportation corridor from Western and Central Europe to Aegean Sea and Southern Europe to Western Europe

People

Macedonia

Population:

2,045,262 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 20.5% (male 217,057/female 202,465)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 707,489/female 697,150)
65 years and over: 10.8% (male 97,117/female 123,984) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 32.8 years
male: 31.7 years
female: 33.9 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.26% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

12 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

8.73 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 10.09 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 10.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.73 years
male: 71.28 years
female: 76.37 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.57 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Macedonian(s)
adjective: Macedonian

Ethnic groups:

Macedonian 64.2%, Albanian 25.2%, Turkish 3.9%, Roma 2.7%, Serb 1.8%, other 2.2% (2002 census)

Religions:

Macedonian Orthodox 32.4%, other Christian 0.2%, Muslim 16.9%, other and unspecified 50.5% (2002 census)

Languages:

Macedonian 66.5%, Albanian 25.1%, Turkish 3.5%, Roma 1.9%, Serbian 1.2%, other 1.8% (2002 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.1%
male: 98.2%
female: 94.1% (2002 est.)

Government

Macedonia

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Macedonia
conventional short form: Macedonia; note - the provisional designation used by the UN, EU, and NATO is Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)
local long form: Republika Makedonija
local short form: Makedonija
former: People's Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Republic of Macedonia

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Skopje

Administrative divisions:

85 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina); Aerodrom (Skopje), Aracinovo, Berovo, Bitola, Bogdanci, Bogovinje, Bosilovo, Brvenica, Butel (Skopje), Cair (Skopje), Caska, Centar (Skopje), Centar Zupa, Cesinovo, Cucer-Sandevo, Debar, Debartsa, Delcevo, Demir Hisar, Demir Kapija, Dojran, Dolneni, Drugovo, Gazi Baba (Skopje), Gevgelija, Gjorce Petrov (Skopje), Gostivar, Gradsko, Ilinden, Jegunovce, Karbinci, Karpos (Skopje), Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kisela Voda (Skopje), Kocani, Konce, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krivogastani, Krusevo, Kumanovo, Lipkovo, Lozovo, Makedonska Kamenica, Makedonski Brod, Mavrovo i Rastusa, Mogila, Negotino, Novaci, Novo Selo, Ohrid, Oslomej, Pehcevo, Petrovec, Plasnica, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis, Rankovce, Resen, Rosoman, Saraj (Skopje), Skopje, Sopiste, Staro Nagoricane, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Studenicani, Suto Orizari (Skopje), Sveti Nikole, Tearce, Tetovo, Valandovo, Vasilevo, Veles, Vevcani, Vinica, Vranestica, Vrapciste, Zajas, Zelenikovo, Zelino, Zrnovci
note: the ten municipalities followed by Skopje in parentheses collectively constitute "greater Skopje"

Independence:

8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsing independence from Yugoslavia)

National holiday:

Uprising Day, 2 August (1903); note - also known as Saint Elijah's Day and Ilinden

Constitution:

adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991; amended November 2001 by a series of new constitutional amendments strengthening minority rights

Legal system:

based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Branko CRVENKOVSKI (since 12 May 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Vlado BUCKOVSKI (since 17 December 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the majority vote of all the deputies in the Assembly; note - current cabinet formed by the government coalition parties SDSM, LDP, and BDI
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; two-round election last held 14 April and 28 April 2004 (next to be held April 2009); prime minister elected by the Assembly; election last held 1 November 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: Branko CRVENKOVSKI elected president on second-round ballot; percent of vote - Branko CRVENKOVSKI 62.7%, Sasko KEDEV 37.3%; Vlado BUCKOVSKI elected prime minister by the Assembly

Legislative branch:

unicameral Assembly or Sobranie (120 seats - members elected by popular vote from party lists based on the percentage of the overall vote the parties gain in each of six electoral districts; all serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 15 September 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Together for Macedonia coalition 60 (SDSM 43, LDP 12, others 5), VMRO-DPMNE 33 (VMRO 28 and LDT 5), Democratic Union for Integration 16, Democratic Party of Albanians 7, Party for Democratic Prosperity 2, National Democratic Party 1, Socialist Party of Macedonia 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court - the Assembly appoints the judges; Constitutional Court - the Assembly appoints the judges; Republican Judicial Council - the Assembly appoints the judges

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Alliance [Pavle TRAJANOV]; Democratic Alternative or DA [Vasil TUPURKOVSKI, president]; Democratic League of the Bosniaks [Rafet MUMINOVIC]; Democratic Party of Albanians or PDSH/DPA [Arben XHAFERI, president]; Democratic Party of Serbs [Ivan STOILJKOVIC]; Democratic Party of Turks [Kenan HASIPI]; Democratic Republican Union of Macedonia or DRUM [Dosta DIMOVSKA]; Democratic Union of Vlachs for Macedonia [leader NA]; Democratic Union for Integration or BDI/DUI [Ali AHMETI]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Agrarian Party or VMRO-Agrarian Party [Marjan GJORCEV]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or VMRO-DPMNE (including VMRO and LDT) [Nikola GRUEVSKI]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-True Macedonian Option or VMRO-Vistinska [Boris ZMEJKOVSKI]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Macedonian [Boris STOJMENOV]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-People's Party or VMRO-Narodna [Vesna JANEVSKA]; League for Democracy [Gjorgi MARJANOVIC]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Risto PENOV]; Liberal Party [Stojan ANDOV]; National Democratic Party or PDK [Basri HALITI]; National Farmers' Party [Vejljo TANTAROV]; Party for Democratic Prosperity or PPD/PDP [Abduljhadi VEJSELI]; Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia or SDSM [Vlado BUCKOVSKI, president]; Socialist Party of Macedonia or SP [Ljubisav IVANOV, president]; Together for Macedonia coalition (including the SDSM and LDP) [Vlado BUCKOVSI]; United Party for Emancipation or OPE [Nezdet MUSTAFA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Civic Movement of Macedonia [Gordana SILJANOVSKA]; Movement for Macedonia's Euro-Atlantic Integration [Dosta DIMOVSKA]

International organization participation:

ACCT, BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Nikola DIMITROV
chancery: Suite 302, 1101 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 337-3063
FAX: [1] (202) 337-3093
consulate(s) general: Southfield (Michigan)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Lawrence Edward BUTLER
embassy: Bul. Ilindenska bb, 1000 Skopje
mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, Department of State, 7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch)
telephone: [389] 2 311-6180
FAX: [389] 2 311-7103

Flag description:

a yellow sun with eight broadening rays extending to the edges of the red field

Economy

Macedonia

Economy - overview:

At independence in September 1991, Macedonia was the least developed of the Yugoslav republics, producing a mere 5% of the total federal output of goods and services. The collapse of Yugoslavia ended transfer payments from the center and eliminated advantages from inclusion in a de facto free trade area. An absence of infrastructure, UN sanctions on the down-sized Yugoslavia, one of its largest markets, and a Greek economic embargo over a dispute about the country's constitutional name and flag hindered economic growth until 1996. GDP subsequently rose each year through 2000. However, the leadership's commitment to economic reform, free trade, and regional integration was undermined by the ethnic Albanian insurgency of 2001. The economy shrank 4.5% because of decreased trade, intermittent border closures, increased deficit spending on security needs, and investor uncertainty. Growth barely recovered in 2002 to 0.9%, then rose by a moderate 3.4% in 2003, and is estimated at 1.3% in 2004. Unemployment at one-third of the workforce remains a critical economic problem. Much of the extensive grey market activity falls outside official statistics.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$14.4 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.3% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $7,100 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 11.2%
industry: 26%
services: 62.8% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

855,000 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Unemployment rate:

37.7% (3rd quarter, 2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

30.2% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

0.4% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

17.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.198 billion
expenditures: $1.245 billion, including capital expenditures of $114 million (2004 est.)

Public debt:

20% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, grapes, rice, tobacco, corn, millet, cotton, sesame, mulberry leaves, citrus, vegetables; beef, pork, poultry, mutton

Industries:

coal, metallic chromium, lead, zinc, ferronickel, textiles, wood products, tobacco, food processing, buses, steel

Industrial production growth rate:

0% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

6.273 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 83.7%
hydro: 16.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

7.216 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:

953 million kWh (2003)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption:

22,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-311 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$1.629 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

food, beverages, tobacco; miscellaneous manufactures, iron and steel

Exports - partners:

Serbia and Montenegro 31.4%, Germany 19.9%, Greece 8.9%, Croatia 6.9%, US 4.9% (2004)

Imports:

$2.677 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; food products, automobiles

Imports - partners:

Greece 15.4%, Germany 13.1%, Serbia and Montenegro 10.4%, Slovenia 8.6%, Bulgaria 8.1%, Turkey 6%, Romania 4.7% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$928 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.863 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$250 million (2003 est.)

Currency (code):

Macedonian denar (MKD)

Currency code:

MKD

Exchange rates:

Macedonian denars per US dollar - 49.41 (2004), 54.32 (2003), 64.35 (2002), 68.04 (2001), 65.9 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Macedonia

Telephones - main lines in use:

560,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

830,000 (2005)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 389

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 29, FM 20, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

410,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

31 (plus 166 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

510,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.mk

Internet hosts:

3,738 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6 (2000)

Internet users:

100,000 (2002)

Transportation

Macedonia

Railways:

total: 699 km
standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (233 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 8,684 km
paved: 5,540 km (including 133 km of expressways)
unpaved: 3,144 km (1999 est.)

Pipelines:

gas 268 km; oil 120 km (2004)

Airports:

17 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
under 914 m: 8 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)

Military

Macedonia

Military branches:

Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM; includes Air and Air Defense Command)

Military service age and obligation:

conscription to be phased out by 2007; current tour of conscript duty is 6 months; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (January 2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 498,259 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 411,156 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 16,686 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$200 million (FY01/02 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

6% (FY01/02 est.)

Transnational Issues

Macedonia

Disputes - international:

ethnic Albanians in Kosovo object to demarcation of the boundary with Macedonia in accordance with the 2000 Macedonia-Serbia and Montenegro delimitation agreement; Greece continues to reject the use of the name Macedonia or Republic of Macedonia

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 2,678 (ethnic conflict in 2001; most IDPs have returned) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish; minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe; although most criminal activity is thought to be domestic and not a financial center, money laundering is a problem due to a mostly cash-based economy and weak enforcement (no arrests or prosecutions for money laundering to date)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Mali

Introduction

Mali

Background:

The Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent of France in 1960 as the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a few months, what formerly made up the Sudanese Republic was renamed Mali. Rule by dictatorship was brought to a close in 1991 with a transitional government and in 1992 when Mali's first democratic presidential election was held. After his reelection in 1997, President Alpha KONARE continued to push through political and economic reforms and to fight corruption. In keeping with Mali's two-term constitutional limit, he stepped down in 2002 and was succeeded by Amadou TOURE.

Geography

Mali

Location:

Western Africa, southwest of Algeria

Geographic coordinates:

17 00 N, 4 00 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 1.24 million sq km
land: 1.22 million sq km
water: 20,000 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 7,243 km
border countries: Algeria 1,376 km, Burkina Faso 1,000 km, Guinea 858 km, Cote d'Ivoire 532 km, Mauritania 2,237 km, Niger 821 km, Senegal 419 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

subtropical to arid; hot and dry February to June; rainy, humid, and mild June to November; cool and dry November to February

Terrain:

mostly flat to rolling northern plains covered by sand; savanna in south, rugged hills in northeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Senegal River 23 m
highest point: Hombori Tondo 1,155 m

Natural resources:

gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, gypsum, granite, hydropower
note: bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits are known but not exploited

Land use:

arable land: 3.82%
permanent crops: 0.03%
other: 96.15% (2001)

Irrigated land:

1,380 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons; recurring droughts; occasional Niger River flooding

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; divided into three natural zones: the southern, cultivated Sudanese; the central, semiarid Sahelian; and the northern, arid Saharan

People

Mali

Population:

12,291,529 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 47.1% (male 2,910,944/female 2,876,010)
15-64 years: 50% (male 2,955,496/female 3,185,666)
65 years and over: 3% (male 165,867/female 197,546) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 16.35 years
male: 15.79 years
female: 16.92 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.74% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

46.77 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

19.05 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 116.79 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 123.32 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 110.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 48.64 years
male: 46.68 years
female: 50.66 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.5 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

140,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

12,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria is a high risk in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Malian(s)
adjective: Malian

Ethnic groups:

Mande 50% (Bambara, Malinke, Soninke), Peul 17%, Voltaic 12%, Songhai 6%, Tuareg and Moor 10%, other 5%

Religions:

Muslim 90%, indigenous beliefs 9%, Christian 1%

Languages:

French (official), Bambara 80%, numerous African languages

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 46.4%
male: 53.5%
female: 39.6% (2003 est.)

Government

Mali

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Mali
conventional short form: Mali
local long form: Republique de Mali
local short form: Mali
former: French Sudan and Sudanese Republic

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Bamako

Administrative divisions:

8 regions (regions, singular - region); Gao, Kayes, Kidal, Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou

Independence:

22 September 1960 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 22 September (1960)

Constitution:

adopted 12 January 1992

Legal system:

based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court (which was formally established on 9 March 1994); has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Amadou Toumani TOURE (since 8 June 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Ousmane Issoufi MAIGA (since 30 April 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (two-term limit); election last held 12 May 2002 (next to be held May 2007); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Amadou Toumani TOURE elected president; percent of vote - Amadou Toumani TOURE 64.4%, Soumaila CISSE 35.6%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (147 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 14 July and 28 July 2002 (next to be held July 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Hope 2002 coalition 66, ADEMA 51, other 30

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance for Democracy or ADEMA [Diounconda TRAORE, party chairman]; Block of Alternative for the Renewal of Africa or BARA [Yoro DIAKITE]; Democratic and Social Convention or CDS [Mamadou Bakary SANGARE, chairman]; Hope 2002 [leader NA]; Movement for the Independence, Renaissance and Integration of Africa or MIRIA [Mohamed Lamine TRAORE, Mouhamedou DICKO]; National Congress for Democratic Initiative or CNID [Mountaga TALL, chairman]; Party for Democracy and Progress or PDP [Me Idrissa TRAORE]; Party for National Renewal or PARENA [Yoro DIAKITE, chairman; Tiebile DRAME, secretary general]; Rally for Democracy and Labor or RDT [Ali GNANGADO]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Almamy SYLLA, chairman]; Rally for Mali or RPM [Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA, chairman]; Sudanese Union/African Democratic Rally or US/RDA [Mamadou Bamou TOURE, secretary general]; Union of Democratic Forces for Progress or UFDP [Youssouf TOURE, secretary general]; Union for Democracy and Development or UDD [Moussa Balla COULIBALY]; Union for Republic and Democracy or URD [Soumaila CISSE]

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, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Abdoulaye DIOP
chancery: 2130 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-2249, 939-8950
FAX: [1] (202) 332-6603

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Vicki HUDDLESTONE
embassy: Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V, Bamako
mailing address: B. P. 34, Bamako
telephone: [223] (2) 223-833
FAX: [223] (2) 223-712

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy

Mali

Economy - overview:

Mali is among the poorest countries in the world, with 65% of its land area desert or semidesert and with a highly unequal distribution of income. Economic activity is largely confined to the riverine area irrigated by the Niger. About 10% of the population is nomadic and some 80% of the labor force is engaged in farming and fishing. Industrial activity is concentrated on processing farm commodities. Mali is heavily dependent on foreign aid and vulnerable to fluctuations in world prices for cotton, its main export, along with gold. The government has continued its successful implementation of an IMF-recommended structural adjustment program that is helping the economy grow, diversify, and attract foreign investment. Mali's adherence to economic reform and the 50% devaluation of the African franc in January 1994 have pushed up economic growth to a sturdy 5% average in 1996-2004. Worker remittances and external trade routes have been jeopardized by continued unrest in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$11 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $900 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 45%
industry: 17%
services: 38% (2001 est.)

Labor force:

3.93 million (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture and fishing 80% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate:

14.6% urban areas; 5.3% rural areas (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:

64% average; 30% of the total population living in urban areas; 70% of the total population living in rural areas) (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 40.4% (1994)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

50.5 (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.5% (2002 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $764 million
expenditures: $828 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2002 est.)

Agriculture - products:

cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; cattle, sheep, goats

Industries:

food processing; construction; phosphate and gold mining

Industrial production growth rate:

NA (FY96/97)

Electricity - production:

700 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 41.7%
hydro: 58.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

651 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh; note - recent hydropower developments may be providing electricity to Senegal and Mauritania (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

4,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$915 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:

cotton, gold, livestock

Exports - partners:

China 31.6%, Pakistan 10%, Italy 6.9%, Thailand 5.8%, Germany 5.1%, India 4.8%, Bangladesh 4.5%, Taiwan 4% (2004)

Imports:

$927 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum, machinery and equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners:

France 14.5%, Senegal 9.8%, Cote d'Ivoire 7.6% (2004)

Debt - external:

$3.3 billion (2000)

Economic aid - recipient:

$596.4 million (2001)

Currency (code):

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States

Currency code:

XOF

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Mali

Telephones - main lines in use:

56,600 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

250,000 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: domestic system unreliable but improving; provides only minimal service
domestic: network consists of microwave radio relay, open-wire, and radiotelephone communications stations; expansion of microwave radio relay in progress
international: country code - 223; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 28, shortwave 1
note: the shortwave station in Bamako has seven frequencies and five transmitters and relays broadcasts for China Radio International (2001)

Radios:

570,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (plus repeaters) (2001)

Televisions:

45,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ml

Internet hosts:

187 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

13 (2001)

Internet users:

25,000 (2002)

Transportation

Mali

Railways:

total: 729 km
narrow gauge: 729 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 15,100 km
paved: 1,827 km
unpaved: 13,273 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

1,815 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Koulikoro

Airports:

28 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 19
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 8 (2004 est.)

Military

Mali

Military branches:

Army, Air Force, National Guard

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,206,728 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,231,930 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$22.4 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.4% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Mali

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Monaco

Introduction

Monaco

Background:

Economic development was spurred in the late 19th century with a railroad linkup to France and the opening of a casino. Since then, the principality's mild climate, splendid scenery, and gambling facilities have made Monaco world famous as a tourist and recreation center.

Geography

Monaco

Location:

Western Europe, bordering the Mediterranean Sea on the southern coast of France, near the border with Italy

Geographic coordinates:

43 44 N, 7 24 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 1.95 sq km
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 nm

Climate:

Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and hot, dry summers

Terrain:

hilly, rugged, rocky

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mont Agel 140 m

Natural resources:

none

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (urban area) (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

NA

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography - note:

second-smallest independent state in the world (after Holy See); almost entirely urban

People

Monaco

Population:

32,409 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 15.5% (male 2,563/female 2,445)
15-64 years: 62.1% (male 9,909/female 10,217)
65 years and over: 22.4% (male 2,972/female 4,303) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 45.25 years
male: 43.27 years
female: 47.19 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.43% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

9.26 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

12.71 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

7.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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 (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.43 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.29 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.57 years
male: 75.7 years
female: 83.63 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.76 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Monegasque(s) or Monacan(s)
adjective: Monegasque or Monacan

Ethnic groups:

French 47%, Monegasque 16%, Italian 16%, other 21%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 90%

Languages:

French (official), English, Italian, Monegasque

Literacy:

definition: NA
total population: 99%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Monaco

Country name:

conventional long form: Principality of Monaco
conventional short form: Monaco
local long form: Principaute de Monaco
local short form: Monaco

Government type:

constitutional monarchy

Capital:

Monaco

Administrative divisions:

none; there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are four quarters (quartiers, singular - quartier); Fontvieille, La Condamine, Monaco-Ville, Monte-Carlo

Independence:

1419 (beginning of the rule by the House of Grimaldi)

National holiday:

National Day (Prince of Monaco Holiday), 19 November

Constitution:

17 December 1962

Legal system:

based on French law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Prince ALBERT II (since 6 April 2005)
head of government: Minister of State Jean-Paul PROUST (since 1 June 2005)
cabinet: Council of Government is under the authority of the monarch
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; minister of state appointed by the monarch from a list of three French national candidates presented by the French Government

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Council or Conseil National (24 seats; 16 members elected by list majority system, 8 by proportional representation; to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 9 February 2003 (next to be held February 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UNAM 21, UND 3

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Tribunal Supreme (judges appointed by the monarch on the basis of nominations by the National Council)

Political parties and leaders:

National and Democratic Union or UND [Jean-Louis CAMPORA]; Union for Monaco or UPM (including National Union for the Future of Monaco or UNAM) [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT, CE, FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

Monaco does not have an embassy in the US
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Consul General in Marseille (France) is accredited to Monaco

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; similar to the flag of Indonesia which is longer and the flag of Poland which is white (top) and red

Economy

Monaco

Economy - overview:

Monaco, bordering France on the Mediterranean coast, is a popular resort, attracting tourists to its casino and pleasant climate. In 2001, a major construction project extended the pier used by cruise ships in the main harbor. The principality has successfully sought to diversify into services and small, high-value-added, nonpolluting industries. The state has no income tax and low business taxes and thrives as a tax haven both for individuals who have established residence and for foreign companies that have set up businesses and offices. The state retains monopolies in a number of sectors, including tobacco, the telephone network, and the postal service. Living standards are high, roughly comparable to those in prosperous French metropolitan areas. Monaco does not publish national income figures; the estimates below are extremely rough.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$870 million (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

0.9% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $27,000 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 17%
industry: NA%
services: NA% (2001 est.)

Labor force:

30,540 (January 1994)

Unemployment rate:

22% (1999)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.9% (2000)

Budget:

revenues: $518 million
expenditures: $531 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1995)

Agriculture - products:

none

Industries:

tourism, construction, small-scale industrial and consumer products

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - consumption:

NA kWh

Electricity - imports:

NA kWh
note: electricity supplied by France

Exports:

$NA; full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France

Imports:

$NA; full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market system through customs union with France

Debt - external:

$18 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

NA

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)

Currency code:

EUR

Exchange rates:

euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Monaco

Telephones - main lines in use:

33,700 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

19,300 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern automatic telephone system
domestic: NA
international: country code - 377; no satellite earth stations; connected by cable into the French communications system

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM NA, shortwave 8 (1998)

Radios:

34,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

5 (1998)

Televisions:

25,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.mc

Internet hosts:

533 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

16,000 (2002)

Transportation

Monaco

Highways:

total: 50 km
paved: 50 km
unpaved: 0 km (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors:

Monaco

Merchant marine:

registered in other countries: 54 (2005)

Airports:

none; linked to the airport at Nice, France by helicopter service (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (shuttle service between the international airport at Nice, France, and Monaco's heliport at Fontvieille) (2004 est.)

Military

Monaco

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France; the Palace Guard performs ceremonial duties (2003)

Transnational Issues

Monaco

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Morocco

Introduction

Morocco

Background:

In 788, about a century after the Arab conquest of North Africa, successive Moorish dynasties began to rule in Morocco. In the 16th century, the Sa'adi monarchy, particularly under Ahmad AL-MANSUR (1578-1603), repelled foreign invaders and inaugurated a golden age. In 1860, Spain occupied northern Morocco and ushered in a half century of trade rivalry among European powers that saw Morocco's sovereignty steadily eroded; in 1912, the French imposed a protectorate over the country. A protracted independence struggle with France ended successfully in 1956. The internationalized city of Tangier and most Spanish possessions were turned over to the new country that same year. Morocco virtually annexed Western Sahara during the late 1970s, but final resolution on the status of the territory remains unresolved. Gradual political reforms in the 1990s resulted in the establishment of a bicameral legislature in 1997. Parliamentary elections were held for the second time in September 2002 and municipal elections were held in September 2003.

Geography

Morocco

Location:

Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Western Sahara

Geographic coordinates:

32 00 N, 5 00 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 446,550 sq km
land: 446,300 sq km
water: 250 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than California

Land boundaries:

total: 2,017.9 km
border countries: Algeria 1,559 km, Western Sahara 443 km, Spain (Ceuta) 6.3 km, Spain (Melilla) 9.6 km

Coastline:

1,835 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

Mediterranean, becoming more extreme in the interior

Terrain:

northern coast and interior are mountainous with large areas of bordering plateaus, intermontane valleys, and rich coastal plains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Sebkha Tah -55 m
highest point: Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m

Natural resources:

phosphates, iron ore, manganese, lead, zinc, fish, salt

Land use:

arable land: 19.61%
permanent crops: 2.17%
other: 78.22% (2001)

Irrigated land:

12,910 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to earthquakes; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting from farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of vegetation); water supplies contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of reservoirs; oil pollution of coastal waters

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

strategic location along Strait of Gibraltar

People

Morocco

Population:

32,725,847 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 32.1% (male 5,349,247/female 5,150,497)
15-64 years: 63% (male 10,259,808/female 10,346,608)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 708,921/female 910,766) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 23.61 years
male: 23.11 years
female: 24.13 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.57% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

22.29 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

5.64 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 41.62 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 45.42 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 37.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.66 years
male: 68.35 years
female: 73.07 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.73 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

15,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, and hepatitis A
vectorborne diseases: may be a significant risk in some locations during the transmission season (typically April through November) (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Moroccan(s)
adjective: Moroccan

Ethnic groups:

Arab-Berber 99.1%, other 0.7%, Jewish 0.2%

Religions:

Muslim 98.7%, Christian 1.1%, Jewish 0.2%

Languages:

Arabic (official), Berber dialects, French often the language of business, government, and diplomacy

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 51.7%
male: 64.1%
female: 39.4% (2003 est.)

Government

Morocco

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Morocco
conventional short form: Morocco
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Maghribiyah
local short form: Al Maghrib

Government type:

constitutional monarchy

Capital:

Rabat

Administrative divisions:

14 regions: Grand Casablanca, Chaouia-Ouardigha, Doukkala-Abda, Fes-Boulemane, Gharb-Chrarda-Beni Hssen, Guelmim-Es Smara, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, Meknes-Tafilalet, Oriental, Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaer, Souss-Massa-Draa, Tadla-Azilal, Tanger-Tetouan, Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate
note: Morocco claims the territory of Western Sahara, the political status of which is considered undetermined by the United States Government; one additional region, Oued Eddahab-Lagouira, falls entirely within Western Sahara; another region, Laayoune-Boujdour-Sahia El Hamra, falls mostly within Western Sahara; a small portion of this region, in the southwestern part of the country, falls within Moroccan-administered territory as recognized by the United States; the province of Guelmim-Es Smara lies in both entities

Independence:

2 March 1956 (from France)

National holiday:

Throne Day (accession of King MOHAMED VI to the throne), 30 July (1999)

Constitution:

10 March 1972; revised 4 September 1992, amended (to create bicameral legislature) September 1996

Legal system:

based on Islamic law and French and Spanish civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Chamber of Supreme Court

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal (as of January 2003)

Executive branch:

chief of state: King MOHAMED VI (since 30 July 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Driss JETTOU (since 9 October 2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch following legislative elections

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of an upper house or Chamber of Counselors (270 seats; members elected indirectly by local councils, professional organizations, and labor syndicates for nine-year terms; one-third of the members are renewed every three years) and a lower house or Chamber of Representatives (325 seats; 295 by multi-seat constituencies and 30 from national lists of women; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Counselors - last held 6 October 2003 (next to be held NA 2006); Chamber of Representatives - last held 27 September 2002 (next to be held NA 2007)
election results: Chamber of Counselors - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RNI 42, MDS 33, UC 28, MP 27, PND 21, PI 21, USFP 16, MNP 15, PA 13, FFD 12, other 42; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - USFP 50, PI 48, PJD 42, RNI 41, MP 27, MNP 18, UC 16, PND 12, PPS 11, UD 10, other 50

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are appointed on the recommendation of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, presided over by the monarch)

Political parties and leaders:

Action Party or PA [Muhammad EL IDRISSI]; Alliance of Liberties or ADL [Ali BELHAJ]; Annahj Addimocrati or Annahj [Abdellah EL HARIF]; Avant Garde Social Democratic Party or PADS [Ahmed BENJELLOUN]; Citizen Forces or FC [Abderrahman LAHJOUJI]; Citizen's Initiatives for Development [Mohamed BENHAMOU]; Constitutional Union or UC [Mohamed ABIED (interim)]; Democratic and Independence Party or PDI [Abdelwahed MAACH]; Democratic and Social Movement or MDS [Mahmoud ARCHANE]; Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [Aissa OUARDIGHI]; Democratic Union or UD [Bouazza IKKEN]; Environment and Development Party or PED [Ahmed EL ALAMI]; Front of Democratic Forces or FFD [Thami EL KHYARI]; Istiqlal Party (Independence Party) or PI [Abbas El FASSI]; Justice and Development Party or PJD [Saad Eddine OTHMANI]; Moroccan Liberal Party or PML [Mohamed ZIANE]; National Democratic Party or PND [Abdallah KADIRI]; National Ittihadi Congress Party or CNI [Abdelmajid BOUZOUBAA]; National Popular Movement or MNP [Mahjoubi AHERDANE]; National Rally of Independents or RNI [Ahmed OSMAN]; National Union of Popular Forces or UNFP [Abdellah IBRAHIM]; Parti Al Ahd or Al Ahd [Najib EL OUAZZANI, chairman]; Party of Progress and Socialism or PPS [Ismail ALAOUI]; Party of Renewal and Equity or PRE [Chakir ACHABAR]; Party of the Unified Socialist Left or GSU [Mohamed Ben Said AIT IDDER]; Popular Movement or MP [Mohamed LAENSER]; Reform and Development Party or PRD [Abderrahmane EL KOUHEN]; Social Center Party or PSC [Lahcen MADIH]; Socialist Union of Popular Forces or USFP [Mohammed El-YAZGHI]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Democratic Confederation of Labor or CDT [Noubir AMAOUI]; General Union of Moroccan Workers or UGTM [Abderrazzak AFILAL]; Moroccan Employers Association or CGEM [Hassan CHAMI]; National Labor Union of Morocco or UNMT [Abdelslam MAATI]; Union of Moroccan Workers or UMT [Mahjoub BENSEDDIK]

International organization participation:

ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, EBRD, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Aziz MEKOUAR
chancery: 1601 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 462-7979 through 7982
FAX: [1] (202) 265-0161
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas T. RILEY
embassy: 2 Avenue de Mohamed El Fassi, Rabat
mailing address: PSC 74, Box 021, APO AE 09718
telephone: [212] (37) 76 22 65
FAX: [212] (37) 76 56 61
consulate(s) general: Casablanca

Flag description:

red with a green pentacle (five-pointed, linear star) known as Sulayman's (Solomon's) seal in the center of the flag; red and green are traditional colors in Arab flags, although the use of red is more commonly associated with the Arab states of the Persian gulf; design dates to 1912

Economy

Morocco

Economy - overview:

Morocco faces problems typical for developing countries: restraining government spending, reducing constraints on private activity and foreign trade, and achieving sustainable growth. Despite structural adjustment programs supported by the IMF, the World Bank, and the Paris Club, the dirham is only fully convertible for current account transactions. In 2004 Moroccan authorities instituted measures to boost foreign direct investment and trade by signing a free trade agreement with the US and selling government shares in the state telecommunications company and in the largest state-owned bank. Favorable rainfall over the past two years has boosted agricultural output and GDP growth passed 4% in 2004. In 2005 the budget deficit is expected to rise sharply - from 1.9% of GDP in 2004 - because of substantial increases in wages and oil subsidies. Long-term challenges include preparing the economy for freer trade with the US and European Union, improving education and job prospects for Morocco's youth, and raising living standards.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$134.6 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.4% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $4,200 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 21.2%
industry: 35.8%
services: 43% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

11.02 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 40%, industry 15%, services 45% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:

12.1% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

19% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 30.9% (1998-99)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

39.5 (1998-99)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.1% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

22.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $12.86 billion
expenditures: $15.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.19 billion (2004 est.)

Public debt:

70.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

barley, wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables, olives; livestock

Industries:

phosphate rock mining and processing, food processing, leather goods, textiles, construction, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

13.91 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 95.4%
hydro: 4.6%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

14.24 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

1.3 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

1,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

167,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

300 million bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

50 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

50 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

665.4 million cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$765.4 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$9.754 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

clothing, fish, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals, fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, fruits, vegetables

Exports - partners:

France 33.6%, Spain 17.4%, UK 7.7%, Italy 4.7%, US 4.1% (2004)

Imports:

$15.63 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment, wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics

Imports - partners:

France 18.2%, Spain 12.1%, Italy 6.6%, Germany 6%, Russia 5.7%, Saudi Arabia 5.4%, China 4.2%, US 4.1% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$15.14 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$17.07 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA $218 million (2002)

Currency (code):

Moroccan dirham (MAD)

Currency code:

MAD

Exchange rates:

Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 8.868 (2004), 9.574 (2003), 11.021 (2002), 11.303 (2001), 10.626 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Morocco

Telephones - main lines in use:

1,219,200 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

7,332,800 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system with all important capabilities; however, density is low with only 4.6 main lines available for each 100 persons
domestic: good system composed of open-wire lines, cables, and microwave radio relay links; Internet available but expensive; principal switching centers are Casablanca and Rabat; national network nearly 100% digital using fiber-optic links; improved rural service employs microwave radio relay
international: country code - 212; 7 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Gibraltar, Spain, and Western Sahara; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria; participant in Medarabtel; fiber-optic cable link from Agadir to Algeria and Tunisia (1998)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 27, FM 25, shortwave 6 (1998)

Radios:

6.64 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

35 (plus 66 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

3.1 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.ma

Internet hosts:

3,627 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

8 (2000)

Internet users:

800,000 (2003)

Transportation

Morocco

Railways:

total: 1,907 km
standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,003 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 57,694 km
paved: 32,551 km (including 481 km of expressways)
unpaved: 25,143 km (2002)

Pipelines:

gas 695 km; oil 285 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Agadir, Casablanca, Mohammedia, Nador, Safi, Tangier

Merchant marine:

total: 41 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 236,131 GRT/252,367 DWT
by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 6, container 8, passenger/cargo 13, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned: 6 (France 1, Germany 2, Switzerland 2, United Kingdom 1) (2005)

Airports:

63 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 25
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 38
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

Morocco

Military branches:

Royal Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force (Force Aerienne Royale Marocaine)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 7,908,864 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 6,484,787 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 353,377 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$2,305.6 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

5% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Morocco

Disputes - international:

claims and administers Western Sahara whose sovereignty remains unresolved - UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since September 1991, but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and parties thus far have rejected all brokered proposals; Morocco protests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, the islands of Penon de Alhucemas and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters; discussions have not progressed on a comprehensive maritime delimitation setting limits on exploration and refugee interdiction since Morocco's 2002 rejection of Spain's unilateral designation of a median line from the Canary Islands; Morocco serves as one of the primary launching areas of illegal migration into Spain from North Africa

Illicit drugs:

illicit producer of hashish; shipments of hashish mostly directed to Western Europe; transit point for cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Mauritius

Introduction

Mauritius

Background:

Discovered by the Portuguese in 1505, Mauritius was subsequently held by the Dutch, French, and British before independence was attained in 1968. A stable democracy with regular free elections and a positive human rights record, the country has attracted considerable foreign investment and has earned one of Africa's highest per capita incomes. Recent poor weather and declining sugar prices have slowed economic growth, leading to some protests over standards of living in the Creole community.

Geography

Mauritius

Location:

Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar

Geographic coordinates:

20 17 S, 57 33 E

Map references:

Political Map of the World

Area:

total: 2,040 sq km
land: 2,030 sq km
water: 10 sq km
note: includes Agalega Islands, Cargados Carajos Shoals (Saint Brandon), and Rodrigues

Area - comparative:

almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

177 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical, modified by southeast trade winds; warm, dry winter (May to November); hot, wet, humid summer (November to May)

Terrain:

small coastal plain rising to discontinuous mountains encircling central plateau

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Piton 828 m

Natural resources:

arable land, fish

Land use:

arable land: 49.26%
permanent crops: 2.96%
other: 47.78% (2001)

Irrigated land:

200 sq km (2000 est.)

Natural hazards:

cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded by reefs that may pose maritime hazards

Environment - current issues:

water pollution, degradation of coral reefs

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the main island, from which the country derives its name, is of volcanic origin and is almost entirely surrounded by coral reefs

People

Mauritius

Population:

1,230,602 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 24.4% (male 151,043/female 148,847)
15-64 years: 69.1% (male 424,472/female 425,974)
65 years and over: 6.5% (male 31,506/female 48,760) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 30.5 years
male: 29.65 years
female: 31.46 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.84% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

15.62 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.83 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.41 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 15.03 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 17.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.38 years
male: 68.4 years
female: 76.41 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.96 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

700 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 100 (2001 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Mauritian(s)
adjective: Mauritian

Ethnic groups:

Indo-Mauritian 68%, Creole 27%, Sino-Mauritian 3%, Franco-Mauritian 2%

Religions:

Hindu 48%, Roman Catholic 23.6%, other Christian 8.6%, Muslim 16.6%, other 2.5%, unspecified 0.3%, none 0.4% (2000 census)

Languages:

Creole 80.5%, Bhojpuri 12.1%, French 3.4% (official), other 3.7%, unspecified 0.3% (2000 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 85.6%
male: 88.6%
female: 82.7% (2003 est.)

Government

Mauritius

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Mauritius
conventional short form: Mauritius

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Port Louis

Administrative divisions:

9 districts and 3 dependencies*; Agalega Islands*, Black River, Cargados Carajos Shoals*, Flacq, Grand Port, Moka, Pamplemousses, Plaines Wilhems, Port Louis, Riviere du Rempart, Rodrigues*, Savanne

Independence:

12 March 1968 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 12 March (1968)

Constitution:

12 March 1968; amended 12 March 1992

Legal system:

based on French civil law system with elements of English common law in certain areas

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 7 October 2003) and Vice President Abdool Raouf BUNDHUN (since 25 February 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Paul BERENGER (since 30 September 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly for five-year terms; election last held 25 February 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the president, responsible to the National Assembly
election results: Karl OFFMANN elected president and Raouf BUNDHUN elected vice president; percent of vote by the National Assembly - NA%; note - Karl OFFMANN stepped down on 30 September 2003

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly (66 seats; 62 elected by popular vote, 4 appointed by the election commission from the losing political parties to give representation to various ethnic minorities; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 11 September 2000 (next to be held September 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - MSM/MMM 52.3%, MLP/PMSD 36.9%, OPR 10.8%; seats by party - MSM/MMM 54, MLP/PMSD 6, OPR 2

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

Hizbullah [Cehl Mohamed FAKEEMEEAH]; Mauritian Labor Party or MLP [Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM]; Mauritian Militant Movement or MMM [Paul BERENGER] - in coalition with MSM; Mauritian Social Democrat Party or PMSD [Charles Xavier-Luc DUVAL]; Militant Socialist Movement or MSM [Pravind JUGNAUTH] - governing party; Rodrigues Movement or MR [Joseph (Nicholas) Von MALLY]; Rodrigues Peoples Organization or OPR [Serge CLAIR]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

various labor unions

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Usha JEETAH
chancery: 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 441, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 244-1491, 1492
FAX: [1] (202) 966-0983

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador John PRICE
embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis
mailing address: international mail: P. O. Box 544, Port Louis; US mail: American Embassy, Port Louis, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2450
telephone: [230] 202-4400
FAX: [230] 208-9534

Flag description:

four equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, yellow, and green

Economy

Mauritius

Economy - overview:

Since independence in 1968, Mauritius has developed from a low-income, agriculturally based economy to a middle-income diversified economy with growing industrial, financial, and tourist sectors. For most of the period, annual growth has been in the order of 5% to 6%. This remarkable achievement has been reflected in more equitable income distribution, increased life expectancy, lowered infant mortality, and a much-improved infrastructure. Sugarcane is grown on about 90% of the cultivated land area and accounts for 25% of export earnings. The government's development strategy centers on expanding local financial institutions and building a domestic information telecommunications industry. Mauritius has attracted more than 9,000 offshore entities, many aimed at commerce in India and South Africa, and investment in the banking sector alone has reached over $1 billion. Mauritius, with its strong textile sector, has been well poised to take advantage of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$15.68 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.7% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $12,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 7.6%
industry: 30%
services: 62.4% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

560,000 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture and fishing 14%, construction and industry 36%, transportation and communication 7%, trade, restaurants, hotels 16%, finance 3%, other services 24% (1995)

Unemployment rate:

10.8% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

10% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

37 (1987 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.5% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

22.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.231 billion
expenditures: $1.582 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

29.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

sugarcane, tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses; cattle, goats; fish

Industries:

food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, clothing; chemicals, metal products, transport equipment, nonelectrical machinery; tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

8% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:

1.836 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 90.8%
hydro: 9.2%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

1.707 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

21,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$284.1 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$2.012 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses

Exports - partners:

UK 33.1%, France 20.4%, US 14.8%, Madagascar 5.1%, Italy 4.1% (2004)

Imports:

$2.245 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

manufactured goods, capital equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals

Imports - partners:

South Africa 11.3%, China 9.4%, India 9.3%, France 9.2%, Bahrain 5.3%, Japan 4.1% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.676 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.78 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$42 million (1997)

Currency (code):

Mauritian rupee (MUR)

Currency code:

MUR

Exchange rates:

Mauritian rupees per US dollar - 27.499 (2004), 27.902 (2003), 29.962 (2002), 29.129 (2001), 26.25 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Communications

Mauritius

Telephones - main lines in use:

348,200 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

462,400 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: small system with good service
domestic: primarily microwave radio relay trunk system
international: country code - 230; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); new microwave link to Reunion; HF radiotelephone links to several countries; fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC/SAFE) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 4, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2002)

Radios:

420,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (plus several repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

258,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.mu

Internet hosts:

3,985 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

150,000 (2003)

Transportation

Mauritius

Highways:

total: 2,000 km
paved: 1,960 km (including 60 km of expressways)
unpaved: 40 km (2002)

Ports and harbors:

Port Louis

Merchant marine:

total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 22,946 GRT/27,102 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 4, passenger/cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 2
foreign-owned: 6 (India 4, Switzerland 2) (2005)

Airports:

6 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Military

Mauritius

Military branches:

National Police Force (includes the paramilitary Special Mobile Force or SMF and National Coast Guard)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 313,271 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 248,659 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$12.5 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.2% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Mauritius

Disputes - international:

Mauritius claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory), and its former inhabitants, who reside chiefly in Mauritius, were granted UK citizenship but no right to patriation in the UK; claims French-administered Tromelin Island

Illicit drugs:

minor consumer and transshipment point for heroin from South Asia; small amounts of cannabis produced and consumed locally; significant offshore financial industry creates potential for money laundering, but corruption levels are relatively low and the government appears generally to be committed to regulating its banking industry

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Midway Islands

Introduction

Midway Islands

Background:

The US took formal possession of the islands in 1867. The laying of the trans-Pacific cable, which passed through the islands, brought the first residents in 1903. Between 1935 and 1947, Midway was used as a refueling stop for trans-Pacific flights. The US naval victory over a Japanese fleet off Midway in 1942 was one of the turning points of World War II. The islands continued to serve as a naval station until closed in 1993. Today the islands are a national wildlife refuge. From 1996 to 2001 the refuge was open to the public; it is now temporarily closed.

Geography

Midway Islands

Location:

Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo

Geographic coordinates:

28 13 N, 177 22 W

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 6.2 sq km
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:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

subtropical; moderated by prevailing easterly winds

Terrain:

low, nearly level

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 13 m

Natural resources:

wildlife, terrestrial and aquatic

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

a coral atoll managed as a national wildlife refuge and open to the public for wildlife-related recreation in the form of wildlife observation and photography, sport fishing, snorkeling, and scuba diving; the refuge is temporarily closed for reorganization at present (2004)

People

Midway Islands

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants; approximately 40 people make up the staff of US Fish and Wildlife Service and their services contractor living at the atoll (July 2005 est.)

Government

Midway Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Midway Islands

Dependency status:

unincorporated territory of the US; formerly administered from Washington, DC, by the US Navy; on 31 October 1996, through a presidential executive order, the jurisdiction and control of the atoll was transferred to the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge system

Legal system:

the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

Flag description:

the flag of the US is used

Economy

Midway Islands

Economy - overview:

The economy is based on providing support services for the national wildlife refuge activities located on the islands. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.

Transportation

Midway Islands

Highways:

total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km

Ports and harbors:

Sand Island

Airports:

3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Transportation - note:

airfield serves as an emergency landing site for commercial aircraft crossing the Pacific Ocean

Military

Midway Islands

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues

Midway Islands

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Mauritania

Introduction

Mauritania

Background:

Independent from France in 1960, Mauritania annexed the southern third of the former Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara) in 1976, but relinquished it after three years of raids by the Polisario guerrilla front seeking independence for the territory. Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA siezed power in a coup in 1984. Opposition parties were legalized and a new constitution approved in 1991. Two multiparty presidential elections since then were widely seen as flawed, but October 2001 legislative and municipal elections were generally free and open. A bloodless coup in August 2005 deposed President TAYA and ushered in a military council headed by Col. Ely Ould Mohamed VALL, which declared it would remain in power for up to two years while it created conditions for genuine democratic institutions. For now, however, Mauritania remains, a one-party state. The country continues to experience ethnic tensions between its black population and the Maur (Arab-Berber) populace.

Geography

Mauritania

Location:

Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Senegal and Western Sahara

Geographic coordinates:

20 00 N, 12 00 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 1,030,700 sq km
land: 1,030,400 sq km
water: 300 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico

Land boundaries:

total: 5,074 km
border countries: Algeria 463 km, Mali 2,237 km, Senegal 813 km, Western Sahara 1,561 km

Coastline:

754 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

desert; constantly hot, dry, dusty

Terrain:

mostly barren, flat plains of the Sahara; some central hills

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m
highest point: Kediet Ijill 915 m

Natural resources:

iron ore, gypsum, copper, phosphate, diamonds, gold, oil, fish

Land use:

arable land: 0.48%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 99.51% (2001)

Irrigated land:

490 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in March and April; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated by drought are contributing to desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources away from the Senegal, which is the only perennial river; locust infestation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

most of the population concentrated in the cities of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou and along the Senegal River in the southern part of the country

People

Mauritania

Population:

3,086,859 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 45.8% (male 707,728/female 704,616)
15-64 years: 52% (male 792,589/female 813,763)
65 years and over: 2.2% (male 27,560/female 40,603) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 16.98 years
male: 16.71 years
female: 17.24 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.9% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

41.43 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

12.44 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 70.89 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 73.81 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 67.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 52.73 years
male: 50.52 years
female: 55 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.94 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.6% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

9,500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 500 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and Rift Valley fever are high risks in some locations
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Mauritanian(s)
adjective: Mauritanian

Ethnic groups:

mixed Maur/black 40%, Moor 30%, black 30%

Religions:

Muslim 100%

Languages:

Arabic (official), Pulaar, Soninke, French, Hassaniya, Wolof

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 41.7%
male: 51.8%
female: 31.9% (2003 est.)

Government

Mauritania

Country name:

conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Mauritania
conventional short form: Mauritania
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Islamiyah al Muritaniyah
local short form: Muritaniyah

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Nouakchott

Administrative divisions:

12 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1 capital district*; Adrar, Assaba, Brakna, Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Gorgol, Guidimaka, Hodh Ech Chargui, Hodh El Gharbi, Inchiri, Nouakchott*, Tagant, Tiris Zemmour, Trarza

Independence:

28 November 1960 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 28 November (1960)

Constitution:

12 July 1991

Legal system:

a combination of Shari'a (Islamic law) and French civil law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA (since 12 December 1984); note - President TAYA deposed in a coup by the Military Council for Justice and Democracy led by Col. Ely Ould Mohamed VALL on 3 August 2005
head of government: Prime Minister Sidi Mohamed Ould BOUBAKAR (since 8 August 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 7 November 2003 (next to be held NA 2009); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA reelected for a third term with 60.8% of the vote

Legislative branch:

bicameral legislature consists of the Senate or Majlis al-Shuyukh (56 seats, a part of the seats up for election every two years; members elected by municipal leaders to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly or Majlis al-Watani (81 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 9 and 16 April 2004 (next to be held April 2006); National Assembly - last held 19 and 26 October 2001 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - PRDS 79%, RDU 3.5%, UDP 3.5%, AC 5%, UFP 3.5%, FP 1.5%; seats by party - PRDS 64, UDP 3, RDU 3, AC 4, RFD 3, UFP 3, and FP 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower courts

Political parties and leaders:

Action for Change or AC [Messoud Ould BOULKHEIR]; Alliance for Justice and Democracy or AJD [Kebe ABDOULAYE]; Democratic and Social Republican Party or PRDS (ruling party) [President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA]; Mauritanian Party for Renewal and Concorde or PMRC [Molaye El Hassen Ould JIYID]; National Union for Democracy and Development or UNDD [Tidjane KOITA]; Party for Liberty, Equality and Justice or PLEJ [Daouda M'BAGNIGA]; Popular Front or FP [Ch'bih Ould CHEIKH MALAININE]; Popular Progress Alliance or APP [Messoud Ould BOULKHEIR]; Popular Social and Democratic Union or UPSD [Mohamed Mahmoud Ould MAH]; Progress Force Union or UFP [Mohamed Ould MAOULOUD]; Rally of Democratic Forces or RFD [Ahmed Ould DADDAH]; Rally for Democracy and Unity or RDU [Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA]; Union for Democracy and Progress or UDP [Naha Mint MOUKNASS]
note: the Action for Change party was banned in January 2002 although its members were permitted to keep their seats in the National Assembly; parties legalized by constitution ratified 12 July 1991, however, politics continue to be tribally based

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Arab nationalists; Ba'thists; General Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CGTM [Abdallahi Ould MOHAMED, secretary general]; Independent Confederation of Mauritanian Workers or CLTM [Samory Ould BEYE]; Islamists; Mauritanian Workers Union or UTM [Mohamed Ely Ould BRAHIM, secretary general]

International organization participation:

ABEDA, ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Tijani Ould KERIM
chancery: 2129 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-5700, 5701
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2623

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph E. LEBARON
embassy: 288 Rue Abdallaye (between Presidency building and Spanish Embassy), Nouakchott
mailing address: BP 222, Nouakchott
telephone: [222] 525-2660/525-2663
FAX: [222] 25-25-92

Flag description:

green with a yellow five-pointed star above a yellow, horizontal crescent; the closed side of the crescent is down; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam

Economy

Mauritania

Economy - overview:

Half the population still depends on agriculture and livestock for a livelihood, even though many of the nomads and subsistence farmers were forced into the cities by recurrent droughts in the 1970s and 1980s. Mauritania has extensive deposits of iron ore, which account for nearly 40% of total exports. The decline in world demand for this ore, however, has led to cutbacks in production. The nation's coastal waters are among the richest fishing areas in the world, but overexploitation by foreigners threatens this key source of revenue. The country's first deepwater port opened near Nouakchott in 1986. In the past, drought and economic mismanagement resulted in a buildup of foreign debt. In February 2000, Mauritania qualified for debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative and in December 2001 received strong support from donor and lending countries at a triennial Consultative Group review. In 2001, exploratory oil wells in tracts 80 km offshore indicated potential extraction at current world oil prices. A new investment code approved in December 2001 improved the opportunities for direct foreign investment. Ongoing negotiations with the IMF involve problems of economic reforms and fiscal discipline. Substantial oil production and exports probably will not begin until 2006. Meantime the government emphasizes reduction of poverty, improvement of health and education, and promoting privatization of the economy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$5.534 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 25%
industry: 29%
services: 46% (2001 est.)

Labor force:

786,000 (2001)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 50%, industry 10%, services 40% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate:

20% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

40% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 30.2% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

37.3 (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7% (2003 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $421 million
expenditures: $378 million, including capital expenditures of $154 million (2002 est.)

Agriculture - products:

dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn, dates; cattle, sheep

Industries:

fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum

Industrial production growth rate:

2% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:

190.2 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 85.9%
hydro: 14.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

176.9 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

24,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$541 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities:

iron ore, fish and fish products, gold

Exports - partners:

Japan 13.1%, France 11%, Spain 9.7%, Germany 9.7%, Italy 9.6%, Belgium 7.5%, China 6.1%, Russia 4.6%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.1% (2004)

Imports:

$860 million f.o.b. (2002)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods

Imports - partners:

France 14.1%, US 7.6%, China 6.4%, Spain 5.8%, UK 4.6%, Germany 4.3%, Belgium 4.2% (2004)

Debt - external:

$2.5 billion (2000)

Economic aid - recipient:

$220 million (2000)

Currency (code):

ouguiya (MRO)

Currency code:

MRO

Exchange rates:

ouguiyas per US dollar - NA(2004), 263.03 (2003), 271.74 (2002), 255.63 (2001), 238.92 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Mauritania

Telephones - main lines in use:

31,500 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

300,000 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: limited system of cable and open-wire lines, minor microwave radio relay links, and radiotelephone communications stations (improvements being made)
domestic: mostly cable and open-wire lines; a recently completed domestic satellite telecommunications system links Nouakchott with regional capitals
international: country code - 222; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 2 Arabsat

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios:

410,000 (2001)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2002)

Televisions:

98,000 (2001)

Internet country code:

.mr

Internet hosts:

25 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2001)

Internet users:

10,000 (2002)

Transportation

Mauritania

Railways:

717 km
standard gauge: 717 km 1.435-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 7,660 km
paved: 866 km
unpaved: 6,794 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

some ferry traffic on Senegal River (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Nouadhibou, Nouakchott

Airports:

24 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 16
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Mauritania

Military branches:

Mauritanian Armed Forces: Army, Navy (Marine Mauritanienne; includes Naval Infantry), Air Force (Force Aerienne Islamique de Mauritanie, FAIM) (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.); conscript service obligation - 2 years; majority of servicemen believed to be volunteers; service in Air Force and Navy is voluntary (April 2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 606,463 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 370,513 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$20.8 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.7% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Mauritania

Disputes - international:

Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara have been dormant in recent years

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Malta

Introduction

Malta

Background:

Great Britain formally acquired possession of Malta in 1814. The island staunchly supported the UK through both World Wars and remained in the Commonwealth when it became independent in 1964. A decade later Malta became a republic. Since about the mid-1980s, the island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a financial center, and a tourist destination. Malta became an EU member in May of 2004.

Geography

Malta

Location:

Southern Europe, islands in the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily (Italy)

Geographic coordinates:

35 50 N, 14 35 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 316 sq km
land: 316 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

196.8 km (does not include 56.01 km for the island of Gozo)

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 25 nm

Climate:

Mediterranean with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers

Terrain:

mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)

Natural resources:

limestone, salt, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 28.13%
permanent crops: 3.13%
other: 68.74% (2001)

Irrigated land:

20 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing reliance on desalination

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the country comprises an archipelago, with only the three largest islands (Malta, Ghawdex or Gozo, and Kemmuna or Comino) being inhabited; numerous bays provide good harbors; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration

People

Malta

Population:

398,534 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 17.6% (male 36,056/female 34,097)
15-64 years: 68.8% (male 138,537/female 135,666)
65 years and over: 13.6% (male 23,184/female 30,994) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 38.36 years
male: 36.91 years
female: 39.84 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.42% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

10.17 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

8 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 3.89 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.38 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.86 years
male: 76.7 years
female: 81.15 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.5 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

less than 500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Maltese (singular and plural)
adjective: Maltese

Ethnic groups:

Maltese (descendants of ancient Carthaginians and Phoenicians, with strong elements of Italian and other Mediterranean stock)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 98%

Languages:

Maltese (official), English (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 92.8%
male: 92%
female: 93.6% (2003 est.)

Government

Malta

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Malta
conventional short form: Malta
local long form: Repubblika ta' Malta
local short form: Malta

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Valletta

Administrative divisions:

none (administered directly from Valletta); note - Local Councils carry out administrative orders

Independence:

21 September 1964 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 21 September (1964)

Constitution:

1964 constitution; amended many times

Legal system:

based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Eddie FENECH ADAMI (since 4 April 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Lawrence GONZI (since 23 March 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
elections: president elected by the House of Representatives for a five-year term; election last held 29 March 2004 (next to be held by April 2009); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president for a five-year term; the deputy prime minister is appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
election results: Eddie FENECH ADAMI elected president; percent of House of Representatives vote - 33 out of 65 votes

Legislative branch:

unicameral House of Representatives (usually 65 seats; note - additional seats are given to the party with the largest popular vote to ensure a legislative majority; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 12 April 2003 (next to be held by April 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - PN 51.7%, MLP 47.6%, AD 0.7%; seats by party - PN 34, MLP 31

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court; Court of Appeal; judges for both courts are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

Political parties and leaders:

Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD [Harry VASSALLO]; Malta Labor Party or MLP [Alfred SANT]; Nationalist Party or PN [Lawrence GONZI]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

Australia Group, C, CE, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (observer affiliate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador John LOWELL
chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-3611, 3612
FAX: [1] (202) 387-5470
consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires William GRANT
embassy: 3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Malta VLT 01
mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta, Malta, CMR01
telephone: [356] 2561 4000
FAX: [356] 21 243229

Flag description:

two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in the upper hoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross, edged in red

Economy

Malta

Economy - overview:

Major resources are limestone, a favorable geographic location, and a productive labor force. Malta produces only about 20% of its food needs, has limited fresh water supplies, and has no domestic energy sources. The economy is dependent on foreign trade, manufacturing (especially electronics and textiles), and tourism. Continued sluggishness in the European economy is holding back exports, tourism, and overall growth.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$7.223 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $18,200 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3%
industry: 23%
services: 74% (2003 est.)

Labor force:

160,000 (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 5%, industry 24%, services 71% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:

7% (2003 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% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

26.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $2.27 billion
expenditures: $2.549 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes, citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs

Industries:

tourism; electronics, ship building and repair, construction; food and beverages, textiles, footwear, clothing, tobacco

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

2.15 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

2 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

20,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-241 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$2.625 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, manufactures

Exports - partners:

US 15.7%, France 15.5%, Singapore 14.5%, UK 11.2%, Germany 10.8% (2004)

Imports:

$3.407 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured and semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, and tobacco

Imports - partners:

Italy 25.4%, France 13.1%, UK 12%, Germany 8.9%, US 5.2%, Singapore 4.1% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.865 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$130 million (1997)

Economic aid - recipient:

NA

Currency (code):

Maltese lira (MTL)

Currency code:

MTL

Exchange rates:

Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.3444 (2004), 0.3773 (2003), 0.4337 (2002), 0.4501 (2001), 0.4382 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

Malta

Telephones - main lines in use:

208,300 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

290,000 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: automatic system satisfies normal requirements
domestic: submarine cable and microwave radio relay between islands
international: country code - 356; 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)

Radios:

255,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

6 (2000)

Televisions:

280,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.mt

Internet hosts:

7,156 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6 (2002)

Internet users:

120,000 (2002)

Transportation

Malta

Highways:

total: 2,222 km
paved: 2,000 km
unpaved: 222 km (2002)

Ports and harbors:

Marsaxlokk, Valletta

Merchant marine:

total: 1,140 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 25,102,401 GRT/41,176,791 DWT
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 438, cargo 303, chemical tanker 70, combination ore/oil 2, container 54, liquefied gas 8, livestock carrier 1, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 13, petroleum tanker 162, refrigerated cargo 43, roll on/roll off 26, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 13
foreign-owned: 1,080 (Austria 3, Azerbaijan 1, Bangladesh 3, Belgium 12, British 1, Bulgaria 18, Canada 9, China 15, Croatia 10, Cyprus 2, Czech Republic 2, Estonia 2, Finland 1, France 5, Germany 51, Greece 527, Hong Kong 1, Iceland 7, Iran 4, Israel 26, Italy 17, Japan 2, Latvia 30, Lebanon 6, Madagascar 1, Monaco 3, Netherlands 3, Norway 42, Pakistan 2, Poland 24, Portugal 4, Romania 5, Russia 64, Slovenia 3, South Korea 4, Sweden 3, Switzerland 32, Syria 6, Taiwan 1, Turkey 87, Ukraine 25, UAE 5, United Kingdom 8, United States 3)
registered in other countries: 3 (2005)

Airports:

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Malta

Military branches:

Armed Forces of Malta (AFM; includes air and maritime elements) (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 90,651 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 74,525 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$31.1 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.7% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Malta

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

minor transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Western Europe

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Oman

Introduction

Oman

Background:

In 1970, QABOOS bin Said Al Said ousted his father and has ruled as sultan ever since. His extensive modernization program has opened the country to the outside world and has preserved a long-standing political and military relationship with the UK. Oman's moderate, independent foreign policy has sought to maintain good relations with all Middle Eastern countries.

Geography

Oman

Location:

Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between Yemen and UAE

Geographic coordinates:

21 00 N, 57 00 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 212,460 sq km
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:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

dry desert; hot, humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer monsoon (May to September) in far south

Terrain:

central desert plain, rugged mountains in north and south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural gas

Land use:

arable land: 0.12%
permanent crops: 0.14%
other: 99.74% (2001)

Irrigated land:

620 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; very limited natural fresh water resources

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital transit point for world crude oil

People

Oman

Population:

3,001,583
note: includes 577,293 non-nationals (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 42.6% (male 652,028/female 626,698)
15-64 years: 54.9% (male 978,183/female 668,814)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 41,366/female 34,494) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 19.13 years
male: 21.88 years
female: 16.45 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.32% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

36.73 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

3.86 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.46 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.2 male(s)/female
total population: 1.26 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 19.51 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 22.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.13 years
male: 70.92 years
female: 75.46 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.84 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

1,300 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Omani(s)
adjective: Omani

Ethnic groups:

Arab, Baluchi, South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African

Religions:

Ibadhi Muslim 75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu

Languages:

Arabic (official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects

Literacy:

definition: NA
total population: 75.8%
male: 83.1%
female: 67.2% (2003 est.)

Government

Oman

Country name:

conventional long form: Sultanate of Oman
conventional short form: Oman
local long form: Saltanat Uman
local short form: Uman
former: Muscat and Oman

Government type:

monarchy

Capital:

Muscat

Administrative divisions:

5 regions (manaatiq, singular - mintaqat) and 3 governorates* (muhaafazaat, singular - muhaafaza) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat*, Musandam*, Zufar*

Independence:

1650 (expulsion of the Portuguese)

National holiday:

Birthday of Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940)

Constitution:

none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal decree promulgating a basic law considered by the government to be a constitution which, among other things, clarifies the royal succession, provides for a prime minister, bars ministers from holding interests in companies doing business with the government, establishes a bicameral legislature, and guarantees basic civil liberties for Omani citizens

Legal system:

based on English common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the monarch; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

in Oman's most recent Majlis al-Shura elections in 2003, suffrage was universal for all Omanis over age 21 except for members of the military and security forces; the next Majlis al-Shura elections are scheduled for 2007

Executive branch:

chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said al-Said (since 23 July 1970); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said al-Said (since 23 July 1970); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary

Legislative branch:

bicameral Majlis Oman consists of an upper chamber or Majlis al-Dawla (58 seats; members appointed by the monarch; has advisory powers only) and a lower chamber or Majlis al-Shura (83 seats; members elected by universal suffrage for four-year term; body has some limited power to propose legislation, but otherwise has only advisory powers)
elections: last held 4 October 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)
election results: NA

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court
note: the nascent civil court system, administered by region, has judges who practice secular and Sharia (Islamic) law

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Muhammad bin Ali bin Thani al-KHUSSAIBY
chancery: 2535 Belmont Road, NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 387-1980 through 1981, 1988
FAX: [1] (202) 745-4933

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Richard Lewis BALTIMORE III
embassy: Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat
mailing address: P. O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat Al-Sultan Qaboos, Muscat
telephone: [968] 24-698989
FAX: [968] 24-699771

Flag description:

three horizontal bands of white, red, and green of equal width with a broad, vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national emblem (a khanjar dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swords in scabbards) in white is centered near the top of the vertical band

Economy

Oman

Economy - overview:

Oman is a middle-income economy in the Middle East with notable oil and gas resources, a substantial trade surplus, and low inflation. The government is privatizing its utilities and diversifying its economy to attract foreign investment. Oman continues to liberalize its markets and joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in November 2000. To reduce unemployment and limit dependence on foreign countries, the government is encouraging the replacement of expatriate workers with local people, i.e., Omanization. Training in information technology, business management, and English support this objective. Industrial development plans focus on gas resources, metal manufacturing, petrochemicals, and international transshipment ports.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$38.09 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.2% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $13,100 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3.1%
industry: 41.1%
services: 55.8% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

920,000 (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA

Unemployment rate:

15% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

0.2% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

13.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $9.291 billion
expenditures: $8.747 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

10.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish

Industries:

crude oil production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas (LNG) production, construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals, optic fiber

Industrial production growth rate:

-1.2% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

9.896 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

9.792 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

775,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

54,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:

721,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

5.5 billion bbl (2003 est.)

Natural gas - production:

13.77 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

6.34 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

7.43 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

829.7 billion cu m (2003)

Current account balance:

$2.674 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$13.14 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles

Exports - partners:

China 29.5%, South Korea 17.5%, Japan 11.5%, Thailand 10.6%, UAE 7.2% (2004)

Imports:

$6.373 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants

Imports - partners:

UAE 21.2%, Japan 16.6%, UK 8.4%, Italy 6%, Germany 5.1%, US 4.7% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$4.144 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$4.814 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$76.4 million (1995)

Currency (code):

Omani rial (OMR)

Currency code:

OMR

Exchange rates:

Omani rials per US dollar - 0.3845 (2004), 0.3845 (2003), 0.3845 (2002), 0.3845 (2001), 0.3845 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Oman

Telephones - main lines in use:

233,900 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

464,900 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system consisting of open-wire, microwave, and radiotelephone communication stations; limited coaxial cable
domestic: open-wire, microwave, radiotelephone communications, and a domestic satellite system with 8 earth stations
international: country code - 968; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 3, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)

Radios:

1.4 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

13 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1999)

Televisions:

1.6 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.om

Internet hosts:

726 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

180,000 (2002)

Transportation

Oman

Highways:

total: 34,965 km
paved: 9,673 km (including 550 km of expressways)
unpaved: 25,292 km (2001)

Pipelines:

gas 3,754 km; oil 3,212 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Mina' Qabus, Salalah

Merchant marine:

total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 15,430 GRT/6,360 DWT
by type: passenger 1 (2005)

Airports:

136 (2004 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 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 130
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 52
914 to 1,523 m: 34
under 914 m: 35 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

Oman

Military branches:

Royal Omani Armed Forces: Royal Army of Oman, Royal Navy of Oman, Royal Air Force of Oman (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 719,871 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 581,444 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 26,391 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$252.99 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

11.4% (2003)

Transnational Issues

Oman

Disputes - international:

boundary agreement reportedly signed and ratified with UAE in 2003 for entire border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah exclave, but details have not been made public

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Maldives

Introduction

Maldives

Background:

The Maldives was long a sultanate, first under Dutch and then under British protection. It became a republic in 1968, three years after independence. Since 1978, President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM - currently in his sixth term in office - has dominated the islands' political scene. Following riots in the capital Male in August 2004, the president and his government have pledged to embark upon democratic reforms, including a more representative political system and expanded political freedoms. Tourism and fishing are being developed on the archipelago.

Geography

Maldives

Location:

Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India

Geographic coordinates:

3 15 N, 73 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 300 sq km
land: 300 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

644 km

Maritime claims:

measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid; dry, northeast monsoon (November to March); rainy, southwest monsoon (June to August)

Terrain:

flat, with white sandy beaches

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu Atoll 2.4 m

Natural resources:

fish

Land use:

arable land: 13.33%
permanent crops: 16.67%
other: 70% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level rise

Environment - current issues:

depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

1,190 coral islands grouped into 26 atolls (200 inhabited islands, plus 80 islands with tourist resorts); archipelago with strategic location astride and along major sea lanes in Indian Ocean

People

Maldives

Population:

349,106 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 43.9% (male 78,794/female 74,505)
15-64 years: 53% (male 94,488/female 90,624)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 5,339/female 5,356) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 17.69 years
male: 17.58 years
female: 17.8 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.82% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

35.43 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

7.24 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 56.52 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 55.63 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 57.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 64.06 years
male: 62.76 years
female: 65.42 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.02 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

less than 100 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Maldivian(s)
adjective: Maldivian

Ethnic groups:

South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs

Religions:

Sunni Muslim

Languages:

Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English spoken by most government officials

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.2%
male: 97.1%
female: 97.3% (2003 est.)

Government

Maldives

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Maldives
conventional short form: Maldives
local long form: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Jumhooriyyaa
local short form: Dhivehi Raajje

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Male

Administrative divisions:

19 atolls (atholhu, singular and plural) and 1 other first-order administrative division*; Alifu, Baa, Dhaalu, Faafu, Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Kaafu, Laamu, Lhaviyani, Maale*, Meemu, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Vaavu

Independence:

26 July 1965 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 26 July (1965)

Constitution:

adopted 1 January 1998

Legal system:

based on Islamic law with admixtures of English common law primarily in commercial matters; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11 November 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president nominated by the Majlis and then the nomination must be ratified by a national referendum (at least a 51% approval margin is required); president elected for a five-year term; election last held 17 October 2003 (next to be held NA 2008)
election results: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM reelected in referendum held 17 October 2003; percent of popular vote - Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM 90.3%

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 22 January 2005 (next to be held NA 2010)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 50

Judicial branch:

High Court

Political parties and leaders:

although political parties are not banned, none exist

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Mohamed LATHEEF
chancery: 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400E, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 599-6195

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic visits there

Flag description:

red with a large green rectangle in the center bearing a vertical white crescent; the closed side of the crescent is on the hoist side of the flag

Economy

Maldives

Economy - overview:

Tourism, Maldives' largest industry, accounts for 20% of GDP and more than 60% of the Maldives' foreign exchange receipts. Over 90% of government tax revenue comes from import duties and tourism-related taxes. Fishing is a second leading sector. The Maldivian Government began an economic reform program in 1989 initially by lifting import quotas and opening some exports to the private sector. Subsequently, it has liberalized regulations to allow more foreign investment. Agriculture and manufacturing continue to play a lesser role in the economy, constrained by the limited availability of cultivable land and the shortage of domestic labor. Most staple foods must be imported. Industry, which consists mainly of garment production, boat building, and handicrafts, accounts for about 18% of GDP. Maldivian authorities worry about the impact of erosion and possible global warming on their low-lying country; 80% of the area is one meter or less above sea level. In late December 2004, a major tsunami left more than 100 dead, 12,000 displaced, and property damage exceeding $300 million.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.25 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.3% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $3,900 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 20%
industry: 18%
services: 62% (2000 est.)

Labor force:

88,000 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 22%, industry 18%, services 60% (1995)

Unemployment rate:

NEGL% (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1% (2002 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $224 million (excluding foreign grants)
expenditures: $282 million, including capital expenditures of $80 million (2002 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish

Industries:

fish processing, tourism, shipping, boat building, coconut processing, garments, woven mats, rope, handicrafts, coral and sand mining

Industrial production growth rate:

4.4% (1996 est.)

Electricity - production:

124.4 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

115.7 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

3,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$90 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:

fish, clothing

Exports - partners:

US 26.5%, Thailand 23.5%, Sri Lanka 12.3%, Japan 11.7%, UK 9.8%, Germany 4.9% (2004)

Imports:

$392 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum products, ships, foodstuffs, textiles, clothing, intermediate and capital goods

Imports - partners:

Singapore 24.9%, Sri Lanka 10.6%, UAE 10.3%, India 10.2%, Malaysia 7.6%, Bahrain 5.4% (2004)

Debt - external:

$281 million (2003 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

NA (1995)

Currency (code):

rufiyaa (MVR)

Currency code:

MVR

Exchange rates:

rufiyaa per US dollar - 12.8 (2004), 12.8 (2003), 12.8 (2002), 12.24 (2001), 11.77 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Maldives

Telephones - main lines in use:

28,700 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

41,900 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: minimal domestic and international facilities
domestic: interatoll communication through microwave links; all inhabited islands are connected with telephone and fax service
international: country code - 960; satellite earth station - 3 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

35,000 (1999)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (1997)

Televisions:

10,000 (1999)

Internet country code:

.mv

Internet hosts:

532 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

15,000 (2002)

Transportation

Maldives

Highways:

total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km

Ports and harbors:

Male

Merchant marine:

total: 16 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 57,118 GRT/72,831 DWT
by type: cargo 12, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1
registered in other countries: 1 (2005)

Airports:

5 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Military

Maldives

Military branches:

National Security Service includes Security Branch (ground forces), Air Element, Coast Guard

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.) (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 71,774 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 56,687 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$41.1 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

5.5% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Maldives

Disputes - international:

none

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 12,000 (26 December 2004 tsunami victims) (2005)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Mexico

Introduction

Mexico

Background:

The site of advanced Amerindian civilizations, Mexico came under Spanish rule for three centuries before achieving independence early in the 19th century. A devaluation of the peso in late 1994 threw Mexico into economic turmoil, triggering the worst recession in over half a century. The nation continues to make an impressive recovery. Ongoing economic and social concerns include low real wages, underemployment for a large segment of the population, inequitable income distribution, and few advancement opportunities for the largely Amerindian population in the impoverished southern states. Elections held in July 2000 marked the first time since the 1910 Mexican Revolution that the opposition defeated the party in government, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). Vicente FOX of the National Action Party (PAN) was sworn in on 1 December 2000 as the first chief executive elected in free and fair elections.

Geography

Mexico

Location:

Middle America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, between Belize and the US and bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and the US

Geographic coordinates:

23 00 N, 102 00 W

Map references:

North America

Area:

total: 1,972,550 sq km
land: 1,923,040 sq km
water: 49,510 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than three times the size of Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 4,353 km
border countries: Belize 250 km, Guatemala 962 km, US 3,141 km

Coastline:

9,330 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

varies from tropical to desert

Terrain:

high, rugged mountains; low coastal plains; high plateaus; desert

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Laguna Salada -10 m
highest point: Volcan Pico de Orizaba 5,700 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas, timber

Land use:

arable land: 12.99%
permanent crops: 1.31%
other: 85.7% (2001)

Irrigated land:

65,000 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

tsunamis along the Pacific coast, volcanoes and destructive earthquakes in the center and south, and hurricanes on the Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean coasts

Environment - current issues:

scarcity of hazardous waste disposal facilities; rural to urban migration; natural fresh water resources scarce and polluted in north, inaccessible and poor quality in center and extreme southeast; raw sewage and industrial effluents polluting rivers in urban areas; deforestation; widespread erosion; desertification; deteriorating agricultural lands; serious air and water pollution in the national capital and urban centers along US-Mexico border; land subsidence in Valley of Mexico caused by groundwater depletion
note: the government considers the lack of clean water and deforestation national security issues

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location on southern border of US; corn (maize), one of the world's major grain crops, is thought to have originated in Mexico

People

Mexico

Population:

106,202,903 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 31.1% (male 16,844,400/female 16,159,511)
15-64 years: 63.3% (male 32,521,043/female 34,704,093)
65 years and over: 5.6% (male 2,715,010/female 3,258,846) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 24.93 years
male: 24.04 years
female: 25.85 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.17% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

21.01 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

4.73 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-4.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 20.91 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 22.85 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.19 years
male: 72.42 years
female: 78.1 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.45 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.3% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

160,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

5,000 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Mexican(s)
adjective: Mexican

Ethnic groups:

mestizo (Amerindian-Spanish) 60%, Amerindian or predominantly Amerindian 30%, white 9%, other 1%

Religions:

nominally Roman Catholic 89%, Protestant 6%, other 5%

Languages:

Spanish, various Mayan, Nahuatl, and other regional indigenous languages

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.2%
male: 94%
female: 90.5% (2003 est.)

Government

Mexico

Country name:

conventional long form: United Mexican States
conventional short form: Mexico
local long form: Estados Unidos Mexicanos
local short form: Mexico

Government type:

federal republic

Capital:

Mexico (Distrito Federal)

Administrative divisions:

31 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal district* (distrito federal); Aguascalientes, Baja California, Baja California Sur, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Colima, Distrito Federal*, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Mexico, Michoacan de Ocampo, Morelos, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla, Queretaro de Arteaga, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosi, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Veracruz-Llave, Yucatan, Zacatecas

Independence:

16 September 1810 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 16 September (1810)

Constitution:

5 February 1917

Legal system:

mixture of US constitutional theory and civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory (but not enforced)

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Vicente FOX Quesada (since 1 December 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Vicente FOX Quesada (since 1 December 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president; note - appointment of attorney general requires consent of the Senate
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 2 July 2000 (next to be held 2 July 2006)
election results: Vicente FOX Quesada elected president; percent of vote - Vicente FOX Quesada (PAN) 42.52%, Francisco LABASTIDA Ochoa (PRI) 36.1%, Cuauhtemoc CARDENAS Solorzano (PRD) 16.64%, other 4.74%

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Congress or Congreso de la Union consists of the Senate or Camara de Senadores (128 seats; 96 are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms, and 32 are allocated on the basis of each party's popular vote) and the Federal Chamber of Deputies or Camara Federal de Diputados (500 seats; 300 members are directly elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; remaining 200 members are allocated on the basis of each party's popular vote, also for three-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 2 July 2000 for all of the seats (next to be held 2 July 2006); Chamber of Deputies - last held 6 July 2003 (next to be held 2 July 2006)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PRI 60, PAN 46, PRD 16, PVEM 5, unassigned 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PRI 222, PAN 151, PRD 95, PVEM 17, PT 6, CD 5, unassigned 4; note - special elections were held in December 2003; the PRI and the PRD each won one seat and were each assigned one additional proportional representation seat

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Justice or Suprema Corte de Justicia Nacional (justices or ministros are appointed by the president with consent of the Senate)

Political parties and leaders:

Convergence for Democracy or CD [Dante DELGADO Ranauro]; Institutional Revolutionary Party or PRI [Roberto MADRAZO Pintado]; Mexican Green Ecological Party or PVEM [Jorge Emilio GONZALEZ Martinez]; National Action Party or PAN [Luis Felipe BRAVO Mena]; Party of the Democratic Revolution or PRD [Leonel GODOY]; Workers Party or PT [Alberto ANAYA Gutierrez]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Confederation of Employers of the Mexican Republic or COPARMEX; Confederation of Industrial Chambers or CONCAMIN; Confederation of Mexican Workers or CTM; Confederation of National Chambers of Commerce or CONCANACO; Coordinator for Foreign Trade Business Organizations or COECE; Federation of Unions Providing Goods and Services or FESEBES; National Chamber of Transformation Industries or CANACINTRA; National Peasant Confederation or CNC; National Union of Workers or UNT; Regional Confederation of Mexican Workers or CROM; Revolutionary Confederation of Workers and Peasants or CROC; Roman Catholic Church

International organization participation:

APEC, BCIE, BIS, CDB, CE (observer), EBRD, FAO, G-3, G-6, G-15, G-19, G-24, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM (observer), NEA, OAS, OECD, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMOVIC, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador-designate Carlos Alberto de ICAZA Gonzalez
chancery: 1911 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: [1] (202) 728-1600
FAX: [1] (202) 728-1698
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, El Paso, Houston, Laredo (Texas), Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Nogales (Arizona), Phoenix, Sacramento, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
consulate(s): Albuquerque, Brownsville (Texas), Calexico (California), Corpus Christi (Texas), Del Rio (Texas), Detroit, Douglas (Arizona), Eagle Pass (Texas), Fresno (California), Indianapolis (Indiana), Kansas City (Missouri), Las Vegas, McAllen (Texas), Midland (Texas), Omaha, Orlando, Oxnard (California), Philadelphia, Portland (Oregon), Presidio (Texas), Raleigh, Salt Lake City, San Bernardino, Santa Ana (California), Seattle, Tucson, Yuma (Arizona)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio O. GARZA
embassy: Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, 06500 Mexico, Distrito Federal
mailing address: P. O. Box 9000, Brownsville, TX 78520-0900
telephone: [52] (55) 5080-2000
FAX: [52] (55) 5525-5040
consulate(s) general: Ciudad Juarez, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuana
consulate(s): Hermosillo, Matamoros, Merida, Nogales, Nuevo, Laredo

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and red; the coat of arms (an eagle perched on a cactus with a snake in its beak) is centered in the white band

Economy

Mexico

Economy - overview:

Mexico has a free market economy that recently entered the trillion dollar class. It contains a mixture of modern and outmoded industry and agriculture, increasingly dominated by the private sector. Recent administrations have expanded competition in seaports, railroads, telecommunications, electricity generation, natural gas distribution, and airports. Per capita income is one-fourth that of the US; income distribution remains highly unequal. Trade with the US and Canada has tripled since the implementation of NAFTA in 1994. Mexico has 12 free trade agreements with over 40 countries including, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, the European Free Trade Area, and Japan, putting more than 90% of trade under free trade agreements. The government is cognizant of the need to upgrade infrastructure, modernize the tax system and labor laws, and provide incentives to invest in the energy sector, but progress is slow.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.006 trillion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.1% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $9,600 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 4%
industry: 27.2%
services: 68.9% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

34.73 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 18%, industry 24%, services 58% (2003)

Unemployment rate:

3.2% plus underemployment of perhaps 25% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

40% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 35.6% (2002)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

53.1 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.4% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $160 billion
expenditures: $158 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

23.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, beans, cotton, coffee, fruit, tomatoes; beef, poultry, dairy products; wood products

Industries:

food and beverages, tobacco, chemicals, iron and steel, petroleum, mining, textiles, clothing, motor vehicles, consumer durables, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

3.8% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

203.6 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 78.7%
hydro: 14.2%
nuclear: 4.2%
other: 2.9% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

189.7 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

98.65 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

367.7 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

3.46 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1.752 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:

1.863 million bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports:

205,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves:

18 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

47.3 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

55.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

7.85 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

420 billion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$-4.113 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$182.4 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

manufactured goods, oil and oil products, silver, fruits, vegetables, coffee, cotton

Exports - partners:

US 87.6%, Canada 1.8%, Spain 1.1% (2004)

Imports:

$190.8 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

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 53.7%, China 7%, Japan 5.1% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$60.67 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$149.9 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$1.166 billion (1995)

Currency (code):

Mexican peso (MXN)

Currency code:

MXN

Exchange rates:

Mexican pesos per US dollar - 11.286 (2004), 10.789 (2003), 9.656 (2002), 9.342 (2001), 9.456 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Mexico

Telephones - main lines in use:

15,958,700 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

28.125 million (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: low telephone density with about 15.2 main lines per 100 persons; privatized in December 1990; the opening to competition in January 1997 improved prospects for development, but Telmex remains dominant
domestic: adequate telephone service for business and government, but the population is poorly served; mobile subscribers far outnumber fixed-line subscribers; domestic satellite system with 120 earth stations; extensive microwave radio relay network; considerable use of fiber-optic cable and coaxial cable
international: country code - 52; satellite earth stations - 32 Intelsat, 2 Solidaridad (giving Mexico improved access to South America, Central America, and much of the US as well as enhancing domestic communications), numerous Inmarsat mobile earth stations; linked to Central American Microwave System of trunk connections; high capacity Columbus-2 fiber-optic submarine cable with access to the US, Virgin Islands, Canary Islands, Morocco, Spain, and Italy (1997)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 850, FM 545, shortwave 15 (2003)

Radios:

31 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

236 (plus repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

25.6 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.mx

Internet hosts:

1,333,406 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

51 (2000)

Internet users:

10.033 million (2002)

Transportation

Mexico

Railways:

total: 17,634 km
standard gauge: 17,634 km 1.435-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 329,532 km
paved: 108,087 km (including 6,429 km of expressways)
unpaved: 221,445 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

2,900 km
note: navigable rivers and coastal canals (2004)

Pipelines:

crude oil 28,200 km; petroleum products 10,150 km; natural gas 13,254 km; petrochemical 1,400 km (2003)

Ports and harbors:

Altamira, Manzanillo, Morro Redondo, Salina Cruz, Tampico, Topolobampo, Veracruz

Merchant marine:

total: 57 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 649,389 GRT/942,766 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 6, chemical tanker 5, liquefied gas 5, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 26, roll on/roll off 4
foreign-owned: 4 (Denmark 1, Germany 1, UAE 1, United States 1)
registered in other countries: 6 (2005)

Airports:

1,833 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 233
over 3,047 m: 12
2,438 to 3,047 m: 28
1,524 to 2,437 m: 84
914 to 1,523 m: 80
under 914 m: 29 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1,600
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 69
914 to 1,523 m: 454
under 914 m: 1,075 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

2 (2004 est.)

Military

Mexico

Military branches:

Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena): Army and Air Force (FAM)
Secretariat of the Navy (Semar): Naval Air and Marines (2004)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript service obligation - 12 months; 16 years of age with consent for voluntary enlistment (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 24,488,008 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 19,058,337 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 1,063,233 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$6.043 billion (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.9% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Mexico

Disputes - international:

prolonged drought, population growth, and outmoded practices and infrastructure in the border region have strained water-sharing arrangements with the US; the US has stepped up efforts to stem nationals from Mexico, Central America, and other parts of the world from illegally crossing the border with Mexico

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 12,000 (government's quashing of Zapatista uprising in 1994 in eastern Chiapas Region) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

illicit cultivation of opium poppy (cultivation in 2001 - 4,400 hectares; potential heroin production - 7 metric tons) and of cannabis (in 2001 - 4,100 hectares); government eradication efforts have been key in keeping illicit crop levels low; major supplier of heroin and largest foreign supplier of marijuana and methamphetamine to the US market; continues as the primary transshipment country for US-bound cocaine from South America, accounting for about 70 percent of estimated annual cocaine movement to the US; major drug syndicates control majority of drug trafficking throughout the country; producer and distributor of ecstasy; significant money-laundering center

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Malaysia

Introduction

Malaysia

Background:

During the late 18th and 19th centuries, Great Britain established colonies and protectorates in the area of current Malaysia; these were occupied by Japan from 1942 to 1945. In 1948, the British-ruled territories on the Malay Peninsula formed the Federation of Malaya, which became independent in 1957. Malaysia was formed in 1963 when the former British colonies of Singapore and the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak on the northern coast of Borneo joined the Federation. The first several years of the country's history were marred by Indonesian efforts to control Malaysia, Philippine claims to Sabah, and Singapore's secession from the Federation in 1965.

Geography

Malaysia

Location:

Southeastern Asia, peninsula bordering Thailand and northern one-third of the island of Borneo, bordering Indonesia, Brunei, and the South China Sea, south of Vietnam

Geographic coordinates:

2 30 N, 112 30 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 329,750 sq km
land: 328,550 sq km
water: 1,200 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries:

total: 2,669 km
border countries: Brunei 381 km, Indonesia 1,782 km, Thailand 506 km

Coastline:

4,675 km (Peninsular Malaysia 2,068 km, East Malaysia 2,607 km)

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation; specified boundary in the South China Sea

Climate:

tropical; annual southwest (April to October) and northeast (October to February) monsoons

Terrain:

coastal plains rising to hills and mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Gunung Kinabalu 4,100 m

Natural resources:

tin, petroleum, timber, copper, iron ore, natural gas, bauxite

Land use:

arable land: 5.48%
permanent crops: 17.61%
other: 76.91% (2001)

Irrigated land:

3,650 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

flooding, landslides, forest fires

Environment - current issues:

air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions; water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from Indonesian forest fires

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands

Geography - note:

strategic location along Strait of Malacca and southern South China Sea

People

Malaysia

Population:

23,953,136 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 33% (male 4,067,006/female 3,837,758)
15-64 years: 62.4% (male 7,488,367/female 7,447,047)
65 years and over: 4.6% (male 490,334/female 622,624) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 23.92 years
male: 23.32 years
female: 24.54 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.8% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

23.07 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

5.06 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: does not reflect net flow of an unknown number of illegal immigrants from other countries in the region (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 17.7 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 20.49 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.24 years
male: 69.56 years
female: 75.11 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.07 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.4% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

52,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

2,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in some locations (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Malaysian(s)
adjective: Malaysian

Ethnic groups:

Malay 50.4%, Chinese 23.7%, Indigenous 11%, Indian 7.1%, others 7.8% (2004 est.)

Religions:

Muslim, Buddhist, Daoist, Hindu, Christian, Sikh; note - in addition, Shamanism is practiced in East Malaysia

Languages:

Bahasa Melayu (official), English, Chinese dialects (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi, Thai
note: in addition, in East Malaysia several indigenous languages are spoken, the largest are Iban and Kadazan

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.7%
male: 92%
female: 85.4% (2002)

Government

Malaysia

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Malaysia
former: Federation of Malaysia

Government type:

constitutional monarchy
note: nominally headed by paramount ruler and a bicameral Parliament consisting of a nonelected upper house and an elected lower house; all Peninsular Malaysian states have hereditary rulers except Melaka and Pulau Pinang (Penang); those two states along with Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia have governors appointed by government; powers of state governments are limited by federal constitution; under terms of federation, Sabah and Sarawak retain certain constitutional prerogatives (e.g., right to maintain their own immigration controls); Sabah - holds 20 seats in House of Representatives and will hold 25 seats after the next election; Sarawak holds 28 seats in House of Representatives

Capital:

Kuala Lumpur
note: Putrajaya is referred to as administrative center not capital; Parliament meets in Kuala Lumpur

Administrative divisions:

13 states (negeri-negeri, singular - negeri) Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Pulau Pinang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, and Terengganu; and one federal territory (wilayah persekutuan) with three components, city of Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, and Putrajaya

Independence:

31 August 1957 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day/Malaysia Day, 31 August (1957)

Constitution:

31 August 1957; amended 16 September 1963

Legal system:

based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court at request of supreme head of the federation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Paramount Ruler Tuanku SYED SIRAJUDDIN ibni Almarhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail, the Raja of Perlis (since 12 December 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister ABDULLAH bin Ahmad Badawi (since 31 October 2003); Deputy Prime Minister Mohamed NAJIB bin Abdul Razak (since 7 January 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament with consent of the paramount ruler
elections: paramount ruler elected by and from the hereditary rulers of nine of the states for five-year terms; election last held 12 December 2001 (next to be held in 2006); prime minister designated from among the members of the House of Representatives; following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins a plurality of seats in the House of Representatives becomes prime minister
election results: Tuanku SYED SIRAJUDDIN ibni Almarhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail elected paramount ruler

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament or Parlimen consists of the Senate or Dewan Negara (70 seats; 44 appointed by the paramount ruler, 26 appointed by the state legislatures) and the House of Representatives or Dewan Rakyat (219 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 21 March 2004 (next must be held by 2009)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - BN 91%, DAP 5%, PAS 3%, other 1%; seats by party - BN 199, DAP 12, PAS 6, PKR 1, independent 1

Judicial branch:

Federal Court (judges appointed by the paramount ruler on the advice of the prime minister)

Political parties and leaders:

ruling-coalition National Front (Barisan Nasional) or BN, consisting of the following parties: Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia Party or PGRM [LIM Keng Yaik]; Liberal Democratic Party (Parti Liberal Demokratik - Sabah) or LDP [CHONG Kah Kiat]; Malaysian Chinese Association (Persatuan China Malaysia) or MCA [ONG Ka Ting]; Malaysian Indian Congress (Kongresi India Malaysia) or MIC [S. Samy VELLU]; Parti Bersatu Pakyat Sabah or PBRS [Joseph KURUP]; Parti Bersatu Sabah or PBS [Joseph PAIRIN Kitingan]; Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu or PBB [Patinggi Haji Abdul TAIB Mahmud]; Parti Rakyat Sarawak or PRS [James MASING]; Sabah Progressive Party (Parti Progresif Sabah) or SAPP [YONG Teck Lee]; Sarawak United People's Party (Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sarawak) or SUPP [George CHAN Hong Nam]; United Malays National Organization or UMNO [ABDULLAH bin Ahmad Badawi]; United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organization (Pertubuhan Pasko Momogun Kadazan Dusun Bersatu) or UPKO [Bernard DOMPOK]; People's Progressive Party (Parti Progresif Penduduk Malaysia) or PPP [M.Keyveas]; Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party or SPDP [William MAWANI]; opposition parties: Democratic Action Party (Parti Tindakan Demokratik) or DAP [KARPAL Singh]; Islamic Party of Malaysia (Parti Islam se Malaysia) or PAS [Abdul HADI Awang]; People's Justice Party (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) or PKR [WAN AZIZAH Wan Ismael]; Sarawak National Party or SNAP [Edwin DANDUNG]; opposition coalition Alternative Front (Barisan Alternatif) or BA consists of PAS and PKR

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ABEDA, APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador GHAZZALI bin Sheikh Abdul Khalid
chancery: 3516 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 572-9700
FAX: [1] (202) 572-9882
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher J. LAFLEUR
embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
mailing address: P. O. Box No. 10035, 50700 Kuala Lumpur; American Embassy Kuala Lumpur, APO AP 96535-8152
telephone: [60] (3) 2168-5000
FAX: [60] (3) 2142-2207

Flag description:

14 equal horizontal stripes of red (top) alternating with white (bottom); there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a yellow crescent and a yellow 14-pointed star; the crescent and the star are traditional symbols of Islam; the design was based on the flag of the US

Economy

Malaysia

Economy - overview:

Malaysia, a middle-income country, transformed itself from 1971 through the late 1990's from a producer of raw materials into an emerging multi-sector economy. Growth was almost exclusively driven by exports - particularly of electronics. As a result, Malaysia was hard hit by the global economic downturn and the slump in the information technology (IT) sector in 2001 and 2002. GDP in 2001 grew only 0.5% due to an estimated 11% contraction in exports, but a substantial fiscal stimulus package equal to US $1.9 billion mitigated the worst of the recession and the economy rebounded in 2002 with a 4.1% increase. The economy grew 4.9% in 2003, notwithstanding a difficult first half, when external pressures from SARS and the Iraq War led to caution in the business community. Growth topped 7% in 2004. Healthy foreign exchange reserves, low inflation, and a small external debt are all strengths that make it unlikely that Malaysia will experience a financial crisis similar to the one in 1997. The economy remains dependent on continued growth in the US, China, and Japan, top export destinations and key sources of foreign investment.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$229.3 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.1% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $9,700 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 7.2%
industry: 33.6%
services: 59.1% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

10.49 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 14.5%, industry 36%, services 49.5% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

3% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

8% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.4%
highest 10%: 39.2% (2003 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

49.2 (1997)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.3% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $25.33 billion
expenditures: $29.33 billion, including capital expenditures of $9.4 billion (2004 est.)

Public debt:

45.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

Peninsular Malaysia - rubber, palm oil, cocoa, rice; Sabah - subsistence crops, rubber, timber, coconuts, rice; Sarawak - rubber, pepper, timber

Industries:

Peninsular Malaysia - rubber and oil palm processing and manufacturing, light manufacturing industry, electronics, tin mining and smelting, logging and processing timber; Sabah - logging, petroleum production; Sarawak - agriculture processing, petroleum production and refining, logging

Industrial production growth rate:

10.2% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

75.33 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 89.5%
hydro: 10.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

68.4 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

70 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

785,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

460,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:

230,200 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

3.2 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

53.66 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

31.25 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

22.41 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

2.23 trillion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$11.81 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$123.5 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

electronic equipment, petroleum and liquefied natural gas, wood and wood products, palm oil, rubber, textiles, chemicals

Exports - partners:

US 18.8%, Singapore 15%, Japan 10.1%, China 6.7%, Hong Kong 6%, Thailand 4.8% (2004)

Imports:

$99.3 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

electronics, machinery, petroleum products, plastics, vehicles, iron and steel products, chemicals

Imports - partners:

Japan 16.1%, US 14.6%, Singapore 11.2%, China 9.9%, Thailand 5.6%, Taiwan 5.5%, South Korea 5%, Germany 4.5%, Indonesia 4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$55.27 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$53.36 billion (2004 est.)

Currency (code):

ringgit (MYR)

Currency code:

MYR

Exchange rates:

ringgits per US dollar - 3.8 (2004), 3.8 (2003), 3.8 (2002), 3.8 (2001), 3.8 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Malaysia

Telephones - main lines in use:

4,571,600 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

11,124,100 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system; international service excellent
domestic: good intercity service provided on Peninsular Malaysia mainly by microwave radio relay; adequate intercity microwave radio relay network between Sabah and Sarawak via Brunei; domestic satellite system with 2 earth stations
international: country code - 60; submarine cables to India, Hong Kong, and Singapore; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean) (2001)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 35, FM 391, shortwave 15 (2001)

Radios:

10.9 million (1999)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (plus 15 high-power repeaters) (2001)

Televisions:

10.8 million (1999)

Internet country code:

.my

Internet hosts:

107,971 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

7 (2000)

Internet users:

8,692,100 (2003)

Transportation

Malaysia

Railways:

total: 1,890 km (207 km electrified)
standard gauge: 57 km 1.435-m gauge (57 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,833 km 1.000-m gauge (150 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 65,877 km
paved: 51,318 km
unpaved: 14,559 km (2001)

Waterways:

7,200 km
note: Peninsular Malaysia 3,200 km, Sabah 1,500 km, Sarawak 2,500 km (2004)

Pipelines:

condensate 279 km; gas 5,047 km; oil 1,841 km; refined products 114 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Bintulu, Johor, Labuan, Lahad Datu, Lumut, Miri, George Town (Penang), Port Kelang, Tanjung Pelepas

Merchant marine:

total: 346 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,389,397 GRT/7,539,178 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 45, cargo 109, chemical tanker 38, container 47, liquefied gas 26, livestock carrier 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 62, roll on/roll off 6, vehicle carrier 5
foreign-owned: 77 (China 1, Hong Kong 12, Japan 3, Singapore 61)
registered in other countries: 59 (2005)

Airports:

117 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 38
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 7 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 79
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 72 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

Malaysia

Military branches:

Malaysian Army (Tentera Darat Malaysia), Royal Malaysian Navy (Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia, TLDM), Royal Malaysian Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia, TUDM) (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 5,584,231 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 4,574,854 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 244,418 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$1.69 billion (FY00 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.03% (FY00)

Transnational Issues

Malaysia

Disputes - international:

Malaysia has asserted sovereignty over the Spratly Islands together with China, Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei; while the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions over the Spratly Islands, it is not the legally binding "code of conduct" sought by some parties; Malaysia was not party to the March 2005 joint accord among the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam on conducting marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; disputes continue over deliveries of fresh water to Singapore, Singapore's land reclamation, bridge construction, maritime boundaries, and Pedra Branca Island/Pulau Batu Putih - but parties agree to ICJ arbitration on island dispute within three years; ICJ awarded Ligitan and Sipadan islands, also claimed by Indonesia and Philippines, to Malaysia but left maritime boundary in the hydrocarbon-rich Celebes Sea in dispute, culminating in hostile confrontations in March 2005 over concessions to the Ambalat oil block; separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Muslim southern provinces prompts measures to close and monitor border with Malaysia to stem terrorist activities; Philippines retains a now dormant claim to Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo; in 2003, Brunei and Malaysia ceased gas and oil exploration in their disputed offshore and deepwater seabeds and negotiations have stalemated prompting consideration of international adjudication; Malaysia's land boundary with Brunei around Limbang is in dispute; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait

Illicit drugs:

transit point for some illicit drugs; drug trafficking prosecuted vigorously and carries severe penalties

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Mozambique

Introduction

Mozambique

Background:

Almost five centuries as a Portuguese colony came to a close with independence in 1975. Large-scale emigration by whites, economic dependence on South Africa, a severe drought, and a prolonged civil war hindered the country's development. The ruling Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO) party formally abandoned Marxism in 1989, and a new constitution the following year provided for multiparty elections and a free market economy. A UN-negotiated peace agreement between FRELIMO and rebel Mozambique National Resistance (RENAMO) forces ended the fighting in 1992. In December 2004, Mozambique underwent a delicate transition as Joaquim CHISSANO stepped down after 18 years in office. His newly elected successor, Armando Emilio GUEBUZA, has promised to continue the sound economic policies that have encouraged foreign investment.

Geography

Mozambique

Location:

South-eastern Africa, bordering the Mozambique Channel, between South Africa and Tanzania

Geographic coordinates:

18 15 S, 35 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 801,590 sq km
land: 784,090 sq km
water: 17,500 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of California

Land boundaries:

total: 4,571 km
border countries: Malawi 1,569 km, South Africa 491 km, Swaziland 105 km, Tanzania 756 km, Zambia 419 km, Zimbabwe 1,231 km

Coastline:

2,470 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical to subtropical

Terrain:

mostly coastal lowlands, uplands in center, high plateaus in northwest, mountains in west

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m

Natural resources:

coal, titanium, natural gas, hydropower, tantalum, graphite

Land use:

arable land: 5.1%
permanent crops: 0.3%
other: 94.6% (2001)

Irrigated land:

1,070 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods in central and southern provinces

Environment - current issues:

a long civil war and recurrent drought in the hinterlands have resulted in increased migration of the population to urban and coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences; desertification; pollution of surface and coastal waters; elephant poaching for ivory is a problem

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the Zambezi flows through the north-central and most fertile part of the country

People

Mozambique

Population:

19,406,703
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected; the 1997 Mozambican census reported a population of 16,099,246 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 43.1% (male 4,206,654/female 4,157,898)
15-64 years: 54.1% (male 5,088,250/female 5,416,573)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 224,682/female 312,646) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.29 years
male: 17.74 years
female: 18.83 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.48% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

35.79 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

20.99 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 130.79 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 135.91 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 125.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 40.32 years
male: 39.9 years
female: 40.75 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.7 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

12.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

1.3 million (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

110,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague are high risks in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Mozambican(s)
adjective: Mozambican

Ethnic groups:

indigenous tribal groups 99.66% (Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, and others), Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08%

Religions:

Catholic 23.8%, Zionist Christian 17.5%, Muslim 17.8%, other 17.8%, none 23.1% (1997 census)

Languages:

Emakhuwa 26.1%, Xichangana 11.3%, Portuguese 8.8% (official; spoken by 27% of population as a second language), Elomwe 7.6%, Cisena 6.8%, Echuwabo 5.8%, other Mozambican languages 32%, other foreign languages 0.3%, unspecified 1.3% (1997 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 47.8%
male: 63.5%
female: 32.7% (2003 est.)

Government

Mozambique

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Mozambique
conventional short form: Mozambique
local long form: Republica de Mocambique
local short form: Mocambique
former: Portuguese East Africa

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Maputo

Administrative divisions:

10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), 1 city (cidade)*; Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Cidade de Maputo*, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia

Independence:

25 June 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 25 June (1975)

Constitution:

30 November 1990

Legal system:

based on Portuguese civil law system and customary law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Armando GUEBUZA (since 2 February 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Luisa DIOGO (since 17 February 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 1-2 December 2004 (next to be held December 2009); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Armando GUEBUZA elected president; percent of vote - Armando GUEBUZA 63.7%, Afonso DHLAKAMA 31.7%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (250 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote on a secret ballot to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 1-2 December 2004 (next to be held December 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - Frelimo 62%, Renamo 29.7%; seats by party - Frelimo 160, Renamo 90

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (the court of final appeal; some of its professional judges are appointed by the president and some are elected by the Assembly); other courts include an Administrative Court, customs courts, maritime courts, courts marshal, labor courts
note: although the constitution provides for a separate Constitutional Court, one has never been established; in its absence the Supreme Court reviews constitutional cases

Political parties and leaders:

Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (Frente de Liberatacao de Mocambique) or FRELIMO [Armando Emilio GUEBUZA, president]; Mozambique National Resistance-Electoral Union (Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana-Uniao Eleitoral) or RENAMO-UE [Afonso DHLAKAMA, president]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Institute for Peace and Democracy (Instituto para Paz e Democracia) or IPADE [Raul DOMINGOS, president]; Etica [Abdul CARIMO Issa, chairman]; Movement for Peace and Citizenship (Movimento para Paz e Cidadania); Mozambican League of Human Rights (Liga Mocambicana dos Direitos Humanos) or LDH [Alice MABOTE, president]; Human Rights and Development (Direitos Humanos e Desenvolvimento) or DHD [Artemisia FRANCO, secretary general]

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMISET, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Armando PANGUENE
chancery: 1990 M Street NW, Suite 570, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 293-7146
FAX: [1] (202) 835-0245

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Helen LA LIME
embassy: Avenida Kenneth Kuanda 193, Maputo
mailing address: P. O. Box 783, Maputo
telephone: [258] (1) 492797
FAX: [258] (1) 490448

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of green (top), black, and yellow with a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; the black band is edged in white; centered in the triangle is a yellow five-pointed star bearing a crossed rifle and hoe in black superimposed on an open white book

Economy

Mozambique

Economy - overview:

At independence in 1975, Mozambique was one of the world's poorest countries. Socialist mismanagement and a brutal civil war from 1977-92 exacerbated the situation. In 1987, the government embarked on a series of macroeconomic reforms designed to stabilize the economy. These steps, combined with donor assistance and with political stability since the multi-party elections in 1994, have led to dramatic improvements in the country's growth rate. Inflation was reduced to single digits during the late 1990s although it returned to double digits in 2000-03. Fiscal reforms, including the introduction of a value-added tax and reform of the customs service, have improved the government's revenue collection abilities. In spite of these gains, Mozambique remains dependent upon foreign assistance for much of its annual budget, and the majority of the population remains below the poverty line. Subsistence agriculture continues to employ the vast majority of the country's workforce. A substantial trade imbalance persists although the opening of the MOZAL aluminum smelter, the country's largest foreign investment project to date has increased export earnings. Additional investment projects in titanium extraction and processing and garment manufacturing should further close the import/export gap. Mozambique's once substantial foreign debt has been reduced through forgiveness and rescheduling under the IMF's Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and Enhanced HIPC initiatives, and is now at a manageable level.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$23.38 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

8.2% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 21.1%
industry: 32.1%
services: 46.9% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

9.2 million (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 81%, industry 6%, services 13% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate:

21% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line:

70% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 31.7% (1997)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

39.6 (1996-97)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

12.8% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

47% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.186 billion
expenditures: $1.398 billion, including capital expenditures of $479.4 million (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane, tea, cassava (tapioca), corn, coconuts, sisal, citrus and tropical fruits, potatoes, sunflowers; beef, poultry

Industries:

food, beverages, chemicals (fertilizer, soap, paints), aluminum, petroleum products, textiles, cement, glass, asbestos, tobacco

Industrial production growth rate:

3.4% (2000)

Electricity - production:

8.859 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 2.9%
hydro: 97.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

5.046 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

7.1 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

3.907 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

8,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

60 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

60 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

63.71 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$-101.2 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$689.4 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

aluminum, prawns, cashews, cotton, sugar, citrus, timber; bulk electricity

Exports - partners:

Netherlands 60.9%, South Africa 12.9%, Malawi 3.3% (2004)

Imports:

$972.9 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, chemicals, metal products, foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners:

South Africa 41.4%, Netherlands 11%, Portugal 3.3% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.206 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$966 million (2002 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$632.8 million (2001)

Currency (code):

metical (MZM)

Currency code:

MZM

Exchange rates:

meticais per US dollar - 22,581 (2004), 23,782 (2003), 23,678 (2002), 20,704 (2001), 15,227 (2000)
note: effective October 2000, the exchange rate is determined as the weighted average of buying and selling exchange rates of all transactions of commercial banks and stock exchanges with the public

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Mozambique

Telephones - main lines in use:

83,700 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

428,900 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: fair system but not available generally (telephone density is only 16 telephones for each 1,000 persons)
domestic: the system consists of open-wire lines and trunk connection by microwave radio relay and tropospheric scatter
international: country code - 258; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 13, FM 17, shortwave 11 (2001)

Radios:

730,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2001)

Televisions:

67,600 (2000)

Internet country code:

.mz

Internet hosts:

3,249 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

11 (2002)

Internet users:

50,000 (2002)

Transportation

Mozambique

Railways:

total: 3,123 km
narrow gauge: 2,983 km 1.067-m gauge; 140 km 0.762-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 30,400 km
paved: 5,685 km
unpaved: 24,715 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

460 km (Zambezi River navigable to Tete and along Cahora Bassa Lake) (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 649 km; refined products 292 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Beira, Maputo, Nacala

Merchant marine:

total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,125 GRT/7,024 DWT
by type: cargo 2
foreign-owned: 2 (Belgium 2) (2005)

Airports:

158 (2004 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: 3
under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 136
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 34
under 914 m: 87 (2004 est.)

Military

Mozambique

Military branches:

Mozambique Armed Defense Forces: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Logistics Command

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 3,793,373 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,751,223 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$117.3 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.2% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Mozambique

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

Southern African transit point for South Asian hashish and heroin, and South American cocaine probably destined for the European and South African markets; producer of cannabis (for local consumption) and methaqualone (for export to South Africa); corruption and poor regulatory capability makes the banking system vulnerable to money laundering, but the lack of a well-developed financial infrastructure limits the country's utility as a money-laundering center

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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New Caledonia

Introduction

New Caledonia

Background:

Settled by both Britain and France during the first half of the 19th century, the island was made a French possession in 1853. It served as a penal colony for four decades after 1864. Agitation for independence during the 1980s and early 1990s has dissipated.

Geography

New Caledonia

Location:

Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia

Geographic coordinates:

21 30 S, 165 30 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 19,060 sq km
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:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid

Terrain:

coastal plains with interior mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m

Natural resources:

nickel, chrome, iron, cobalt, manganese, silver, gold, lead, copper

Land use:

arable land: 0.38%
permanent crops: 0.33%
other: 99.29% (2001)

Irrigated land:

160 sq km (1991)

Natural hazards:

cyclones, most frequent from November to March

Environment - current issues:

erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires

Geography - note:

consists of the main island of New Caledonia (one of the largest in the Pacific Ocean), the archipelago of Iles Loyaute, and numerous small, sparsely populated islands and atolls

People

New Caledonia

Population:

216,494 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 29% (male 32,030/female 30,714)
15-64 years: 64.6% (male 70,294/female 69,506)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 6,513/female 7,437) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 27.5 years
male: 27.16 years
female: 27.84 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.28% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

18.49 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

5.65 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 7.72 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.42 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.04 years
male: 71.07 years
female: 77.16 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.31 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: New Caledonian(s)
adjective: New Caledonian

Ethnic groups:

Melanesian 42.5%, European 37.1%, Wallisian 8.4%, Polynesian 3.8%, Indonesian 3.6%, Vietnamese 1.6%, other 3%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10%

Languages:

French (official), 33 Melanesian-Polynesian dialects

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91%
male: 92%
female: 90% (1976 est.)

Government

New Caledonia

Country name:

conventional long form: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies
conventional short form: New Caledonia
local long form: Territoire des Nouvelle-Caledonie et Dependances
local short form: Nouvelle-Caledonie

Dependency status:

overseas territory of France since 1956

Government type:

NA

Capital:

Noumea

Administrative divisions:

none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 provinces named Iles Loyaute, Nord, and Sud

Independence:

none (overseas territory of France); note - a referendum on independence was held in 1998 but did not pass; a new referendum is scheduled for 2014

National holiday:

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Constitution:

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system:

the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the islands; formerly under French law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President of France Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Commissioner Michel MATHIEU (since 15 July 2005)
head of government: President of the Government Marie-Noelle THEMEREAU (since 10 June 2004)
cabinet: Consultative Committee
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the government elected by the members of the Territorial Congress; note - last election held 29 June 2004 when Marie-Noelle THEMEREAU was elected on the third vote with 8 votes for and 3 abstentions

Legislative branch:

unicameral Territorial Congress or Congres Territorial (54 seats; members belong to the three Provincial Assemblies or Assemblees Provinciales elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 9 May 2004 (next to be held NA 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RPCR-UMP 16, AE 16, UNI-FLNKS 8, UC 7, FN 4, others 3
note: New Caledonia currently holds 1 seat in the French Senate; elections last held 24 September 2001 (next to be held not later than September 2007; between now and 2010 New Caledonia will gain a second seat in the French Senate); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; New Caledonia also elects 2 seats to the French National Assembly; elections last held 9 and 16 June 2002 (next to be held by June 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP 2

Judicial branch:

Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; County Courts; Joint Commerce Tribunal Court; Children's Court

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance pour la Caledonie or APLC [Didier LE ROUX]; Caleonian Union or UC [leader NA]; Federation des Comites de Coordination des Independantistes or FCCI [Francois BURCK]; Front National or FN [Guy GEORGE]; Front Uni de Liberation Kanak or FULK [Ernest UNE]; Kanak Socialist Front for National Liberation or FLNKS [leader NA] (includes PALIKA, UNI, UC, and UPM); Parti de Liberation Kanak or PALIKA [Paul NEAOUTYINE and Elie POIGOUNE]; Rally for Caledonia in the Republic (anti independent) or RPCR-UMP [Jacques LAFLEUR]; The Future Together or AE [Harold MARTIN]; Union Nationale pour l'Independance or UNI [Paul NEAOUTYINE]; note - may no longer exist, but Paul NEAOUTYINE has since become a president of Parti de Liberation Kanak or PALIKA; Union Progressiste Melanesienne or UPM [Victor TUTUGORO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

FZ, ICFTU, PIF (observer), UPU, WFTU, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of France)

Flag description:

the flag of France is used

Economy

New Caledonia

Economy - overview:

New Caledonia has about 25% of the world's known nickel resources. Only a small amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 20% of imports. In addition to nickel, substantial financial support from France - equal to more than one-fourth of GDP - and tourism are keys to the health of the economy. Substantial new investment in the nickel industry, combined with the recovery of global nickel prices, brightens the economic outlook for the next several years.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$3.158 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

NA%

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $15,000 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 5%
industry: 30%
services: 65% (1997 est.)

Labor force:

79,400 (including 15,018 unemployed) (1996)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 7%, industry 23%, services 70% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:

19% (1996)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

-0.6% (2000 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $861.3 million
expenditures: $735.3 million, including capital expenditures of $52 million (1996 est.)

Agriculture - products:

vegetables; beef, deer, other livestock products

Industries:

nickel mining and smelting

Industrial production growth rate:

-0.6% (1996)

Electricity - production:

1.581 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 76.3%
hydro: 23.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

1.471 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

8,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$448 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities:

ferronickels, nickel ore, fish

Exports - partners:

Japan 22%, France 16.5%, Taiwan 12.3%, South Korea 12%, Spain 6.3%, Australia 6.1%, China 4.8%, South Africa 4.5% (2004)

Imports:

$1.007 billion f.o.b. (2002)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

France 40.3%, Singapore 10.9%, Australia 9.1%, New Zealand 4.9% (2004)

Debt - external:

$79 million (1998 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$880 million annual subsidy from France (1998)

Currency (code):

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)

Currency code:

XPF

Exchange rates:

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 96.04 (2004), 105.66 (2003), 126.71 (2002), 133.26 (2001), 129.43 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

New Caledonia

Telephones - main lines in use:

52,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

80,000 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 687; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

107,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

6 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

52,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.nc

Internet hosts:

4,449 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

60,000 (2003)

Transportation

New Caledonia

Highways:

total: 5,432 km (2000)

Ports and harbors:

Noumea

Merchant marine:

total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,261 GRT/1,600 DWT
by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 1 (2005)

Airports:

25 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 11
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 6 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

6 (2004 est.)

Military

New Caledonia

Military branches:

no regular indigenous military forces; French Armed Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie); Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

New Caledonia

Disputes - international:

Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by France and Vanuatu

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Niue

Introduction

Niue

Background:

Niue's remoteness, as well as cultural and linguistic differences between its Polynesian inhabitants and those of the rest of the Cook Islands, have caused it to be separately administered. The population of the island continues to drop (from a peak of 5,200 in 1966 to about 2,150 in 2005), with substantial emigration to New Zealand, 2,400 km to the southwest.

Geography

Niue

Location:

Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Tonga

Geographic coordinates:

19 02 S, 169 52 W

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 260 sq km
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:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; modified by southeast trade winds

Terrain:

steep limestone cliffs along coast, central plateau

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location near Mutalau settlement 68 m

Natural resources:

fish, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 15.38%
permanent crops: 11.54%
other: 73.08% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA

Natural hazards:

typhoons

Environment - current issues:

increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter loss of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

one of world's largest coral islands

People

Niue

Population:

2,166 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate:

0% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

NA births/1,000 population

Death rate:

NA deaths/1,000 population

Net migration rate:

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Sex ratio:

NA

Infant mortality rate:

total: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Total fertility rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Niuean(s)
adjective: Niuean

Ethnic groups:

Niuen 78.2%, Pacific islander 10.2%, European 4.5%, mixed 3.9%, Asian 0.2%, unspecified 3% (2001 census)

Religions:

Ekalesia Niue (Niuean Church - a Protestant church closely related to the London Missionary Society) 61.1%, Latter-Day Saints 8.8%, Roman Catholic 7.2%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2.4%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%, other 8.4%, unspecified 8.7%, none 1.9% (2001 census)

Languages:

Niuean, a Polynesian language closely related to Tongan and Samoan; English

Literacy:

definition: NA
total population: 95%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Niue

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Niue
former: Savage Island

Dependency status:

self-governing in free association with New Zealand since 1974; Niue fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains responsibility for external affairs and defense; however, these responsibilities confer no rights of control and are only exercised at the request of the Government of Niue

Government type:

self-governing parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Alofi

Administrative divisions:

none; note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 14 villages at the second order

Independence:

on 19 October 1974, Niue became a self-governing parliamentary government in free association with New Zealand

National holiday:

Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)

Constitution:

19 October 1974 (Niue Constitution Act)

Legal system:

English common law
note: Niue is self-governing, with the power to make its own laws

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK and New Zealand are represented by New Zealand High Commissioner John BRYAN (since NA May 2000)
head of government: Premier Young VIVIAN (since 1 May 2002)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of the premier and three ministers
elections: the monarch is hereditary; premier elected by the Legislative Assembly for a three-year term; election last held 12 May 2005 (next to be held May 2008)
election results: Young VIVIAN reelected premier; percent of Legislative Assembly vote - Young VIVIAN (NPP) 85%, O'Love JACOBSEN (independent) 15%

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 30 April 2005 (next to be held April 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of New Zealand; High Court of Niue

Political parties and leaders:

Niue People's Action Party or NPP [Young VIVIAN]; Alliance of Independents or AI [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, FAO, PIF, Sparteca, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand)

Flag description:

yellow with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the flag of the UK bears five yellow five-pointed stars - a large one on a blue disk in the center and a smaller one on each arm of the bold red cross

Economy

Niue

Economy - overview:

The economy suffers from the typical Pacific island problems of geographic isolation, few resources, and a small population. Government expenditures regularly exceed revenues, and the shortfall is made up by critically needed grants from New Zealand that are used to pay wages to public employees. Niue has cut government expenditures by reducing the public service by almost half. The agricultural sector consists mainly of subsistence gardening, although some cash crops are grown for export. Industry consists primarily of small factories to process passion fruit, lime oil, honey, and coconut cream. The sale of postage stamps to foreign collectors is an important source of revenue. The island in recent years has suffered a serious loss of population because of migration of Niueans to New Zealand. Efforts to increase GDP include the promotion of tourism and a financial services industry, although former Premier LAKATANI announced in February 2002 that Niue will shut down the offshore banking industry. Economic aid from New Zealand in 2002 was about $2.6 million. Niue suffered a devastating hurricane in January 2004, which decimated nascent economic programs. While in the process of rebuilding, Niue has been dependent on foreign aid.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$7.6 million (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

-0.3% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $3,600 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA
industry: NA
services: 55%

Labor force:

NA

Labor force - by occupation:

most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board

Unemployment rate:

NA

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1% (1995)

Budget:

revenues: NA
expenditures: NA

Agriculture - products:

coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle

Industries:

tourism, handicrafts, food processing

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

3 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

2.79 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

20 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$137,200 (1999)

Exports - commodities:

canned coconut cream, copra, honey, vanilla, passion fruit products, pawpaws, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts

Exports - partners:

New Zealand mainly, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia (2000)

Imports:

$2.38 million (1999)

Imports - commodities:

food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels, lubricants, chemicals, drugs

Imports - partners:

New Zealand mainly, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Australia, US (2000)

Debt - external:

$418,000 (2002 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$2.6 million from New Zealand (2002)

Currency (code):

New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Currency code:

NZD

Exchange rates:

New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003), 2.1622 (2002), 2.3788 (2001), 2.2012 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

Niue

Telephones - main lines in use:

1,100 est (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

400 (2002)

Telephone system:

domestic: single-line telephone system connects all villages on island
international: country code - 683

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

1,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (1997)

Televisions:

NA

Internet country code:

.nu

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

NA

Transportation

Niue

Highways:

total: 234 km
paved: 86 km
unpaved: 148 km (2001)

Ports and harbors:

none; offshore anchorage only

Airports:

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Niue

Military branches:

no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Transnational Issues

Niue

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Norfolk Island

Introduction

Norfolk Island

Background:

Two British attempts at establishing the island as a penal colony (1788-1814 and 1825-55) were ultimately abandoned. In 1856, the island was resettled by Pitcairn Islanders, descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions.

Geography

Norfolk Island

Location:

Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia

Geographic coordinates:

29 02 S, 167 57 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 34.6 sq km
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:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

subtropical; mild, little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:

volcanic formation with mostly rolling plains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Bates 319 m

Natural resources:

fish

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA

Natural hazards:

typhoons (especially May to July)

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

most of the 32-km coastline consists of almost inaccessible cliffs, but the land slopes down to the sea in one small southern area on Sydney Bay, where the capital of Kingston is situated

People

Norfolk Island

Population:

1,828 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 20.2%
15-64 years: 63.9%
65 years and over: 15.9% (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.01% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

NA

Death rate:

NA

Net migration rate:

NA

Sex ratio:

NA

Infant mortality rate:

total: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Total fertility rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Norfolk Islander(s)
adjective: Norfolk Islander(s)

Ethnic groups:

descendants of the Bounty mutineers, Australian, New Zealander, Polynesians

Religions:

Anglican 34.9%, Roman Catholic 11.7%, Uniting Church in Australia 11.2%, Seventh-Day Adventist 2.8%, Australian Christian 2.4%, Jehovah's Witness 0.9%, other 2.7%, unspecified 15.3%, none 18.1% (2001 census)

Languages:

English (official), Norfolk a mixture of 18th century English and ancient Tahitian

Literacy:

NA

Government

Norfolk Island

Country name:

conventional long form: Territory of Norfolk Island
conventional short form: Norfolk Island

Dependency status:

territory of Australia; Canberra administers Commonwealth responsibilities on Norfolk Island through the Department of Environment, Sport, and Territories

Government type:

NA

Capital:

Kingston

Administrative divisions:

none (territory of Australia)

Independence:

none (territory of Australia)

National holiday:

Bounty Day (commemorates the arrival of Pitcairn Islanders), 8 June (1856)

Constitution:

Norfolk Island Act of 1979

Legal system:

based on the laws of Australia, local ordinances and acts; English common law applies in matters not covered by either Australian or Norfolk Island law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); the UK and Australia are represented by Administrator Grant TAMBLING (since 1 November 2003)
head of government: Assembly President and Chief Minister Geoffrey Robert GARDNER (since 5 December 2001)
cabinet: Executive Council is made up of four of the nine members of the Legislative Assembly; the council devises government policy and acts as an advisor to the administrator
elections: the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia; chief minister elected by the Legislative Assembly for a term of not more than three years; election last held 20 Ocotber 2004 (next to be held by December 2007)
election results: Geoffrey Robert GARDNER elected chief minister; percent of Legislative Assembly vote - 17.2%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Assembly (9 seats; members elected by electors who have nine equal votes each but only four votes can be given to any one candidate; members serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 20 October 2004 (next to be held by December 2007)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9 (note - no political parties)

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Court of Petty Sessions

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (territory of Australia)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territory of Australia)

Flag description:

three vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green with a large green Norfolk Island pine tree centered in the slightly wider white band

Economy

Norfolk Island

Economy - overview:

Tourism, the primary economic activity, has steadily increased over the years and has brought a level of prosperity unusual among inhabitants of the Pacific islands. The agricultural sector has become self-sufficient in the production of beef, poultry, and eggs.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

NA

GDP - real growth rate:

NA

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - NA

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA
industry: NA
services: NA

Labor force:

1,345

Labor force - by occupation:

tourism 90%, subsistence agriculture 10%

Unemployment rate:

0%

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

NA

Budget:

revenues: $20 million
expenditures: $20 million, including capital expenditures of $2 million (FY99/00)

Agriculture - products:

Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals, vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry

Industries:

tourism, light industry, ready mixed concrete

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

NA kWh

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 0%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2002)

Electricity - consumption:

NA kWh

Exports:

$1.5 million f.o.b. (FY99/00)

Exports - commodities:

postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados

Exports - partners:

Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe

Imports:

$17.9 million c.i.f. (FY91/92)

Imports - commodities:

NA

Imports - partners:

Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe

Debt - external:

NA

Economic aid - recipient:

NA

Currency (code):

Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code:

AUD

Exchange rates:

Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001), 1.7248 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Communications

Norfolk Island

Telephones - main lines in use:

2,532; note - a mix of analog (2500) and digital (32) circuits (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

0 (proposed cellular service disallowed in August 2002 island referendum) (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate
domestic: free local calls
international: country code - 672; undersea coaxial cable links with Australia, New Zealand, and Canada; satellite earth station

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)

Radios:

2,500 (1996)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (local programming station plus two repeaters that bring in Australian programs by satellite) (2005)

Televisions:

1,200 (1996)

Internet country code:

.nf

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

700

Transportation

Norfolk Island

Highways:

total: 80 km
paved: 53 km
unpaved: 27 km (2001)

Ports and harbors:

none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade

Airports:

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Norfolk Island

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Australia

Transnational Issues

Norfolk Island

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Niger

Introduction

Niger

Background:

Not until 1993, 33 years after independence from France, did Niger hold its first free and open elections. A 1995 peace accord ended a five-year Tuareg insurgency in the north. Coups in 1996 and 1999 were followed by the creation of a National Reconciliation Council that effected a transition to civilian rule by December 1999. Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world with minimal government services and insufficient funds to develop its resource base. The largely agrarian and subsistence-based economy is frequently disrupted by extended droughts common to the Sahel region of Africa.

Geography

Niger

Location:

Western Africa, southeast of Algeria

Geographic coordinates:

16 00 N, 8 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 1.267 million sq km
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; mostly hot, dry, dusty; tropical in extreme south

Terrain:

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

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Niger River 200 m
highest point: Mont Bagzane 2,022 m

Natural resources:

uranium, coal, iron ore, tin, phosphates, gold, molybdenum, gypsum, salt, petroleum

Land use:

arable land: 3.54%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 96.45% (2001)

Irrigated land:

660 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

recurring droughts

Environment - current issues:

overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification; wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

landlocked; one of the hottest countries in the world: northern four-fifths is desert, southern one-fifth is savanna, suitable for livestock and limited agriculture

People

Niger

Population:

11,665,937 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 47.3% (male 2,811,539/female 2,704,498)
15-64 years: 50.6% (male 2,890,119/female 3,009,281)
65 years and over: 2.1% (male 130,953/female 119,547) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 16.25 years
male: 15.8 years
female: 16.72 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.63% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

48.3 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

21.33 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.1 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 121.69 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 125.93 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 117.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 43.5 years
male: 43.54 years
female: 43.45 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.75 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

70,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

4,800 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria is a high risk in some locations
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Nigerien(s)
adjective: Nigerien

Ethnic groups:

Hausa 56%, Djerma 22%, Fula 8.5%, Tuareg 8%, Beri Beri (Kanouri) 4.3%, Arab, Toubou, and Gourmantche 1.2%, about 1,200 French expatriates

Religions:

Muslim 80%, remainder indigenous beliefs and Christian

Languages:

French (official), Hausa, Djerma

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 17.6%
male: 25.8%
female: 9.7% (2003 est.)

Government

Niger

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Niger
conventional short form: Niger
local long form: Republique du Niger
local short form: Niger

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Niamey

Administrative divisions:

8 regions (regions, singular - region) includes 1 capital district* (commune urbaine); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder

Independence:

3 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday:

Republic Day, 18 December (1958)

Constitution:

new constitution adopted 18 July 1999

Legal system:

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

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President TANDJA Mamadou (since 22 December 1999); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President TANDJA Mamadou (since 22 December 1999); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; Prime Minister Hama AMADOU (since 31 December 1999) was appointed by the president and shares some executive responsibilities with the president
cabinet: 27-member Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; second round last held 4 December 2004 (next to be held December 2009); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: TANDJA Mamadou reelected president; percent of vote - TANDJA Mamadou 65.5%, Mahamadou ISSOUFOU 34.5%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly (113 seats; note - expanded from 83 seats; members elected by popular vote for five-year terms)
elections: last held 4 December 2004 (next to be held December 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - MNSD 47, CDS 22, PNDS 17, RSD 7, RDP 6, ANDP 5, Party for Socialism and Democracy in Niger 1, other 8

Judicial branch:

State Court or Cour d'Etat; Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ANDP [leader NA]; Democratic Rally of the People-Jama'a or RDP-Jama'a [Hamid ALGABID]; Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama or CDS-Rahama [Mahamane OUSMANE]; National Movement for a Developing Society-Nassara or MNSD-Nassara [TANDJA Mamadou, chairman]; Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Social Progress-Zaman Lahiya or ANDPS-Zaman Lahiya [Moumouni Adamou DJERMAKOYE]; Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism-Tarayya or PNDS-Tarayya [Mahamadou ISSOUFOU]; Party for Socialism and Democracy in Niger [leader NA]; Rally for Social Democracy or RSD [Cheiffou AMADOU]; Union of Democratic Patriots and Progressives-Chamoua or UPDP-Chamoua [Professor Andre' SALIFOU, chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph DIATTA
chancery: 2204 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-4224 through 4227
FAX: [1] (202)483-3169

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Gail Dennise Thomas MATHIEU
embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey
mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey
telephone: [227] 72 26 61 through 72 26 64
FAX: [227] 73 31 67, 72-31-46

Flag description:

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

Economy

Niger

Economy - overview:

Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, a landlocked Sub-Saharan nation, whose economy centers on subsistence crops, livestock, and some of the world's largest uranium deposits. Drought cycles, desertification, a 3.3% population growth rate, and the drop in world demand for uranium have undercut the economy. Niger shares a common currency, the CFA franc, and a common central bank, the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), with seven other members of the West African Monetary Union. In December 2000, Niger qualified for enhanced debt relief under the International Monetary Fund program for Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) and concluded an agreement with the Fund on a Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF). Debt relief provided under the enhanced HIPC initiative significantly reduces Niger's annual debt service obligations, freeing funds for expenditures on basic health care, primary education, HIV/AIDS prevention, rural infrastructure, and other programs geared at poverty reduction. Nearly half of the government's budget is derived from foreign donor resources. Future growth may be sustained by exploitation of oil, gold, coal, and other mineral resources.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$9.716 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $900 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 39%
industry: 17%
services: 44% (2001)

Labor force:

70,000 receive regular wages or salaries (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 90%, industry and commerce 6%, government 4%

Unemployment rate:

NA (2002 est.)

Population below poverty line:

63% (1993 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 35.4% (1995)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

50.5 (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3% (2002 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $320 million - including $134 million from foreign sources
expenditures: $320 million, including capital expenditures of $178 million (2002 est.)

Agriculture - products:

cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (tapioca), rice; cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, horses, poultry

Industries:

uranium mining, cement, brick, soap, textiles, food processing, chemicals, slaughterhouses

Industrial production growth rate:

NA (2001 est.)

Electricity - production:

266.2 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

327.6 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

80 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

5,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$280 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:

uranium ore, livestock, cowpeas, onions

Exports - partners:

France 41%, Nigeria 22.4%, Japan 15.3%, Switzerland 6%, Spain 4.1%, Ghana 4% (2004)

Imports:

$400 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals

Imports - partners:

France 14.4%, US 10.3%, French Polynesia 9.4%, Nigeria 7.8%, Cote d'Ivoire 7.5%, Japan 5.2%, China 5.1%, Thailand 4.1% (2004)

Debt - external:

$1.6 billion (1999 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$341 million (1997)

Currency (code):

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States

Currency code:

XOF

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Niger

Telephones - main lines in use:

22,400 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

24,000 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: small system of wire, radio telephone communications, and microwave radio relay links concentrated in the southwestern area of Niger
domestic: wire, radiotelephone communications, and microwave radio relay; domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations and 1 planned
international: country code - 227; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 5, FM 6, shortwave 4 (2001)

Radios:

680,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (2002)

Televisions:

125,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ne

Internet hosts:

134 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:

15,000 (2002)

Transportation

Niger

Highways:

total: 10,100 km
paved: 798 km
unpaved: 9,302 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

300 km
note: Niger River is navigable to Gaya between September and March (2004)

Ports and harbors:

none

Airports:

27 (2004 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 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 18
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Military

Niger

Military branches:

Niger Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN): Army, National Air Force (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,135,680 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,180,027 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 126,719 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$33.3 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.1% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Niger

Disputes - international:

Libya claims about 25,000 sq km in a currently dormant dispute; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria, remains undemarcated, and states expect a ruling in 2005 from the ICJ over the disputed Niger and Mekrou River islands; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty which also includes Chad and Niger

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Vanuatu

Introduction

Vanuatu

Background:

The British and French, who settled the New Hebrides in the 19th century, agreed in 1906 to an Anglo-French Condominium, which administered the islands until independence in 1980.

Geography

Vanuatu

Location:

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Geographic coordinates:

16 00 S, 167 00 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 12,200 sq km
land: 12,200 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes more than 80 islands, about 65 of which are inhabited

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Connecticut

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

2,528 km

Maritime claims:

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds from May to October; moderate rainfall from November to April; may be affected by cyclones from December to April

Terrain:

mostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m

Natural resources:

manganese, hardwood forests, fish

Land use:

arable land: 2.46%
permanent crops: 7.38%
other: 90.16% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA

Natural hazards:

tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanism causes minor earthquakes; tsunamis

Environment - current issues:

a majority of the population does not have access to a reliable supply of potable water; deforestation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

a Y-shaped chain of four main islands and 80 smaller islands; several of the islands have active volcanoes

People

Vanuatu

Population:

205,754 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 33.3% (male 35,039/female 33,553)
15-64 years: 63.1% (male 66,311/female 63,502)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 3,878/female 3,471) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 22.64 years
male: 22.68 years
female: 22.59 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.52% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

23.06 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

7.9 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 55.16 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 57.73 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 52.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 62.49 years
male: 61 years
female: 64.05 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.77 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Ni-Vanuatu (singular and plural)
adjective: Ni-Vanuatu

Ethnic groups:

Ni-Vanuatu 98.5%, other 1.5% (1999 Census)

Religions:

Presbyterian 31.4%, Anglican 13.4%, Roman Catholic 13.1%, Seventh-Day Adventist 10.8%, other Christian 13.8%, indigenous beliefs 5.6% (including Jon Frum cargo cult), other 9.6%, none 1%, unspecified 1.3% (1999 Census)

Languages:

local languages (more than 100) 72.6%, pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama) 23.1%, English 1.9%, French 1.4%, other 0.3%, unspecified 0.7% (1999 Census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74%
male: NA%
female: NA% (1999 est.)

Government

Vanuatu

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu
conventional short form: Vanuatu
former: New Hebrides

Government type:

parliamentary republic

Capital:

Port-Vila (Efate)

Administrative divisions:

6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba

Independence:

30 July 1980 (from France and UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 30 July (1980)

Constitution:

30 July 1980

Legal system:

unified system being created from former dual French and British systems

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Kalkot Matas KELEKELE (since 16 August 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Ham LINI (since 11 December 2004); Deputy Prime Minister Sato KILMAN (since 11 December 2004); Prime Minister Serge VOHOR ousted in no-confidence vote on 11 December 2004
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, responsible to Parliament
elections: president elected for a five-year term by an electoral college consisting of Parliament and the presidents of the regional councils; election for president last held 16 August 2004 (next to be held in 2009); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition is usually elected prime minister by Parliament from among its members; election for prime minister last held 29 July 2004 (next to be held following general elections in 2008)
election results: Kalkot Matas KELEKELE elected president, with 49 votes out of 56, after several ballots on 16 August 2004

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament (52 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 6 July 2004 (next to be held 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP 8, VP 8, NUP 10, VRP 4, MPP 3, VGP 3, other and independent 16; note - political party associations are fluid
note: the National Council of Chiefs advises on matters of culture and language

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition, three other justices are appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission)

Political parties and leaders:

Jon Frum Movement [Song KEASPAI]; Melanesian Progressive Party or MPP [Barak SOPE]; National United Party or NUP [leader NA]; Union of Moderate Parties or UMP [Serge VOHOR]; Vanua'aku Pati (Our Land Party) or VP [Edward NATAPEI]; Vanuatu Republican Party or VRP [Maxime Carlot KORMAN]; Vanuatu Greens Party or VGP [Moana CARCASSES]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

Vanuatu does not have an embassy in the US; it does, however, have a Permanent Mission to the UN

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) all separated by a black-edged yellow stripe in the shape of a horizontal Y (the two points of the Y face the hoist side and enclose the triangle); centered in the triangle is a boar's tusk encircling two crossed namele leaves, all in yellow

Economy

Vanuatu

Economy - overview:

This South Pacific island economy is based primarily on small-scale agriculture, which provides a living for 65% of the population. Fishing, offshore financial services, and tourism, with about 50,000 visitors in 2004, are other mainstays of the economy. Mineral deposits are negligible; the country has no known petroleum deposits. A small light industry sector caters to the local market. Tax revenues come mainly from import duties. Economic development is hindered by dependence on relatively few commodity exports, vulnerability to natural disasters, and long distances from main markets and between constituent islands. GDP growth rose less than 3% on average in the 1990s. In response to foreign concerns, the government has promised to tighten regulation of its offshore financial center. In mid-2002 the government stepped up efforts to boost tourism. Agriculture, especially livestock farming, is a second target for growth. Australia and New Zealand are the main suppliers of tourists and foreign aid.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$580 million (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.1% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $2,900 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 26%
industry: 12%
services: 62% (2000 est.)

Labor force:

NA

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 65%, industry 5%, services 30% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

NA%

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.1% (2003 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $52.6 million
expenditures: $54.3 million, including capital expenditures of $700,000 (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products:

copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, coconuts, fruits, vegetables; fish, beef

Industries:

food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning

Industrial production growth rate:

1% (1997 est.)

Electricity - production:

48.42 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

45.03 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

600 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$26.6 million f.o.b. (2003)

Exports - commodities:

copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee

Exports - partners:

Thailand 47%, Malaysia 18.4%, Japan 7.5%, Belgium 5.4%, China 4.9% (2004)

Imports:

$138 million c.i.f. (2002)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels

Imports - partners:

Taiwan 24%, Australia 16.5%, Japan 11.4%, Singapore 8.5%, New Zealand 7.2%, Fiji 6.3%, US 4.4% (2004)

Debt - external:

$83.7 million (2002)

Economic aid - recipient:

$27.5 million (2002)

Currency (code):

vatu (VUV)

Currency code:

VUV

Exchange rates:

vatu per US dollar - 111.79 (2004), 122.19 (2003), 139.2 (2002), 145.31 (2001), 137.64 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Vanuatu

Telephones - main lines in use:

6,500 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

7,800 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 678; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2004)

Radios:

67,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2004)

Televisions:

2,300 (1999)

Internet country code:

.vu

Internet hosts:

512 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

7,500 (2003)

Transportation

Vanuatu

Highways:

total: 1,070 km
paved: 256 km
unpaved: 814 km (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors:

Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo)

Merchant marine:

total: 52 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,192,474 GRT/1,560,828 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 22, cargo 16, container 1, liquefied gas 2, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 2, vehicle carrier 5
foreign-owned: 52 (Australia 2, Canada 5, Estonia 1, Greece 1, Israel 1, Japan 25, New Zealand 1, Poland 11, Russia 1, Switzerland 2, Thailand 1, United States 1)
registered in other countries: 1 (2005)

Airports:

30 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1524 to 2437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 27
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 17 (2004 est.)

Military

Vanuatu

Military branches:

no regular military forces; security forces comprise the Vanuatu Police Force (VPF) and paramilitary Vanuatu Mobile Force (VMF), which includes Vanuatu's naval force, known as the Police Maritime Wing (PMW); border security in Vanuatu is the joint responsibility of the Customs and Inland Revenue Service, VPF, VMF, and PMW (2003)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Transnational Issues

Vanuatu

Disputes - international:

Matthew and Hunter Islands east of New Caledonia claimed by Vanuatu and France

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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The World Factbook

Nigeria

Introduction

Nigeria

Background:

Following nearly 16 years of military rule, a new constitution was adopted in 1999, and a peaceful transition to civilian government was completed. The president faces the daunting task of rebuilding a petroleum-based economy, whose revenues have been squandered through corruption and mismanagement, and institutionalizing democracy. In addition, the OBASANJO administration must defuse longstanding ethnic and religious tensions, if it is to build a sound foundation for economic growth and political stability. Despite some irregularities, the April 2003 elections marked the first civilian transfer of power in Nigeria's history.

Geography

Nigeria

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the Gulf of Guinea, between Benin and Cameroon

Geographic coordinates:

10 00 N, 8 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 923,768 sq km
land: 910,768 sq km
water: 13,000 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than twice the size of California

Land boundaries:

total: 4,047 km
border countries: Benin 773 km, Cameroon 1,690 km, Chad 87 km, Niger 1,497 km

Coastline:

853 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

varies; equatorial in south, tropical in center, arid in north

Terrain:

southern lowlands merge into central hills and plateaus; mountains in southeast, plains in north

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Chappal Waddi 2,419 m

Natural resources:

natural gas, petroleum, tin, iron ore, coal, limestone, niobium, lead, zinc, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 31.29%
permanent crops: 2.96%
other: 65.75% (2001)

Irrigated land:

2,330 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

periodic droughts; flooding

Environment - current issues:

soil degradation; rapid deforestation; urban air and water pollution; desertification; oil pollution - water, air, and soil; has suffered serious damage from oil spills; loss of arable land; rapid urbanization

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the Niger enters the country in the northwest and flows southward through tropical rain forests and swamps to its delta in the Gulf of Guinea

People

Nigeria

Population:

128,771,988
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 42.3% (male 27,466,766/female 27,045,092)
15-64 years: 54.6% (male 35,770,593/female 34,559,414)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 1,874,157/female 2,055,966) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.63 years
male: 18.71 years
female: 18.55 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.37% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

40.65 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

17.18 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 98.8 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 105.69 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 91.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 46.74 years
male: 46.21 years
female: 47.29 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.53 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

5.4% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

3.6 million (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

310,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: one of the most highly endemic areas for Lassa fever (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Nigerian(s)
adjective: Nigerian

Ethnic groups:

Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is composed of more than 250 ethnic groups; the following are the most populous and politically influential: Hausa and Fulani 29%, Yoruba 21%, Igbo (Ibo) 18%, Ijaw 10%, Kanuri 4%, Ibibio 3.5%, Tiv 2.5%

Religions:

Muslim 50%, Christian 40%, indigenous beliefs 10%

Languages:

English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo), Fulani

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 68%
male: 75.7%
female: 60.6% (2003 est.)

Government

Nigeria

Country name:

conventional long form: Federal Republic of Nigeria
conventional short form: Nigeria

Government type:

federal republic

Capital:

Abuja; note - on 12 December 1991 the capital was officially transferred from Lagos to Abuja; most federal government offices have now moved to Abuja

Administrative divisions:

36 states and 1 territory*; Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Federal Capital Territory*, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nassarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara

Independence:

1 October 1960 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day (National Day), 1 October (1960)

Constitution:

new constitution adopted May 1999

Legal system:

based on English common law, Islamic Shariah law (in 12 northern states), and traditional law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Olusegun OBASANJO (since 29 May 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Olusegun OBASANJO (since 29 May 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Federal Executive Council
elections: president is elected by popular vote for no more than two four-year terms; election last held 19 April 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)
election results: Olusegun OBASANJO elected president; percent of vote - Olusegun OBASANJO (PDP) 61.9%, Muhammadu BUHARI (ANPP) 31.2%, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu OJUKWU (APGA) 3.3%, other 3.6%

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Assembly consists of Senate (109 seats - 3 from each state plus one from Abuja, members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and House of Representatives (346 seats, members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 12 April 2003 (next to be held NA 2007); House of Representatives - last held 12 April 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PDP 53.7%, ANPP 27.9%, AD 9.7%; seats by party - PDP 76, ANPP 27, AD 6; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDP 54.5%, ANPP 27.4%, AD 8.8%, other 9.3%; seats by party - PDP 223, ANPP 96, AD 34, other 6; note - one seat is vacant

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges appointed by the President); Federal Court of Appeal (judges are appointed by the federal government on the advice of the Advisory Judicial Committee)

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance for Democracy or AD [Alhaji Adamu ABDULKADIR]; All Nigeria Peoples' Party or ANPP [Don ETIEBET]; All Progressives Grand Alliance or APGA [Chekwas OKORIE]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Aliyu Habu FARI]; Peoples Democratic Party or PDP [Dr. Ahmadu ALI]; Peoples Redemption Party or PRP [Abdulkadir Balarabe MUSA]; Peoples Salvation Party or PSP [Lawal MAITURARE]; United Nigeria Peoples Party or UNPP [Saleh JAMBO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force or NDPVF [Mujahid Dokubo ASARI]; Nigerian Labor Congress or NLC [Adams OSHIOMOLE]

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Professor George A. OBIOZOR
chancery: 3519 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 986-8400
FAX: [1] (202) 775-1385
consulate(s) general: Atlanta and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador John CAMPBELL
embassy: 7 Mambilla Drive, Abuja
mailing address: P. O. Box 554, Lagos
telephone: [234] (9) 523-0916/0906/5857/2235/2205
FAX: [234] (9) 523-0353

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), white, and green

Economy

Nigeria

Economy - overview:

Oil-rich Nigeria, long hobbled by political instability, corruption, inadequate infrastructure, and poor macroeconomic management, is undertaking some reforms under the new civilian administration. Nigeria's former military rulers failed to diversify the economy away from overdependence on the capital-intensive oil sector, which provides 20% of GDP, 95% of foreign exchange earnings, and about 65% of budgetary revenues. The largely subsistence agricultural sector has failed to keep up with rapid population growth - Nigeria is Africa's most populous country - and the country, once a large net exporter of food, now must import food. Following the signing of an IMF stand-by agreement in August 2000, Nigeria received a debt-restructuring deal from the Paris Club and a $1 billion credit from the IMF, both contingent on economic reforms. Nigeria pulled out of its IMF program in April 2002, after failing to meet spending and exchange rate targets, making it ineligible for additional debt forgiveness from the Paris Club. In the last year the government has begun showing the political will to implement the market-oriented reforms urged by the IMF, such as to modernize the banking system, to curb inflation by blocking excessive wage demands, and to resolve regional disputes over the distribution of earnings from the oil industry. During 2003 the government began deregulating fuel prices, announced the privatization of the country's four oil refineries, and instituted the National Economic Empowerment Development Strategy, a domestically designed and run program modeled on the IMF's Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility for fiscal and monetary management. GDP rose strongly in 2004.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$125.7 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.2% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,000 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 36.3%
industry: 30.5%
services: 33.3% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

55.67 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 70%, industry 10%, services 20% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:

NA

Population below poverty line:

60% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 40.8% (1996-97)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

50.6 (1996-97)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

16.5% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

18% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $11.78 billion
expenditures: $11.47 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

20% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, corn, rice, sorghum, millet, cassava (tapioca), yams, rubber; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs; timber; fish

Industries:

crude oil, coal, tin, columbite, palm oil, peanuts, cotton, rubber, wood, hides and skins, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food products, footwear, chemicals, fertilizer, printing, ceramics, steel, small commercial ship construction and repair

Industrial production growth rate:

1.8% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

19.85 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 61.9%
hydro: 38.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

18.43 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

30 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

2.356 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

275,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

34 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

15.68 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

7.85 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

7.83 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

4.007 trillion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$5.228 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$33.99 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber

Exports - partners:

US 47.5%, Brazil 10.7%, Spain 7.1% (2004)

Imports:

$17.14 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, chemicals, transport equipment, manufactured goods, food and live animals

Imports - partners:

China 9.4%, US 8.4%, UK 7.8%, Netherlands 5.9%, France 5.4%, Germany 4.9%, Italy 4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$14.71 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$30.55 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

IMF $250 million (1998)

Currency (code):

naira (NGN)

Currency code:

NGN

Exchange rates:

nairas per US dollar - 132.89 (2004), 129.22 (2003), 120.58 (2002), 111.23 (2001), 101.7 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Nigeria

Telephones - main lines in use:

853,100 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

3,149,500 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: an inadequate system, further limited by poor maintenance; major expansion is required and a start has been made
domestic: intercity traffic is carried by coaxial cable, microwave radio relay, a domestic communications satellite system with 19 earth stations, and a coastal submarine cable; mobile cellular facilities and the Internet are available
international: country code - 234; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 83, FM 36, shortwave 11 (2001)

Radios:

23.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (the government controls 2 of the broadcasting stations and 15 repeater stations) (2002)

Televisions:

6.9 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.ng

Internet hosts:

1,142 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

11 (2000)

Internet users:

750,000 (2003)

Transportation

Nigeria

Railways:

total: 3,557 km
narrow gauge: 3,505 km 1.067-m gauge
standard gauge: 52 km 1.435-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 194,394 km
paved: 60,068 km (including 1,194 km of expressways)
unpaved: 134,326 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

8,600 km (Niger and Benue rivers and smaller rivers and creeks) (2004)

Pipelines:

condensate 105 km; gas 1,896 km; oil 3,638 km; refined products 3,626 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Calabar, Lagos, Onne, Port Harcourt

Merchant marine:

total: 46 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 327,808 GRT/608,076 DWT
by type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 6, combination ore/oil 1, liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 31, refrigerated cargo 1
foreign-owned: 3 (Norway 2, Pakistan 1)
registered in other countries: 25 (2005)

Airports:

70 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 36
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 34
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 18 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

Nigeria

Military branches:

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 26,804,314 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 15,053,936 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 1,353,161 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$544.6 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.8% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Nigeria

Disputes - international:

ICJ ruled in 2002 on the entire Cameroon-Nigeria land and maritime boundary but the parties formed a Joint Border Commission to resolve differences bilaterally and have commenced with demarcation in less-contested sections of the boundary, starting in Lake Chad in the north; Nigeria initially rejected cession of the Bakassi Peninsula, then agreed, but has yet to withdraw its forces while much of the indigenous population opposes cession; in 2004, some 17,000 Nigerian refugees fleeing ethnic conflicts between pastoralists and farmers in 2002 still reside in Cameroon; the ICJ ruled on an equidistance settlement of Cameroon-Equatorial Guinea-Nigeria maritime boundary in the Gulf of Guinea, but imprecisely defined coordinates in the ICJ decision, the unresolved Bakasi allocation, and a sovereignty dispute between Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon over an island at the mouth of the Ntem River all contribute to the delay in implementation; a joint task force was established in 2004 that resolved disputes over and redrew the maritime and the 870-km land boundary with Benin on the Okpara River; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty which also includes Chad and Niger

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 250,000 (communal violence between Christians and Muslims since President OBASANJO's election in 1999) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

a transit point for heroin and cocaine intended for European, East Asian, and North American markets; safehaven for Nigerian narcotraffickers operating worldwide; major money-laundering center; massive corruption and criminal activity; remains on Financial Action Task Force Non-Cooperative Countries and Territories List for continued failure to address deficiencies in money-laundering control regime

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Netherlands

Introduction

Netherlands

Background:

The Kingdom of the Netherlands was formed in 1815. In 1830 Belgium seceded and formed a separate kingdom. The Netherlands remained neutral in World War I, but suffered invasion and occupation by Germany in World War II. A modern, industrialized nation, the Netherlands is also a large exporter of agricultural products. The country was a founding member of NATO and the EEC (now the EU), and participated in the introduction of the euro in 1999.

Geography

Netherlands

Location:

Western Europe, bordering the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany

Geographic coordinates:

52 30 N, 5 45 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 41,526 sq km
land: 33,883 sq km
water: 7,643 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Land boundaries:

total: 1,027 km
border countries: Belgium 450 km, Germany 577 km

Coastline:

451 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

temperate; marine; cool summers and mild winters

Terrain:

mostly coastal lowland and reclaimed land (polders); some hills in southeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Zuidplaspolder -7 m
highest point: Vaalserberg 322 m

Natural resources:

natural gas, petroleum, peat, limestone, salt, sand and gravel, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 26.71%
permanent crops: 0.97%
other: 72.32% (2001)

Irrigated land:

5,650 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

flooding

Environment - current issues:

water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic compounds, and nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air pollution from vehicles and refining activities; acid rain

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

Geography - note:

located at mouths of three major European rivers (Rhine, Maas or Meuse, and Schelde)

People

Netherlands

Population:

16,407,491 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 18.1% (male 1,523,316/female 1,453,232)
15-64 years: 67.8% (male 5,627,007/female 5,491,802)
65 years and over: 14.1% (male 974,037/female 1,338,097) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 39.04 years
male: 38.22 years
female: 39.9 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.53% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

11.14 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

8.68 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.04 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.62 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.81 years
male: 76.25 years
female: 81.51 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.66 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

19,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Dutchman(men), Dutchwoman(women)
adjective: Dutch

Ethnic groups:

Dutch 83%, other 17% (of which 9% are non-Western origin mainly Turks, Moroccans, Antilleans, Surinamese, and Indonesians) (1999 est.)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 31%, Dutch Reformed 13%, Calvinist 7%, Muslim 5.5%, other 2.5%, none 41% (2002)

Languages:

Dutch (official), Frisian (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (2000 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Netherlands

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of the Netherlands
conventional short form: Netherlands
local long form: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden
local short form: Nederland

Government type:

constitutional monarchy

Capital:

Amsterdam; The Hague is the seat of government

Administrative divisions:

12 provinces (provincies, singular - provincie); Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland (Fryslan), Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg, Noord-Brabant, Noord-Holland, Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland

Dependent areas:

Aruba, Netherlands Antilles

Independence:

23 January 1579 (the northern provinces of the Low Countries conclude the Union of Utrecht breaking with Spain; it was not until 1648 that Spain recognized their independence)

National holiday:

Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA in 1909 and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX in 1980), 30 April

Constitution:

adopted 1815; amended many times, last time 2002

Legal system:

civil law system incorporating French penal theory; constitution does not permit judicial review of acts of the States General; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen BEATRIX (since 30 April 1980); Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), son of the monarch
head of government: Prime Minister Jan Peter BALKENENDE (since 22 July 2002) and Deputy Prime Ministers Gerrit ZALM (since 27 May 2003) and Laurens Jan BRINKHORST (since 31 March 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; following Second Chamber elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch; vice prime ministers appointed by the monarch
note: there is also a Council of State composed of the monarch, heir apparent, and councilors that provides consultations to the cabinet on legislative and administrative policy

Legislative branch:

bicameral States General or Staten Generaal consists of the First Chamber or Eerste Kamer (75 seats; members indirectly elected by the country's 12 provincial councils for four-year terms) and the Second Chamber or Tweede Kamer (150 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: First Chamber - last held 25 May 2003 (next to be held May 2007); Second Chamber - last held 22 January 2003 (next to be held May 2007)
election results: First Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CDA 23, PvdA 19, VVD 15, Green Party 5, Socialist Party 4, D66 3, other 6; Second Chamber - percent of vote by party - CDA 28.6%, PvdA 27.3%, VVD 12.9%, Socialist Party 6.3%, List Pim Fortuyn 5.7%, Green Party 5.1%, D66 4.1%; seats by party - CDA 44, PvdA 42, VVD 28, Socialist Party 9, List Pim Fortuyn 8, Green Party 8, D66 6, other 5

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (justices are nominated for life by the monarch)

Political parties and leaders:

Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Maxime Jacques Marcel VERHAGEN]; Christian Union Party [Andre ROUVOET]; Democrats 66 or D66 [Boris DITTRICH]; Green Party [Femke HALSEMA]; Labor Party or PvdA [Wouter BOS]; List Pim Fortuyn [Gerard van AS]; People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (Liberal) or VVD [Jozias VAN AARTSEN]; Socialist Party [Jan MARIJNISSEN]; plus a few minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Netherlands Trade Union Federation (FNV) (consisting of a merger of Socialist and Catholic trade unions); Christian Trade Union Federation (CNV); Trade Union Federation of Middle and High Personnel (MHP); Federation of Catholic and Protestant Employers Associations; Interchurch Peace Council or IKV; large multinational firms; the nondenominational Federation of Netherlands Enterprises

International organization participation:

AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Boudewijn J. VAN EENENNAAM
chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 244-5300
FAX: [1] (202) 362-3430
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
consulate(s): Boston

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Clifford M. SOBEL
embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague
mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715
telephone: [31] (70) 310-9209
FAX: [31] (70) 361-4688
consulate(s) general: Amsterdam

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue; similar to the flag of Luxembourg, which uses a lighter blue and is longer; one of the oldest flags in constant use, originating with WILLIAM I, Prince of Orange, in the latter half of the 16th century

Economy

Netherlands

Economy - overview:

The Netherlands has a prosperous and open economy, which depends heavily on foreign trade. The economy is noted for stable industrial relations, moderate unemployment and inflation, a sizable current account surplus, and an important role as a European transportation hub. Industrial activity is predominantly in food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining, and electrical machinery. A highly mechanized agricultural sector employs no more than 4% of the labor force but provides large surpluses for the food-processing industry and for exports. The Netherlands, along with 11 of its EU partners, began circulating the euro currency on 1 January 2002. The country continues to be one of the leading European nations for attracting foreign direct investment. Economic growth slowed considerably in 2001-04, as part of the global economic slowdown, but for the four years before that, annual growth averaged nearly 4%, well above the EU average.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$481.1 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.2% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $29,500 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.4%
industry: 24.5%
services: 73.1% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

7.53 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 4%, industry 23%, services 73% (1998 est.)

Unemployment rate:

6% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 25.1% (1994)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

32.6 (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.4% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $256.9 billion
expenditures: $274.4 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

55.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables; livestock

Industries:

agroindustries, metal and engineering products, electrical machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum, construction, microelectronics, fishing

Industrial production growth rate:

0.8% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

90.61 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 89.9%
hydro: 0.1%
nuclear: 4.3%
other: 5.7% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

100.7 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

4.5 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

20.9 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

46,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

895,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

1.418 million bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:

2.284 million bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

88.06 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

77.75 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

49.72 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

49.28 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

20.78 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.693 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$19.9 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$293.1 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs

Exports - partners:

Germany 25%, Belgium 12.4%, UK 10.1%, France 9.9%, Italy 6%, US 4.3% (2004)

Imports:

$252.7 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs, clothing

Imports - partners:

Germany 17.9%, Belgium 9.9%, US 7.9%, China 7.4%, UK 6.4%, France 4.8% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$21.44 billion (2003)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $4 billion (2003 est.)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries

Currency code:

EUR

Exchange rates:

euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Netherlands

Telephones - main lines in use:

10.004 million (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

12.5 million (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: highly developed and well maintained
domestic: extensive fixed-line fiber-optic network; cellular telephone system is one of the largest in Europe with five major network operators utilizing the third generation of the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)
international: country code - 31; 9 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions) (2004)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 4, FM 246, shortwave 3 (2004)

Radios:

15.3 million (1996)

Television broadcast stations:

21 (plus 26 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

8.1 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.nl

Internet hosts:

4,518,226 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

52 (2000)

Internet users:

8.5 million (2003)

Transportation

Netherlands

Railways:

total: 2,808 km
standard gauge: 2,808 km 1.435-m gauge (2,061 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 116,500 km
paved: 104,850 km (including 2,235 km of expressways)
unpaved: 11,650 km (1999)

Waterways:

5,046 km (navigable for ships of 50 tons) (2004)

Pipelines:

condensate 325 km; gas 6,998 km; oil 590 km; refined products 716 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Amsterdam, Groningen, Ijmuiden, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Vlissingen, Zaanstad

Merchant marine:

total: 558 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,796,460 GRT/5,212,557 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 14, cargo 361, chemical tanker 32, container 48, liquefied gas 13, passenger 11, passenger/cargo 14, petroleum tanker 14, refrigerated cargo 32, roll on/roll off 15, specialized tanker 4
foreign-owned: 139 (Bahamas 5, Belgium 2, Canada 1, Denmark 4, Finland 7, Germany 62, Ireland 13, Norway 9, Sweden 19, United Kingdom 6, United States 11)
registered in other countries: 223 (2005)

Airports:

27 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 20
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

Netherlands

Military branches:

Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force (Koninklijke Luchtmacht, KLu), Royal Constabulary, Defense Interservice Command (DICO) (2004)

Military service age and obligation:

20 years of age for an all-volunteer force (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 20-49: 3,557,918 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 20-49: 2,856,691 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 99,934 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$9.408 billion (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.6% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Netherlands

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

major European producer of ecstasy, illicit amphetamines, and other synthetic drugs; important gateway for cocaine, heroin, and hashish entering Europe; major source of US-bound ecstasy; large financial sector vulnerable to money laundering

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Norway

Introduction

Norway

Background:

Two centuries of Viking raids into Europe tapered off following the adoption of Christianity by King Olav TRYGGVASON in 994. Conversion of the Norwegian kingdom occurred over the next several decades. In 1397, Norway was absorbed into a union with Denmark that was to last for more than four centuries. In 1814, Norwegians resisted the cession of their country to Sweden and adopted a new constitution. Sweden then invaded Norway but agreed to let Norway keep its constitution in return for accepting the union under a Swedish king. Rising nationalism throughout the 19th century led to a 1905 referendum granting Norway independence. Although Norway remained neutral in World War I, it suffered heavy losses to its shipping. Norway proclaimed its neutrality at the outset of World War II, but was nonetheless occupied for five years by Nazi Germany (1940-45). In 1949, neutrality was abandoned and Norway became a member of NATO. Discovery of oil and gas in adjacent waters in the late 1960s boosted Norway's economic fortunes. The current focus is on containing spending on the extensive welfare system and planning for the time when petroleum reserves are depleted. In referenda held in 1972 and 1994, Norway rejected joining the EU.

Geography

Norway

Location:

Northern Europe, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Sweden

Geographic coordinates:

62 00 N, 10 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 324,220 sq km
land: 307,860 sq km
water: 16,360 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries:

total: 2,542 km
border countries: Finland 727 km, Sweden 1,619 km, Russia 196 km

Coastline:

25,148 km (includes mainland 2,650 km, as well as long fjords, numerous small islands, and minor indentations 22,498 km; length of island coastlines 58,133 km)

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 10 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm

Climate:

temperate along coast, modified by North Atlantic Current; colder interior with increased precipitation and colder summers; rainy year-round on west coast

Terrain:

glaciated; mostly high plateaus and rugged mountains broken by fertile valleys; small, scattered plains; coastline deeply indented by fjords; arctic tundra in north

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
highest point: Galdhopiggen 2,469 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, titanium, pyrites, nickel, fish, timber, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 2.87%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.13% (2001)

Irrigated land:

1,270 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

rockslides, avalanches

Environment - current issues:

water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and adversely affecting lakes, threatening fish stocks; air pollution from vehicle emissions

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

about two-thirds mountains; some 50,000 islands off its much indented coastline; strategic location adjacent to sea lanes and air routes in North Atlantic; one of most rugged and longest coastlines in world

People

Norway

Population:

4,593,041 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 19.5% (male 459,418/female 437,734)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 1,531,249/female 1,484,656)
65 years and over: 14.8% (male 286,343/female 393,641) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 38.17 years
male: 37.29 years
female: 39.07 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.4% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

11.67 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

9.45 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 3.7 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.07 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.4 years
male: 76.78 years
female: 82.17 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.78 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

2,100 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Norwegian(s)
adjective: Norwegian

Ethnic groups:

Norwegian, Sami 20,000

Religions:

Church of Norway 85.7%, Pentecostal 1%, Roman Catholic 1%, other Christian 2.4%, Muslim 1.8%, other 8.1% (2004)

Languages:

Bokmal Norwegian (official), Nynorsk Norwegian (official), small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%

Government

Norway

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Norway
conventional short form: Norway
local long form: Kongeriket Norge
local short form: Norge

Government type:

constitutional monarchy

Capital:

Oslo

Administrative divisions:

19 counties (fylker, singular - fylke); Akershus, Aust-Agder, Buskerud, Finnmark, Hedmark, Hordaland, More og Romsdal, Nordland, Nord-Trondelag, Oppland, Oslo, Ostfold, Rogaland, Sogn og Fjordane, Sor-Trondelag, Telemark, Troms, Vest-Agder, Vestfold

Dependent areas:

Bouvet Island, Jan Mayen, Svalbard

Independence:

7 June 1905 (Norway declared the union with Sweden dissolved); 26 October 1905 (Sweden agreed to the repeal of the union)

National holiday:

Constitution Day, 17 May (1814)

Constitution:

17 May 1814; amended many times

Legal system:

mixture of customary law, civil law system, and common law traditions; Supreme Court renders advisory opinions to legislature when asked; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: King HARALD V (since 17 January 1991); Heir Apparent Crown Prince HAAKON MAGNUS, son of the monarch (born 20 July 1973)
head of government: Prime Minister Jens STOLTENBERG (since 17 October 2005)
cabinet: State Council appointed by the monarch with the approval of parliament
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following parliamentary elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch with the approval of the parliament

Legislative branch:

modified unicameral Parliament or Storting (169 seats; members are elected by popular vote by proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 12 September 2005 (next to be held September 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - Labor Party 32.7%, Progress Party 22.1%, Conservative Party 14.1%, Socialist Left Party 8.8%, Christian People's Party 6.8%, Center Party 6.5%, Liberal Party 5.9%, Red Electoral Alliance 1.2%, other 1.9%; seats by party - Labor Party 61, Progress Party 38, Conservative Party 23, Socialist Left Party 15, Christian People's Party 11, Center Party 11, Liberal Party 10
note: for certain purposes, the parliament divides itself into two chambers and elects one-fourth of its membership to an upper house or Lagting

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Hoyesterett (justices appointed by the monarch)

Political parties and leaders:

Center Party [Aslaug Marie HAGA]; Christian People's Party [Dagfinn HOYBRATEN]; Coastal Party [Roy WAAGE]; Conservative Party [Erna SOLBERG]; Labor Party [Jens STOLTENBERG]; Liberal Party [Lars SPONHEIM]; Progress Party [Carl I. HAGEN]; Socialist Left Party [Kristin HALVORSEN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, ESA, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Knut VOLLEBAEK
chancery: 2720 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 333-6000
FAX: [1] (202) 337-0870
consulate(s) general: Houston, Minneapolis, New York, and San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador John D. ONG
embassy: Drammensveien 18, 0244 Oslo
mailing address: PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707
telephone: [47] (22) 44 85 50
FAX: [47] (22) 44 33 63

Flag description:

red with a blue cross outlined in white that extends to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Economy

Norway

Economy - overview:

The Norwegian economy is a prosperous bastion of welfare capitalism, featuring a combination of free market activity and government intervention. The government controls key areas, such as the vital petroleum sector (through large-scale state enterprises). The country is richly endowed with natural resources - petroleum, hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals - and is highly dependent on its oil production and international oil prices, with oil and gas accounting for one-third of exports. Only Saudi Arabia and Russia export more oil than Norway. Norway opted to stay out of the EU during a referendum in November 1994; nonetheless, it contributes sizably to the EU budget. The government has moved ahead with privatization. With arguably the highest quality of life worldwide, Norwegians still worry about that time in the next two decades when the oil and gas will begin to run out. Accordingly, Norway has been saving its oil-boosted budget surpluses in a Government Petroleum Fund, which is invested abroad and now is valued at more than $150 billion. After lackluster growth of 1% in 2002 and 0.5% in 2003, GDP growth picked up to 3.3% in 2004.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$183 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.3% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $40,000 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.2%
industry: 36.3%
services: 61.6% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

2.38 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture, forestry, and fishing 4%, industry 22%, services 74% (1995)

Unemployment rate:

4.3% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 21.8% (1995)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

25.8 (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

17.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $134 billion
expenditures: $116.8 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

33.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

barley, wheat, potatoes; pork, beef, veal, milk; fish

Industries:

petroleum and gas, food processing, shipbuilding, pulp and paper products, metals, chemicals, timber, mining, textiles, fishing

Industrial production growth rate:

5.2% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

125.9 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 0.4%
hydro: 99.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.4% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

107.4 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

15 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

5.3 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

3.31 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

171,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

3.466 million bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:

88,870 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

9.859 billion bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

54.6 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

4.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

50.5 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.716 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$30.52 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$76.64 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and equipment, metals, chemicals, ships, fish

Exports - partners:

UK 22.4%, Germany 12.9%, Netherlands 9.9%, France 9.6%, US 8.4%, Sweden 6.7% (2004)

Imports:

$45.96 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Sweden 15.7%, Germany 13.6%, Denmark 7.3%, UK 6.5%, China 5%, US 4.9%, Netherlands 4.4%, France 4.3%, Finland 4.1% (2004)

Debt - external:

$0 (Norway is a net external creditor) (2003 est.)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $1.4 billion (1998)

Currency (code):

Norwegian krone (NOK)

Currency code:

NOK

Exchange rates:

Norwegian kroner per US dollar - 6.7408 (2004), 7.0802 (2003), 7.9838 (2002), 8.9917 (2001), 8.8018 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Norway

Telephones - main lines in use:

3.343 million (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

4,163,400 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern in all respects; one of the most advanced telecommunications networks in Europe
domestic: Norway has a domestic satellite system; moreover, the prevalence of rural areas encourages the wide use of cellular mobile systems instead of fixed-wire systems
international: country code - 47; 2 buried coaxial cable systems; 4 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations - NA Eutelsat, NA Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Norway shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden) (1999)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 5, FM at least 650, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

4.03 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

360 (plus 2,729 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

2.03 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.no

Internet hosts:

593,850 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

13 (2000)

Internet users:

2.288 million (2002)

Transportation

Norway

Railways:

total: 4,077 km
standard gauge: 4,077 km 1.435-m gauge (2,518 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 91,852 km
paved: 71,185 km (including 178 km of expressways)
unpaved: 20,667 km (2002)

Pipelines:

condensate 411 km; gas 6,199 km; oil 2,213 km; oil/gas/water 746 km; unknown (oil/water) 38 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Borg Havn, Bergen, Mo i Rana, Molde, Mongstad, Narvik, Oslo, Sture

Merchant marine:

total: 740 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 18,820,495 GRT/27,449,456 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 51, cargo 168, chemical tanker 142, combination ore/oil 20, container 3, liquefied gas 81, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 113, petroleum tanker 79, refrigerated cargo 6, roll on/roll off 30, vehicle carrier 42
foreign-owned: 174 (Belgium 1, China 3, Cyprus 5, Denmark 28, Estonia 2, Finland 5, Germany 4, Hong Kong 52, Iceland 3, Italy 3, Japan 3, Lithuania 1, Monaco 1, Netherlands 4, Poland 2, Saudi Arabia 7, Singapore 10, Sweden 24, United States 16)
registered in other countries: 1,117 (2005)

Airports:

101 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 65
2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 26 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 36
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 29 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

Norway

Military branches:

Norwegian Army, Royal Norwegian Navy (includes Coastal Rangers and Coast Guard (Kystvakt)), Royal Norwegian Air Force (Kongelige Norske Luftforsvaret, RNoAF), Home Guard

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age in wartime; 17 years of age for male volunteers; 18 years of age for women; 16 years of age for volunteers to the Home Guard; conscript service obligation - 12 months (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,014,592 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 827,016 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 29,179 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$4,033.5 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.9% (2003)

Transnational Issues

Norway

Disputes - international:

Norway asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Queen Maud Land and its continental shelf); despite recent discussions, Russia and Norway continue to dispute their maritime limits in the Barents Sea and Russia's fishing rights beyond Svalbard's territorial limits within the Svalbard Treaty zone

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Nepal

Introduction

Nepal

Background:

In 1951, the Nepalese monarch ended the century-old system of rule by hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system of government. Reforms in 1990 established a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. A Maoist insurgency, launched in 1996, has gained traction and is threatening to bring down the regime, especially after a negotiated cease-fire between the Maoists and government forces broke down in August 2003. In 2001, the crown prince massacred ten members of the royal family, including the king and queen, and then took his own life. In October 2002, the new king dismissed the prime minister and his cabinet for "incompetence" after they dissolved the parliament and were subsequently unable to hold elections because of the ongoing insurgency. While stopping short of reestablishing parliament, the king in June 2004 reinstated the most recently elected prime minister who formed a four-party coalition government, which the king subsequently tasked with paving the way for elections to be held in spring of 2005. Citing dissatisfaction with the government's lack of progress in addressing the Maoist insurgency, the king in February 2005 dissolved the government and assumed power.

Geography

Nepal

Location:

Southern Asia, between China and India

Geographic coordinates:

28 00 N, 84 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 140,800 sq km
land: 136,800 sq km
water: 4,000 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Arkansas

Land boundaries:

total: 2,926 km
border countries: China 1,236 km, India 1,690 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

varies from cool summers and severe winters in north to subtropical summers and mild winters in south

Terrain:

Tarai or flat river plain of the Ganges in south, central hill region, rugged Himalayas in north

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m
highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m

Natural resources:

quartz, water, timber, hydropower, scenic beauty, small deposits of lignite, copper, cobalt, iron ore

Land use:

arable land: 21.68%
permanent crops: 0.64%
other: 77.68% (2001)

Irrigated land:

11,350 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, and famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer monsoons

Environment - current issues:

deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives); contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

landlocked; strategic location between China and India; contains eight of world's 10 highest peaks, including Mount Everest - the world's tallest - on the border with China

People

Nepal

Population:

27,676,547 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 39% (male 5,575,157/female 5,221,794)
15-64 years: 57.3% (male 8,137,410/female 7,720,691)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 499,039/female 522,456) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 20.07 years
male: 19.91 years
female: 20.24 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.2% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

31.45 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

9.47 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 66.98 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 65.25 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 68.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 59.8 years
male: 60.09 years
female: 59.5 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.19 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.5% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

61,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

3,100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Nepalese (singular and plural)
adjective: Nepalese

Ethnic groups:

Chhettri 15.5%, Brahman-Hill 12.5%, Magar 7%, Tharu 6.6%, Tamang 5.5%, Newar 5.4%, Muslim 4.2%, Kami 3.9%, Yadav 3.9%, other 32.7%, unspecified 2.8% (2001 census)

Religions:

Hindu 80.6%, Buddhist 10.7%, Muslim 4.2%, Kirant 3.6%, other 0.9% (2001 census)
note: only official Hindu state in the world

Languages:

Nepali 47.8%, Maithali 12.1%, Bhojpuri 7.4%, Tharu (Dagaura/Rana) 5.8%, Tamang 5.1%, Newar 3.6%, Magar 3.3%, Awadhi 2.4%, other 10%, unspecified 2.5% (2001 census)
note: many in government and business also speak English

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 45.2%
male: 62.7%
female: 27.6% (2003 est.)

Government

Nepal

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Nepal
conventional short form: Nepal

Government type:

parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy

Capital:

Kathmandu

Administrative divisions:

14 zones (anchal, singular and plural); Bagmati, Bheri, Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi, Lumbini, Mahakali, Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti

Independence:

1768 (unified by Prithvi Narayan Shah)

National holiday:

Birthday of King GYANENDRA, 7 July (1946)

Constitution:

9 November 1990

Legal system:

based on Hindu legal concepts and English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: King GYANENDRA Bir Bikram Shah (succeeded to the throne 4 June 2001 following the death of his nephew, King DIPENDRA Bir Bikram Shah)
head of government: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur DEUBA; note - the Prime Minister resigned in Februrary 2005
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the prime minister; note - the King dissolved the Cabinet in February 2005
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch
note: King BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev died in a bloody shooting at the royal palace on 1 June 2001 that also claimed the lives of most of the royal family; King BIRENDRA's son, Crown Price DIPENDRA, is believed to have been responsible for the shootings before fatally wounding himself; immediately following the shootings and while still clinging to life, DIPENDRA was crowned king; he died three days later and was succeeded by his uncle

Legislative branch:

: bicameral Parliament consists of the National Council (60 seats; 35 appointed by the House of Representatives, 10 by the king, and 15 elected by an electoral college; one-third of the members elected every two years to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives (205 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 3 and 17 May 1999 (next election NA); note - Nepal's Parliament was dissolved on 22 May 2002
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NC 37.3%, CPN/UML 31.6%, NDP 10.4%, NSP 3.2%, Rastriya Jana Morcha 1.4%, Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal 0.8%, NWPP 0.5%, others 14.8%; seats by party - NC 113, CPN/UML 69, NDP 11, NSP 5, Rastriya Jana Morcha 5, Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal 1, NWPP 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Sarbochha Adalat (chief justice is appointed by the monarch on recommendation of the Constitutional Council; the other judges are appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Judicial Council)

Political parties and leaders:

Communist Party of Nepal/United Marxist-Leninist or CPN/UML [Madhav Kumar NEPAL, general secretary]; National Democratic Party or NDP (also called Rastriya Prajantra Party or RPP) [Surya Bahadur THAPA, chairman]; People's Front Nepal (Rastriya Jana Morcha) [Chitra BAHADUR, chairman]; Nepali Congress-Democratic [Sher Bahadur DEUBA, president]; Nepali Congress or NC [Girija Prasad KOIRALA, party president; Sushil KOIRALA, general secretary]; Nepal Sadbhavana (Goodwill) Party or NSP [Bhadri Prasad MANDAL, acting party president]; Nepal Workers and Peasants Party or NWPP [Narayan Man BIJUKCHHE, party chairman]; Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Maoist guerrilla-based insurgency [Pushpa Kamal DAHAL, also known as PRAHANDA, chairman; Dr. Baburam BHATTARAI, from Communist Party of Nepal/Maoist, chief negotiator]; numerous small, left-leaning student groups in the capital; several small, radical Nepalese antimonarchist groups

International organization participation:

AsDB, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MICAH, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNOCI, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, WToO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Kedar Bhakta SHRESTHA
chancery: 2131 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 667-4550
FAX: [1] (202) 667-5534
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador James F. MORIARTY
embassy: Panipokhari, Kathmandu
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [977] (1) 411179
FAX: [977] (1) 419963

Flag description:

red with a blue border around the unique shape of two overlapping right triangles; the smaller, upper triangle bears a white stylized moon and the larger, lower triangle bears a white 12-pointed sun

Economy

Nepal

Economy - overview:

Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world with 40% of its population living below the poverty line. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing a livelihood for over 80% of the population and accounting for 40% of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of agricultural produce including jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain. Security concerns in the wake of the Maoist conflict have led to a decrease in tourism, a key source of foreign exchange. Nepal has considerable scope for exploiting its potential in hydropower and tourism, areas of recent foreign investment interest. Prospects for foreign trade or investment in other sectors will remain poor, however, because of the small size of the economy, its technological backwardness, its remoteness, its landlocked geographic location, its civil strife, and its susceptibility to natural disaster.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$39.53 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,500 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 40%
industry: 20%
services: 40% (2002 est.)

Labor force:

10 million
note: severe lack of skilled labor (1996 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 81%, industry 3%, services 16%

Unemployment rate:

47% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:

42% (1995-96)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 29.8% (1995-96)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

36.7 (FY95/96)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.9% (2002 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $665 million
expenditures: $1.1 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (FY99/00 est.)

Agriculture - products:

rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops; milk, water buffalo meat

Industries:

tourism, carpet, textile; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed mills; cigarette; cement and brick production

Industrial production growth rate:

8.7% (FY99/00)

Electricity - production:

2.054 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 8.5%
hydro: 91.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

2.005 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

142 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

237 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

16,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$568 million f.o.b., but does not include unrecorded border trade with India (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:

carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain

Exports - partners:

India 47.4%, US 22.7%, Germany 8.4% (2004)

Imports:

$1.419 billion f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:

gold, machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer

Imports - partners:

India 46.3%, China 10.8%, UAE 9.3%, Saudi Arabia 4.1% (2004)

Debt - external:

$2.7 billion (2001)

Economic aid - recipient:

$424 million (FY00/01)

Currency (code):

Nepalese rupee (NPR)

Currency code:

NPR

Exchange rates:

Nepalese rupees per US dollar - 73.674 (2004), 76.141 (2003), 77.877 (2002), 74.949 (2001), 71.094 (2000)

Fiscal year:

16 July - 15 July

Communications

Nepal

Telephones - main lines in use:

371,800 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

50,400 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: poor telephone and telegraph service; fair radiotelephone communication service and mobile cellular telephone network
domestic: NA
international: country code - 977; radiotelephone communications; microwave landline to India; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (January 2000)

Radios:

840,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (plus 9 repeaters) (1998)

Televisions:

130,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.np

Internet hosts:

917 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6 (2000)

Internet users:

80,000 (2002)

Transportation

Nepal

Railways:

total: 59 km
narrow gauge: 59 km 0.762-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 13,223 km
paved: 4,073 km
unpaved: 9,150 km (1999 est.)

Airports:

46 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 9
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 37
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 29 (2004 est.)

Military

Nepal

Military branches:

Royal Nepalese Army (includes Royal Nepalese Army Air Service), Nepalese Police Force

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 6,107,091 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 4.193 million (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 308,031 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$99.2 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.5% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Nepal

Disputes - international:

joint border commission continues to work on small disputed sections of boundary with India; India has instituted a stricter border regime to restrict transit of Maoist insurgents and illegal cross-border activities

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 104,235 (Bhutan)
IDPs: 100,000-200,000 (ongoing conflict between government forces and Maoist rebels; displacement spread across the country) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

illicit producer of cannabis and hashish for the domestic and international drug markets; transit point for opiates from Southeast Asia to the West

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Nauru

Introduction

Nauru

Background:

Nauru's phosphate deposits began to be mined early in the 20th century by a German-British consortium; the island was occupied by Australian forces in World War I. Nauru achieved independence in 1968 and joined the UN in 1999. Nauru is the world's smallest independent republic.

Geography

Nauru

Location:

Oceania, island in the South Pacific Ocean, south of the Marshall Islands

Geographic coordinates:

0 32 S, 166 55 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 21 sq km
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:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical with a monsoonal pattern; rainy season (November to February)

Terrain:

sandy beach rises to fertile ring around raised coral reefs with phosphate plateau in center

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location along plateau rim 61 m

Natural resources:

phosphates, fish

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA

Natural hazards:

periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

limited natural fresh water resources, roof storage tanks collect rainwater, but mostly dependent on a single, aging desalination plant; intensive phosphate mining during the past 90 years - mainly by a UK, Australia, and NZ consortium - has left the central 90% of Nauru a wasteland and threatens limited remaining land resources

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

Nauru is one of the three great phosphate rock islands in the Pacific Ocean - the others are Banaba (Ocean Island) in Kiribati and Makatea in French Polynesia; only 53 km south of Equator

People

Nauru

Population:

13,048 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 37.5% (male 2,511/female 2,379)
15-64 years: 60.6% (male 3,895/female 4,012)
65 years and over: 1.9% (male 132/female 119) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 20.24 years
male: 19.76 years
female: 20.78 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.83% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

25.14 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.82 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.11 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 9.95 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 12.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 62.73 years
male: 59.16 years
female: 66.48 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.19 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Nauruan(s)
adjective: Nauruan

Ethnic groups:

Nauruan 58%, other Pacific Islander 26%, Chinese 8%, European 8%

Religions:

Christian (two-thirds Protestant, one-third Roman Catholic)

Languages:

Nauruan (official, a distinct Pacific Island language), English widely understood, spoken, and used for most government and commercial purposes

Literacy:

definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Nauru

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Nauru
conventional short form: Nauru
former: Pleasant Island

Government type:

republic

Capital:

no official capital; government offices in Yaren District

Administrative divisions:

14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan, Anibare, Baiti, Boe, Buada, Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe, Yaren

Independence:

31 January 1968 (from the Australia-, NZ-, and UK-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 31 January (1968)

Constitution:

29 January 1968; amended 17 May 1968 (Constitution Day)

Legal system:

acts of the Nauru Parliament and British common law

Suffrage:

20 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Ludwig SCOTTY (since 26 October 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Ludwig SCOTTY (since 26 October 2004); 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 23 October 2004 (next to be held NA 2007)
election results: Ludwig SCOTTY was unopposed in the parliamentary elections for president

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament (18 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 3 May 2003 (next to be held not later than May 2006)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - Nauru First Party 3, independents 15

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

loose multiparty system; Democratic Party [Kennan ADEANG]; Nauru Party (informal) [leader NA]; Naoero Amo (Nauru First) Party [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, ICAO, ICCt, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

Nauru does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a UN office at 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400 D, New York, New York 10017; telephone: (212) 937-0074
consulate(s): Agana (Guam)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Nauru

Flag description:

blue with a narrow, horizontal, yellow stripe across the center and a large white 12-pointed star below the stripe on the hoist side; the star indicates the country's location in relation to the Equator (the yellow stripe) and the 12 points symbolize the 12 original tribes of Nauru

Economy

Nauru

Economy - overview:

Revenues of this tiny island have traditionally come from exports of phosphates, but reserves are now depleted. Few other resources exist with most necessities being imported, mainly from Australia, its former occupier and later major source of support. The rehabilitation of mined land and the replacement of income from phosphates are serious long-term problems. In anticipation of the exhaustion of Nauru's phosphate deposits, substantial amounts of phosphate income have been invested in trust funds to help cushion the transition and provide for Nauru's economic future. As a result of heavy spending from the trust funds, the government faces virtual bankruptcy. To cut costs the government has called for a freeze on wages, a reduction of over-staffed public service departments, privatization of numerous government agencies, and closure of some overseas consulates. In recent years Nauru has encouraged the registration of offshore banks and corporations. In 2004 the deterioration in housing, hospitals, and other capital plant continued, and the cost to Australia of keeping the government and economy afloat has substantially mounted. Few comprehensive statistics on the Nauru economy exist, with estimates of Nauru's GDP varying widely.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$60 million (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

NA

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA
industry: NA
services: NA

Labor force - by occupation:

employed in mining phosphates, public administration, education, and transportation

Unemployment rate:

90% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

-3.6% (1993)

Budget:

revenues: $23.4 million
expenditures: $64.8 million, including capital expenditures of NA (FY95/96)

Agriculture - products:

coconuts

Industries:

phosphate mining, offshore banking, coconut products

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

30 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

27.9 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$640,000 f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

phosphates

Exports - partners:

South Africa 43.4%, Germany 20.7%, India 11.8%, Japan 7.2%, Poland 4% (2004)

Imports:

$19.8 million c.i.f. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery

Imports - partners:

Australia 65.6%, Indonesia 5.4%, Germany 5.3%, UK 4.4% (2004)

Debt - external:

$33.3 million (2002)

Economic aid - recipient:

$2.25 million from Australia (FY96/97 est.)

Currency (code):

Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code:

AUD

Exchange rates:

Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001), 1.7248 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Communications

Nauru

Telephones - main lines in use:

1,900 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,500 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate local and international radiotelephone communication provided via Australian facilities
domestic: NA
international: country code - 674; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

7,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (1997)

Televisions:

500 (1997)

Internet country code:

.nr

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

300 (2002)

Transportation

Nauru

Highways:

total: 30 km
paved: 24 km
unpaved: 6 km (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors:

Nauru

Airports:

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Nauru

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Nauru Police Force

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,874 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,963 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Military - note:

Nauru maintains no defense forces; under an informal agreement, defense is the responsibility of Australia

Transnational Issues

Nauru

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

offshore banking recently stopped, remains on Financial Action Task Force Non-Cooperative Countries and Territories List for continued failure to address deficiencies in money-laundering control regime

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Suriname

Introduction

Suriname

Background:

Independence from the Netherlands was granted in 1975. Five years later the civilian government was replaced by a military regime that soon declared a socialist republic. It continued to rule through a succession of nominally civilian administrations until 1987, when international pressure finally forced a democratic election. In 1989, the military overthrew the civilian government, but a democratically-elected government returned to power in 1991.

Geography

Suriname

Location:

Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between French Guiana and Guyana

Geographic coordinates:

4 00 N, 56 00 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total: 163,270 sq km
land: 161,470 sq km
water: 1,800 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Georgia

Land boundaries:

total: 1,707 km
border countries: Brazil 597 km, French Guiana 510 km, Guyana 600 km

Coastline:

386 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; moderated by trade winds

Terrain:

mostly rolling hills; narrow coastal plain with swamps

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m
highest point: Juliana Top 1,230 m

Natural resources:

timber, hydropower, fish, kaolin, shrimp, bauxite, gold, and small amounts of nickel, copper, platinum, iron ore

Land use:

arable land: 0.37%
permanent crops: 0.06%
other: 99.57% (2001)

Irrigated land:

490 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of inland waterways by small-scale mining activities

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

smallest independent country on South American continent; mostly tropical rain forest; great diversity of flora and fauna that, for the most part, is increasingly threatened by new development; relatively small population, mostly along the coast

People

Suriname

Population:

438,144 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 29.6% (male 66,537/female 63,182)
15-64 years: 64.2% (male 144,285/female 136,942)
65 years and over: 6.2% (male 12,092/female 15,106) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 26.13 years
male: 25.72 years
female: 26.58 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.25% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

18.39 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

7.16 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-8.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 23.57 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 27.57 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 68.96 years
male: 66.75 years
female: 71.27 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.34 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.7% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

5,200 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 500 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Surinamer(s)
adjective: Surinamese

Ethnic groups:

Hindustani (also known locally as "East Indians"; their ancestors emigrated from northern India in the latter part of the 19th century) 37%, Creole (mixed white and black) 31%, Javanese 15%, "Maroons" (their African ancestors were brought to the country in the 17th and 18th centuries as slaves and escaped to the interior) 10%, Amerindian 2%, Chinese 2%, white 1%, other 2%

Religions:

Hindu 27.4%, Protestant 25.2% (predominantly Moravian), Roman Catholic 22.8%, Muslim 19.6%, indigenous beliefs 5%

Languages:

Dutch (official), English (widely spoken), Sranang Tongo (Surinamese, sometimes called Taki-Taki, is native language of Creoles and much of the younger population and is lingua franca among others), Hindustani (a dialect of Hindi), Javanese

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88%
male: 92.3%
female: 84.1% (2000 est.)

Government

Suriname

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

Government type:

constitutional democracy

Capital:

Paramaribo

Administrative divisions:

10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo, Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo, Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica

Independence:

25 November 1975 (from Netherlands)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 25 November (1975)

Constitution:

ratified 30 September 1987

Legal system:

based on Dutch legal system incorporating French penal theory

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12 August 2000); Vice President Jules Rattankoemar AJODHIA (since 12 August 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12 August 2000); Vice President Jules Rattankoemar AJODHIA (since 12 August 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly
elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly or, if no presidential or vice presidential candidate receives a a two-thirds constitutional majority in the National Assembly after two votes, by a simple majority in the larger People's United Assembly (869 representatives from the national, local, and regional councils), for five-year terms; election last held 25 May 2005 (next to be held 25 May 2010)

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Nationale Assemblee (51 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 25 May 2005 (next to be held May 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NF 41.2%, NDP 23.1%, VVV 14.5%, A-Com 7.3%, A1 6.2%, other 5.9%; seats by party - NF 23, NDP 15, VVV 5, A-Com 5, A1 3

Judicial branch:

Cantonal Courts and a Court of Justice as an appellate court (justices are nominated for life)

Political parties and leaders:

A-Combinatie (coalition of Brotherhood and Unity in Politics or BEP [Caprino ALENDY], General Interior Development Party or ABOP [Ronnie BRUNSWIJK], Progressive Laborers and Farmers Union or PALU [Jim HOK], Seeka [Paul ABENA]); Alternative-1 or A-1 (a coalition of Democratic Alternative 1991 or DA-91 [Winston JESSURUN], Democrats of the 21st Century or D-21 [Soewarto MOESTADJA], Nieuw Suriname or NS [Radjen Nanan PANDAY], Political Wing of the FAL or PVF [Jiwan SITAL], Trefpunt 2000 or T-2000 [Arti JESSURUN]); National Democratic Party or NDP [Desire BOUTERSE]; New Front for Democracy and Development or NF (a coalition includes National Party Suriname or NPS (Ronald VENETIAAN], United Reform Party or VHP [Ram SARDJOE], Pertjaja Luhur or PL [Salam Paul SOMOHARDJO], Surinamese Labor Party or SPA [Siegfried GILDS]); Party for Democracy and Development in Unity or DOE [Marten Schalkwijk]; People's Alliance for Progress or VVV (a coalition of Democratic National Platform 2000 or DNP-2000 [Jules WIJDENBOSCH], Grassroots Party for Renewal and Democracy or BVD [Tjan GOBARDHAN], Party for National Unity and Solidarity of the Highest Order or KTPI [Willy SOEMITA], Party for Progression, Justice, and Perserverance or PPRS [Renee KAIMAN], Pendawalima or PL [Raymond SAPOEN]); Union of Progressive Surinamers or UPS [Sheoradj PANDAY]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Association of Indigenous Village Chiefs [Ricardo PANE]; Association of Saramaccan Authorities or Maroon [Head Captain WASE]; Women's Parliament Forum or PVF [Iris GILLIAD]

International organization participation:

ACP, Caricom, CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIC, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Henry Lothar ILLES
chancery: Suite 460, 4301 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 244-7488
FAX: [1] (202) 244-5878
consulate(s) general: Miami

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Marsha E. BARNES
embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo
mailing address: Department of State, 3390 Paramaribo Place, Washington, DC, 20521-3390
telephone: [597] 472900
FAX: [597] 420800

Flag description:

five horizontal bands of green (top, double width), white, red (quadruple width), white, and green (double width); there is a large, yellow, five-pointed star centered in the red band

Economy

Suriname

Economy - overview:

The economy is dominated by the alumina industry, which accounts for more than 15% of GDP and 70% of export earnings. Suriname's economic prospects for the medium term will depend on continued commitment to responsible monetary and fiscal policies and to the introduction of structural reforms to liberalize markets and promote competition. The government of Ronald VENETIAAN has begun an austerity program, raised taxes, and attempted to control spending. While - in 2002 - President VENETIAAN agreed to a large pay raise for civil servants, threatening his earlier gains in stabilizing the economy, he has not repeated this promise in the run-up to the May 2005 elections. The Dutch Government has agreed to restart the aid flow, which will allow Suriname to access international development financing, but plans to phase out funds over the next five years. The short-term economic outlook depends on the government's ability to control inflation and on the development of projects in the bauxite and gold mining sectors. Prospects for local onshore oil production are good, as a drilling program is underway. Offshore oil drilling was given a boost in 2004 when the State Oil Company (Staatsolie) signed exploration agreements with Repsol and Mearsk.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.885 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.2% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $4,300 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 13%
industry: 22%
services: 65% (2001 est.)

Labor force:

104,000 (2003)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Unemployment rate:

17% (2000)

Population below poverty line:

70% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

23% (2003 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $400 million
expenditures: $440 million, including capital expenditures of $34 million (2003)

Agriculture - products:

paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts; beef, chickens; forest products; shrimp

Industries:

bauxite and gold mining, alumina production, oil, lumbering, food processing, fishing

Industrial production growth rate:

6.5% (1994 est.)

Electricity - production:

1.984 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 25.2%
hydro: 74.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

1.845 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

12,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

14,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:

1,370 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports:

1,644 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - proved reserves:

99 million bbl (2004)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (2004)

Exports:

$495 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities:

alumina, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas

Exports - partners:

Norway 29.3%, US 15.1%, Canada 12.5%, Belgium 10.2%, France 8.4%, UAE 6.1%, Iceland 4.3% (2004)

Imports:

$604 million f.o.b. (2002)

Imports - commodities:

capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods

Imports - partners:

US 26.2%, Netherlands 19.3%, Trinidad and Tobago 13.5%, Japan 6.6%, China 4.6%, Brazil 4.2% (2004)

Debt - external:

$321 million (2002 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

Netherlands provided $37 million for project and program assistance, European Development Fund $4 million, Belgium $2 million (1998)

Currency (code):

Surinam dollar (SRD)

Currency code:

SRG

Exchange rates:

Surinamese dollars per US dollar - 2.7336 (2004), Surinamese guilders per US dollar - 2.6013 (2003), 2.3468 (2002), 2.1785 (2001), 1.3225 (2000)
note: during 1998, the exchange rate splintered into four distinct rates; in January 1999 the government floated the guilder, but subsequently fixed it when the black-market rate plunged; in January 2004, the government introduced the Surinamese dollar as replacement for the guilder, tied to a US dollar-dominated currency basket

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Suriname

Telephones - main lines in use:

79,800 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

168,100 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: international facilities are good
domestic: microwave radio relay network
international: country code - 597; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 4, FM 13, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

300,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (plus seven repeaters) (2000)

Televisions:

63,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.sr

Internet hosts:

18 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

20,000 (2002)

Transportation

Suriname

Highways:

total: 4,492 km
paved: 1,168 km
unpaved: 3,324 km (2002)

Waterways:

1,200 km (most navigable by ships with drafts up to 7 m) (2003)

Pipelines:

oil 51 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Paramaribo

Merchant marine:

total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,078 GRT/1,214 DWT
by type: cargo 1 (2005)

Airports:

46 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 41
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 35 (2004 est.)

Military

Suriname

Military branches:

National Army (includes small Navy and Air Force elements)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.); no conscription

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 111,582 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 77,793 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$7.5 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.7% (2003)

Transnational Issues

Suriname

Disputes - international:

area claimed by French Guiana between Riviere Litani and Riviere Marouini (both headwaters of the Lawa); Suriname claims a triangle of land between the New and Kutari/Koetari rivers in a historic dispute over the headwaters of the Courantyne; Guyana seeks UNCLOS arbitration to resolve the long-standing dispute with Suriname over the axis of the territorial sea boundary in potentially oil-rich waters

Illicit drugs:

growing transshipment point for South American drugs destined for Europe and Brazil; transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Netherlands Antilles

Introduction

Netherlands Antilles

Background:

Once the center of the Caribbean slave trade, the island of Curacao was hard hit by the abolition of slavery in 1863. Its prosperity (and that of neighboring Aruba) was restored in the early 20th century with the construction of oil refineries to service the newly discovered Venezuelan oil fields. The island of Saint Martin is shared with France; its southern portion is named Sint Maarten and is part of the Netherlands Antilles; its northern portion is called Saint-Martin and is part of Guadeloupe (France).

Geography

Netherlands Antilles

Location:

Caribbean, two island groups in the Caribbean Sea - composed of five islands, Curacao and Bonaire located off the coast of Venezuela, and St. Maarten, Saba, and St. Eustatius lie east of the US 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:

more than five times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

total: 10.2 km
border countries: Guadeloupe (Saint-Martin) 10.2 km

Coastline:

364 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm

Climate:

tropical; ameliorated by northeast trade winds

Terrain:

generally hilly, volcanic interiors

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Scenery 862 m

Natural resources:

phosphates (Curacao only), salt (Bonaire only)

Land use:

arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 90% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean hurricane belt and are rarely threatened; Sint Maarten, Saba, and Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes from July to October

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

the five islands of the Netherlands Antilles are divided geographically into the Leeward Islands (northern) group (Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten) and the Windward Islands (southern) group (Bonaire and Curacao)

People

Netherlands Antilles

Population:

219,958 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 24.2% (male 27,302/female 26,002)
15-64 years: 67.3% (male 70,838/female 77,148)
65 years and over: 8.5% (male 7,673/female 10,995) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 32.46 years
male: 30.86 years
female: 34.01 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.82% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

15 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.41 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 10.03 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 10.82 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.83 years
male: 73.58 years
female: 78.2 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Dutch Antillean(s)
adjective: Dutch Antillean

Ethnic groups:

mixed black 85%, Carib Amerindian, white, East Asian

Religions:

Roman Catholic 72%, Pentecostal 4.9%, Protestant 3.5%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.1%, Methodist 2.9%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.7%, other Christian 4.2%, Jewish 1.3%, other or unspecified 1.2%, none 5.2% (2001 census)

Languages:

Papiamento 65.4% (a Spanish-Portuguese-Dutch-English dialect), English 15.9% (widely spoken), Dutch 7.3% (official), Spanish 6.1%, Creole 1.6%, other 1.9%, unspecified 1.8% (2001 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.7%
male: 96.7%
female: 96.8% (2003 est.)

Government

Netherlands Antilles

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Netherlands Antilles
local long form: none
local short form: Nederlandse Antillen
former: Curacao and Dependencies

Dependency status:

an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands; full autonomy in internal affairs granted in 1954; Dutch Government responsible for defense and foreign affairs

Government type:

parliamentary

Capital:

Willemstad; note - located on Curacao, the largest of the islands

Administrative divisions:

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
note: each island has its own government

Independence:

none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

National holiday:

Queen's Day (Birthday of Queen-Mother JULIANA in 1909 and accession to the throne of her oldest daughter BEATRIX in 1980), 30 April

Constitution:

29 December 1954, Statute of the Realm of the Netherlands, as amended

Legal system:

based on Dutch civil law system with some English common law influence

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30 April 1980), represented by Governor General Frits GOEDGEDRAG (since 1 July 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Etienne YS (since 3 June 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the Staten (legislature)
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch for a six-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually elected prime minister by the Staten; election last held 18 January 2002 (next to be held by NA 2006)
note: government coalition - PAR, PNP, PLKP, DP St. Maarten, UP Bonaire, WIPM Saba, DP Statia

Legislative branch:

unicameral States or Staten (22 seats - Curacao 14, Bonaire 3, St. Maarten 3, St. Eustatius 1, Saba 1; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 18 January 2002 (next to be held in 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PAR 4, PNP 3, PLKP 2, DP St. M 2, UP Bonaire 2, WIPM 1, DP
note: the government of Prime Minister Etienne YS is a coalition of several parties; current government formed after collapse of FOL led government on 4 April 2004

Judicial branch:

Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by the monarch)

Political parties and leaders:

Antillean Restructuring Party or PAR [Etienne YS]; C 93 [Stanley BROWN]; Democratic Party of Bonaire or PDB [Jopi ABRAHAM]; Democratic Party of Curacao or DP [Errol HERNANDEZ]; Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E [Julian WOODLEY]; Democratic Party of Sint Maarten or DP-St. M [Sarah WESCOTT-WILLIAMS]; Foundation Energetic Management Anti-Narcotics or FAME [Eric LODEWIJKS]; Labor Party People's Crusade or PLKP [Errol COVA]; National Alliance [William MARLIN]; National People's Party or PNP [Susanne F. C. CAMELIA-ROMER]; New Antilles Movement or MAN [Kenneth GIJSBERTHA]; Patriotic Union of Bonaire or UP Bonaire [Ramonsito BOOI]; Patriotic Movement of Sint Maarten or SPA [Vance JAMES, Jr.]; People's Party or PAPU [Richard HODI]; Pro Curacao Party or PPK [Winston LOURENS]; Saba Democratic Labor Movement [Steve HASSELL]; Saba Unity Party [Carmen SIMMONDS]; St. Eustatius Alliance or SEA [Kenneth VAN PUTTEN]; Serious Alternative People's Party or Sapp [Julian ROLLOCKS]; Social Action Cause or KAS [Benny DEMEI]; Windward Islands People's Movement or WIPM [Will JOHNSTON]; Workers' Liberation Front or FOL [Anthony GODETT, Rignald LAK, Editha WRIGHT]
note: political parties are indigenous to each island

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UPU, WCL, WCO, WMO, WToO (associate)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (represented by the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Consul General Robert E. SORENSON
consulate(s) general: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad AN, Curacao
mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao
telephone: [599] (9) 4613066
FAX: [599] (9) 4616489

Flag description:

white, with a horizontal blue stripe in the center superimposed on a vertical red band, also centered; five white, five-pointed stars are arranged in an oval pattern in the center of the blue band; the five stars represent the five main islands of Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten

Economy

Netherlands Antilles

Economy - overview:

Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore finance are the mainstays of this small economy, which is closely tied to the outside world. Although GDP has declined or grown slightly in each of the past eight years, the islands enjoy a high per capita income and a well-developed infrastructure compared with other countries in the region. Almost all consumer and capital goods are imported, the US and Mexico being the major suppliers. Poor soils and inadequate water supplies hamper the development of agriculture. Budgetary problems hamper reform of the health and pension systems of an aging population.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.45 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

0.5% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $11,400 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1%
industry: 15%
services: 84% (2000 est.)

Labor force:

89,000 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 1%, industry 13%, services 86% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

15.6% (2002 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.1% (2003 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $710.8 million
expenditures: $741.6 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1997 est.)

Agriculture - products:

aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical fruit

Industries:

tourism (Curacao, Sint Maarten, and Bonaire), petroleum refining (Curacao), petroleum transshipment facilities (Curacao and Bonaire), light manufacturing (Curacao)

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

1.005 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

934.3 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

72,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$1.579 billion f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum products

Exports - partners:

US 20.4%, Panama 11.2%, Guatemala 8.8%, Haiti 7.1%, Bahamas, The 5.6%, Honduras 4.2% (2004)

Imports:

$2.233 billion f.o.b. (2002)

Imports - commodities:

crude petroleum, food, manufactures

Imports - partners:

Venezuela 51.1%, US 21.9%, Netherlands 5% (2004)

Debt - external:

$1.35 billion (1996)

Economic aid - recipient:

IMF provided $61 million in 2000, and the Netherlands continued its support with $40 million (2000)

Currency (code):

Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG)

Currency code:

ANG

Exchange rates:

Netherlands Antillean guilders per US dollar - 1.79 (2004), 1.79 (2003), 1.79 (2002), 1.79 (2001), 1.79 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Netherlands Antilles

Telephones - main lines in use:

81,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

81,000 (2001)

Telephone system:

general assessment: generally adequate facilities
domestic: extensive interisland microwave radio relay links
international: country code - 599; submarine cables - 2; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

217,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (there is also a cable service, which supplies programs received from various US satellite networks and two Venezuelan channels) (2004)

Televisions:

69,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.an

Internet hosts:

119 (2001)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6

Internet users:

2,000 (2000)

Transportation

Netherlands Antilles

Highways:

total: 600 km
paved: 300 km
unpaved: 300 km

Ports and harbors:

Bopec Terminal, Fuik Bay, Kralendijk, Willemstad

Merchant marine:

total: 168 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,317,007 GRT/1,668,499 DWT
by type: barge carrier 3, bulk carrier 23, cargo 72, chemical tanker 2, container 21, liquefied gas 6, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 30, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 2
foreign-owned: 158 (Belgium 5, Cyprus 1, Denmark 1, Germany 57, Hong Kong 3, Netherlands 71, Peru 1, Sweden 9, Turkey 7, United Kingdom 2, United States 1) (2005)

Airports:

5 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
2038 to 3047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Netherlands Antilles

Military branches:

National Guard, Police Force

Military service age and obligation:

16 years of age for military recruitment; no conscription (July 2002)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 54,200 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 45,273 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 1,720 (2005 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Transnational Issues

Netherlands Antilles

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for South American drugs bound for the US and Europe; money-laundering center

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Nicaragua

Introduction

Nicaragua

Background:

The Pacific Coast of Nicaragua was settled as a Spanish colony from Panama in the early 16th century. Independence from Spain was declared in 1821 and the country became an independent republic in 1838. Britain occupied the Caribbean Coast in the first half of the 19th century, but gradually ceded control of the region in subsequent decades. Violent opposition to governmental manipulation and corruption spread to all classes by 1978 and resulted in a short-lived civil war that brought the Marxist Sandinista guerrillas to power in 1979. Nicaraguan aid to leftist rebels in El Salvador caused the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista contra guerrillas through much of the 1980s. Free elections in 1990, 1996, and again in 2001 saw the Sandinistas defeated. The country has slowly rebuilt its economy during the 1990s, but was hard hit by Hurricane Mitch in 1998.

Geography

Nicaragua

Location:

Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Costa Rica and Honduras

Geographic coordinates:

13 00 N, 85 00 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 129,494 sq km
land: 120,254 sq km
water: 9,240 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than the state of New York

Land boundaries:

total: 1,231 km
border countries: Costa Rica 309 km, Honduras 922 km

Coastline:

910 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 200 nm
continental shelf: natural prolongation

Climate:

tropical in lowlands, cooler in highlands

Terrain:

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

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mogoton 2,438 m

Natural resources:

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

Land use:

arable land: 15.94%
permanent crops: 1.94%
other: 82.12% (2001)

Irrigated land:

880 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides; extremely susceptible to hurricanes

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Geography - note:

largest country in Central America; contains the largest freshwater body in Central America, Lago de Nicaragua

People

Nicaragua

Population:

5,465,100 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 37.2% (male 1,036,487/female 999,226)
15-64 years: 59.7% (male 1,623,065/female 1,638,017)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 73,935/female 94,370) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 20.56 years
male: 20.15 years
female: 20.98 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.92% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

24.88 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

4.49 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 29.11 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 32.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 25.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.33 years
male: 68.27 years
female: 72.49 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.81 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

6,400 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 500 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Nicaraguan(s)
adjective: Nicaraguan

Ethnic groups:

mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 69%, white 17%, black 9%, Amerindian 5%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 72.9%, Evangelical 15.1%, Moravian 1.5%, Episcopal 0.1%, other 1.9%, none 8.5% (1995 census)

Languages:

Spanish 97.5% (official), Miskito 1.7%, other 0.8% (1995 census)
note: English and indigenous languages on Atlantic coast

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 67.5%
male: 67.2%
female: 67.8% (2003 est.)

Government

Nicaragua

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Nicaragua
conventional short form: Nicaragua
local long form: Republica de Nicaragua
local short form: Nicaragua

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Managua

Administrative divisions:

15 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 2 autonomous regions* (regiones autonomistas, singular - region autonomista); Atlantico Norte*, Atlantico Sur*, Boaco, Carazo, Chinandega, Chontales, Esteli, Granada, Jinotega, Leon, Madriz, Managua, Masaya, Matagalpa, Nueva Segovia, Rio San Juan, Rivas

Independence:

15 September 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 15 September (1821)

Constitution:

9 January 1987; reforms in 1995 and 2000

Legal system:

civil law system; Supreme Court may review administrative acts

Suffrage:

16 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (since 10 January 2002); Vice President Jose RIZO Castellon (since 10 January 2002); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (since 10 January 2002); Vice President Jose RIZO Castellon (since 10 January 2002); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 4 November 2001 (next to be held by November 2006)
election results: Enrique BOLANOS Geyer (PLC) elected president - 56.3%, Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) 42.3%, Alberto SABORIO (PCN) 1.4%; Jose RIZO Castellon elected vice president

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (92 seats; members are elected by proportional representation and party lists to serve five-year terms; one seat for previous President, one seat for runner-up in previous Presidential election
elections: last held 4 November 2001 (next to be held by November 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - Liberal Alliance (ruling party - includes PCCN, PLC, PALI, PLIUN, and PUCA) 46.03%, FSLN 36.55%, PCN 2.12%; seats by party - Liberal Alliance 53, FSLN 38, PCN 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (16 judges elected for five-year terms by the National Assembly)

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance for the Republic or APRE [Miguel LOPEZ Baldizon, Oscar WENDOLYN Vargas, Karla WHITE]; Central American Unionist Party or PUCA [leader NA]; Christian Alternative Party or AC [Orlando TARDENCILLA Espinoza]; Conservative Party of Nicaragua or PCN [Mario RAPPACCIOLI]; Independent Liberal Party or PLI [Anibal MARTINEZ Nunez, Pedro REYES Vallejos]; Independent Liberal Party for National Unity or PLIUN [leader NA]; Liberal Constitutional Party or PLC [Jorge CASTILLO Quant]; Liberal Salvation Movement or MSL [Eliseo NUNEZ Hernandez]; New Liberal Party or PALI [leader NA]; Nicaraguan Party of the Christian Path or PCCN [Guillermo OSORNO Molina]; Nicaraguan Resistance Party or PRN [Salvador TALAVERA]; Sandinista National Liberation Front or FSLN [Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra]; Sandinista Renovation Movement or MRS [leader NA]; Unity Alliance or AU [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

National Workers Front or FNT is a Sandinista umbrella group of eight labor unions including - Farm Workers Association or ATC, Health Workers Federation or FETASALUD, Heroes and Martyrs Confederation of Professional Associations or CONAPRO, National Association of Educators of Nicaragua or ANDEN, National Union of Employees or UNE, National Union of Farmers and Ranchers or UNAG, Sandinista Workers Central or CST, and Union of Journalists of Nicaragua or UPN; Permanent Congress of Workers or CPT is an umbrella group of four non-Sandinista labor unions including - Autonomous Nicaraguan Workers Central or CTN-A, Confederation of Labor Unification or CUS, Independent General Confederation of Labor or CGT-I, and Labor Action and Unity Central or CAUS; Nicaraguan Workers' Central or CTN is an independent labor union; Superior Council of Private Enterprise or COSEP is a confederation of business groups

International organization participation:

BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Salvador STADTHAGEN (since 5 December 2003)
chancery: 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 939-6570, [1] (202) 939-6573
FAX: [1] (202) 939-6545
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Barbara Calandra MOORE
embassy: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua
mailing address: APO AA 34021
telephone: [505] 266-6010
FAX: [505] 266-9074

Flag description:

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

Economy

Nicaragua

Economy - overview:

Nicaragua, one of the hemisphere's poorest countries, faces low per capita income, massive unemployment, and huge external debt. Distribution of income is one of the most unequal on the globe. While the country has made progress toward macroeconomic stability over the past few years, GDP annual growth has been far too low to meet the country's needs. As a result of successful performance under its International Monetary Fund policy program and other efforts, Nicaragua qualified in early 2004 for some $4 billion in foreign debt reduction under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Even after this reduction, however, the government continues to bear a significant foreign and domestic debt burden. If ratified, the US-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) will provide an opportunity for Nicaragua to attract investment, create jobs, and deepen economic development. While President BOLANOS enjoys the support of the international financial bodies, his internal political base is meager.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$12.34 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $2,300 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 20.7%
industry: 24.7%
services: 54.6% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

1.93 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 30.5%, industry 17.3%, services 52.2% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:

7.8% plus underemployment of 46.5% (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line:

50% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 45% (2001)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

55.1 (2001)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

9.3% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

28% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $725.5 million
expenditures: $1.039 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

69.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame, soya, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products

Industries:

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

Industrial production growth rate:

4.4% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:

2.553 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 83.9%
hydro: 7.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 8.4% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

2.318 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

6.8 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

15.3 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption:

25,770 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:

738 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports:

27,950 bbl/day (2003)

Current account balance:

$-843.1 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$750 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

coffee, beef, shrimp and lobster, tobacco, sugar, gold, peanuts

Exports - partners:

US 64.8%, El Salvador 7%, Mexico 3.6% (2004)

Imports:

$2.02 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

consumer goods, machinery and equipment, raw materials, petroleum products

Imports - partners:

US 22.6%, Costa Rica 8.5%, Venezuela 8.4%, Guatemala 6.8%, Mexico 5.8%, El Salvador 4.9%, South Korea 4.5% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$670 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$4.573 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$541.8 million (2003)

Currency (code):

gold cordoba (NIO)

Currency code:

NIO

Exchange rates:

gold cordobas per US dollar - 15.937 (2004), 15.105 (2003), 14.251 (2002), 13.372 (2001), 12.684 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Nicaragua

Telephones - main lines in use:

171,600 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

202,800 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: inadequate system being upgraded by foreign investment
domestic: low-capacity microwave radio relay and wire system being expanded; connected to Central American Microwave System
international: country code - 505; satellite earth stations - 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region) and 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 63, FM 32, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

1.24 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

320,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ni

Internet hosts:

7,094 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2000)

Internet users:

90,000 (2002)

Transportation

Nicaragua

Railways:

total: 6 km
narrow gauge: 6 km 1.067-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 18,712 km
paved: 2,126 km
unpaved: 16,586 km (2002)

Waterways:

2,220 km (including lakes Managua and Nicaragua) (1997)

Pipelines:

oil 54 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff

Airports:

176 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 165
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 141 (2004 est.)

Military

Nicaragua

Military branches:

Army (includes Navy, Air Force)

Military service age and obligation:

17 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 17-49: 1,309,970 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 17-49: 1,051,425 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 65,170 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$32.8 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.7% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Nicaragua

Disputes - international:

Nicaragua filed a claim against Honduras in 1999 and against Colombia in 2001 at the ICJ over disputed maritime boundary involving 50,000 sq km in the Caribbean Sea, including the Archipelago de San Andres y Providencia and Quita Sueno Bank; the 1992 ICJ ruling for El Salvador and Honduras advised a tripartite resolution to establish a maritime boundary in the Gulf of Fonseca, which considers Honduran access to the Pacific; legal dispute over navigational rights of San Juan River on border with Costa Rica

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for cocaine destined for the US and transshipment point for arms-for-drugs dealing

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

New Zealand

Introduction

New Zealand

Background:

The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year, the British began the first organized colonial settlement. A series of land wars between 1843 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the native peoples. The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars. New Zealand's full participation in a number of defense alliances lapsed by the 1980s. In recent years, the government has sought to address longstanding Maori grievances.

Geography

New Zealand

Location:

Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia

Geographic coordinates:

41 00 S, 174 00 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 268,680 sq km
land: 268,021 sq km
water: NA
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:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

temperate with sharp regional contrasts

Terrain:

predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Aoraki-Mount Cook 3,754 m

Natural resources:

natural gas, iron ore, sand, coal, timber, hydropower, gold, limestone

Land use:

arable land: 5.6%
permanent crops: 6.99%
other: 87.41% (2001)

Irrigated land:

2,850 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by species introduced from outside

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, 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: Antarctic Seals, Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

about 80% of the population lives in cities; Wellington is the southernmost national capital in the world

People

New Zealand

Population:

4,035,461 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 21.4% (male 441,836/female 421,065)
15-64 years: 66.9% (male 1,356,095/female 1,343,728)
65 years and over: 11.7% (male 206,650/female 266,087) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 33.65 years
male: 32.92 years
female: 34.4 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.02% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

13.9 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

7.53 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

3.83 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.85 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.66 years
male: 75.67 years
female: 81.78 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.79 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

1,400 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: New Zealander(s)
adjective: New Zealand

Ethnic groups:

European 69.8%, Maori 7.9%, Asian 5.7%, Pacific islander 4.4%, other 0.5%, mixed 7.8%, unspecified 3.8% (2001 census)

Religions:

Anglican 14.9%, Roman Catholic 12.4%, Presbyterian 10.9%, Methodist 2.9%, Pentecostal 1.7%, Baptist 1.3%, other Christian 9.4%, other 3.3%, unspecified 17.2%, none 26% (2001 census)

Languages:

English (official), Maori (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1980 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

New Zealand

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: New Zealand
abbreviation: NZ

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Wellington

Administrative divisions:

16 regions and 1 territory*; Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Chatham Islands*, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Manawatu-Wanganui, Marlborough, Nelson, Northland, Otago, Southland, Taranaki, Tasman, Waikato, Wellington, West Coast

Dependent areas:

Cook Islands, Niue, Tokelau

Independence:

26 September 1907 (from UK)

National holiday:

Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)

Constitution:

consists of a series of legal documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand Parliaments, as well as The Constitution Act 1986, which is the principal formal charter; adopted 1 January 1987, effective 1 January 1987

Legal system:

based on English law, with special land legislation and land courts for the Maori; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dame Silvia CARTWRIGHT (since 4 April 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Helen CLARK (since 10 December 1999) and Deputy Prime Minister Michael CULLEN (since NA July 2002)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general

Legislative branch:

unicameral House of Representatives - commonly called Parliament (120 seats; 69 members elected by popular vote in single-member constituencies including 7 Maori constituencies, and 51 proportional seats chosen from party lists, all to serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 17 September 2005 (next to be held not later than 15 November 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NZLP 41.1%, NP 39.1%, NZFP 5.72%, Green Party 5.3%, Maori 2.12%, UF 2.67%, ACT New Zealand 1.51%, Progressive 1.16%; seats by party - NZLP 50, NP 48, NZFP 7, Green Party 6, Maori 4, UF 3, ACT New Zealand 2, Progressive 1
note: results of 2005 election saw the total number of seats increase to 121 because the Maori Party won one more electorate seat than its entitlement under the party vote

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; High Court; note - Judges appointed by the Governor-General

Political parties and leaders:

ACT New Zealand [Rodney HIDE]; Green Party [Jeanette FITZSIMONS and Rod DONALD]; Maori Party [Whatarangi WINIATA]; National Party or NP [Don BRASH]; New Zealand First Party or NZFP [Winston PETERS]; New Zealand Labor Party or NZLP [Helen CLARK]; Progressive Party [James (Jim) ANDERTON]; United Future or UF [Peter DUNNE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ANZUS (US suspended security obligations to NZ on 11 August 1986), APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, C, CP, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM (guest), NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMISET, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador L. John WOOD
chancery: 37 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 328-4800
FAX: [1] (202) 667-5227
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Charles J. SWINDELLS
embassy: 29 Fitzherbert Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington
mailing address: P. O. Box 1190, Wellington; PSC 467, Box 1, APO AP 96531-1034
telephone: [64] (4) 462-6000
FAX: [64] (4) 499-0490
consulate(s) general: Auckland

Flag description:

blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant with four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outer half of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross constellation

Economy

New Zealand

Economy - overview:

Over the past 20 years the government has transformed New Zealand from an agrarian economy dependent on concessionary British market access to a more industrialized, free market economy that can compete globally. This dynamic growth has boosted real incomes (but left behind many at the bottom of the ladder), broadened and deepened the technological capabilities of the industrial sector, and contained inflationary pressures. Per capita income has risen for six consecutive years and is now more than $23,000 in purchasing power parity terms. New Zealand is heavily dependent on trade - particularly in agricultural products - to drive growth. Exports are equal to about 20% of GDP. Thus far the economy has been resilient, and the Labor Government promises that expenditures on health, education, and pensions will increase proportionately to output.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$92.51 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.8% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $23,200 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 4.6%
industry: 27.4%
services: 68% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

2.05 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 10%, industry 25%, services 65% (1995)

Unemployment rate:

4.2% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 0.3%
highest 10%: 29.8% (1991 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.4% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

22.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $38.29 billion
expenditures: $36.12 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

22.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables; wool, beef, lamb and mutton, dairy products; fish

Industries:

food processing, wood and paper products, textiles, machinery, transportation equipment, banking and insurance, tourism, mining

Industrial production growth rate:

5.9% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

38.39 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 31.6%
hydro: 57.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 10.7% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

35.71 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

42,160 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

132,700 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

30,220 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:

119,700 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

89.62 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

6.504 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

6.504 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

58.94 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$-3.647 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$19.85 billion (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

dairy products, meat, wood and wood products, fish, machinery

Exports - partners:

Australia 21%, US 14.4%, Japan 11.3%, China 5.7%, UK 4.7% (2004)

Imports:

$19.77 billion (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum, electronics, textiles, plastics

Imports - partners:

Australia 22.4%, US 11.3%, Japan 11.2%, China 9.7%, Germany 5.2% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$4.805 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$47.34 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $99.7 million

Currency (code):

New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Currency code:

NZD

Exchange rates:

New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003), 2.1622 (2002), 2.3788 (2001), 2.2012 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Communications

New Zealand

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.765 million (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.599 million (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: excellent domestic and international systems
domestic: NA
international: country code - 64; submarine cables to Australia and Fiji; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 124, FM 290, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios:

3.75 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

41 (plus 52 medium-power repeaters and over 650 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

1.926 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.nz

Internet hosts:

474,395 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

36 (2000)

Internet users:

2.11 million (2003)

Transportation

New Zealand

Railways:

total: 3,898 km
narrow gauge: 3,898 km 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 92,382 km
paved: 59,124 km (including at least 169 km of expressways)
unpaved: 33,258 km (2002)

Pipelines:

gas 2,213 km; liquid petroleum gas 79 km; oil 160 km; refined products 304 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Auckland, Lyttelton, Tauranga, Wellington, Whangarei

Merchant marine:

total: 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 77,523 GRT/108,352 DWT
by type: cargo 3, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1, bulk carrier 3
foreign-owned: 2 (Germany 1, Isle of Man 1)
registered in other countries: 5 (2005)

Airports:

116 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 46
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 27
under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 70
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 29
under 914 m: 39 (2004 est.)

Military

New Zealand

Military branches:

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

Military service age and obligation:

17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be deployed until the age of 18 (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 17-49: 984,700 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 17-49: 809,519 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 29,738 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$1.147 billion (FY03/04)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1% (FY02)

Transnational Issues

New Zealand

Disputes - international:

asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Ross Dependency) [see Antarctica]

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Southern Ocean

Introduction

Southern Ocean

Background:

A decision by the International Hydrographic Organization in the spring of 2000 delimited a fifth world ocean - the Southern Ocean - from the southern portions of the Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean. The Southern Ocean extends from the coast of Antarctica north to 60 degrees south latitude, which coincides with the Antarctic Treaty Limit. The Southern Ocean is now the fourth largest of the world's five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Indian Ocean, but larger than the Arctic Ocean).

Geography

Southern Ocean

Location:

body of water between 60 degrees south latitude and Antarctica

Geographic coordinates:

65 00 S, 0 00 E (nominally), but the Southern Ocean has the unique distinction of being a large circumpolar body of water totally encircling the continent of Antarctica; this ring of water lies between 60 degrees south latitude and the coast of Antarctica and encompasses 360 degrees of longitude

Map references:

Antarctic Region

Area:

total: 20.327 million sq km
note: includes Amundsen Sea, Bellingshausen Sea, part of the Drake Passage, Ross Sea, a small part of the Scotia Sea, Weddell Sea, and other tributary water bodies

Area - comparative:

slightly more than twice the size of the US

Coastline:

17,968 km

Climate:

sea temperatures vary from about 10 degrees Celsius to -2 degrees Celsius; cyclonic storms travel eastward around the continent and frequently are intense because of the temperature contrast between ice and open ocean; the ocean area from about latitude 40 south to the Antarctic Circle has the strongest average winds found anywhere on Earth; in winter the ocean freezes outward to 65 degrees south latitude in the Pacific sector and 55 degrees south latitude in the Atlantic sector, lowering surface temperatures well below 0 degrees Celsius; at some coastal points intense persistent drainage winds from the interior keep the shoreline ice-free throughout the winter

Terrain:

the Southern Ocean is deep, 4,000 to 5,000 meters over most of its extent with only limited areas of shallow water; the Antarctic continental shelf is generally narrow and unusually deep, its edge lying at depths of 400 to 800 meters (the global mean is 133 meters); the Antarctic icepack grows from an average minimum of 2.6 million square kilometers in March to about 18.8 million square kilometers in September, better than a sixfold increase in area; the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (21,000 km in length) moves perpetually eastward; it is the world's largest ocean current, transporting 130 million cubic meters of water per second - 100 times the flow of all the world's rivers

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: -7,235 m at the southern end of the South Sandwich Trench
highest point: sea level 0 m

Natural resources:

probable large and possible giant oil and gas fields on the continental margin, manganese nodules, possible placer deposits, sand and gravel, fresh water as icebergs; squid, whales, and seals - none exploited; krill, fishes

Natural hazards:

huge icebergs with drafts up to several hundred meters; smaller bergs and iceberg fragments; sea ice (generally 0.5 to 1 meter thick) with sometimes dynamic short-term variations and with large annual and interannual variations; deep continental shelf floored by glacial deposits varying widely over short distances; high winds and large waves much of the year; ship icing, especially May-October; most of region is remote from sources of search and rescue

Environment - current issues:

increased solar ultraviolet radiation resulting from the Antarctic ozone hole in recent years, reducing marine primary productivity (phytoplankton) by as much as 15% and damaging the DNA of some fish; illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in recent years, especially the landing of an estimated five to six times more Patagonian toothfish than the regulated fishery, which is likely to affect the sustainability of the stock; large amount of incidental mortality of seabirds resulting from long-line fishing for toothfish
note: the now-protected fur seal population is making a strong comeback after severe overexploitation in the 18th and 19th centuries

Environment - international agreements:

the Southern Ocean is subject to all international agreements regarding the world's oceans; in addition, it is subject to these agreements specific to the Antarctic region: International Whaling Commission (prohibits commercial whaling south of 40 degrees south [south of 60 degrees south between 50 degrees and 130 degrees west]); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (limits sealing); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (regulates fishing)
note: many nations (including the US) prohibit mineral resource exploration and exploitation south of the fluctuating Polar Front (Antarctic Convergence) which is in the middle of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and serves as the dividing line between the very cold polar surface waters to the south and the warmer waters to the north

Geography - note:

the major chokepoint is the Drake Passage between South America and Antarctica; the Polar Front (Antarctic Convergence) is the best natural definition of the northern extent of the Southern Ocean; it is a distinct region at the middle of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current that separates the very cold polar surface waters to the south from the warmer waters to the north; the Front and the Current extend entirely around Antarctica, reaching south of 60 degrees south near New Zealand and near 48 degrees south in the far South Atlantic coinciding with the path of the maximum westerly winds

Economy

Southern Ocean

Economy - overview:

Fisheries in 2000-01 (1 July to 30 June) landed 112,934 metric tons, of which 87% was krill and 11% Patagonian toothfish. International agreements were adopted in late 1999 to reduce illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, which in the 2000-01 season landed, by one estimate, 8,376 metric tons of Patagonian and antarctic toothfish. In the 2000-01 antarctic summer 12,248 tourists, most of them seaborne, visited the Southern Ocean and Antarctica, compared to 14,762 the previous year.

Transportation

Southern Ocean

Ports and harbors:

McMurdo, Palmer, and offshore anchorages in Antarctica
note: few ports or harbors exist on the southern side of the Southern Ocean; ice conditions limit use of most of them to short periods in midsummer; even then some cannot be entered without icebreaker escort; most antarctic ports are operated by government research stations and, except in an emergency, are not open to commercial or private vessels; vessels in any port south of 60 degrees south are subject to inspection by Antarctic Treaty observers (see Article 7)

Transportation - note:

Drake Passage offers alternative to transit through the Panama Canal

Transnational Issues

Southern Ocean

Disputes - international:

Antarctic Treaty defers claims (see Antarctica entry), but Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, NZ, Norway, and UK assert claims (some overlapping), including the continental shelf in the Southern Ocean; several states have expressed an interest in extending those continental shelf claims under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to include undersea ridges; the US and most other states do not recognize the land or maritime claims of other states and have made no claims themselves (the US and Russia have reserved the right to do so); no formal claims exist in the waters in the sector between 90 degrees west and 150 degrees west

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Paraguay

Introduction

Paraguay

Background:

In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70), Paraguay lost two-thirds of all adult males and much of its territory. It stagnated economically for the next half century. In the Chaco War of 1932-35, large, economically important areas were won from Bolivia. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo STROESSNER was overthrown in 1989, and, despite a marked increase in political infighting in recent years, relatively free and regular presidential elections have been held since then.

Geography

Paraguay

Location:

Central South America, northeast of Argentina

Geographic coordinates:

23 00 S, 58 00 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total: 406,750 sq km
land: 397,300 sq km
water: 9,450 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than California

Land boundaries:

total: 3,920 km
border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,290 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

subtropical to temperate; substantial rainfall in the eastern portions, becoming semiarid in the far west

Terrain:

grassy plains and wooded hills east of Rio Paraguay; Gran Chaco region west of Rio Paraguay mostly low, marshy plain near the river, and dry forest and thorny scrub elsewhere

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m
highest point: Cerro Pero (Cerro Tres Kandu) 842 m

Natural resources:

hydropower, timber, iron ore, manganese, limestone

Land use:

arable land: 7.6%
permanent crops: 0.23%
other: 92.17% (2001)

Irrigated land:

670 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

local flooding in southeast (early September to June); poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste disposal pose health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; lies between Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil; population concentrated in southern part of country

People

Paraguay

Population:

6,347,884 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 37.9% (male 1,223,479/female 1,184,134)
15-64 years: 57.3% (male 1,825,473/female 1,809,810)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 140,935/female 164,053) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 21.2 years
male: 20.94 years
female: 21.46 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.48% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

29.43 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

4.53 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 25.63 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 30.37 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.89 years
male: 72.35 years
female: 77.55 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.93 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.5% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

15,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

600 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Paraguayan(s)
adjective: Paraguayan

Ethnic groups:

mestizo (mixed Spanish and Amerindian) 95%, other 5%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 90%, Mennonite and other Protestant 10%

Languages:

Spanish (official), Guarani (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94%
male: 94.9%
female: 93% (2003 est.)

Government

Paraguay

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Paraguay
conventional short form: Paraguay
local long form: Republica del Paraguay
local short form: Paraguay

Government type:

constitutional republic

Capital:

Asuncion

Administrative divisions:

17 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1 capital city*; Alto Paraguay, Alto Parana, Amambay, Asuncion*, Boqueron, Caaguazu, Caazapa, Canindeyu, Central, Concepcion, Cordillera, Guaira, Itapua, Misiones, Neembucu, Paraguari, Presidente Hayes, San Pedro

Independence:

14 May 1811 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 14 May 1811 (observed 15 May annually)

Constitution:

promulgated 20 June 1992

Legal system:

based on Argentine codes, Roman law, and French codes; judicial review of legislative acts in Supreme Court of Justice

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory up to age 75

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Nicanor DUARTE Frutos (since 15 August 2003); Vice President Luis CASTIGLIONI Joria (since 15 August 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Nicanor DUARTE Frutos (since 15 August 2003); Vice President Luis CASTIGLIONI Joria (since 15 August 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 27 April 2003 (next to be held April 2008)
election results: Nicanor DUARTE Frutos elected president; percent of vote - Nicanor DUARTE Frutos 37.1%, Julio Cesar Ramon FRANCO Gomez 23.9%, Pedro Nicolas Maraa FADUL Niella 21.3%, Guillermo SANCHEZ Guffanti 13.5%, other 4.2%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Congress or Congreso consists of the Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (45 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Camara de Diputados (80 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 27 April 2003 (next to be held April 2008); Chamber of Deputies - last held 27 April 2003 (next to be held April 2008)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - ANR 16, PLRA 12, UNACE 7, PQ 7, PPS 2, PEN 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - ANR 37, PLRA 21, UNACE 10, PQ 10, PPS 2

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (judges appointed on the proposal of the Council of Magistrates or Consejo de la Magistratura)

Political parties and leaders:

Asociacion Nacional Republicana - Colorado Party or ANR [Herminio CACERES, interim president]; Movimiento Union Nacional de Ciudadanos Eticos or UNACE [Enrique GONZALEZ Quintana, acting chairman]; Patria Querida (Beloved Fatherland Party) or PQ [Pedro Nicolas Maraa FADUL Niella]; Partido Encuentro Nacional or PEN [Luis TORALES Kenney]; Partido Liberal Radical Autentico or PLRA [Julio Cesar FRANCO]; Partido Pais Solidario or PPS [Carlos Alberto FILIZZOLA Pallares]
note: Nicanor DUARTE Frutos on leave as party leader of the Colorado Party or ANR while serving as President of Paraguay; Lino Cesar OVIEDO Silva, leader of UNACE, is currently serving a ten-year prison term

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Ahorristas Estafados or AE; Coordinating Table of National Campesino Organizations or MCNOC; National Federation of Campesinos or FNC; National Workers Central or CNT; Paraguayan Workers Confederation or CPT; Roman Catholic Church; Unitary Workers Central or CUT

International organization participation:

CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, ONUB, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador James SPALDING Hellmers
chancery: 2400 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-6960 through 6962
FAX: [1] (202) 234-4508
consulate(s) general: Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador John F. KEANE
embassy: 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal 402, Asuncion
mailing address: Unit 4711, APO AA 34036-0001
telephone: [595] (21) 213-715
FAX: [595] (21) 213-728

Flag description:

three equal, horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue with an emblem centered in the white band; unusual flag in that the emblem is different on each side; the obverse (hoist side at the left) bears the national coat of arms (a yellow five-pointed star within a green wreath capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles); the reverse (hoist side at the right) bears the seal of the treasury (a yellow lion below a red Cap of Liberty and the words Paz y Justicia (Peace and Justice) capped by the words REPUBLICA DEL PARAGUAY, all within two circles)

Economy

Paraguay

Economy - overview:

Landlocked Paraguay has a market economy marked by a large informal sector. This sector features both reexport of imported consumer goods to neighboring countries as well as the activities of thousands of microenterprises and urban street vendors. Because of the importance of the informal sector, accurate economic measures are difficult to obtain. A large percentage of the population derives their living from agricultural activity, often on a subsistence basis. The formal economy grew by an average of about 3% annually in 1995-97, but averaged near-zero growth in 1998-2001 and contracted by 2.3 percent in 2002, in response to regional contagion and an outbreak of hoof-and-mouth desease. On a per capita basis, real income has stagnated at 1980 levels. Most observers attribute Paraguay's poor economic performance to political uncertainty, corruption, lack of progress on structural reform, substantial internal and external debt, and deficient infrastructure. Aided by a firmer exchange rate and perhaps a greater confidence in the economic policy of the Duarte FRUTOS administration, the economy rebounded in 2003 and 2004, posting modest growth each year.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$29.93 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.8% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $4,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 25.3%
industry: 24.9%
services: 49.8% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

2.66 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 45%

Unemployment rate:

15.1% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

36% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 0.5%
highest 10%: 43.8% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

57.7 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.1% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

18.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.123 billion
expenditures: $1.129 billion, including capital expenditures of $700 million (2004 est.)

Public debt:

39.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs, milk; timber

Industries:

sugar, cement, textiles, beverages, wood products, steel, metallurgic, electric power

Industrial production growth rate:

0% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:

48.36 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 0%
hydro: 99.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.1% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

2.469 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

42.51 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

25,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-36.11 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$2.936 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

soybeans, feed, cotton, meat, edible oils, electricity, wood, leather

Exports - partners:

Uruguay 27.8%, Brazil 19.2%, Argentina 6.3%, Switzerland 4.1% (2004)

Imports:

$3.33 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

road vehicles, consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products, electrical machinery

Imports - partners:

Brazil 30.9%, Argentina 23.3%, China 16.6%, US 4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.164 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$3.239 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

NA

Currency (code):

guarani (PYG)

Currency code:

PYG

Exchange rates:

guarani per US dollar - 5,974.6 (2004), 6,424.3 (2003), 5,716.3 (2002), 4,105.9 (2001), 3,486.4 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Paraguay

Telephones - main lines in use:

273,200 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,770,300 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: meager telephone service; principal switching center is Asuncion
domestic: fair microwave radio relay network
international: country code - 595; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 46, FM 27, shortwave 6 (three inactive) (1998)

Radios:

925,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

5 (2003)

Televisions:

990,000 (2001)

Internet country code:

.py

Internet hosts:

9,243 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

4 (2000)

Internet users:

120,000 (2003)

Transportation

Paraguay

Railways:

total: 441 km
standard gauge: 441 km 1.435-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 29,500 km
paved: 14,986 km
unpaved: 14,514 km (1999 est)

Waterways:

3,100 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion

Merchant marine:

total: 21 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 31,667 GRT/30,826 DWT
by type: cargo 15, livestock carrier 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 2 (Argentina 2)
registered in other countries: 1 (2005)

Airports:

878 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 12
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 866
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 323
under 914 m: 517 (2004 est.)

Military

Paraguay

Military branches:

Army, Navy (includes Naval Aviation, River Defense Corps, Coast Guard), Air Force

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months for Army, 24 months for Navy (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,345,022 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,109,166 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 63,058 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$53.1 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.9% (2003)

Transnational Issues

Paraguay

Disputes - international:

unruly region at convergence of Argentina-Brazil-Paraguay borders is locus of money laundering, smuggling, arms and illegal narcotics trafficking, and fundraising for extremist organizations

Illicit drugs:

major illicit producer of cannabis, most or all of which is consumed in Brazil, Argentina, and Chile; transshipment country for Andean cocaine headed for Brazil, other Southern Cone markets, Europe, and US; corruption and some money-laundering activity, especially in the Tri-Border Area

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Pitcairn Islands

Introduction

Pitcairn Islands

Background:

Pitcairn Island was discovered in 1767 by the British and settled in 1790 by the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions. Pitcairn was the first Pacific island to become a British colony (in 1838) and today remains the last vestige of that empire in the South Pacific. Outmigration, primarily to New Zealand, has thinned the population from a peak of 233 in 1937 to less than 50 today.

Geography

Pitcairn Islands

Location:

Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about midway between Peru and New Zealand

Geographic coordinates:

25 04 S, 130 06 W

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 47 sq km
land: 47 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

51 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot and humid; modified by southeast trade winds; rainy season (November to March)

Terrain:

rugged volcanic formation; rocky coastline with cliffs

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pawala Valley Ridge 347 m

Natural resources:

miro trees (used for handicrafts), fish
note: manganese, iron, copper, gold, silver, and zinc have been discovered offshore

Land use:

arable land: NA%
permanent crops: NA%
other: NA%

Irrigated land:

NA

Natural hazards:

typhoons (especially November to March)

Environment - current issues:

deforestation (only a small portion of the original forest remains because of burning and clearing for settlement)

Geography - note:

Britain's most isolated dependency; only the larger island of Pitcairn is inhabited but it has no port or natural harbor; supplies must be transported by rowed longboat from larger ships stationed offshore

People

Pitcairn Islands

Population:

46 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate:

-0.01% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

NA

Death rate:

NA

Net migration rate:

NA

Sex ratio:

NA

Infant mortality rate:

total: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Total fertility rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Pitcairn Islander(s)
adjective: Pitcairn Islander

Ethnic groups:

descendants of the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian wives

Religions:

Seventh-Day Adventist 100%

Languages:

English (official), Pitcairnese (mixture of an 18th century English dialect and a Tahitian dialect)

Literacy:

NA

Government

Pitcairn Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie, and Oeno Islands
conventional short form: Pitcairn Islands

Dependency status:

overseas territory of the UK

Government type:

NA

Capital:

Adamstown

Administrative divisions:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Independence:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:

Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)

Constitution:

30 November 1838; reformed 1904 with additional reforms in 1940; further refined by the Local Government Ordinance of 1964

Legal system:

local island by-laws

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal with three years residency

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by UK High Commissioner to New Zealand and Governor (nonresident) of the Pitcairn Islands Richard FELL (since NA December 2001); Commissioner (nonresident) Leslie JAQUES (since September 2003); serves as liaison between the governor and the Island Council
head of government: Governor Richard FELL; mayor and chairman of the Island Council Jay WARREN (since 15 December 2004)
cabinet: NA
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner and commissioner appointed by the monarch; island mayor elected by popular vote for a three-year term; election last held December 2004 (next to be held December 2007)
election results: Jay WARREN elected mayor and chairman of the Island Council

Legislative branch:

unicameral Island Council (10 seats - 5 elected by popular vote, 1 nominated by the 5 elected members, 2 appointed by the governor including 1 seat for the Island Secretary, the Island Mayor, and a commissioner liaising between the governor and council; elected members serve one-year terms)
elections: last held 15 December 2004 (next to be held December 2005)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - all independents

Judicial branch:

Magistrate's Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Judicial Officers are appointed by the Governor

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag description:

blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Pitcairn Islander coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms is yellow, green, and light blue with a shield featuring a yellow anchor

Economy

Pitcairn Islands

Economy - overview:

The inhabitants of this tiny isolated economy exist on fishing, subsistence farming, handicrafts, and postage stamps. The fertile soil of the valleys produces a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including citrus, sugarcane, watermelons, bananas, yams, and beans. Bartering is an important part of the economy. The major sources of revenue are the sale of postage stamps to collectors and the sale of handicrafts to passing ships. In October 2004, more than one-quarter of Pitcairn's labor force was arrested, putting the economy in a bind, since their services were required as lighter crew to load or unload passing ships.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

NA

GDP - real growth rate:

NA

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - NA

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Labor force:

15 able-bodied men (2004)

Labor force - by occupation:

no business community in the usual sense; some public works; subsistence farming and fishing

Unemployment rate:

NA

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

NA

Budget:

revenues: $746,000
expenditures: $1.028 million, including capital expenditures of NA (FY04/05)

Agriculture - products:

wide variety of fruits and vegetables, goats, chickens

Industries:

postage stamps, handicrafts, beekeeping, honey

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

NA kWh; note - electric power is provided by a small diesel-powered generator

Electricity - consumption:

NA kWh

Exports:

NA

Exports - commodities:

fruits, vegetables, curios, stamps

Exports - partners:

NA

Imports:

NA

Imports - commodities:

fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar, other foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

NA

Debt - external:

NA

Economic aid - recipient:

$3.465 million (2004)

Currency (code):

New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Currency code:

NZD

Exchange rates:

New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003), 2.1622 (2002), 2.3788 (2001), 2.2012 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

Pitcairn Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:

1 (there are 17 telephones on one party line); (2004)

Telephone system:

general assessment: satellite phone services
domestic: domestic communication via radio (CB)
international: country code - 872; satellite earth station (Inmarsat)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0, note - 15 Ham radio operators (VP6) (2004)

Radios:

NA

Televisions:

NA

Internet country code:

.pn

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

NA

Internet users:

NA

Transportation

Pitcairn Islands

Highways:

total: 6.4 km
paved: 0 km
unpaved: 6.4 km

Ports and harbors:

Adamstown (on Bounty Bay)

Airports:

none (2004 est.)

Military

Pitcairn Islands

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues

Pitcairn Islands

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Peru

Introduction

Peru

Background:

Ancient Peru was the seat of several prominent Andean civilizations, most notably that of the Incas whose empire was captured by the Spanish conquistadors in 1533. Peruvian independence was declared in 1821, and remaining Spanish forces defeated in 1824. After a dozen years of military rule, Peru returned to democratic leadership in 1980, but experienced economic problems and the growth of a violent insurgency. President Alberto FUJIMORI's election in 1990 ushered in a decade that saw a dramatic turnaround in the economy and significant progress in curtailing guerrilla activity. Nevertheless, the president's increasing reliance on authoritarian measures and an economic slump in the late 1990s generated mounting dissatisfaction with his regime. FUJIMORI won reelection to a third term in the spring of 2000, but international pressure and corruption scandals led to his ouster by Congress in November of that year. A caretaker government oversaw new elections in the spring of 2001, which ushered in Alejandro TOLEDO as the new head of government; his presidency has been hampered by allegations of corruption.

Geography

Peru

Location:

Western South America, bordering the South Pacific Ocean, between Chile and Ecuador

Geographic coordinates:

10 00 S, 76 00 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total: 1,285,220 sq km
land: 1.28 million sq km
water: 5,220 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Alaska

Land boundaries:

total: 5,536 km
border countries: Bolivia 900 km, Brazil 1,560 km, Chile 160 km, Colombia 1,496 km (est.), Ecuador 1,420 km

Coastline:

2,414 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm

Climate:

varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate to frigid in Andes

Terrain:

western coastal plain (costa), high and rugged Andes in center (sierra), eastern lowland jungle of Amazon Basin (selva)

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m

Natural resources:

copper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate, potash, hydropower, natural gas

Land use:

arable land: 2.89%
permanent crops: 0.4%
other: 96.71% (2001)

Irrigated land:

11,950 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity

Environment - current issues:

deforestation (some the result of illegal logging); overgrazing of the slopes of the costa and sierra leading to soil erosion; desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

shares control of Lago Titicaca, world's highest navigable lake, with Bolivia; a remote slope of Nevado Mismi, a 5,316 m peak, is the ultimate source of the Amazon River

People

Peru

Population:

27,925,628 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 31.5% (male 4,479,278/female 4,323,356)
15-64 years: 63.3% (male 8,891,785/female 8,776,343)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 685,179/female 769,687) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 24.95 years
male: 24.69 years
female: 25.21 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.36% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

20.87 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.26 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 31.94 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 34.53 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 29.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 69.53 years
male: 67.77 years
female: 71.37 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.56 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.5% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

82,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

4,200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Peruvian(s)
adjective: Peruvian

Ethnic groups:

Amerindian 45%, mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 37%, white 15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 81%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.4%, other Christian 0.7%, other 0.6%, unspecified or none 16.3% (2003 est.)

Languages:

Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymara, and a large number of minor Amazonian languages

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 87.7%
male: 93.5%
female: 82.1% (2004 est.)

Government

Peru

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Peru
conventional short form: Peru
local long form: Republica del Peru
local short form: Peru

Government type:

constitutional republic

Capital:

Lima

Administrative divisions:

25 regions (regiones, singular - region) and 1 province* (provincia); Amazonas, Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa, Ayacucho, Cajamarca, Callao, Cusco, Huancavelica, Huanuco, Ica, Junin, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, Lima*, Loreto, Madre de Dios, Moquegua, Pasco, Piura, Puno, San Martin, Tacna, Tumbes, Ucayali

Independence:

28 July 1821 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 28 July (1821)

Constitution:

31 December 1993

Legal system:

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

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70; note - members of the military and national police may not vote

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique (since 28 July 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; additionally, the constitution provides for two vice presidents, First Vice President (vacant) and Second Vice President David WAISMAN Rjavinsthi (since 28 July 2001)
head of government: President Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique (since 28 July 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; additionally, the constitution provides for two vice presidents, First Vice President (vacant) and Second Vice President David WAISMAN Rjavinsthi (since 28 July 2001)
note: Prime Minister Pedro Pablo KUCZYNSKI (since 25 August 2005) does not exercise executive power; this power is in the hands of the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; special presidential and congressional elections held 8 April 2001, with runoff election held 3 June 2001; next to be held 9 April 2006
election results: President Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique elected president in runoff election; percent of vote - Alejandro TOLEDO Manrique 53.1%, Alan GARCIA 46.9%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Congress of the Republic of Peru or Congreso de la Republica del Peru (120 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 8 April 2001 (next to be held 9 April 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - PP 26.3%, APRA 19.7%, UN 13.8%, FIM 11.0%, others 29.2%; seats by party - PP 47, APRA 28, UN 17, FIM 11, others 17

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:

Independent Moralizing Front or FIM [Fernando OLIVERA Vega]; National Unity (Unidad Nacional) or UN [Lourdes FLORES Nano]; Peru Posible or PP [David WAISMAN]; Peruvian Aprista Party or PAP (also referred to by its original name Alianza Popular Revolucionaria Americana or APRA) [Alan GARCIA]; Popular Action or AP [Javier DIAZ Orihuela]; Solucion Popular [Carlos BOLANA]; Somos Peru or SP [Alberto ANDRADE]; Union for Peru or UPP [Roger GUERRA Garcia]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

leftist guerrilla groups include Shining Path [Abimael GUZMAN Reynoso (imprisoned), Gabriel MACARIO (top leader at-large)]; Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement or MRTA [Victor POLAY (imprisoned), Hugo AVALLENEDA Valdez (top leader at-large)]

International organization participation:

APEC, CAN, CSN, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS, ONUB, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Eduardo FERRERO Costa
chancery: 1700 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 833-9860 through 9869
FAX: [1] (202) 659-8124
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Denver, Hartford, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Paterson (New Jersey), San Francisco, Washington, DC

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador J. Curtis STRUBLE
embassy: Avenida La Encalada, Cuadra 17s/n, Surco, Lima 33
mailing address: P. O. Box 1995, Lima 1; American Embassy (Lima), APO AA 34031-5000
telephone: [51] (1) 434-3000
FAX: [51] (1) 434-3037

Flag description:

three equal, vertical bands of red (hoist side), white, and red with the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms features a shield bearing a vicuna, cinchona tree (the source of quinine), and a yellow cornucopia spilling out gold coins, all framed by a green wreath

Economy

Peru

Economy - overview:

Peru's economy reflects its varied geography - an arid coastal region, the Andes further inland, and tropical lands bordering Colombia and Brazil. Abundant mineral resources are found in the mountainous areas, and Peru's coastal waters provide excellent fishing grounds. However, overdependence on minerals and metals subjects the economy to fluctuations in world prices, and a lack of infrastructure deters trade and investment. After several years of inconsistent economic performance, the Peruvian economy grew by an average 4 percent per year during the period 2002-2004, with a stable exchange rate and low inflation. Risk premiums on Peruvian bonds on secondary markets reached historically low levels in late 2004, reflecting investor optimism regarding the government's prudent fiscal policies and openness to trade and investment. Despite the strong macroeconomic performance, the TOLEDO administration remained unpopular in 2004, and unemployment and poverty have stayed persistently high.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$155.3 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $5,600 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 8%
industry: 27%
services: 65% (2003 est.)

Labor force:

11 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 9%, industry 18%, services 73% (2001)

Unemployment rate:

9.6% in metropolitan Lima; widespread underemployment (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

54% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 37.2% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

49.8 (2000)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.8% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

17.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $13.6 billion
expenditures: $14.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.8 billion, for general government, excluding private enterprises (2004 est.)

Public debt:

44.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, potatoes, corn, plantains, grapes, oranges, coca; poultry, beef, dairy products; fish

Industries:

mining and refining of minerals and metals, petroleum extraction and refining, natural gas, fishing and fish processing, textiles, clothing, food processing, steel, metal fabrication

Industrial production growth rate:

5.2% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

22.88 billion kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 14.5%
hydro: 84.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.8% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

20.22 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2003)

Oil - production:

95,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

161,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

49,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

408.8 million bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

910 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

910 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

245.1 billion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$-30 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$12.3 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

copper, gold, zinc, crude petroleum and petroleum products, coffee

Exports - partners:

US 29.5%, China 9.9%, UK 9%, Chile 5.1%, Japan 4.4% (2004)

Imports:

$9.6 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum and petroleum products, plastics, machinery, vehicles, iron and steel, wheat, paper

Imports - partners:

US 30.3%, Spain 11.5%, Chile 7.2%, Brazil 5.4%, Colombia 5.2% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$12.7 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$29.79 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$491 million (2002)

Currency (code):

nuevo sol (PEN)

Currency code:

PEN

Exchange rates:

nuevo sol per US dollar - 3.4132 (2004), 3.4785 (2003), 3.5165 (2002), 3.5068 (2001), 3.49 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Peru

Telephones - main lines in use:

1,839,200 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2,908,800 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate for most requirements
domestic: nationwide microwave radio relay system and a domestic satellite system with 12 earth stations
international: country code - 51; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); Pan American submarine cable

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 472, FM 198, shortwave 189 (1999)

Radios:

6.65 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

13 (plus 112 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

3.06 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.pe

Internet hosts:

65,868 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

10 (2000)

Internet users:

2.85 million (2003)

Transportation

Peru

Railways:

total: 3,462 km
standard gauge: 2,962 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 500 km 0.914-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 78,230 km
paved: 10,452 km
unpaved: 67,778 km (2001)

Waterways:

8,808 km
note: 8,600 km of navigable tributaries of Amazon system and 208 km of Lago Titicaca (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 388 km; oil 1,557 km; refined products 13 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Callao, Iquitos, Matarani, Pucallpa, Yurimaguas
note: Iquitos, Pucallpa, and Yurimaguas are on the upper reaches of the Amazon and its tributaries

Merchant marine:

total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 13,666 GRT/17,611 DWT
by type: cargo 3, petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 1 (United States 1)
registered in other countries: 14 (2005)

Airports:

234 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 52
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 20
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 182
1,524 to 2,437 m: 21
914 to 1,523 m: 62
under 914 m: 99 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

Peru

Military branches:

Army (Ejercito Peruano), Navy (Marina de Guerra del Peru; includes Naval Air, Naval Infantry, and Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea del Peru; FAP)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service (1999)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 6,647,874 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 4,938,417 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 277,105 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$829.3 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.4% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Peru

Disputes - international:

Peru proposes changing its latitudinal maritime boundary with Chile to an equidistance line with a southwestern axis; organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia have penetrated Peru's shared border; Peru does not support Bolivia's claim to restore maritime access through a sovereign corridor through Chile along the Peruvian border

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 60,000 (civil war from 1980-2000; most IDPs are indigenous peasants in Andean and Amazonian regions) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

until 1996 the world's largest coca leaf producer; emerging opium producer; cultivation of coca in Peru fell 15 percent to 31,150 hectares between 2002 and the end of 2003; much of the cocaine base is shipped to neighboring Colombia for processing into cocaine, while finished cocaine is shipped out from Pacific ports to the international drug market; increasing amounts of base and finished cocaine, however, are being moved to Brazil and Bolivia for use in the Southern Cone or transshipped to Europe and Africa

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Paracel Islands

Introduction

Paracel Islands

Background:

The Paracel Islands are surrounded by productive fishing grounds and by potential oil and gas reserves. In 1932, French Indochina annexed the islands and set up a weather station on Pattle Island; maintenance was continued by its successor, Vietnam. China has occupied the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops seized a South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands. The islands are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.

Geography

Paracel Islands

Location:

Southeastern Asia, group of small islands and reefs in the South China Sea, about one-third of the way from central Vietnam to the northern Philippines

Geographic coordinates:

16 30 N, 112 00 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: NA sq km
land: NA sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

NA

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

518 km

Maritime claims:

NA

Climate:

tropical

Terrain:

mostly low and flat

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m

Natural resources:

none

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

typhoons

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

composed of 130 small coral islands and reefs divided into the northeast Amphitrite Group and the western Crescent Group

People

Paracel Islands

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered Chinese garrisons

Government

Paracel Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Paracel Islands

Economy

Paracel Islands

Economy - overview:

China announced plans in 1997 to open the islands for tourism.

Transportation

Paracel Islands

Ports and harbors:

small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island being expanded

Airports:

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Paracel Islands

Military - note:

occupied by China

Transnational Issues

Paracel Islands

Disputes - international:

occupied by China, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Spratly Islands

Introduction

Spratly Islands

Background:

The Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs. They are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and potentially by gas and oil deposits. They are claimed in their entirety by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, while portions are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines. About 45 islands are occupied by relatively small numbers of military forces from China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Brunei has established a fishing zone that overlaps a southern reef, but has not made any formal claim.

Geography

Spratly Islands

Location:

Southeastern Asia, group of reefs and islands in the South China Sea, about two-thirds of the way from southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines

Geographic coordinates:

8 38 N, 111 55 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: less than 5 sq km
land: less than 5 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes 100 or so islets, coral reefs, and sea mounts scattered over an area of nearly 410,000 sq km of the central South China Sea

Area - comparative:

NA

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

926 km

Maritime claims:

NA

Climate:

tropical

Terrain:

flat

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m

Natural resources:

fish, guano, undetermined oil and natural gas potential

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

typhoons; serious maritime hazard because of numerous reefs and shoals

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

strategically located near several primary shipping lanes in the central South China Sea; includes numerous small islands, atolls, shoals, and coral reefs

People

Spratly Islands

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants
note: there are scattered garrisons occupied by personnel of several claimant states (2004)

Government

Spratly Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Spratly Islands

Economy

Spratly Islands

Economy - overview:

Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing. The proximity to nearby oil- and gas-producing sedimentary basins suggests the potential for oil and gas deposits, but the region is largely unexplored; there are no reliable estimates of potential reserves; commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.

Transportation

Spratly Islands

Ports and harbors:

none; offshore anchorage only

Airports:

3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
less than 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Spratly Islands

Military - note:

Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small islands or reefs, of which about 45 are claimed and occupied by China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam

Transnational Issues

Spratly Islands

Disputes - international:

all of the Spratly Islands are claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam; parts of them are claimed by Malaysia and the Philippines; in 1984, Brunei established an exclusive fishing zone that encompasses Louisa Reef in the southern Spratly Islands but has not publicly claimed the reef; claimants in November 2002 signed the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," which has eased tensions but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct"; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratlys

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Pakistan

Introduction

Pakistan

Background:

The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with two sections West and East) and largely Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved, and India and Pakistan have fought two wars - in 1947-48 and 1965 - over the disputed Kashmir territory. A third war between these countries in 1971 - in which India capitalized on Islamabad's marginalization of Bengalis in Pakistani politics - resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998. The dispute over the state of Kashmir is ongoing, but recent discussions and confidence-building measures may be a start toward lessened tensions.

Geography

Pakistan

Location:

Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north

Geographic coordinates:

30 00 N, 70 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 803,940 sq km
land: 778,720 sq km
water: 25,220 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of California

Land boundaries:

total: 6,774 km
border countries: Afghanistan 2,430 km, China 523 km, India 2,912 km, Iran 909 km

Coastline:

1,046 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north

Terrain:

flat Indus plain in east; mountains in north and northwest; Balochistan plateau in west

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 m

Natural resources:

land, extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone

Land use:

arable land: 27.87%
permanent crops: 0.87%
other: 71.26% (2001)

Irrigated land:

180,000 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and August)

Environment - current issues:

water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff; limited natural fresh water resources; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

controls Khyber Pass and Bolan Pass, traditional invasion routes between Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent

People

Pakistan

Population:

162,419,946 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 39.6% (male 33,104,311/female 31,244,297)
15-64 years: 56.3% (male 46,759,333/female 44,685,828)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 3,189,122/female 3,437,055) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 19.58 years
male: 19.44 years
female: 19.74 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.03% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

30.42 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

8.45 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 72.44 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 72.84 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 72.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 63 years
male: 62.04 years
female: 64.01 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.14 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

74,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

4,900 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, and cutaneous leishmaniasis are high risks depending on location
animal contact disease: rabies (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Pakistani(s)
adjective: Pakistani

Ethnic groups:

Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir (immigrants from India at the time of partition and their descendants)

Religions:

Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shi'a 20%), Christian, Hindu, and other 3%

Languages:

Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%, Brahui 1%, English (official and lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Burushaski, and other 8%

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 48.7%
male: 61.7%
female: 35.2% (2004 est.)

Government

Pakistan

Country name:

conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan
conventional short form: Pakistan
former: West Pakistan

Government type:

federal republic

Capital:

Islamabad

Administrative divisions:

4 provinces, 1 territory*, and 1 capital territory**; Balochistan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas*, Islamabad Capital Territory**, North-West Frontier Province, Punjab, Sindh
note: the Pakistani-administered portion of the disputed Jammu and Kashmir region includes Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas

Independence:

14 August 1947 (from UK)

National holiday:

Republic Day, 23 March (1956)

Constitution:

12 April 1973; suspended 5 July 1977, restored with amendments 30 December 1985; suspended 15 October 1999, restored 31 December 2002; amended 31 December 2003

Legal system:

based on English common law with provisions to accommodate Pakistan's status as an Islamic state; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal; joint electorates and reserved parliamentary seats for women and non-Muslims

Executive branch:

note: following a military takeover on 12 October 1999, Chief of Army Staff and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Pervez MUSHARRAF, suspended Pakistan's constitution and assumed the additional title of Chief Executive; on 12 May 2000, Pakistan's Supreme Court unanimously validated the October 1999 coup and granted MUSHARRAF executive and legislative authority for three years from the coup date; on 20 June 2001, MUSHARRAF named himself as president and was sworn in, replacing Mohammad Rafiq TARAR; in a referendum held on 30 April 2002, MUSHARRAF's presidency was extended by five more years; on 1 January 2004, MUSHARRAF won a vote of confidence in the Senate, National Assembly, and four provincial assemblies
chief of state: President General Pervez MUSHARRAF (since 20 June 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Shaukat AZIZ (since 28 August 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
elections: the president is elected by Parliament for a five-year term; note - in a referendum held on 30 April 2002, MUSHARRAF's presidency was extended by five more years (next to be held NA 2007); the prime minister is selected by the National Assembly for a five-year term (next to be held NA 2007)
election results: AZIZ elected by the National Assembly on 27 August 2004 with 191 of the votes

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora consists of the Senate (100 seats - formerly 87; members indirectly elected by provincial assemblies to serve four-year terms; and the National Assembly (342 seats - formerly 217; 60 seats represent women; 10 seats represent minorities; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 24 and 27 February 2003 (next to be held by February 2007); National Assembly - last held 10 October 2002 (next to be held by October 2006)
election results: Senate results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PML/Q 40, PPPP 11, MMA 21, MQM/A 6, PML/N 4, NA 3, PML/F 1, PkMAP 2, ANP 2, PPP/S 2, JWP 1, BNP-Awami 1, BNP-Mengal 1, BNM/H 1, independents 4; National Assembly results - percent of votes by party - NA%; seats by party - PML/Q 126, PPPP 81, MMA 63, PML/N 19, MQM/A 17, NA 16, PML/F 5, PML/J 3, PPP/S 2, BNP 1, JWP 1, PAT 1, PML/Z 1, PTI 1, MQM/H 1, PkMAP 1, independents 3

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (justices appointed by the president); Federal Islamic or Shari'a Court

Political parties and leaders:

Awami National Party or ANP [Wali KHAN]; Balochistan National Movement/Hayee Group or BNM/H [Dr. Hayee BALUCH]; Baluch National Party/Awami or BNP/Awami [Moheem Khan BALOCH]; Baluch National Party-Mengal or BNP/M [Sardar Ataullah MENGAL]; Jamhoori Watan Party or JWP [Akbar Khan BUGTI]; Jamiat-al-Hadith or JAH [Sajid MIR]; Jamiat-i-Islami or JI [Qazi Hussain AHMED]; Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Fazlur Rehman faction or JUI/F [Fazlur REHMAN]; Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam, Sami ul-HAQ faction or JUI/S [Sami ul-HAQ]; Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan or JUP [Shah Faridul HAQ]; Millat Party or MP [Farooq LEGHARI]; Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal Pakistan or MMA [Qazi Hussain AHMED]; Muttahida Qaumi Movement, Altaf faction or MQM/A [Altaf HUSSAIN]; Muttahida Quami Movement, Haqiqi faction or MQM/H [Afaq AHMAD]; National People's Party or NPP [Ghulam Mustapha JATOI]; Pakhtun Khwa Milli Awami Party or PkMAP [Mahmood Khan ACHAKZAI]; Pakhtun Quami Party or PQP [Mohammed Afzal KHAN]; Pakistan Awami Tehrik or PAT [Tahir ul QADRI]; Pakistan Democratic Party or PDP [Mehbooba Mufti SAYEED]; Pakistan Muslim League, Functional Group or PML/F [Pir PAGARO]; Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz Sharif faction or PML/N [Nawaz SHARIF]; Pakistan Muslim League or PML [Chaudhry Shujaat HUSSAIN]; note - as of May 2004, the PML/Q changed its name to PML and absorbed the PML/J, PML/Z, and NA; Pakistan National Party or PNP [Hasil BIZENJO]; Pakistan People's Party or PPP [Aftab Ahmed Khan SHERPAO]; Pakistan People's Party Parliamentarians or PPPP [Benazir BHUTTO]; Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf or PTI [Imran KHAN]; Tehrik-i-Islami [Allama Sajid NAQVI]
note: political alliances in Pakistan can shift frequently

Political pressure groups and leaders:

military remains most important political force; ulema (clergy), landowners, industrialists, and small merchants also influential

International organization participation:

ARF, AsDB, C (reinstated 2004), CP, ECO, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jehangir KARAMAT
chancery: 3517 International Court, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 243-3277
FAX: [1] (202) 686-1534
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York, Sunnyvale (California)
consulate(s): Chicago, Houston

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ryan CROCKER
embassy: Diplomatic Enclave, Ramna 5, Islamabad
mailing address: P. O. Box 1048, Unit 62200, APO AE 09812-2200
telephone: [92] (51) 2080-0000
FAX: [92] (51) 2276427
consulate(s): Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar

Flag description:

green with a vertical white band (symbolizing the role of religious minorities) on the hoist side; a large white crescent and star are centered in the green field; the crescent, star, and color green are traditional symbols of Islam

Economy

Pakistan

Economy - overview:

Pakistan, an impoverished and underdeveloped country, has suffered from decades of internal political disputes, low levels of foreign investment, and a costly, ongoing confrontation with neighboring India. However, IMF-approved government policies, bolstered by generous foreign assistance and renewed access to global markets since 2001, have generated solid macroeconomic recovery the last three years. The government has made substantial macroeconomic reforms since 2000, although progress on more politically sensitive reforms has slowed. For example, in the third and final year of its $1.3 billion IMF Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility, Islamabad has continued to require waivers for energy sector reforms. While long-term prospects remain uncertain, given Pakistan's low level of development, medium-term prospects for job creation and poverty reduction are the best in nearly a decade. Islamabad has raised development spending from about 2% of GDP in the 1990s to 4% in 2003, a necessary step towards reversing the broad underdevelopment of its social sector. GDP growth, spurred by double-digit gains in industrial production over the past year, has become less dependent on agriculture. Foreign exchange reserves continued to reach new levels in 2004, supported by robust export growth and steady worker remittances.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$347.3 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.1% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $2,200 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 22.6%
industry: 24.1%
services: 53.3% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

45.43 million
note: extensive export of labor, mostly to the Middle East, and use of child labor (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 42%, industry 20%, services 38% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

8.3% plus substantial underemployment (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

32% (FY00/01 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 27.6% (FY96/97)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

41 (FY98/99)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.8% (FY03/04 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

16.4% of GDP (FY03/04 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $13.45 billion
expenditures: $16.51 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

71.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; milk, beef, mutton, eggs

Industries:

textiles and apparel, food processing, pharmaceuticals, construction materials, paper products, fertilizer, shrimp

Industrial production growth rate:

13.1% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

75.27 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 68.8%
hydro: 28.2%
nuclear: 3%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

52.66 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2003)

Oil - production:

61,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

365,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

325.5 million bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

23.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

23.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

695.6 billion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$1.4 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$15.07 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

textiles (garments, bed linen, cotton cloth, and yarn), rice, leather goods, sports goods, chemicals, manufactures, carpets and rugs

Exports - partners:

US 23.5%, UAE 7.4%, UK 7.3%, Germany 5%, Hong Kong 4.4% (2004)

Imports:

$14.01 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

petroleum, petroleum products, machinery, plastics, transportation equipment, edible oils, paper and paperboard, iron and steel, tea

Imports - partners:

Saudi Arabia 11.6%, UAE 10%, US 9.7%, China 8.4%, Japan 6.5%, Kuwait 5.6% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$12.58 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$33.97 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$2.4 billion (FY01/02)

Currency (code):

Pakistani rupee (PKR)

Currency code:

PKR

Exchange rates:

Pakistani rupees per US dollar - 58.258 (2004), 57.752 (2003), 59.724 (2002), 61.927 (2001), 53.648 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Communications

Pakistan

Telephones - main lines in use:

3,982,800 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2,624,800 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: the domestic system is mediocre, but improving; service is adequate for government and business use, in part because major businesses have established their own private systems; since 1988, the government has promoted investment in the national telecommunications system on a priority basis, significantly increasing network capacity; despite major improvements in trunk and urban systems, telecommunication services are still not readily available to the majority of the rural population
domestic: microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable, cellular, and satellite networks
international: country code - 92; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean); 3 operational international gateway exchanges (1 at Karachi and 2 at Islamabad); microwave radio relay to neighboring countries (1999)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 27, FM 1, shortwave 21 (1998)

Radios:

13.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

22 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

3.1 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.pk

Internet hosts:

15,124 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

30 (2000)

Internet users:

1.5 million (2002)

Transportation

Pakistan

Railways:

total: 8,163 km
broad gauge: 7,718 km 1.676-m gauge (293 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 445 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 257,683 km
paved: 152,033 km (including 339 km of expressways)
unpaved: 105,650 km (2001)

Pipelines:

gas 9,945 km; oil 1,821 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Karachi, Port Muhammad bin Qasim

Merchant marine:

total: 13 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 329,486 GRT/512,506 DWT
by type: cargo 10, petroleum tanker 3
registered in other countries: 14 (2005)

Airports:

131 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 92
over 3,047 m: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 22
1,524 to 2,437 m: 32
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 6 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 39
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

15 (2004 est.)

Military

Pakistan

Military branches:

Army, Navy, Air Force

Military service age and obligation:

16 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be deployed for combat until age of 18 (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 39,028,014 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 29,428,747 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 1,969,055 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$3.848 billion (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

4.9% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Pakistan

Disputes - international:

recent talks and confidence-building measures have begun to defuse tensions over Kashmir, site of the world's largest and most militarized territorial dispute with portions under the de facto administration of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu and Kashmir), and Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas); UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) has maintained a small group of peacekeepers since 1949; India does not recognize Pakistan's ceding historic Kashmir lands to China in 1964; in 2004, India and Pakistan instituted a cease fire in the Kashmir, and in 2005 restored bus service across the highly militarized Line of Control; Pakistan has taken its dispute on the impact and benefits of India's building the Baglihar dam on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir to the World Bank for arbitration and in general the two states still dispute Indus River water sharing; to defuse tensions and prepare for discussions on a maritime boundary, India and Pakistan resurveyed a portion of the disputed Sir Creek estuary at the mouth of the Rann of Kutch in 2004; Pakistani maps continue to show Junagadh in India's Gujarat State; by 2005, Pakistan with UN assistance had repatriated 2.3 million Afghan refugees and has undertaken a census to count the remaining million or more, many of whom remain at their own choosing; Pakistan maintains troops in remote tribal areas to control the border with Afghanistan and root out organized terrorist and other illegal cross-border activities; regular meetings with Afghan and Coalition allies aim to resolve periodic claims of boundary encroachments

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 1,064,230 (Afghanistan)
IDPs: undetermined (government strikes on Islamic militants in South Waziristan) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

opium poppy in Federally Administered Tribal Areas, North-West Frontier Province, and Balochistan Province has rebounded since it was nearly eliminated in 2001; key transit point for Afghan drugs, including heroin, opium, morphine, and hashish, bound for Western markets, the Gulf States, and Africa; financial crimes related to drug trafficking, terrorism, corruption, and smuggling remain problems

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Poland

Introduction

Poland

Background:

Poland is an ancient nation that was conceived near the middle of the 10th century. Its golden age occurred in the 16th century. During the following century, the strengthening of the gentry and internal disorders weakened the nation. In a series of agreements between 1772 and 1795, Russia, Prussia, and Austria partitioned Poland amongst themselves. Poland regained its independence in 1918 only to be overrun by Germany and the Soviet Union in World War II. It became a Soviet satellite state following the war, but its government was comparatively tolerant and progressive. Labor turmoil in 1980 led to the formation of the independent trade union "Solidarity" that over time became a political force and by 1990 had swept parliamentary elections and the presidency. A "shock therapy" program during the early 1990s enabled the country to transform its economy into one of the most robust in Central Europe, but Poland currently suffers low GDP growth and high unemployment. Solidarity suffered a major defeat in the 2001 parliamentary elections when it failed to elect a single deputy to the lower house of Parliament, and the new leaders of the Solidarity Trade Union subsequently pledged to reduce the Trade Union's political role. Poland joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004.

Geography

Poland

Location:

Central Europe, east of Germany

Geographic coordinates:

52 00 N, 20 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 312,685 sq km
land: 304,465 sq km
water: 8,220 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than New Mexico

Land boundaries:

total: 2,788 km
border countries: Belarus 407 km, Czech Republic 658 km, Germany 456 km, Lithuania 91 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, Slovakia 444 km, Ukraine 526 km

Coastline:

491 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: defined by international treaties

Climate:

temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation; mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers

Terrain:

mostly flat plain; mountains along southern border

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
highest point: Rysy 2,499 m

Natural resources:

coal, sulfur, copper, natural gas, silver, lead, salt, amber, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 45.91%
permanent crops: 1.12%
other: 52.97% (2001)

Irrigated land:

1,000 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

flooding

Environment - current issues:

situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in heavy industry and increased environmental concern by post-Communist governments; air pollution nonetheless remains serious because of sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants, and the resulting acid rain has caused forest damage; water pollution from industrial and municipal sources is also a problem, as is disposal of hazardous wastes; pollution levels should continue to decrease as industrial establishments bring their facilities up to European Union code, but at substantial cost to business and the government

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Kyoto Protocol, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94

Geography - note:

historically, an area of conflict because of flat terrain and the lack of natural barriers on the North European Plain

People

Poland

Population:

38,635,144 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.7% (male 3,319,176/female 3,150,859)
15-64 years: 70.3% (male 13,506,153/female 13,638,265)
65 years and over: 13% (male 1,912,431/female 3,108,260) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 36.43 years
male: 34.52 years
female: 38.49 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.03% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

10.78 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

10.01 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 8.51 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.74 years
male: 70.71 years
female: 79.03 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.39 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% ; note - no country specific models provided (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

14,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

100 (2001 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Pole(s)
adjective: Polish

Ethnic groups:

Polish 96.7%, German 0.4%, Belarusian 0.1%, Ukrainian 0.1%, other and unspecified 2.7% (2002 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 89.8% (about 75% practicing), Eastern Orthodox 1.3%, Protestant 0.3%, other 0.3%, unspecified 8.3% (2002)

Languages:

Polish 97.8%, other and unspecified 2.2% (2002 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.8%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.7% (2003 est.)

Government

Poland

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Poland
conventional short form: Poland
local long form: Rzeczpospolita Polska
local short form: Polska

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Warsaw

Administrative divisions:

16 provinces (wojewodztwa, singular - wojewodztwo); Dolnoslaskie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Lodzkie, Lubelskie, Lubuskie, Malopolskie, Mazowieckie, Opolskie, Podkarpackie, Podlaskie, Pomorskie, Slaskie, Swietokrzyskie, Warminsko-Mazurskie, Wielkopolskie, Zachodniopomorskie

Independence:

11 November 1918 (independent republic proclaimed)

National holiday:

Constitution Day, 3 May (1791)

Constitution:

adopted by the National Assembly 2 April 1997, passed by national referendum 25 May 1997, effective 17 October 1997

Legal system:

mixture of Continental (Napoleonic) civil law and holdover Communist legal theory; changes being gradually introduced as part of broader democratization process; limited judicial review of legislative acts, but rulings of the Constitutional Tribunal are final; court decisions can be appealed to the European Court of Justice in Strasbourg

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI (since 23 December 1995)
head of government: Prime Minister Marek BELKA (since 24 June 2004); Deputy Prime Minister Izabela JARUGA-NOWACKA (since 24 June 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the prime minister and the Sejm; the prime minister proposes, the president appoints, and the Sejm approves the Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 8 October 2000 (next to be held October 2005); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the Sejm
election results: Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI reelected president; percent of popular vote - Aleksander KWASNIEWSKI 53.9%, Andrzej OLECHOWSKI 17.3%, Marian KRZAKLEWSKI 15.6%, Lech WALESA 1%

Legislative branch:

bicameral legislature consisting of an upper house, the Senate or Senat (100 seats; members are elected by a majority vote on a provincial basis to serve four-year terms), and a lower house, the Sejm (460 seats; members are elected under a complex system of proportional representation to serve four-year terms); the designation of National Assembly or Zgromadzenie Narodowe is only used on those rare occasions when the two houses meet jointly
elections: Senate - last held 25 September 2005 (next to be held by September 2009); Sejm elections last held September 25 2005 (next to be held by September 2009)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PiS 49, PO 34, LPR 7, SO 3, PSL 2, independents 5; Sejm - percent of vote by party - PiS 27%, PO 24.1%, SO 11.4%, SLD 11.3%, LPR 8%, PSL 7%, other 11.2%; seats by party - PiS 155, PO 133, SO 56, SLD 55, LPR 34, PSL 25, German minorities 2
note: two seats are assigned to ethnic minority parties in the Sejm only

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the National Council of the Judiciary for an indefinite period); Constitutional Tribunal (judges are chosen by the Sejm for nine-year terms)

Political parties and leaders:

Catholic-National Movement or RKN [Antoni MACIEREWICZ]; Civic Platform or PO [Donald TUSK]; Conservative Peasants Party or KL [Artur BALAZS]; Democratic Left Alliance or SLD [Jozef OLEKSY]; Dom Ojczysty (Fatherland Home); Freedom Union or UW [Wladyslaw FRASYNIUK]; German Minority of Lower Silesia or MNSO [Henryk KROLL]; Law and Justice or PiS [Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI]; League of Polish Families or LPR [Marek KOTLINOWSKI]; Movement for the Reconstruction of Poland or ROP [Jan OLSZEWSKI]; Peasant-Democratic Party or PLD [Roman JAGIELINSKI]; Polish Accord or PP [Jan LOPUSZANSKI]; Polish Peasant Party or PSL [Waldemar PAWLAK]; Samoobrona or SO [Andrzej LEPPER]; Social Democratic Party of Poland or SDPL [Marek BOROWSKI]; Social Movement or RS [Krzysztof PIESIEWICZ]; Union of Labor or UP [Izabela JARUGA-NOWACKA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

All Poland Trade Union Alliance or OPZZ (trade union) [Jan GUZ]; Roman Catholic Church [Cardinal Jozef GLEMP]; Solidarity Trade Union [Janusz SNIADEK]

International organization participation:

ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (member affiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Przemyslaw GRUDZINSKI
chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-3800 through 3802
FAX: [1] (202) 328-6270
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Victor ASHE
embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31 00-540 Warsaw
mailing address: American Embassy Warsaw, US Department of State, 5010 Warsaw Place, Washington, DC 20521-5010 (pouch)
telephone: [48] (22) 504-2000
FAX: [48] (22) 504-2688
consulate(s) general: Krakow

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and red; similar to the flags of Indonesia and Monaco which are red (top) and white

Economy

Poland

Economy - overview:

Poland has steadfastly pursued a policy of economic liberalization throughout the 1990s and today stands out as a success story among transition economies. Even so, much remains to be done, especially in bringing down unemployment. The privatization of small and medium-sized state-owned companies and a liberal law on establishing new firms has encouraged the development of the private business sector, but legal and bureaucratic obstacles alongside persistent corruption are hampering its further development. Poland's agricultural sector remains handicapped by surplus labor, inefficient small farms, and lack of investment. Restructuring and privatization of "sensitive sectors" (e.g., coal, steel, railroads, and energy), while recently initiated, have stalled. Reforms in health care, education, the pension system, and state administration have resulted in larger-than-expected fiscal pressures. Further progress in public finance depends mainly on reducing losses in Polish state enterprises, restraining entitlements, and overhauling the tax code to incorporate the growing gray economy and farmers, most of whom pay no tax. The government has introduced a package of social and administrative spending cuts to reduce public spending by about $17 billion through 2007. Additional reductions are under discussion in the legislature but could be trumped by election-year politics in 2005. Poland joined the EU in May 2004, and surging exports to the EU contributed to Poland's strong growth in 2004, though its competitiveness could be threatened by the zloty's appreciation. GDP per capita roughly equals that of the three Baltic states. Poland stands to benefit from nearly $13.5 billion in EU funds, available through 2006. Farmers have already begun to reap the rewards of membership via higher food prices and EU agricultural subsidies.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$463 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $12,000 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.9%
industry: 31.3%
services: 65.9% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

17.02 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 16.1%, industry 29%, services 54.9% (2002)

Unemployment rate:

19.5% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

18.4% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 24.7% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

31.6 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.4% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

18.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $44.52 billion
expenditures: $54.93 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

49.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

potatoes, fruits, vegetables, wheat; poultry, eggs, pork

Industries:

machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals, shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles

Industrial production growth rate:

10% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

133.8 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 98.1%
hydro: 1.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.4% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

117.4 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

11.5 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

4.5 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

17,180 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

424,100 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

53,000 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:

413,700 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

116.4 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

5.471 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

13.85 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

41 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

8.782 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

154.4 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$-3.831 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$75.98 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment 37.8%, intermediate manufactured goods 23.7%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 17.1%, food and live animals 7.6% (2003)

Exports - partners:

Germany 30%, Italy 6.1%, France 6%, UK 5.4%, Czech Republic 4.3%, Netherlands 4.3% (2004)

Imports:

$81.61 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment 38%, intermediate manufactured goods 21%, chemicals 14.8%, minerals, fuels, lubricants, and related materials 9.1% (2003)

Imports - partners:

Germany 24.4%, Italy 7.9%, Russia 7.3%, France 6.7%, China 4.6% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$41.88 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$99.15 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$17 billion in available EU structural adjustment and cohesion funds (2004-06)

Currency (code):

zloty (PLN)

Currency code:

PLN

Exchange rates:

zlotych per US dollar - 3.6576 (2004), 3.8891 (2003), 4.08 (2002), 4.0939 (2001), 4.3461 (2000)
note: zlotych is the plural form of zloty

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Poland

Telephones - main lines in use:

12.3 million (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

17.401 million (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: underdeveloped and outmoded system in the process of being overhauled; partial privatization of the state-owned telephone monopoly is underway; the long waiting list for main line telephone service has resulted in a boom in mobile cellular telephone use
domestic: cable, open-wire, and microwave radio relay; 3 cellular networks; local exchanges 56.6% digital
international: country code - 48; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat, NA Eutelsat, 2 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions), and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 14, FM 777, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

20.2 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

179 (plus 256 repeaters) (September 1995)

Televisions:

13.05 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.pl

Internet hosts:

804,915 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

19 (2000)

Internet users:

8.97 million (2003)

Transportation

Poland

Railways:

total: 23,852 km
broad gauge: 629 km 1.524-m gauge
standard gauge: 23,223 km 1.435-m gauge (20,555 km operational) (11,962 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 364,697 km
paved: 249,088 km (including 399 km of expressways)
unpaved: 115,609 km (2001)

Waterways:

3,997 km (navigable rivers and canals) (2003)

Pipelines:

gas 13,552 km; oil 1,772 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Gdansk, Gdynia, Swinoujscie, Szczecin

Merchant marine:

total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 154,710 GRT/228,132 DWT
by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 2, passenger/cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1
registered in other countries: 107 (2005)

Airports:

123 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 84
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 30
1,524 to 2,437 m: 40
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 39
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

3 (2004 est.)

Military

Poland

Military branches:

Land Forces, Navy, Polish Air Force (PSP)

Military service age and obligation:

17 years of age for compulsory military service after January 1st of the year of 18th birthday; 17 years of age for voluntary military service; in 2005 Poland plans to shorten the length of conscript service obligation from 12 to 9 months; by 2008, plans call for at least 60% of military personnel to be volunteers; only soldiers who have completed their conscript service are allowed to volunteer for professional service; as of April 2004 women are only allowed to serve as officers and non-commissioned officers (April 2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 17-49: 9,673,712 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 17-49: 7,740,164 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 275,521 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$3.5 billion (2002)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.71% (2002)

Transnational Issues

Poland

Disputes - international:

as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Poland must implement the strict Schengen border rules

Illicit drugs:

major illicit producer of synthetic drugs for the international market; minor transshipment point for Asian and Latin American illicit drugs to Western Europe

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Panama

Introduction

Panama

Background:

With US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 and promptly signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal and US sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. On 7 September 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by the end of 1999. Certain portions of the Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the intervening years. With US help, dictator Manuel NORIEGA was deposed in 1989. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the Canal, and remaining US military bases were turned over to Panama by or on 31 December 1999.

Geography

Panama

Location:

Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombia and Costa Rica

Geographic coordinates:

9 00 N, 80 00 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 78,200 sq km
land: 75,990 sq km
water: 2,210 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries:

total: 555 km
border countries: Colombia 225 km, Costa Rica 330 km

Coastline:

2,490 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical maritime; hot, humid, cloudy; prolonged rainy season (May to January), short dry season (January to May)

Terrain:

interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan de Chiriqui 3,475 m

Natural resources:

copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 7.36%
permanent crops: 1.98%
other: 90.66% (2001)

Irrigated land:

320 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area

Environment - current issues:

water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation and soil erosion threatens siltation of Panama Canal; air pollution in urban areas; mining threatens natural resources

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

strategic location on eastern end of isthmus forming land bridge connecting North and South America; controls Panama Canal that links North Atlantic Ocean via Caribbean Sea with North Pacific Ocean

People

Panama

Population:

3,039,150 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 29.8% (male 460,840/female 443,359)
15-64 years: 63.9% (male 984,558/female 956,748)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 91,383/female 102,262) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 26.18 years
male: 25.89 years
female: 26.48 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.26% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

19.96 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.54 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 20.47 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 22.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.25 years
male: 72.68 years
female: 77.93 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.45 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.9% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

16,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 500 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Panamanian(s)
adjective: Panamanian

Ethnic groups:

mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 70%, Amerindian and mixed (West Indian) 14%, white 10%, Amerindian 6%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant 15%

Languages:

Spanish (official), English 14%; note - many Panamanians bilingual

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.6%
male: 93.2%
female: 91.9% (2003 est.)

Government

Panama

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Panama
conventional short form: Panama
local long form: Republica de Panama
local short form: Panama

Government type:

constitutional democracy

Capital:

Panama

Administrative divisions:

9 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 territory* (comarca); Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui, Cocle, Colon, Darien, Herrera, Los Santos, Panama, San Blas*(Kuna Yala), and Veraguas

Independence:

3 November 1903 (from Colombia; became independent from Spain 28 November 1821)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 3 November (1903)

Constitution:

11 October 1972; major reforms adopted 1978, 1983, 1994, and 2004

Legal system:

based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court of Justice; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Martin TORRIJOS Espino (since 1 September 2004); First Vice President Samuel LEWIS Navarro (since 1 September 2004); Second Vice President Ruben AROSEMENA Valdes (since 1 September 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Martin TORRIJOS Espino (since 1 September 2004); First Vice President Samuel LEWIS Navarro (since 1 September 2004); Second Vice President Ruben AROSEMENA Valdes (since 1 September 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 2 May 2004 (next to be held 3 May 2009); note - beginning in 2009, Panama will have only one vice president.
election results: Martin TORRIJOS Espino elected president; percent of vote - Martin TORRIJOS Espino 47.5%, Guillermo ENDARA Galimany 30.6%, Jose Miguel ALEMAN 17%, Ricardo MARTINELLI 4.9%
note: government coalition - PRD (Democratic Revolutionary Party), PP (Popular Party)

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly (formerly called Legislative Assembly) or Asamblea Nacional (78 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; note - in 2009, the number of seats will change to 71)
elections: last held 2 May 2004 (next to be held 3 May 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PRD 40, PA 17, PS 8, MOLIRENA 3, CD 2, PP 2, PLN 1, other 5
note: legislators from outlying rural districts are chosen on a plurality basis while districts located in more populous towns and cities elect multiple legislators by means of a proportion-based formula

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Justice or Corte Suprema de Justicia (nine judges appointed for 10-year terms); five superior courts; three courts of appeal

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Change or CD [Ricardo MARTINELLI]; Democratic Revolutionary Party or PRD [Martin TORRIJOS]; National Liberal Party or PLN [Anibal GALINDO]; Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement or MOLIRENA [Jesus ROSAS]; Panamenista Party or PA (formerly the Arnulfista Party) [Mireya Elisa MOSCOSO Rodriguez]; Popular Party or PP (formerly Christian Democratic Party or PDC) [Ruben AROSEMENA]; Solidarity Party or PS [Jose Raul MULINO]

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; National Union of Construction and Similar Workers (SUNTRACS); Panamanian Association of Business Executives or APEDE; Panamanian Industrialists Society or SIP; Workers Confederation of the Republic of Panama or CTRP

International organization participation:

FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Federico HUMBERT Arias
chancery: 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-1407
FAX: [1] (202) 483-8416
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Linda Ellen WATT
embassy: Avenida Balboa and Calle 37, Apartado Postal 0816-02561, Zona 5, Panama City 5
mailing address: American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002
telephone: [507] 207-7000
FAX: [507] 227-1964

Flag description:

divided into four, equal rectangles; the top quadrants are white (hoist side) with a blue five-pointed star in the center and plain red; the bottom quadrants are plain blue (hoist side) and white with a red five-pointed star in the center

Economy

Panama

Economy - overview:

Panama's dollarised economy rests primarily on a well-developed services sector that accounts for four-fifths of GDP. Services include operating the Panama Canal, banking, the Colon Free Zone, insurance, container ports, flagship registry, and tourism. A slump in Colon Free Zone and agricultural exports, the global slowdown, and the withdrawal of US military forces held back economic growth in 2000-03; growth picked up in 2004 led by export-oriented services and a construction boom stimulated by tax incentives. The government has been backing tax reforms, reform of the social security program, new regional trade agreements, and development of tourism. Unemployment remains high.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$20.57 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $6,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 7.2%
industry: 13%
services: 79.8% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

1.32 million
note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled labor (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 20.8%, industry 18%, services 61.2% (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate:

12.6% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

37% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 35.7% (1997)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

48.5 (1997)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

25% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $3.095 billion
expenditures: $3.737 billion, including capital expenditures of $471 million (2004 est.)

Public debt:

69.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables; livestock; shrimp

Industries:

construction, brewing, cement and other construction materials, sugar milling

Industrial production growth rate:

5.4% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

4.873 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 37%
hydro: 61.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1.7% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

4.473 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

120 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

61 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

40,520 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-469.6 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$5.699 billion f.o.b. (includes the Colon Free Zone) (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee, clothing (1999)

Exports - partners:

US 50.5%, Sweden 6.6%, Spain 5.1%, Netherlands 4.4%, Costa Rica 4.2% (2004)

Imports:

$7.164 billion f.o.b. (includes the Colon Free Zone) (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals

Imports - partners:

US 33.3%, Netherlands Antilles 8.1%, Japan 6%, Costa Rica 5.7%, Mexico 4.6%, Colombia 4.2% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.076 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$8.78 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$197.1 million (1995)

Currency (code):

balboa (PAB); US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

PAB; USD

Exchange rates:

balboas per US dollar - 1 (2004), 1 (2003), 1 (2002), 1 (2001), 1 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Panama

Telephones - main lines in use:

386,900 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

834,000 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: domestic and international facilities well developed
domestic: NA
international: country code - 507; 1 coaxial submarine cable; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); connected to the Central American Microwave System

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 101, FM 134, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

815,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

38 (including repeaters) (1998)

Televisions:

510,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.pa

Internet hosts:

7,129 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6 (2000)

Internet users:

120,000 (2002)

Transportation

Panama

Railways:

total: 355 km
standard gauge: 76 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 279 km 0.914-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 11,643 km
paved: 4,028 km (including 30 km of expressways)
unpaved: 7,615 km (2000 est.)

Waterways:

800 km (includes 82 km Panama Canal) (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Balboa, Colon, Cristobal

Merchant marine:

total: 5,005 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 122,960,929 GRT/183,615,337 DWT
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 1,548, cargo 886, chemical tanker 465, combination ore/oil 13, container 605, liquefied gas 183, livestock carrier 8, passenger 42, passenger/cargo 77, petroleum tanker 521, refrigerated cargo 298, roll on/roll off 97, specialized tanker 5, vehicle carrier 256
foreign-owned: 4,388 (Andorra 1, Argentina 9, Australia 3, Bahamas 1, Belgium 14, Brazil 1, Canada 1, Chile 14, China 310, Colombia 5, Croatia 1, Cuba 9, Cyprus 7, Denmark 13, Egypt 15, France 7, Germany 23, Greece 546, Hong Kong 159, India 8, Indonesia 46, Ireland 1, Isle of Man 2, Israel 3, Italy 8, Japan 1814, Jordan 9, Latvia 2, Lithuania 5, Malaysia 11, Maldives 1, Malta 1, Mexico 4, Monaco 8, Netherlands 22, New Zealand 1, Nigeria 6, Norway 66, Pakistan 1, Peru 13, Philippines 15, Poland 19, Portugal 8, Romania 13, Russia 4, Saudi Arabia 4, Singapore 54, South Africa 3, South Korea 292, Spain 41, Sri Lanka 1, Sudan 1, Sweden 4, Switzerland 188, Syria 7, Taiwan 301, Thailand 10, Trinidad & Tobago 1, Tunisia 1, Turkey 18, Ukraine 9, UAE 83, United Kingdom 29, United States 88, Venezuela 20, Vietnam 2, Yemen 1) (2005)

Airports:

105 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 44
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 22 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 61
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 49 (2004 est.)

Military

Panama

Military branches:

an amendment to the Constitution abolished the armed forces, but there are security forces (Panamanian Public Forces or PPF includes the Panamanian National Police, National Maritime Service, and National Air Service)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 733,031 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 511,905 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$147 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.1% (2004)

Military - note:

on 10 February 1990, the government of then President ENDARA abolished Panama's military and reformed the security apparatus by creating the Panamanian Public Forces; in October 1994, Panama's Legislative Assembly approved a constitutional amendment prohibiting the creation of a standing military force, but allowing the temporary establishment of special police units to counter acts of "external aggression"

Transnational Issues

Panama

Disputes - international:

organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia operate within the border region with Panama

Illicit drugs:

major cocaine transshipment point and primary money-laundering center for narcotics revenue; money-laundering activity is especially heavy in the Colon Free Zone; offshore financial center; negligible signs of coca cultivation; monitoring of financial transactions is improving; official corruption remains a major problem

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Portugal

Introduction

Portugal

Background:

Following its heyday as a world power during the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal lost much of its wealth and status with the destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, occupation during the Napoleonic Wars, and the independence in 1822 of Brazil as a colony. A 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy; for most of the next six decades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, a left-wing military coup installed broad democratic reforms. The following year, Portugal granted independence to all of its African colonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986.

Geography

Portugal

Location:

Southwestern Europe, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, west of Spain

Geographic coordinates:

39 30 N, 8 00 W

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 92,391 sq km
land: 91,951 sq km
water: 440 sq km
note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Indiana

Land boundaries:

total: 1,214 km
border countries: Spain 1,214 km

Coastline:

1,793 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

maritime temperate; cool and rainy in north, warmer and drier in south

Terrain:

mountainous north of the Tagus River, rolling plains in south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Ponta do Pico (Pico or Pico Alto) on Ilha do Pico in the Azores 2,351 m

Natural resources:

fish, forests (cork), iron ore, copper, zinc, tin, tungsten, silver, gold, uranium, marble, clay, gypsum, salt, arable land, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 21.75%
permanent crops: 7.81%
other: 70.44% (2001)

Irrigated land:

6,320 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

Azores subject to severe earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areas

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Environmental Modification

Geography - note:

Azores and Madeira Islands occupy strategic locations along western sea approaches to Strait of Gibraltar

People

Portugal

Population:

10,566,212 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.6% (male 916,234/female 839,935)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 3,468,844/female 3,538,779)
65 years and over: 17.1% (male 744,787/female 1,057,633) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 38.2 years
male: 36.06 years
female: 40.33 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.39% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

10.82 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

10.43 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

3.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.05 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.53 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.53 years
male: 74.25 years
female: 81.03 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.47 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.4% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

22,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 1,000 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Portuguese (singular and plural)
adjective: Portuguese

Ethnic groups:

homogeneous Mediterranean stock; citizens of black African descent who immigrated to mainland during decolonization number less than 100,000; since 1990 East Europeans have entered Portugal

Religions:

Roman Catholic 94%, Protestant (1995)

Languages:

Portuguese (official), Mirandese (official - but locally used)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.3%
male: 95.5%
female: 91.3% (2003 est.)

Government

Portugal

Country name:

conventional long form: Portuguese Republic
conventional short form: Portugal
local long form: Republica Portuguesa
local short form: Portugal

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Lisbon

Administrative divisions:

18 districts (distritos, singular - distrito) and 2 autonomous regions* (regioes autonomas, singular - regiao autonoma); Aveiro, Acores (Azores)*, Beja, Braga, Braganca, Castelo Branco, Coimbra, Evora, Faro, Guarda, Leiria, Lisboa, Madeira*, Portalegre, Porto, Santarem, Setubal, Viana do Castelo, Vila Real, Viseu

Independence:

1143 (Kingdom of Portugal recognized); 5 October 1910 (independent republic proclaimed)

National holiday:

Portugal Day, 10 June (1580); note - also called Camoes Day, the day that revered national poet Luis de Camoes (1524-80) died

Constitution:

25 April 1976; revised many times

Legal system:

civil law system; the Constitutional Tribunal reviews the constitutionality of legislation; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Jorge SAMPAIO (since 9 March 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Jose SOCRATES (since 12 March 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
note: there is also a Council of State that acts as a consultative body to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 14 January 2001 (next to be held January 2006); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president
election results: Jorge SAMPAIO reelected president; percent of vote - Jorge SAMPAIO (Socialist) 55.8%, Joaquim FERREIRA Do Amaral (Social Democrat) 34.5%, Antonio ABREU (Communist) 5.1%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Assembly of the Republic or Assembleia da Republica (230 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 20 February 2005 (next to be held February 2009); note - President SAMPAIO called for early elections after dissolving parliament on 10 December 2004 because he lacked confidence in the four-month center-right government
election results: percent of vote by party - PS 45.1%, PSD 28.7%, CDU 7.6%, PP 7.3%, BE 6.4%; seats by party - PS 121, PSD 75, CDU 14, PP 12, BE 8

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal de Justica (judges appointed for life by the Conselho Superior da Magistratura)

Political parties and leaders:

Green Ecologist Party or PEV [Heloisa APOLONIA]; Popular Party or PP [Jose Ribeiro e CASTRO]; Portuguese Communist Party or PCP [Jeronimo de SOUSA]; Portuguese Socialist Party or PS [Jose SOCRATES Carvalho Pinto de Sousa]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Luis Marques MENDES]; The Left Bloc or BE [Franciso Anacleto LOUCA]; Unitarian Democratic Coalition or UDC [Jeronimo de SOUSA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMISET, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Pedro Manuel Dos Reis Alves CATARINO
chancery: 2125 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 328-8610
FAX: [1] (202) 462-3726
consulate(s) general: Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), and San Francisco
consulate(s): New Bedford (Massachusetts), Providence (Rhode Island)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Adrienne S. O'NEAL
embassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600-081 Lisbon
mailing address: Apartado 4258, 1507 Lisboa Codex; PSC 83, APO AE 09726
telephone: [351] (21) 727-3300
FAX: [351] (21) 726-9109
consulate(s): Ponta Delgada (Azores)

Flag description:

two vertical bands of green (hoist side, two-fifths) and red (three-fifths) with the Portuguese coat of arms centered on the dividing line

Economy

Portugal

Economy - overview:

Portugal has become a diversified and increasingly service-based economy since joining the European Community in 1986. Over the past decade, successive governments have privatized many state-controlled firms and liberalized key areas of the economy, including the financial and telecommunications sectors. The country qualified for the European Monetary Union (EMU) in 1998 and began circulating the euro on 1 January 2002 along with 11 other EU member economies. Economic growth had been above the EU average for much of the past decade, but fell back in 2001-04. GDP per capita stands at two-thirds that of the Big Four EU economies. A poor educational system, in particular, has been an obstacle to greater productivity and growth. Portugal has been increasingly overshadowed by lower-cost producers in Central Europe and Asia as a target for foreign direct investment. The government faces tough choices in its attempts to boost Portugal's economic competitiveness while keeping the budget deficit within the eurozone's 3%-of-GDP ceiling.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$188.7 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.1% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $17,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 5.9%
industry: 30.2%
services: 63.9% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

5.48 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 10%, industry 30%, services 60% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:

6.5% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 28.4% (1995 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

35.6 (1994-95)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.1% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

22.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $74.38 billion
expenditures: $79.86 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

61.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

grain, potatoes, olives, grapes; sheep, cattle, goats, poultry, beef, dairy products

Industries:

textiles and footwear; wood pulp, paper, and cork; metals and metalworking; oil refining; chemicals; fish canning; rubber and plastic products; ceramics; electronics and communications equipment; rail transportation equipment; aerospace equipment; ship construction and refurbishment; wine; tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

1.1% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

43.28 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 64.5%
hydro: 31.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 4.1% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

42.15 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

3.4 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

5.3 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

339,800 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

28,830 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:

357,300 bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

2.542 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

2.553 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Current account balance:

$-8.12 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$37.68 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

clothing and footwear, machinery, chemicals, cork and paper products, hides

Exports - partners:

Spain 25%, France 14%, Germany 13.5%, UK 9.6%, US 6%, Italy 4.3%, Netherlands 4% (2004)

Imports:

$52.1 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum, textiles, agricultural products

Imports - partners:

Spain 29.3%, Germany 14.3%, France 9.3%, Italy 6.1%, UK 4.6%, Netherlands 4.6% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$12.3 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$274.7 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $271 million (1995)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions within the member countries

Currency code:

EUR

Exchange rates:

euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Portugal

Telephones - main lines in use:

4,278,800 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

9,341,400 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: Portugal's telephone system has achieved a state-of-the-art network with broadband, high-speed capabilities and a main line telephone density of 53%
domestic: integrated network of coaxial cables, open-wire, microwave radio relay, and domestic satellite earth stations
international: country code - 351; 6 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to Azores; note - an earth station for Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region) is planned

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 47, FM 172 (many are repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:

3.02 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

62 (plus 166 repeaters)
note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands (1995)

Televisions:

3.31 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.pt

Internet hosts:

346,078 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

16 (2000)

Internet users:

3.6 million (2002)

Transportation

Portugal

Railways:

total: 2,850 km
broad gauge: 2,576 km 1.668-m gauge (623 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 274 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 17,135 km
paved: 14,736 km (including 1,659 km of expressways)
unpaved: 2,399 km (2002)

Waterways:

210 km (on Douro River from Porto) (2003)

Pipelines:

gas 1,099 km; oil 8 km; refined products 174 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Leixoes, Lisbon, Setubal, Sines

Merchant marine:

total: 114 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 872,557 GRT/1,236,025 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 10, cargo 38, chemical tanker 14, container 7, liquefied gas 9, passenger 8, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 9, roll on/roll off 4, vehicle carrier 8
foreign-owned: 97 (Australia 1, Belgium 6, Denmark 5, Germany 18, Greece 4, Iceland 1, Italy 11, Japan 8, Lebanon 1, Malta 1, Norway 4, Spain 19, Switzerland 4)
registered in other countries: 28 (2005)

Airports:

65 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 42
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 10 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 22 (2004 est.)

Military

Portugal

Military branches:

Army, Navy (Marinha Portuguesa; includes Marine Corps), Air Force (Forca Aerea Portuguesa, FAP), National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana) (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; compulsory military service was ended in 2004 (January 2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,435,042 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,952,819 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 67,189 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$3,497.8 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.3% (2003)

Transnational Issues

Portugal

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

gateway country for Latin American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin entering the European market (especially from Brazil); transshipment point for hashish from North Africa to Europe; consumer of Southwest Asian heroin

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Papua New Guinea

Introduction

Papua New Guinea

Background:

The eastern half of the island of New Guinea - second largest in the world - was divided between Germany (north) and the UK (south) in 1885. The latter area was transferred to Australia in 1902, which occupied the northern portion during World War I and continued to administer the combined areas until independence in 1975. A nine-year secessionist revolt on the island of Bougainville ended in 1997 after claiming some 20,000 lives.

Geography

Papua New Guinea

Location:

Oceania, group of islands including the eastern half of the island of New Guinea between the Coral Sea and the South Pacific Ocean, east of Indonesia

Geographic coordinates:

6 00 S, 147 00 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 462,840 sq km
land: 452,860 sq km
water: 9,980 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than California

Land boundaries:

total: 820 km
border countries: Indonesia 820 km

Coastline:

5,152 km

Maritime claims:

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; northwest monsoon (December to March), southeast monsoon (May to October); slight seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:

mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m

Natural resources:

gold, copper, silver, natural gas, timber, oil, fisheries

Land use:

arable land: 0.46%
permanent crops: 1.44%
other: 98.1% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Ring of Fire"; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamis

Environment - current issues:

rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of growing commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining projects; severe drought

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

shares island of New Guinea with Indonesia; one of world's largest swamps along southwest coast

People

Papua New Guinea

Population:

5,545,268 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 38.1% (male 1,072,910/female 1,037,635)
15-64 years: 58.1% (male 1,662,166/female 1,559,685)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 99,777/female 113,095) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 21.09 years
male: 21.25 years
female: 20.93 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.26% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

29.95 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

7.37 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 51.45 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 55.63 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 47.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 64.93 years
male: 62.76 years
female: 67.21 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.96 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.6% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

16,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

600 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in some locations (2004)

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:

Melanesian Pidgin serves as the lingua franca, English spoken by 1%-2%, Motu spoken in Papua region
note: 715 indigenous languages - many unrelated

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 64.6%
male: 71.1%
female: 57.7% (2002)

Government

Papua New Guinea

Country name:

conventional long form: Independent State of Papua New Guinea
conventional short form: Papua New Guinea
former: Territory of Papua and New Guinea
abbreviation: PNG

Government type:

constitutional monarchy with parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Port Moresby

Administrative divisions:

20 provinces; Bougainville, Central, Chimbu, Eastern Highlands, East New Britain, East Sepik, Enga, Gulf, Madang, Manus, Milne Bay, Morobe, National Capital, New Ireland, Northern, Sandaun, Southern Highlands, Western, Western Highlands, West New Britain

Independence:

16 September 1975 (from the Australian-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 16 September (1975)

Constitution:

16 September 1975

Legal system:

based on English common law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by governor general Sir Paulius MATANE (since 29 June 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Sir Michael SOMARE (since 2 August 2002); deputy prime minister (vacant)
cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor general on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the National Executive Council; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition usually is appointed prime minister by the governor general

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Parliament - sometimes referred to as the House of Assembly (109 seats, 89 elected from open electorates and 20 from provincial electorates; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 15-29 June 2002 and April and May 2003; completed in May 2003 (voting in the Southern Highlands was not completed during the June 2002 election period); next to be held not later than June 2007
election results: percent of vote by party - National Alliance 18%, URP 13%, PDM 12%, PPP 8%, Pangu 6%, PAP 5%, PLP 4%, others 34%; seats by party - National Alliance 19, URP 14, PDM 13, PPP 8, PANGU 6, PAP 5, PLP 4, others 40; note - association with political parties is fluid (2003)

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (the chief justice is appointed by the governor general on the proposal of the National Executive Council after consultation with the minister responsible for justice; other judges are appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission)

Political parties and leaders:

Christian Democratic Party [Dr. Banare BUN, party leader]; Melanesian Alliance Party or MAP [Sir Moi AVEL, party leader]; National Alliance Party or NA [Michael SOMARE, party leader; George MANOA, party president]; National Party [Melchior PEP, party leader]; Papua and Niugini Union Party or PANGU [Chris HAIVETA, party leader]; Papua New Guinea First Party [Cecilking DORUBA, party leader]; Papua New Guinea Labor Party [Bob DANAYA, party leader]; Papua New Guinea Party (was People's Democratic Movement or PDM) [Sir Mekere MORAUTA, party leader]; People's Action Party or PAP [Moses MALADINA, party leader]; People's Labor Party or PLP [Ekis ROPENU, party leader]; People's National Congress or PNC [Peter O'NEILL, party leader]; People's Progressive Party or PPP [Andrew BAING, party leader]; Pipol First Party [Luther WENGE, party leader]; Rural People's Party [Peter NAMUS, party leader]; United Party [Bire KIMASOPA, party leader]; United Resources Party or URP [Tim NEVILLE, party leader] (2004)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, APEC, ARF, AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Evan Jeremy PAKI
chancery: 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 805, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 745-3680
FAX: [1] (202) 745-3679

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert W. FITTS
embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby
mailing address: 4240 Port Moresby PI, US Department of State, Washington DC 20521-4240
telephone: [675] 321-1455
FAX: [675] 321-3423

Flag description:

divided diagonally from upper hoist-side corner; the upper triangle is red with a soaring yellow bird of paradise centered; the lower triangle is black with five, white, five-pointed stars of the Southern Cross constellation centered

Economy

Papua New Guinea

Economy - overview:

Papua New Guinea is richly endowed with natural resources, but exploitation has been hampered by rugged terrain and the high cost of developing infrastructure. Agriculture provides a subsistence livelihood for 85% of the population. Mineral deposits, including oil, copper, and gold, account for 72% of export earnings. The economy has improved over the past two years, following a prolonged period of instability. Former Prime Minister Mekere MORAUTA had tried to restore integrity to state institutions, to stabilize the kina, restore stability to the national budget, to privatize public enterprises where appropriate, and to ensure ongoing peace on Bougainville. Australia annually supplies $240 million in aid, which accounts for 20% of the national budget. Challenges face Prime Minister Michael SOMARE, including gaining further investor confidence, continuing efforts to privatize government assets, maintaining the support of members of Parliament, and balancing relations with Australia, the former colonial ruler.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$11.99 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

0.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $2,200 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 34.5%
industry: 34.7%
services: 30.8% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

3.32 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 85%, industry NA, services NA

Unemployment rate:

NA

Population below poverty line:

37% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%: 40.5% (1996)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

50.9 (1996)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.2% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

13.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.174 billion
expenditures: $1.232 billion, including capital expenditures of $344 million (2004 est.)

Public debt:

59.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, tea, rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables, poultry, pork

Industries:

copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip production; mining of gold, silver, and copper; crude oil production; construction, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

1.679 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 54.1%
hydro: 45.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

1.561 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

46,200 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

15,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

170 million bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

110 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

110 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

385.5 billion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$29.15 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$2.437 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

oil, gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, crayfish, prawns

Exports - partners:

Australia 28%, Japan 5.8%, Germany 4.7%, China 4.6% (2004)

Imports:

$1.353 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners:

Australia 46.4%, Singapore 21.6%, Japan 4.3%, New Zealand 4.2% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$635.8 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$2.463 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$400 million (1999 est.)

Currency (code):

kina (PGK)

Currency code:

PGK

Exchange rates:

kina per US dollar - 3.2225 (2004), 3.5635 (2003), 3.8952 (2002), 3.3887 (2001), 2.7822 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Papua New Guinea

Telephones - main lines in use:

62,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

15,000 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: services are adequate; facilities provide radiotelephone and telegraph, coastal radio, aeronautical radio, and international radio communication services
domestic: mostly radiotelephone
international: country code - 675; submarine cables to Australia and Guam; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); international radio communication service

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 28 (1998)

Radios:

410,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (all in the Port Moresby area)
note: additional stations at Mt. Hagen, Goroka, Lae, and Rabaul are planned (2004)

Televisions:

59,841 (1999)

Internet country code:

.pg

Internet hosts:

389 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2000)

Internet users:

75,000 (2002)

Transportation

Papua New Guinea

Highways:

total: 19,600 km
paved: 686 km
unpaved: 18,914 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

10,940 km (2003)

Pipelines:

oil 264 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Kimbe, Lae, Rabaul

Merchant marine:

total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 47,586 GRT/60,934 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 17, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 2
foreign-owned: 8 (Singapore 2, United Kingdom 6) (2005)

Airports:

571 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 21
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 550
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 62
under 914 m: 478 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

2 (2004 est.)

Military

Papua New Guinea

Military branches:

Papua New Guinea Defense Force (includes Maritime Operations Element, Air Operations Element)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,264,728 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 902,432 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$16.9 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.4% (FY02)

Transnational Issues

Papua New Guinea

Disputes - international:

relies on assistance from Australia to keep out illegal cross-border activities from primarily Indonesia, including goods smuggling, illegal narcotics trafficking, and squatters and secessionists

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Palau

Introduction

Palau

Background:

After three decades as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific under US administration, this westernmost cluster of the Caroline Islands opted for independence in 1978 rather than join the Federated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association with the US was approved in 1986, but not ratified until 1993. It entered into force the following year, when the islands gained independence.

Geography

Palau

Location:

Oceania, group of islands in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of the Philippines

Geographic coordinates:

7 30 N, 134 30 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 458 sq km
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:

territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot and humid; wet season May to November

Terrain:

varying geologically from the high, mountainous main island of Babelthuap to low, coral islands usually fringed by large barrier reefs

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m

Natural resources:

forests, minerals (especially gold), marine products, deep-seabed minerals

Land use:

arable land: 8.7%
permanent crops: 4.35%
other: 86.95% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA

Natural hazards:

typhoons (June to December)

Environment - current issues:

inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing practices, and overfishing

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

westernmost archipelago in the Caroline chain, consists of six island groups totaling more than 300 islands; includes World War II battleground of Beliliou (Peleliu) and world-famous rock islands

People

Palau

Population:

20,303 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 26.4% (male 2,768/female 2,601)
15-64 years: 69% (male 7,565/female 6,436)
65 years and over: 4.6% (male 443/female 490) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 31.43 years
male: 32.4 years
female: 30.36 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.39% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

18.37 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.85 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.18 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.13 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 14.84 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 16.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.14 years
male: 66.98 years
female: 73.48 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.46 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Palauan(s)
adjective: Palauan

Ethnic groups:

Palauan (Micronesian with Malayan and Melanesian admixtures) 69.9%, Carolinian 1.4%, other Micronesian 1.1%, Filipino 15.3%, Chinese 4.9%, other Asian 2.4%, white 1.9%, other or unspecified 3.2% (2000 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 41.6%, Protestant 23.3%, Modekngei 8.8% (indigenous to Palau), Seventh-Day Adventist 5.3%, Jehovah's Witness 0.9%, Latter-Day Saints 0.6%, other religion 3.1%, unspecified or none 16.4% (2000 census)

Languages:

Palauan 64.7% official in all islands except Sonsoral (Sonsoralese and English are official), Tobi (Tobi and English are official), and Angaur (Angaur, Japanese, and English are official), Filipino 13.5%, English 9.4%, Chinese 5.7%, Carolinian 1.5%, Japanese 1.5%, other Asian 2.3%, other languages 1.5% (2000 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92%
male: 93%
female: 90% (1980 est.)

Government

Palau

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Palau
conventional short form: Palau
local long form: Beluu er a Belau
local short form: Belau
former: Palau District (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)

Government type:

constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 1 October 1994

Capital:

Koror; note - a new capital is being built about 20 km northeast of Koror

Administrative divisions:

16 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatohobei, Kayangel, Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang, Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol

Independence:

1 October 1994 (from the US-administered UN Trusteeship)

National holiday:

Constitution Day, 9 July (1979)

Constitution:

1 January 1981

Legal system:

based on Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. (since 19 January 2001) and Vice President Camsek CHIN (since 1 January 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. (since 19 January 2001) and Vice President Camsek CHIN (since 1 January 2005); 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 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008)
election results: Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. reelected president; percent of vote - Tommy Esang REMENGESAU, Jr. 64%, Polycarp BASILIUS 33%; Elias Camsek CHIN elected vice president; percent of vote - Elias Camsek CHIN 70%, Sandra PIERANTOZZI 29%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament or Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) consists of the Senate (9 seats; members elected by popular vote on a population basis to serve four-year terms) and the House of Delegates (16 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008); House of Delegates - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008)
election results: Senate - percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 9 (four new members elected); House of Delegates - percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 16 (one new member elected)

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; National Court; Court of Common Pleas

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Hersey KYOTA
chancery: 1800 K Street NW, Suite 714, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: [1] (202) 452-6814
FAX: [1] (202) 452-6281
consulate(s): Tamuning (Guam)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: US ambassador to the Philippines is accredited to Palau
embassy: Koror (no street address)
mailing address: P. O. Box 6028, Republic of Palau 96940
telephone: [680] 488-2920, 2990
FAX: [680] 488-2911

Flag description:

light blue with a large yellow disk (representing the moon) shifted slightly to the hoist side

Economy

Palau

Economy - overview:

The economy consists primarily of tourism, subsistence agriculture, and fishing. The government is the major employer of the work force, relying heavily on financial assistance from the US. Business and tourist arrivals numbered 63,000 in 2003. The population enjoys a per capita income twice that of the Philippines and much of Micronesia. Long-run prospects for the key tourist sector have been greatly bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific, the rising prosperity of leading East Asian countries, and the willingness of foreigners to finance infrastructure development.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$174 million
note: GDP estimate includes US subsidy (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $9,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA
industry: NA
services: NA

Labor force:

9,845 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 20%, industry NA, services NA (1990)

Unemployment rate:

2.3% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.4% (2000 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $57.7 million
expenditures: $80.8 million, including capital expenditures of $17.1 million (FY98/99 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes

Industries:

tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), construction, garment making

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production by source:

NA

Exports:

$18 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Exports - commodities:

shellfish, tuna, copra, garments

Exports - partners:

US, Japan, Singapore (2000)

Imports:

$99 million f.o.b. (2001 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, fuels, metals; foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

US, Guam, Japan, Singapore, South Korea (2000)

Debt - external:

$0 (FY99/00)

Economic aid - recipient:

$155.8 million ; note - the Compact of Free Association with the US, entered into after the end of the UN trusteeship on 1 October 1994, provides Palau with up to $700 million in US aid over 15 years in return for furnishing military facilities

Currency (code):

US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

USD

Exchange rates:

the US dollar is used

Fiscal year:

1 October - 30 September

Communications

Palau

Telephones - main lines in use:

6,700 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,000 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 680; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2002)

Radios:

12,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (cable) (2005)

Televisions:

11,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.pw

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Transportation

Palau

Highways:

total: 61 km
paved: 36 km
unpaved: 25 km

Ports and harbors:

Koror

Airports:

3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Military

Palau

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US; under a Compact of Free Association between Palau and the US, the US military is granted access to the islands for 50 years

Transnational Issues

Palau

Disputes - international:

border delineation disputes being negotiated with Philippines, Indonesia

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Guinea-Bissau

Introduction

Guinea-Bissau

Background:

Since independence from Portugal in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has experienced considerable upheaval. The founding government consisted of a single party system and command economy. In 1980, a military coup established Joao VIEIRA as president and a path to a market economy and multiparty system was implemented. A number of coup attempts through the 1980s and early 1990s failed to unseat him and in 1994 he was elected president in the country's first free elections. A military coup attempt and civil war in 1998 eventually led to VIEIRA's ouster in 1999. In February 2000, an interim government turned over power when opposition leader Kumba YALA took office following two rounds of transparent presidential elections. YALA was ousted in a bloodless coup in September 2003, and Henrique ROSA was sworn in as President. Guinea-Bissau's transition back to democracy will be complicated by its crippled economy, devastated in the civil war.

Geography

Guinea-Bissau

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Senegal

Geographic coordinates:

12 00 N, 15 00 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 36,120 sq km
land: 28,000 sq km
water: 8,120 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut

Land boundaries:

total: 724 km
border countries: Guinea 386 km, Senegal 338 km

Coastline:

350 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; generally hot and humid; monsoonal-type rainy season (June to November) with southwesterly winds; dry season (December to May) with northeasterly harmattan winds

Terrain:

mostly low coastal plain rising to savanna in east

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location in the northeast corner of the country 300 m

Natural resources:

fish, timber, phosphates, bauxite, clay, granite, limestone, unexploited deposits of petroleum

Land use:

arable land: 10.67%
permanent crops: 8.82%
other: 80.51% (2001)

Irrigated land:

170 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during dry season; brush fires

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

this small country is swampy along its western coast and low-lying further inland

People

Guinea-Bissau

Population:

1,416,027 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 41.5% (male 293,280/female 294,483)
15-64 years: 55.5% (male 376,719/female 409,402)
65 years and over: 3% (male 17,865/female 24,278) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.97 years
male: 18.37 years
female: 19.57 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.96% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

37.65 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

16.53 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 107.17 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 117.78 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 96.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 46.61 years
male: 44.77 years
female: 48.52 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.93 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

10% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

17,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

1,200 (2001 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever are high risks in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Guinean(s)
adjective: Guinean

Ethnic groups:

African 99% (Balanta 30%, Fula 20%, Manjaca 14%, Mandinga 13%, Papel 7%), European and mulatto less than 1%

Religions:

indigenous beliefs 50%, Muslim 45%, Christian 5%

Languages:

Portuguese (official), Crioulo, African languages

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 42.4%
male: 58.1%
female: 27.4% (2003 est.)

Government

Guinea-Bissau

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Guinea-Bissau
conventional short form: Guinea-Bissau
local long form: Republica da Guine-Bissau
local short form: Guine-Bissau
former: Portuguese Guinea

Government type:

republic, multiparty since mid-1991

Capital:

Bissau

Administrative divisions:

9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali; note - Bolama may have been renamed Bolama/Bijagos

Independence:

24 September 1973 (unilaterally declared by Guinea-Bissau); 10 September 1974 (recognized by Portugal)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 24 September (1973)

Constitution:

16 May 1984; amended 4 May 1991, 4 December 1991, 26 February 1993, 9 June 1993, and 1996

Legal system:

NA

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Henrique ROSA (interim; since 28 September 2003); note - a September 2003 coup overthrew the elected government of Kumba YALA; General Verissimo Correia SEABRA served as interim president from 14 to 28 September 2003
head of government: Prime Minister Carlos GOMES Junior (since 9 May 2004)
cabinet: NA
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 28 November 1999 and 16 January 2000 (next to be held May 2005); prime minister appointed by the president after consultation with party leaders in the legislature
election results: Kumba YALA elected president; percent of vote, second ballot - Kumba YALA (PRS) 72%, Malan Bacai SANHA (PAIGC) 28%
note: a bloodless coup led to the dissolution of the elected government of Kumba YALA in September 2003; General Verissimo Correia SEABRA served as interim president from 14 September 2003 until stepping aside on 28 September 2003 with the establishment of a caretaker government

Legislative branch:

unicameral National People's Assembly or Assembleia Nacional Popular (100 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve a maximum of four years)
elections: last held 28 March 2004 (next to be held NA 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAIGC 31.5%, PRS 24.8%, PUSD 16.1%, UE 4.1%, APU 1.3%, 13 other parties 22.2%; seats by party - PAIGC 45, PRS 35, PUSD 17, UE 2, APU 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Supremo Tribunal da Justica (consists of nine justices appointed by the president and serve at his pleasure; final court of appeals in criminal and civil cases); Regional Courts (one in each of nine regions; first court of appeals for Sectoral Court decisions; hear all felony cases and civil cases valued at over $1,000); 24 Sectoral Courts (judges are not necessarily trained lawyers; they hear civil cases under $1,000 and misdemeanor criminal cases)

Political parties and leaders:

African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde or PAIGC [Carlos GOMES Junior]; Front for the Liberation and Independence of Guinea or FLING [Francois MENDY]; Guinea-Bissau Resistance-Ba Fata Movement or RGB-MB [Helder Vaz LOPES]; Guinean Civic Forum or FCG [Antonieta Rosa GOMES]; International League for Ecological Protection or LIPE [Alhaje Bubacar DJALO, president]; National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Abubacer BALDE, secretary general]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Victor MANDINGA]; Social Renovation Party or PRS [Kumba YALA]; Union for Change or UM [Jorge MANDINGA, president, Dr. Anne SAAD, secretary general]; United Platform or UP [coalition formed by PCD, FDS, FLING, and RGB-MB]; United Social Democratic Party or PUSD [Francisco Jose FADUL]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Henrique Adriano DA SILVA
chancery: 1511 K Street NW, Suite 519, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 347-3950
FAX: [1] (202) 347-3954

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US Embassy suspended operations on 14 June 1998 in the midst of violent conflict between forces loyal to then President VIEIRA and military-led junta; US embassy Dakar is responsible for covering Guinea-Bissau: telephone - [221] 823-4296; FAX - [221] 822-5903

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a vertical red band on the hoist side; there is a black five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy

Guinea-Bissau

Economy - overview:

One of the 10 poorest countries in the world, Guinea-Bissau depends mainly on farming and fishing. Cashew crops have increased remarkably in recent years, and the country now ranks sixth in cashew production. Guinea-Bissau exports fish and seafood along with small amounts of peanuts, palm kernels, and timber. Rice is the major crop and staple food. However, intermittent fighting between Senegalese-backed government troops and a military junta destroyed much of the country's infrastructure and caused widespread damage to the economy in 1998; the civil war led to a 28% drop in GDP that year, with partial recovery in 1999-2002. Before the war, trade reform and price liberalization were the most successful part of the country's structural adjustment program under IMF sponsorship. The tightening of monetary policy and the development of the private sector had also begun to reinvigorate the economy. Because of high costs, the development of petroleum, phosphate, and other mineral resources is not a near-term prospect. However, unexploited offshore oil reserves could provide much-needed revenue in the long run. The inequality of income distribution is one of the most extreme in the world. The government and international donors continue to work out plans to forward economic development from a lamentably low base. In December 2003, the World Bank, IMF, and UNDP were forced to step in to provide emergency budgetary support in the amount of $107 million for 2004, representing over 80% of the total national budget. Government drift and indecision, however, have resulted in continued low growth in 2004.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.008 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $700 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 62%
industry: 12%
services: 26% (1999 est.)

Labor force:

480,000 (1999)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 82% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

NA (1998)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 0.5%
highest 10%: 42.4% (1991)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4% (2002 est.)

Budget:

revenues: NA
expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA

Agriculture - products:

rice, corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), cashew nuts, peanuts, palm kernels, cotton; timber; fish

Industries:

agricultural products processing, beer, soft drinks

Industrial production growth rate:

2.6% (1997 est.)

Electricity - production:

55 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

51.15 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

2,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$54 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:

cashew nuts, shrimp, peanuts, palm kernels, sawn lumber

Exports - partners:

India 52.1%, US 22.2%, Nigeria 13.2% (2004)

Imports:

$104 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products

Imports - partners:

Senegal 44.6%, Portugal 13.8%, China 4.2% (2004)

Debt - external:

$941.5 million (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$115.4 million (1995)

Currency (code):

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States; previously the Guinea-Bissau peso (GWP) was used

Currency code:

XOF; GWP

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)
note: since 1 January 1999, the XOF franc is pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XOF francs per euro

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Guinea-Bissau

Telephones - main lines in use:

10,600 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,300 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: small system
domestic: combination of microwave radio relay, open-wire lines, radiotelephone, and cellular communications
international: country code - 245

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1 (transmitter out of service), FM 4, shortwave 0 (2002)

Radios:

49,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

NA (1997)

Televisions:

NA

Internet country code:

.gw

Internet hosts:

2 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2002)

Internet users:

19,000 (2003)

Transportation

Guinea-Bissau

Highways:

total: 4,400 km
paved: 453 km
unpaved: 3,947 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

4 largest rivers are navigable for some distance; many inlets and creeks give shallow-water access to much of interior (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Bissau, Buba, Cacheu, Farim

Airports:

28 (2004 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 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 25
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 20 (2004 est.)

Military

Guinea-Bissau

Military branches:

People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP; includes Army, Navy, and Air Force), paramilitary force

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 288,770 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 152,760 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$8.9 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3.1% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Guinea-Bissau

Disputes - international:

attempts to stem refugees and cross-border raids, arms smuggling, and political instability from a separatist movement in Senegal's Casamance region

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Qatar

Introduction

Qatar

Background:

Ruled by the Al Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for pearling into an independent state with significant oil and natural gas revenues. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Qatari economy was crippled by a continuous siphoning off of petroleum revenues by the amir, who had ruled the country since 1972. His son, the current Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani, overthrew him in a bloodless coup in 1995. In 2001, Qatar resolved its longstanding border disputes with both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Oil and natural gas revenues enable Qatar to have one of the highest per capita incomes in the world.

Geography

Qatar

Location:

Middle East, peninsula bordering the Persian Gulf and Saudi Arabia

Geographic coordinates:

25 30 N, 51 15 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 11,437 sq km
land: 11,437 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries:

total: 60 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 60 km

Coastline:

563 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: as determined by bilateral agreements or the median line

Climate:

arid; mild, pleasant winters; very hot, humid summers

Terrain:

mostly flat and barren desert covered with loose sand and gravel

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, fish

Land use:

arable land: 1.64%
permanent crops: 0.27%
other: 98.09% (2001)

Irrigated land:

130 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

haze, dust storms, sandstorms common

Environment - current issues:

limited natural fresh water resources are increasing dependence on large-scale desalination facilities

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location in central Persian Gulf near major petroleum deposits

People

Qatar

Population:

863,051 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 23.7% (male 104,453/female 100,295)
15-64 years: 72.9% (male 437,118/female 191,830)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 21,599/female 7,756) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 31.57 years
male: 36.87 years
female: 22.33 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.61% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

15.54 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

4.61 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

15.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 2.28 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1.88 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 18.61 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 21.95 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.67 years
male: 71.15 years
female: 76.32 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.87 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.09% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Qatari(s)
adjective: Qatari

Ethnic groups:

Arab 40%, Pakistani 18%, Indian 18%, Iranian 10%, other 14%

Religions:

Muslim 95%

Languages:

Arabic (official), English commonly used as a second language

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 89%
male: 89.1%
female: 88.6% (2004 est.)

Government

Qatar

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

Government type:

traditional monarchy

Capital:

Doha

Administrative divisions:

10 municipalities (baladiyat, singular - baladiyah); Ad Dawhah, Al Ghuwayriyah, Al Jumayliyah, Al Khawr, Al Wakrah, Ar Rayyan, Jarayan al Batinah, Madinat ash Shamal, Umm Sa'id, Umm Salal

Independence:

3 September 1971 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 3 September (1971)

Constitution:

ratified by public referendum on 29 April 2003, endorsed by the Emir on 8 June 2004, effective on 9 June 2005

Legal system:

discretionary system of law controlled by the amir, although civil codes are being implemented; Islamic law dominates family and personal matters

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani (since 27 June 1995 when, as crown prince, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin Hamad al-Thani, in a bloodless coup); Crown Prince TAMIM bin Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, third son of the monarch (selected Heir Apparent by the monarch on 5 August 2003); note - Amir HAMAD also holds the positions of Minister of Defense and Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces
head of government: Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Khalifa al-Thani, brother of the monarch (since 30 October 1996); Deputy Prime Minister MUHAMMAD bin Khalifa al-Thani, brother of the monarch (since 20 January 1998); First Deputy Prime Minister HAMAD bin JASIM bin JABIR al-Thani (since 16 September 2003; also Foreign Minister since 1992); Second Deputy Prime Minister Abdallah bin Hamad al-ATTIYAH (since 16 September 2003; also Energy Minister since NA 1992)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
note: in April 2003, Qatar held nationwide elections for a 29-member Central Municipal Council (CMC), which has consultative powers aimed at improving the provision of municipal services; the first election for the CMC was held in March 1999

Legislative branch:

unicameral Advisory Council or Majlis al-Shura (35 seats; members appointed)
note: no legislative elections have been held since 1970 when there were partial elections to the body; Council members have had their terms extended every four years since; the new constitution, which came into force on 8 June 2004, provides for a 45-member Consultative Council, or Majlis al-Shura; the public would elect two-thirds of the Majlis al-Shura; the amir would appoint the remaining members

Judicial branch:

Court of Appeal
note: under the new judiciary law issued in 2003, the former two court systems, civil and Islamic law, were merged under a higher court, the Court of Cassation, established for appeals

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO (pending member), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Nasir bin Hamad bin Mubarak al-KHALIFA
chancery: 4200 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 274-1600 and 274-1603
FAX: [1] (202) 237-0061
consulate(s) general: Houston

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Chase UNTERMEYER
embassy: Al-Luqta District, 22 February Road, Doha
mailing address: P. O. Box 2399, Doha
telephone: [974] 488 4101
FAX: [974] 488 4298

Flag description:

maroon with a broad white serrated band (nine white points) on the hoist side

Economy

Qatar

Economy - overview:

Oil and gas account for more than 55% of GDP, roughly 85% of export earnings, and 70% of government revenues. Oil and gas have given Qatar a per capita GDP about 80% of that of the leading West European industrial countries. Proved oil reserves of 16 billion barrels should ensure continued output at current levels for 23 years. Qatar's proved reserves of natural gas exceed 14 trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the world total and third largest in the world. Long-term goals feature the development of offshore natural gas reserves to offset the ultimate decline in oil production. In recent years, Qatar has consistently posted trade surpluses largely because of high oil prices and increased natural gas exports, becoming one of the world's fastest growing and highest per-capita income countries.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$19.49 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

8.7% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $23,200 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 0.3%
industry: 58.2%
services: 41.5% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

140,000 (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

2.7% (2001)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

22.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $10.17 billion
expenditures: $7.61 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.2 billion (2004 est.)

Public debt:

NA

Agriculture - products:

fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish

Industries:

crude oil production and refining, ammonia, fertilizers, petrochemicals, steel reinforcing bars, cement, commercial ship repair

Industrial production growth rate:

10% (2003 est.)

Electricity - production:

9.727 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

9.046 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

790,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

30,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

16 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

32.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

15.86 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

18.2 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

14.41 trillion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$5.187 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$15 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, fertilizers, steel

Exports - partners:

Japan 41.9%, South Korea 15.8%, Singapore 9.1%, India 5.4% (2004)

Imports:

$6.15 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals

Imports - partners:

France 26.6%, US 9.5%, Saudi Arabia 9.4%, UAE 6.3%, Germany 5.2%, Japan 5.2%, UK 5.1% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$3.351 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$18.62 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

NA

Currency (code):

Qatari rial (QAR)

Currency code:

QAR

Exchange rates:

Qatari rials per US dollar - 3.64 (2004), 3.64 (2003), 3.64 (2002), 3.64 (2001), 3.64 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

Qatar

Telephones - main lines in use:

184,500 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

376,500 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system centered in Doha
domestic: NA
international: country code - 974; tropospheric scatter to Bahrain; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and UAE; submarine cable to Bahrain and UAE; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

256,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (plus three repeaters) (2001)

Televisions:

230,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.qa

Internet hosts:

221 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

126,000 (2003)

Transportation

Qatar

Highways:

total: 1,230 km
paved: 1,107 km
unpaved: 123 km (1999 est.)

Pipelines:

condensate 319 km; condensate/gas 209 km; gas 1,024 km; liquid petroleum gas 87 km; oil 702 km; oil/gas/water 41 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Doha

Merchant marine:

total: 22 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 525,051 GRT/772,635 DWT
by type: cargo 3, chemical tanker 5, container 8, liquefied gas 2, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 6 (Kuwait 6) (2005)

Airports:

4 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
over 3,047 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

Qatar

Military branches:

Qatari Amiri Land Force (QALF), Qatari Amiri Navy (QAN), Qatari Amiri Air Force (QAAF)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; Land Force's enlisted personnel are largely nonprofessional foreign nationals (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 302,873
note: includes non-nationals (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 238,566 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 7,851 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$723 million (FY00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

10% (FY00)

Transnational Issues

Qatar

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Reunion

Introduction

Reunion

Background:

The Portuguese discovered the uninhabited island in 1513. From the 17th to the 19th centuries, French immigration, supplemented by influxes of Africans, Chinese, Malays, and Malabar Indians, gave the island its ethnic mix. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 cost the island its importance as a stopover on the East Indies trade route.

Geography

Reunion

Location:

Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar

Geographic coordinates:

21 06 S, 55 36 E

Map references:

World

Area:

total: 2,517 sq km
land: 2,507 sq km
water: 10 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

207 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool and dry from May to November, hot and rainy from November to April

Terrain:

mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Piton des Neiges 3,069 m

Natural resources:

fish, arable land, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 13.6%
permanent crops: 1.2%
other: 85.2% (2001)

Irrigated land:

120 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

periodic, devastating cyclones (December to April); Piton de la Fournaise on the southeastern coast is an active volcano

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

this mountainous, volcanic island has an active volcano, Piton de la Fournaise; there is a tropical cyclone center at Saint-Denis, which is the monitoring station for the whole of the Indian Ocean

People

Reunion

Population:

776,948 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 30.4% (male 120,698/female 115,108)
15-64 years: 63.6% (male 243,668/female 250,143)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 19,234/female 28,097) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 26.72 years
male: 25.53 years
female: 27.92 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.38% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

19.26 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

5.48 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 7.78 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.95 years
male: 70.55 years
female: 77.52 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.47 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Reunionese (singular and plural)
adjective: Reunionese

Ethnic groups:

French, African, Malagasy, Chinese, Pakistani, Indian

Religions:

Roman Catholic 86%, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist (1995)

Languages:

French (official), Creole widely used

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 88.9%
male: 87%
female: 90.8% (2003 est.)

Government

Reunion

Country name:

conventional long form: Department of Reunion
conventional short form: Reunion
local long form: none
local short form: Ile de la Reunion
former: Bourbon Island

Dependency status:

overseas department of France

Government type:

NA

Capital:

Saint-Denis

Administrative divisions:

none (overseas department of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 4 arrondissements, 24 communes, and 47 cantons

Independence:

none (overseas department of France)

National holiday:

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Constitution:

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system:

French law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Laurent CAYREL (since 16 July 2005)
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 five-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the General and Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils

Legislative branch:

unicameral General Council (49 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve six-year terms) and a unicameral Regional Council (45 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: General Council - last held 15 and 22 March 1998 (next to be held NA); Regional Council - last held 28 March 2004 (next to be held NA 2010)
election results: General Council - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - various right-wing candidates 13, PCR 10, PS 10, UDF 8, RPR 6, other left-wing candidates 2; Regional Council (second round) - percent of vote by party - PCR 44.9%, UMP 32.8%, PS-Greens 22.3%; seats by party - PCR 27, UMP 11, PS-Greens 7
note: Reunion elects three representatives to the French Senate; elections last held NA 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; Reunion also elects five deputies to the French National Assembly; elections last held 9 June-16 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UMP-RPR 1, UMP 1, PCR 1

Judicial branch:

Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel

Political parties and leaders:

Communist Party of Reunion or PCR [Paul VERGES]; Rally for the Republic or RPR [Andre Maurice PIHOUEE]; Socialist Party or PS [Jean-Claude FRUTEAU]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Gilbert GERARD]; Union for a Popular Movement or UMP [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

InOC, UPU, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas department of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas department of France)

Flag description:

the flag of France is used

Economy

Reunion

Economy - overview:

The economy has traditionally been based on agriculture, but services now dominate. Sugarcane has been the primary crop for more than a century, and in some years it accounts for 85% of exports. The government has been pushing the development of a tourist industry to relieve high unemployment, which amounts to one-third of the labor force. The gap in Reunion between the well-off and the poor is extraordinary and accounts for the persistent social tensions. The white and Indian communities are substantially better off than other segments of the population, often approaching European standards, whereas minority groups suffer the poverty and unemployment typical of the poorer nations of the African continent. The outbreak of severe rioting in February 1991 illustrates the seriousness of socioeconomic tensions. The economic well-being of Reunion depends heavily on continued financial assistance from France.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$4.57 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $6,000 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 8%
industry: 19%
services: 73% (2000 est.)

Labor force:

309,900 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 13%, industry 12%, services 75% (2000)

Unemployment rate:

36% (1999 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

NA%

Budget:

revenues: $1.26 billion
expenditures: $2.62 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (1998)

Agriculture - products:

sugarcane, vanilla, tobacco, tropical fruits, vegetables, corn

Industries:

sugar, rum, cigarettes, handicraft items, flower oil extraction

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

1.166 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 55.5%
hydro: 44.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

1.084 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

18,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$214 million f.o.b. (1997)

Exports - commodities:

sugar 63%, rum and molasses 4%, perfume essences 2%, lobster 3%, (1993)

Exports - partners:

France 74%, Japan 6%, Comoros 4% (2000)

Imports:

$2.5 billion c.i.f. (1997)

Imports - commodities:

manufactured goods, food, beverages, tobacco, machinery and transportation equipment, raw materials, and petroleum products

Imports - partners:

France 64%, Bahrain 3%, Germany 3%, Italy 3% (2000)

Debt - external:

$NA

Economic aid - recipient:

NA; note - substantial annual subsidies from France (2001 est.)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)

Currency code:

EUR

Exchange rates:

euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Reunion

Telephones - main lines in use:

300,000 est (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

489,800 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate system; principal center is Saint-Denis
domestic: modern open-wire and microwave radio relay network
international: country code - 262; radiotelephone communication to Comoros, France, Madagascar; new microwave route to Mauritius; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean); fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC/SAFE) provides connectivity to Europe and Asia

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 55, shortwave 0 (2001)

Radios:

173,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

35 (plus 18 low-power repeaters) (2001)

Televisions:

127,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.re

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

150,000 (2002)

Transportation

Reunion

Highways:

total: 1,214 km (including 88 km of four-lane roads) (2001)

Ports and harbors:

Le Port

Merchant marine:

total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 28,264 GRT/44,885 DWT
by type: chemical tanker 1
foreign-owned: 1 (France 1)
registered in other countries: 1 (2005)

Airports:

2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Reunion

Military branches:

no regular indigenous military forces; French forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force, and Gendarmerie)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 183,421 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 142,578 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 7,339 (2005 est.)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

Reunion

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Marshall Islands

Introduction

Marshall Islands

Background:

After almost four decades under US administration as the easternmost part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Marshall Islands attained independence in 1986 under a Compact of Free Association. Compensation claims continue as a result of US nuclear testing on some of the atolls between 1947 and 1962. The Marshall Islands hosts the US Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) Reagan Missile Test Site, a key installation in the US missile defense network.

Geography

Marshall Islands

Location:

Oceania, group of atolls and reefs in the North Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Geographic coordinates:

9 00 N, 168 00 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 181.3 sq km
land: 181.3 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes the atolls of Bikini, Enewetak, Kwajalein, Majuro, Rongelap, and Utirik

Area - comparative:

about the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

370.4 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot and humid; wet season from May to November; islands border typhoon belt

Terrain:

low coral limestone and sand islands

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m

Natural resources:

coconut products, marine products, deep seabed minerals

Land use:

arable land: 16.67%
permanent crops: 38.89%
other: 44.44% (2001)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km

Natural hazards:

infrequent typhoons

Environment - current issues:

inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing vessels

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

two archipelagic island chains of 30 atolls and 1,152 islands; Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein, the famous World War II battleground, is now used as a US missile test range

People

Marshall Islands

Population:

59,071 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 38.2% (male 11,488/female 11,071)
15-64 years: 59.1% (male 17,887/female 17,023)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 771/female 831) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 19.95 years
male: 19.98 years
female: 19.92 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.27% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

33.52 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

4.88 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-5.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 29.45 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 33.05 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 25.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.01 years
male: 68.05 years
female: 72.06 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.93 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Marshallese (singular and plural)
adjective: Marshallese

Ethnic groups:

Micronesian

Religions:

Protestant 54.8%, Assembly of God 25.8%, Roman Catholic 8.4%, Bukot nan Jesus 2.8%, Mormon 2.1%, other Christian 3.6%, other 1%, none 1.5% (1999 census)

Languages:

Marshallese 98.2%, other languages 1.8% (1999 census)
note: English widely spoken as a second language; both Marshallese and English are official languages

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.7%
male: 93.6%
female: 93.7% (1999)

Government

Marshall Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands
conventional short form: Marshall Islands
former: Marshall Islands District (Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands)

Government type:

constitutional government in free association with the US; the Compact of Free Association entered into force 21 October 1986 and the Amended Compact entered into force in May 2004

Capital:

Majuro

Administrative divisions:

33 municipalities; Ailinginae, Ailinglaplap, Ailuk, Arno, Aur, Bikar, Bikini, Bokak, Ebon, Enewetak, Erikub, Jabat, Jaluit, Jemo, Kili, Kwajalein, Lae, Lib, Likiep, Majuro, Maloelap, Mejit, Mili, Namorik, Namu, Rongelap, Rongrik, Toke, Ujae, Ujelang, Utirik, Wotho, Wotje

Independence:

21 October 1986 (from the US-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday:

Constitution Day, 1 May (1979)

Constitution:

1 May 1979

Legal system:

based on adapted Trust Territory laws, acts of the legislature, municipal, common, and customary laws

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 5 January 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 5 January 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president from among the members of Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament from among its own members for a four-year term; election last held 17 November 2003 (next to be held November 2007)
election results: Kessai Hesa NOTE elected president; percent of Parliament vote - 100%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Nitijela (33 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 17 November 2003 (next to be held not later than November 2007)
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 have been no formally organized political parties; what has existed more closely resembles factions or interest groups because they do not have party headquarters, formal platforms, or party structures; the following two "groupings" have competed in legislative balloting in recent years - Kabua Party [Imata KABUA] and United Democratic Party or UDP [Litokwa TOMEING]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFC, IMF, IMO, Interpol, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, 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: [1] (202) 234-5414
FAX: [1] (202) 232-3236
consulate(s) general: Honolulu

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Greta N. MORRIS
embassy: Oceanside, Mejen Weto, Long Island, Majuro
mailing address: P. O. Box 1379, Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands 96960-1379
telephone: [692] 247-4011
FAX: [692] 247-4012

Flag description:

blue with two stripes radiating from the lower hoist-side corner - orange (top) and white; there is a white star with four large rays and 20 small rays on the hoist side above the two stripes

Economy

Marshall Islands

Economy - overview:

US Government assistance is the mainstay of this tiny island economy. Agricultural production, primarily subsistence, is concentrated on small farms; the most important commercial crops are coconuts and breadfruit. Small-scale industry is limited to handicrafts, tuna processing, and copra. The tourist industry, now a small source of foreign exchange employing less than 10% of the labor force, remains the best hope for future added income. The islands have few natural resources, and imports far exceed exports. Under the terms of the Amended Compact of Free Association, the US will provide millions of dollars per year to the Marshall Islands (RMI) through 2023, at which time a Trust Fund made up of US and RMI contributions will begin perpetual annual payouts. Government downsizing, drought, a drop in construction, the decline in tourism and foreign investment due to the Asian financial difficulties, and less income from the renewal of fishing vessel licenses have held GDP growth to an average of 1% over the past decade.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$115 million (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,600 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 14%
industry: 16%
services: 70% (2000 est.)

Labor force:

28,700 (1996 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 21.4%, industry 20.9%, services 57.7%

Unemployment rate:

30.9% (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% (2001 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $42 million
expenditures: $40 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1999)

Agriculture - products:

coconuts, tomatoes, melons, taro, breadfruit, fruits; pigs, chickens

Industries:

copra, tuna processing, tourism, craft items from shell, wood, and pearls

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 99%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 1% (solar)

Exports:

$9 million f.o.b. (2000)

Exports - commodities:

copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish

Exports - partners:

US, Japan, Australia, China (2000)

Imports:

$54 million f.o.b. (2000)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels, beverages and tobacco

Imports - partners:

US, Japan, Australia, NZ, Singapore, Fiji, China, Philippines (2000)

Debt - external:

$86.5 million (FY99/00 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

more than $1 billion from the US, 1986-2002

Currency (code):

US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

USD

Exchange rates:

the US dollar is the legal tender

Fiscal year:

1 October - 30 September

Communications

Marshall Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:

4,500 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

600 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: digital switching equipment; modern services include telex, cellular, internet, international calling, caller ID, and leased data circuits
domestic: Majuro Atoll and Ebeye and Kwajalein islands have regular, seven-digit, direct-dial telephones; other islands interconnected by shortwave radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes)
international: country code - 692; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communications system on Kwajalein (2001)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 1, shortwave 0
note: additionally, the US Armed Forces Radio and Television Services (Central Pacific Network) operate one FM and one AM station on Kwajalein (2002)

Radios:

NA

Television broadcast stations:

2 (both are US military stations) (2002)

Televisions:

NA

Internet country code:

.mh

Internet hosts:

6 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:

1,400 (2003)

Transportation

Marshall Islands

Highways:

total: 64.5 km
paved: 64.5 km
unpaved: NA km
note: paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein), otherwise stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads and tracks (2002)

Ports and harbors:

Majuro

Merchant marine:

total: 540 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 16,954,092 GRT/28,176,762 DWT
by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 83, cargo 47, chemical tanker 77, combination ore/oil 12, container 88, liquefied gas 16, passenger 8, petroleum tanker 192, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 6, vehicle carrier 5
foreign-owned: 462 (Australia 1, Bahamas 1, Bermuda 1, Canada 4, Chile 2, Croatia 2, Cyprus 7, Denmark 2, Georgia 1, Germany 124, Greece 106, Hong Kong 7, India 1, Italy 1, Japan 5, Latvia 6, Monaco 9, Netherlands 4, New Zealand 1, Norway 21, Philippines 1, Russia 1, Saudi Arabia 1, Singapore 2, Slovenia 2, Spain 1, Switzerland 5, Taiwan 1, Turkey 11, Ukraine 1, UAE 3, United Kingdom 15, United States 112) (2005)

Airports:

15 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Marshall Islands

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Marshall Islands Police

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues

Marshall Islands

Disputes - international:

claims US territory of Wake Island

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Romania

Introduction

Romania

Background:

The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia - for centuries under the suzerainty of the Turkish Ottoman Empire - secured their autonomy in 1856; they united in 1859 and a few years later adopted the new name of Romania. The country gained recognition of its independence in 1878. It joined the Allied Powers in World War I and acquired new territories following the conflict. In 1940, it allied with the Axis powers and participated in the 1941 German invasion of the USSR. Three years later, overrun by the Soviets, Romania signed an armistice. The post-war Soviet occupation led to the formation of a Communist "people's republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king. The decades-long rule of dictator Nicolae CEAUSESCU, who took power in 1965, and his Securitate police state became increasingly oppressive and draconian through the 1980s. CEAUSESCU was overthrown and executed in late 1989. Former Communists dominated the government until 1996, when they were swept from power by a fractious coalition of centrist parties. In 2000, the center-left Social Democratic Party (PSD) became Romania's leading party, governing with the support of the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania (UDMR). The opposition center-right alliance formed by the National Liberal Party (PNL) and the Democratic Party (PD) scored a surprise victory over the ruling PSD in December 2004 presidential elections. The PNL-PD alliance maintains a parliamentary majority with the support of the UDMR, the Humanist Party (PUR), and various ethnic minority groups. Although Romania completed accession talks with the European Union (EU) in December 2004, it must continue to address rampant corruption - while invigorating lagging economic and democratic reforms - before it can achieve its hope of joining the EU, tentatively set for 2007. Romania joined NATO in March of 2004.

Geography

Romania

Location:

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine

Geographic coordinates:

46 00 N, 25 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 237,500 sq km
land: 230,340 sq km
water: 7,160 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries:

total: 2,508 km
border countries: Bulgaria 608 km, Hungary 443 km, Moldova 450 km, Serbia and Montenegro 476 km, Ukraine (north) 362 km, Ukraine (east) 169 km

Coastline:

225 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms

Terrain:

central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Plain of Moldavia on the east by the Carpathian Mountains and separated from the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m

Natural resources:

petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt, arable land, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 40.82%
permanent crops: 2.25%
other: 56.93% (2001)

Irrigated land:

28,800 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

earthquakes, most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure and climate promote landslides

Environment - current issues:

soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta wetlands

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

controls most easily traversable land route between the Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine

People

Romania

Population:

22,329,977 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 15.9% (male 1,818,488/female 1,727,598)
15-64 years: 69.5% (male 7,726,903/female 7,801,441)
65 years and over: 14.6% (male 1,342,827/female 1,912,720) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 36.39 years
male: 35.04 years
female: 37.77 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.12% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

10.7 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

11.74 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 26.43 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 29.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 23.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.35 years
male: 67.86 years
female: 75.06 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.36 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

6,500 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

350 (2001 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Romanian(s)
adjective: Romanian

Ethnic groups:

Romanian 89.5%, Hungarian 6.6%, Roma 2.5%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German 0.3%, Russian 0.2%, Turkish 0.2%, other 0.4% (2002 census)

Religions:

Eastern Orthodox (including all sub-denominations) 86.8%, Protestant (various denominations including Reformate and Pentecostal) 7.5%, Roman Catholic 4.7%, other (mostly Muslim) and unspecified 0.9%, none 0.1% (2002 census)

Languages:

Romanian (official), Hungarian, German

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.4%
male: 99.1%
female: 97.7% (2003 est.)

Government

Romania

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Romania
local long form: none
local short form: Romania

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Bucharest

Administrative divisions:

41 counties (judete, singular - judet) and 1 municipality* (municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti (Bucharest)*, Buzau, Calarasi, Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dimbovita, Dolj, Galati, Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Ilfov, Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare, Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Vilcea, Vrancea

Independence:

9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from the Ottoman Empire; independence recognized 13 July 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin; kingdom proclaimed 26 March 1881); 30 December 1947 (republic proclaimed)

National holiday:

Unification Day (of Romania and Transylvania), 1 December (1918)

Constitution:

8 December 1991; revision effective 29 October 2003

Legal system:

former mixture of civil law system and communist legal theory; is now based on the constitution of France's Fifth Republic

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Traian BASESCU (since 20 December 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Calin Popescu-TARICEANU (since 29 December 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 28 November 2004, with runoff between the top two candidates held 12 December 2004 (next to be held 28 November 2009 and 12 December 2009); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: percent of vote - Traian BASESCU 51.23%, Adrian NASTASE 48.77%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Senate or Senat (137 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies or Adunarea Deputatilor (332 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 28 November 2004 (next to be held 28 November 2008); Chamber of Deputies - last held 28 November 2004 (next to be held 28 November 2008)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by alliance/party - PSD-PUR 37.1%, PNL-PD 31.8%, PRM 13.6%, UDMR 6.2%; seats by party - PSD 46, PNL 28, PD 21, PRM 21, PUR 11, UMDR 10; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by alliance/party - PSD-PUR 36.6%, PNL-PD 31.3%%, PRM 12.9%, UDMR 6.2%; seats by party - PSD 113, PNL 64, PD 48, PRM 48, UDMR 22, PUR 19, ethnic minorities 18

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Justice (judges are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Superior Council of Magistrates, a board of eleven judges and six prosecutors elected by parliament)

Political parties and leaders:

Conservative Party [Dan VOICULESCU], formerly Humanist Party or PUR; Democratic Party or PD [Emil BOC]; Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania or UDMR [Bela MARKO]; National Liberal Party or PNL [Calin Popescu TARICEANU]; Romania Mare Party (Greater Romanian Party) or PRM [Corneliu Vadim TUDOR]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Mircea Dan GEOANA], formerly Party of Social Democracy in Romania or PDSR

Political pressure groups and leaders:

various human rights and professional associations

International organization participation:

ACCT, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EU (applicant), FAO, G- 9, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate affiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Sorin Dumitru DUCARU
chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-4846, 4848, 4851
FAX: [1] (202) 232-4748
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Jack Dyer CROUCH II
embassy: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest
mailing address: American Embassy Bucharest, Department of State, 5260 Bucharest Place, Washington, DC 20521-5260 (pouch)
telephone: [40] (21) 210-4042
FAX: [40] (21) 210-0395
branch office(s): Cluj-Napoca

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; the national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellow band has been removed; now similar to the flag of Chad, also resembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova

Economy

Romania

Economy - overview:

Romania began the transition from Communism in 1989 with a largely obsolete industrial base and a pattern of output unsuited to the country's needs. The country emerged in 2000 from a punishing three-year recession thanks to strong demand in EU export markets. Despite the global slowdown in 2001-02, strong domestic activity in construction, agriculture, and consumption have kept growth above 4%. An IMF standby agreement, signed in 2001, has been accompanied by slow but palpable gains in privatization, deficit reduction, and the curbing of inflation. The IMF Board approved Romania's completion of the standby agreement in October 2003, the first time Romania has successfully concluded an IMF agreement since the 1989 revolution. In July 2004, the executive board of the IMF approved a 24-month standby agreement for $367 million. The Romanian authorities do not intend to draw on this agreement, however, viewing it simply as a precaution. Meanwhile, recent macroeconomic gains have done little to address Romania's widespread poverty, while corruption and red tape continue to handicap the business environment.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$171.5 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

8.1% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $7,700 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 13.1%
industry: 33.7%
services: 53.2% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

9.66 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 31.6%, industry 30.7%, services 37.7% (2004)

Unemployment rate:

6.3% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

28.9% (2002)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 27.6% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

28.8 (2003)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

9.6% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

23.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $22.1 billion
expenditures: $23.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.2 billion (2004 est.)

Public debt:

23.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, sunflower seed, potatoes, grapes; eggs, sheep

Industries:

textiles and footwear, light machinery and auto assembly, mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, food processing, petroleum refining

Industrial production growth rate:

4% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

56.53 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 62.5%
hydro: 27.6%
nuclear: 9.9%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

57.5 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:

3.046 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:

962 million kWh (2003)

Oil - production:

128,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

253,800 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

1.055 billion bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

12.6 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

18.5 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

5.4 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

111.1 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$-3.631 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$23.54 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

textiles and footwear, metals and metal products, machinery and equipment, minerals and fuels, chemicals, agricultural products

Exports - partners:

Italy 21.4%, Germany 15%, France 8.5%, Turkey 7%, UK 6.6% (2004)

Imports:

$28.43 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, fuels and minerals, chemicals, textile and products, basic metals, agricultural products

Imports - partners:

Italy 17.2%, Germany 14.9%, France 7.1%, Russia 6.8%, Turkey 4.2% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$16.21 billion (2004)

Debt - external:

$24.59 billion (2004 est.)

Currency (code):

leu (ROL)

Currency code:

ROL

Exchange rates:

lei per US dollar - 32,637 (2004), 33,200 (2003), 33,055 (2002), 29,061 (2001), 21,709 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Romania

Telephones - main lines in use:

4.3 million (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

6.9 million (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: poor domestic service, but improving
domestic: 90% of telephone network is automatic; trunk network is mostly microwave radio relay, with some fiber-optic cable; about one-third of exchange capacity is digital; roughly 3,300 villages have no service
international: country code - 40; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat; new digital, international, direct-dial exchanges operate in Bucharest; note - Romania is an active participant in several international telecommunication network projects (1999)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 40, FM 202, shortwave 3 (1998)

Radios:

7.2 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

48 (plus 392 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

5.25 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.ro

Internet hosts:

50,807 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

38 (2000)

Internet users:

4 million (2003)

Transportation

Romania

Railways:

total: 11,385 km (3,888 km electrified)
standard gauge: 10,898 km 1.435-m gauge
broad gauge: 60 km 1.524-m gauge
narrow gauge: 427 km 0.760-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 198,755 km
paved: 100,173 km (including 113 km of expressways)
unpaved: 98,582 km (2002)

Waterways:

1,731 km (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 3,508 km; oil 2,427 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Braila, Constanta, Galati, Tulcea

Merchant marine:

total: 34 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 395,350 GRT/510,232 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 5, cargo 20, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 4
foreign-owned: 2 (Italy 2)
registered in other countries: 39 (2005)

Airports:

61 (2004 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 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 24 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

Romania

Military branches:

Land Forces, Naval Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces (AMR), Special Operations, Civil Defense (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

20 years of age for compulsory military service, 18 in wartime; conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 20-49: 5,061,984 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 20-49: 3,932,579 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 172,093 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$985 million (2002)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.47% (2002)

Transnational Issues

Romania

Disputes - international:

Romania and Ukraine have taken their dispute over Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary to the ICJ for adjudication; Romania also opposes Ukraine's reopening of a navigation canal from the Danube border through Ukraine to the Black Sea; Hungary amended the status law extending special social and cultural benefits to ethnic Hungarians in Romania, to which Romania had objected

Illicit drugs:

major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin transiting the Balkan route and small amounts of Latin American cocaine bound for Western Europe; although not a significant financial center, role as a narcotics conduit leaves it vulnerable to laundering which occurs via the banking system, currency exchange houses, and casinos

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Philippines

Introduction

Philippines

Background:

The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century; they were ceded to the US in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. In 1935 the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth. Manuel QUEZON was elected President and was tasked with preparing the country for independence after a 10-year transition. In 1942 the islands fell under Japanese occupation during WWII, and US forces and Filipinos fought together during 1944-45 to regain control. On 4 July 1946 the Philippines attained their independence. The 21-year rule of Ferdinand MARCOS ended in 1986, when a widespread popular rebellion forced him into exile and installed Corazon AQUINO as president. Her presidency was hampered by several coup attempts, which prevented a return to full political stability and economic development. Fidel RAMOS was elected president in 1992 and his administration was marked by greater stability and progress on economic reforms. In 1992, the US closed its last military bases on the islands. Joseph ESTRADA was elected president in 1998, but was succeeded by his vice-president, Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, in January 2001 after ESTRADA's stormy impeachment trial on corruption charges broke down and widespread demonstrations led to his ouster. MACAPAGAL-ARROYO was elected to a six-year term in May 2004. The Philippine Government faces threats from armed communist insurgencies and from Muslim separatists in the south.

Geography

Philippines

Location:

Southeastern Asia, archipelago between the Philippine Sea and the South China Sea, east of Vietnam

Geographic coordinates:

13 00 N, 122 00 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 300,000 sq km
land: 298,170 sq km
water: 1,830 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Arizona

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

36,289 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: irregular polygon extending up to 100 nm from coastline as defined by 1898 treaty; since late 1970s has also claimed polygonal-shaped area in South China Sea up to 285 nm in breadth
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: to depth of exploitation

Climate:

tropical marine; northeast monsoon (November to April); southwest monsoon (May to October)

Terrain:

mostly mountains with narrow to extensive coastal lowlands

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m

Natural resources:

timber, petroleum, nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, salt, copper

Land use:

arable land: 18.95%
permanent crops: 16.77%
other: 64.28% (2001)

Irrigated land:

15,500 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck by five to six cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis

Environment - current issues:

uncontrolled deforestation especially in watershed areas; soil erosion; air and water pollution in major urban centers; coral reef degradation; increasing pollution of coastal mangrove swamps that are important fish breeding grounds

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, 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: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geography - note:

the Philippine archipelago is made up of 7,107 islands; favorably located in relation to many of Southeast Asia's main water bodies: the South China Sea, Philippine Sea, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, and Luzon Strait

People

Philippines

Population:

87,857,473 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 35.4% (male 15,869,636/female 15,255,588)
15-64 years: 60.6% (male 26,503,785/female 26,722,511)
65 years and over: 4% (male 1,523,213/female 1,982,740) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 22.27 years
male: 21.77 years
female: 22.8 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.84% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

25.31 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

5.47 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 23.51 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 26.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 69.91 years
male: 67.03 years
female: 72.92 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.16 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

9,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 500 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever and malaria are high risks in some locations
animal contact disease: rabies (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Filipino(s)
adjective: Philippine

Ethnic groups:

Tagalog 28.1%, Cebuano 13.1%, Llocano 9%, Bisaya/Binisaya 7.6%, Hiligaynon Ilonggo 7.5%, Bikol 6%, Waray 3.4%, other 25.3% (2000 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 80.9%, Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%, Aglipayan 2%, other Christian 4.5%, Muslim 5%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.6%, none 0.1% (2000 census)

Languages:

two official languages - Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English; eight major dialects - Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.6%
male: 92.5%
female: 92.7% (2002)

Government

Philippines

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of the Philippines
conventional short form: Philippines
local long form: Republika ng Pilipinas
local short form: Pilipinas

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Manila

Administrative divisions:

79 provinces and 116 chartered cities
: provinces: Abra, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Aklan, Albay, Antique, Apayao, Aurora, Basilan, Bataan, Batanes, Batangas, Biliran, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Bulacan, Cagayan, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Camiguin, Capiz, Catanduanes, Cavite, Cebu, Compostela, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Eastern Samar, Guimaras, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Isabela, Kalinga, Laguna, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, La Union, Leyte, Maguindanao, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro Occidental, Mindoro Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Mountain Province, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, North Cotabato, Northern Samar, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Palawan, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quezon, Quirino, Rizal, Romblon, Samar, Sarangani, Siquijor, Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Southern Leyte, Sultan Kudarat, Sulu, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Tarlac, Tawi-Tawi, Zambales, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay
: chartered cities: Alaminos, Angeles, Antipolo, Bacolod, Bago, Baguio, Bais, Balanga, Batangas, Bayawan, Bislig, Butuan, Cabanatuan, Cadiz, Cagayan de Oro, Calamba, Calapan, Calbayog, Candon, Canlaon, Cauayan, Cavite, Cebu, Cotabato, Dagupan, Danao, Dapitan, Davao, Digos, Dipolog, Dumaguete, Escalante, Gapan, General Santos, Gingoog, Himamaylan, Iligan, Iloilo, Isabela, Iriga, Kabankalan, Kalookan, Kidapawan, Koronadal, La Carlota, Laoag, Lapu-Lapu, Las Pinas, Legazpi, Ligao, Lipa, Lucena, Maasin, Makati, Malabon, Malaybalay, Malolos, Mandaluyong, Mandaue, Manila, Marawi, Markina, Masbate, Muntinlupa, Munoz, Naga, Olongapo, Ormoc, Oroquieta, Ozamis, Pagadian, Palayan, Panabo, Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, Passi, Puerto Princesa, Quezon, Roxas, Sagay, Samal, San Carlos (in Negros Occidental), San Carlos (in Pangasinan), San Fernando (in La Union), San Fernando (in Pampanga), San Jose, San Jose del Monte, San Pablo, Santa Rosa, Santiago, Silay, Sipalay, Sorsogon, Surigao, Tabaco, Tacloban, Tacurong, Tagaytay, Tagbilaran, Tagum, Talisay (in Cebu), Talisay (in Negros Oriental), Tanauan, Tangub, Tanjay, Tarlac, Toledo, Tuguegarao, Trece Martires, Urdaneta, Valencia, Valenzuela, Victorias, Vigan, Zamboanga

Independence:

12 June 1898 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 12 June (1898)
note: 12 June 1898 was date of declaration of independence from Spain; 4 July 1946 was date of independence from US

Constitution:

2 February 1987, effective 11 February 1987

Legal system:

based on Spanish and Anglo-American law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 20 January 2001); note - president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO (since 20 January 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with consent of Commission of Appointments
elections: president and vice president (Manuel "Noli" DE CASTRO) elected on separate tickets by popular vote for six-year terms; election last held 10 May 2004 (next to be held in May 2010)
election results: results of the election - Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO elected president; percent of vote - Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO 40%, Fernando POE 37%, three others 23%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Congress or Kongreso consists of the Senate or Senado (24 seats - one-half elected every three years; members elected at large by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Kapulungan Ng Mga Kinatawan (212 members representing districts plus 24 sectoral party-list members; members elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; note - the Constitution prohibits the House of Representatives from having more than 250 members)
elections: Senate - last held 10 May 2004 (next to be held in May 2007); House of Representatives - elections last held 10 May 2004 (next to be held in May 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - Lakas 30%, LP 13%, KNP 13%, independents 17%, others 27%; seats by party - Lakas 7, LP 3, KNP (coalition) 3, independents 4, others 6; note - there are 23 rather than 24 sitting senators because one senator was elected Vice President; 14 senators are pro-government, 9 are in opposition; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Lakas 93, NPC 53, LP 34, LDP 11, others 20; party-listers 24; note - there are 211 rather than 212 sitting representatives because one was appointed Secretary of Tourism (2004)

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (15 justices are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial and Bar Council and serve until 70 years of age); Court of Appeals; Sandigan-bayan (special court for hearing corruption cases of government officials)

Political parties and leaders:

Laban Ng Demokratikong Pilipino (Struggle of Filipino Democrats) or LDP [Edgardo ANGARA, president]; Lakas Ng Edsa (National Union of Christian Democrats) or Lakas [Jose DE VENECIA, president; Gloria MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, chairperson]; Liberal Party or LP [Franklin DRILON, president; Jose ATIENZA, JR., chairman]; National People's Coalition or NPC [Eduardo COJUANGCO, chairman emeritus; Frisco SAN JUAN, president]; PDP-Laban [Aquilino PIMENTEL, president]; Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (Party of the Philippine Masses) or PMP [Joseph ESTRADA, president; Juan Ponce ENRILE, chairman]; Aksyon Demokratiko Party [Raul ROCO, president]; Reporma [Renato DE VILLA, chairman]; PROMDI [Emilio OSMENA, president]; Nacionalista [Manuel VILLAR, president]; People's Reform Party [Miriam Defensor SANTIAGO, president}

Political pressure groups and leaders:

AKBAYAN [Reps. Etta ROSALES, Mario AGUJA, and Risa HONTIVEROS-BARAQUIEL]; ANAKPAWIS [Reps. Crispin BELTRAN and Rafael MARIANO]; Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC) [Reps. Edgar VALDEZ, Ernesto PABLO, and Sunny Rose MADAMBA]; Bayan Muna [Reps. Satur OCAMPO, Joel VIRADOR, and Teodoro CASINO, Jr.]; BUHAY [Reps. Rene VELARDE and Hans Christian SENERES]; BUTIL [Rep. Benjamin CRUZ]; CIBAC [Rep. Emmanuel Joel VILLANUEVA]; GABRIELA [Rep. Liza MAZA]; PARTIDO NG MANGGAGAWA [Rep. Renato MAGTUBO] (2003)

International organization participation:

APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, CP, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS (observer), ONUB, OPCW, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Albert DEL ROSARIO
chancery: 1600 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 467-9300
FAX: [1] (202) 328-7614
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, San Jose (Northern Mariana Islands), Tamuning (Guam)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Charge d'Affaires Darryl N. JOHNSON (Ambassador-designate Michael MICHALAK)
embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Manila
mailing address: PSC 500, FPO AP 96515-1000
telephone: [63] (2) 523-6300
FAX: [63] (2) 522-4361

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of blue (top; representing peace and justice) and red (representing courage); a white equilateral triangle based on the hoist side represents equality; the center of the triangle displays a yellow sun with eight primary rays, each representing one of the first eight provinces that sought independence from Spain; each corner of the triangle contains a small, yellow, five-pointed star representing the three major geographical divisions of the country: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao; the design of the flag dates to 1897; in wartime the flag is flown upside down with the red band at the top

Economy

Philippines

Economy - overview:

The Philippines was less severely affected by the Asian financial crisis of 1998 than its neighbors, aided in part by annual remittances of $7-8 billion from overseas workers and no sustained runup in asset prices or foreign borrowing prior to the crisis. From a 0.6% decline in 1998, GDP expanded by 2.4% in 1999, and 4.4% in 2000, but slowed to 3.2% in 2001 in the context of a global economic slowdown, an export slump, and political and security concerns. GDP growth accelerated to 4.3% in 2002, 4.7% in 2003, and about 6% in 2004, reflecting the continued resilience of the service sector, and improved exports and agricultural output. Nonetheless, it will take a higher, sustained growth path to make appreciable progress in poverty alleviation given the Philippines' high annual population growth rate and unequal distribution of income. The Philippines also faces higher oil prices, higher interest rates on its dollar borrowings, and higher inflation. Fiscal constraints limit Manila's ability to finance infrastructure and social spending. The Philippines' consistently large budget deficit has produced a high debt level and has forced Manila to spend a large portion of the national government budget on debt service. Large, unprofitable public enterprises, especially in the energy sector, contribute to the government's debt because of slow progress on privatization. Credit rating agencies are increasingly concerned about the Philippines' ability to sustain the debt; legislative progress on new revenue measures will weigh heavily on credit rating decisions.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$430.6 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $5,000 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 14.8%
industry: 31.9%
services: 53.2% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

35.86 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 36%, industry 16%, services 48% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

11.7% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

40% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 31.9% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

46.6 (2003)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.5% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

17% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $12.22 billion
expenditures: $15.84 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.4 million (2004 est.)

Public debt:

74.2% of GDP (September 2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

sugarcane, coconuts, rice, corn, bananas, casavas, pineapples, fish, mangoes, pork, eggs, beef

Industries:

electronics assembly, garments, footwear, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood products, food processing, petroleum refining, fishing

Industrial production growth rate:

5% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

52.86 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 55.6%
hydro: 17.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 26.9% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

46.05 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2003)

Oil - production:

26,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption:

338,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:

0 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:

312,000 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - proved reserves:

152 million bbl (1 January 2004)

Natural gas - production:

2.5 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

25 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

107.6 billion cu m (1 January 2004)

Current account balance:

$3.6 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$38.63 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

electronic equipment, machinery and transport equipment, garments, optical instruments, coconut products, fruits and nuts, copper products, chemicals

Exports - partners:

Japan 20.1%, US 18.2%, Netherlands 9%, Hong Kong 7.9%, China 6.7%, Singapore 6.6%, Taiwan 5.6%, Malaysia 5.2% (2004)

Imports:

$37.5 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

raw materials, machinery and equipment, fuels, vehicles and vehicle parts, plastic, chemicals, grains

Imports - partners:

US 18.8%, Japan 17.4%, Singapore 7.8%, Taiwan 7.3%, South Korea 6.2%, China 6%, Malaysia 4.5% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$16.05 billion (2004)

Debt - external:

$55.6 billion (September 2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA commitments, $2 billion (2004)

Currency (code):

Philippine peso (PHP)

Currency code:

PHP

Exchange rates:

Philippine pesos per US dollar - 56.04 (2004), 54.203 (2003), 51.604 (2002), 50.993 (2001), 44.192 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Philippines

Telephones - main lines in use:

3,310,900 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

15.201 million (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: good international radiotelephone and submarine cable services; domestic and inter-island service adequate
domestic: domestic satellite system with 11 earth stations
international: country code - 63; 9 international gateways; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Pacific Ocean); submarine cables to Hong Kong, Guam, Singapore, Taiwan, and Japan

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 369, FM 583, shortwave 5
note: each shortwave station operates on multiple frequencies in the language of the target audience (2004)

Radios:

11.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

225; note - 1373 CATV networks (2004)

Televisions:

3.7 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.ph

Internet hosts:

38,440 (2002)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

33 (2000)

Internet users:

3.5 million (2002)

Transportation

Philippines

Railways:

total: 897 km
narrow gauge: 897 km 1.067-m gauge (492 km are in operation) (2004)

Highways:

total: 202,124 km
paved: 19,202 km
unpaved: 182,922 km (2002)

Waterways:

3,219 km
note: limited to vessels with draft less than 1.5 m (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 565 km; oil 135 km; refined products 100 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iligan, Iloilo, Manila, Surigao

Merchant marine:

total: 419 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,524,259 GRT/6,437,171 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 85, cargo 109, chemical tanker 13, container 5, liquefied gas 7, livestock carrier 15, passenger 11, passenger/cargo 73, petroleum tanker 47, refrigerated cargo 23, roll on/roll off 17, vehicle carrier 14
foreign-owned: 69 (Canada 1, China 2, Germany 2, Greece 5, Hong Kong 2, Japan 31, Malaysia 2, Netherlands 20, Norway 1, UAE 1, United States 2)
registered in other countries: 40 (2005)

Airports:

255 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 82
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 35
under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 173
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 68
under 914 m: 100 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

2 (2004 est.)

Military

Philippines

Military branches:

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): Army, Navy (includes Coast Guard, Marine Corps), Air Force

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 20,131,179 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 15,170,096 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 907,542 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$805.5 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Philippines

Disputes - international:

The Philippines claims sovereignty over certain of the Spratly Islands, known locally as the Kalayaan (Freedom) Islands, also claimed by China, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea," has eased tensions in the Spratly Islands but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands; Philippines retains a dormant claim to Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo based on the Sultanate of Sulu's granting the Philippines Government power of attorney to pursue a sovereignty claim on his behalf

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 150,000 (fighting between government troops and MILF and Abu Sayyaf groups) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

exports locally-produced marijuana and hashish to East Asia, the US, and other Western markets; serves as a transit point for heroin and crystal methamphetamine; domestic methamphetamine production is a growing problem; remains on Financial Action Task Force Non-Cooperative Countries and Territories List for continued failure to address deficiencies in money-laundering control regime

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Puerto Rico

Introduction

Puerto Rico

Background:

Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the island was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following Columbus' second voyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial rule that saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and African slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a result of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US citizenship in 1917. Popularly-elected governors have served since 1948. In 1952, a constitution was enacted providing for internal self government. In plebiscites held in 1967, 1993, and 1998, voters chose to retain commonwealth status.

Geography

Puerto Rico

Location:

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of the Dominican Republic

Geographic coordinates:

18 15 N, 66 30 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 9,104 sq km
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:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical marine, mild; little seasonal temperature variation

Terrain:

mostly mountains with coastal plain belt in north; mountains precipitous to sea on west coast; sandy beaches along most coastal areas

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,338 m

Natural resources:

some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil

Land use:

arable land: 3.95%
permanent crops: 5.52%
other: 90.53% (2001)

Irrigated land:

400 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

periodic droughts; hurricanes

Environment - current issues:

erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages

Geography - note:

important location along the Mona Passage - a key shipping lane to the Panama Canal; San Juan is one of the biggest and best natural harbors in the Caribbean; many small rivers and high central mountains ensure land is well watered; south coast relatively dry; fertile coastal plain belt in north

People

Puerto Rico

Population:

3,916,632 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 22% (male 441,594/female 421,986)
15-64 years: 65.5% (male 1,228,583/female 1,337,066)
65 years and over: 12.4% (male 211,283/female 276,120) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 34.23 years
male: 32.5 years
female: 35.87 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.47% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

13.93 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

7.86 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 8.24 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.29 years
male: 74.35 years
female: 82.43 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.91 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

7,397 (1997)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Puerto Rican(s) (US citizens)
adjective: Puerto Rican

Ethnic groups:

white (mostly Spanish origin) 80.5%, black 8%, Amerindian 0.4%, Asian 0.2%, mixed and other 10.9%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 85%, Protestant and other 15%

Languages:

Spanish, English

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 94.1%
male: 93.9%
female: 94.4% (2002 est.)

Government

Puerto Rico

Country name:

conventional long form: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
conventional short form: Puerto Rico

Dependency status:

commonwealth associated with the US

Government type:

commonwealth

Capital:

San Juan

Administrative divisions:

none (commonwealth associated with the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 78 municipalities (municipios, singular - municipio) at the second order; Adjuntas, Aguada, Aguadilla, Aguas Buenas, Aibonito, Anasco, Arecibo, Arroyo, Barceloneta, Barranquitas, Bayamon, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Camuy, Canovanas, Carolina, Catano, Cayey, Ceiba, Ciales, Cidra, Coamo, Comerio, Corozal, Culebra, Dorado, Fajardo, Florida, Guanica, Guayama, Guayanilla, Guaynabo, Gurabo, Hatillo, Hormigueros, Humacao, Isabela, Jayuya, Juana Diaz, Juncos, Lajas, Lares, Las Marias, Las Piedras, Loiza, Luquillo, Manati, Maricao, Maunabo, Mayaguez, Moca, Morovis, Naguabo, Naranjito, Orocovis, Patillas, Penuelas, Ponce, Quebradillas, Rincon, Rio Grande, Sabana Grande, Salinas, San German, San Juan, San Lorenzo, San Sebastian, Santa Isabel, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Trujillo Alto, Utuado, Vega Alta, Vega Baja, Vieques, Villalba, Yabucoa, Yauco

Independence:

none (commonwealth associated with the US)

National holiday:

US Independence Day, 4 July (1776); Puerto Rico Constitution Day, 25 July (1952)

Constitution:

ratified 3 March 1952, approved by US Congress 3 July 1952, effective 25 July 1952

Legal system:

based on Spanish civil code and within the US Federal system of justice

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal; island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Executive branch:

chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001)
head of government: Governor Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA (since 2 January 2005)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the legislature
elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008)
election results: Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA (PPD) elected governor; percent of vote - 48.4%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Legislative Assembly consists of the Senate (at least 27 seats - currently 29; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the House of Representatives (51 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008); House of Representatives - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PNP 43.4%, PPD 40.3%, PIP 9.4%; seats by party - PNP 17, PPD 9, PIP 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PNP 46.3%, PPD 43.1%, PIP 9.7%; seats by party - PNP 32, PPD 18, PIP 1
note: Puerto Rico elects, by popular vote, a resident commissioner to serve a four-year term as a nonvoting representative in the US House of Representatives; aside from not voting on the House floor, he enjoys all the rights of a member of Congress; elections last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008); results - percent of vote by party - PNP 48.6%; seats by party - PNP 1; Luis FORTUNO elected resident commissioner

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Appellate Court; Court of First Instance composed of two sections: a Superior Court and a Municipal Court (justices for all these courts appointed by the governor with the consent of the Senate)

Political parties and leaders:

National Democratic Party [Celeste BENITEZ]; National Republican Party of Puerto Rico [Dr. Tiody FERRE]; New Progressive Party or PNP (pro-US statehood) [Pedro ROSSELLO]; Popular Democratic Party or PPD (pro-commonwealth) [Anibal ACEVEDO-VILA]; Puerto Rican Independence Party or PIP (pro-independence) [Ruben BERRIOS Martinez]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Armed Forces for National Liberation or FALN; Armed Forces of Popular Resistance; Boricua Popular Army (also known as the Macheteros); Volunteers of the Puerto Rican Revolution

International organization participation:

ICFTU, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WToO (associate)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (commonwealth associated with the US)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (commonwealth associated with the US)

Flag description:

five equal horizontal bands of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side bears a large, white, five-pointed star in the center; design initially influenced by the US flag, but similar to the Cuban flag, with the colors of the bands and triangle reversed

Economy

Puerto Rico

Economy - overview:

Puerto Rico has one of the most dynamic economies in the Caribbean region. A diverse industrial sector has far surpassed agriculture as the primary locus of economic activity and income. Encouraged by duty-free access to the US and by tax incentives, US firms have invested heavily in Puerto Rico since the 1950s. US minimum wage laws apply. Sugar production has lost out to dairy production and other livestock products as the main source of income in the agricultural sector. Tourism has traditionally been an important source of income, with estimated arrivals of nearly 5 million tourists in 1999. Growth fell off in 2001-03, largely due to the slowdown in the US economy, and has recovered in 2004.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$68.95 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.7% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $17,700 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1%
industry: 45%
services: 54% (2002 est.)

Labor force:

1.3 million (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 3%, industry 20%, services 77% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

12% (2002)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6.5% (2003 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $6.7 billion
expenditures: $9.6 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (FY99/00)

Agriculture - products:

sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas, livestock products, chickens

Industries:

pharmaceuticals, electronics, apparel, food products, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

22.09 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 99.2%
hydro: 0.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

20.54 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

190,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

630 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

630 million cu m (2001 est.)

Exports:

$46.9 billion f.o.b. (2001)

Exports - commodities:

chemicals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum, beverage concentrates, medical equipment

Exports - partners:

US 90.3%, UK 1.6%, Netherlands 1.4%, Dominican Republic 1.4% (2002 est.)

Imports:

$29.1 billion c.i.f. (2001)

Imports - commodities:

chemicals, machinery and equipment, clothing, food, fish, petroleum products

Imports - partners:

US 55.0%, Ireland 23.7%, Japan 5.4% (2002 est.)

Debt - external:

NA

Economic aid - recipient:

NA (2001)

Currency (code):

US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

USD

Exchange rates:

the US dollar is used

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Communications

Puerto Rico

Telephones - main lines in use:

1,329,500 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,211,111 (2001)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system integrated with that of the US by high-capacity submarine cable and Intelsat with high-speed data capability
domestic: digital telephone system; cellular telephone service
international: country code - 1-787, 939; 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:

6 (19 relay stations) (2004)

Televisions:

1.021 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.pr

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

76 (2000)

Internet users:

600,000 (2002)

Transportation

Puerto Rico

Railways:

total: 96 km
narrow gauge: 96 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 25,328 km
paved: 23,665 km (including 426 km of expressways)
unpaved: 1,363 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Las Mareas, Mayaguez, San Juan

Merchant marine:

total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 36,728 GRT/37,048 DWT
by type: roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 2 (United States 2)
registered in other countries: 1 (2005)

Airports:

30 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 17
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 5 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 10 (2004 est.)

Military

Puerto Rico

Military branches:

no regular indigenous military forces; paramilitary National Guard, Police Force

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues

Puerto Rico

Disputes - international:

increasing numbers of illegal migrants from the Dominican Republic cross the Mona Passage to Puerto Rico each year looking for work

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Russia

Introduction

Russia

Background:

Founded in the 12th century, the Principality of Muscovy, was able to emerge from over 200 years of Mongol domination (13th-15th centuries) and to gradually conquer and absorb surrounding principalities. In the early 17th century, a new Romanov Dynasty continued this policy of expansion across Siberia to the Pacific. Under PETER I (ruled 1682-1725), hegemony was extended to the Baltic Sea and the country was renamed the Russian Empire. During the 19th century, more territorial acquisitions were made in Europe and Asia. Repeated devastating defeats of the Russian army in World War I led to widespread rioting in the major cities of the Russian Empire and to the overthrow in 1917 of the imperial household. The Communists under Vladimir LENIN seized power soon after and formed the USSR. The brutal rule of Josef STALIN (1928-53) strengthened Russian dominance of the Soviet Union at a cost of tens of millions of lives. The Soviet economy and society stagnated in the following decades until General Secretary Mikhail GORBACHEV (1985-91) introduced glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) in an attempt to modernize Communism, but his initiatives inadvertently released forces that by December 1991 splintered the USSR into 15 independent republics. Since then, Russia has struggled in its efforts to build a democratic political system and market economy to replace the strict social, political, and economic controls of the Communist period. While some progress has been made on the economic front, recent years have seen a recentralization of power under Vladimir PUTIN and an erosion in nascent democratic institutions. A determined guerrilla conflict still plagues Russia in Chechnya.

Geography

Russia

Location:

Northern Asia (that part west of the Urals is included with Europe), bordering the Arctic Ocean, between Europe and the North Pacific Ocean

Geographic coordinates:

60 00 N, 100 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 17,075,200 sq km
land: 16,995,800 sq km
water: 79,400 sq km

Area - comparative:

approximately 1.8 times the size of the US

Land boundaries:

total: 20,017 km
border countries: Azerbaijan 284 km, Belarus 959 km, China (southeast) 3,605 km, China (south) 40 km, Estonia 294 km, Finland 1,340 km, Georgia 723 km, Kazakhstan 6,846 km, North Korea 19 km, Latvia 217 km, Lithuania (Kaliningrad Oblast) 227 km, Mongolia 3,485 km, Norway 196 km, Poland (Kaliningrad Oblast) 206 km, Ukraine 1,576 km

Coastline:

37,653 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

ranges from steppes in the south through humid continental in much of European Russia; subarctic in Siberia to tundra climate in the polar north; winters vary from cool along Black Sea coast to frigid in Siberia; summers vary from warm in the steppes to cool along Arctic coast

Terrain:

broad plain with low hills west of Urals; vast coniferous forest and tundra in Siberia; uplands and mountains along southern border regions

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Gora El'brus 5,633 m

Natural resources:

wide natural resource base including major deposits of oil, natural gas, coal, and many strategic minerals, timber
note: formidable obstacles of climate, terrain, and distance hinder exploitation of natural resources

Land use:

arable land: 7.33%
permanent crops: 0.11%
other: 92.56% (2001)

Irrigated land:

46,630 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

permafrost over much of Siberia is a major impediment to development; volcanic activity in the Kuril Islands; volcanoes and earthquakes on the Kamchatka Peninsula; spring floods and summer/autumn forest fires throughout Siberia and parts of European Russia

Environment - current issues:

air pollution from heavy industry, emissions of coal-fired electric plants, and transportation in major cities; industrial, municipal, and agricultural pollution of inland waterways and seacoasts; deforestation; soil erosion; soil contamination from improper application of agricultural chemicals; scattered areas of sometimes intense radioactive contamination; groundwater contamination from toxic waste; urban solid waste management; abandoned stocks of obsolete pesticides

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulfur 94

Geography - note:

largest country in the world in terms of area but unfavorably located in relation to major sea lanes of the world; despite its size, much of the country lacks proper soils and climates (either too cold or too dry) for agriculture; Mount El'brus is Europe's tallest peak

People

Russia

Population:

143,420,309 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 14.6% (male 10,704,617/female 10,173,313)
15-64 years: 71.3% (male 49,429,716/female 52,799,740)
65 years and over: 14.2% (male 6,405,027/female 13,907,896) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 38.15 years
male: 34.99 years
female: 41.03 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.37% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

9.8 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

14.52 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.46 male(s)/female
total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 15.39 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 17.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 67.1 years
male: 60.55 years
female: 74.04 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.27 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

860,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

9,000 (2001 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Russian(s)
adjective: Russian

Ethnic groups:

Russian 79.8%, Tatar 3.8%, Ukrainian 2%, Bashkir 1.2%, Chuvash 1.1%, other or unspecified 12.1% (2002 census)

Religions:

Russian Orthodox, Muslim, other

Languages:

Russian, many minority languages

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.6%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.5% (2003 est.)

Government

Russia

Country name:

conventional long form: Russian Federation
conventional short form: Russia
local long form: Rossiyskaya Federatsiya
local short form: Rossiya
former: Russian Empire, Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic

Government type:

federation

Capital:

Moscow

Administrative divisions:

49 oblasts (oblastey, singular - oblast), 21 republics (respublik, singular - respublika), 10 autonomous okrugs (avtonomnykh okrugov, singular - avtonomnyy okrug), 6 krays (krayev, singular - kray), 2 federal cities (singular - gorod), and 1 autonomous oblast (avtonomnaya oblast')
: oblasts: Amur (Blagoveshchensk), Arkhangel'sk, Astrakhan', Belgorod, Bryansk, Chelyabinsk, Chita, Irkutsk, Ivanovo, Kaliningrad, Kaluga, Kamchatka (Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy), Kemerovo, Kirov, Kostroma, Kurgan, Kursk, Leningrad, Lipetsk, Magadan, Moscow, Murmansk, Nizhniy Novgorod, Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Orenburg, Orel, Penza, Perm', Pskov, Rostov, Ryazan', Sakhalin (Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk), Samara, Saratov, Smolensk, Sverdlovsk (Yekaterinburg), Tambov, Tomsk, Tula, Tver', Tyumen', Ul'yanovsk, Vladimir, Volgograd, Vologda, Voronezh, Yaroslavl'
: republics: Adygeya (Maykop), Altay (Gorno-Altaysk), Bashkortostan (Ufa), Buryatiya (Ulan-Ude), Chechnya (Groznyy), Chuvashiya (Cheboksary), Dagestan (Makhachkala), Ingushetiya (Magas), Kabardino-Balkariya (Nal'chik), Kalmykiya (Elista), Karachayevo-Cherkesiya (Cherkessk), Kareliya (Petrozavodsk), Khakasiya (Abakan), Komi (Syktyvkar), Mariy-El (Yoshkar-Ola), Mordoviya (Saransk), Sakha [Yakutiya] (Yakutsk), North Ossetia (Vladikavkaz), Tatarstan (Kazan'), Tyva (Kyzyl), Udmurtiya (Izhevsk)
: autonomous okrugs: Aga Buryat (Aginskoye), Chukotka (Anadyr'), Evenk (Tura), Khanty-Mansi, Komi-Permyak (Kudymkar), Koryak (Palana), Nenets (Nar'yan-Mar), Taymyr [Dolgano-Nenets] (Dudinka), Ust'-Orda Buryat (Ust'-Ordynskiy), Yamalo-Nenets (Salekhard)
: krays: Altay (Barnaul), Khabarovsk, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Primorskiy (Vladivostok), Stavropol'
: federal cities: Moscow (Moskva), Saint Petersburg (Sankt-Peterburg)
: autonomous oblast: Yevrey [Jewish] (Birobidzhan)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Independence:

24 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Russia Day, 12 June (1990)

Constitution:

adopted 12 December 1993

Legal system:

based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Vladimir Vladimirovich PUTIN (acting president since 31 December 1999, president since 7 May 2000)
head of government: Premier Mikhail Yefimovich FRADKOV (since 5 March 2004); Deputy Premier Aleksandr Dmitriyevich ZHUKOV (since 9 March 2004)
cabinet: Ministries of the Government or "Government" composed of the premier and his deputy, ministers, and selected other individuals; all are appointed by the president
note: there is also a Presidential Administration (PA) that provides staff and policy support to the president, drafts presidential decrees, and coordinates policy among government agencies; a Security Council also reports directly to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 14 March 2004 (next to be held March 2008); note - no vice president; if the president dies in office, cannot exercise his powers because of ill health, is impeached, or resigns, the premier succeeds him; the premier serves as acting president until a new presidential election is held, which must be within three months; premier appointed by the president with the approval of the Duma
election results: Vladimir Vladimirovich PUTIN reelected president; percent of vote - Vladimir Vladimirovich PUTIN 71.2%, Nikolay KHARITONOV 13.7%, other (no candidate above 5%) 15.1%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Federal Assembly or Federalnoye Sobraniye consists of the Federation Council or Sovet Federatsii (178 seats; as of July 2000, members appointed by the top executive and legislative officials in each of the 89 federal administrative units - oblasts, krays, republics, autonomous okrugs and oblasts, and the federal cities of Moscow and Saint Petersburg; members serve four-year terms) and the State Duma or Gosudarstvennaya Duma (450 seats; currently 225 seats elected by proportional representation from party lists winning at least 5% of the vote, and 225 seats from single-member constituencies; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: State Duma - last held 7 December 2003 (next to be held NA December 2007)
election results: State Duma - percent of vote received by parties clearing the 5% threshold entitling them to a proportional share of the 225 party list seats - United Russia 37.1%, CPRF 12.7%, LDPR 11.6%, Motherland 9.1%; seats by party - United Russia 222, CPRF 53, LDPR 38, Motherland 37, People's Party 19, Yabloko 4, SPS 2, other 7, independents 65, repeat election required 3

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Superior Court of Arbitration; judges for all courts are appointed for life by the Federation Council on the recommendation of the president

Political parties and leaders:

Communist Party of the Russian Federation or CPRF [Gennadiy Andreyevich ZYUGANOV]; Liberal Democratic Party of Russia or LDPR [Vladimir Volfovich ZHIRINOVSKIY]; Motherland Bloc (Rodina) [Dmitriy ROGOZIN]; People's Party [Gennadiy RAYKOV]; Union of Right Forces or SPS [Anatoliy Borisovich CHUBAYS, Yegor Timurovich GAYDAR, Irina Mutsuovna KHAKAMADA, Boris Yefimovich NEMTSOV]; United Russia [Boris Vyacheslavovich GRYZLOV]; Yabloko Party [Grigoriy Alekseyevich YAVLINSKIY]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

APEC, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS, BSEC, CBSS, CE, CERN (observer), CIS, EAPC, EBRD, G- 8, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS (observer), ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN, UN Security Council, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer), ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Yuriy Viktorovich USHAKOV
chancery: 2650 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 298-5700, 5701, 5704, 5708
FAX: [1] (202) 298-5735
consulate(s) general: Houston, New York, San Francisco, and Seattle

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Alexander VERSHBOW
embassy: Bolshoy Devyatinskiy Pereulok No. 8, 121099 Moscow
mailing address: PSC-77, APO AE 09721
telephone: [7] (095) 728-5000
FAX: [7] (095) 728-5090
consulate(s) general: Saint Petersburg, Vladivostok, Yekaterinburg

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red

Economy

Russia

Economy - overview:

Russia ended 2004 with its sixth straight year of growth, averaging 6.5% annually since the financial crisis of 1998. Although high oil prices and a relatively cheap ruble are important drivers of this economic rebound, since 2000 investment and consumer-driven demand have played a noticeably increasing role. Real fixed capital investments have averaged gains greater than 10% over the last five years, and real personal incomes have realized average increases over 12%. Russia has also improved its international financial position since the 1998 financial crisis, with its foreign debt declining from 90% of GDP to around 28%. Strong oil export earnings have allowed Russia to increase its foreign reserves from only $12 billion to some $120 billion at yearend 2004. These achievements, along with a renewed government effort to advance structural reforms, have raised business and investor confidence in Russia's economic prospects. Nevertheless, serious problems persist. Economic growth slowed down in the second half of 2004 and the Russian government forecasts growth of only 4.5% to 6.2% for 2005. Oil, natural gas, metals, and timber account for more than 80% of exports, leaving the country vulnerable to swings in world prices. Russia's manufacturing base is dilapidated and must be replaced or modernized if the country is to achieve broad-based economic growth. Other problems include a weak banking system, a poor business climate that discourages both domestic and foreign investors, corruption, and widespread lack of trust in institutions. In addition, a string of investigations launched against a major Russian oil company, culminating with the arrest of its CEO in the fall of 2003, have raised concerns by some observers that President PUTIN is granting more influence to forces within his government that desire to reassert state control over the economy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.408 trillion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.7% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $9,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 4.9%
industry: 33.9%
services: 61.2% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

71.83 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 12.3%, industry 22.7%, services 65% (2002 est.)

Unemployment rate:

8.3% plus considerable underemployment (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

25% (January 2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 5.9%
highest 10%: 47% (2001)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

39.9 (2001)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

11.5% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $106.4 billion
expenditures: $93.33 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

28.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, vegetables, fruits; beef, milk

Industries:

complete range of mining and extractive industries producing coal, oil, gas, chemicals, and metals; all forms of machine building from rolling mills to high-performance aircraft and space vehicles; defense industries including radar, missile production, and advanced electronic components, shipbuilding; road and rail transportation equipment; communications equipment; agricultural machinery, tractors, and construction equipment; electric power generating and transmitting equipment; medical and scientific instruments; consumer durables, textiles, foodstuffs, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate:

6.4% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

915 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 66.3%
hydro: 17.2%
nuclear: 16.4%
other: 0.1% (2003)

Electricity - consumption:

894.3 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:

20.7 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:

12.65 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

8.42 million bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption:

2.31 million bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:

6.11 million bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

69 billion bbl (2003 est.)

Natural gas - production:

578.6 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

405.8 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

171 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

32.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

47 trillion cu m (2003)

Current account balance:

$46.04 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$162.5 billion (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, wood and wood products, metals, chemicals, and a wide variety of civilian and military manufactures

Exports - partners:

Netherlands 9.1%, Germany 8%, Ukraine 6.4%, Italy 6.2%, China 6%, US 5%, Switzerland 4.7%, Turkey 4.3% (2004)

Imports:

$92.91 billion (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, consumer goods, medicines, meat, sugar, semifinished metal products

Imports - partners:

Germany 15.3%, Ukraine 8.8%, China 6.9%, Japan 5.7%, Kazakhstan 5%, US 4.6%, Italy 4.6%, France 4.4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$124.5 billion (3 December 2004 e)

Debt - external:

$169.6 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

in FY01 from US, $979 million (including $750 million in non-proliferation subsidies); in 2001 from EU, $200 million (2000 est.)

Currency (code):

Russian ruble (RUR)

Currency code:

RUR

Exchange rates:

Russian rubles per US dollar - 28.814 (2004), 30.692 (2003), 31.349 (2002), 29.169 (2001), 28.129 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Russia

Telephones - main lines in use:

35.5 million (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

17,608,800 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: the telephone system underwent significant changes in the 1990s; there are more than 1,000 companies licensed to offer communication services; access to digital lines has improved, particularly in urban centers; Internet and e-mail services are improving; Russia has made progress toward building the telecommunications infrastructure necessary for a market economy; however, a large demand for main line service remains unsatisfied
domestic: cross-country digital trunk lines run from Saint Petersburg to Khabarovsk, and from Moscow to Novorossiysk; the telephone systems in 60 regional capitals have modern digital infrastructures; cellular services, both analog and digital, are available in many areas; in rural areas, the telephone services are still outdated, inadequate, and low density
international: country code - 7; Russia is connected internationally by three undersea fiber-optic cables; digital switches in several cities provide more than 50,000 lines for international calls; satellite earth stations provide access to Intelsat, Intersputnik, Eutelsat, Inmarsat, and Orbita systems

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 420, FM 447, shortwave 56 (1998)

Radios:

61.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

7,306 (1998)

Televisions:

60.5 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.ru; Russia also has responsibility for a legacy domain ".su" that was allocated to the Soviet Union, and whose legal status and ownership are contested by the Russian Government, ICANN, and several Russian commercial entities

Internet hosts:

560,874 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

300 (June 2000)

Internet users:

6 million (2002)

Transportation

Russia

Railways:

total: 87,157 km
broad gauge: 86,200 km 1.520-m gauge (40,300 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 957 km 1.067-m gauge (on Sakhalin Island)
note: an additional 30,000 km of non-common carrier lines serve industries (2004)

Highways:

total: 537,289 km
paved: 362,133 km
unpaved: 175,156 km (2001)

Waterways:

96,000 km
note: 72,000 km system in European Russia links Baltic Sea, White Sea, Caspian Sea, Sea of Azov, and Black Sea (2004)

Pipelines:

condensate 122 km; gas 150,007 km; oil 75,539 km; refined products 13,771 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Anapa, Kaliningrad, Murmansk, Nakhodka, Novorossiysk, Rostov-na-Donu, Saint Petersburg, Taganrog, Vanino, Vostochnyy

Merchant marine:

total: 1,194 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,521,472 GRT/5,505,118 DWT
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 45, cargo 767, chemical tanker 20, combination ore/oil 48, container 21, passenger 11, passenger/cargo 8, petroleum tanker 213, refrigerated cargo 46, roll on/roll off 12, specialized tanker 2
foreign-owned: 56 (Belgium 2, Cyprus 1, Estonia 2, Germany 1, Hong Kong 1, Latvia 3, Norway 1, Sweden 1, Turkey 28, Ukraine 10, United Kingdom 2, United States 4)
registered in other countries: 326 (2005)

Airports:

2,586 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 577
over 3,047 m: 55
2,438 to 3,047 m: 197
1,524 to 2,437 m: 128
914 to 1,523 m: 98
under 914 m: 99 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2,009
over 3,047 m: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 30
1,524 to 2,437 m: 111
914 to 1,523 m: 257
under 914 m: 1,597 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

36 (2004 est.)

Military

Russia

Military branches:

Ground Forces (SV), Navy (VMF), Air Forces (VVS); Airborne Troops (VDV), Strategic Rocket Troops (RVSN), and Space Troops (KV) are independent "combat arms," not subordinate to any of the three branches

Military service age and obligation:

18-27 years of age; males are registered for the draft at 17 years of age; 200,000 conscripts were inducted into the armed forces in 2003; length of compulsory military service is 2 years; plans as of August 2004 call for reduction in mandatory service to 1 year by 2008; 2003 planning calls for volunteer servicemen to compose 70% of armed forces by 2010, with the remaining servicemen consisting of conscripts (August 2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 35,247,049 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 21,049,651 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 1,286,069 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Transnational Issues

Russia

Disputes - international:

in 2004, China and Russia divided up the islands in the Amur, Ussuri, and Argun Rivers, ending a century-old border dispute; the sovereignty dispute over the islands of Etorofu, Kunashiri, Shikotan, and the Habomai group, known in Japan as the "Northern Territories" and in Russia as the "Southern Kurils," occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945, now administered by Russia, and claimed by Japan, remains the primary sticking point to signing a peace treaty formally ending World War II hostilities; Russia and Georgia agree on delimiting 80% of their common border, leaving certain small, strategic segments and the maritime boundary unresolved; OSCE observers monitor volatile areas such as the Pankisi Gorge in the Akhmeti region and the Kodori Gorge in Abkhazia; equidistant seabed treaties were signed and ratified with Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in the Caspian Sea but no consensus exists on dividing the water column among the littoral states; Russia and Norway dispute their maritime limits in the Barents Sea and Russia's fishing rights beyond Svalbard's territorial limits within the Svalbard Treaty zone; various groups in Finland advocate restoration of Karelia and other areas ceded to the Soviet Union following the Second World War but the Finnish Government asserts no territorial demands; in 1996, the Estonia-Russia technical border agreement was initialed but both have been hesitant to sign and ratify it, with Russia asserting that Estonia needs to better assimilate Russian-speakers and Estonian groups advocating realignment of the boundary based more closely on the 1920 Tartu Peace Treaty that would bring the now divided ethnic Setu people and parts of the Narva region within Estonia; the Latvian-Russian boundary treaty of 1997 remains unsigned and unratified with Russia linking it to better Latvian treatment of ethnic Russians and Latvian politicians demanding Russian agreement to a declaration that admits Soviet aggression during the Second World War and other issues; in 2003, the Lithuania-Russia land and maritime boundary treaty was ratified and a transit regime established through Lithuania linking Russia and its Kaliningrad coastal exclave, leaving only improvements to the border demarcation in 2005; delimitation of land boundary with Ukraine is complete, but states have agreed to defer demarcation; Russia and Ukraine continue talks but still dispute the alignment of a maritime boundary through the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov; Kazakhstan and Russia continue demarcation of their long border; Russian Duma has not yet ratified 1990 Maritime Boundary Agreement with the US in the Bering Sea

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 368,000 (displacement from Chechnya and North Ossetia) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

limited cultivation of illicit cannabis and opium poppy and producer of methamphetamine, mostly for domestic consumption; government has active illicit crop eradication program; used as transshipment point for Asian opiates, cannabis, and Latin American cocaine bound for growing domestic markets, to a lesser extent Western and Central Europe, and occasionally to the US; major source of heroin precursor chemicals; corruption and organized crime are key concerns; heroin increasingly popular in domestic market

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Rwanda

Introduction

Rwanda

Background:

In 1959, three years before independence from Belgium, the majority ethnic group, the Hutus, overthrew the ruling Tutsi king. Over the next several years, thousands of Tutsis were killed, and some 150,000 driven into exile in neighboring countries. The children of these exiles later formed a rebel group, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), and began a civil war in 1990. The war, along with several political and economic upheavals, exacerbated ethnic tensions, culminating in April 1994 in the genocide of roughly 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus. The Tutsi rebels defeated the Hutu regime and ended the killing in July 1994, but approximately 2 million Hutu refugees - many fearing Tutsi retribution - fled to neighboring Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, and the former Zaire. Since then, most of the refugees have returned to Rwanda, but about 10,000 that remain in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo have formed an extremist insurgency bent on retaking Rwanda, much as the RPF tried in 1990. Despite substantial international assistance and political reforms - including Rwanda's first local elections in March 1999 and its first post-genocide presidential and legislative elections in August and September 2003, respectively - the country continues to struggle to boost investment and agricultural output, and ethnic reconciliation is complicated by the real and perceived Tutsi political dominance. Kigali's increasing centralization and intolerance of dissent, the nagging Hutu extremist insurgency across the border, and Rwandan involvement in two wars in recent years in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo continue to hinder Rwanda's efforts to escape its bloody legacy.

Geography

Rwanda

Location:

Central Africa, east of Democratic Republic of the Congo

Geographic coordinates:

2 00 S, 30 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 26,338 sq km
land: 24,948 sq km
water: 1,390 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Maryland

Land boundaries:

total: 893 km
border countries: Burundi 290 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 217 km, Tanzania 217 km, Uganda 169 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

temperate; two rainy seasons (February to April, November to January); mild in mountains with frost and snow possible

Terrain:

mostly grassy uplands and hills; relief is mountainous with altitude declining from west to east

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Rusizi River 950 m
highest point: Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 m

Natural resources:

gold, cassiterite (tin ore), wolframite (tungsten ore), methane, hydropower, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 40.54%
permanent crops: 12.16%
other: 47.3% (2001)

Irrigated land:

40 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga mountains are in the northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo

Environment - current issues:

deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread poaching

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

landlocked; most of the country is savanna grassland with the population predominantly rural

People

Rwanda

Population:

8,440,820
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 41.9% (male 1,777,178/female 1,762,252)
15-64 years: 55.5% (male 2,328,686/female 2,356,572)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 87,155/female 128,977) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.48 years
male: 18.26 years
female: 18.7 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.43% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

40.6 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

16.32 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 91.23 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 96.37 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 85.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 46.96 years
male: 45.92 years
female: 48.03 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.49 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

5.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

250,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

22,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Rwandan(s)
adjective: Rwandan

Ethnic groups:

Hutu 84%, Tutsi 15%, Twa (Pygmoid) 1%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 56.5%, Protestant 26%, Adventist 11.1%, Muslim 4.6%, indigenous beliefs 0.1%, none 1.7% (2001)

Languages:

Kinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu vernacular, French (official), English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili) used in commercial centers

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 70.4%
male: 76.3%
female: 64.7% (2003 est.)

People - note:

Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa

Government

Rwanda

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Rwanda
conventional short form: Rwanda
local long form: Republika y'u Rwanda
local short form: Rwanda
former: Ruanda

Government type:

republic; presidential, multiparty system

Capital:

Kigali

Administrative divisions:

12 provinces (in French - provinces, singular - province; in Kinyarwanda - prefigintara for singular and plural); Butare, Byumba, Cyangugu, Gikongoro, Gisenyi, Gitarama, Kibungo, Kibuye, Kigali Rurale, Kigali-ville, Umutara, Ruhengeri

Independence:

1 July 1962 (from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 1 July (1962)

Constitution:

new constitution adopted 4 June 2003

Legal system:

based on German and Belgian civil law systems and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal adult

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Paul KAGAME (since 22 April 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Bernard MAKUZA (since 8 March 2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: last held 25 August 2003 (next to be held NA 2008)
election results: Paul KAGAME elected president in first direct popular vote; Paul KAGAME 95.05%, Faustin TWAGIRAMUNGU 3.62%, Jean-Nepomuscene NAYINZIRA 1.33%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (53 seats; members elected by direct vote)
elections: last held 29 September 2003 (next to be held Chamber of Deputies - NA 2008; Senate - NA 2011)
election results: seats by party under the 2003 Constitution - RPF 40, PSD 7, PL 6

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; High Courts of the Republic; Provincial Courts; District Courts; mediation committees

Political parties and leaders:

Centrist Democratic Party or PDC [Alfred MUKEZAMFURA]; Democratic Popular Union of Rwanda or UDPR [Adrien RANGIRA]; Democratic Republican Movement or MDR (officially banned) [Celestin KABANDA]; Islamic Democratic Party or PDI [Andre BUMAYA]; Liberal Party or PL [Prosper HIGIRO]; Party for Democratic Renewal (officially banned) [Pasteur BIZIMUNGU and Charles NTAKARUTINKA]; Rwandan Patriotic Front or RPF [Paul KAGAME]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Vincent BIRUTA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

IBUKA - association of genocide survivors

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Zac NSENGA
chancery: 1714 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 232-2882
FAX: [1] (202) 232-4544

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Henderson PATRICK
embassy: 337 Boulevard de la Revolution, Kigali
mailing address: B. P. 28, Kigali
telephone: [250] 50 56 01 through 03
FAX: [250] 57 2128

Flag description:

three horizontal bands of sky blue (top, double width), yellow, and green, with a golden sun with 24 rays near the fly end of the blue band

Economy

Rwanda

Economy - overview:

Rwanda is a poor rural country with about 90% of the population engaged in (mainly subsistence) agriculture. It is the most densely populated country in Africa; landlocked with few natural resources and minimal industry. Primary foreign exchange earners are coffee and tea. The 1994 genocide decimated Rwanda's fragile economic base, severely impoverished the population, particularly women, and eroded the country's ability to attract private and external investment. However, Rwanda has made substantial progress in stabilizing and rehabilitating its economy to pre-1994 levels, although poverty levels are higher now. GDP has rebounded and inflation has been curbed. Export earnings, however, have been hindered by low beverage prices, depriving the country of much needed hard currency. Despite Rwanda's fertile ecosystem, food production often does not keep pace with population growth, requiring food imports. Rwanda continues to receive substantial aid money and was approved for IMF-World Bank Heavily Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) initiative debt relief in late 2000. Kigali's high defense expenditures have caused tension between the government and international donors and lending agencies. An energy shortage and instability in neighboring states may slow growth in 2005, while the lack of adequate transportation linkages to other countries continues to handicap export growth.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$10.43 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

0.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,300 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 41.1%
industry: 21.2%
services: 37.7% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

4.6 million (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 90%

Unemployment rate:

NA

Population below poverty line:

60% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 4.2%
highest 10%: 24.2% (1985)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

28.9 (1985)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

20% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $354.5 million
expenditures: $385 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, tea, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes; livestock

Industries:

cement, agricultural products, small-scale beverages, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes

Industrial production growth rate:

7% (2001 est.)

Electricity - production:

166.7 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 2.3%
hydro: 97.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

195 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

40 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

5,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$-212.5 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$69.78 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

coffee, tea, hides, tin ore

Exports - partners:

Indonesia 64.2%, China 3.6%, Germany 2.7% (2004)

Imports:

$260 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, steel, petroleum products, cement and construction material

Imports - partners:

Kenya 24.4%, Germany 7.4%, Belgium 6.6%, Uganda 6.3%, France 5.1% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$210.9 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.3 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$372.9 million (1999)

Currency (code):

Rwandan franc (RWF)

Currency code:

RWF

Exchange rates:

Rwandan francs per US dollar - 574.62 (2004), 537.66 (2003), 476.33 (2002), 442.8 (2001), 393.44 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Rwanda

Telephones - main lines in use:

23,200 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

134,000
note: Rwanda has mobile cellular service between Kigali and several provincial capitals (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: telephone system primarily serves business and government
domestic: the capital, Kigali, is connected to the centers of the provinces by microwave radio relay and, recently, by cellular telephone service; much of the network depends on wire and HF radiotelephone
international: country code - 250; international connections employ microwave radio relay to neighboring countries and satellite communications to more distant countries; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) in Kigali (includes telex and telefax service)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 8 (two main FM programs are broadcast through a system of repeaters, three international FM programs include the BBC, VOA, and Deutchewelle), shortwave 1 (2005)

Radios:

601,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (2004)

Televisions:

NA; probably less than 1,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.rw

Internet hosts:

1,495 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2002)

Internet users:

25,000 (2002)

Transportation

Rwanda

Highways:

total: 12,000 km
paved: 996 km
unpaved: 11,004 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Kibuye

Airports:

9 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Military

Rwanda

Military branches:

Rwandan Defense Forces: Army, Air Force

Military service age and obligation:

16 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,004,750 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,103,823 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$50.1 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3.2% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Rwanda

Disputes - international:

Tutsi, Hutu, Hema, Lendu, and other conflicting ethnic groups, associated political rebels, armed gangs, and various government forces continue fighting in Great Lakes region, transcending the boundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda to gain control over populated areas and natural resources - government heads pledge to end conflicts, but localized violence continues despite UN peacekeeping efforts; DROC and Rwanda established a border verification mechanism in 2005 to address accusations of Rwandan military supporting Congolese rebels and the Congo providing rebel Rwandan "Interhamwe" forces the means and bases to attack Rwandan forces; as of 2004, Rwandan refugees lived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, and Zambia

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 37,691 (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
IDPs: 4,158 (incursions by Hutu rebels from Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1997-99; most IDPs in northwest) (2004)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Saudi Arabia

Introduction

Saudi Arabia

Background:

In 1902, ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman Al Saud captured Riyadh and set out on a 30-year campaign to unify the Arabian Peninsula. A son of ABD AL-AZIZ rules the country today, and the country's Basic Law stipulates that the throne shall remain in the hands of the aging sons and grandsons of the kingdom's founder. Following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, Saudi Arabia accepted the Kuwaiti royal family and 400,000 refugees while allowing Western and Arab troops to deploy on its soil for the liberation of Kuwait the following year. The continuing presence of foreign troops on Saudi soil after Operation Desert Storm remained a source of tension between the royal family and the public until the US military's near-complete withdrawal to neighboring Qatar in 2003. The first major terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia in several years, which occurred in May and November 2003, prompted renewed efforts on the part of the Saudi government to counter domestic terrorism and extremism, which also coincided with a slight upsurge in media freedom and announcement of government plans to phase in partial political representation. A burgeoning population, aquifer depletion, and an economy largely dependent on petroleum output and prices are all ongoing governmental concerns.

Geography

Saudi Arabia

Location:

Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea, north of Yemen

Geographic coordinates:

25 00 N, 45 00 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 1,960,582 sq km
land: 1,960,582 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US

Land boundaries:

total: 4,431 km
border countries: Iraq 814 km, Jordan 744 km, Kuwait 222 km, Oman 676 km, Qatar 60 km, UAE 457 km, Yemen 1,458 km

Coastline:

2,640 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: not specified

Climate:

harsh, dry desert with great temperature extremes

Terrain:

mostly uninhabited, sandy desert

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper

Land use:

arable land: 1.67%
permanent crops: 0.09%
other: 98.24% (2001)

Irrigated land:

16,200 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

frequent sand and dust storms

Environment - current issues:

desertification; depletion of underground water resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

extensive coastlines on Persian Gulf and Red Sea provide great leverage on shipping (especially crude oil) through Persian Gulf and Suez Canal

People

Saudi Arabia

Population:

26,417,599
note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 38.2% (male 5,149,960/female 4,952,138)
15-64 years: 59.4% (male 8,992,348/female 6,698,633)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 334,694/female 289,826) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 21.28 years
male: 22.84 years
female: 19.28 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.31% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

29.56 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

2.62 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-3.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.34 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.16 male(s)/female
total population: 1.21 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 13.24 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 15.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.46 years
male: 73.46 years
female: 77.55 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.05 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.01% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Saudi(s)
adjective: Saudi or Saudi Arabian

Ethnic groups:

Arab 90%, Afro-Asian 10%

Religions:

Muslim 100%

Languages:

Arabic

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 78.8%
male: 84.7%
female: 70.8% (2003 est.)

Government

Saudi Arabia

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
conventional short form: Saudi Arabia
local long form: Al Mamlakah al Arabiyah as Suudiyah
local short form: Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah

Government type:

monarchy

Capital:

Riyadh

Administrative divisions:

13 provinces (mintaqat, singular - mintaqah); Al Bahah, Al Hudud ash Shamaliyah, Al Jawf, Al Madinah, Al Qasim, Ar Riyad, Ash Sharqiyah (Eastern Province), 'Asir, Ha'il, Jizan, Makkah, Najran, Tabuk

Independence:

23 September 1932 (unification of the kingdom)

National holiday:

Unification of the Kingdom, 23 September (1932)

Constitution:

governed according to Shari'a (Islamic law); the Basic Law that articulates the government's rights and responsibilities was introduced in 1993

Legal system:

based on Islamic law, several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

adult male citizens age 21 or older
note: voter registration began in November 2004 for partial municipal council elections scheduled nationwide for February through April 2005

Executive branch:

chief of state: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SULTAN bin Abd al- Aziz Al Saud (half brother of the monarch, born 5 January 1928) note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SULTAN bin Abd al- Aziz Al Saud (half brother of the monarch, born 5 January 1928) note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch and includes many royal family members
elections: note - in October 2003, Council of Ministers announced its intent to introduce elections for half of the members of local and provincial assemblies and a third of the members of the national Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura, incrementally over a period of four to five years; in November 2004, the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs initiated voter registration for partial municipal council elections scheduled nationwide for February through April 2005

Legislative branch:

Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (120 members and a chairman appointed by the monarch for four-year terms)

Judicial branch:

Supreme Council of Justice

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, BIS, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Turki al-Faysal bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud
chancery: 601 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800
consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador James Curtis OBERWETTER
embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
mailing address: American Embassy Riyadh, Unit 61307, APO AE 09803-1307; International Mail: P. O. Box 94309, Riyadh 11693
telephone: [966] (1) 488-3800
FAX: [966] (1) 488-3989
consulate(s) general: Dhahran, Jiddah (Jeddah)

Flag description:

green, a traditional color in Islamic flags, with the Shahada or Muslim creed in large white Arabic script (translated as "There is no god but God; Muhammad is the Messenger of God") above a white horizontal saber (the tip points to the hoist side); design dates to the early twentieth century and is closely associated with the Al Saud family which established the kingdom in 1932

Economy

Saudi Arabia

Economy - overview:

This is an oil-based economy with strong government controls over major economic activities. Saudi Arabia possesses 25% of the world's proven petroleum reserves, ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum, and plays a leading role in OPEC. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 75% of budget revenues, 45% of GDP, and 90% of export earnings. About 40% of GDP comes from the private sector. Roughly five and a half million foreign workers play an important role in the Saudi economy, for example, in the oil and service sectors. The government in 1999 announced plans to begin privatizing the electricity companies, which follows the ongoing privatization of the telecommunications company. The government is encouraging private sector growth to lessen the kingdom's dependence on oil and increase employment opportunities for the swelling Saudi population. Priorities for government spending in the short term include additional funds for education and for the water and sewage systems. Economic reforms proceed cautiously because of deep-rooted political and social conservatism.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$310.2 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $12,000 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 4.2%
industry: 67.2%
services: 28.6% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

6.62 million
note: more than 35% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 12%, industry 25%, services 63% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:

25% (unofficial estimate) (2004 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% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

17.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $104.8 billion
expenditures: $78.66 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

75% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton, chickens, eggs, milk

Industries:

crude oil production, petroleum refining, basic petrochemicals, ammonia, industrial gases, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), cement, construction, fertilizer, plastics, commercial ship repair, commercial aircraft repair

Industrial production growth rate:

2.8% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

138.2 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

128.5 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

9.021 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1.55 million bbl/day (2003)

Oil - exports:

7.92 million bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports:

0 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - proved reserves:

261.7 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

56.4 billion cu m (2002)

Natural gas - consumption:

56.4 billion cu m (2002)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2002)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2002)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

6.339 trillion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$51.5 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$113 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum and petroleum products 90%

Exports - partners:

US 18.2%, Japan 14.9%, South Korea 9.5%, China 6.1%, Taiwan 4.5%, Singapore 4.1% (2004)

Imports:

$36.21 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles, textiles

Imports - partners:

US 15.3%, Japan 9.8%, Germany 8.1%, China 6.6%, UK 5.7% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$23.62 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$34.35 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - donor:

pledged $100 million in 1993 to fund reconstruction of Lebanon; since 2000, Saudi Arabia has committed $307 million for assistance to the Palestinians; pledged $240 million to development in Afghanistan; pledged $1 billion in export guarantees and soft loans to Iraq

Currency (code):

Saudi riyal (SAR)

Currency code:

SAR

Exchange rates:

Saudi riyals per US dollar - 3.745 (2004), 3.745 (2003), 3.745 (2002), 3.745 (2001), 3.745 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 March - 28 February

Communications

Saudi Arabia

Telephones - main lines in use:

3,502,600 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

7,238,200 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system
domestic: extensive microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and fiber-optic cable systems
international: country code - 966; microwave radio relay to Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Yemen, and Sudan; coaxial cable to Kuwait and Jordan; submarine cable to Djibouti, Egypt and Bahrain; satellite earth stations - 5 Intelsat (3 Atlantic Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean), 1 Arabsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 43, FM 31, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:

6.25 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

117 (1997)

Televisions:

5.1 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.sa

Internet hosts:

15,931 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

22 (2003)

Internet users:

1.5 million (2003)

Transportation

Saudi Arabia

Railways:

total: 1,392 km
standard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and sidings) (2004)

Highways:

total: 152,044 km
paved: 45,461 km
unpaved: 106,583 km (2000)

Pipelines:

condensate 212 km; gas 1,780 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,191 km; oil 5,068 km; refined products 1,162 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Jiddah, Yanbu' al Sinaiyah

Merchant marine:

total: 64 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,306,706 GRT/1,963,191 DWT
by type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 12, container 4, passenger/cargo 8, petroleum tanker 23, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 9
foreign-owned: 14 (Egypt 2, Hong Kong 1, Kuwait 5, Singapore 1, Sudan 1, UAE 1, United Kingdom 3)
registered in other countries: 54 (2005)

Airports:

201 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 72
over 3,047 m: 32
2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 129
over 3047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 72
914 to 1,523 m: 39
under 914 m: 12 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

5 (2004 est.)

Military

Saudi Arabia

Military branches:

Land Force (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force, National Guard, Ministry of Interior Forces (paramilitary)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 7,648,999 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 6,592,709 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 247,334 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$18 billion (2002)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

10% (2002)

Transnational Issues

Saudi Arabia

Disputes - international:

despite resistance from nomadic groups, the demarcation of the Saudi Arabia-Yemen boundary established under the 2000 Jeddah Treaty is almost complete; Yemen protests Saudi erection of a concrete-filled pipe as a security barrier in 2004 to stem illegal cross-border activities in sections of the boundary; Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue discussions on a maritime boundary with Iran; because the treaties have not been made public, the exact alignment of the boundary with the UAE is still unknown

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 240,000 (Palestinian Territories) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

death penalty for traffickers; increasing consumption of heroin, cocaine, and hashish; not a major money-laundering center, improving anti-money-laundering legislation

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Introduction

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Background:

First settled by the French in the early 17th century, the islands represent the sole remaining vestige of France's once vast North American possessions.

Geography

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Location:

Northern North America, islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Newfoundland (Canada)

Geographic coordinates:

46 50 N, 56 20 W

Map references:

North America

Area:

total: 242 sq km
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, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

120 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

cold and wet, with much mist and fog; spring and autumn are windy

Terrain:

mostly barren rock

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morne de la Grande Montagne 240 m

Natural resources:

fish, deepwater ports

Land use:

arable land: 13.04%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 86.96% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

persistent fog throughout the year can be a maritime hazard

Environment - current issues:

recent test drilling for oil in waters around Saint Pierre and Miquelon may bring future development that would impact the environment

Geography - note:

vegetation scanty

People

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Population:

7,012 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 24% (male 861/female 825)
15-64 years: 65.3% (male 2,330/female 2,251)
65 years and over: 10.6% (male 335/female 410) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 33.7 years
male: 33.39 years
female: 33.96 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.21% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

13.83 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.7 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-4.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 7.54 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.66 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.46 years
male: 76.13 years
female: 80.9 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.03 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Frenchman(men), Frenchwoman(women)
adjective: French

Ethnic groups:

Basques and Bretons (French fishermen)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 99%

Languages:

French (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (1982 est.)

Government

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Country name:

conventional long form: Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon
conventional short form: Saint Pierre and Miquelon
local long form: Departement de Saint-Pierre et Miquelon
local short form: Saint-Pierre et Miquelon

Dependency status:

self-governing territorial collectivity of France

Government type:

NA

Capital:

Saint-Pierre

Administrative divisions:

none (territorial collectivity of France); note - there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are two communes - Saint Pierre, Miquelon at the second order

Independence:

none (territorial collectivity of France; has been under French control since 1763)

National holiday:

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Constitution:

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system:

French law with special adaptations for local conditions, such as housing and taxation

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Albert DUPUY (since 10 January 2005)
head of government: President of the General Council Marc PLANTAGENEST (since NA)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held, first round - 21 April 2002, second round - 5 May 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the General Council is elected by the members of the council

Legislative branch:

unicameral General Council or Conseil General (19 seats - 15 from Saint Pierre and 4 from Miquelon; members are elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: elections last held 19 and 26 March 2000 (next to be held NA April 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PS 12, PRG 2, UDF-RPR 5
note: Saint Pierre and Miquelon elect 1 seat to the French Senate; elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September 2004); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RPR 1; Saint Pierre and Miquelon also elects 1 seat to the French National Assembly; elections last held, first round - 9 June 2002, second round - 16 June 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - UDF 1

Judicial branch:

Superior Tribunal of Appeals or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel

Political parties and leaders:

Left Radical Party or PRG [leader NA]; Rassemblement pour la Republique or RPR (now UMP) [leader NA]; Socialist Party or PS [leader NA]; Union pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

UPU, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (territorial collectivity of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territorial collectivity of France)

Flag description:

a yellow sailing ship facing the hoist side rides on a dark blue background with yellow wavy lines under the ship; on the hoist side, a vertical band is divided into three parts: the top part (called ikkurina) is red with a green diagonal cross extending to the corners overlaid by a white cross dividing the rectangle into four sections; the middle part has a white background with an ermine pattern; the third part has a red background with two stylized yellow lions outlined in black, one above the other; these three heraldic arms represent settlement by colonists from the Basque Country (top), Brittany, and Normandy; the flag of France is used for official occasions

Economy

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Economy - overview:

The inhabitants have traditionally earned their livelihood by fishing and by servicing fishing fleets operating off the coast of Newfoundland. The economy has been declining, however, because of disputes with Canada over fishing quotas and a steady decline in the number of ships stopping at Saint Pierre. In 1992, an arbitration panel awarded the islands an exclusive economic zone of 12,348 sq km to settle a longstanding territorial dispute with Canada, although it represents only 25% of what France had sought. The islands are heavily subsidized by France to the great betterment of living standards. The government hopes an expansion of tourism will boost economic prospects. Recent test drilling for oil may pave the way for development of the energy sector.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$48.3 million - supplemented by annual payments from France of about $60 million (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

NA%

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $7,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Labor force:

3,261 (1999)

Labor force - by occupation:

fishing 18%, industry (mainly fish-processing) 41%, services 41% (1996 est.)

Unemployment rate:

9.8% (1997)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.1% (1991-96 average)

Budget:

revenues: $70 million
expenditures: $60 million, including capital expenditures of $24 million (1996 est.)

Agriculture - products:

vegetables; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish

Industries:

fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

43.08 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

40.06 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

600 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$10 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities:

fish and fish products, soybeans, animal feed, mollusks and crustaceans, fox and mink pelts

Exports - partners:

Belgium 41.3%, US 19.9%, Spain 14.9%, France 10%, Germany 4.1% (2004)

Imports:

$106 million f.o.b. (2002)

Imports - commodities:

meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, building materials

Imports - partners:

France 37.6%, Canada 25.3%, Ireland 25.2%, Italy 5.1% (2004)

Debt - external:

$NA

Economic aid - recipient:

approximately $60 million in annual grants from France

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)

Currency code:

EUR

Exchange rates:

euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Telephones - main lines in use:

4,800 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

0 (1994)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate
domestic: NA
international: country code - 508; radiotelephone communication with most countries in the world; 1 earth station in French domestic satellite system

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

4,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

0 (there are, however, two repeaters which rebroadcast programs from France, Canada, and the US) (1997)

Televisions:

4,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.pm

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

NA

Transportation

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Highways:

total: 114 km
paved: 69 km
unpaved: 45 km

Ports and harbors:

Saint-Pierre

Airports:

2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Saint Kitts and Nevis

Introduction

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Background:

First settled by the British in 1623, the islands became an associated state with full internal autonomy in 1967. The island of Anguilla rebelled and was allowed to secede in 1971. Saint Kitts and Nevis achieved independence in 1983. In 1998, a vote in Nevis on a referendum to separate from Saint Kitts fell short of the two-thirds majority needed. Nevis is once more trying to separate from the Saint Kitts.

Geography

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Location:

Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic coordinates:

17 20 N, 62 45 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 261 sq km (Saint Kitts 168 sq km; Nevis 93 sq km)
land: 261 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

135 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical tempered by constant sea breezes; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)

Terrain:

volcanic with mountainous interiors

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m

Natural resources:

arable land

Land use:

arable land: 19.44%
permanent crops: 2.78%
other: 77.78% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

hurricanes (July to October)

Environment - current issues:

NA

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

with coastlines in the shape of a baseball bat and ball, the two volcanic islands are separated by a three-km-wide channel called The Narrows; on the southern tip of long, baseball bat-shaped Saint Kitts lies the Great Salt Pond; Nevis Peak sits in the center of its almost circular namesake island and its ball shape complements that of its sister island

People

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Population:

38,958 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 28% (male 5,586/female 5,330)
15-64 years: 63.7% (male 12,424/female 12,403)
65 years and over: 8.3% (male 1,328/female 1,887) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 27.6 years
male: 26.78 years
female: 28.38 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.38% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

18.12 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

8.47 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-5.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 14.49 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 16.25 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.15 years
male: 69.31 years
female: 75.16 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.33 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s)
adjective: Kittitian, Nevisian

Ethnic groups:

predominantly black; some British, Portuguese, and Lebanese

Religions:

Anglican, other Protestant, Roman Catholic

Languages:

English

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 98% (1980 est.)

Government

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Country name:

conventional long form: Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis
conventional short form: Saint Kitts and Nevis
former: Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis

Government type:

constitutional monarchy with Westminster-style parliament

Capital:

Basseterre

Administrative divisions:

14 parishes; Christ Church Nichola Town, Saint Anne Sandy Point, Saint George Basseterre, Saint George Gingerland, Saint James Windward, Saint John Capesterre, Saint John Figtree, Saint Mary Cayon, Saint Paul Capesterre, Saint Paul Charlestown, Saint Peter Basseterre, Saint Thomas Lowland, Saint Thomas Middle Island, Trinity Palmetto Point

Independence:

19 September 1983 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 19 September (1983)

Constitution:

19 September 1983

Legal system:

based on English common law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Cuthbert Montraville SEBASTIAN (since 1 January 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS (since 6 July 1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sam CONDOR (since 6 July 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 popularly elected from single-member constituencies; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 25 October 2004 (next to be held by 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - SKNLP 7, CCM 2, NRP 1, PAM 1

Judicial branch:

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia; one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Kitts and Nevis)

Political parties and leaders:

Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Vance AMORY]; Nevis Reformation Party or NRP [Joseph PARRY]; People's Action Movement or PAM [Lindsey GRANT]; Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party or SKNLP [Dr. Denzil DOUGLAS]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, MIGA, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Izben Cordinal WILLIAMS
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 686-2636
FAX: [1] (202) 686-5740
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Saint Kitts and Nevis; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Kitts and Nevis

Flag description:

divided diagonally from the lower hoist side by a broad black band bearing two white, five-pointed stars; the black band is edged in yellow; the upper triangle is green, the lower triangle is red

Economy

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Economy - overview:

Sugar was the traditional mainstay of the Saint Kitts economy until the 1970s. Although the crop still dominates the agricultural sector, activities such as tourism, export-oriented manufacturing, and offshore banking have assumed larger roles in the economy. Tourism revenues are now the chief source of the islands' foreign exchange. The opening of a 470-room resort in February 2003 was expected to bring in much-needed revenue.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$339 million (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

-1.9% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $8,800 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3.5%
industry: 25.8%
services: 70.7% (2001)

Labor force:

18,170 (June 1995)

Labor force - by occupation:

NA

Unemployment rate:

4.5% (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% (2001 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $89.7 million
expenditures: $128.2 million, including capital expenditures of $19.5 million (2003 est.)

Agriculture - products:

sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fish

Industries:

sugar processing, tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear, beverages

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

105.8 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

98.44 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

710 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$70 million (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery, food, electronics, beverages, tobacco

Exports - partners:

US 57.5%, Canada 9%, Portugal 8.3%, UK 6.7% (2004)

Imports:

$195 million (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, manufactures, food, fuels

Imports - partners:

Ukraine 44.7%, US 22.1%, Trinidad and Tobago 8.8%, UK 6.2% (2004)

Debt - external:

$171 million (2001)

Economic aid - recipient:

$8 million (2001)

Currency (code):

East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Currency code:

XCD

Exchange rates:

East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003), 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Telephones - main lines in use:

23,500 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

5,000 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: good interisland and international connections
domestic: inter-island links via Eastern Caribbean Fiber Optic cable; construction of enhanced wireless infrastructure launched in November 2004
international: country code - 1-869; international calls are carried by submarine cable or Intelsat

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

28,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (plus three repeaters) (2004)

Televisions:

10,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.kn

Internet hosts:

51 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

16 (2000)

Internet users:

10,000 (2002)

Transportation

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Railways:

total: 50 km
narrow gauge: 50 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts to serve sugarcane plantations during harvest season (2003)

Highways:

total: 320 km
paved: 136 km
unpaved: 184 km (1999 est)

Ports and harbors:

Basseterre, Charlestown

Airports:

2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Military branches:

Saint Kitts and Nevis Defense Force (includes Coast Guard), Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.) (2004)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Transnational Issues

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Disputes - international:

joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the Caribbean Sea

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; some money-laundering activity

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Seychelles

Introduction

Seychelles

Background:

A lengthy struggle between France and Great Britain for the islands ended in 1814, when they were ceded to the latter. Independence came in 1976. Socialist rule was brought to a close with a new constitution and free elections in 1993. The most recent presidential elections were held in 2001; President RENE, who had served since 1977, was re-elected. In April 2004 RENE stepped down and Vice President James MICHEL was sworn in as president.

Geography

Seychelles

Location:

archipelago 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 the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

491 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical marine; humid; cooler season during southeast monsoon (late May to September); warmer season during northwest monsoon (March to May)

Terrain:

Mahe Group is granitic, narrow coastal strip, rocky, hilly; others are coral, flat, elevated reefs

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morne Seychellois 905 m

Natural resources:

fish, copra, cinnamon trees

Land use:

arable land: 2.22%
permanent crops: 13.33%
other: 84.45% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare; short droughts possible

Environment - current issues:

water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

41 granitic and about 75 coralline islands

People

Seychelles

Population:

81,188 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 26.4% (male 10,839/female 10,601)
15-64 years: 67.4% (male 26,709/female 28,025)
65 years and over: 6.2% (male 1,622/female 3,392) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 27.7 years
male: 26.62 years
female: 28.76 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.43% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

16.22 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.34 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-5.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.48 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 15.53 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 19.65 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.82 years
male: 66.41 years
female: 77.4 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.75 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Seychellois (singular and plural)
adjective: Seychellois

Ethnic groups:

mixed French, African, Indian, Chinese, and Arab

Religions:

Roman Catholic 82.3%, Anglican 6.4%, Seventh Day Adventist 1.1%, other Christian 3.4%, Hindu 2.1%, Muslim 1.1%, other non-Christian 1.5%, unspecified 1.5%, none 0.6% (2002 census)

Languages:

Creole 91.8%, English 4.9% (official), other 3.1%, unspecified 0.2% (2002 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.9%
male: 91.4%
female: 92.3% (2003 est.)

Government

Seychelles

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Seychelles
conventional short form: Seychelles

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Victoria

Administrative divisions:

23 administrative districts; Anse aux Pins, Anse Boileau, Anse Etoile, Anse Louis, Anse Royale, Baie Lazare, Baie Sainte Anne, Beau Vallon, Bel Air, Bel Ombre, Cascade, Glacis, Grand' Anse (on Mahe), Grand' Anse (on Praslin), La Digue, La Riviere Anglaise, Mont Buxton, Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Pointe La Rue, Port Glaud, Saint Louis, Takamaka

Independence:

29 June 1976 (from UK)

National holiday:

Constitution Day (National Day), 18 June (1993)

Constitution:

18 June 1993

Legal system:

based on English common law, French civil law, and customary law

Suffrage:

17 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President James MICHEL (since 14 April 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President James MICHEL (since 14 April 2004); 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 31 August-2 September 2001 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: France Albert RENE re-elected president; percent of vote - France Albert RENE (SPPF) 54.19%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (UO) 44.95%, Philippe BOULLE 0.86%; note - the first time that presidential elections have been held separately from legislative elections; France Albert RENE stepped down 14 April 2004 and Vice President James MICHEL was sworn in as president

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (34 seats - 25 elected by popular vote, 9 allocated on a proportional basis to parties winning at least 10% of the vote; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 4-6 December 2002 (next to be held by 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - SPPF 54.3%, SNP 42.6%, DP 3.1%; seats by party - SPPF 23, SNP 11
note: the 9 awarded seats are apportioned according to the percentage that each party won of the total vote

Judicial branch:

Court of Appeal; Supreme Court; judges for both courts are appointed by the president

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Party or DP [James MANCHAM, Daniel BELLE]; Mouvement Seychellois pour la Democratie [Jacques HODOUL]; Seychelles National Party or SNP (formerly the United Opposition or UO) [Wavel RAMKALAWAN]; Seychelles People's Progressive Front or SPPF [France Albert RENE, James MICHEL] - the governing party

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Roman Catholic Church; trade unions

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Claude Sylvestre MOREL
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400C, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 972-1785
FAX: [1] (212) 972-1786

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to the Seychelles

Flag description:

five oblique bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, red, white, and green (bottom) radiating from the bottom of the hoist side

Economy

Seychelles

Economy - overview:

Since independence in 1976, per capita output in this Indian Ocean archipelago has expanded to roughly seven times the old near-subsistence level. Growth has been led by the tourist sector, which employs about 30% of the labor force and provides more than 70% of hard currency earnings, and by tuna fishing. In recent years the government has encouraged foreign investment in order to upgrade hotels and other services. At the same time, the government has moved to reduce the dependence on tourism by promoting the development of farming, fishing, and small-scale manufacturing. A sharp drop illustrated the vulnerability of the tourist sector in 1991-92 due largely to the Gulf war, and once again following the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the US. Growth slowed in 1998-2002, and fell in 2003, due to sluggish tourist and tuna sectors, but resumed in 2004, erasing a persistent budget deficit. Tight controls on exchange rates and the scarcity of foreign exchange have impaired short-term economic prospects. The black market value of the Seychelles rupee is half the official exchange rate; without a devaluation of the currency the tourist sector may remain sluggish as vacationers seek cheaper destinations such as Comoros, Mauritius, and Madagascar.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$626 million (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $7,800 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.8%
industry: 28.7%
services: 68.9% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

30,900 (1996)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 10%, industry 19%, services 71% (1989)

Unemployment rate:

NA

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

39.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $318.3 million
expenditures: $298.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

122.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca), bananas; broiler chickens; tuna fish

Industries:

fishing; tourism; processing of coconuts and vanilla, coir (coconut fiber) rope, boat building, printing, furniture; beverages

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

218 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

202.8 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

4,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-98.42 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$256.2 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

canned tuna, frozen fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products (reexports)

Exports - partners:

UK 27.7%, France 15.8%, Spain 12.6%, Japan 8.6%, Italy 7.5%, Germany 5.6% (2004)

Imports:

$393.4 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals

Imports - partners:

Saudi Arabia 15.5%, Spain 13.3%, France 10.3%, Singapore 7%, South Africa 6.8%, Italy 6.7%, UK 4.7% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$70.94 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$218.1 million (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$16.4 million (1995)

Currency (code):

Seychelles rupee (SCR)

Currency code:

SCR

Exchange rates:

Seychelles rupees per US dollar - 5.5 (2004), 5.4007 (2003), 5.48 (2002), 5.8575 (2001), 5.7138 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Seychelles

Telephones - main lines in use:

21,700 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

54,500 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: effective system
domestic: radiotelephone communications between islands in the archipelago
international: country code - 248; direct radiotelephone communications with adjacent island countries and African coastal countries; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:

42,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (plus 9 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

11,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.sc

Internet hosts:

264 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

11,700 (2002)

Transportation

Seychelles

Highways:

total: 373 km
paved: 315 km
unpaved: 58 km (1997 est.)

Ports and harbors:

Victoria

Merchant marine:

total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 42,223 GRT/63,538 DWT
by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Nigeria 1) (2005)

Airports:

15 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)

Military

Seychelles

Military branches:

Seychelles Defense Force: Army, Coast Guard (includes Navy Wing, Air Wing), National Guard (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 21,612 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 16,122 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$12.3 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.8% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Seychelles

Disputes - international:

together with Mauritius, Seychelles claims the Chagos Archipelago (UK-administered British Indian Ocean Territory)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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South Africa

Introduction

South Africa

Background:

After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, many of the Dutch settlers (the Boers) trekked north to found their own republics. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886) spurred wealth and immigration and intensified the subjugation of the native inhabitants. The Boers resisted British encroachments, but were defeated in the Boer War (1899-1902). The resulting Union of South Africa operated under a policy of apartheid - the separate development of the races. The 1990s brought an end to apartheid politically and ushered in black majority rule.

Geography

South Africa

Location:

Southern Africa, at the southern tip of the continent of Africa

Geographic coordinates:

29 00 S, 24 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 1,219,912 sq km
land: 1,219,912 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Prince Edward Islands (Marion Island and Prince Edward Island)

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 4,862 km
border countries: Botswana 1,840 km, Lesotho 909 km, Mozambique 491 km, Namibia 967 km, Swaziland 430 km, Zimbabwe 225 km

Coastline:

2,798 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to edge of the continental margin

Climate:

mostly semiarid; subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights

Terrain:

vast interior plateau rimmed by rugged hills and narrow coastal plain

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m

Natural resources:

gold, chromium, antimony, coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, phosphates, tin, uranium, gem diamonds, platinum, copper, vanadium, salt, natural gas

Land use:

arable land: 12.08%
permanent crops: 0.79%
other: 87.13% (2001)

Irrigated land:

13,500 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

prolonged droughts

Environment - current issues:

lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water usage outpacing supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff and urban discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; soil erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho and almost completely surrounds Swaziland

People

South Africa

Population:

44,344,136
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 30.3% (male 6,760,137/female 6,682,013)
15-64 years: 64.5% (male 13,860,727/female 14,750,496)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 893,360/female 1,397,403) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 23.98 years
male: 23.12 years
female: 24.86 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.31% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

18.48 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

21.32 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 61.81 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 65.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 57.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 43.27 years
male: 43.47 years
female: 43.06 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.24 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

21.5% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

5.3 million (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

370,000 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: South African(s)
adjective: South African

Ethnic groups:

black African 79%, white 9.6%, colored 8.9%, Indian/Asian 2.5% (2001 census)

Religions:

Zion Christian 11.1%, Pentecostal/Charismatic 8.2%, Catholic 7.1%, Methodist 6.8%, Dutch Reformed 6.7%, Anglican 3.8%, other Christian 36%, Islam 1.5%, other 2.3%, unspecified 1.4%, none 15.1% (2001 census)

Languages:

IsiZulu 23.8%, IsiXhosa 17.6%, Afrikaans 13.3%, Sepedi 9.4%, English 8.2%, Setswana 8.2%, Sesotho 7.9%, Xitsonga 4.4%, other 7.2% (2001 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.4%
male: 87%
female: 85.7% (2003 est.)

Government

South Africa

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of South Africa
conventional short form: South Africa
former: Union of South Africa
abbreviation: RSA

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Pretoria; note - Cape Town is the legislative center and Bloemfontein the judicial center

Administrative divisions:

9 provinces; Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North-West, Northern Cape, Western Cape

Independence:

31 May 1910 (from UK); note - South Africa became a republic in 1961 following an October 1960 referendum

National holiday:

Freedom Day, 27 April (1994)

Constitution:

10 December 1996; this new constitution was certified by the Constitutional Court on 4 December 1996, was signed by then President MANDELA on 10 December 1996, and entered into effect on 3 February 1997; it is being implemented in phases

Legal system:

based on Roman-Dutch law and English common law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Thabo MBEKI (since 16 June 1999); Executive Deputy President Phumzile MLAMBO-NGCUKA (since 23 June 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Thabo MBEKI (since 16 June 1999); Executive Deputy President Phumzile MLAMBO-NGCUKA (since 23 June 2005); 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 24 April 2004 (next to be held April 2009)
election results: Thabo MBEKI elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 100% (by acclamation)
note: ANC-IFP is the governing coalition

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consisting of the National Assembly (400 seats; members are elected by popular vote under a system of proportional representation to serve five-year terms) and the National Council of Provinces (90 seats, 10 members elected by each of the nine provincial legislatures for five-year terms; has special powers to protect regional interests, including the safeguarding of cultural and linguistic traditions among ethnic minorities); note - following the implementation of the new constitution on 3 February 1997 the former Senate was disbanded and replaced by the National Council of Provinces with essentially no change in membership and party affiliations, although the new institution's responsibilities have been changed somewhat by the new constitution
elections: National Assembly and National Council of Provinces - last held 14 April 2004 (next to be held NA 2009)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - ANC 69.7%, DA 12.4%, IFP 7%, UDM 2.3%, NNP 1.7%, ACDP 1.6%, other 5.3%; seats by party - ANC 279, DA 50, IFP 28, UDM 9, NNP 7, ACDP 6, other 21; National Council of Provinces - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court; Supreme Court of Appeals; High Courts; Magistrate Courts

Political parties and leaders:

African Christian Democratic Party or ACDP [Kenneth MESHOE, president]; African National Congress or ANC [Thabo MBEKI, president]; Democratic Alliance or DA (formed from the merger of the Democratic Party or DP and the Freedom Alliance or FA) [Anthony LEON]; Inkatha Freedom Party or IFP [Mangosuthu BUTHELEZI, president]; Pan-Africanist Congress or PAC [Stanley MOGOBA, president]; United Democratic Movement or UDM [Bantu HOLOMISA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Congress of South African Trade Unions or COSATU [Zwelinzima VAVI, general secretary]; South African Communist Party or SACP [Blade NZIMANDE, general secretary]; South African National Civics Organization or SANCO [Mlungisi HLONGWANE, national president]; note - COSATU and SACP are in a formal alliance with the ANC

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, BIS, C, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, NSG, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIL, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Barbara Joyce Mosima MASEKELA
chancery: 3051 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-4400
FAX: [1] (202) 265-1607
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jendayi E. FRAZER
embassy: 877 Pretorius Street, Pretoria
mailing address: P. O. Box 9536, Pretoria 0001
telephone: [27] (12) 342-1048
FAX: [27] (12) 342-2244
consulate(s) general: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg

Flag description:

two equal width horizontal bands of red (top) and blue separated by a central green band which splits into a horizontal Y, the arms of which end at the corners of the hoist side; the Y embraces a black isosceles triangle from which the arms are separated by narrow yellow bands; the red and blue bands are separated from the green band and its arms by narrow white stripes

Economy

South Africa

Economy - overview:

South Africa is a middle-income, emerging market with an abundant supply of natural resources; well-developed financial, legal, communications, energy, and transport sectors; a stock exchange that ranks among the 10 largest in the world; and a modern infrastructure supporting an efficient distribution of goods to major urban centers throughout the region. However, growth has not been strong enough to lower South Africa's high unemployment rate; and daunting economic problems remain from the apartheid era, especially poverty and lack of economic empowerment among the disadvantaged groups. South African economic policy is fiscally conservative, but pragmatic, focusing on targeting inflation and liberalizing trade as means to increase job growth and household income.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$491.4 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $11,100 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3.6%
industry: 31.2%
services: 65.2% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

16.63 million economically active (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 30%, industry 25%, services 45% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:

26.2% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

50% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.1%
highest 10%: 45.9% (1994)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

59.3 (1993-94)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.5% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

16.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $47.43 billion
expenditures: $52.54 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

45.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; beef, poultry, mutton, wool, dairy products

Industries:

mining (world's largest producer of platinum, gold, chromium), automobile assembly, metalworking, machinery, textile, iron and steel, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs, commercial ship repair

Industrial production growth rate:

5.5% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

202.6 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 93.5%
hydro: 1.1%
nuclear: 5.5%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

189.4 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

6.95 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

7.873 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

196,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

460,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

7.84 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

1.8 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.8 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

14.16 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$-2.48 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$41.97 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

gold, diamonds, platinum, other metals and minerals, machinery and equipment (1998 est.)

Exports - partners:

US 10.2%, UK 9.2%, Japan 9%, Germany 7.1%, Netherlands 4% (2004)

Imports:

$39.42 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, scientific instruments, foodstuffs (2000 est.)

Imports - partners:

Germany 14.2%, US 8.5%, China 7.5%, Japan 6.9%, UK 6.9%, France 6%, Saudi Arabia 5.6%, Iran 5% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$11.68 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$27.01 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$487.5 million (2000)

Currency (code):

rand (ZAR)

Currency code:

ZAR

Exchange rates:

rand per US dollar - 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003), 10.5407 (2002), 8.6092 (2001), 6.9398 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

South Africa

Telephones - main lines in use:

4.844 million (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

16.86 million (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: the system is the best developed and most modern in Africa
domestic: consists of carrier-equipped open-wire lines, coaxial cables, microwave radio relay links, fiber-optic cable, radiotelephone communication stations, and wireless local loops; key centers are Bloemfontein, Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, and Pretoria
international: country code - 27; 2 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 2 Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 14, FM 347 (plus 243 repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

17 million (2001)

Television broadcast stations:

556 (plus 144 network repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

6 million (2000)

Internet country code:

.za

Internet hosts:

288,633 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

150 (2001)

Internet users:

3.1 million (2002)

Transportation

South Africa

Railways:

total: 20,872 km
narrow gauge: 20,436 km 1.065-m gauge (10,436 km electrified); 436 km 0.610-m gauge
note: includes a 1,210 km commuter rail system (2004)

Highways:

total: 275,971 km
paved: 57,568 km (including 2,032 km of expressways)
unpaved: 218,403 km (2002)

Pipelines:

condensate 100 km; gas 1,052 km; oil 847 km; refined products 1,354 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Cape Town, Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay, Saldanha Bay

Merchant marine:

total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 31,505 GRT/37,091 DWT
by type: container 1, petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Denmark 1)
registered in other countries: 7 (2005)

Airports:

728 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 144
over 3,047 m: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 51
914 to 1,523 m: 67
under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 584
1,524 to 2,437 m: 34
914 to 1,523 m: 300
under 914 m: 250 (2004 est.)

Military

South Africa

Military branches:

South African National Defense Force (SANDF): Army, Navy, Air Force, Joint Operations, Joint Support, Military Intelligence, Military Health Service (2004)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; women have a long history of military service in non-combat roles - dating back to World War I (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 10,354,769 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 4,927,757 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 512,407 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$3.172 billion (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.5% (2004)

Military - note:

with the end of apartheid and the establishment of majority rule, former military, black homelands forces, and ex-opposition forces were integrated into the South African National Defense Force (SANDF); as of 2003 the integration process was considered complete

Transnational Issues

South Africa

Disputes - international:

South Africa has placed military along the border to stem the thousands of Zimbabweans fleeing to find work and escape political persecution; managed dispute with Namibia over the location of the boundary in the Orange River

Illicit drugs:

transshipment center for heroin, hashish, marijuana, and cocaine; cocaine consumption on the rise; world's largest market for illicit methaqualone, usually imported illegally from India through various east African countries; illicit cultivation of marijuana; attractive venue for money launderers given the increasing level of organized criminal and narcotics activity in the region

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Senegal

Introduction

Senegal

Background:

Independent from France in 1960, Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982. However, the envisaged integration of the two countries was never carried out, and the union was dissolved in 1989. Despite peace talks, a southern separatist group sporadically has clashed with government forces since 1982. Senegal has a long history of participating in international peacekeeping.

Geography

Senegal

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea-Bissau and Mauritania

Geographic coordinates:

14 00 N, 14 00 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 196,190 sq km
land: 192,000 sq km
water: 4,190 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than South Dakota

Land boundaries:

total: 2,640 km
border countries: The Gambia 740 km, Guinea 330 km, Guinea-Bissau 338 km, Mali 419 km, Mauritania 813 km

Coastline:

531 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid; rainy season (May to November) has strong southeast winds; dry season (December to April) dominated by hot, dry, harmattan wind

Terrain:

generally low, rolling, plains rising to foothills in southeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed feature near Nepen Diakha 581 m

Natural resources:

fish, phosphates, iron ore

Land use:

arable land: 12.78%
permanent crops: 0.21%
other: 87.01% (2001)

Irrigated land:

710 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

Geography - note:

westernmost country on the African continent; The Gambia is almost an enclave within Senegal

People

Senegal

Population:

11,126,832 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 42.8% (male 2,404,461/female 2,360,167)
15-64 years: 54.1% (male 2,901,689/female 3,122,854)
65 years and over: 3% (male 161,173/female 176,488) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.15 years
male: 17.6 years
female: 18.7 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.48% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

35.21 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

10.6 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 55.51 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 59.17 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 51.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 58.9 years
male: 57.37 years
female: 60.47 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.75 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.8% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

44,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

3,500 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, yellow fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, and Rift Valley fever are high risks in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Senegalese (singular and plural)
adjective: Senegalese

Ethnic groups:

Wolof 43.3%, Pular 23.8%, Serer 14.7%, Jola 3.7%, Mandinka 3%, Soninke 1.1%, European and Lebanese 1%, other 9.4%

Religions:

Muslim 94%, indigenous beliefs 1%, Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic)

Languages:

French (official), Wolof, Pulaar, Jola, Mandinka

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 40.2%
male: 50%
female: 30.7% (2003 est.)

Government

Senegal

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Senegal
conventional short form: Senegal
local long form: Republique du Senegal
local short form: Senegal

Government type:

republic under multiparty democratic rule

Capital:

Dakar

Administrative divisions:

11 regions (regions, singular - region); Dakar, Diourbel, Fatick, Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Matam, Saint-Louis, Tambacounda, Thies, Ziguinchor

Independence:

4 April 1960 (from France); note - complete independence was achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960

National holiday:

Independence Day, 4 April (1960)

Constitution:

new constitution adopted 7 January 2001

Legal system:

based on French civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts in Constitutional Court; the Council of State audits the government's accounting office; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Abdoulaye WADE (since 1 April 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Macky SALL (since 21 April 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in consultation with the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term under new constitution; election last held under prior constitution (seven-year terms) 27 February and 19 March 2000 (next to be held 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) 58.49%, Abdou DIOUF (PS) 41.51%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (120 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms)
note: the former National Assembly, dissolved in the spring of 2001, had 140 seats
elections: last held 29 April 2001 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - SOPI Coalition 89, AFP 11, PS 10, other 10

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court; Council of State; Court of Final Appeals or Cour de Cassation; Court of Appeals; note - the judicial system was reformed in 1992

Political parties and leaders:

African Party for Democracy and Socialism or And Jef (also known as PADS/AJ) [Landing SAVANE, secretary general]; African Party of Independence [Majhemout DIOP]; Alliance of Forces of Progress or AFP [Moustapha NIASSE]; Democratic and Patriotic Convention or CDP (also known as Garab-Gi) [Dr. Iba Der THIAM]; Democratic League-Labor Party Movement or LD-MPT [Dr. Abdoulaye BATHILY]; Front for Socialism and Democracy or FSD [Cheikh Abdoulaye DIEYE]; Gainde Centrist Bloc or BGC [Jean-Paul DIAS]; Independence and Labor Party or PIT [Amath DANSOKHO]; National Democratic Rally or RND [Madier DIOUF]; Senegalese Democratic Party or PDS [Abdoulaye WADE]; Socialist Party or PS [Ousmane Tanor DIENG]; SOPI Coalition (a coalition led by the PDS) [Abdoulaye WADE]; Union for Democratic Renewal or URD [Djibo Leyti KA]; other small parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

labor; Muslim brotherhoods; students; teachers

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Amadou Lamine BA
chancery: 2112 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-0540
FAX: [1] (202) 332-6315
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Richard Alan ROTH
embassy: Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Rue Kleber, Dakar
mailing address: B. P. 49, Dakar
telephone: [221] 823-4296
FAX: [221] 822-2991

Flag description:

three equal vertical bands of green (hoist side), yellow, and red with a small green five-pointed star centered in the yellow band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy

Senegal

Economy - overview:

In January 1994, Senegal undertook a bold and ambitious economic reform program with the support of the international donor community. This reform began with a 50% devaluation of Senegal's currency, the CFA franc, which was linked at a fixed rate to the French franc. Government price controls and subsidies have been steadily dismantled. After seeing its economy contract by 2.1% in 1993, Senegal made an important turnaround, thanks to the reform program, with real growth in GDP averaging 5% annually during 1995-2003. Annual inflation had been pushed down to the low single digits. As a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), Senegal is working toward greater regional integration with a unified external tariff and a more stable monetary policy. Senegal still relies heavily upon outside donor assistance, however. Under the IMF's Highly Indebted Poor Countries debt relief program, Senegal will benefit from eradication of two-thirds of its bilateral, multilateral, and private sector debt.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$18.36 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.2% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,700 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 15.9%
industry: 21.4%
services: 62.7% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

4.65 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 70%

Unemployment rate:

48% (urban youth 40%) (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:

54% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 33.5% (1995)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

41.3 (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

0.8% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

20.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.572 billion
expenditures: $1.627 billion, including capital expenditures of $357 million (2004 est.)

Public debt:

55.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes, green vegetables; cattle, poultry, pigs; fish

Industries:

agricultural and fish processing, phosphate mining, fertilizer production, petroleum refining, construction materials, ship construction and repair

Industrial production growth rate:

4.7% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

1.737 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

1.615 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

31,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Natural gas - production:

50 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

50 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Current account balance:

$-518.8 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$1.374 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

fish, groundnuts (peanuts), petroleum products, phosphates, cotton

Exports - partners:

India 14.4%, Mali 13.1%, France 9.8%, Italy 7.3%, Spain 6.6%, Guinea-Bissau 5.6%, Gambia, The 4.8% (2004)

Imports:

$2.128 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food and beverages, capital goods, fuels

Imports - partners:

France 24.8%, Nigeria 11.9%, Thailand 6.1% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$820 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$3.476 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$362.6 million (2002 est.)

Currency (code):

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States

Currency code:

XOF

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Senegal

Telephones - main lines in use:

228,800 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

575,900 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: good system
domestic: above-average urban system; microwave radio relay, coaxial cable and fiber-optic cable in trunk system
international: country code - 221; 4 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 8, FM 20, shortwave 1 (2001)

Radios:

1.24 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (1997)

Televisions:

361,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.sn

Internet hosts:

672 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:

225,000 (2003)

Transportation

Senegal

Railways:

total: 906 km
narrow gauge: 906 km 1.000-meter gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 14,576 km
paved: 4,271 km including 7 km of expressways
unpaved: 10,305 km (2000)

Waterways:

1,000 km (primarily on Senegal, Saloum, and Casamance rivers) (2003)

Pipelines:

gas 564 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Dakar

Airports:

20 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 9
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Senegal

Military branches:

Army, Navy (Marine Senegalaise), Air Force (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,183,343 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,300,502 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 124,096 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$107.3 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.5% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Senegal

Disputes - international:

The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau attempt to stem Senegalese citizens from the Casamance region fleeing separatist violence, cross border raids, and arms smuggling

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 17,000 (clashes between government troops and separatists in Casamance region) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for Southwest and Southeast Asian heroin and South American cocaine moving to Europe and North America; illicit cultivator of cannabis

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Saint Helena

Introduction

Saint Helena

Background:

Uninhabited when first discovered by the Portuguese in 1502, Saint Helena was garrisoned by the British during the 17th century. It acquired fame as the place of Napoleon BONAPARTE's exile, from 1815 until his death in 1821, but its importance as a port of call declined after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. Ascension Island is the site of a US Air Force auxiliary airfield; Gough Island has a meteorological station.

Geography

Saint Helena

Location:

islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about midway between South America and Africa

Geographic coordinates:

15 56 S, 5 42 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 410 sq km
land: 410 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Saint Helena Island, Ascension, and the island group of Tristan da Cunha, which consists of Tristan da Cunha Island, Gough Island, Inaccessible Island, and the three Nightingale Islands

Area - comparative:

slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

60 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

Saint Helena - tropical; marine; mild, tempered by trade winds; Tristan da Cunha - temperate; marine, mild, tempered by trade winds (tends to be cooler than Saint Helena)

Terrain:

Saint Helena - rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains
note: the other islands of the group have a volcanic origin

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha 2,060 m

Natural resources:

fish

Land use:

arable land: 12.9%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 87.1% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown anywhere else in the world; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtles and sooty terns

People

Saint Helena

Population:

7,460 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 18.8% (male 715/female 691)
15-64 years: 71.3% (male 2,745/female 2,575)
65 years and over: 9.8% (male 330/female 404) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 35.4 years
male: 35.61 years
female: 35.21 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.59% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

12.33 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.43 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 19 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 22.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.76 years
male: 74.86 years
female: 80.81 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.54 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Saint Helenian(s)
adjective: Saint Helenian

Ethnic groups:

African descent 50%, white 25%, Chinese 25%

Religions:

Anglican (majority), Baptist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic

Languages:

English

Literacy:

definition: age 20 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 98% (1987 est.)

Government

Saint Helena

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Helena

Dependency status:

overseas territory of the UK

Government type:

NA

Capital:

Jamestown

Administrative divisions:

1 administrative area and 2 dependencies*; Ascension*, Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha*

Independence:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:

Birthday of Queen ELIZABETH II, second Saturday in June (1926)

Constitution:

1 January 1989

Legal system:

NA

Suffrage:

NA years of age

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Governor and Commander in Chief Michael CLANCY (since 15 October 2004)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of the governor, two ex officio officers, and six elected members of the Legislative Council
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor is appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Council (16 seats, including the speaker, 3 ex officio and 12 elected members; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 27 June 2001 (next to be held June 2005)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 15

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Magistrate's Court; Small Debts Court; Juvenile Court

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

ICFTU, UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag description:

blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Saint Helenian shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield features a rocky coastline and three-masted sailing ship

Economy

Saint Helena

Economy - overview:

The economy depends largely on financial assistance from the UK, which amounted to about $5 million in 1997 or almost one-half of annual budgetary revenues. The local population earns income from fishing, raising livestock, and sales of handicrafts. Because there are few jobs, 25% of the work force has left to seek employment on Ascension Island, on the Falklands, and in the UK.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$18 million (1998 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

NA

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $2,500 (1998 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA
industry: NA
services: NA

Labor force:

3,500
note: 1,200 work offshore (1998 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture and fishing 6%, industry (mainly construction) 48%, services 46% (1987 est.)

Unemployment rate:

14% (1998 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.2% (1997 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $11.2 million
expenditures: $11 million, including capital expenditures of NA (FY92/93)

Agriculture - products:

corn, potatoes, vegetables; timber; fish, crawfish (on Tristan da Cunha)

Industries:

construction, crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork), fishing

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

5 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

4.65 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

200 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$17 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities:

fish (frozen, canned, and salt-dried skipjack, tuna), coffee, handicrafts

Exports - partners:

Tanzania 30.3%, US 23.8%, Japan 10.4%, UK 7.1%, Spain 6.3% (2004)

Imports:

$42 million c.i.f. (2002)

Imports - commodities:

food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed, building materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts

Imports - partners:

UK 35.7%, US 17.6%, South Africa 17.5%, Tanzania 10.4%, Australia 5.5%, Spain 4.1% (2004)

Debt - external:

NA (1996)

Economic aid - recipient:

$12.6 million (1995); note - $5.3 million from UK (1997)

Currency (code):

Saint Helenian pound (SHP)

Currency code:

SHP

Exchange rates:

Saint Helenian pounds per US dollar - 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002), 0.6947 (2001), 0.6609 (2000)
note: the Saint Helenian pound is on par with the British pound

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

Saint Helena

Telephones - main lines in use:

2,200 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

0 (1997)

Telephone system:

general assessment: can communicate worldwide
domestic: automatic network
international: country code - 290; HF radiotelephone from Saint Helena to Ascension Island, which is a major coaxial submarine cable relay point between South Africa, Portugal, and UK; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

3,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

0
note: television programs are received in Saint Helena via satellite and distributed by cable (2002)

Televisions:

2,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.sh

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

500 (2002)

Communications - note:

Gough Island has a meteorological station

Transportation

Saint Helena

Highways:

total: 198 km (Saint Helena 138 km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da Cunha 20 km)
paved: 168 km (Saint Helena 118km, Ascension 40 km, Tristan da Cunha 10 km)
unpaved: 30 km (Saint Helena 20 km, Ascension 0 km, Tristan da Cunha 10 km) (2000)

Ports and harbors:

Georgetown (on Ascension), Jamestown

Airports:

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Saint Helena

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues

Saint Helena

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Slovenia

Introduction

Slovenia

Background:

The Slovene lands were part of the Holy Roman Empire and Austria until 1918 when the Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new multinational state, renamed Yugoslavia in 1929. After World War II, Slovenia became a republic of the renewed Yugoslavia, which though Communist, distanced itself from Moscow's rule. Dissatisfied with the exercise of power by the majority Serbs, the Slovenes succeeded in establishing their independence in 1991 after a short 10-day war. Historical ties to Western Europe, a strong economy, and a stable democracy have assisted in Slovenia's transformation to a modern state. Slovenia acceded to both NATO and the EU in the spring of 2004.

Geography

Slovenia

Location:

Central Europe, eastern Alps bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Austria and Croatia

Geographic coordinates:

46 07 N, 14 49 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 20,273 sq km
land: 20,151 sq km
water: 122 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than New Jersey

Land boundaries:

total: 1,334 km
border countries: Austria 330 km, Croatia 670 km, Italy 232 km, Hungary 102 km

Coastline:

46.6 km

Maritime claims:

NA

Climate:

Mediterranean climate on the coast, continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east

Terrain:

a short coastal strip on the Adriatic, an alpine mountain region adjacent to Italy and Austria, mixed mountains and valleys with numerous rivers to the east

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Triglav 2,864 m

Natural resources:

lignite coal, lead, zinc, mercury, uranium, silver, hydropower, forests

Land use:

arable land: 8.6%
permanent crops: 1.49%
other: 89.91% (2001)

Irrigated land:

20 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

flooding and earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

Sava River polluted with domestic and industrial waste; pollution of coastal waters with heavy metals and toxic chemicals; forest damage near Koper from air pollution (originating at metallurgical and chemical plants) and resulting acid rain

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geography - note:

despite its small size, this eastern Alpine country controls some of Europe's major transit routes

People

Slovenia

Population:

2,011,070 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 14% (male 145,016/female 137,012)
15-64 years: 70.6% (male 715,629/female 704,079)
65 years and over: 15.4% (male 118,298/female 191,036) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 40.23 years
male: 38.65 years
female: 41.75 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.03% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

8.95 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

10.22 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

1 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.45 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.05 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.14 years
male: 72.42 years
female: 80.1 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.24 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

280 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Slovene(s)
adjective: Slovenian

Ethnic groups:

Slovene 83.1%, Serb 2%, Croat 1.8%, Bosniak 1.1%, other or unspecified 12% (2002 census)

Religions:

Catholic 57.8%, Orthodox 2.3%, other Christian 0.9%, Muslim 2.4%, unaffiliated 3.5%, other or unspecified 23%, none 10.1% (2002 census)

Languages:

Slovenian 91.1%, Serbo-Croatian 4.5%, other or unspecified 4.4% (2002 census)

Literacy:

definition: NA
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.7%
female: 99.6% (2003 est.)

Government

Slovenia

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Slovenia
conventional short form: Slovenia
local long form: Republika Slovenija
local short form: Slovenija
former: People's Republic of Slovenia, Socialist Republic of Slovenia

Government type:

parliamentary democratic republic

Capital:

Ljubljana

Administrative divisions:

182 municipalities (obcine, singular - obcina) and 11 urban municipalities* (mestne obcine , singular - mestna obcina ) Ajdovscina, Beltinci, Benedikt, Bistrica ob Sotli, Bled, Bloke, Bohinj, Borovnica, Bovec, Braslovce, Brda, Brezice, Brezovica, Cankova, Celje*, Cerklje na Gorenjskem, Cerknica, Cerkno, Cerkvenjak, Crensovci, Crna na Koroskem, Crnomelj, Destrnik, Divaca, Dobje, Dobrepolje, Dobrna, Dobrova-Horjul-Polhov Gradec, Dobrovnik-Dobronak, Dolenjske Toplice, Dol pri Ljubljani, Domzale, Dornava, Dravograd, Duplek, Gorenja Vas-Poljane, Gorisnica, Gornja Radgona, Gornji Grad, Gornji Petrovci, Grad, Grosuplje, Hajdina, Hoce-Slivnica, Hodos-Hodos, Horjul, Hrastnik, Hrpelje-Kozina, Idrija, Ig, Ilirska Bistrica, Ivancna Gorica, Izola-Isola, Jesenice, Jezersko, Jursinci, Kamnik, Kanal, Kidricevo, Kobarid, Kobilje, Kocevje, Komen, Komenda, Koper-Capodistria*, Kostel, Kozje, Kranj*, Kranjska Gora, Krizevci, Krsko, Kungota, Kuzma, Lasko, Lenart, Lendava-Lendva, Litija, Ljubljana*, Ljubno, Ljutomer, Logatec, Loska Dolina, Loski Potok, Lovrenc na Pohorju, Luce, Lukovica, Majsperk, Maribor*, Markovci, Medvode, Menges, Metlika, Mezica, Miklavz na Dravskem Polju, Miren-Kostanjevica, Mirna Pec, Mislinja, Moravce, Moravske Toplice, Mozirje, Murska Sobota*, Muta, Naklo, Nazarje, Nova Gorica*, Novo Mesto*, Odranci, Oplotnica, Ormoz, Osilnica, Pesnica, Piran-Pirano, Pivka, Podcetrtek, Podlehnik, Podvelka, Polzela, Postojna, Prebold, Preddvor, Prevalje, Ptuj*, Puconci, Race-Fram, Radece, Radenci, Radlje ob Dravi, Radovljica, Ravne na Koroskem, Razkrizje, Ribnica, Ribnica na Pohorju, Rogasovci, Rogaska Slatina, Rogatec, Ruse, Salovci, Selnica ob Dravi, Semic, Sempeter-Vrtojba, Sencur, Sentilj, Sentjernej, Sentjur pri Celju, Sevnica, Sezana, Skocjan, Skofja Loka, Skofljica, Slovenj Gradec*, Slovenska Bistrica, Slovenske Konjice, Smarje pri Jelsah, Smartno ob Paki, Smartno pri Litiji, Sodrazica, Solcava, Sostanj, Starse, Store, Sveta Ana, Sveti Andraz v Slovenskih Goricah, Sveti Jurij, Tabor, Tisina, Tolmin, Trbovlje, Trebnje, Trnovska Vas, Trzic, Trzin, Turnisce, Velenje*, Velika Polana, Velike Lasce, Verzej, Videm, Vipava, Vitanje, Vodice, Vojnik, Vransko, Vrhnika, Vuzenica, Zagorje ob Savi, Zalec, Zavrc, Zelezniki, Zetale, Ziri, Zirovnica, Zuzemberk, Zrece
note: there may be 45 more municipalities

Independence:

25 June 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

National holiday:

Independence Day/Statehood Day, 25 June (1991)

Constitution:

adopted 23 December 1991, effective 23 December 1991

Legal system:

based on civil law system

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal (16 years of age, if employed)

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Janez DRNOVSEK (since 22 December 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Janez JANSA (since 9 November 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and elected by the National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 10 November and 1 December 2002 (next to be held in the fall of 2007); following National Assembly elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually nominated to become prime minister by the president and elected by the National Assembly; election last held 9 November 2004 (next National Assembly elections to be held October 2008)
election results: Janez DRNOVSEK elected president; percent of vote - Janez DRNOVSEK 56.5%, Barbara BREZIGAR 43.5%; Janez JANSA elected prime minister; National Assembly vote - 57 to 27

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consisting of a National Assembly or Drzavni Zbor (90 seats; 40 are directly elected and 50 are selected on a proportional basis; note - the numbers of directly elected and proportionally elected seats varies with each election; members are elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms) and the National Council or Drzavni Svet (this is primarily an advisory body organized on corporatist principles with limited legislative powers; it may propose laws, ask to review any National Assembly decisions, and call national referenda; members are indirectly elected to five-year terms by an electoral college)
elections: National Assembly - last held 3 October 2004 (next to be held October 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - SDS 29.1%, LDS 22.8%, ZLSD 10.2%, NSi 9%, SLS 6.8%, SNS 6.3%, DeSUS 4.1%, other 11.7%; seats by party - SDS 29, LDS 23, ZLSD 10, NSi 9, SLS 7, SNS 6, DeSUS 4, Hungarian and Italian minorities 1 each

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are elected by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the Judicial Council); Constitutional Court (judges elected for nine-year terms by the National Assembly and nominated by the president)

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Party of Retired (Persons) of Slovenia or DeSUS [Anton ROUS]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDS [Anton ROP]; New Slovenia or NSi [Andrej BAJUK]; Slovene Democratic Party or SDS [Janez JANSA]; Slovene National Party or SNS [Zmago JELINCIC]; Slovene People's Party or SLS [Janez PODOBNIK]; Slovene Youth Party or SMS [Darko KRANJC]; United List of Social Democrats or ZLSD [Borut PAHOR]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

Australia Group, BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU (new member), FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (member affiliate), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Samuel ZBOGAR
chancery: 1525 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 667-5363
FAX: [1] (202) 667-4563
consulate(s) general: New York and Cleveland

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas B. ROBERTSON
embassy: Presernova 31, 1000 Ljubljana
mailing address: American Embassy Ljubljana, Department of State, 7140 Ljubljana Place, Washington, DC 20521-7140
telephone: [386] (1) 200-5500
FAX: [386] (1) 200-5555

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of white (top), blue, and red, with the Slovenian seal (a shield with the image of Triglav, Slovenia's highest peak, in white against a blue background at the center; beneath it are two wavy blue lines depicting seas and rivers, and above it are three six-pointed stars arranged in an inverted triangle, which are taken from the coat of arms of the Counts of Celje, the great Slovene dynastic house of the late 14th and early 15th centuries); the seal is located in the upper hoist side of the flag centered in the white and blue bands

Economy

Slovenia

Economy - overview:

Slovenia, with its historical ties to Western Europe, enjoys a GDP per capita substantially higher than that of the other transitioning economies of Central Europe. In March 2004, Slovenia became the first transition country to graduate from borrower status to donor partner at the World Bank. Privatization of the economy proceeded at an accelerated pace in 2002-04. Despite lackluster performance in Europe in 2001-04, Slovenia maintained moderate growth. Structural reforms to improve the business environment have allowed for greater foreign participation in Slovenia's economy and have helped to lower unemployment. Further measures to curb inflation are still needed. Corruption and the high degree of coordination between government, business, and central bank policy were issues of concern in the run-up to Slovenia's 1 May 2004 accession to the European Union. In mid-2004 Slovenia agreed to adopt the euro by 2007 and, therefore, must keep its debt levels, budget deficits, interest rates, and inflation levels within the EU's Maastrict criteria.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$39.41 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $19,600 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3%
industry: 36%
services: 60% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

870,000 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 6%, industry 40%, services 55% (2002)

Unemployment rate:

6.4% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.9%
highest 10%: 23% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

28.4 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.3% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

24.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $13.36 billion
expenditures: $13.99 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

31.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

potatoes, hops, wheat, sugar beets, corn, grapes; cattle, sheep, poultry

Industries:

ferrous metallurgy and aluminum products, lead and zinc smelting, electronics (including military electronics), trucks, electric power equipment, wood products, textiles, chemicals, machine tools

Industrial production growth rate:

3.9% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

12.49 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 35.2%
hydro: 27.3%
nuclear: 36.8%
other: 0.7% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

11.8 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:

7.448 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

5.194 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

20 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

53,300 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.04 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

1.04 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Current account balance:

$-51.64 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$14.97 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food

Exports - partners:

Germany 18.3%, Italy 11.6%, Austria 11.5%, France 7.4%, Croatia 7.4%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 4.8% (2004)

Imports:

$16.07 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals, fuels and lubricants, food

Imports - partners:

Germany 19.9%, Italy 17%, Austria 14.9%, France 10.2% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$8.493 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$14.65 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $62 million (2000 est.)

Currency (code):

tolar (SIT)

Currency code:

SIT

Exchange rates:

tolars per US dollar - 192.38 (2004), 207.11 (2003), 240.25 (2002), 242.75 (2001), 222.66 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Slovenia

Telephones - main lines in use:

812,300 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,739,100 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: 100% digital (2000)
international: country code - 386

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 17, FM 160, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

805,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

48 (2001)

Televisions:

710,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.si

Internet hosts:

45,491 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

11 (2000)

Internet users:

750,000 (2002)

Transportation

Slovenia

Railways:

total: 1,201 km
standard gauge: 1,201 km 1.435-m gauge (499 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 20,250 km
paved: 20,250 km (including 456 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2002)

Pipelines:

gas 2,526 km; oil 11 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Koper

Merchant marine:

registered in other countries: 23

Airports:

14 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)

Military

Slovenia

Military branches:

Slovenian Army (includes Air and Naval Forces)

Military service age and obligation:

17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription abolished in 2003 (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 17-49: 496,929 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 17-49: 405,593 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 12,816 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$370 million (FY00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.7% (FY00)

Transnational Issues

Slovenia

Disputes - international:

the Croatia-Slovenia land and maritime boundary agreement, which would have ceded most of Piran Bay and maritime access to Slovenia and several villages to Croatia, remains unratified and in dispute; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Slovenia must implement the strict Schengen border rules to curb illegal migration and commerce through southeastern Europe while encouraging close cross-border ties with Croatia

Illicit drugs:

minor transit point for cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin bound for Western Europe, and for precursor chemicals

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Sierra Leone

Introduction

Sierra Leone

Background:

The 1991 to 2002 civil war between the government and the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people (about one-third of the population), many of whom are now refugees in neighboring countries. With the support of the UN peacekeeping force and contributions from the World Bank and international community, demobilization and disarmament of the RUF and Civil Defense Forces (CDF) combatants has been completed. National elections were held in May 2002 and the government continues to slowly reestablish its authority. However, the gradual withdrawal of most UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) peacekeepers in 2004 and early 2005, deteriorating political and economic conditions in Guinea, and the tenuous security situation in neighboring Liberia may present challenges to the continuation of Sierra Leone's stability.

Geography

Sierra Leone

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Guinea and Liberia

Geographic coordinates:

8 30 N, 11 30 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 71,740 sq km
land: 71,620 sq km
water: 120 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than South Carolina

Land boundaries:

total: 958 km
border countries: Guinea 652 km, Liberia 306 km

Coastline:

402 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid; summer rainy season (May to December); winter dry season (December to April)

Terrain:

coastal belt of mangrove swamps, wooded hill country, upland plateau, mountains in east

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m

Natural resources:

diamonds, titanium ore, bauxite, iron ore, gold, chromite

Land use:

arable land: 6.98%
permanent crops: 0.89%
other: 92.13% (2001)

Irrigated land:

290 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to February); sandstorms, dust storms

Environment - current issues:

rapid population growth pressuring the environment; overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil exhaustion; civil war depleting natural resources; overfishing

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Geography - note:

rainfall along the coast can reach 495 cm (195 inches) a year, making it one of the wettest places along coastal, western Africa

People

Sierra Leone

Population:

6,017,643 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 44.7% (male 1,318,508/female 1,371,164)
15-64 years: 52% (male 1,494,068/female 1,637,276)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 93,047/female 103,580) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 17.53 years
male: 17.2 years
female: 17.84 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.22% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

42.84 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

20.61 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: refugees currently in surrounding countries are slowly returning (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 143.64 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 161.06 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 125.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 39.87 years
male: 37.74 years
female: 42.06 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.72 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

7% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

170,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

11,000 (2001 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever are high risks in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease: Lassa fever (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Sierra Leonean(s)
adjective: Sierra Leonean

Ethnic groups:

20 native African tribes 90% (Temne 30%, Mende 30%, other 30%), Creole (Krio) 10% (descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area in the late-18th century), refugees from Liberia's recent civil war, small numbers of Europeans, Lebanese, Pakistanis, and Indians

Religions:

Muslim 60%, indigenous beliefs 30%, Christian 10%

Languages:

English (official, regular use limited to literate minority), Mende (principal vernacular in the south), Temne (principal vernacular in the north), Krio (English-based Creole, spoken by the descendants of freed Jamaican slaves who were settled in the Freetown area, a lingua franca and a first language for 10% of the population but understood by 95%)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write English, Mende, Temne, or Arabic
total population: 29.6%
male: 39.8%
female: 20.5% (2000 est.)

Government

Sierra Leone

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Sierra Leone
conventional short form: Sierra Leone

Government type:

constitutional democracy

Capital:

Freetown

Administrative divisions:

3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, Southern, Western*

Independence:

27 April 1961 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 27 April (1961)

Constitution:

1 October 1991; subsequently amended several times

Legal system:

based on English law and customary laws indigenous to local tribes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March 1996, reinstated 10 March 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (since 29 March 1996, reinstated 10 March 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president with the approval of the House of Representatives; the cabinet is responsible to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 14 May 2002 (next to be held May 2007); note - president's tenure of office is limited to two five-year terms
election results: Ahmad Tejan KABBAH reelected president; percent of vote - Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (SLPP) 70.6%, Ernest KOROMA (APC) 22.4%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament (124 seats - 112 elected by popular vote, 12 filled by paramount chiefs elected in separate elections; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 14 May 2002 (next to be held May 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - SLPP 70.06%, APC 22.35%, PLP 3%, others 4.59%; seats by party - SLPP 83, APC 27, PLP 2

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Appeals Court; High Court

Political parties and leaders:

All People's Congress or APC [Ben KANU]; Peace and Liberation Party or PLP [Darlington MORRISON, interim chairman]; Sierra Leone People's Party or SLPP [Sama BANYA]; numerous others

Political pressure groups and leaders:

trade unions and student unions

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ibrahim M. KAMARA
chancery: 1701 19th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 939-9261 through 9263
FAX: [1] (202) 483-1793

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas N. HULL
embassy: Corner of Walpole and Siaka Stevens Streets, Freetown
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [232] (22) 226481 through 226485
FAX: [232] (22) 225471

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of light green (top), white, and light blue

Economy

Sierra Leone

Economy - overview:

Sierra Leone is an extremely poor African nation with tremendous inequality in income distribution. While it possesses substantial mineral, agricultural, and fishery resources, its economic and social infrastructure is not well developed, and serious social disorders continue to hamper economic development. About two-thirds of the working-age population engages in subsistence agriculture. Manufacturing consists mainly of the processing of raw materials and of light manufacturing for the domestic market. Plans to reopen bauxite and rutile mines shut down during an 11 year civil war have not been implemented due to lack of foreign investment. Alluvial diamond mining remains the major source of hard currency earnings. The fate of the economy depends upon the maintenance of domestic peace and the continued receipt of substantial aid from abroad, which is essential to offset the severe trade imbalance and supplement government revenues. International financial institutions contributed over $600 million in development aid and budgetary support in 2003.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$3.335 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $600 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 49%
industry: 30%
services: 21% (2001 est.)

Labor force:

1.369 million (1981 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA

Unemployment rate:

NA

Population below poverty line:

68% (1989 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 0.5%
highest 10%: 43.6% (1989)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

62.9 (1989)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1% (2002 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $96 million
expenditures: $351 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000 est.)

Agriculture - products:

rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish

Industries:

diamonds mining; small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles, cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining, small commercial ship repair

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

255.3 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

237.4 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

6,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$49 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:

diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish (1999)

Exports - partners:

Belgium 61.6%, Germany 11.8%, US 5.4% (2004)

Imports:

$264 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals (1995)

Imports - partners:

Germany 14%, Cote d'Ivoire 10.7%, UK 9.1%, US 8.4%, China 5.6%, Netherlands 5%, South Africa 4.1% (2004)

Debt - external:

$1.5 billion (2002 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$103 million (2001 est.)

Currency (code):

leone (SLL)

Currency code:

SLL

Exchange rates:

leones per US dollar - 2,701.3 (2004), 2,347.9 (2003), 2,099 (2002), 1,986.2 (2001), 2,092.1 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Sierra Leone

Telephones - main lines in use:

24,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

67,000 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: marginal telephone and telegraph service
domestic: the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema
international: country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 9, shortwave 1 (1999)

Radios:

1.12 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (1999)

Televisions:

53,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.sl

Internet hosts:

277 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2001)

Internet users:

8,000 (2002)

Transportation

Sierra Leone

Highways:

total: 11,300 km
paved: 904 km
unpaved: 10,396 km (2002)

Waterways:

800 km (2003)

Ports and harbors:

Freetown, Pepel, Sherbro Islands

Merchant marine:

total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 7,435 GRT/8,750 DWT
by type: petroleum tanker 2 (2005)

Airports:

10 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

2 (2004 est.)

Military

Sierra Leone

Military branches:

Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF): Army (includes Air Wing, Maritime Wing)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,110,077 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 552,785 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$13.2 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.7% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Sierra Leone

Disputes - international:

domestic fighting among disparate rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs in Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone perpetuate insurgencies, street violence, looting, arms trafficking, ethnic conflicts, and refugees in border areas; UN Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) has maintained over 4,000 peacekeepers in Sierra Leone since 1999; Sierra Leone pressures Guinea to remove its forces from the town of Yenga occupied since 1998

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 67,000 (Liberia) (2004)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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San Marino

Introduction

San Marino

Background:

The third smallest state in Europe (after the Holy See and Monaco) also claims to be the world's oldest republic. According to tradition, it was founded by a Christian stonemason named Marino in 301 A.D. San Marino's foreign policy is aligned with that of Italy. Social and political trends in the republic also track closely with those of its larger neighbor.

Geography

San Marino

Location:

Southern Europe, an enclave in central Italy

Geographic coordinates:

43 46 N, 12 25 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 61.2 sq km
land: 61.2 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 755 m

Natural resources:

building stone

Land use:

arable land: 16.67%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 83.33% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

NA

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution

Geography - note:

landlocked; smallest independent state in Europe after the Holy See and Monaco; dominated by the Apennines

People

San Marino

Population:

28,880 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.7% (male 2,482/female 2,328)
15-64 years: 66.5% (male 9,255/female 9,943)
65 years and over: 16.9% (male 2,106/female 2,766) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 40.29 years
male: 39.91 years
female: 40.65 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.3% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

10.18 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

8.07 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

10.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.09 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.73 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 81.62 years
male: 78.13 years
female: 85.43 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.33 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Sammarinese (singular and plural)
adjective: Sammarinese

Ethnic groups:

Sammarinese, Italian

Religions:

Roman Catholic

Languages:

Italian

Literacy:

definition: age 10 and over can read and write
total population: 96%
male: 97%
female: 95% (1976 est.)

Government

San Marino

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of San Marino
conventional short form: San Marino
local long form: Repubblica di San Marino
local short form: San Marino

Government type:

independent republic

Capital:

San Marino

Administrative divisions:

9 municipalities (castelli, singular - castello); Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino, Montegiardino, San Marino Citta, Serravalle

Independence:

3 September 301

National holiday:

Founding of the Republic, 3 September (301)

Constitution:

8 October 1600; electoral law of 1926 serves some of the functions of a constitution

Legal system:

based on civil law system with Italian law influences; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: cochiefs of state Captain Regent Claudio MUCCIOLI and Captain Regent Antonello BACCIOCHI (for the period 1 October 2005 - 31 March 2006)
head of government: Secretary of State for Foreign and Political Affairs Fabio BERARDI (15 December 2003)
cabinet: Congress of State elected by the Great and General Council for a five-year term
elections: cochiefs of state (captains regent) elected by the Great and General Council for a six-month term; election last held NA September 2005 (next to be held March 2006); secretary of state for foreign and political affairs elected by the Great and General Council for a five-year term; election last held 13 December 2003 (next to be held June 2006 when general elections are scheduled)
election results: Claudio MUCCIOLI and Antonello BACCIOCHI elected captains regent; percent of legislative vote - NA%; Fabio BERARDI elected 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 10 other members, all selected by the Grand and General Council; assisting the captains regent are 10 secretaries of state; the secretary of state for Foreign Affairs has assumed some of the prerogatives of a prime minister

Legislative branch:

unicameral Grand and General Council or Consiglio Grande e Generale (60 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 10 June 2001 (next to be held by June 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - PDCS 41.4%, PSS 24.2%, PD 20.8%, APDS 8.2%, RC 3.4%, AN 1.9%; seats by party - PDCS 25, PSS 15, PD 12, APDS 5, RC 2, AN 1

Judicial branch:

Council of Twelve or Consiglio dei XII

Political parties and leaders:

Communist Refoundation or RC [Ivan FOSHI]; Ideas in Movement or IM [Alessandro ROSSI]; National Alliance or AN [leader NA]; Party of Democrats or PD [Claudio FELICI]; San Marino Christian Democratic Party or PDCS [Giovanni LONFERNINI]; San Marino Popular Alliance of Democrats or APDS [Roberto GIORGETTI]; San Marino Socialist Party or PSS [Alberto CECCHETTI]; Socialists for Reform or SR [Renzo GIARDI]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

CE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

San Marino does not have an embassy in the US
honorary consulate(s) general: Washington, DC and New York
honorary consulate(s): Detroit and Honolulu

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in San Marino; the US Consul General in Florence (Italy) is accredited to San Marino

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of white (top) and light blue with the national coat of arms superimposed in the center; the coat of arms has a shield (featuring three towers on three peaks) flanked by a wreath, below a crown and above a scroll bearing the word LIBERTAS (Liberty)

Economy

San Marino

Economy - overview:

The tourist sector contributes over 50% of GDP. In 2000 more than 3 million tourists visited San Marino. The key industries are banking, wearing apparel, electronics, and ceramics. Main agricultural products are wine and cheeses. The per capita level of output and standard of living are comparable to those of the most prosperous regions of Italy, which supplies much of its food.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$940 million (2001 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.5% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $34,600 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Labor force:

18,500 (1999)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 1%, industry 42%, services 57% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

2.6% (2001)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.3% (2001)

Budget:

revenues: $400 million
expenditures: $400 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000 est.)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, grapes, corn, olives; cattle, pigs, horses, beef, cheese, hides

Industries:

tourism, banking, textiles, electronics, ceramics, cement, wine

Industrial production growth rate:

6% (1997 est.)

Exports:

trade data are included with the statistics for Italy

Exports - commodities:

building stone, lime, wood, chestnuts, wheat, wine, baked goods, hides, ceramics

Imports:

trade data are included with the statistics for Italy

Imports - commodities:

wide variety of consumer manufactures, food

Debt - external:

$NA

Economic aid - recipient:

$NA

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)

Currency code:

EUR

Exchange rates:

euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

San Marino

Telephones - main lines in use:

20,600 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

16,800 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate connections
domestic: automatic telephone system completely integrated into Italian system
international: country code - 378; connected to Italian international network

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

16,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (San Marino residents also receive broadcasts from Italy) (1997)

Televisions:

9,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.sm

Internet hosts:

1,763 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

14,300 (2002)

Transportation

San Marino

Highways:

total: 220 km
paved: 220 km
unpaved: 0 km (2001)

Airports:

none (2004 est.)

Military

San Marino

Military branches:

Voluntary Military Force (Corpi Militari Voluntar); note - performs ceremonial duties and limited police assistance

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$700,000 (FY00/01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Italy

Transnational Issues

San Marino

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Singapore

Introduction

Singapore

Background:

Singapore was founded as a British trading colony in 1819. It joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963 but separated two years later and became independent. It subsequently became one of the world's most prosperous countries with strong international trading links (its port is one of the world's busiest in terms of tonnage handled) and with per capita GDP equal to that of the leading nations of Western Europe.

Geography

Singapore

Location:

Southeastern Asia, islands between Malaysia and Indonesia

Geographic coordinates:

1 22 N, 103 48 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 692.7 sq km
land: 682.7 sq km
water: 10 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

193 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: within and beyond territorial sea, as defined in treaties and practice

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid, rainy; two distinct monsoon seasons - Northeastern monsoon from December to March and Southwestern monsoon from June to September; inter-monsoon - frequent afternoon and early evening thunderstorms

Terrain:

lowland; gently undulating central plateau contains water catchment area and nature preserve

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Singapore Strait 0 m
highest point: Bukit Timah 166 m

Natural resources:

fish, deepwater ports

Land use:

arable land: 1.64%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 98.36% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

industrial pollution; limited natural fresh water resources; limited land availability presents waste disposal problems; seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

focal point for Southeast Asian sea routes

People

Singapore

Population:

4,425,720 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16% (male 366,971/female 342,295)
15-64 years: 75.9% (male 1,639,842/female 1,719,829)
65 years and over: 8.1% (male 157,636/female 199,147) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 36.76 years
male: 36.4 years
female: 37.07 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.56% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

9.49 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

4.16 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

10.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 2.29 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 81.62 years
male: 79.05 years
female: 84.39 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.05 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

4,100 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Singaporean(s)
adjective: Singapore

Ethnic groups:

Chinese 76.8%, Malay 13.9%, Indian 7.9%, other 1.4% (2000 census)

Religions:

Buddhist 42.5%, Muslim 14.9%, Taoist 8.5%, Hindu 4%, Catholic 4.8%, other Christian 9.8%, other 0.7%, none 14.8% (2000 census)

Languages:

Mandarin 35%, English 23%, Malay 14.1%, Hokkien 11.4%, Cantonese 5.7%, Teochew 4.9%, Tamil 3.2%, other Chinese dialects 1.8%, other 0.9% (2000 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.5%
male: 96.6%
female: 88.6% (2002)

Government

Singapore

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Singapore
conventional short form: Singapore

Government type:

parliamentary republic

Capital:

Singapore

Administrative divisions:

none

Independence:

9 August 1965 (from Malaysian Federation)

National holiday:

National Day, 9 August (1965)

Constitution:

3 June 1959; amended 1965 (based on preindependence State of Singapore Constitution)

Legal system:

based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

21 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Sellapan Rama (S. R.) NATHAN (since 1 September 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister LEE Hsien Loong (since 12 August 2004); Senior Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 12 August 2004); Minister Mentor LEE Kuan Yew (since 12 August 2004); Deputy Prime Ministers Shunmugan JAYAKUMAR (since 12 August 2004) and Tony TAN Keng Yam (since 1 August 1995)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president, responsible to Parliament
elections: president elected by popular vote for six-year term; last appointed 17 August 2005 (next election to be held by August 2011); following legislative elections, leader of majority party or leader of majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by president; deputy prime ministers appointed by president
election results: Sellapan Rama (S. R.) NATHAN appointed president in August 2005 after Presidential Elections Committee disqualified three other would-be candidates

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament (84 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - in addition, there are up to nine nominated members; the losing opposition candidate who came closest to winning a seat may be appointed as a "nonconstituency" member
elections: last held 3 November 2001 (next to be held not later than 25 June 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAP 75.3% (in contested constituencies), other 24.7%; seats by party - PAP 82, WP 1, SPP 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president with the advice of the prime minister, other judges are appointed by the president with the advice of the chief justice); Court of Appeals

Political parties and leaders:

governing party: People's Action Party or PAP [LEE Hsien Loong]; opposition parties: Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [LING How Dong]; National Solidarity Party or NSP [vacant] (SDA group); Singapore Democratic Alliance or SDA [CHIAM See Tong] (includes SPP, PKMS, NSP, SJP); Singapore Democratic Party or SDP [CHEE Soon Juan]; Singapore Justice Party or SJP [Desmond LIM] (SDA group); Singapore National Malay Organization or PKMS [Malik ISMAIL] (SDA group); Singapore People's Party or SPP [CHIAM See Tong] (SDA group); Workers' Party or WP [Sylvia Lim Swee LIAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador CHAN Heng Chee
chancery: 3501 International Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 537-3100
FAX: [1] (202) 537-0876
consulate(s) general: San Francisco
consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Franklin L. LAVIN
embassy: 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508
mailing address: FPO AP 96507-0001
telephone: [65] 6476-9100
FAX: [65] 6476-9340

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white; near the hoist side of the red band, there is a vertical, white crescent (closed portion is toward the hoist side) partially enclosing five white five-pointed stars arranged in a circle

Economy

Singapore

Economy - overview:

Singapore, a highly developed and successful free market economy, enjoys a remarkably open and corruption-free environment, stable prices, and a per capita GDP equal to that of the Big 4 West European countries. The economy depends heavily on exports, particularly in electronics and manufacturing. It was hard hit in 2001-03 by the global recession, by the slump in the technology sector, and by an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in 2003, which curbed tourism and consumer spending. The government hopes to establish a new growth path that will be less vulnerable to the external business cycle and will continue efforts to establish Singapore as Southeast Asia's financial and high-tech hub. Fiscal stimulus, low interest rates, a surge in exports, and internal flexibility led to vigorous growth in 2004, with real GDP rising by 8 percent, by far the economy's best performance since 2000.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$120.9 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

8.1% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $27,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 0% negligible
industry: 32.6%
services: 67.4% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

2.18 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

manufacturing 18%, construction 6%, transportation and communication 11%, financial, business, and other services 49%, other 16% (2003)

Unemployment rate:

3.4% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.7% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

27.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $17.05 billion
expenditures: $18.45 billion, including capital expenditures of $5.8 billion (2004 est.)

Public debt:

102.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

rubber, copra, fruit, orchids, vegetables, poultry, eggs, fish, ornamental fish

Industries:

electronics, chemicals, financial services, oil drilling equipment, petroleum refining, rubber processing and rubber products, processed food and beverages, ship repair, offshore platform construction, life sciences, entrepot trade

Industrial production growth rate:

11.1% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

35.33 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

32 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2003)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

700,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

2.5 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

2.5 billion cu m
note: from Indonesia and Malaysia (2001 est.)

Current account balance:

$8.8 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$174 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery and equipment (including electronics), consumer goods, chemicals, mineral fuels

Exports - partners:

Malaysia 15.2%, US 13%, Hong Kong 9.8%, China 8.6%, Japan 6.4%, Taiwan 4.6%, Thailand 4.3%, South Korea 4.1% (2004)

Imports:

$155.2 billion (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Malaysia 15.3%, US 12.7%, Japan 11.7%, China 9.9%, Taiwan 5.7%, South Korea 4.3%, Thailand 4.1% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$112.8 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$19.4 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

NA

Currency (code):

Singapore dollar (SGD)

Currency code:

SGD

Exchange rates:

Singapore dollars per US dollar - 1.6902 (2004), 1.7422 (2003), 1.7906 (2002), 1.7917 (2001), 1.724 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

Singapore

Telephones - main lines in use:

1,896,100 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

3,521,800 (2004)

Telephone system:

general assessment: excellent service
domestic: excellent domestic facilities
international: country code - 65; 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 17, shortwave 2 (2003)

Radios:

2.6 million (2000)

Television broadcast stations:

7 (2003)

Televisions:

1.33 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.sg

Internet hosts:

484,825 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

9 (2000)

Internet users:

2.31 million (2002)

Transportation

Singapore

Highways:

total: 3,130 km
paved: 3,130 km (including 150 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2002)

Pipelines:

gas 139 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Singapore

Merchant marine:

total: 923 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 23,065,290 GRT/36,393,317 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 138, cargo 86, chemical tanker 115, combination ore/oil 5, container 180, liquefied gas 42, livestock carrier 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 316, refrigerated cargo 3, vehicle carrier 36
foreign-owned: 487 (Australia 5, Bangladesh 1, Belgium 10, China 15, Denmark 34, Germany 7, Greece 5, Hong Kong 43, India 3, Indonesia 54, Japan 83, Malaysia 31, Norway 83, Philippines 3, Russia 1, Slovenia 1, South Korea 12, Sweden 12, Taiwan 44, Thailand 17, UAE 6, United Kingdom 12, United States 5)
registered in other countries: 276 (2005)

Airports:

10 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 10
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Singapore

Military branches:

Singapore Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age for volunteers; conscript service obligation reduced to 24 months beginning December 2004 (December 2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,215,568 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 982,368 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$4.47 billion (FY01 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

4.9% (FY01)

Transnational Issues

Singapore

Disputes - international:

disputes persist with Malaysia over deliveries of fresh water to Singapore, Singapore's extensive land reclamation works, bridge construction, maritime boundaries, and Pedra Branca Island/Pulau Batu Putih - parties agree to ICJ arbitration on island dispute within three years; Indonesia and Singapore pledged in 2005 to finalize their 1973 maritime boundary agreement by defining unresolved areas north of Batam Island; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait

Illicit drugs:

as a transportation and financial services hub, Singapore is vulnerable, despite strict laws and enforcement, to be used as a transit point for Golden Triangle heroin and as a venue for money laundering

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Somalia

Introduction

Somalia

Background:

The regime of Mohamed SIAD Barre was ousted in January 1991; turmoil, factional fighting, and anarchy have followed in the years since. In May of 1991, northern clans declared an independent Republic of Somaliland that now includes the administrative regions of Awdal, Woqooyi Galbeed, Togdheer, Sanaag, and Sool. Although not recognized by any government, this entity has maintained a stable existence, aided by the overwhelming dominance of a ruling clan and economic infrastructure left behind by British, Russian, and American military assistance programs. The regions of Bari and Nugaal and northern Mudug comprise a neighboring self-declared autonomous state of Puntland, which has been self-governing since 1998, but does not aim at independence; it has also made strides towards reconstructing a legitimate, representative government, but has suffered some civil strife. Puntland disputes its border with Somaliland as it also claims portions of eastern Sool and Sanaag. Beginning in 1993, a two-year UN humanitarian effort (primarily in the south) was able to alleviate famine conditions, but when the UN withdrew in 1995, having suffered significant casualties, order still had not been restored. The mandate of the Transitional National Government (TNG), created in August 2000 in Arta, Djibouti, expired in August 2003. New Somali President Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed has formed a new Transitional Federal Government (TFG) consisting of a 275-member parliament. It was established in October 2004 to replace the TNG but has not yet moved to Mogadishu. Discussions regarding the establishment of a new government in Mogadishu are ongoing in Kenya. Numerous warlords and factions are still fighting for control of the capital city as well as for other southern regions. Suspicion of Somali links with global terrorism further complicates the picture.

Geography

Somalia

Location:

Eastern Africa, bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, east of Ethiopia

Geographic coordinates:

10 00 N, 49 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 637,657 sq km
land: 627,337 sq km
water: 10,320 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 2,340 km
border countries: Djibouti 58 km, Ethiopia 1,600 km, Kenya 682 km

Coastline:

3,025 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 200 nm

Climate:

principally desert; December to February - northeast monsoon, moderate temperatures in north and very hot in south; May to October - southwest monsoon, torrid in the north and hot in the south, irregular rainfall, hot and humid periods (tangambili) between monsoons

Terrain:

mostly flat to undulating plateau rising to hills in north

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Shimbiris 2,416 m

Natural resources:

uranium and largely unexploited reserves of iron ore, tin, gypsum, bauxite, copper, salt, natural gas, likely oil reserves

Land use:

arable land: 1.67%
permanent crops: 0.04%
other: 98.29% (2001)

Irrigated land:

2,000 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains in summer; floods during rainy season

Environment - current issues:

famine; use of contaminated water contributes to human health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection

Geography - note:

strategic location on Horn of Africa along southern approaches to Bab el Mandeb and route through Red Sea and Suez Canal

People

Somalia

Population:

8,591,629
note: this estimate was derived from an official census taken in 1975 by the Somali Government; population counting in Somalia is complicated by the large number of nomads and by refugee movements in response to famine and clan warfare (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 44.5% (male 1,918,209/female 1,905,974)
15-64 years: 52.9% (male 2,278,406/female 2,263,602)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 96,256/female 129,182) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 17.59 years
male: 17.53 years
female: 17.65 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.38% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

45.62 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

16.97 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

5.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 116.7 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 126.06 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 107.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 48.09 years
male: 46.36 years
female: 49.87 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.84 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

43,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and dengue fever are high risks in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
animal contact disease: rabies (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Somali(s)
adjective: Somali

Ethnic groups:

Somali 85%, Bantu and other non-Somali 15% (including Arabs 30,000)

Religions:

Sunni Muslim

Languages:

Somali (official), Arabic, Italian, English

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 37.8%
male: 49.7%
female: 25.8% (2001 est.)

Government

Somalia

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Somalia
former: Somali Republic, Somali Democratic Republic

Government type:

no permanent national government; transitional, parliamentary federal government

Capital:

Mogadishu

Administrative divisions:

18 regions (plural - NA, singular - gobolka); Awdal, Bakool, Banaadir, Bari, Bay, Galguduud, Gedo, Hiiraan, Jubbada Dhexe, Jubbada Hoose, Mudug, Nugaal, Sanaag, Shabeellaha Dhexe, Shabeellaha Hoose, Sool, Togdheer, Woqooyi Galbeed

Independence:

1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, which became independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian Somaliland, which became independent from the Italian-administered UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960, to form the Somali Republic)

National holiday:

Foundation of the Somali Republic, 1 July (1960); note - 26 June (1960) in Somaliland

Constitution:

25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979
note: the formation of transitional governing institutions, known as the Transitional Federal Government, is currently ongoing

Legal system:

no national system; Shari'a and secular courts are in some localities

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed (since 14 October 2004); note - a new Transitional Federal Government consisting of a 275-member parliament was established in October 2004 but remains resident in Nairobi, Kenya, and has not extablished effective governance inside Somalia
head of government: Prime Minister Ali Muhammad GHEDI (since 24 December 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by the Transitional Federal Assembly
election results: Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed, the leader of the Puntland region of Somalia, was elected president by the Transitional Federal Assembly

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly
note: fledgling parliament; a 275-member Transitional Federal Assembly; the new parliament consists of 61 seats assigned to each of four large clan groups (Darod, Digil-Mirifle, Dir, and Hawiye) with the remaining 31 seats divided between minority clans

Judicial branch:

following the breakdown of the central government, most regions have reverted to local forms of conflict resolution, either secular, traditional clan-based arbitration, or Islamic (Shari'a) law with a provision for appeal of all sentences

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

numerous clan and subclan factions are currently vying for power

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

Somalia does not have an embassy in the US (ceased operations on 8 May 1991); note - the TNG and other factions have representatives in Washington and at the United Nations

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Somalia; US interests are represented by the US Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya at United Nations Avenue, Gigira, Nairobi; mailing address: Unit 64100, Nairobi; APO AE 09831; telephone: [254] (20) 363-6000; FAX [254] (20) 363-6157

Flag description:

light blue with a large white five-pointed star in the center; blue field influenced by the flag of the UN

Government - note:

although an interim government was created in 2004 other governing bodies continue to exist and control various cities and regions of the country, including the self-declared Republic of Somaliland, and traditional clan and faction strongholds

Economy

Somalia

Economy - overview:

Somalia's economic fortunes are driven by its deep political divisions. The northwestern area has declared its independence as the "Republic of Somaliland"; the northeastern region of Puntland is a semi-autonomous state; and the remaining southern portion is riddled with the struggles of rival factions. Economic life continues, in part because much activity is local and relatively easily protected. Agriculture is the most important sector, with livestock normally accounting for about 40% of GDP and about 65% of export earnings, but Saudi Arabia's recent ban on Somali livestock, because of Rift Valley Fever concerns, has severely hampered the sector. Nomads and semi-nomads, who are dependent upon livestock for their livelihood, make up a large portion of the population. Livestock, hides, fish, charcoal, and bananas are Somalia's principal exports, while sugar, sorghum, corn, qat, and machined goods are the principal imports. Somalia's small industrial sector, based on the processing of agricultural products, has largely been looted and sold as scrap metal. Despite the seeming anarchy, Somalia's service sector has managed to survive and grow. Telecommunication firms provide wireless services in most major cities and offer the lowest international call rates on the continent. In the absence of a formal banking sector, money exchange services have sprouted throughout the country, handling between $500 million and $1 billion in remittances annually. Mogadishu's main market offers a variety of goods from food to the newest electronic gadgets. Hotels continue to operate, and militias provide security. The ongoing civil disturbances and clan rivalries, however, have interfered with any broad-based economic development and international aid arrangements. In 2004 Somalia's overdue financial obligations to the IMF continued to grow. Statistics on Somalia's GDP, growth, per capita income, and inflation should be viewed skeptically. In late December 2004, a major tsunami took an estimated 150 lives and caused destruction of properity in coastal areas.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$4.597 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.8% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $600 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 65%
industry: 10%
services: 25% (2000 est.)

Labor force:

3.7 million (very few are skilled laborers)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture (mostly pastoral nomadism) 71%, industry and services 29%

Unemployment rate:

NA

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

note - businesses print their own money, so inflation rates cannot be sensibly determined (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: NA
expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA

Agriculture - products:

cattle, sheep, goats; bananas, sorghum, corn, coconuts, rice, sugarcane, mangoes, sesame seeds, beans; fish

Industries:

a few light industries, including sugar refining, textiles, wireless communication

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

240.3 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

223.5 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

4,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

2.832 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Exports:

$79 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:

livestock, bananas, hides, fish, charcoal, scrap metal

Exports - partners:

UAE 39.3%, Thailand 24.3%, Yemen 12.2%, Oman 4.7% (2004)

Imports:

$344 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:

manufactures, petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction materials, qat

Imports - partners:

Djibouti 30.1%, Kenya 13.7%, India 8.6%, Brazil 8.5%, Oman 4.4%, UAE 4.2% (2004)

Debt - external:

$3 billion (2001 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$60 million (1999 est.)

Currency (code):

Somali shilling (SOS)

Currency code:

SOS

Exchange rates:

Somali shillings per US dollar - 11,000 (November 2000), 2,620 (January 1999), 7,500 (November 1997 est.), 7,000 (January 1996 est.), 5,000 (1 January 1995)
note: the Republic of Somaliland, a self-declared independent country not recognized by any foreign government, issues its own currency, the Somaliland shilling

Fiscal year:

NA

Communications

Somalia

Telephones - main lines in use:

100,000 (2002 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

35,000 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: the public telecommunications system was almost completely destroyed or dismantled by the civil war factions; private wireless companies offer service in most major cities and charge the lowest international rates on the continent
domestic: local cellular telephone systems have been established in Mogadishu and in several other population centers
international: country code - 252; international connections are available from Mogadishu by satellite

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 11, shortwave 1 in Mogadishu; 1 FM in Puntland, 1 FM in Somaliland (2001)

Radios:

470,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

4
note: two in Mogadishu; two in Hargeisa (2001)

Televisions:

135,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.so

Internet hosts:

4 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (one each in Boosaaso, Hargeisa, and Mogadishu) (2000)

Internet users:

89,000 (2002)

Transportation

Somalia

Highways:

total: 22,100 km
paved: 2,608 km
unpaved: 19,492 km (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors:

Boosaaso, Berbera, Chisimayu (Kismaayo), Merca, Mogadishu

Airports:

60 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 6
over 3,047 m: 4
2438 to 3047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 54
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 29
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Military

Somalia

Military branches:

A Somali National Army was attempted under the interim government; numerous factions and clans maintain independent militias, and the Somaliland and Puntland regional governments maintain their own security and police forces

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.) (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,787,727 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,022,360 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$18.9 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.9% (2003)

Transnational Issues

Somalia

Disputes - international:

"Somaliland" secessionists provide port facilities to land-locked Ethiopia and establish commercial ties with regional states; "Puntland" and "Somaliland" "governments" seek support from neighboring states in their secessionist aspirations and in conflicts with each other; Ethiopia has only an administrative line with the Oromo region of southern Somalia and maintains alliances with local Somali clans opposed to the unrecognized Somali Interim Government, which plans eventual relocation from Kenya to Mogadishu; rival militia and clan fighting in southern Somalia periodically spills over into Kenya; most of the remaining 23,000 Somali refuges in Ethiopia are expected to be repatriated in 2005

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 375,000 (civil war since 1988, clan-based competition for resources) (2004)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Spain

Introduction

Spain

Background:

Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Subsequent failure to embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions caused the country to fall behind Britain, France, and Germany in economic and political power. Spain remained neutral in World Wars I and II, but suffered through a devastating civil war (1936-39). In the second half of the 20th century, Spain has played a catch-up role in the western international community; it joined the EU in 1986. Continuing challenges include Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) terrorism and further reductions in unemployment.

Geography

Spain

Location:

Southwestern Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay, Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean, and Pyrenees Mountains, southwest of France

Geographic coordinates:

40 00 N, 4 00 W

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 504,782 sq km
land: 499,542 sq km
water: 5,240 sq km
note: there are 19 autonomous communities including Balearic Islands and Canary Islands, and three small Spanish possessions off the coast of Morocco - Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera

Area - comparative:

slightly more than twice the size of Oregon

Land boundaries:

total: 1,917.8 km
border countries: Andorra 63.7 km, France 623 km, Gibraltar 1.2 km, Portugal 1,214 km, Morocco (Ceuta) 6.3 km, Morocco (Melilla) 9.6 km

Coastline:

4,964 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm (applies only to the Atlantic Ocean)

Climate:

temperate; clear, hot summers in interior, more moderate and cloudy along coast; cloudy, cold winters in interior, partly cloudy and cool along coast

Terrain:

large, flat to dissected plateau surrounded by rugged hills; Pyrenees in north

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico de Teide (Tenerife) on Canary Islands 3,718 m

Natural resources:

coal, lignite, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, uranium, tungsten, mercury, pyrites, magnesite, fluorspar, gypsum, sepiolite, kaolin, potash, hydropower, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 26.07%
permanent crops: 9.87%
other: 64.06% (2001)

Irrigated land:

36,400 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage and effluents from the offshore production of oil and gas; water quality and quantity nationwide; air pollution; deforestation; desertification

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geography - note:

strategic location along approaches to Strait of Gibraltar

People

Spain

Population:

40,341,462 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 14.4% (male 2,994,124/female 2,815,456)
15-64 years: 68% (male 13,762,281/female 13,664,762)
65 years and over: 17.6% (male 2,965,859/female 4,138,980) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 39.51 years
male: 38.18 years
female: 40.93 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.15% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

10.1 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

9.63 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.42 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.82 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.52 years
male: 76.18 years
female: 83.08 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.28 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.7% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

140,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 1,000 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Spaniard(s)
adjective: Spanish

Ethnic groups:

composite of Mediterranean and Nordic types

Religions:

Roman Catholic 94%, other 6%

Languages:

Castilian Spanish 74%, Catalan 17%, Galician 7%, Basque 2%; note - Castilian is the official language nationwide; the other languages are official regionally

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.9%
male: 98.7%
female: 97.2% (2003 est.)

Government

Spain

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Spain
conventional short form: Spain
local short form: Espana

Government type:

parliamentary monarchy

Capital:

Madrid

Administrative divisions:

17 autonomous communities (comunidades autonomas, singular - comunidad autonoma)and 2 autonomous cities* (ciudades autonomas, singular - ciudad autonoma); Andalucia, Aragon, Asturias, Baleares (Balearic Islands), Ceuta*, Canarias (Canary Islands), Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y Leon, Cataluna, Comunidad Valenciana, Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja, Madrid, Melilla*, Murcia, Navarra, Pais Vasco (Basque Country)
note: the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla plus three small islands of Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera, administered directly by the Spanish central government, are all located off the coast of Morocco and are collectively referred to as Places of Sovereignty (Plazas de Soberania)

Independence:

the Iberian peninsula was characterized by a variety of independent kingdoms prior to the Moslem occupation that began in the early 8th century A. D. and lasted nearly seven centuries; the small Christian redoubts of the north began the reconquest almost immediately, culminating in the seizure of Granada in 1492; this event completed the unification of several kingdoms and is traditionally considered the forging of present-day Spain

National holiday:

National Day, 12 October

Constitution:

6 December 1978, effective 29 December 1978

Legal system:

civil law system, with regional applications; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: King JUAN CARLOS I (since 22 November 1975); Heir Apparent Prince FELIPE, son of the monarch, born 30 January 1968
head of government: President of the Government and Prime Minister Jose Luis RODRIGUEZ ZAPATERO (since 17 April 2004); First Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister (and Minister of the Presidency) Maria Teresa FERNANDEZ DE LA VEGA (since 18 April 2004) and Second Vice President (and Minister of Economy and Finance) Pedro SOLBES (since 18 April 2004)
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, but its recommendations are non-binding
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually proposed president by the monarch and elected by the National Assembly; election last held 14 March 2004 (next to be held March 2008); vice presidents appointed by the monarch on the proposal of the president
election results: Jose Luis RODRIGUEZ ZAPATERO (PSOE) elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - 52.29%

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 14 March 2004 (next to be held March 2008); Congress of Deputies - last held 14 March 2004 (next to be held March 2008)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - PP 49%, PSOE 38.9%, Entesa Catalona de Progress 5.7%, CiU 1.99%, PNV 2.8%, CC 1.4%; seats by party - PP 102, PSOE 81, Entesa Catalona de Progress 12, CiU 4, PNV 6, CC 3; Congress of Deputies - percent of vote by party - PSOE 43.3%, PP 37.8%, CiU 3.2%, ERC 2.5%, PNV 1.6%, IU 3.2%, CC 0.9%; seats by party - PSOE 164, PP 148, CiU 10, ERC 8, PNV 7, IU 2, CC 3, other 8

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo

Political parties and leaders:

Basque Nationalist Party or PNV [Josu Jon IMAZ]; Canarian Coalition or CC (a coalition of five parties) [Paulino RIVERO Baute]; Convergence and Union or CiU [Artur MAS i Gavarro] (a coalition of the Democratic Convergence of Catalonia or CDC [Artur MAS i Gavarro] and the Democratic Union of Catalonia or UDC [Josep Antoni DURAN y LLEIDA]); Entesa Catalonia de Progress (a Senate coalition grouping four Catalan parties - PSC, ERC, ICV, EUA) [leader NA]; Galician Nationalist Bloc or BNG [Anxo Manuel QUINTANA]; Party of Independents from Lanzarote or PIL [Dimas MARTIN Martin]; Popular Party or PP [Mariano RAJOY]; Republican Left of Catalonia or ERC [Josep-Lluis CAROD-ROVIRA]; Spanish Socialist Workers Party or PSOE [Jose Luis RODRIGUEZ ZAPATERO]; United Left or IU (a coalition of parties including the PCE and other small parties) [Gaspar LLAMAZARES]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

business and landowning interests; Catholic Church; free labor unions (authorized in April 1977); Socialist General Union of Workers or UGT and the smaller independent Workers Syndical Union or USO; university students; Trade Union Confederation of Workers' Commissions or CC.OO.; Nunca Mas (Galician for "Never Again"; formed in response to the oil tanker Prestige oil spill)

International organization participation:

AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos WESTENDORP
chancery: 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 452-0100, 728-2340
FAX: [1] (202) 833-5670
consulate(s) 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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires J. Robert MANZANARES
embassy: Serrano 75, 28006 Madrid
mailing address: PSC 61, APO AE 09642
telephone: [34] (91) 587-2200
FAX: [34] (91) 587-2303
consulate(s) general: Barcelona

Flag description:

three horizontal bands of red (top), yellow (double width), and red with the national coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band; the coat of arms includes the royal seal framed by the Pillars of Hercules, which are the two promontories (Gibraltar and Ceuta) on either side of the eastern end of the Strait of Gibraltar

Economy

Spain

Economy - overview:

The Spanish economy boomed from 1986 to 1990, averaging five percent annual growth. After a European-wide recession in the early 1990s, the Spanish economy resumed moderate growth starting in 1994. Spain's mixed capitalist economy supports a GDP that on a per capita basis is 80% that of the four leading West European economies. The center-right government of former President AZNAR successfully worked to gain admission to the first group of countries launching the European single currency (the euro) on 1 January 1999. The AZNAR administration continued to advocate liberalization, privatization, and deregulation of the economy and introduced some tax reforms to that end. Unemployment fell steadily under the AZNAR administration but remains high at 10.4%. Growth of 2.5% in 2003 and 2.6% in 2004 was satisfactory given the background of a faltering European economy. The socialist president, RODRIGUEZ ZAPATERO, has initiated economic and social reforms that are generally popular among the masses of people but that are anathema to religious and other conservative elements. Adjusting to the monetary and other economic policies of an integrated Europe, reducing unemployment, and absorbing widespread social changes will pose challenges to Spain over the next few years.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$937.6 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $23,300 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3.5%
industry: 28.5%
services: 68% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

19.33 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 5.3%, manufacturing, mining, and construction 30.1%, services 64.6% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

10.4% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 25.2% (1990)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

32.5 (1990)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.2% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

25.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $383.7 billion
expenditures: $386.4 billion, including capital expenditures of $12.8 billion (2004 est.)

Public debt:

53.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

grain, vegetables, olives, wine grapes, sugar beets, citrus; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish

Industries:

textiles and apparel (including footwear), food and beverages, metals and metal manufactures, chemicals, shipbuilding, automobiles, machine tools, tourism, clay and refractory products, footwear, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment

Industrial production growth rate:

3% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

229 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 50.4%
hydro: 18.2%
nuclear: 27.2%
other: 4.1% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

218.4 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

4.4 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

9.8 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

7,099 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1.497 million bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

135,100 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:

1.582 million bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

10.5 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

516 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

17.96 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

17.26 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

254.9 million cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$-30.89 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$172.5 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery, motor vehicles; foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, medicines, other consumer goods

Exports - partners:

France 19.3%, Germany 11.7%, Portugal 9.6%, UK 9%, Italy 9%, US 4% (2004)

Imports:

$222 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, semifinished goods; foodstuffs, consumer goods; measuring and medical control instruments

Imports - partners:

Germany 16.6%, France 15.8%, Italy 8.9%, UK 6.3%, Netherlands 4.8% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$19.7 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$771.1 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $1.33 billion (1999)

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 1999, the European Monetary Union introduced the euro as a common currency to be used by the financial institutions of member countries; on 1 January 2002, the euro became the sole currency for everyday transactions with the member countries

Currency code:

EUR

Exchange rates:

euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Spain

Telephones - main lines in use:

17,567,500 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

37,506,700 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: generally adequate, modern facilities; teledensity is 44 main lines for each 100 persons
domestic: NA
international: country code - 34; 22 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to adjacent countries

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 208, FM 715, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

13.1 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

224 (plus 2,105 repeaters)
note: these figures include 11 television broadcast stations and 88 repeaters in the Canary Islands (1995)

Televisions:

16.2 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.es

Internet hosts:

1,056,950 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

56 (2000)

Internet users:

9.789 million (2003)

Transportation

Spain

Railways:

total: 14,781 km (7,718 km electrified)
broad gauge: 11,829 km 1.668-m gauge (6,950 km electrified)
standard gauge: 998 km 1.435-m gauge (998 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,926 km 1.000-m gauge (815 km electrified); 28 km 0.914-m gauge (28 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 664,852 km
paved: 658,203 km (including 11,152 km of expressways)
unpaved: 6,649 km (2001)

Waterways:

1,045 km (2003)

Pipelines:

gas 7,306 km; oil 730 km; refined products 3,512 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Algeciras, Barcelona, Cartagena, Gijon, Huelva, La Coruna, Tarragona, Valencia

Merchant marine:

total: 182 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,740,974 GRT/2,157,551 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 10, cargo 22, chemical tanker 16, container 19, liquefied gas 8, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 47, petroleum tanker 20, refrigerated cargo 6, roll on/roll off 25, vehicle carrier 7
foreign-owned: 29 (Cuba 2, Denmark 1, Germany 9, Italy 2, Norway 6, United States 7, Uruguay 2)
registered in other countries: 192 (2005)

Airports:

156 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 95
over 3,047 m: 15
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 28 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 61
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 44 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

8 (2004 est.)

Military

Spain

Military branches:

Army, Navy, Air Force (Ejercito del Aire, EdA), Naval Infantry

Military service age and obligation:

20 years of age (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 20-49: 9,366,588 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 20-49: 7,623,356 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 233,384 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$9,906.5 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.2% (2003)

Transnational Issues

Spain

Disputes - international:

in 2003, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to remain a British colony and against a "total shared sovereignty" arrangement while demanding participation in talks between the UK and Spain; Spain disapproves of UK plans to grant Gibraltar greater autonomy; Morocco protests Spain's control over the coastal enclaves of Ceuta, Melilla, and the islands of Penon de Velez de la Gomera, Penon de Alhucemas and Islas Chafarinas, and surrounding waters; Morocco serves as the primary launching site of illegal migration into Spain from North Africa

Illicit drugs:

key European gateway country and consumer for Latin American cocaine and North African hashish entering the European market; destination and minor transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin; money-laundering site for European earnings of Colombian narcotics trafficking organizations

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Saint Lucia

Introduction

Saint Lucia

Background:

The island, with its fine natural harbor at Castries, was contested between England and France throughout the 17th and early 18th centuries (changing possession 14 times); it was finally ceded to the UK in 1814. Self-government was granted in 1967 and independence in 1979.

Geography

Saint Lucia

Location:

Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic coordinates:

13 53 N, 60 68 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 616 sq km
land: 606 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:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to April, rainy season from May to August

Terrain:

volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Gimie 950 m

Natural resources:

forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs, geothermal potential

Land use:

arable land: 6.56%
permanent crops: 22.95%
other: 70.49% (2001)

Irrigated land:

30 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

hurricanes and volcanic activity

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, 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:

the twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), striking cone-shaped peaks south of Soufriere, are one of the scenic natural highlights of the Caribbean

People

Saint Lucia

Population:

166,312 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 30.3% (male 25,937/female 24,391)
15-64 years: 64.6% (male 52,813/female 54,544)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 3,172/female 5,455) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 24.81 years
male: 24.03 years
female: 25.66 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.28% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

20.05 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

5.12 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-2.19 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.58 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 13.53 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 14.66 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.61 years
male: 70.05 years
female: 77.42 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.21 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Saint Lucian(s)
adjective: Saint Lucian

Ethnic groups:

black 90%, mixed 6%, East Indian 3%, white 1%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 67.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.5%, Pentecostal 5.7%, Anglican 2%, Evangelical 2%, other Christian 5.1%, Rastafarian 2.1%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.5% (2001 census)

Languages:

English (official), French patois

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 90.1%
male: 89.5%
female: 90.6% (2001 est.)

Government

Saint Lucia

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Lucia

Government type:

Westminster-style parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Castries

Administrative divisions:

11 quarters; Anse-la-Raye, Castries, Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery, Gros-Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin, Soufriere, Vieux-Fort

Independence:

22 February 1979 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 22 February (1979)

Constitution:

22 February 1979

Legal system:

based on English common law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dame Pearlette LOUISY (since September 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Kenneth Davis ANTHONY (since 24 May 1997) and Deputy Prime Minister Mario MICHEL (since 24 May 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 the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (11 seats; six members appointed on the advice of the prime minister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and two after consultation with religious, economic, and social groups) and the House of Assembly (17 seats; members are elected by popular vote from single-member constituencies to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Assembly - last held 3 December 2001 (next to be held in December 2006)
election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - SLP 55%, UWP 37%, NA 3.5%; seats by party - SLP 14, UWP 3

Judicial branch:

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (jurisdiction extends to Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)

Political parties and leaders:

National Alliance or NA [George ODLUM]; Saint Lucia Freedom Party or SFP [Martinus FRANCOIS]; Saint Lucia Labor Party or SLP [Kenneth ANTHONY]; Sou Tout Apwe Fete Fini or STAFF [Christopher HUNTE]; United Workers Party or UWP [Dr. Morella JOSEPH]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Sonia Merlyn JOHNNY
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 364-6792 through 6795
FAX: [1] (202) 364-6723
consulate(s) general: Miami and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Lucia

Flag description:

blue, with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border

Economy

Saint Lucia

Economy - overview:

Changes in the EU import preference regime and the increased competition from Latin American bananas have made economic diversification increasingly important in Saint Lucia. The island nation has been able to attract foreign business and investment, especially in its offshore banking and tourism industries. The manufacturing sector is the most diverse in the Eastern Caribbean area, and the government is trying to revitalize the banana industry. Economic fundamentals remain solid, even though unemployment needs to be cut.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$866 million (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.3% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $5,400 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 7%
industry: 20%
services: 73% (2002 est.)

Labor force:

43,800 (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 21.7%, industry, commerce, and manufacturing 24.7%, services 53.6% (2002 est.)

Unemployment rate:

20% (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3% (2001 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $141.2 million
expenditures: $146.7 million, including capital expenditures of $25.1 million (2000 est.)

Agriculture - products:

bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus, root crops, cocoa

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:

270.3 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

251.3 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

2,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$66 million (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:

bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil

Exports - partners:

UK 41.4%, US 16.5%, Brazil 11.6%, Barbados 5.8%, Antigua and Barbuda 4.6%, Dominica 4.5% (2004)

Imports:

$267 million (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food 23%, manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation equipment 19%, chemicals, fuels

Imports - partners:

US 27.8%, Trinidad and Tobago 20.4%, UK 8%, Venezuela 7.6%, Finland 7% (2004)

Debt - external:

$214 million (2000)

Economic aid - recipient:

$51.8 million (1995)

Currency (code):

East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Currency code:

XCD

Exchange rates:

East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003), 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

Saint Lucia

Telephones - main lines in use:

51,100 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

14,300 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate system
domestic: system is automatically switched
international: country code - 1-758; 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, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

111,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (of which one is a commercial broadcast station and one is a community antenna television or CATV channel) (2004)

Televisions:

32,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.lc

Internet hosts:

41 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

15 (2000)

Internet users:

13,000 (2002)

Transportation

Saint Lucia

Highways:

total: 1,210 km
paved: 63 km
unpaved: 1,147 km (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors:

Castries, Cul-de-Sac, Vieux-Fort

Airports:

2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Saint Lucia

Military branches:

Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (includes Special Service Unit, Coast Guard)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Transnational Issues

Saint Lucia

Disputes - international:

joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the Caribbean Sea

Illicit drugs:

transit point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Sudan

Introduction

Sudan

Background:

Military regimes favoring Islamic-oriented governments have dominated national politics since independence from the UK in 1956. Sudan was embroiled in two prolonged civil wars during most of the remainder of the 20th century. These conflicts were rooted in northern economic, political, and social domination of non-Muslim, non-Arab southern Sudanese. The first civil war ended in 1972, but broke out again in 1983. The second war and famine-related effects resulted in more than 2 million deaths and over 4 million people displaced over a period of two decades. Peace talks gained momentum in 2002-04 with the signing of several accords; a final Naivasha peace treaty of January 2005 granted the southern rebels autonomy for six years, after which a referendum for independence is scheduled to be held. A separate conflict that broke out in the western region of Darfur in 2003 resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and over 1 million displaced, but by early 2005, peackeeping troops had stabilized the situation.

Geography

Sudan

Location:

Northern Africa, bordering the Red Sea, between Egypt and Eritrea

Geographic coordinates:

15 00 N, 30 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 2,505,810 sq km
land: 2.376 million sq km
water: 129,810 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than one-quarter the size of the US

Land boundaries:

total: 7,687 km
border countries: Central African Republic 1,165 km, Chad 1,360 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 628 km, Egypt 1,273 km, Eritrea 605 km, Ethiopia 1,606 km, Kenya 232 km, Libya 383 km, Uganda 435 km

Coastline:

853 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 18 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

tropical in south; arid desert in north; rainy season varies by region (April to November)

Terrain:

generally flat, featureless plain; mountains in far south, northeast and west; desert dominates the north

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Red Sea 0 m
highest point: Kinyeti 3,187 m

Natural resources:

petroleum; small reserves of iron ore, copper, chromium ore, zinc, tungsten, mica, silver, gold, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 6.83%
permanent crops: 0.18%
other: 92.99% (2001)

Irrigated land:

19,500 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

dust storms and periodic persistent droughts

Environment - current issues:

inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife populations threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification; periodic drought

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

largest country in Africa; dominated by the Nile and its tributaries

People

Sudan

Population:

40,187,486 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 43.2% (male 8,865,331/female 8,488,982)
15-64 years: 54.5% (male 10,952,566/female 10,930,218)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 513,679/female 436,710) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.07 years
male: 17.86 years
female: 18.29 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.6% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

35.17 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

9.16 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.18 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 62.5 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 63.29 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 61.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 58.54 years
male: 57.33 years
female: 59.8 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.85 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

2.3% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

400,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

23,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, dengue fever, African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) are high risks in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Sudanese (singular and plural)
adjective: Sudanese

Ethnic groups:

black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other 1%

Religions:

Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), indigenous beliefs 25%, Christian 5% (mostly in south and Khartoum)

Languages:

Arabic (official), Nubian, Ta Bedawie, diverse dialects of Nilotic, Nilo-Hamitic, Sudanic languages, English
note: program of "Arabization" in process

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 61.1%
male: 71.8%
female: 50.5% (2003 est.)

Government

Sudan

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of the Sudan
conventional short form: Sudan
local long form: Jumhuriyat as-Sudan
local short form: As-Sudan
former: Anglo-Egyptian Sudan

Government type:

authoritarian regime - ruling military junta took power in 1989; government is run by an alliance of the military and the National Congress Party (NCP), formerly the National Islamic Front (NIF), which espouses an Islamist platform

Capital:

Khartoum

Administrative divisions:

26 states (wilayat, singular - wilayah); A'ali an Nil (Upper Nile), Al Bahr al Ahmar (Red Sea), Al Buhayrat (Lakes), Al Jazirah (El Gezira), Al Khartum (Khartoum), Al Qadarif (Gedaref), Al Wahdah (Unity), An Nil al Abyad (White Nile), An Nil al Azraq (Blue Nile), Ash Shamaliyah (Northern), Bahr al Jabal (Bahr al Jabal), Gharb al Istiwa'iyah (Western Equatoria), Gharb Bahr al Ghazal (Western Bahr al Ghazal), Gharb Darfur (Western Darfur), Gharb Kurdufan (Western Kordofan), Janub Darfur (Southern Darfur), Janub Kurdufan (Southern Kordofan), Junqali (Jonglei), Kassala (Kassala), Nahr an Nil (Nile), Shamal Bahr al Ghazal (Northern Bahr al Ghazal), Shamal Darfur (Northern Darfur), Shamal Kurdufan (Northern Kordofan), Sharq al Istiwa'iyah (Eastern Equatoria), Sinnar (Sinnar), Warab (Warab)

Independence:

1 January 1956 (from Egypt and UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 1 January (1956)

Constitution:

12 April 1973; suspended following coup of 6 April 1985; interim constitution of 10 October 1985 suspended following coup of 30 June 1989; new constitution implemented on 30 June 1998 partially suspended 12 December 1999 by President BASHIR

Legal system:

based on English common law and Islamic law; as of 20 January 1991, the now defunct Revolutionary Command Council imposed Islamic law in the northern states; Islamic law applies to all residents of the northern states regardless of their religion; some separate religious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

17 years of age; universal, but noncompulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993); First Vice President Salva KIIR (since 4 August 2005), Second Vice President Ali Osman TAHA (since 20 September 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Lt. Gen. Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16 October 1993); First Vice President Salva KIIR (since 4 August 2005), Second Vice President Ali Osman TAHA (since 20 September 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note - the National Congress Party or NCP (formerly the National Islamic Front or NIF) dominates al-BASHIR's cabinet
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 13-23 December 2000 (next to be held NA)
election results: Field Marshall Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR reelected president; percent of vote - Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR 86.5%, Ja'afar Muhammed NUMAYRI 9.6%, three other candidates received a combined vote of 3.9%; election widely viewed as rigged; all popular opposition parties boycotted elections because of a lack of guarantees for a free and fair election
note: al-BASHIR assumed power as chairman of Sudan's Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation (RCC) in June 1989 and served concurrently as chief of state, chairman of the RCC, prime minister, and minister of defense until mid-October 1993 when he was appointed president by the RCC; he was elected president by popular vote for the first time in March 1996

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly (360 seats; 270 popularly elected, 90 elected by supra assembly of interest groups known as National Congress; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 13-22 December 2000 (next to be held NA)
election results: NCP 355, others 5

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Special Revolutionary Courts

Political parties and leaders:

the government allows political "associations" under a 1998 law revised in 2000; to obtain government approval parties must accept the constitution and refrain from advocating or using violence against the regime; approved parties include the National Congress Party or NCP [Ibrahim Ahmed UMAR], Popular National Congress or PNC [Hassan al-TURABI], and over 20 minor, pro-government parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Democratic Unionist Party [Muhammed Uthman AL-MIRGHANI]; National Democratic Alliance [Muhammed Uthman AL-MIRGHANI, chairman]; Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army [Dr. John GARANG]; Umma Party [Sadiq al-MAHDI]

International organization participation:

ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires, Ad Interim Khidir Haroun AHMED (since April 2001)
chancery: 2210 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 338-8565
FAX: [1] (202) 667-2406

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Gerard M. GALLUCCI
embassy: Sharia Abdul Latif Avenue, Khartoum
mailing address: P. O. Box 699, Khartoum; APO AE 09829
telephone: [249] (11) 774611 or 774700
FAX: [249] (11) 774137
note: US Consul in Cairo is providing backup service for Khartoum

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black with a green isosceles triangle based on the hoist side

Economy

Sudan

Economy - overview:

Sudan has turned around a struggling economy with sound economic policies and infrastructure investments, but it still faces formidable economic problems, starting from its low level of per capita output. From 1997 to date, Sudan has been implementing IMF macroeconomic reforms. In 1999, Sudan began exporting crude oil and in the last quarter of 1999 recorded its first trade surplus, which, along with monetary policy, has stabilized the exchange rate. Increased oil production, revived light industry, and expanded export processing zones helped sustain GDP growth at 6.4% in 2004. Agriculture production remains Sudan's most important sector, employing 80% of the work force, contributing 39% of GDP, and accounting for most of GDP growth, but most farms remain rain-fed and susceptible to drought. Chronic instability - including the long-standing civil war between the Muslim north and the Christian/pagan south, adverse weather, and weak world agricultural prices - ensure that much of the population will remain at or below the poverty line for years.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$76.19 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.4% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 38.7%
industry: 20.3%
services: 41% (2003 est.)

Labor force:

11 million (1996 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 80%, industry and commerce 7%, government 13% (1998 est.)

Unemployment rate:

18.7% (2002 est.)

Population below poverty line:

40% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

9% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

16% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $3.057 billion
expenditures: $2.965 billion, including capital expenditures of $304 million (2004 est.)

Public debt:

79.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

cotton, groundnuts (peanuts), sorghum, millet, wheat, gum arabic, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca), mangos, papaya, bananas, sweet potatoes, sesame; sheep, livestock

Industries:

oil, cotton ginning, textiles, cement, edible oils, sugar, soap distilling, shoes, petroleum refining, pharmaceuticals, armaments, automobile/light truck assembly

Industrial production growth rate:

8.5% (1999 est.)

Electricity - production:

2.581 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 52.1%
hydro: 47.9%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

2.4 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

345,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

70,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:

275,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports:

0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves:

1.6 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

99.11 billion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$-763.6 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$3.395 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

oil and petroleum products; cotton, sesame, livestock, groundnuts, gum arabic, sugar

Exports - partners:

China 66.9%, Japan 10.7%, Saudi Arabia 4.4% (2004)

Imports:

$3.496 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, manufactured goods, refinery and transport equipment, medicines and chemicals, textiles, wheat

Imports - partners:

China 13%, Saudi Arabia 11.5%, UAE 5.9%, Egypt 5.1%, India 4.8%, Germany 4.5%, Australia 4.1%, Japan 4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.652 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$21 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$172 million (2001)

Currency (code):

Sudanese dinar (SDD)

Currency code:

SDD

Exchange rates:

Sudanese dinars per US dollar - 257.91 (2004), 260.98 (2003), 263.31 (2002), 258.7 (2001), 257.12 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Sudan

Telephones - main lines in use:

900,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

650,000 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: large, well-equipped system by regional standards and being upgraded; cellular communications started in 1996 and have expanded substantially
domestic: consists of microwave radio relay, cable, radiotelephone communications, tropospheric scatter, and a domestic satellite system with 14 earth stations
international: country code - 249; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat (2000)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

7.55 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (1997)

Televisions:

2.38 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.sd

Internet hosts:

NA

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2002)

Internet users:

300,000 (2003)

Transportation

Sudan

Railways:

total: 5,995 km
narrow gauge: 4,595 km 1.067-m gauge; 1,400 km .600-m gauge for cotton plantations (2004)

Highways:

total: 11,900 km
paved: 4,320 km
unpaved: 7,580 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

4,068 km (1,723 km open year round on White and Blue Nile rivers) (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 156 km; oil 2,365 km; refined products 810 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Port Sudan

Merchant marine:

total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 20,466 GRT/26,973 DWT
by type: cargo 1, livestock carrier 1
registered in other countries: 2 (2005)

Airports:

75 (2004 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 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 63
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 33
under 914 m: 11 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

2 (2004 est.)

Military

Sudan

Military branches:

Sudanese People's Armed Forces (SPAF): Army, Navy, Air Force, Popular Defense Force

Military service age and obligation:

18-30 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 3 years (August 2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 8,291,695 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 5,427,474 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 442,915 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$587 million (2001 est.) (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3% (1999) (2004)

Transnational Issues

Sudan

Disputes - international:

the effects of Sudan's almost constant ethnic and rebel militia fighting since the mid-twentieth century have penetrated all of its border states who provide shelter for fleeing refugees and cover to disparate domestic and foreign conflicting elements; since 2003, Janjawid armed militia and Sudanese military have driven about 200,000 Darfur region refugees into eastern Chad; large numbers of Sudanese refugees have also fled to Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo; southern Sudan provides shelter to Ugandans seeking periodic protection from soldiers of the Lord's Resistance Army; Sudan accuses Eritrea of supporting Sudanese rebel groups; efforts to demarcate the porous boundary with Ethiopia have been delayed by civil and ethnic fighting in Sudan; Kenya's administrative boundary extends into the southern Sudan, creating the "Ilemi Triangle"; Egypt and Sudan retain claims to administer triangular areas that extend north and south of the 1899 Treaty boundary along the 22nd Parallel, but have withdrawn their military presence; Egypt is economically developing the "Hala'ib Triangle" north of the Treaty Line; periodic violent skirmishes with Sudanese residents over water and grazing rights persist among related pastoral populations from the Central African Republic along the border

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 108,251 (Eritrea) 5,023 (Chad) 7,983 (Uganda)
IDPs: 4.367 million (internal conflict since 1980s; ongoing genocide) (2004)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Svalbard

Introduction

Svalbard

Background:

First discovered by the Norwegians in the 12th century, the islands served as an international whaling base during the 17th and 18th centuries. Norway's sovereignty was recognized in 1920; five years later it officially took over the territory.

Geography

Svalbard

Location:

Northern Europe, islands between the Arctic Ocean, Barents Sea, Greenland Sea, and Norwegian Sea, north of Norway

Geographic coordinates:

78 00 N, 20 00 E

Map references:

Arctic Region

Area:

total: 62,049 sq km
land: 62,049 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Spitsbergen and Bjornoya (Bear Island)

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than West Virginia

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

3,587 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 4 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm unilaterally claimed by Norway but not recognized by Russia

Climate:

arctic, tempered by warm North Atlantic Current; cool summers, cold winters; North Atlantic Current flows along west and north coasts of Spitsbergen, keeping water open and navigable most of the year

Terrain:

wild, rugged mountains; much of high land ice covered; west coast clear of ice about one-half of the year; fjords along west and north coasts

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Arctic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Newtontoppen 1,717 m

Natural resources:

coal, iron ore, copper, zinc, phosphate, wildlife, fish

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (no trees, and the only bushes are crowberry and cloudberry) (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

ice floes often block the entrance to Bellsund (a transit point for coal export) on the west coast and occasionally make parts of the northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

northernmost part of the Kingdom of Norway; consists of nine main islands; glaciers and snowfields cover 60% of the total area

People

Svalbard

Population:

2,701 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA

Population growth rate:

-0.02% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

NA births/1,000 population

Death rate:

NA deaths/1,000 population

Net migration rate:

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population

Sex ratio:

NA%

Infant mortality rate:

total: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years

Total fertility rate:

NA children born/woman

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0% (2001)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

0 (2001)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

0 (2001)

Ethnic groups:

Norwegian 55.4%, Russian and Ukrainian 44.3%, other 0.3% (1998)

Languages:

Norwegian, Russian

Literacy:

NA

Government

Svalbard

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Svalbard (sometimes referred to as Spitzbergen)

Dependency status:

territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice, through a governor (sysselmann) residing in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920) sovereignty was awarded to Norway

Government type:

NA

Capital:

Longyearbyen

Independence:

none (territory of Norway)

National holiday:

NA

Legal system:

NA

Executive branch:

chief of state: King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991)
head of government: Governor Odd Olsen INGERO (since 8 June 2001) and Assistant Governor Rune Baard HANSEN (since NA)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor and assistant governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of Justice

International organization participation:

none

Flag description:

the flag of Norway is used

Economy

Svalbard

Economy - overview:

Coal mining is the major economic activity on Svalbard. The treaty of 9 February 1920 gives the 41 signatories equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to Norwegian regulation. Although US, UK, Dutch, and Swedish coal companies have mined in the past, the only companies still mining are Norwegian and Russian. The settlements on Svalbard are essentially company towns. The Norwegian state-owned coal company employs nearly 60% of the Norwegian population on the island, runs many of the local services, and provides most of the local infrastructure. There is also some hunting of seal, reindeer, and fox.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$NA

GDP - real growth rate:

NA%

Labor force:

NA

Budget:

revenues: $11.5 million
expenditures: $11.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1998 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 57.9984%
hydro: 42.0016%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0%

Exports:

$NA

Imports:

$NA

Economic aid - recipient:

$8.2 million from Norway (1998)

Currency (code):

Norwegian krone (NOK)

Currency code:

NOK

Exchange rates:

Norwegian kroner per US dollar - 6.7408 (2004), 7.0802 (2003), 7.9838 (2002), 8.9917 (2001), 8.8018 (2000)

Communications

Svalbard

Telephones - main lines in use:

NA

Telephones - mobile cellular:

NA

Telephone system:

general assessment: probably adequate
domestic: local telephone service
international: country code - 47-790; satellite earth station - 1 of unknown type (for communication with Norwegian mainland only)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 1 (plus 2 repeaters), shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

NA

Television broadcast stations:

NA

Televisions:

NA

Internet country code:

.sj

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

13 (Svalbard and Jan Mayen) (2000)

Internet users:

NA

Transportation

Svalbard

Highways:

total: NA km
paved: NA km
unpaved: NA km

Ports and harbors:

Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny-Alesund, Pyramiden

Airports:

4 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Military

Svalbard

Military - note:

demilitarized by treaty on 9 February 1920

Transnational Issues

Svalbard

Disputes - international:

despite recent discussions, Russia and Norway dispute their maritime limits in the Barents Sea and Russia's fishing rights beyond Svalbard's territorial limits within the Svalbard Treaty zone

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Sweden

Introduction

Sweden

Background:

A military power during the 17th century, Sweden has not participated in any war in almost two centuries. An armed neutrality was preserved in both World Wars. Sweden's long-successful economic formula of a capitalist system interlarded with substantial welfare elements was challenged in the 1990s by high unemployment and in 2000-02 by the global economic downturn, but fiscal discipline over the past several years has allowed the country to weather economic vagaries. Indecision over the country's role in the political and economic integration of Europe delayed Sweden's entry into the EU until 1995, and waived the introduction of the euro in 1999.

Geography

Sweden

Location:

Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway

Geographic coordinates:

62 00 N, 15 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 449,964 sq km
land: 410,934 sq km
water: 39,030 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than California

Land boundaries:

total: 2,233 km
border countries: Finland 614 km, Norway 1,619 km

Coastline:

3,218 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm (adjustments made to return a portion of straits to high seas)
exclusive economic zone: agreed boundaries or midlines
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north

Terrain:

mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: reclaimed bay of Lake Hammarsjon, near Kristianstad -2.41 m
highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m

Natural resources:

iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium, arsenic, feldspar, timber, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 6.54%
permanent crops: 0.01%
other: 93.45% (2001)

Irrigated land:

1,150 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic

Environment - current issues:

acid rain damage to soils and lakes; pollution of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

strategic location along Danish Straits linking Baltic and North Seas

People

Sweden

Population:

9,001,774 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 17.1% (male 791,215/female 747,621)
15-64 years: 65.5% (male 2,990,436/female 2,904,873)
65 years and over: 17.4% (male 677,161/female 890,468) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 40.6 years
male: 39.49 years
female: 41.75 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.17% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

10.36 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

10.36 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 2.77 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 2.93 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 80.4 years
male: 78.19 years
female: 82.74 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.66 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

3,600 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Swede(s)
adjective: Swedish

Ethnic groups:

indigenous population: Swedes and Finnish and Sami minorities; foreign-born or first-generation immigrants: Finns, Yugoslavs, Danes, Norwegians, Greeks, Turks

Religions:

Lutheran 87%, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist

Languages:

Swedish, small Sami- and Finnish-speaking minorities

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1979 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Sweden

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Sweden
conventional short form: Sweden
local long form: Konungariket Sverige
local short form: Sverige

Government type:

constitutional monarchy

Capital:

Stockholm

Administrative divisions:

21 counties (lan, singular and plural); Blekinge, Dalarnas, Gavleborgs, Gotlands, Hallands, Jamtlands, Jonkopings, Kalmar, Kronobergs, Norrbottens, Orebro, Ostergotlands, Skane, Sodermanlands, Stockholms, Uppsala, Varmlands, Vasterbottens, Vasternorrlands, Vastmanlands, Vastra Gotalands

Independence:

6 June 1523 (Gustav VASA elected king)

National holiday:

Flag Day, 6 June

Constitution:

1 January 1975

Legal system:

civil law system influenced by customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September 1973); Heir Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree, daughter of the monarch (born 14 July 1977)
head of government: Prime Minister Goran PERSSON (since 21 March 1996)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the prime minister is elected by the parliament; election last held 15 September 2002 (next to be held NA September 2006)
election results: Goran PERSSON reelected prime minister with 131 out of 349 votes

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Riksdag (349 seats; members are elected by popular vote on a proportional representation basis to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 15 September 2002 (next to be held September 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - Social Democrats 39.8%, Moderates 15.2%, Liberal Party 13.3%, Christian Democrats 9.1%, Left Party 8.3%, Center Party 6.1%, Greens 4.6%; seats by party - Social Democrats 144, Moderates 55, Liberal Party 48, Christian Democrats 33, Left Party 30, Center Party 22, Greens 17

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Hogsta Domstolen (judges are appointed by the prime minister and the cabinet)

Political parties and leaders:

Center Party [Maud OLOFSSON]; Christian Democratic Party [Goran HAGGLUND]; Green Party [no formal leader but party spokespersons are Maria WETTERSTRAND and Peter ERIKSSON]; Left Party or V (formerly Communist) [Lars OHLY]; Liberal People's Party [Lars LEIJONBORG]; Moderate Party (conservative) [Fredrik REINFELDT]; Social Democratic Party [Goran PERSSON]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 6, G- 9, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMISET, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jan ELIASSON
chancery: 1501 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-1702
telephone: [1] (202) 467-2600
FAX: [1] (202) 467-2699
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador M. Teel BIVINS
embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds VAG 31, SE-11589 Stockholm
mailing address: American Embassy Stockholm, Department of State, 5750 Stockholm Place, Washington, DC 20521-5750 (pouch)
telephone: [46] (08) 783 53 00
FAX: [46] (08) 661 19 64

Flag description:

blue with a golden yellow cross extending to the edges of the flag; the vertical part of the cross is shifted to the hoist side in the style of the Dannebrog (Danish flag)

Economy

Sweden

Economy - overview:

Aided by peace and neutrality for the whole 20th century, Sweden has achieved an enviable standard of living under a mixed system of high-tech capitalism and extensive welfare benefits. It has a modern distribution system, excellent internal and external communications, and a skilled labor force. Timber, hydropower, and iron ore constitute the resource base of an economy heavily oriented toward foreign trade. Privately owned firms account for about 90% of industrial output, of which the engineering sector accounts for 50% of output and exports. Agriculture accounts for only 2% of GDP and 2% of the jobs. The government's commitment to fiscal discipline resulted in a substantial budgetary surplus in 2001, which was cut by more than half in 2002, due to the global economic slowdown, declining revenue, and increased spending. The Swedish central bank (the Riksbank) focuses on price stability with its inflation target of 2%. Growth remained sluggish in 2003, but picked up in 2004. Presumably because of generous sicktime benefits, Swedish workers report in sick more often than other Europeans. On 14 September 2003, Swedish voters turned down entry into the euro system, concerned about the impact on democracy and sovereignty.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$255.4 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $28,400 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2%
industry: 29%
services: 69% (2001)

Labor force:

4.46 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 2%, industry 24%, services 74% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

5.6% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.7%
highest 10%: 20.1% (1992)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

25 (1992)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

0.7% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

15.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $201.3 billion
expenditures: $199.6 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

51.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

barley, wheat, sugar beets; meat, milk

Industries:

iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles

Industrial production growth rate:

5.5% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

142.8 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 4%
hydro: 50.8%
nuclear: 43%
other: 2.3% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

138.1 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

14.8 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

20.1 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

328,600 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

203,700 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:

553,100 bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

949 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

968 million cu m (2001 est.)

Current account balance:

$24.08 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$121.7 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery 35%, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron and steel products, chemicals

Exports - partners:

US 10.7%, Germany 10.2%, Norway 8.6%, UK 7.8%, Denmark 6.7%, Finland 5.7%, France 4.8%, Netherlands 4.8%, Belgium 4.5% (2004)

Imports:

$97.97 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor vehicles, iron and steel; foodstuffs, clothing

Imports - partners:

Germany 18.7%, Denmark 9.2%, Norway 7.6%, UK 7.5%, Netherlands 6.8%, Finland 6.4%, France 5.5%, Belgium 4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$19.99 billion (2003)

Debt - external:

$66.5 billion (1994)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $1.7 billion (1997)

Currency (code):

Swedish krona (SEK)

Currency code:

SEK

Exchange rates:

Swedish kronor per US dollar - 7.3489 (2004), 8.0863 (2003), 9.7371 (2002), 10.3291 (2001), 9.1622 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Sweden

Telephones - main lines in use:

6,579,200 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

7.949 million (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: excellent domestic and international facilities; automatic system
domestic: coaxial and multiconductor cables carry most of the voice traffic; parallel microwave radio relay systems carry some additional telephone channels
international: country code - 46; 5 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean), 1 Eutelsat, and 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions); note - Sweden shares the Inmarsat earth station with the other Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Norway)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 265, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

8.25 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

169 (plus 1,299 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

4.6 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.se

Internet hosts:

945,221 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

29 (2000)

Internet users:

5.125 million (2002)

Transportation

Sweden

Railways:

total: 11,481 km
standard gauge: 11,481 km 1.435-m gauge (9,400 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 213,237 km
paved: 167,604 km (including 1,542 km of expressways)
unpaved: 45,633 km (2002)

Pipelines:

gas 798 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Goteborg, Helsingborg, Karlshamn, Lulea, Malmo, Oxelosund, Stenungsund, Stockholm, Trelleborg

Merchant marine:

total: 205 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,702,763 GRT/1,884,570 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 33, chemical tanker 51, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 37, petroleum tanker 14, roll on/roll off 37, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 22
foreign-owned: 42 (Belgium 2, Denmark 4, Finland 11, Germany 6, Italy 7, Japan 2, Netherlands 1, Norway 9)
registered in other countries: 155 (2005)

Airports:

254 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 154
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 82
914 to 1,523 m: 22
under 914 m: 35 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 100
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 90 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

2 (2004 est.)

Military

Sweden

Military branches:

Army, Royal Swedish Navy (RSwN), Air Force (Flygvapnet)

Military service age and obligation:

19 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 7-17 months depending on conscript role; after completing initial service soldiers have a reserve commitment until the age of 47 (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 19-49: 1,838,427 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 19-49: 1,493,668 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 58,724 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$5.729 billion (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.7% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Sweden

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Introduction

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Background:

The islands lie approximately 1,000 km east of the Falkland Islands and have been under British administration since 1908, except for a brief period in 1982 when Argentina occupied them. Grytviken, on South Georgia, was a 19th and early 20th century whaling station. Famed explorer Ernest SHACKLETON stopped there in 1914 en route to his ill-fated attempt to cross Antarctica on foot. He returned some 20 months later with a few companions in a small boat and arranged a successful rescue for the rest of his crew, stranded off the Antarctic Peninsula. He died in 1922 on a subsequent expedition and is buried in Grytviken. Today, the station houses scientists from the British Antarctic Survey. The islands have large bird and seal populations, and, recognizing the importance of preserving the marine stocks in adjacent waters, the UK, in 1993, extended the exclusive fishing zone from 12 nm to 200 nm around each island.

Geography

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Location:

Southern South America, islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, east of the tip of South America

Geographic coordinates:

54 30 S, 37 00 W

Map references:

Antarctic Region

Area:

total: 3,903 sq km
land: 3,903 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: includes Shag Rocks, Black Rock, Clerke Rocks, South Georgia Island, Bird Island, and the South Sandwich Islands, which consist of some nine islands

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Rhode Island

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

NA km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

variable, with mostly westerly winds throughout the year interspersed with periods of calm; nearly all precipitation falls as snow

Terrain:

most of the islands, rising steeply from the sea, are rugged and mountainous; South Georgia is largely barren and has steep, glacier-covered mountains; the South Sandwich Islands are of volcanic origin with some active volcanoes

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Paget (South Georgia) 2,934 m

Natural resources:

fish

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (largely covered by permanent ice and snow with some sparse vegetation consisting of grass, moss, and lichen) (2001)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

the South Sandwich Islands have prevailing weather conditions that generally make them difficult to approach by ship; they are also subject to active volcanism

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

the north coast of South Georgia has several large bays, which provide good anchorage; reindeer, introduced early in the 20th century, live on South Georgia

People

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants
note: the small military garrison on South Georgia withdrew in March 2001, to be replaced by a permanent group of scientists of the British Antarctic Survey, which also has a biological station on Bird Island; the South Sandwich Islands are uninhabited (July 2005 est.)

Government

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
conventional short form: none

Dependency status:

overseas territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina; administered from the Falkland Islands by a commissioner, who is concurrently governor of the Falkland Islands, representing Queen ELIZABETH II; Grytviken, formerly a whaling station on South Georgia, is a scientific base

Legal system:

the laws of the UK, where applicable, apply; the senior magistrate from the Falkland Islands presides over the Magistrates Court

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina)

Flag description:

blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands coat of arms centered on the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms features a shield with a golden lion centered; the shield is supported by a fur seal on the left and a penguin on the right; a reindeer appears above the shield, and below it on a scroll is the motto LEO TERRAM PROPRIAM PROTEGAT (Let the Lion Protect its Own Land)

Economy

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Economy - overview:

Some fishing takes place in adjacent waters. There is a potential source of income from harvesting finfish and krill. The islands receive income from postage stamps produced in the UK, sale of fishing licenses, and harbor and landing fees from tourist vessels. Tourism from specialized cruise ships is increasing rapidly.

Communications

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: coastal radiotelephone station at Grytviken

Radio broadcast stations:

0 (2003)

Television broadcast stations:

0 (2003)

Internet country code:

.gs

Transportation

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Ports and harbors:

Grytviken

Airports:

none (2004 est.)

Military

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Disputes - international:

Argentina, which claims the islands in its constitution and briefly occupied the islands by force in 1982, agreed in 1995 to no longer seek settlement by force

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Syria

Introduction

Syria

Background:

Following the breakup of the Ottoman Empire during World War I, Syria was administered by the French until independence in 1946. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the Golan Heights to Israel. Syrian troops - stationed in Lebanon since 1976 in an ostensible peacekeeping role - were withdrawn in April of 2005. Over the past decade, Syria and Israel have held occasional peace talks over the return of the Golan Heights.

Geography

Syria

Location:

Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Lebanon and Turkey

Geographic coordinates:

35 00 N, 38 00 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 185,180 sq km
land: 184,050 sq km
water: 1,130 sq km
note: includes 1,295 sq km of Israeli-occupied territory

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than North Dakota

Land boundaries:

total: 2,253 km
border countries: Iraq 605 km, Israel 76 km, Jordan 375 km, Lebanon 375 km, Turkey 822 km

Coastline:

193 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 41 nm

Climate:

mostly desert; hot, dry, sunny summers (June to August) and mild, rainy winters (December to February) along coast; cold weather with snow or sleet periodically in Damascus

Terrain:

primarily semiarid and desert plateau; narrow coastal plain; mountains in west

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m
highest point: Mount Hermon 2,814 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, phosphates, chrome and manganese ores, asphalt, iron ore, rock salt, marble, gypsum, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 25.22%
permanent crops: 4.43%
other: 70.35% (2001)

Irrigated land:

12,130 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

dust storms, sandstorms

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; water pollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes; inadequate potable water

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Geography - note:

there are 42 Israeli settlements and civilian land use sites in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights (February 2002 est.)

People

Syria

Population:

18,448,752
note: in addition, about 40,000 people live in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights - 20,000 Arabs (18,000 Druze and 2,000 Alawites) and about 20,000 Israeli settlers (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 37.4% (male 3,556,795/female 3,350,267)
15-64 years: 59.3% (male 5,601,971/female 5,333,799)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 288,868/female 317,052) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 20.37 years
male: 20.24 years
female: 20.51 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.34% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

28.29 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

4.88 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 29.53 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 29.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 29.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.03 years
male: 68.75 years
female: 71.38 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.5 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

less than 500 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Syrian(s)
adjective: Syrian

Ethnic groups:

Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians, and other 9.7%

Religions:

Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%, Christian (various sects) 10%, Jewish (tiny communities in Damascus, Al Qamishli, and Aleppo)

Languages:

Arabic (official); Kurdish, Armenian, Aramaic, Circassian widely understood; French, English somewhat understood

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 76.9%
male: 89.7%
female: 64% (2003 est.)

Government

Syria

Country name:

conventional long form: Syrian Arab Republic
conventional short form: Syria
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Arabiyah as Suriyah
local short form: Suriyah
former: United Arab Republic (with Egypt)

Government type:

republic under military regime since March 1963

Capital:

Damascus

Administrative divisions:

14 provinces (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Hasakah, Al Ladhiqiyah, Al Qunaytirah, Ar Raqqah, As Suwayda', Dar'a, Dayr az Zawr, Dimashq, Halab, Hamah, Hims, Idlib, Rif Dimashq, Tartus

Independence:

17 April 1946 (from League of Nations mandate under French administration)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 17 April (1946)

Constitution:

13 March 1973

Legal system:

based on Islamic law and civil law system; special religious courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Bashar al-ASAD (since 17 July 2000); Vice Presidents Abd al-Halim ibn Said KHADDAM (since 11 March 1984) and Muhammad Zuhayr MASHARIQA (since 11 March 1984)
head of government: Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-UTRI (since 10 September 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; referendum/election last held 10 July 2000 - after the death of President Hafiz al-ASAD, father of Bashar al-ASAD - (next to be held 2007); vice presidents appointed by the president; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
election results: Bashar al-ASAD elected president; percent of vote - Bashar al-ASAD 97.29%
note: Hafiz al-ASAD died on 10 June 2000; on 20 June 2000, the Ba'th Party nominated Bashar al-ASAD for president and presented his name to the People's Council on 25 June 2000

Legislative branch:

unicameral People's Council or Majlis al-Shaab (250 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 2-3 March 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NPF 67%, independents 33%; seats by party - NPF 167, independents 83; note - the constitution guarantees that the Ba'th Party (part of the NPF alliance) receives one-half of the seats

Judicial branch:

Supreme Constitutional Court (justices are appointed for four-year terms by the president); High Judicial Council; Court of Cassation; State Security Courts

Political parties and leaders:

Arab Socialist Unionist Movement [Ahmed al-AHMED]; National Progressive Front or NPF (includes Arab Socialist Renaissance (Ba'th) Party; the governing party) [President Bashar al-ASAD, secretary general]; Socialist Unionist Democratic Party [Fadlallal Nasr Al-DIN]; Syrian Arab Socialist Party or ASP [Safwan QUDSI]; Syrian Communist Party (two branches) [Wissal Farha BAKDASH, Yuusuf Rashid FAYSAL]; Syrian Social National Party [Jubran URAYJI]; Unionist Socialist Party [Fayez ISMAIL]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

conservative religious leaders; Kurdish Democratic Alliance [leader NA]; Kurdish Democratic Front [leader NA]; Muslim Brotherhood (operates in exile in London) [Ali Badr Eddine al-BAYANOUNI]; National Democratic Front [Hassan Abd al-AZIM]

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Imad MUSTAFA
chancery: 2215 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 232-6313
FAX: [1] (202) 234-9548

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Margaret SCOBEY
embassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansur Street, No. 2, Damascus
mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus
telephone: [963] (11) 333-1342
FAX: [963] (11) 331-9678

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black, colors associated with the Arab Liberation flag; two small green five-pointed stars in a horizontal line centered in the white band; former flag of the United Arab Republic where the two stars represented the constituent states of Syria and Egypt; similar to the flag of Yemen, which has a plain white band, Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band, and that of Egypt, which has a gold Eagle of Saladin centered in the white band; the current design dates to 1980

Economy

Syria

Economy - overview:

Real GDP growth rose to 2.3 percent in 2004, a slight increase from 2003 when the predominantly statist economy suffered from disruptions caused by the war in Iraq and other developments in the region. Annual real GDP growth has averaged 2.3 percent for the last seven years. The Government of Syria has implemented modest economic reforms in the last few years, including cutting interest rates, opening private banks, consolidating some of the multiple exchange rates, and raising prices on some subsidized foodstuffs. Nevertheless, the economy remains highly controlled by the government. Long run economic constraints include declining oil production and exports and pressure on water supplies caused by rapid population growth, industrial expansion, and increased water pollution.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$60.44 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.3% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $3,400 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 25%
industry: 31%
services: 44% (2003 est.)

Labor force:

5.12 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 30%, industry 27%, services 43% (2002 est.)

Unemployment rate:

20% (2002 est.)

Population below poverty line:

20% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.1% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

16.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $6.58 billion
expenditures: $9.45 billion, including capital expenditures of $4.67 billion (2004 est.)

Public debt:

32% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas, olives, sugar beets; beef, mutton, eggs, poultry, milk

Industries:

petroleum, textiles, food processing, beverages, tobacco, phosphate rock mining

Industrial production growth rate:

7% (2002 est.)

Electricity - production:

26.15 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 57.6%
hydro: 42.4%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

24.32 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

525,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

240,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:

285,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

2.5 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

5.84 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

5.84 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

240.7 billion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$1.1 billion (2003)

Exports:

$6.086 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

crude oil, petroleum products, fruits and vegetables, cotton fiber, clothing, meat and live animals, wheat

Exports - partners:

Italy 22.7%, France 18%, Turkey 12.9%, Iraq 9%, Saudi Arabia 6.2% (2004)

Imports:

$5.042 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, electric power machinery, food and livestock, metal and metal products, chemicals and chemical products, plastics, yarn, paper

Imports - partners:

Turkey 9.4%, Ukraine 8.7%, China 7.8%, Russia 5.4%, Saudi Arabia 5.2%, US 4.7%, South Korea 4.6%, Italy 4.3% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$5 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$4 billion (excludes military debt and debt to Russia) (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$180 million (2002 est.)

Currency (code):

Syrian pound (SYP)

Currency code:

SYP

Exchange rates:

Syrian pounds per US dollar - (official rate): 11.225 (2004), 11.225 (2003), 11.225 (2002), 11.225 (2001), 11.225 (2000), (parallel market rate in Amman and Beirut) NA (2004), 52.8 (2003), 52.4 (2002), 50.4 (2002), 49.4 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Syria

Telephones - main lines in use:

2,099,300 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

400,000 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: fair system currently undergoing significant improvement and digital upgrades, including fiber-optic technology
domestic: coaxial cable and microwave radio relay network
international: country code - 963; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region); 1 submarine cable; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey; participant in Medarabtel

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 14, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

4.15 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

44 (plus 17 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

1.05 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.sy

Internet hosts:

11 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

220,000 (2002)

Transportation

Syria

Railways:

total: 2,711 km
standard gauge: 2,460 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 251 km 1.050-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 45,697 km
paved: 6,489 km (including 1,001 km of expressways)
unpaved: 39,208 km (2002)

Waterways:

900 km (not economically significant) (2002)

Pipelines:

gas 2,300 km; oil 2,183 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Baniyas, Latakia

Merchant marine:

total: 120 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 446,981 GRT/636,620 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 105, container 1, livestock carrier 4, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 12 (Egypt 1, Greece 1, Jordan 2, Lebanon 7, Romania 1)
registered in other countries: 73 (2005)

Airports:

92 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 26
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 66
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 54 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

7 (2004 est.)

Military

Syria

Military branches:

Syrian Arab Army, Syrian Arab Navy, Syrian Arab Air Force (includes Air Defense Command), Police and Security Force

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 30 months (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 4,356,413 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 3,453,888 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 225,113 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$858 million (FY00 est.); note - based on official budget data that may understate actual spending

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

5.9% (FY00)

Transnational Issues

Syria

Disputes - international:

Golan Heights is Israeli-occupied with the almost 1,000-strong UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) patrolling a buffer zone since 1964; Lebanon claims Shaba'a farms in Golan Heights; international pressure prompts the removal of Syrian troops and intelligence personel stationed in Lebanon since October 1976; Syria protests Turkish hydrological projects regulating upper Euphrates waters; 2004 Agreement and pending demarcation settles border dispute with Jordan

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 413,827 (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA))
IDPs: 170,000 (most displaced from Golan Heights during 1967 Arab-Israeli War) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

a transit point for opiates and hashish bound for regional and Western markets; weak anti-money-laundering controls, bank privatization may leave it vulnerable to money-laundering

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Switzerland

Introduction

Switzerland

Background:

The Swiss Confederation was founded in 1291 as a defensive alliance among three cantons. In succeeding years, other localities joined the original three. The Swiss Confederation secured its independence from the Holy Roman Empire in 1499. Switzerland's sovreignty and neutrality have long been honored by the major European powers, and the country was not involved in either of the two World Wars. The political and economic integration of Europe over the past half century, as well as Switzerland's role in many UN and international organizations, has strengthened Switzerland's ties with its neighbors. However, the country did not officially become a UN member until 2002. Switzerland remains active in many UN and international organizations, but retains a strong commitment to neutrality.

Geography

Switzerland

Location:

Central Europe, east of France, north of Italy

Geographic coordinates:

47 00 N, 8 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 41,290 sq km
land: 39,770 sq km
water: 1,520 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Land boundaries:

total: 1,852 km
border countries: Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

temperate, but varies with altitude; cold, cloudy, rainy/snowy winters; cool to warm, cloudy, humid summers with occasional showers

Terrain:

mostly mountains (Alps in south, Jura in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m
highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m

Natural resources:

hydropower potential, timber, salt

Land use:

arable land: 10.42%
permanent crops: 0.61%
other: 88.97% (2001)

Irrigated land:

250 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

avalanches, landslides, flash floods

Environment - current issues:

air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

landlocked; crossroads of northern and southern Europe; along with southeastern France, northern Italy, and southwestern Austria, has the highest elevations in the Alps

People

Switzerland

Population:

7,489,370 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 16.6% (male 643,497/female 597,565)
15-64 years: 68% (male 2,570,544/female 2,522,365)
65 years and over: 15.4% (male 472,769/female 682,630) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 39.77 years
male: 38.75 years
female: 40.81 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.49% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

9.77 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

8.48 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

3.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.39 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 80.39 years
male: 77.58 years
female: 83.36 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.42 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.4% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

13,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Swiss (singular and plural)
adjective: Swiss

Ethnic groups:

German 65%, French 18%, Italian 10%, Romansch 1%, other 6%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 41.8%, Protestant 35.3%, Orthodox 1.8%, other Christian 0.4%, Muslim 4.3%, other 1%, unspecified 4.3%, none 11.1% (2000 census)

Languages:

German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 20.4%, Italian (official) 6.5%, Serbo-Croatian 1.5%, Albanian 1.3%, Portuguese 1.2%, Spanish 1.1%, English 1%, Romansch 0.5%, other 2.8% (2000 census)
note: German, French, Italian, and Romansch are all national languages, but only the first three are official languages

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99% (1980 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Switzerland

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)

Government type:

formally a confederation, but similar in structure to a federal republic

Capital:

Bern

Administrative divisions:

26 cantons (cantons, singular - canton in French; cantoni, singular - cantone in Italian; kantone, singular - kanton in German); Aargau, Appenzell Ausser-Rhoden, Appenzell Inner-Rhoden, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Bern, Fribourg, Geneve, Glarus, Graubunden, Jura, Luzern, Neuchatel, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Sankt Gallen, Schaffhausen, Schwyz, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Vaud, Zug, Zurich

Independence:

1 August 1291 (founding of the Swiss Confederation)

National holiday:

Founding of the Swiss Confederation, 1 August (1291)

Constitution:

revision of Constitution of 1874 approved by the Federal Parliament 18 December 1998, adopted by referendum 18 April 1999, officially entered into force 1 January 2000

Legal system:

civil law system influenced by customary law; judicial review of legislative acts, except with respect to federal decrees of general obligatory character; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Samuel SCHMID (since 1 January 2005); Vice President Moritz LEUENBERGER (since 1 January 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Samuel SCHMID (since 1 January 2005); Vice President Moritz LEUENBERGER (since 1 January 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal (in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) elected by the Federal Assembly usually from among its own members for a four-year term
elections: president and vice president elected by the Federal Assembly from among the members of the Federal Council for one-year terms that run concurrently; election last held 8 December 2004 (next to be held December 2005)
election results: Samuel SCHMID elected president; percent of Federal Assembly vote - 70.7%; Moritz LEUENBERGER elected vice president; percent of legislative vote - 64.8%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung (in German), Assemblee Federale (in French), Assemblea Federale (in Italian) consists of the Council of States or Standerat (in German), Conseil des Etats (in French), Consiglio degli Stati (in Italian) (46 seats - members serve four-year terms) and the National Council or Nationalrat (in German), Conseil National (in French), Consiglio Nazionale (in Italian) (200 seats - members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: Council of States - last held in most cantons 19 October 2003 (each canton determines when the next election will be held); National Council - last held 19 October 2003 (next to be held October 2007)
election results: Council of States - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CVP 15, FDP 14, SVP 8, SPS 6, other 3; National Council - percent of vote by party - SVP 26.6%, SPS 23.3%, FDP 17.3%, CVP 14.4%, Greens 7.4%, other small parties all under 5%; seats by party - SVP 55, SPS 54, FDP 36, CVP 28, Green Party 13, other small parties 14

Judicial branch:

Federal Supreme Court (judges elected for six-year terms by the Federal Assembly)

Political parties and leaders:

Green Party (Grune Partei der Schweiz or Grune, Parti Ecologiste Suisse or Les Verts, Partito Ecologista Svizzero or I Verdi, Partida Ecologica Svizra or La Verda) [Ruth GENNER]; Christian Democratic People's Party (Christichdemokratische Volkspartei der Schweiz or CVP, Parti Democrate-Chretien Suisse or PDC, Partito Democratico-Cristiano Popolare Svizzero or PDC, Partida Cristiandemocratica dalla Svizra or PCD) [Doris LEUTHARD, president]; Radical Free Democratic Party (Freisinnig-Demokratische Partei der Schweiz or FDP, Parti Radical-Democratique Suisse or PRD, Partitio Liberal-Radicale Svizzero or PLR) [Marianne KLEINER-SCHLAEPFER, president]; Social Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei der Schweiz or SPS, Parti Socialist Suisse or PSS, Partito Socialista Svizzero or PSS, Partida Socialdemocratica de la Svizra or PSS) [Hans-Juerg FEHR, president]; Swiss People's Party (Schweizerische Volkspartei or SVP, Union Democratique du Centre or UDC, Unione Democratica de Centro or UDC, Uniun Democratica dal Center or UDC) [Ueli MAURER, president]; and other minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT, AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, ESA, FAO, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Christian BLICKENSTORFER
chancery: 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 745-7900
FAX: [1] (202) 387-2564
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco
consulate(s): Boston

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela P. WILLEFORD
embassy: Jubilaumsstrasse 93, CH-3005 Bern
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [41] (031) 357 70 11
FAX: [41] (031) 357 73 44

Flag description:

red square with a bold, equilateral white cross in the center that does not extend to the edges of the flag

Economy

Switzerland

Economy - overview:

Switzerland is a peaceful, prosperous, and stable modern market economy with low unemployment, a highly skilled labor force, and a per capita GDP larger than that of the big Western European economies. The Swiss in recent years have brought their economic practices largely into conformity with the EU's to enhance their international competitiveness. Switzerland remains a safe haven for investors, because it has maintained a degree of bank secrecy and has kept up the franc's long-term external value. Reflecting the anemic economic conditions of Europe, GDP growth dropped in 2001 to about 0.8%, to 0.2% in 2002, and to -0.3% in 2003, with a small rise to 1.8% in 2004. Even so, unemployment has remained at less than half the EU average.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$251.9 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.8% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $33,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1.5%
industry: 34%
services: 64.5% (2003 est.)

Labor force:

3.77 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 4.6%, industry 26.3%, services 69.1% (1998)

Unemployment rate:

3.4% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 25.2% (1992)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

33.1 (1992)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

0.9% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

20.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $131.5 billion
expenditures: $140.4 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

57.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs

Industries:

machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments

Industrial production growth rate:

4.7% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

63.47 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 1.3%
hydro: 59.5%
nuclear: 37.1%
other: 2% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

54.53 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

32.3 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

27.8 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

290,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

10,420 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:

289,500 bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

3.093 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

3.093 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Current account balance:

$40.95 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$130.7 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products

Exports - partners:

Germany 20.2%, US 10.5%, France 8.7%, Italy 8.3%, UK 5.1%, Spain 4% (2004)

Imports:

$121.1 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products, textiles

Imports - partners:

Germany 32.8%, Italy 11.3%, France 9.9%, US 5.2%, Netherlands 5%, Austria 4.3% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$69.58 billion (2003)

Debt - external:

$NA (2000)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $1.1 billion (1995)

Currency (code):

Swiss franc (CHF)

Currency code:

CHF

Exchange rates:

Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.2435 (2004), 1.3467 (2003), 1.5586 (2002), 1.6876 (2001), 1.6888 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Switzerland

Telephones - main lines in use:

5.419 million (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

6.172 million (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: excellent domestic and international services
domestic: extensive cable and microwave radio relay networks
international: country code - 41; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean and Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 4, FM 113 (plus many low power stations), shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:

7.1 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

115 (plus 1,919 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

3.31 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.ch

Internet hosts:

667,275 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

44 (Switzerland and Liechtenstein) (2000)

Internet users:

2.556 million (2002)

Transportation

Switzerland

Railways:

total: 4,527 km
standard gauge: 3,232 km 1.435-m gauge (3,211 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,285 km 1.000-m gauge (1,273 km electrified); 10 km 0.800-m gauge (10 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 71,212 km
paved: 71,212 km (including 1,706 of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2002)

Waterways:

65 km
note: Rhine River between Basel-Rheinfelden and Schaffhausen-Bodensee, some canals, and 12 navigable lakes (2003)

Pipelines:

gas 1,831 km; oil 94 km; refined products 7 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Basel

Merchant marine:

total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 604,843 GRT/1,050,914 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 12, cargo 6, chemical tanker 2, container 3
foreign-owned: 6 (United Kingdom 6)
registered in other countries: 291 (2005)

Airports:

65 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 42
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 16 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 23
under 914 m: 23 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

2 (2004 est.)

Military

Switzerland

Military branches:

Land Forces, Swiss Air Force (Schweizer Luftwaffe)

Military service age and obligation:

the Swiss Confederation states that "every Swiss male is obligated to do military service"; every Swiss male has to serve for at least 260 days in the armed forces; 19 years of age for compulsory military service; 17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscripts receive 15 weeks of compulsory training, followed by 10 intermittent recalls for training over the next 22 years; women are accepted on a voluntary basis, but are not drafted (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 19-49: 1,707,694 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 19-49: 1,375,889 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 46,319 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$2.548 billion (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1% (FY01)

Transnational Issues

Switzerland

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

a major international financial center vulnerable to the layering and integration stages of money laundering; despite significant legislation and reporting requirements, secrecy rules persist and nonresidents are permitted to conduct business through offshore entities and various intermediaries; transit country for and consumer of South American cocaine and Southwest Asian heroin

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Trinidad and Tobago

Introduction

Trinidad and Tobago

Background:

The islands came under British control in the 19th century; independence was granted in 1962. The country is one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean thanks largely to petroleum and natural gas production and processing. Tourism, mostly in Tobago, is targeted for expansion and is growing.

Geography

Trinidad and Tobago

Location:

Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela

Geographic coordinates:

11 00 N, 61 00 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 5,128 sq km
land: 5,128 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Delaware

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

362 km

Maritime claims:

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the outer edge of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical; rainy season (June to December)

Terrain:

mostly plains with some hills and low mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, asphalt

Land use:

arable land: 14.62%
permanent crops: 9.16%
other: 76.22% (2001)

Irrigated land:

30 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

outside usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms

Environment - current issues:

water pollution from agricultural chemicals, industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches; deforestation; soil erosion

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

Pitch Lake, on Trinidad's southwestern coast, is the world's largest natural reservoir of asphalt

People

Trinidad and Tobago

Population:

1,088,644 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 20.7% (male 115,594/female 109,665)
15-64 years: 71% (male 403,301/female 369,664)
65 years and over: 8.3% (male 40,638/female 49,782) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 30.91 years
male: 30.46 years
female: 31.44 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.74% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

12.81 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

9.37 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-10.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 24.31 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 26.23 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 22.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 66.73 years
male: 65.6 years
female: 67.91 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.75 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

3.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

29,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

1,900 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Trinidadian(s), Tobagonian(s)
adjective: Trinidadian, Tobagonian

Ethnic groups:

Indian (South Asian) 40%, African 37.5%, mixed 20.5%, other 1.2%, unspecified 0.8% (2000 census)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 26%, Hindu 22.5%, Anglican 7.8%, Baptist 7.2%, Pentecostal 6.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 4%, other Christian 5.8%, Muslim 5.8%, other 10.8%, unspecified 1.4%, none 1.9% (2000 census)

Languages:

English (official), Hindi, French, Spanish, Chinese

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.6%
male: 99.1%
female: 98% (2003 est.)

Government

Trinidad and Tobago

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
conventional short form: Trinidad and Tobago

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Port-of-Spain

Administrative divisions:

9 regional corporations, 2 city corporations, 3 borough corporations, and 1 ward
: regional corporations: Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo, Diego Martin, Mayaro/Rio Claro, Penal/Debe, Princes Town, Sangre Grande, San Juan/Laventille, Siparia, Tunapuna/Piarco
: city corporations: Port-of-Spain, San Fernando;
: borough corporations: Arima, Point Fortin, Chaguanas
: ward: Tobago

Independence:

31 August 1962 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 31 August (1962)

Constitution:

1 August 1976

Legal system:

based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President George Maxwell RICHARDS (since 17 March 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister Patrick MANNING (since 24 December 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed from among the members of Parliament
elections: president elected by an electoral college, which consists of the members of the Senate and House of Representatives, for a five-year term; election last held 14 February 2003 (next to be held in 2008); the president usually appoints as prime minister the leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives
election results: George Maxwell RICHARDS elected president; percent of electoral college vote - 43%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (31 seats; 16 members appointed by the ruling party, 9 by the President, 6 by the opposition party for a maximum term of five years) and the House of Representatives (36 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Representatives - last held 7 October 2002 (next to be held by October 2007)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote - PNM 55.5%, UNC 44.5%; seats by party - PNM 20, UNC 16
note: Tobago has a unicameral House of Assembly with 12 members serving four-year terms

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Judicature (comprised of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeals; the chief justice is appointed by the president after consultation with the prime minister and the leader of the opposition; other justices are appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission); High Court of Justice; Court of Appeals; the highest court of appeal is the Privy Council in London

Political parties and leaders:

National Alliance for Reconstruction or NAR [Lennox SANKERSINGH]; People's National Movement or PNM [Patrick MANNING]; Team Unity or TU [Ramesh MAHARAJ]; United National Congress or UNC [Basdeo PANDAY]; Democratic Action Committee or DAC [Hochoy CHARLES], note - only active in Tobago

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Jamaat-al Muslimeen [Yasin BAKR]

International organization participation:

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Marina Annette VALERE
chancery: 1708 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 467-6490
FAX: [1] (202) 785-3130
consulate(s) general: Miami and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Roy L. AUSTIN
embassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spain
mailing address: P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spain
telephone: [1] (868) 622-6372 through 6376, 622-6176
FAX: [1] (868) 628-5462

Flag description:

red with a white-edged black diagonal band from the upper hoist side to the lower fly side

Economy

Trinidad and Tobago

Economy - overview:

Trinidad and Tobago, the leading Caribbean producer of oil and gas, has earned a reputation as an excellent investment site for international businesses. Tourism is a growing sector, although not proportionately as important as in many other Caribbean islands. The economy benefits from low inflation and a growing trade surplus. Prospects for growth in 2004 are good as prices for oil, petrochemicals, and liquified natural gas are expected to remain high, and foreign direct investment continues to grow to support expanded capacity in the energy sector. The government is coping with a rise in violent crime.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$11.48 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.7% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $10,500 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.7%
industry: 47%
services: 50.3% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

590,000 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 9.5%, manufacturing, mining, and quarrying 14%, construction and utilities 12.4%, services 64.1% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate:

10.4% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

21% (1992 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.3% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $3.25 billion
expenditures: $3.193 billion, including capital expenditures of $117.3 million (2004 est.)

Public debt:

54.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

cocoa, rice, citrus, coffee, vegetables; poultry

Industries:

petroleum, chemicals, tourism, food processing, cement, beverage, cotton textiles

Industrial production growth rate:

7.2% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

5.743 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 99.8%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.2% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

5.341 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

140,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

24,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

990 million bbl (1 January 2004)

Natural gas - production:

25 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

13.76 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

11.79 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

589 billion cu m (1 January 2004)

Current account balance:

$1.548 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$6.671 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, steel products, fertilizer, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus, flowers

Exports - partners:

US 67.1%, Jamaica 5.7%, France 3.5% (2004)

Imports:

$4.65 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, live animals

Imports - partners:

US 23.9%, Venezuela 11.5%, Germany 11.2%, Brazil 10.7%, Spain 6.4%, Italy 5.1% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.927 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$2.94 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$24 million (1999 est.)

Currency (code):

Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD)

Currency code:

TTD

Exchange rates:

Trinidad and Tobago dollars per US dollar - 6.299 (2004), 6.2951 (2003), 6.2487 (2002), 6.2332 (2001), 6.2998 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 October - 30 September

Communications

Trinidad and Tobago

Telephones - main lines in use:

325,100 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

361,900 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: excellent international service; good local service
domestic: NA
international: country code - 1-868; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean); tropospheric scatter to Barbados and Guyana

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 4, FM 18, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

680,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

4 (2004)

Televisions:

425,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.tt

Internet hosts:

8,003 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

17 (2000)

Internet users:

138,000 (2002)

Transportation

Trinidad and Tobago

Highways:

total: 8,320 km
paved: 4,252 km
unpaved: 4,068 km (1999 est.)

Pipelines:

condensate 253 km; gas 1,117 km; oil 478 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Pointe-a-Pierre, Point Lisas, Port-of-Spain

Merchant marine:

total: 6 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 7,178 GRT/3,633 DWT
by type: passenger 2, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 1 (United States 1)
registered in other countries: 4 (2005)

Airports:

6 (2004 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 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Military

Trinidad and Tobago

Military branches:

Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force: Ground Force, Coast Guard (includes Air Wing) (2004)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 293,094 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 203,531 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$66.7 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.6% (2003)

Transnational Issues

Trinidad and Tobago

Disputes - international:

Barbados will assert its claim before UNCLOS that the northern limit of Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuela extends into its waters; Guyana has also expressed its intention to challenge this boundary as it may extend into its waters as well

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; producer of cannabis

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Tromelin Island

Introduction

Tromelin Island

Background:

First explored by the French in 1776, the island came under the jurisdiction of Reunion in 1814. At present, it serves as a sea turtle sanctuary and is the site of an important meteorological station.

Geography

Tromelin Island

Location:

Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar

Geographic coordinates:

15 52 S, 54 25 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 1 sq km
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:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

tropical

Terrain:

low, flat, and sandy; likely volcanic

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 7 m

Natural resources:

fish

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (grasses; scattered bushes) (2001)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

climatologically important location for forecasting cyclones; wildlife sanctuary (seabirds, tortoises)

People

Tromelin Island

Population:

uninhabited, except for visits by scientists (July 2005 est.)

Government

Tromelin Island

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tromelin Island
local long form: none
local short form: Ile Tromelin

Dependency status:

possession of France; administered by the Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Legal system:

the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Flag description:

the flag of France is used

Economy

Tromelin Island

Economy - overview:

no economic activity

Communications

Tromelin Island

Communications - note:

important meteorological station

Transportation

Tromelin Island

Ports and harbors:

none; offshore anchorage only

Airports:

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Tromelin Island

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

Tromelin Island

Disputes - international:

claimed by Mauritius

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Thailand

Introduction

Thailand

Background:

A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th century. Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never to have been taken over by a European power. A bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy. In alliance with Japan during World War II, Thailand became a US ally following the conflict. Thailand is currently facing armed violence in its three Muslim-majority southernmost provinces.

Geography

Thailand

Location:

Southeastern Asia, bordering the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, southeast of Burma

Geographic coordinates:

15 00 N, 100 00 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 514,000 sq km
land: 511,770 sq km
water: 2,230 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming

Land boundaries:

total: 4,863 km
border countries: Burma 1,800 km, Cambodia 803 km, Laos 1,754 km, Malaysia 506 km

Coastline:

3,219 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

tropical; rainy, warm, cloudy southwest monsoon (mid-May to September); dry, cool northeast monsoon (November to mid-March); southern isthmus always hot and humid

Terrain:

central plain; Khorat Plateau in the east; mountains elsewhere

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 m

Natural resources:

tin, rubber, natural gas, tungsten, tantalum, timber, lead, fish, gypsum, lignite, fluorite, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 29.36%
permanent crops: 6.46%
other: 64.18% (2001)

Irrigated land:

47,490 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the depletion of the water table; droughts

Environment - current issues:

air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by illegal hunting

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

controls only land route from Asia to Malaysia and Singapore

People

Thailand

Population:

65,444,371
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 23.9% (male 7,988,529/female 7,633,405)
15-64 years: 68.6% (male 22,195,625/female 22,731,767)
65 years and over: 7.5% (male 2,251,112/female 2,643,933) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 30.88 years
male: 30.11 years
female: 31.66 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.87% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

15.7 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

7.02 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 20.48 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 21.83 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.95 years
male: 69.65 years
female: 74.37 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.88 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.5% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

570,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

58,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, Japanese encephalitis, and plague are high risks in some locations
animal contact disease: rabies
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Thai (singular and plural)
adjective: Thai

Ethnic groups:

Thai 75%, Chinese 14%, other 11%

Religions:

Buddhist 94.6%, Muslim 4.6%, Christian 0.7%, other 0.1% (2000 census)

Languages:

Thai, English (secondary language of the elite), ethnic and regional dialects

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 92.6%
male: 94.9%
female: 90.5% (2002)

Government

Thailand

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Thailand
conventional short form: Thailand
former: Siam

Government type:

constitutional monarchy

Capital:

Bangkok

Administrative divisions:

76 provinces (changwat, singular and plural); Amnat Charoen, Ang Thong, Buriram, Chachoengsao, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Chanthaburi, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chon Buri, Chumphon, Kalasin, Kamphaeng Phet, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Krabi, Krung Thep Mahanakhon (Bangkok), Lampang, Lamphun, Loei, Lop Buri, Mae Hong Son, Maha Sarakham, Mukdahan, Nakhon Nayok, Nakhon Pathom, Nakhon Phanom, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Sawan, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Nan, Narathiwat, Nong Bua Lamphu, Nong Khai, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Pattani, Phangnga, Phatthalung, Phayao, Phetchabun, Phetchaburi, Phichit, Phitsanulok, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Phrae, Phuket, Prachin Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Ranong, Ratchaburi, Rayong, Roi Et, Sa Kaeo, Sakon Nakhon, Samut Prakan, Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Sara Buri, Satun, Sing Buri, Sisaket, Songkhla, Sukhothai, Suphan Buri, Surat Thani, Surin, Tak, Trang, Trat, Ubon Ratchathani, Udon Thani, Uthai Thani, Uttaradit, Yala, Yasothon

Independence:

1238 (traditional founding date; never colonized)

National holiday:

Birthday of King PHUMIPHON, 5 December (1927)

Constitution:

new constitution signed by King PHUMIPHON on 11 October 1997

Legal system:

based on civil law system, with influences of common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet (since 9 June 1946)
head of government: Prime Minister THAKSIN Chinnawat (since 9 February 2001) and Deputy Prime Ministers CHITCHAI Wannasathi (since 11 March 2005), PHINIT Charusombat (since 6 October 2004), SOMKHIT Chatusiphithak (since 11 March 2005), SURAKIAT Sathianthai (since 11 March 2005); SURIYA Chungrungruankit (since 3 August 2005), SUWAT Liptapanlop (since 3 August 2005), WISANU Kruangam (since 8 November 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
note: there is also a Privy Council
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister is designated from among the members of the House of Representatives; following national elections for the House of Representatives, the leader of the party that can organize a majority coalition usually is appointed prime minister by the king

Legislative branch:

bicameral National Assembly or Rathasapha consists of the Senate or Wuthisapha (200 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives or Sapha Phuthaen Ratsadon (500 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 4 March, 29 April, 4 June, 9 July, and 22 July 2000 (next to be held by March 2006); House of Representatives - last held 6 February 2005 (next to be held in February 2009)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NA; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - TRT 376, DP 97, TNP 25, PP 2

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court or Sandika (judges appointed by the monarch)

Political parties and leaders:

Democrat Party or DP (Prachathipat Party) [ABHISIT Wetchachiwa]; People's Party or PP (Mahachon Party) [ANEK Laothamatas]; Thai Nation Party or TNP (Chat Thai Party) [BARNHARN SILPA-ARCHA]; Thai Rak Thai Party or TRT [THAKSIN Chinnawat]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC (observer), OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: KASIT Piromya
chancery: 1024 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20007-3681
telephone: [1] (202) 944-3600
FAX: [1] (202) 944-3611
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph L. BOYCE
embassy: 120/22 Wireless Road, Bangkok
mailing address: APO AP 96546
telephone: [66] (2) 205-4000
FAX: [66] (2) 254-2990, 205-4131
consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai

Flag description:

five horizontal bands of red (top), white, blue (double width), white, and red

Economy

Thailand

Economy - overview:

Thailand has a well developed infrastructure, a free-enterprise economy, and welcomes foreign investment. Thailand has fully recovered from the 1997-98 Asian Financial Crisis and was one of East Asia's best performers in 2002-04. Increased consumption and investment spending and strong export growth pushed GDP growth up to 6.9% in 2003 and 6.1% in 2004 despite a sluggish global economy. The highly popular government's expansionist policy, including major support of village economic development, has raised concerns about fiscal discipline and the health of financial institutions. Bangkok has pursued preferential trade agreements with a variety of partners in an effort to boost exports and maintain high growth, and in 2004 began negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement with the US. In late December 2004, a major tsunami took 8,500 lives in Thailand and caused massive destruction of property in the southern provinces of Krabi, Phangnga, and Phuket.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$524.8 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.1% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $8,100 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 9%
industry: 44.3%
services: 46.7% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

36.43 million (November 2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 49%, industry 14%, services 37% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

1.5% (November 2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

10% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 32.4% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

51.1 (2002)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.8% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

22.5% of GDP (Jan - Sep 2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $30.86 billion
expenditures: $31.94 billion, including capital expenditures of $5 billion (2004 est.)

Public debt:

47.6% of GDP (November 2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

rice, cassava (tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts, soybeans

Industries:

tourism, textiles and garments, agricultural processing, beverages, tobacco, cement, light manufacturing such as jewelry, electric appliances and components, computers and parts, integrated circuits, furniture, plastics, world's second-largest tungsten producer, and third-largest tin producer

Industrial production growth rate:

8.5% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

118.9 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 91.3%
hydro: 6.4%
nuclear: 0%
other: 2.4% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

106.1 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:

188 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

600 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

225,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

785,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

600 million bbl (1 January 2003)

Natural gas - production:

18.73 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

23.93 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

5.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

368.2 billion cu m (1 January 2003)

Current account balance:

$6.736 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$87.91 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

textiles and footwear, fishery products, rice, rubber, jewelry, automobiles, computers and electrical appliances

Exports - partners:

US 15.9%, Japan 13.9%, China 7.3%, Singapore 7.2%, Malaysia 5.4%, Hong Kong 5.1% (2004)

Imports:

$80.84 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

capital goods, intermediate goods and raw materials, consumer goods, fuels

Imports - partners:

Japan 23.6%, China 8.6%, US 7.6%, Malaysia 5.8%, Singapore 4.4%, Taiwan 4.1% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$48.3 billion (2004)

Debt - external:

$50.59 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$72 million (2002)

Currency (code):

baht (THB)

Currency code:

THB

Exchange rates:

baht per US dollar - 40.222 (2004), 41.485 (2003), 42.96 (2002), 44.432 (2001), 40.112 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 October - 30 September

Communications

Thailand

Telephones - main lines in use:

6,617,400 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

26.5 million (2005)

Telephone system:

general assessment: high quality system, especially in urban areas like Bangkok; WTO requirement for privatization of telecom sector is planned to be complete by 2006
domestic: fixed line system provided by both a government owned and commercial provider; wireless service expanding rapidly and outpacing fixed lines
international: country code - 66; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean); landing country for APCN submarine cable

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 204, FM 334, shortwave 6 (1999)

Radios:

13.96 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

5 (all in Bangkok; plus 131 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

15.19 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.th

Internet hosts:

103,700 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

15 (2000)

Internet users:

6,971,500 (2003)

Transportation

Thailand

Railways:

total: 4,071 km
narrow gauge: 4,071 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 57,403 km
paved: 56,542 km
unpaved: 861 km (2000 est.)

Waterways:

4,000 km
note: 3,701 km navigable by boats with drafts up to 0.9 m (2003)

Pipelines:

gas 3,112 km; refined products 265 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Prachuap Port, Si Racha

Merchant marine:

total: 386 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 2,038,597 GRT/3,104,712 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 57, cargo 142, chemical tanker 12, combination ore/oil 1, container 21, liquefied gas 25, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 89, refrigerated cargo 30, roll on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 55 (Indonesia 1, Japan 3, Norway 45, Singapore 6)
registered in other countries: 35 (2005)

Airports:

109 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 65
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 19
under 914 m: 6 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 44
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 28 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

3 (2004 est.)

Military

Thailand

Military branches:

Royal Thai Army, Royal Thai Navy (includes Royal Thai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force

Military service age and obligation:

21 years of age for compulsory military service; males are registered at 18 years of age; conscript service obliation - 2 years; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 21-49: 14.984 million (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 21-49: 10,342,337 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 530,493 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$1.775 billion (FY00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.8% (2003)

Transnational Issues

Thailand

Disputes - international:

separatist violence in Thailand's predominantly Muslim southern provinces prompt border closures and controls with Malaysia to stem terrorist activities; southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; Laos and Thailand pledge to complete demarcation of their boundary in 2005; despite continuing border committee talks, significant differences remain with Burma over boundary alignment and the handling of ethnic rebels, refugees, and illegal cross-border activities; Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of boundary with missing boundary markers; Cambodia claims Thai encroachments into Cambodian territory and obstructing access to Preah Vihear temple ruins awarded to Cambodia by ICJ decision in 1962; ethnic Karens from Burma flee into Thailand to escape fighting between Karen rebels and Burmese troops resulting in Thailand sheltering about 118,000 Burmese refugees in 2004; Karens also protest Thai support for a Burmese hydroelectric dam construction on the Salween River near the border; environmentalists in Burma and Thailand remain concerned about China's construction of hydroelectric dams upstream on the Nujiang/Salween River in Yunnan Province

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 118,407 (Burma) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

a minor producer of opium, heroin, and marijuana; illicit transit point for heroin en route to the international drug market from Burma and Laos; eradication efforts have reduced the area of cannabis cultivation and shifted some production to neighboring countries; opium poppy cultivation has been reduced by eradication efforts; also a drug money-laundering center; minor role in amphetamine production for regional consumption; increasing indigenous abuse of methamphetamine

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Tajikistan

Introduction

Tajikistan

Background:

The Tajik people came under Russian rule in the 1860s and 1870s, but Russia's hold on Central Asia weakened following the Revolution of 1917. Bolshevik control of the area was fiercely contested and not fully reestablished until 1925. Tajikistan became independent in 1991 following the breakup of the Soviet Union and has now completed its transition from the civil war that plagued the country from 1992 to 1997. There have been no major security incidents in recent years, although the country remains the poorest in the region. Attention by the international community in the wake of the war in Afghanistan has brought increased economic development assistance, which could create jobs and increase stability in the long term. Tajikistan is in the early stages of seeking World Trade Organization membership and has joined NATO's Partnership for Peace.

Geography

Tajikistan

Location:

Central Asia, west of China

Geographic coordinates:

39 00 N, 71 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 143,100 sq km
land: 142,700 sq km
water: 400 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Wisconsin

Land boundaries:

total: 3,651 km
border countries: Afghanistan 1,206 km, China 414 km, Kyrgyzstan 870 km, Uzbekistan 1,161 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

midlatitude continental, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid to polar in Pamir Mountains

Terrain:

Pamir and Alay Mountains dominate landscape; western Fergana Valley in north, Kofarnihon and Vakhsh Valleys in southwest

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Syr Darya (Sirdaryo) 300 m
highest point: Qullai Ismoili Somoni 7,495 m

Natural resources:

hydropower, some petroleum, uranium, mercury, brown coal, lead, zinc, antimony, tungsten, silver, gold

Land use:

arable land: 6.61%
permanent crops: 0.92%
other: 92.47% (2001)

Irrigated land:

7,200 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

earthquakes and floods

Environment - current issues:

inadequate sanitation facilities; increasing levels of soil salinity; industrial pollution; excessive pesticides

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; mountainous region dominated by the Trans-Alay Range in the north and the Pamirs in the southeast; highest point, Qullai Ismoili Somoni (formerly Communism Peak), was the tallest mountain in the former USSR

People

Tajikistan

Population:

7,163,506 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 38.5% (male 1,390,220/female 1,368,268)
15-64 years: 56.7% (male 2,022,764/female 2,040,524)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 150,372/female 191,358) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 19.73 years
male: 19.45 years
female: 20.02 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.15% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

32.58 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

8.39 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-2.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 110.76 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 122.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 98.6 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 64.56 years
male: 61.68 years
female: 67.59 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.05 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 100 (2001 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Tajikistani(s)
adjective: Tajikistani

Ethnic groups:

Tajik 79.9%, Uzbek 15.3%, Russian 1.1%, Kyrgyz 1.1%, other 2.6% (2000 census)

Religions:

Sunni Muslim 85%, Shi'a Muslim 5%, other 10% (2003 est.)

Languages:

Tajik (official), Russian widely used in government and business

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.4%
male: 99.6%
female: 99.1% (2003 est.)

Government

Tajikistan

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Tajikistan
conventional short form: Tajikistan
local long form: Jumhurii Tojikiston
local short form: Tojikiston
former: Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Dushanbe

Administrative divisions:

2 provinces (viloyatho, singular - viloyat) and 1 autonomous province* (viloyati mukhtor); Viloyati Mukhtori Kuhistoni Badakhshon* [Gorno-Badakhshan] (Khorugh), Viloyati Khatlon (Qurghonteppa), Viloyati Sughd (Khujand)
note: the administrative center name follows in parentheses

Independence:

9 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Independence Day (or National Day), 9 September (1991)

Constitution:

6 November 1994

Legal system:

based on civil law system; no judicial review of legislative acts

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Emomali RAHMONOV (since 6 November 1994; head of state and Supreme Assembly chairman since 19 November 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister Oqil OQILOV (since 20 January 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved by the Supreme Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 6 November 1999 (next to be held NA 2006); prime minister appointed by the president; Tajikistan held a constitutional referendum on 22 June 2003 that, among other things, set a limit of two seven-year terms for the president
election results: Emomali RAHMONOV elected president; percent of vote - Emomali RAHMONOV 97%, Davlat USMON 2%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Supreme Assembly or Majlisi Oli consists of the Assembly of Representatives (lower chamber) or Majlisi Namoyandagon (63 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and the National Assembly (upper chamber) or Majlisi Milliy (33 seats; members are indirectly elected, 25 selected by local deputies, 8 appointed by the president; all serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 27 February and 13 March 2000 for the Assembly of Representatives (next to be held NA 2010) and 23 March 2000 for the National Assembly (next to be held NA 2005)
election results: Assembly of Representatives - percent of vote by party - PDPT 74%, CPT 13%, Islamic Revival Party 8%, other 5%; seats by party - PDPT 49, CPT 4, Islamic Revival Party 2, independents 5, vacant 3; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Party or DPT [Mahmadruzi ISKANDAROV]; Islamic Revival Party [Said Abdullo NURI]; People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan or PDPT [Emomali RAHMONOV]; Social Democratic Party or SDPT [Rahmatullo ZOIROV]; Socialist Party or SPT [Mirhuseyn NAZRIYEV]; Tajik Communist Party or CPT [Shodi SHABDOLOV]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

there are three unregistered political parties: Agrarian Party or APT [Hikmatullo NASRIDDINOV]; Progressive Party [Sulton QUVVATOV]; Unity Party [Hikmatullo SAIDOV]

International organization participation:

AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Hamrohon ZARIPOV
chancery: 1725 K Street NW, Suite 409, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: [1] (202) 223-6090
FAX: [1] (202) 223-6091

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Richard E. HOAGLAND
embassy: 10 Pavlova Street, Dushanbe, Tajikistan 734003; note - the embassy in Dushanbe is not yet fully operational; most business is still handled in Almaty at: 531 Sayfullin Street, Almaty, Kazakhstan, telephone 7-3272-58-79-61, FAX 7-3272-58-79-68
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [992] (372) 21-03-48, 21-03-52, 24-15-60
FAX: [992] (372) 21-03-62, 51-00-28

Flag description:

three horizontal stripes of red (top), a wider stripe of white, and green; a gold crown surmounted by seven gold, five-pointed stars is located in the center of the white stripe

Economy

Tajikistan

Economy - overview:

Tajikistan has one of the lowest per capita GDPs among the 15 former Soviet republics. Only 5% to 6% of the land area is arable. Cotton is the most important crop. Mineral resources, varied but limited in amount, include silver, gold, uranium, and tungsten. Industry consists only of a large aluminum plant, hydropower facilities, and small obsolete factories mostly in light industry and food processing. The civil war (1992-97) severely damaged the already weak economic infrastructure and caused a sharp decline in industrial and agricultural production. Even though 60% of its people continue to live in abject poverty, Tajikistan has experienced steady economic growth since 1997. Continued privatization of medium and large state-owned enterprises will further increase productivity. Tajikistan's economic situation, however, remains fragile due to uneven implementation of structural reforms, weak governance, widespread unemployment, and the external debt burden. A debt restructuring agreement was reached with Russia in December 2002, including an interest rate of 4%, a 3-year grace period, and a US $49.8 million credit to the Central Bank of Tajikistan.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$7.95 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

10.5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 23.7%
industry: 24.3%
services: 52% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

3.187 million (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 67.2%, industry 7.5%, services 25.3% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

40% (2002 est.)

Population below poverty line:

60% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 25.2% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

34.7 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

8% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

22% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $311.2 million
expenditures: $321.5 million, including capital expenditures of $86 million (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

cotton, grain, fruits, grapes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats

Industries:

aluminum, zinc, lead, chemicals and fertilizers, cement, vegetable oil, metal-cutting machine tools, refrigerators and freezers

Industrial production growth rate:

8.2% (2002 est.)

Electricity - production:

15.08 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 1.9%
hydro: 98.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

14.41 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

3.974 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

4.359 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

250 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

20,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Natural gas - production:

50 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.3 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

1.25 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Current account balance:

$-52 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$1.13 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

aluminum, electricity, cotton, fruits, vegetable oil, textiles

Exports - partners:

Netherlands 41.4%, Turkey 15.3%, Uzbekistan 7.2%, Latvia 7.1%, Switzerland 6.9%, Russia 6.6% (2004)

Imports:

$1.3 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

electricity, petroleum products, aluminum oxide, machinery and equipment, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Russia 20.2%, Uzbekistan 14.2%, Kazakhstan 12.8%, Azerbaijan 7.2%, US 6.7%, China 4.8%, Ukraine 4.5% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$145.3 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$888 million (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$60.7 million from US (2001)

Currency (code):

somoni

Currency code:

TJS

Exchange rates:

Tajikistani somoni per US dollar - 2.9705 (2004), 3.0614 (2003), 2.7641 (2002), 2.3722 (2001), 2.0763 (2000)
note: the new unit of exchange was introduced on 30 October 2000, with one somoni equal to 1,000 of the old Tajikistani rubles

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Tajikistan

Telephones - main lines in use:

242,100 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

47,600 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: poorly developed and not well maintained; many towns are not linked to the national network
domestic: cable and microwave radio relay
international: country code - 992; linked by cable and microwave radio relay to other CIS republics and by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; Dushanbe linked by Intelsat to international gateway switch in Ankara (Turkey); satellite earth stations - 1 Orbita and 2 Intelsat

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 8, FM 10, shortwave 2 (2002)

Radios:

1.291 million (1991)

Television broadcast stations:

13 (2001)

Televisions:

820,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.tj

Internet hosts:

69 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

4 (2002)

Internet users:

4,100 (2003)

Transportation

Tajikistan

Railways:

total: 482 km
broad gauge: 482 km 1.520-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 27,767 km
paved: NA
unpaved: NA (2000)

Waterways:

200 km (along Vakhsh River) (2003)

Pipelines:

gas 541 km; oil 38 km (2004)

Airports:

55 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 17
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 38
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 35 (2004 est.)

Military

Tajikistan

Military branches:

Army, Air Force, Air Defense Force

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,556,415 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,244,941 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 87,846 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$35.4 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3.9% (FY01)

Transnational Issues

Tajikistan

Disputes - international:

boundary agreements signed in 2002 cede 1,000 sq km of Pamir Mountain range to China in return for China relinquishing claims to 28,000 sq km of Tajikistani lands but neither state has published maps of ceded areas and demarcation has not yet commenced; talks continue with Uzbekistan to delimit border and remove minefields; disputes in Isfara Valley delay delimitation with Kyrgyzstan

Illicit drugs:

major transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and, to a lesser extent, Western European markets; limited illicit cultivation of opium poppy for domestic consumption; Tajikistan seizes roughly 80 percent of all drugs captured in Central Asia and stands third worldwide in seizures of opiates (heroin and raw opium)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Turks and Caicos Islands

Introduction

Turks and Caicos Islands

Background:

The islands were part of the UK's Jamaican colony until 1962, when they assumed the status of a separate crown colony upon Jamaica's independence. The governor of The Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence was agreed upon for 1982, the policy was reversed and the islands remain a British overseas territory.

Geography

Turks and Caicos Islands

Location:

Caribbean, two island groups in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of The Bahamas, north of Haiti

Geographic coordinates:

21 45 N, 71 35 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 430 sq km
land: 430 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

389 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; marine; moderated by trade winds; sunny and relatively dry

Terrain:

low, flat limestone; extensive marshes and mangrove swamps

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Blue Hills 49 m

Natural resources:

spiny lobster, conch

Land use:

arable land: 2.33%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.67% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

frequent hurricanes

Environment - current issues:

limited natural fresh water resources, private cisterns collect rainwater

Geography - note:

about 40 islands (eight inhabited)

People

Turks and Caicos Islands

Population:

20,556 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 32.5% (male 3,396/female 3,277)
15-64 years: 63.8% (male 6,900/female 6,220)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 342/female 421) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 27.35 years
male: 28.08 years
female: 26.62 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.9% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

22.23 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

4.28 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

11.09 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 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 (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 15.67 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 18.11 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.51 years
male: 72.28 years
female: 76.84 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.08 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: none
adjective: none

Ethnic groups:

black 90%, mixed, European, or North American 10%

Religions:

Baptist 40%, Methodist 16%, Anglican 18%, Church of God 12%, other 14% (1990)

Languages:

English (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 98%
male: 99%
female: 98% (1970 est.)

People - note:

destination and transit point for illegal Haitian immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands, Bahamas, and US

Government

Turks and Caicos Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands

Dependency status:

overseas territory of the UK

Government type:

NA

Capital:

Grand Turk

Administrative divisions:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Independence:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:

Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)

Constitution:

introduced 30 August 1976; suspended in 1986; restored and revised 5 March 1988

Legal system:

based on laws of England and Wales, with a few adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1953), represented by Governor Richard TAUWHARE (since 11 July 2005)
head of government: Chief Minister Michael Eugene MISICK (since 15 August 2003)
cabinet: Executive Council consists 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 appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is appointed chief minister by the governor

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Council (19 seats of which 13 are popularly elected; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 24 April 2003 (next to be held in 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - PDM 53.8%, PNP 46.2%; seats by party - PDM 7, PNP 6; note - in by-elections held 7 August 2003, the PNP gained two seats for a majority of 8 seats; PDM now has 5

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Derek H. TAYLOR]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Michael Eugene MISICK]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag description:

blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus

Economy

Turks and Caicos Islands

Economy - overview:

The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, fishing, and offshore financial services. Most capital goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US is the leading source of tourists, accounting for more than half of the annual 93,000 visitors in the late 1990s. Major sources of government revenue also include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$216 million (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.9% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $11,500 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Labor force:

4,848 (1990 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services

Unemployment rate:

10% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4% (1995)

Budget:

revenues: $47 million
expenditures: $33.6 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1997-98 est.)

Agriculture - products:

corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish

Industries:

tourism, offshore financial services

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

5 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

4.65 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day

Oil - consumption:

0 bbl/day

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$169.2 million (2000)

Exports - commodities:

lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells

Exports - partners:

US, UK

Imports:

$175.6 million (2000)

Imports - commodities:

food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials

Imports - partners:

US, UK

Debt - external:

NA

Economic aid - recipient:

$4.1 million (1997)

Currency (code):

US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

USD

Exchange rates:

the US dollar is used

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Turks and Caicos Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:

5,700 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,700 (1999)

Telephone system:

general assessment: fully digital system with international direct dialing
domestic: full range of services available
international: country code - 1-649; 2 submarine cables; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

8,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

0 (broadcasts from The Bahamas are received; 2 cable television networks) (2004)

Televisions:

NA

Internet country code:

.tc

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

14 (2000)

Internet users:

NA

Transportation

Turks and Caicos Islands

Highways:

total: 121 km
paved: 24 km
unpaved: 97 km (2000)

Ports and harbors:

Grand Turk, Providenciales

Airports:

8 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Military

Turks and Caicos Islands

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues

Turks and Caicos Islands

Disputes - international:

have received Haitians fleeing economic and civil disorder

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Tokelau

Introduction

Tokelau

Background:

Originally settled by Polynesian emigrants from surrounding island groups, the Tokelau Islands were made a British protectorate in 1889. They were transferred to New Zealand administration in 1925.

Geography

Tokelau

Location:

Oceania, group of three atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Geographic coordinates:

9 00 S, 172 00 W

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 10 sq km
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:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; moderated by trade winds (April to November)

Terrain:

low-lying coral atolls enclosing large lagoons

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m

Natural resources:

NEGL

Land use:

arable land: 0% (soil is thin and infertile)
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

lies in Pacific typhoon belt

Environment - current issues:

very limited natural resources and overcrowding are contributing to emigration to New Zealand

Geography - note:

consists of three atolls, each with a lagoon surrounded by a number of reef-bound islets of varying length and rising to over three meters above sea level

People

Tokelau

Population:

1,405 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 42%
15-64 years: 53%
65 years and over: 5% (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.01% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

NA

Death rate:

NA

Net migration rate:

NA

Sex ratio:

NA

Infant mortality rate:

total: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: NA
male: -9 years
female: -9 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Tokelauan(s)
adjective: Tokelauan

Ethnic groups:

Polynesian

Religions:

Congregational Christian Church 70%, Roman Catholic 28%, other 2%
note: on Atafu, all Congregational Christian Church of Samoa; on Nukunonu, all Roman Catholic; on Fakaofo, both denominations, with the Congregational Christian Church predominant

Languages:

Tokelauan (a Polynesian language), English

Literacy:

NA

Government

Tokelau

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tokelau

Dependency status:

self-administering territory of New Zealand; note - Tokelauans are drafting a constitution and developing institutions and patterns of self-government as Tokelau moves toward free association with New Zealand

Government type:

NA

Capital:

none; each atoll has its own administrative center

Administrative divisions:

none (territory of New Zealand)

Independence:

none (territory of New Zealand)

National holiday:

Waitangi Day (Treaty of Waitangi established British sovereignty over New Zealand), 6 February (1840)

Constitution:

administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948; amended in 1970

Legal system:

New Zealand and local statutes

Suffrage:

21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General of New Zealand Dame Silvia CARTWRIGHT (since 4 April 2001); New Zealand is represented by Administrator Neil WALTER (since 1 March 2003)
head of government: Pio TUIA (since February 2005); note - position rotates annually among the three Faipule (village leaders)
cabinet: the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau, consisting of three Faipule (village leaders) and three Pulenuku (village mayors) functions as a cabinet
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand; the head of government is chosen from the Council of Faipule and serves a one-year term

Legislative branch:

unicameral General Fono (21 seats; based upon proportional representation from the three islands elected by popular vote to serve three-year terms; Nukunonu has 6 seats, Fakaofo has 7 seats, Atafu has 8 seats); note - the Tokelau Amendment Act of 1996 confers limited legislative power on the General Fono
elections: last held January 2002 (next to be held January 2005)

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court in New Zealand exercises civil and criminal jurisdiction in Tokelau

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

UNESCO (associate), UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (territory of New Zealand)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territory of New Zealand)

Flag description:

the flag of New Zealand is used

Economy

Tokelau

Economy - overview:

Tokelau's small size (three villages), isolation, and lack of resources greatly restrain economic development and confine agriculture to the subsistence level. The people rely heavily on aid from New Zealand - about $4 million annually - to maintain public services, with annual aid being substantially greater than GDP. The principal sources of revenue come from sales of copra, postage stamps, souvenir coins, and handicrafts. Money is also remitted to families from relatives in New Zealand.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.5 million (1993 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

NA

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,000 (1993 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Labor force:

NA

Unemployment rate:

NA%

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

NA%

Budget:

revenues: $430,800
expenditures: $2.8 million, including capital expenditures of $37,300 (1987 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coconuts, copra, breadfruit, papayas, bananas; pigs, poultry, goats

Industries:

small-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking, plaited craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

NA kWh

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

NA kWh

Exports:

$98,000 f.o.b. (1983)

Exports - commodities:

stamps, copra, handicrafts

Exports - partners:

New Zealand (2000)

Imports:

$323,000 c.i.f. (1983)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, building materials, fuel

Imports - partners:

New Zealand (2000)

Debt - external:

$0

Economic aid - recipient:

from New Zealand about $4 million annually

Currency (code):

New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Currency code:

NZD

Exchange rates:

New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003), 2.1622 (2002), 2.3788 (2001), 2.2012 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

Tokelau

Telephones - main lines in use:

300 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

0 (2001)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern satellite-based communications system;
domestic: radiotelephone service between islands
international: country code - 690; 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: 1 radio station provides service to all islands (2002)

Radios:

1,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.tk

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

NA

Transportation

Tokelau

Highways:

total: NA
paved: NA
unpaved: NA

Ports and harbors:

none; offshore anchorage only

Airports:

none; lagoon landings are possible by amphibious aircraft (2004 est.)

Military

Tokelau

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Transnational Issues

Tokelau

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Tonga

Introduction

Tonga

Background:

The archipelago of "The Friendly Islands" was united into a Polynesian kingdom in 1845. It became a constitutional monarchy in 1875 and a British protectorate in 1900. Tonga acquired its independence in 1970 and became a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. It remains the only monarchy in the Pacific.

Geography

Tonga

Location:

Oceania, archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Geographic coordinates:

20 00 S, 175 00 W

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 748 sq km
land: 718 sq km
water: 30 sq km

Area - comparative:

four times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

419 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

tropical; modified by trade winds; warm season (December to May), cool season (May to December)

Terrain:

most islands have limestone base formed from uplifted coral formation; others have limestone overlying volcanic base

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Kao Island 1,033 m

Natural resources:

fish, fertile soil

Land use:

arable land: 23.61%
permanent crops: 43.06%
other: 33.33% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA

Natural hazards:

cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity on Fonuafo'ou

Environment - current issues:

deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared for agriculture and settlement; some damage to coral reefs from starfish and indiscriminate coral and shell collectors; overhunting threatens native sea turtle populations

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

archipelago of 169 islands (36 inhabited)

People

Tonga

Population:

112,422 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 36.2% (male 20,738/female 19,907)
15-64 years: 59.7% (male 33,226/female 33,853)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 2,031/female 2,667) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 20.46 years
male: 19.93 years
female: 21.02 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.98% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

25.18 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

5.35 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 12.62 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 69.53 years
male: 67.05 years
female: 72.14 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Tongan(s)
adjective: Tongan

Ethnic groups:

Polynesian, Europeans about 300

Religions:

Christian (Free Wesleyan Church claims over 30,000 adherents)

Languages:

Tongan, English

Literacy:

definition: can read and write Tongan and/or English
total population: 98.9%
male: 98.8%
female: 99% (1996 est.)

Government

Tonga

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga
conventional short form: Tonga
former: Friendly Islands

Government type:

hereditary constitutional monarchy

Capital:

Nuku'alofa

Administrative divisions:

3 island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u

Independence:

4 June 1970 (from UK protectorate)

National holiday:

Emancipation Day, 4 June (1970)

Constitution:

4 November 1875; revised 1 January 1967

Legal system:

based on English law

Suffrage:

21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: King Taufa'ahau TUPOU IV (since 16 December 1965)
head of government: Prime Minister Prince Lavaka ata ULUKALALA (since 3 January 2000) and Deputy Prime Minister James C. COCKER (since NA January 2001)
cabinet: cabinet consists of 16 members, 12 appointed by the monarch for life; 4 appointed from among the elected members of the Legislative Assembly including 2 each from the Nobles and Peoples representatives serving three year terms
note: there is also a Privy Council that consists of the monarch, the Cabinet, and two governors
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed for life by the monarch

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (30 seats - 12 reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, nine for nobles selected by the country's 33 nobles, and nine elected by popular vote; members serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 21 March 2005 (next to be held in 2008)
election results: Peoples Representatives: percent of vote - HRDMT 70%; seats - HRDMT 7, independents 2

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the monarch); Court of Appeal (consists of the Privy Council with the addition of the chief justice of the Supreme Court)

Political parties and leaders:

there are no political parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Human Rights and Democracy Movement Tonga or HRDMT [Rev. Simote VEA, chairman]

International organization participation:

ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Fekitamoeloa 'UTOIKAMANU
chancery: 250 East 51st Street, New York, NY 10022
telephone: [1] (917) 369-1025
FAX: [1] (917) 369-1024
consulate(s) general: San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tonga

Flag description:

red with a bold red cross on a white rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner

Economy

Tonga

Economy - overview:

Tonga, a small, open, South Pacific island economy, has a narrow export base in agricultural goods. Squash, coconuts, bananas, and vanilla beans are the main crops, and agricultural exports make up two-thirds of total exports. The country must import a high proportion of its food, mainly from New Zealand. Tourism is the second largest source of hard currency earnings following remittances. The country remains dependent on external aid and remittances from Tongan communities overseas to offset its trade deficit. The government is emphasizing the development of the private sector, especially the encouragement of investment, and is committing increased funds for health and education. Tonga has a reasonably sound basic infrastructure and well-developed social services. High unemployment among the young, a continuing upturn in inflation, and rising civil service expenditures are major issues facing the government.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$244 million (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.5% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $2,300 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 23%
industry: 13%
services: 64% (2002 est.)

Labor force:

33,910 (1996)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 65% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate:

13.3% (1996 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

10.3% (2002 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $39.9 million
expenditures: $52.4 million, including capital expenditures of $1.9 million (FY99/00 est.)

Agriculture - products:

squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee, ginger, black pepper; fish

Industries:

tourism, fishing

Industrial production growth rate:

8.6% (FY98/99)

Electricity - production:

24.79 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

23.06 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$27 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:

squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops

Exports - partners:

Japan 37.1%, China 18.7%, US 17.7%, Taiwan 8.7%, New Zealand 7.4% (2004)

Imports:

$86 million f.o.b. (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners:

New Zealand 37.1%, Fiji 24.3%, Australia 9.1%, China 8.9%, US 6.3% (2004)

Debt - external:

$63.4 million (2001)

Economic aid - recipient:

Australia $5.5 million, New Zealand $2.3 million (FY01/02)

Currency (code):

pa'anga (TOP)

Currency code:

TOP

Exchange rates:

pa'anga per US dollar - 1.9716 (2004), 2.142 (2003), 2.1952 (2002), 2.1236 (2001), 1.7585 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Communications

Tonga

Telephones - main lines in use:

11,200 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

9,000 (2004)

Telephone system:

general assessment: competition between Tonga Telecommunications Corporation (TCC) and Shoreline Communications Tonga (SCT) is accelerating expansion of telecommunications; SCT recently granted authority to develop high-speed digital service for telephone, Internet, and television
domestic: fully automatic switched network
international: country code - 676; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2004)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2004)

Radios:

61,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (2004)

Televisions:

2,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.to

Internet hosts:

18,906 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

2,900 (2002)

Transportation

Tonga

Highways:

total: 680 km
paved: 184 km
unpaved: 496 km (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors:

Nuku'alofa

Merchant marine:

total: 29 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 136,977 GRT/200,751 DWT
by type: cargo 21, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 7 (Cyprus 1, France 1, Greece 1, Norway 1, Romania 2, United Kingdom 1) (2005)

Airports:

6 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Tonga

Military branches:

Tonga Defense Services: Ground Forces (Royal Marines, Royal Guard), Maritime Force (includes Air Wing)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.) (2004)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Transnational Issues

Tonga

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Togo

Introduction

Togo

Background:

French Togoland became Togo in 1960. Gen. Gnassingbe EYADEMA, installed as military ruler in 1967, continued to rule well into the 21st century. Despite the facade of multiparty elections instituted in the early 1990s, the government continued to be dominated by President EYADEMA, whose Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) party maintained power almost continually since 1967. Togo has come under fire from international organizations for human rights abuses and is plagued by political unrest. While most bilateral and multilateral aid to Togo remains frozen, the European Union initiated a partial resumption of cooperation and development aid to Togo in late 2004. Upon his death in February 2005, President EYADEMA was succeeded by his son Faure GNASSINGBE. The succession, supported by the military and in contravention of the nation's constitution, was challenged by popular protest and a threat of sanctions from regional leaders. GNASSINGBE succumbed to pressure and agreed to hold elections in late April 2005.

Geography

Togo

Location:

Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Benin, between Benin and Ghana

Geographic coordinates:

8 00 N, 1 10 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 56,785 sq km
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:

territorial sea: 30 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid in south; semiarid in north

Terrain:

gently rolling savanna in north; central hills; southern plateau; low coastal plain with extensive lagoons and marshes

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Agou 986 m

Natural resources:

phosphates, limestone, marble, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 46.15%
permanent crops: 2.21%
other: 51.64% (2001)

Irrigated land:

70 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during winter; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and the use of wood for fuel; water pollution presents health hazards and hinders the fishing industry; air pollution increasing in urban areas

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the country's length allows it to stretch through six distinct geographic regions; climate varies from tropical to savanna

People

Togo

Population:

5,681,519
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 43.2% (male 1,232,759/female 1,224,060)
15-64 years: 54.2% (male 1,505,737/female 1,571,201)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 60,799/female 86,963) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 17.78 years
male: 17.42 years
female: 18.14 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.17% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

33.48 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

11.8 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 66.61 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 74.24 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 58.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 57.01 years
male: 55.02 years
female: 59.06 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.61 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

4.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

110,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

10,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and yellow fever are high risks in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Togolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Togolese

Ethnic groups:

native African (37 tribes; largest and most important are Ewe, Mina, and Kabre) 99%, European and Syrian-Lebanese less than 1%

Religions:

indigenous beliefs 51%, Christian 29%, Muslim 20%

Languages:

French (official and the language of commerce), Ewe and Mina (the two major African languages in the south), Kabye (sometimes spelled Kabiye) and Dagomba (the two major African languages in the north)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 60.9%
male: 75.4%
female: 46.9% (2003 est.)

Government

Togo

Country name:

conventional long form: Togolese Republic
conventional short form: Togo
local long form: Republique Togolaise
local short form: none
former: French Togoland

Government type:

republic under transition to multiparty democratic rule

Capital:

Lome

Administrative divisions:

5 regions (regions, singular - region); Kara, Plateaux, Savanes, Centrale, Maritime

Independence:

27 April 1960 (from French-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 27 April (1960)

Constitution:

multiparty draft constitution approved by High Council of the Republic 1 July 1992, adopted by public referendum 27 September 1992

Legal system:

French-based court system

Suffrage:

NA years of age; universal adult

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Faure GNASSINGBE (since 6 February 2005); note - Gnassingbe EYADEMA died on 5 February 2005 and was succeeded by his son, Faure GNASSINGBE; popular elections in April 2005 validated the succession
head of government: Prime Minister Edem KODJO (since 8 June 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 24 April 2005 (next to be held NA); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Faure GNASSINGBE elected president; percent of vote - Faure GNASSINGBE 60.2%, Emmanuel Akitani BOB 38.3%, Nicolas LAWSON 1.0%, Harry OLYMPIO 0.6%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly (81 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 27 October 2002 (next to be held NA 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RPT 72, RSDD 3, UDPS 2, Juvento 2, MOCEP 1, independents 1
note: two opposition parties boycotted the election, the Union of the Forces for Change, and the Action Committee for Renewal

Judicial branch:

Court of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Political parties and leaders:

Juvento [Monsilia DJATO]; Movement of the Believers of Peace and Equality or MOCEP [leader NA]; Rally for the Support for Development and Democracy or RSDD [Harry OLYMPIO]; Rally of the Togolese People or RPT [Faure GNASSINGBE]; Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS [Gagou KOKOU]
note: Rally of the Togolese People or RPT, led by President GNASSINGBE, was the only party until the formation of multiple parties was legalized 12 April 1991

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ABEDA, ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Akoussoulelou BODJONA
chancery: 2208 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-4212
FAX: [1] (202) 232-3190

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Gregory ENGLE
embassy: Angle Rue Kouenou and Rue 15 Beniglato, Lome
mailing address: B. P. 852, Lome
telephone: [228] 221 29 91 through 221 29 94
FAX: [228] 221 79 52

Flag description:

five equal horizontal bands of green (top and bottom) alternating with yellow; there is a white five-pointed star on a red square in the upper hoist-side corner; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy

Togo

Economy - overview:

This small sub-Saharan economy is heavily dependent on both commercial and subsistence agriculture, which provides employment for 65% of the labor force. Some basic foodstuffs must still be imported. Cocoa, coffee, and cotton generate about 40% of export earnings, with cotton being the most important cash crop. Togo is the world's fourth-largest producer of phosphate, but production fell an estimated 22% in 2002 due to power shortages and the cost of developing new deposits. The government's decade-long effort, supported by the World Bank and the IMF, to implement economic reform measures, encourage foreign investment, and bring revenues in line with expenditures has moved slowly. Progress depends on following through on privatization, increased openness in government financial operations, progress toward legislative elections, and continued support from foreign donors.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$8.684 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,600 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 39.5%
industry: 20.4%
services: 40.1% (2003 est.)

Labor force:

1.74 million (1996)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 65%, industry 5%, services 30% (1998 est.)

Unemployment rate:

NA (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line:

32% (1989 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $239.2 million
expenditures: $273.3 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava (tapioca), corn, beans, rice, millet, sorghum; livestock; fish

Industries:

phosphate mining, agricultural processing, cement; handicrafts, textiles, beverages

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

108.8 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 98.7%
hydro: 1.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

451.2 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

350 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by Ghana (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

10,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-125.6 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$663.1 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

reexports, cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa

Exports - partners:

Burkina Faso 16.4%, Ghana 15.1%, Benin 9.4%, Mali 7.6%, China 7.5%, India 5.6% (2004)

Imports:

$824.9 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products

Imports - partners:

China 25.5%, India 13.3%, France 11.5% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$267.4 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.4 billion (2000)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA $80 million (2000 est.)

Currency (code):

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States

Currency code:

XOF

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Togo

Telephones - main lines in use:

60,600 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

220,000 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: fair system based on a network of microwave radio relay routes supplemented by open-wire lines and a mobile cellular system
domestic: microwave radio relay and open-wire lines for conventional system; cellular system has capacity of 10,000 telephones
international: country code - 228; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Symphonie

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios:

940,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (plus two repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

73,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.tg

Internet hosts:

82 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2001)

Internet users:

210,000 (2003)

Transportation

Togo

Railways:

total: 568 km
narrow gauge: 568 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 7,520 km
paved: 2,376 km
unpaved: 5,144 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

50 km (seasonally on Mono River depending on rainfall) (2003)

Ports and harbors:

Kpeme, Lome

Merchant marine:

total: 2 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 3,918 GRT/3,852 DWT
by type: cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1 (2005)

Airports:

9 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Military

Togo

Military branches:

Togolese Armed Forces (FAT): Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,148,890 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 629,933 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$35.5 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.9% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Togo

Disputes - international:

in 2001 Benin claimed Togo moved boundary monuments - joint commission continues to resurvey the boundary

Illicit drugs:

transit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers; money laundering not a significant problem

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Sao Tome and Principe

Introduction

Sao Tome and Principe

Background:

Discovered and claimed by Portugal in the late 15th century, the islands' sugar-based economy gave way to coffee and cocoa in the 19th century - all grown with plantation slave labor, a form of which lingered into the 20th century. Although independence was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not instituted until the late 1980s. Though the first free elections were held in 1991, the political environment has been one of continued instability with frequent changes in leadership and coup attempts in 1995 and 2003. The recent discovery of oil in the Gulf of Guinea is likely to have a significant impact on the country's economy.

Geography

Sao Tome and Principe

Location:

Western Africa, islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the Equator, west of Gabon

Geographic coordinates:

1 00 N, 7 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 1,001 sq km
land: 1,001 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

more than five times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

209 km

Maritime claims:

measured from claimed archipelagic baselines
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid; one rainy season (October to May)

Terrain:

volcanic, mountainous

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m

Natural resources:

fish, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 6.25%
permanent crops: 48.96%
other: 44.79% (2001)

Irrigated land:

100 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the smallest country in Africa; the two main islands form part of a chain of extinct volcanoes and both are fairly mountainous

People

Sao Tome and Principe

Population:

187,410 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 47.6% (male 45,145/female 44,007)
15-64 years: 48.6% (male 43,996/female 47,011)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 3,333/female 3,918) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 16.12 years
male: 15.53 years
female: 16.71 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.16% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

40.8 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.68 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-2.51 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 43.11 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 45.06 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 41.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 66.99 years
male: 65.43 years
female: 68.59 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.71 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Sao Tomean(s)
adjective: Sao Tomean

Ethnic groups:

mestico, angolares (descendants of Angolan slaves), forros (descendants of freed slaves), servicais (contract laborers from Angola, Mozambique, and Cape Verde), tongas (children of servicais born on the islands), Europeans (primarily Portuguese)

Religions:

Catholic 70.3%, Evangelical 3.4%, New Apostolic 2%, Adventist 1.8%, other 3.1%, none 19.4% (2001 census)

Languages:

Portuguese (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 79.3%
male: 85%
female: 62% (1991 est.)

Government

Sao Tome and Principe

Country name:

conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe
conventional short form: Sao Tome and Principe
local long form: Republica Democratica de Sao Tome e Principe
local short form: Sao Tome e Principe

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Sao Tome

Administrative divisions:

2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome
note: Principe has had self-government since 29 April 1995

Independence:

12 July 1975 (from Portugal)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 12 July (1975)

Constitution:

approved March 1990, effective 10 September 1990

Legal system:

based on Portuguese legal system and customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Fradique DE MENEZES (since 3 September 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Maria do Carmo SILVEIRA (since 7 June 2005); Damiao Vaz DE ALMEIDA resigned 2 June 2005
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the proposal of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 29 July 2001 (next to be held July 2006); prime minister chosen by the National Assembly and approved by the president
election results: Fradique DE MENEZES elected president in Sao Tome's third multiparty presidential election; percent of vote - NA%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (55 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 3 March 2002 (next to be held March 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - MLSTP 39.6%, Force for Change Democratic Movement 39.4%, Ue-Kedadji coalition 16.2%; seats by party - MLSTP 24, Force for Change Democratic Movement 23, Ue-Kedadji coalition 8

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the National Assembly)

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Renovation Party [Armindo GRACA]; Force for Change Democratic Movement [leader NA]; Independent Democratic Action or ADI [Carlos NEVES]; Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe-Social Democratic Party or MLSTP-PSD [Manuel Pinto Da COSTA]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Aldo BANDEIRA]; Ue-Kedadji coalition [leader NA]; other small parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

Sao Tome and Principe does not have an embassy in the US, but does have a Permanent Mission to the UN, headed by First Secretary Domingos Augusto FERREIRA, located at 400 Park Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10022, telephone [1] (212) 317-0580

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Sao Tome and Principe; the Ambassador to Gabon is accredited to Sao Tome and Principe on a nonresident basis and makes periodic visits to the islands

Flag description:

three horizontal bands of green (top), yellow (double width), and green with two black five-pointed stars placed side by side in the center of the yellow band and a red isosceles triangle based on the hoist side; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy

Sao Tome and Principe

Economy - overview:

This small poor island economy has become increasingly dependent on cocoa since independence in 1975. Cocoa production has substantially declined in recent years because of drought and mismanagement, but strengthening prices helped boost export earnings in 2003. Sao Tome has to import all fuels, most manufactured goods, consumer goods, and a substantial amount of food. Over the years, it has had difficulty servicing its external debt and has relied heavily on concessional aid and debt rescheduling. Sao Tome benefited from $200 million in debt relief in December 2000 under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) program, but lacking a formal poverty reduction program with the IMF, it has not benefited from subsequent HIPC debt reductions. Sao Tome's external debt stands at over $300 million. Considerable potential exists for development of a tourist industry, and the government has taken steps to expand facilities in recent years. The government also has attempted to reduce price controls and subsidies. Sao Tome is optimistic about the development of petroleum resources in its territorial waters in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea. The first production license was sold to a consortium led by US-based oil firms. Much of the 2005 budget is dependent upon the sale of additional production licenses.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$214 million (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 16.5%
industry: 15.4%
services: 68.1% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

NA

Labor force - by occupation:

population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and fishing
note: shortages of skilled workers

Unemployment rate:

NA

Population below poverty line:

54% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

14% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

31.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $27.94 million
expenditures: $43.91 million, including capital expenditures of $54 million (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra, cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish

Industries:

light construction, textiles, soap, beer; fish processing; timber

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

17 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 41.2%
hydro: 58.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

15.81 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

700 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-31.5 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$6.7 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

cocoa 80%, copra, coffee, palm oil

Exports - partners:

Netherlands 35.9%, China 12.3%, Belgium 7.4%, Germany 6.3%, Poland 5.1%, France 4.8%, Thailand 4.1% (2004)

Imports:

$41 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum products

Imports - partners:

Portugal 52.3%, Germany 9.5%, US 6%, Netherlands 4.8%, South Africa 4.3%, Belgium 4.1% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$29.78 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$318 million (2002)

Economic aid - recipient:

$200 million in December 2000 under the HIPC program

Currency (code):

dobra (STD)

Currency code:

STD

Exchange rates:

dobras per US dollar - 9,900.4 (2004), 9,347.6 (2003), 9,088.3 (2002), 8,842.1 (2001), 7,978.2 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Sao Tome and Principe

Telephones - main lines in use:

7,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

4,800 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate facilities
domestic: minimal system
international: country code - 239; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2002)

Radios:

38,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (2002)

Televisions:

23,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.st

Internet hosts:

1,069 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:

15,000 (2003)

Transportation

Sao Tome and Principe

Highways:

total: 320 km
paved: 218 km
unpaved: 102 km (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors:

Sao Tome

Merchant marine:

total: 15 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 79,490 GRT/97,077 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 11, chemical tanker 2
foreign-owned: 2 (Egypt 1, Greece 1) (2005)

Airports:

2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Sao Tome and Principe

Military branches:

Armed Forces of Sao Tome and Principe (FASTP): Army, Coast Guard, Presidential Guard (2004)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.) (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 33,438 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 25,950 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$700,000 (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.8% (2004)

Military - note:

Sao Tome and Principe's army is a tiny force with almost no resouces at its disposal and would be wholly ineffective operating unilaterally; infantry equipment is considered simple to operate and maintain but may require refurbishment or replacement after 25 years in tropical climates; poor pay and conditions have been a problem in the past, as has alleged nepotism in the promotion of officers, as reflected in the 1995 and 2003 coups; these issues are being addressed with foreign assistance as intial steps towards the improvement of the army and its focus on realistic security concerns; command is excersized from the president, through the Minister of Defense, to the Chief of the Armed Forces staff (2005)

Transnational Issues

Sao Tome and Principe

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Tunisia

Introduction

Tunisia

Background:

Following independence from France in 1956, President Habib BOURGUIBA established a strict one-party state. He dominated the country for 31 years, repressing Islamic fundamentalism and establishing rights for women unmatched by any other Arab nation. In recent years, Tunisia has taken a moderate, non-aligned stance in its foreign relations. Domestically, it has sought to defuse rising pressure for a more open political society.

Geography

Tunisia

Location:

Northern Africa, bordering the Mediterranean Sea, between Algeria and Libya

Geographic coordinates:

34 00 N, 9 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 163,610 sq km
land: 155,360 sq km
water: 8,250 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Georgia

Land boundaries:

total: 1,424 km
border countries: Algeria 965 km, Libya 459 km

Coastline:

1,148 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm

Climate:

temperate in north with mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers; desert in south

Terrain:

mountains in north; hot, dry central plain; semiarid south merges into the Sahara

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m
highest point: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, phosphates, iron ore, lead, zinc, salt

Land use:

arable land: 17.86%
permanent crops: 13.74%
other: 68.4% (2001)

Irrigated land:

3,800 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and poses health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

strategic location in central Mediterranean; Malta and Tunisia are discussing the commercial exploitation of the continental shelf between their countries, particularly for oil exploration

People

Tunisia

Population:

10,074,951 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 25.3% (male 1,316,308/female 1,234,309)
15-64 years: 68.1% (male 3,437,880/female 3,418,591)
65 years and over: 6.6% (male 321,287/female 346,576) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 27.29 years
male: 26.78 years
female: 27.82 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.99% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

15.5 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

5.09 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 24.77 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 27.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.89 years
male: 73.2 years
female: 76.71 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.75 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

1,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, and hepatitis A
vectorborne diseases: may be a significant risk in some locations during the transmission season (typically April through November) (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Tunisian(s)
adjective: Tunisian

Ethnic groups:

Arab 98%, European 1%, Jewish and other 1%

Religions:

Muslim 98%, Christian 1%, Jewish and other 1%

Languages:

Arabic (official and one of the languages of commerce), French (commerce)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 74.3%
male: 83.4%
female: 65.3% (2004 est.)

Government

Tunisia

Country name:

conventional long form: Tunisian Republic
conventional short form: Tunisia
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah at Tunisiyah
local short form: Tunis

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Tunis

Administrative divisions:

24 governorates; Ariana (Aryanah), Beja (Bajah), Ben Arous (Bin 'Arus), Bizerte (Banzart), Gabes (Qabis), Gafsa (Qafsah), Jendouba (Jundubah), Kairouan (Al Qayrawan), Kasserine (Al Qasrayn), Kebili (Qibili), Kef (Al Kaf), Mahdia (Al Mahdiyah), Manouba (Manubah), Medenine (Madanin), Monastir (Al Munastir), Nabeul (Nabul), Sfax (Safaqis), Sidi Bou Zid (Sidi Bu Zayd), Siliana (Silyanah), Sousse (Susah), Tataouine (Tatawin), Tozeur (Tawzar), Tunis, Zaghouan (Zaghwan)

Independence:

20 March 1956 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 20 March (1956)

Constitution:

1 June 1959; amended 1988, 2002

Legal system:

based on French civil law system and Islamic law; some judicial review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session

Suffrage:

20 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (since 7 November 1987)
head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed GHANNOUCHI (since 17 November 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 24 October 2004 (next to be held October 2009); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI reelected for a fourth term; percent of vote - Zine El Abidine BEN ALI 94.5%, Mohamed BOUCHIHA 3.8%, Mohamed Ali HALOUANI 1%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Chamber of Deputies or Majlis al-Nuwaab (189 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 24 October 2004 (next to be held October 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - RCD 152, MDS 14, PUP 11, UDU 7, Al-Tajdid 3, PSL 2

Judicial branch:

Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation

Political parties and leaders:

Al-Tajdid Movement [Ali HALOUANI]; Constitutional Democratic Rally Party (Rassemblement Constitutionnel Democratique) or RCD [President Zine El Abidine BEN ALI (official ruling party)]; Liberal Social Party or PSL [Mounir BEJI]; Movement of Socialist Democrats or MDS [Ismail BOULAHYA]; Popular Unity Party or PUP [Mohamed BOUCHIHA]; Progressive Democratic Party [Nejib CHEBBI]; Unionist Democratic Union or UDU [Abderrahmane TLILI]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

the Islamic fundamentalist party, Al Nahda (Renaissance), is outlawed

International organization participation:

ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AMU, AU, BSEC (observer), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNOCI, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed Nejib HACHANA
chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850
FAX: [1] (202) 862-1858

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador William J. HUDSON
embassy: Zone Nord-Est des Berges du Lac Nord de Tunis, 2045 La Goulette, Tunisia
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [216] 71 107-000
FAX: [216] 71 962-115

Flag description:

red with a white disk in the center bearing a red crescent nearly encircling a red five-pointed star; the crescent and star are traditional symbols of Islam

Economy

Tunisia

Economy - overview:

Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining, energy, tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Governmental control of economic affairs while still heavy has gradually lessened over the past decade with increasing privatization, simplification of the tax structure, and a prudent approach to debt. Progressive social policies also have helped raise living conditions in Tunisia relative to the region. Real growth slowed to a 15-year low of 1.9% in 2002 because of agricultural drought and lackluster tourism. Better rains in 2003 and 2004, however, helped push GDP growth above 5% for these years. Tourism also recovered after the end of combat operations in Iraq. Tunisia is gradually removing barriers to trade with the European Union. Broader privatization, further liberalization of the investment code to increase foreign investment, improvements in government efficiency, and reduction of the trade deficit are among the challenges ahead.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$70.88 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.1% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $7,100 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 13.8%
industry: 31.8%
services: 54.4% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

3.55 million
note: shortage of skilled labor (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

services 55%, industry 23%, agriculture 22% (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate:

13.8% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

7.6% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 31.8% (1995)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

41.7 (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.1% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

24.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $6.799 billion
expenditures: $7.573 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.6 billion (2004 est.)

Public debt:

59.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

olives, olive oil, grain, dairy products, tomatoes, citrus fruit, beef, sugar beets, dates, almonds

Industries:

petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages

Industrial production growth rate:

4.4% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

10.72 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 99.5%
hydro: 0.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

10.05 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

10 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

90 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

72,580 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

87,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

1.7 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

2.25 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

3.83 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

1.58 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

77.16 billion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$71.85 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$9.926 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

textiles, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, agricultural products, hydrocarbons

Exports - partners:

France 33.1%, Italy 25.3%, Germany 9.2%, Spain 6.1% (2004)

Imports:

$11.52 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, food

Imports - partners:

France 25.1%, Italy 19%, Germany 8.5%, Spain 5.3% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$3.509 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$14.71 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$114.6 million (2002)

Currency (code):

Tunisian dinar (TND)

Currency code:

TND

Exchange rates:

Tunisian dinars per US dollar - 1.2455 (2004), 1.2885 (2003), 1.4217 (2002), 1.4387 (2001), 1.3707 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Tunisia

Telephones - main lines in use:

1,163,800 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,899,900 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: above the African average and continuing to be upgraded; key centers are Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, and Tunis; Internet access available
domestic: trunk facilities consist of open-wire lines, coaxial cable, and microwave radio relay
international: country code - 216; 5 submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; coaxial cable and microwave radio relay to Algeria and Libya; participant in Medarabtel; two international gateway digital switches

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 7, FM 20, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:

2.06 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

26 (plus 76 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

920,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.tn

Internet hosts:

281 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

630,000 (2003)

Transportation

Tunisia

Railways:

total: 2,152 km
standard gauge: 468 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 1,674 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified)
dual gauge: 10 km 1.435-m and 1.000-m gauges (three rails) (2004)

Highways:

total: 18,997 km
paved: 12,424 km (including 142 km of expressways)
unpaved: 6,573 km (2001)

Pipelines:

gas 3,059 km; oil 1,203 km; refined products 345 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Bizerte, Gabes, La Goulette, Skhira

Merchant marine:

total: 12 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 124,733 GRT/122,664 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 1, chemical tanker 5, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1
registered in other countries: 3 (2005)

Airports:

30 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 14
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 16
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 7 (2004 est.)

Military

Tunisia

Military branches:

Army, Navy, Air Force (2003)

Military service age and obligation:

20 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 20-49: 2,441,741 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 20-49: 2,035,431 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 108,817 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$356 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.5% (FY99)

Transnational Issues

Tunisia

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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East Timor

Introduction

East Timor

Background:

The Portuguese began to trade with the island of Timor in the early 16th century and colonized it in mid-century. Skirmishing with the Dutch in the region eventually resulted in an 1859 treaty in which Portugal ceded the western portion of the island. Imperial Japan occupied East Timor from 1942 to 1945, but Portugal resumed colonial authority after the Japanese defeat in World War II. East Timor declared itself independent from Portugal on 28 November 1975 and was invaded and occupied by Indonesian forces nine days later. It was incorporated into Indonesia in July 1976 as the province of East Timor. An unsuccessful campaign of pacification followed over the next two decades, during which an estimated 100,000 to 250,000 individuals lost their lives. On 30 August 1999, in a UN-supervised popular referendum, an overwhelming majority of the people of East Timor voted for independence from Indonesia. Between the referendum and the arrival of a multinational peacekeeping force in late September 1999, anti-independence Timorese militias - organized and supported by the Indonesian military - commenced a large-scale, scorched-earth campaign of retribution. The militias killed approximately 1,300 Timorese and forcibly pushed 300,000 people into West Timor as refugees. The majority of the country's infrastructure, including homes, irrigation systems, water supply systems, and schools, and nearly 100% of the country's electrical grid were destroyed. On 20 September 1999 the Australian-led peacekeeping troops of the International Force for East Timor (INTERFET) deployed to the country and brought the violence to an end. On 20 May 2002, East Timor was internationally recognized as an independent state.

Geography

East Timor

Location:

Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago; note - East Timor includes the eastern half of the island of Timor, the Oecussi (Ambeno) region on the northwest portion of the island of Timor, and the islands of Pulau Atauro and Pulau Jaco

Geographic coordinates:

8 50 S, 125 55 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 15,007 sq km
land: NA
water: NA

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Connecticut

Land boundaries:

total: 228 km
border countries: Indonesia 228 km

Coastline:

706 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: NA
exclusive economic zone: NA
continental shelf: NA
exclusive fishing zone: NA

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons

Terrain:

mountainous

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m
highest point: Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m

Natural resources:

gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble

Land use:

arable land: 4.71%
permanent crops: 0.67%
other: 94.62% (2001)

Irrigated land:

1,065 sq km (est.)

Natural hazards:

floods and landslides are common; earthquakes, tsunamis, tropical cyclones

Environment - current issues:

widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion

Environment - international agreements:

NA

Geography - note:

Timor comes from the Malay word for "East"; the island of Timor is part of the Malay Archipelago and is the largest and easternmost of the Lesser Sunda Islands

People

East Timor

Population:

1,040,880
note: other estimates range as low as 800,000 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 37.1% (male 196,108/female 189,753)
15-64 years: 59.9% (male 318,173/female 305,479)
65 years and over: 3% (male 15,353/female 16,014) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 20.41 years
male: 20.46 years
female: 20.35 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.09% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

27.19 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.3 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 47.41 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 53.71 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 40.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 65.9 years
male: 63.63 years
female: 68.29 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.61 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Timorese
adjective: Timorese

Ethnic groups:

Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian), Papuan, small Chinese minority

Religions:

Roman Catholic 90%, Muslim 4%, Protestant 3%, Hindu 0.5%, Buddhist, Animist (1992 est.)

Languages:

Tetum (official), Portuguese (official), Indonesian, English
note: there are about 16 indigenous languages; Tetum, Galole, Mambae, and Kemak are spoken by significant numbers of people

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 58.6% (2002)

Government

East Timor

Country name:

conventional long form: Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste
conventional short form: East Timor
local long form: Republika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste [Portuguese]
local short form: Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Timor-Leste [Portuguese]
former: Portuguese Timor

Government type:

Republic

Capital:

Dili

Administrative divisions:

13 administrative districts; Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro (Maliana), Cova-Lima (Suai), Dili, Ermera, Lautem (Los Palos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oecussi (Ambeno), Viqueque

Independence:

28 November 1975 (date of proclamation of independence from Portugal); note - 20 May 2002 is the official date of international recognition of East Timor's independence from Indonesia

National holiday:

Independence Day, 28 November (1975)

Constitution:

22 March 2002 (based on the Portuguese model)

Legal system:

UN-drafted legal system based on Indonesian law remains in place but will be replaced by civil and penal codes based on Portuguese law (2004)

Suffrage:

17 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO (since 20 May 2002); note - the president plays a largely symbolic role but is able to veto some legislation; he formerly used the name Jose Alexandre GUSMAO
head of government: Prime Minister Mari Bin Amude ALKATIRI (since 20 May 2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 14 April 2002 (next to be held in April 2007); after the first legislative elections, the leader of the majority party was appointed prime minister by the president, suggesting a precedent for the future
election results: Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO elected president; percent of vote - Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO 82.7%, Francisco Xavier do AMARAL 17.3%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Parliament (number of seats can vary, minimum requirement of 52 and a maximum of 65 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms); note - for its first term of office, the National Parliament is comprised of 88 members on an exceptional basis
elections: (next to be held August 2006); direct elections for national parliament were never held; elected delegates to the national convention named themselves legislators instead of having elections; hence the exceptional numbers for this term of the national parliament.
election results: percent of vote by party - FRETILIN 57.37%, PD 8.72%, PSD 8.18%, ASDT 7.84%, UDT 2.36%, PNT 2.21%, KOTA 2.13%, PPT 2.01%, PDC 1.98%, PST 1.78%, independents/other 5.42%; seats by party - FRETILIN 55, PD 7, PSD 6, ASDT 6, PDC 2, UDT 2, KOTA 2, PNT 2, PPT 2, UDC/PDC 1, PST 1, PL 1, independent 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court of Justice - constitution calls for one judge to be appointed by National Parliament and rest appointed by Superior Council for Judiciary; note - until Supreme Court is established, Court of Appeals is highest court

Political parties and leaders:

Associacao Social-Democrata Timorense or ASDT [Francisco Xavier do AMARAL]; Christian Democratic Party of Timor or PDC [Antonio XIMENES]; Christian Democratic Union of Timor or UDC [Vicente da Silva GUTERRES]; Democratic Party or PD [Fernando de ARAUJO]; Liberal Party or PL [leader NA]; Maubere Democratic Party or PDM [leader NA]; People's Party of Timor or PPT [Jacob XAVIER]; Revolutionary Front of Independent East Timor or FRETILIN [Lu OLO]; Social Democrat Party of East Timor or PSD [Mario CARRASCALAO]; Socialist Party of Timor or PST [leader Avelino COELHO]; Sons of the Mountain Warriors (also known as Association of Timorese Heroes) or KOTA [Clementino dos Reis AMARAL]; Timor Democratic Union or UDT [Joao CARRASCALAO]; Timor Labor Party or PTT [Paulo Freitas DA SILVA]; Timorese Nationalist Party or PNT [Abilio ARAUJO]; Timorese Popular Democratic Association or APODETI [Frederico Almeida-Santos DA COSTA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Popular Council for the Defense of the Democratic Republic of East Timor or CPD-RDTL [leader Antonio-Aitahan MATAK] is largest political pressure group; it rejects current government and claims to be rightful government; Kolimau 2000 [leader Dr. Bruno MAGALHAES] is another opposition group; dissatisfied veterans of struggle against Indonesia, led by one-time government advisor Cornelio GAMA (also known as L-7), also play an important role in pressuring government

International organization participation:

ACP, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICCt, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (observer), ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, MIGA, OPCW, PIF (observer), UN, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jose Luis GUTERRES
chancery: 3415 Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: 202 965-1515
FAX: 202 965-1517
consulate(s) general: New York (the ambassador resides in New York) (2004)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Grover Joseph REES
embassy: Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Conqueiros, Dili
mailing address: Department of State, 8250 Dili Place, Washington, DC 20521-8250
telephone: (670) 332-4684
FAX: (670) 331-3206

Flag description:

red, with a black isosceles triangle (based on the hoist side) superimposed on a slightly longer yellow arrowhead that extends to the center of the flag; there is a white star in the center of the black triangle

Economy

East Timor

Economy - overview:

In late 1999, about 70% of the economic infrastructure of East Timor was laid waste by Indonesian troops and anti-independence militias, and 300,000 people fled westward. Over the next three years, however, a massive international program, manned by 5,000 peacekeepers (8,000 at peak) and 1,300 police officers, led to substantial reconstruction in both urban and rural areas. By 2003, all but about 30,000 of the refugees had returned. Growth was held back in 2003 by extensive drought and the gradual winding down of the international presence. The country faces great challenges in continuing the rebuilding of infrastructure, strengthening the infant civil administration, and generating jobs for young people entering the workforce. One promising long-term project is the planned development of oil and gas resources in nearby waters, which have begun to supplement government revenues ahead of schedule.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$370 million (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $400 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 25.4%
industry: 17.2%
services: 57.4% (2001)

Labor force:

NA

Labor force - by occupation:

NA

Unemployment rate:

50% (including underemployment) (1992 est.)

Population below poverty line:

42% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

38 (2002 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4% (2003 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $107.7 million
expenditures: $73 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, rice, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, soybeans, cabbage, mangoes, bananas, vanilla

Industries:

printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth

Industrial production growth rate:

8.5%

Electricity - production:

NA kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

NA kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Exports:

$8 million (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

coffee, sandalwood, marble; note - the potential for oil and vanilla exports

Exports - partners:

Indonesia 100%

Imports:

$167 million (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food, gasoline, kerosene, machinery

Imports - partners:

NA

Debt - external:

none

Economic aid - recipient:

$2.2 billion (1999-2002 est.)

Currency (code):

US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

USD

Exchange rates:

the US dollar is the legal tender

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Communications

East Timor

Telephones - main lines in use:

NA

Telephones - mobile cellular:

NA

Telephone system:

NA

Radio broadcast stations:

AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA

Radios:

NA

Television broadcast stations:

NA

Televisions:

NA

Internet country code:

.tl; note - ICANN approved the change from .tp in January 2005

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

NA

Internet users:

NA

Transportation

East Timor

Highways:

total: 3,800 km
paved: 428 km
unpaved: 3,372 km (1995)

Ports and harbors:

Dili

Airports:

8 (2004 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 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

East Timor

Military branches:

East Timor Defense Force (Forcas de Defesa de Timor-L'este, FDTL): Army, Navy (Armada) (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

NA

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: NA

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

NA

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$4.4 million (FY03)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Transnational Issues

East Timor

Disputes - international:

UN Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET) has maintained about a thousand peacekeepers in East Timor since 2002; East Timor-Indonesia Boundary Committee continues to meet, survey, and delimit the land boundary, but several sections of the boundary especially around the Oekussi enclave remain unresolved; Indonesia and East Timor contest the sovereignty of the uninhabited coral island of Palau Batek/Fatu Sinai, which prevents delimitation of the northern maritime boundaries; many of 28,000 East Timorese refugees still residing in Indonesia in 2003 have returned, but many continue to refuse repatriation; East Timor and Australia continue to meet but disagree over how to delimit a permanent maritime boundary and share unexploited potential petroleum resources that fall outside the Joint Petroleum Development Area covered by the 2002 Timor Sea Treaty; dispute with Australia also hampers creation of a southern maritime boundary with Indonesia

Illicit drugs:

NA

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Turkey

Introduction

Turkey

Background:

Modern Turkey was founded in 1923 from the Anatolian remnants of the defeated Ottoman Empire by national hero Mustafa KEMAL, who was later honored with the title Ataturk, or "Father of the Turks." Under his authoritarian leadership, the country adopted wide-ranging social, legal, and political reforms. After a period of one-party rule, an experiment with multi-party politics led to the 1950 election victory of the opposition Democratic Party and the peaceful transfer of power. Since then, Turkish political parties have multiplied, but democracy has been fractured by periods of instability and intermittent military coups (1960, 1971, 1980), which in each case eventually resulted in a return of political power to civilians. In 1997, the military again helped engineer the ouster - popularly dubbed a "post-modern coup" - of the then Islamic-oriented government. Turkey intervened militarily on Cyprus in 1974 to prevent a Greek takeover of the island and has since acted as patron state to the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus," which only Turkey recognizes. A separatist insurgency begun in 1984 by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) - now known as the People's Congress of Kurdistan or Kongra-Gel (KGK) - has dominated the Turkish military's attention and claimed more than 30,000 lives, but after the capture of the group's leader in 1999, the insurgents largely withdrew from Turkey, mainly to northern Iraq. In 2004, KGK announced an end to its ceasefire and attacks attributed to the KGK increased. Turkey joined the UN in 1945 and in 1952 it became a member of NATO. In 1964, Turkey became an associate member of the European Community; over the past decade, it has undertaken many reforms to strengthen its democracy and economy, enabling it to begin accession membership talks with the European Union.

Geography

Turkey

Location:

southeastern Europe and southwestern Asia (that portion of Turkey west of the Bosporus is geographically part of Europe), bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria

Geographic coordinates:

39 00 N, 35 00 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 780,580 sq km
land: 770,760 sq km
water: 9,820 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 2,648 km
border countries: Armenia 268 km, Azerbaijan 9 km, Bulgaria 240 km, Georgia 252 km, Greece 206 km, Iran 499 km, Iraq 352 km, Syria 822 km

Coastline:

7,200 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 6 nm in the Aegean Sea; 12 nm in Black Sea and in Mediterranean Sea
exclusive economic zone: in Black Sea only: to the maritime boundary agreed upon with the former USSR

Climate:

temperate; hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters; harsher in interior

Terrain:

high central plateau (Anatolia); narrow coastal plain; several mountain ranges

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Ararat 5,166 m

Natural resources:

coal, iron ore, copper, chromium, antimony, mercury, gold, barite, borate, celestite (strontium), emery, feldspar, limestone, magnesite, marble, perlite, pumice, pyrites (sulfur), clay, arable land, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 30.93%
permanent crops: 3.31%
other: 65.76% (2001)

Irrigated land:

42,000 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

very severe earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey, along an arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van

Environment - current issues:

water pollution from dumping of chemicals and detergents; air pollution, particularly in urban areas; deforestation; concern for oil spills from increasing Bosporus ship traffic

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Geography - note:

strategic location controlling the Turkish Straits (Bosporus, Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles) that link Black and Aegean Seas; Mount Ararat, the legendary landing place of Noah's Ark, is in the far eastern portion of the country

People

Turkey

Population:

69,660,559 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 26% (male 9,232,439/female 8,897,135)
15-64 years: 67.3% (male 23,806,367/female 23,053,536)
65 years and over: 6.7% (male 2,140,242/female 2,530,840) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 27.7 years
male: 27.52 years
female: 27.89 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.09% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

16.83 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

5.96 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.85 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 41.04 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 44.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 37.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.36 years
male: 69.94 years
female: 74.91 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.94 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% - note - no country specific models provided (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Turk(s)
adjective: Turkish

Ethnic groups:

Turkish 80%, Kurdish 20% (estimated)

Religions:

Muslim 99.8% (mostly Sunni), other 0.2% (mostly Christians and Jews)

Languages:

Turkish (official), Kurdish, Arabic, Armenian, Greek

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 86.5%
male: 94.3%
female: 78.7% (2003 est.)

Government

Turkey

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Turkey
conventional short form: Turkey
local long form: Turkiye Cumhuriyeti
local short form: Turkiye

Government type:

republican parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Ankara

Administrative divisions:

81 provinces (iller, singular - il); Adana, Adiyaman, Afyonkarahisar, Agri, Aksaray, Amasya, Ankara, Antalya, Ardahan, Artvin, Aydin, Balikesir, Bartin, Batman, Bayburt, Bilecik, Bingol, Bitlis, Bolu, Burdur, Bursa, Canakkale, Cankiri, Corum, Denizli, Diyarbakir, Duzce, Edirne, Elazig, Erzincan, Erzurum, Eskisehir, Gaziantep, Giresun, Gumushane, Hakkari, Hatay, Igdir, Isparta, Istanbul, Izmir, Kahramanmaras, Karabuk, Karaman, Kars, Kastamonu, Kayseri, Kilis, Kirikkale, Kirklareli, Kirsehir, Kocaeli, Konya, Kutahya, Malatya, Manisa, Mardin, Mersin, Mugla, Mus, Nevsehir, Nigde, Ordu, Osmaniye, Rize, Sakarya, Samsun, Sanliurfa, Siirt, Sinop, Sirnak, Sivas, Tekirdag, Tokat, Trabzon, Tunceli, Usak, Van, Yalova, Yozgat, Zonguldak

Independence:

29 October 1923 (successor state to the Ottoman Empire)

National holiday:

Republic Day, 29 October (1923)

Constitution:

7 November 1982

Legal system:

civil law system derived from various European continental legal systems; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations; note - member of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), although Turkey claims limited derogations on the ratified European Convention on Human Rights

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Ahmet Necdet SEZER (since 16 May 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN (14 March 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the nomination of the prime minister
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a seven-year term; election last held 5 May 2000 (next to be held May 2007); prime minister appointed by the president from among members of parliament
election results: Ahmed Necdet SEZER elected president on the third ballot; percent of National Assembly vote - 60%
note: president must have a two-thirds majority of the National Assembly on the first two ballots and a simple majority on the third ballot

Legislative branch:

unicameral Grand National Assembly of Turkey or Turkiye Buyuk Millet Meclisi (550 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 3 November 2002 (next to be held NA 2007); note - a special rerun of the General Election in the province of Siirt on 9 March 2003 resulted in the election of Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN to a seat in parliament, a prerequisite for becoming prime minister, on 14 March 2003
election results: percent of vote by party - AKP 34.3%, CHP 19.4%, DYP 9.6%, MHP 8.3%, ANAP 5.1%, DSP 1.1%, and others; seats by party - AKP 363, CHP 178, independents 9; note - parties surpassing the 10% threshold are entitled to parliamentary seats; seats by party as of 1 December 2004 - AKP 368, CHP 171, DYP 4, LDP 1, independents 5, vacant 1

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court; High Court of Appeals (Yargitay); Council of State (Danistay); Court of Accounts (Sayistay); Military High Court of Appeals; Military High Administrative Court

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Left Party or DSP [Mehmet Zeki SEZER]; Democratic People's Party or DEHAP [Tuncer BAKIRHAN]; Justice and Development Party or AKP [Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Emin SIRIN]; Motherland Party or ANAP [Ali Talip OZDEMIR]; Nationalist Action Party or MHP [Devlet BAHCELI]; Republican People's Party or CHP (includes the New Turkey Party) [Deniz BAYKAL]; Felicity Party (sometimes translated as Contentment Party) or SP [Necmettin ERBEKAN]; Social Democratic People's Party or SHP [Murat KARAYALCIN]; True Path Party (sometimes translated as Correct Way Party) or DYP [Mehmet AGAR]
note: the parties listed above are some of the more significant of the 49 parties that Turkey had on 1 December 2004

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Confederation of Public Sector Unions or KESK [Sami EVREN]; Confederation of Revolutionary Workers Unions or DISK [Suleyman CELEBI]; Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association or MUSIAD [Omer BOLAT]; Moral Rights Workers Union or Hak-Is [Salim USLU]; Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association or TUSIAD [Omer SABANCI]; Turkish Confederation of Employers' Unions or TISK [Refik BAYDUR]; Turkish Confederation of Labor or Turk-Is [Salih KILIC]; Turkish Confederation of Tradesmen and Craftsmen or TESK [Dervis GUNDAY]; Turkish Union of Chambers of Commerce and Commodity Exchanges or TOBB [M. Rifat HISARCIKLIOGLU]

International organization participation:

AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, BSEC, CE, CERN (observer), EAPC, EBRD, ECO, EU (applicant), FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIK, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Osman Faruk LOGOGLU
chancery: 2525 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 612-6700
FAX: [1] (202) 612-6744
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, and New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Eric S. EDELMAN
embassy: 110 Ataturk Boulevard, Kavaklidere, 06100 Ankara
mailing address: PSC 93, Box 5000, APO AE 09823
telephone: [90] (312) 455-5555
FAX: [90] (312) 467-0019
consulate(s) general: Istanbul
consulate(s): Adana; note - there is a Consular Agent in Izmir

Flag description:

red with a vertical white crescent (the closed portion is toward the hoist side) and white five-pointed star centered just outside the crescent opening

Economy

Turkey

Economy - overview:

Turkey's dynamic economy is a complex mix of modern industry and commerce along with a traditional agriculture sector that in 2004 still accounted for more than 35% of employment. It has a strong and rapidly growing private sector, yet the state still plays a major role in basic industry, banking, transport, and communication. The largest industrial sector is textiles and clothing, which accounts for one-third of industrial employment; it faces stiff competition in international markets with the end of the global quota system. However, other sectors, notably the automotive and electronics industries, are rising in importance within Turkey's export mix. In recent years the economic situation has been marked by erratic economic growth and serious imbalances. Real GNP growth has exceeded 6% in many years, but this strong expansion has been interrupted by sharp declines in output in 1994, 1999, and 2001. Inflation, in recent years in the high double-digit range, fell to 9.3% by 2004 - a 30-year low. Despite these strong economic gains in 2002-04, which were largely due to renewed investor interest in emerging markets, IMF backing, and tighter fiscal policy, the economy is still plagued with high debt and deficits. The public sector fiscal deficit exceeds 6% of GDP - due in large part to the huge burden of interest payments, which accounted for more than 40% of central government spending in 2004, and to populist spending. Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Turkey remains low - averaging less than $1 billion annually, but further economic and judicial reforms and prospective EU membership are expected to boost FDI. A major political and economic issue over the next decade is whether or not Turkey will become a member of the EU.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$508.7 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

8.2% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $7,400 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 11.7%
industry: 29.8%
services: 58.5% (2003 est.)

Labor force:

25.3 million
note: about 1.2 million Turks work abroad (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 35.9%, industry 22.8%, services 41.2% (3rd quarter, 2004)

Unemployment rate:

9.3% (plus underemployment of 4.0%) (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

20% (2002)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 30.7% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

42 (2003)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

9.3% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

17.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $78.53 billion
expenditures: $110.9 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

74.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

tobacco, cotton, grain, olives, sugar beets, pulse, citrus; livestock

Industries:

textiles, food processing, autos, mining (coal, chromite, copper, boron), steel, petroleum, construction, lumber, paper

Industrial production growth rate:

16.5% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

139.7 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 79.3%
hydro: 20.4%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.3% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

117.9 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

433 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

3.6 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

48,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

619,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

46,110 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:

616,500 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

288.4 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

312 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

15.94 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

15.75 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

8.685 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$-15.3 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$69.46 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

apparel, foodstuffs, textiles, metal manufactures, transport equipment

Exports - partners:

Germany 13.9%, UK 8.8%, US 7.7%, Italy 7.4%, France 5.8%, Spain 4.2% (2004)

Imports:

$94.5 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, chemicals, semi-finished goods, fuels, transport equipment

Imports - partners:

Germany 12.9%, Russia 9.3%, Italy 7.1%, France 6.4%, US 4.8%, China 4.6%, UK 4.4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$37.1 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$16.9 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $635.8 million (2002)

Currency (code):

Turkish lira (TRL), New Turkish lira (YTL) after 1 January 2005

Currency code:

TRL, YTL

Exchange rates:

Turkish liras per US dollar - 1,425,500 (2004), 1,500,900 (2003), 1,507,200 (2002), 1,225,600 (2001), 625,200 (2000)
Note: on 1 January 2005 the old Turkish Lira (TRL)was converted to New Turkish Lira (YTL) at a rate of 1,000,000 old to 1 New Turkish Lira

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Turkey

Telephones - main lines in use:

18,916,700 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

27,887,500 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: undergoing rapid modernization and expansion, especially with cellular telephones
domestic: additional digital exchanges are permitting a rapid increase in subscribers; the construction of a network of technologically advanced intercity trunk lines, using both fiber-optic cable and digital microwave radio relay is facilitating communication between urban centers; remote areas are reached by a domestic satellite system; the number of subscribers to mobile cellular telephone service is growing rapidly
international: country code - 90; international service is provided by three submarine fiber-optic cables in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, linking Turkey with Italy, Greece, Israel, Bulgaria, Romania, and Russia; also by 12 Intelsat earth stations, and by 328 mobile satellite terminals in the Inmarsat and Eutelsat systems (2002)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 16, FM 107, shortwave 6 (2001)

Radios:

11.3 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

635 (plus 2,934 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

20.9 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.tr

Internet hosts:

355,215 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

50 (2001)

Internet users:

5.5 million (2003)

Transportation

Turkey

Railways:

total: 8,697 km
standard gauge: 8,697 km 1.435-m gauge (2,122 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 354,421 km
paved: 147,404 km (including 1,851 km of expressways)
unpaved: 207,017 km (2002)

Waterways:

1,200 km (2003)

Pipelines:

gas 3,177 km; oil 3,562 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Aliaga, Ambarli, Eregli, Haydarpasa, Istanbul, Kocaeli (Izmit), Skhira, Toros

Merchant marine:

total: 526 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,666,895 GRT/7,311,504 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 108, cargo 228, chemical tanker 45, combination ore/oil 1, container 25, liquefied gas 6, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 50, petroleum tanker 33, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 22, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 8 (Cyprus 3, Denmark 2, Greece 1, Italy 1, Switzerland 1)
registered in other countries: 231 (2005)

Airports:

119 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 87
over 3,047 m: 16
2,438 to 3,047 m: 30
1,524 to 2,437 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 32
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 20 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

14 (2004 est.)

Military

Turkey

Military branches:

Turkish Armed Forces (TSK): Land Forces, Naval Forces (includes Naval Air and Naval Infantry), Air Force

Military service age and obligation:

20 years of age (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 20-49: 16,756,323 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 20-49: 13,905,901 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 679,734 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$12.155 billion (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

5.3% (2003)

Military - note:

in the early 1990s, the Turkish Land Force was a large but badly equipped infantry force; there were 14 infantry divisions, but only one was mechanized, and out of 16 infantry brigades, only six were mechanized; the overhaul that has taken place since has produced highly moblie forces with greatly enhanced firepower in accordance with NATO's new strategic concept (2005)

Transnational Issues

Turkey

Disputes - international:

complex maritime, air, and territorial disputes with Greece in the Aegean Sea; status of north Cyprus question remains; Syria and Iraq protest Turkish hydrological projects to control upper Euphrates waters; Turkey has expressed concern over the status of Kurds in Iraq; border with Armenia remains closed over Nagorno-Karabakh

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 350,000-1,000,000 (fighting from 1984-99 between Kurdish PKK and Turkish military; most IDPs in southeastern provinces) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

key transit route for Southwest Asian heroin to Western Europe and - to a far lesser extent the US - via air, land, and sea routes; major Turkish, Iranian, and other international trafficking organizations operate out of Istanbul; laboratories to convert imported morphine base into heroin are in remote regions of Turkey as well as near Istanbul; government maintains strict controls over areas of legal opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw concentrate

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Tuvalu

Introduction

Tuvalu

Background:

In 1974, ethnic differences within the British colony of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands caused the Polynesians of the Ellice Islands to vote for separation from the Micronesians of the Gilbert Islands. The following year, the Ellice Islands became the separate British colony of Tuvalu. Independence was granted in 1978. In 2000, Tuvalu negotiated a contract leasing its Internet domain name ".tv" for $50 million in royalties over the next dozen years.

Geography

Tuvalu

Location:

Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to Australia

Geographic coordinates:

8 00 S, 178 00 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 26 sq km
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:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)

Terrain:

very low-lying and narrow coral atolls

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m

Natural resources:

fish

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA

Natural hazards:

severe tropical storms are usually rare, but, in 1997, there were three cyclones; low level of islands make them very sensitive to changes in sea level

Environment - current issues:

since there are no streams or rivers and groundwater is not potable, most water needs must be met by catchment systems with storage facilities (the Japanese Government has built one desalination plant and plans to build one other); beachhead erosion because of the use of sand for building materials; excessive clearance of forest undergrowth for use as fuel; damage to coral reefs from the spread of the Crown of Thorns starfish; Tuvalu is very concerned about global increases in greenhouse gas emissions and their effect on rising sea levels, which threaten the country's underground water table; in 2000, the government appealed to Australia and New Zealand to take in Tuvaluans if rising sea levels should make evacuation necessary

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

one of the smallest and most remote countries on Earth; six of the coral atolls - Nanumea, Nui, Vaitupu, Nukufetau, Funafuti, and Nukulaelae - have lagoons open to the ocean; Nanumaya and Niutao have landlocked lagoons; Niulakita does not have a lagoon

People

Tuvalu

Population:

11,636 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 30.8% (male 1,823/female 1,756)
15-64 years: 64.2% (male 3,620/female 3,847)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 229/female 361) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 24.45 years
male: 23.36 years
female: 25.85 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.47% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

21.91 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

7.22 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 20.03 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 22.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 68.01 years
male: 65.79 years
female: 70.33 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Tuvaluan(s)
adjective: Tuvaluan

Ethnic groups:

Polynesian 96%, Micronesian 4%

Religions:

Church of Tuvalu (Congregationalist) 97%, Seventh-Day Adventist 1.4%, Baha'i 1%, other 0.6%

Languages:

Tuvaluan, English, Samoan, Kiribati (on the island of Nui)

Literacy:

definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Tuvalu

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tuvalu
former: Ellice Islands
note: "Tuvalu" means "group of eight," referring to the country's eight traditionally inhabited islands

Government type:

constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy; began debating republic status in 1992

Capital:

Funafuti; note - administrative offices are located in Vaiaku Village on Fongafale Islet

Administrative divisions:

none

Independence:

1 October 1978 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 1 October (1978)

Constitution:

1 October 1978

Legal system:

NA

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Filoimea TELITO (since 15 April 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Maatia TOAFA (since 11 October 2004)
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 elected by and from the members of Parliament; election last held 11 October 2004 (next to be held following parliamentary elections in 2006)
election results: Saufatu SOPOANGA resigned parliamentary seat on 27 August 2004 following no-confidence vote on 25 August 2004; succeeded by Deputy Prime Minister Maatia TOAFA in an acting capacity on 27 August 2004; Maatia TOAFA confirmed Prime Minister in a Parliamentary election (8-7 vote) on 11 October 2004

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament or Fale I Fono, also called House of Assembly (15 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 25 July 2002 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 15

Judicial branch:

High Court (a chief justice visits twice a year to preside over its sessions; its rulings can be appealed to the Court of Appeal in Fiji); eight Island Courts (with limited jurisdiction)

Political parties and leaders:

there are no political parties but members of Parliament usually align themselves in informal groupings

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, IFRCS (observer), IMO, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

Tuvalu does not have an embassy in the US - the country's only diplomatic post is in Fiji - Tuvalu does, however, have a UN office located at 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400D, New York, New York 10017, telephone: [1] (212) 490-0534

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Tuvalu; the US ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tuvalu

Flag description:

light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the outer half of the flag represents a map of the country with nine yellow five-pointed stars symbolizing the nine islands

Economy

Tuvalu

Economy - overview:

Tuvalu consists of a densely populated, scattered group of nine coral atolls with poor soil. The country has no known mineral resources and few exports. Subsistence farming and fishing are the primary economic activities. Fewer than 1,000 tourists, on average, visit Tuvalu annually. Government revenues largely come from the sale of stamps and coins and worker remittances. About 1,000 Tuvaluans work in Nauru in the phosphate mining industry. Nauru has begun repatriating Tuvaluans, however, as phosphate resources decline. Substantial income is received annually from an international trust fund established in 1987 by Australia, NZ, and the UK and supported also by Japan and South Korea. Thanks to wise investments and conservative withdrawals, this fund has grown from an initial $17 million to over $35 million in 1999. The US government is also a major revenue source for Tuvalu because of payments from a 1988 treaty on fisheries. In an effort to reduce its dependence on foreign aid, the government is pursuing public sector reforms, including privatization of some government functions and personnel cuts of up to 7%. In 1998, Tuvalu began deriving revenue from use of its area code for "900" lines and in 2000, from the lease of its ".tv" Internet domain name. Royalties from these new technology sources could increase substantially over the next decade. With merchandise exports only a fraction of merchandise imports, continued reliance must be placed on fishing and telecommunications license fees, remittances from overseas workers, official transfers, and income from overseas investments.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$12.2 million (2000 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,100 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Labor force:

7,000 (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

people make a living mainly through exploitation of the sea, reefs, and atolls and from wages sent home by those abroad (mostly workers in the phosphate industry and sailors)

Unemployment rate:

NA%

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5% (2000 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $22.5 million
expenditures: $11.2 million, including capital expenditures of $4.2 million (2000 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coconuts; fish

Industries:

fishing, tourism, copra

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: NA
hydro: NA
nuclear: NA
other: NA

Exports:

$1 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities:

copra, fish

Exports - partners:

Germany 56.5%, Fiji 14.3%, Italy 10.9%, UK 7.7%, Poland 4.9% (2004)

Imports:

$79 million c.i.f. (2002)

Imports - commodities:

food, animals, mineral fuels, machinery, manufactured goods

Imports - partners:

Fiji 50.2%, Japan 18.1%, Australia 9.6%, China 8%, New Zealand 5.5% (2004)

Debt - external:

NA

Economic aid - recipient:

$13 million; note - major donors are Australia, Japan, and the US (1999 est.)

Currency (code):

Australian dollar (AUD); note - there is also a Tuvaluan dollar

Currency code:

AUD

Exchange rates:

Tuvaluan dollars or Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002), 1.9334 (2001), 1.7248 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Tuvalu

Telephones - main lines in use:

700 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

0 (2004)

Telephone system:

general assessment: serves particular needs for internal communications
domestic: radiotelephone communications between islands
international: country code - 688; international calls can be made by satellite

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

4,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

0 (2004)

Televisions:

800

Internet country code:

.tv

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

1,300 (2002)

Transportation

Tuvalu

Highways:

total: 8 km
paved: 0 km
unpaved: 8 km (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors:

Funafuti

Merchant marine:

total: 23 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 54,993 GRT/86,048 DWT
by type: cargo 20, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 2
foreign-owned: 16 (China 9, Germany 2, Hong Kong 4, Thailand 1) (2005)

Airports:

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Tuvalu

Military branches:

no regular military forces; national police force

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Transnational Issues

Tuvalu

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Taiwan

Introduction

Taiwan

Background:

In 1895, military defeat forced China to cede Taiwan to Japan. Taiwan reverted to Chinese control after World War II. Following the Communist victory on the mainland in 1949, 2 million Nationalists fled to Taiwan and established a government using the 1946 constitution drawn up for all of China. Over the next five decades, the ruling authorities gradually democratized and incorporated the native population within the governing structure. In 2000, Taiwan underwent its first peaceful transfer of power from the Nationalist to the Democratic Progressive Party. Throughout this period, the island prospered and became one of East Asia's economic "Tigers." The dominant political issues continue to be the relationship between Taiwan and China - specifically the question of eventual unification - as well as domestic political and economic reform.

Geography

Taiwan

Location:

Eastern Asia, islands bordering the East China Sea, Philippine Sea, South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait, north of the Philippines, off the southeastern coast of China

Geographic coordinates:

23 30 N, 121 00 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 35,980 sq km
land: 32,260 sq km
water: 3,720 sq km
note: includes the Pescadores, Matsu, and Quemoy

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

1,566.3 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; marine; rainy season during southwest monsoon (June to August); cloudiness is persistent and extensive all year

Terrain:

eastern two-thirds mostly rugged mountains; flat to gently rolling plains in west

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Yu Shan 3,952 m

Natural resources:

small deposits of coal, natural gas, limestone, marble, and asbestos

Land use:

arable land: 24%
permanent crops: 1%
other: 75% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

earthquakes and typhoons

Environment - current issues:

air pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, raw sewage; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in endangered species; low-level radioactive waste disposal

Environment - international agreements:

party to: none of the selected agreements because of Taiwan's international status
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements because of Taiwan's international status

Geography - note:

strategic location adjacent to both the Taiwan Strait and the Luzon Strait

People

Taiwan

Population:

22,894,384 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 19.7% (male 2,349,077/female 2,156,755)
15-64 years: 70.7% (male 8,205,933/female 7,980,056)
65 years and over: 9.6% (male 1,107,708/female 1,094,855) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 34.14 years
male: 33.71 years
female: 34.57 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.63% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

12.64 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.38 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 6.4 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.26 years
male: 74.49 years
female: 80.28 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.57 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Taiwan (singular and plural)
note: example: he or she is from Taiwan; they are from Taiwan
adjective: Taiwan

Ethnic groups:

Taiwanese (including Hakka) 84%, mainland Chinese 14%, aborigine 2%

Religions:

mixture of Buddhist, Confucian, and Taoist 93%, Christian 4.5%, other 2.5%

Languages:

Mandarin Chinese (official), Taiwanese (Min), Hakka dialects

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.1% (2003)

Government

Taiwan

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Taiwan
local long form: none
local short form: T'ai-wan
former: Formosa

Government type:

multiparty democratic regime headed by popularly-elected president and unicameral legislature

Capital:

Taipei

Administrative divisions:

includes central island of Taiwan plus numerous smaller islands near central island and off coast of China's Fujian Province; Taiwan is divided into 18 counties (hsien, singular and plural), 5 municipalities (shih, singular and plural), and 2 special municipalities (chuan-shih, singular and plural)
: counties: Chang-hua, Chia-i, Hsin-chu, Hua-lien, I-lan, Kao-hsiung county, Kin-men, Lien-chiang, Miao-li, Nan-t'ou, P'eng-hu, P'ing-tung, T'ai-chung, T'ai-nan, T'ai-pei county, T'ai-tung, T'ao-yuan, and Yun-lin
: municipalities: Chia-i, Chi-lung, Hsin-chu, T'ai-chung, T'ai-nan
: special municipalities: Kao-hsiung city, T'ai-pei city
note: Taiwan generally uses Wade-Giles system for romanization; special municipality of Taipei adopted standard pinyin romanization for street and place names within city boundaries, other local authorities have selected a variety of romanization systems

National holiday:

Republic Day (Anniversary of the Chinese Revolution), 10 October (1911)

Constitution:

25 December 1946; amended in 1992, 1994, 1997, 1999, and 2000

Legal system:

based on civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

20 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President CHEN Shui-bian (since 20 May 2000) and Vice President Annette LU (LU Hsiu-lien) (since 20 May 2000)
head of government: Premier (President of the Executive Yuan) Frank HSIEH (since 1 February 2005) and Vice Premier (Vice President of the Executive Yuan) - WU Rong-i) (since 18 February 2005)
cabinet: Executive Yuan appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 20 March 2004 (next to be held in March 2008); premier appointed by the president; vice premiers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the premier
election results: CHEN Shui-bian re-elected president; percent of vote - CHEN Shui-bian (DPP) 50.1%, LIEN Chan (KMT) 49.9%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Yuan (225 seats - 168 elected by popular vote, 41 elected on basis of proportion of islandwide votes received by participating political parties, 8 elected from overseas Chinese constituencies on basis of proportion of island-wide votes received by participating political parties, 8 elected by popular vote among aboriginal populations; members serve three-year terms) and unicameral National Assembly (300 seat nonstanding body; delegates nominated by parties and elected by proportional representation six to nine months after Legislative Yuan calls to amend Constitution, impeach president, or change national borders)
note: as a result of constitutional amendments approved by the National Assembly on 7 June 2005, the number of seats in the legislature will be reduced from 225 to 113 beginning with the election in 2007; the amendments also eliminate the National Assembly, thus giving Taiwan a unicameral legislature
elections: Legislative Yuan - last held 11 December 2004 (next to be held in December 2007); National Assembly - last held 14 May 2005
election results: Legislative Yuan - percent of vote by party - DPP 38%, KMT 35%, PFP 15%, TSU 8%, other parties and independents 4%; seats by party - DPP 89, KMT 79, PFP 34, TSU 12, other parties 7, independents 4; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - DPP 42.5%, KMT 38.9%, TSU 7%, PFP 6%, others 6.6%; seats by party - DPP 127, KMT 117, TSU 21, PFP 18, others 17 (2005)

Judicial branch:

Judicial Yuan (justices appointed by the president with consent of the Legislative Yuan)

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [SU Tseng-chang, chairman]; Kuomintang or KMT (Nationalist Party) [MA Ying-jeou, chairman]; People First Party or PFP [James SOONG (SOONG Chu-yu), chairman]; Taiwan Solidarity Union or TSU [SU Chin-chiang, chairman]; other minor parties including the Chinese New Party or CNP

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Taiwan independence movement, various business and environmental groups
note: debate on Taiwan independence has become acceptable within the mainstream of domestic politics on Taiwan; political liberalization and the increased representation of opposition parties in Taiwan's legislature have opened public debate on the island's national identity; a broad popular consensus has developed that Taiwan currently enjoys de facto independence and - whatever the ultimate outcome regarding reunification or independence - that Taiwan's people must have the deciding voice; advocates of Taiwan independence oppose the stand that the island will eventually unify with mainland China; goals of the Taiwan independence movement include establishing a sovereign nation on Taiwan and entering the UN; other organizations supporting Taiwan independence include the World United Formosans for Independence and the Organization for Taiwan Nation Building

International organization participation:

APEC, AsDB, BCIE, ICC, ICFTU, IOC, WCL, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people of the US are maintained through an unofficial instrumentality, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) in the US with headquarters in Taipei and field offices in Washington and 12 other US cities

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the people on Taiwan are maintained through an unofficial instrumentality - the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) - which has offices in the US and Taiwan; US office at 1700 N. Moore St., Suite 1700, Arlington, VA 22209-1996, telephone: [1] (703) 525-8474, FAX: [1] (703) 841-1385); Taiwan offices at #7 Lane 134, Hsin Yi Road, Section 3, Taipei, Taiwan, telephone: [886] (2) 2162-2000, FAX: [886] (2) 2162-2251; #2 Chung Cheng 3rd Road, 5th Floor, Kao-hsiung, Taiwan, telephone: [886] (7) 238-7744, FAX: [886] (7) 238-5237; and the American Trade Center, Room 3208 International Trade Building, Taipei World Trade Center, 333 Keelung Road Section 1, Taipei, Taiwan 10548, telephone: [886] (2) 2720-1550, FAX: [886] (2) 2757-7162

Flag description:

red with a dark blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays

Economy

Taiwan

Economy - overview:

Taiwan has a dynamic capitalist economy with gradually decreasing guidance of investment and foreign trade by government authorities. In keeping with this trend, some large government-owned banks and industrial firms are being privatized. Exports have provided the primary impetus for industrialization. The trade surplus is substantial, and foreign reserves are the world's third largest. Agriculture contributes less than 2% to GDP, down from 32% in 1952. Taiwan is a major investor throughout Southeast Asia. China has overtaken the US to become Taiwan's largest export market. Because of its conservative financial approach and its entrepreneurial strengths, Taiwan suffered little compared with many of its neighbors from the Asian financial crisis in 1998. The global economic downturn, combined with problems in policy coordination by the administration and bad debts in the banking system, pushed Taiwan into recession in 2001, the first year of negative growth ever recorded. Unemployment also reached record levels. Output recovered moderately in 2002 in the face of continued global slowdown, fragile consumer confidence, and bad bank loans; and the essentially vibrant economy pushed ahead in 2003-04. Growing economic ties with China are a dominant long-term factor, e.g., exports to China of parts and equipment for the assembly of goods for export to developed countries.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$576.2 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $25,300 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1.7%
industry: 30.9%
services: 67.4% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

10.22 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 8%, industry 35%, services 57% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate:

4.5% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

1% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 6.7%
highest 10%: 41.1% (2002 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.7% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

18% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $67.41 billion
expenditures: $76.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $14.4 billion (2004 est.)

Public debt:

32.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

rice, corn, vegetables, fruit, tea; pigs, poultry, beef, milk; fish

Industries:

electronics, petroleum refining, armaments, chemicals, textiles, iron and steel, machinery, cement, food processing, vehicles, consumer products, pharmaceuticals

Industrial production growth rate:

12.2% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

158.5 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 71.4%
hydro: 6%
nuclear: 22.6%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

147.4 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

988,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

2.9 million bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

750 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

6.64 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

410 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

6.3 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

38.23 billion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$21.16 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$170.5 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

computer products and electrical equipment, metals, textiles, plastics and rubber products, chemicals (2002)

Exports - partners:

China, including Hong Kong 37%, US 16%, Japan 7.7% (2004)

Imports:

$165.4 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and electrical equipment 44.5%, minerals, precision instruments (2002)

Imports - partners:

Japan 26%, US 13%, China, including Hong Kong 11%, South Korea 6.9% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$246.5 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$55.5 billion (2004 est.)

Currency (code):

new Taiwan dollar (TWD)

Currency code:

TWD

Exchange rates:

new Taiwan dollars per US dollar - 33.422 (2004), 34.418 (2003), 34.575 (2002), 33.8 (2001), 33.09 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June (up to FY98/99); 1 July 1999 - 31 December 2000 for FY00; calendar year (after FY00)

Communications

Taiwan

Telephones - main lines in use:

13.355 million (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

25,089,600 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: provides telecommunications service for every business and private need
domestic: thoroughly modern; completely digitalized
international: country code - 886; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean); submarine cables to Japan (Okinawa), Philippines, Guam, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Australia, Middle East, and Western Europe (1999)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 218, FM 333, shortwave 50 (1999)

Radios:

16 million (1994)

Television broadcast stations:

29 (plus two repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

8.8 million (1998)

Internet country code:

.tw

Internet hosts:

2,777,085 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

8 (2000)

Internet users:

13.8 million (2005)

Transportation

Taiwan

Railways:

total: 2,497 km
narrow gauge: 1,097 km 1.067-m gauge (685 km electrified)
note: 1,400 km .762-m gauge (belonging to the Taiwan Sugar Corporation and to the Taiwan Forestry Bureau used to haul products and limited numbers of passengers (2004)

Highways:

total: 37,299 km
paved: 35,621 km (including 608 km of expressways)
unpaved: 1,678 km (2002)

Pipelines:

condensate 25 km; gas 435 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Chi-lung (Keelung), Hua-lien, Kao-hsiung, Su-ao, T'ai-chung

Merchant marine:

total: 126 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 3,417,768 GRT/5,617,318 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 36, cargo 23, chemical tanker 2, container 37, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 15, refrigerated cargo 9, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 3 (Hong Kong 3)
registered in other countries: 432 (2005)

Airports:

40 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 37
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

3 (2004 est.)

Military

Taiwan

Military branches:

Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force, Coast Guard Administration, Armed Forces Reserve Command, Combined Service Forces Command, Armed Forces Police Command

Military service age and obligation:

19-40 years of age for military service (being lowered to 35 years of age in July 2005); service obligation 22 months (being shortened to 18 months in July 2005 and 12 months in 2008) (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 19-49: 5,883,828 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 19-49: 4,749,537 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 174,173 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$7.574 billion (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.6% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Taiwan

Disputes - international:

involved in complex dispute with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, and possibly Brunei over the Spratly Islands; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants; Paracel Islands are occupied by China, but claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam; in 2003, China and Taiwan became more vocal in rejecting both Japan's claims to the uninhabited islands of the Senkaku-shoto (Diaoyu Tai) and Japan's unilaterally declared exclusive economic zone in the East China Sea where all parties engage in hydrocarbon prospecting

Illicit drugs:

regional transit point for heroin and methamphetamine; major problem with domestic consumption of methamphetamine and heroin; renewal of domestic methamphetamine production is a problem

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Turkmenistan

Introduction

Turkmenistan

Background:

Annexed by Russia between 1865 and 1885, Turkmenistan became a Soviet republic in 1924. It achieved its independence upon the dissolution of the USSR in 1991. President NIYAZOV retains absolute control over the country and opposition is not tolerated. Extensive hydrocarbon/natural gas reserves could prove a boon to this underdeveloped country if extraction and delivery projects were to be expanded. The Turkmenistan Government is actively seeking to develop alternative petroleum transportation routes in order to break Russia's pipeline monopoly.

Geography

Turkmenistan

Location:

Central Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Kazakhstan

Geographic coordinates:

40 00 N, 60 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 488,100 sq km
land: 488,100 sq km
water: negl.

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than California

Land boundaries:

total: 3,736 km
border countries: Afghanistan 744 km, Iran 992 km, Kazakhstan 379 km, Uzbekistan 1,621 km

Coastline:

0 km; note - Turkmenistan borders the Caspian Sea (1,768 km)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

subtropical desert

Terrain:

flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes rising to mountains in the south; low mountains along border with Iran; borders Caspian Sea in west

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Vpadina Akchanaya -81 m; note - Sarygamysh Koli is a lake in northern Turkmenistan with a water level that fluctuates above and below the elevation of Vpadina Akchanaya (the lake has dropped as low as -110 m)
highest point: Gora Ayribaba 3,139 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, sulfur, salt

Land use:

arable land: 3.72%
permanent crops: 0.14%
other: 96.14% (2001)

Irrigated land:

17,500 sq km (2003 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

contamination of soil and groundwater with agricultural chemicals, pesticides; salination, water-logging of soil due to poor irrigation methods; Caspian Sea pollution; diversion of a large share of the flow of the Amu Darya into irrigation contributes to that river's inability to replenish the Aral Sea; desertification

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; the western and central low-lying, desolate portions of the country make up the great Garagum (Kara-Kum) desert, which occupies over 80% of the country; eastern part is plateau

People

Turkmenistan

Population:

4,952,081 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 35.7% (male 909,113/female 860,128)
15-64 years: 60.2% (male 1,462,198/female 1,516,836)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 78,119/female 125,687) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 21.56 years
male: 20.68 years
female: 22.44 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.81% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

27.68 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

8.78 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.81 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 73.08 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 76.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 69.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 61.39 years
male: 58.02 years
female: 64.93 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.41 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2004 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

less than 200 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 100 (2004 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Turkmen(s)
adjective: Turkmen

Ethnic groups:

Turkmen 85%, Uzbek 5%, Russian 4%, other 6% (2003)

Religions:

Muslim 89%, Eastern Orthodox 9%, unknown 2%

Languages:

Turkmen 72%, Russian 12%, Uzbek 9%, other 7%

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98.8%
male: 99.3%
female: 98.3% (1995 est.)

Government

Turkmenistan

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Turkmenistan
local long form: none
local short form: Turkmenistan
former: Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:

republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch

Capital:

Ashgabat

Administrative divisions:

5 provinces (welayatlar, singular - welayat): Ahal Welayaty (Ashgabat), Balkan Welayaty (Balkanabat), Dashoguz Welayaty, Lebap Welayaty (Turkmenabat), Mary Welayaty
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Independence:

27 October 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 27 October (1991)

Constitution:

adopted 18 May 1992

Legal system:

based on civil law system

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President and Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Saparmurat NIYAZOV (since 27 October 1990, when the first direct presidential election occurred); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President and Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Saparmurat NIYAZOV (since 27 October 1990, when the first direct presidential election occurred); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
note: NIYAZOV's term in office was extended indefinitely on 28 December 1999 during a session of the People's Council (Halk Maslahaty)
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 21 June 1992 (next to be held in 2008 when NIYAZOV turns 70 and is constitutionally ineligible to run); note - President NIYAZOV was unanimously approved as president for life by the People's Council 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 (supreme legislative body of up to 2,500 delegates, some of whom are elected by popular vote and some of whom are appointed; meets at least yearly) and a unicameral Parliament or Mejlis (50 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: People's Council - last held in April 2003; Mejlis - last held 19 December 2004 (next to be held December 2009)
election results: Mejlis - DPT 100%; seats by party - DPT 50; note - all 50 elected officials are members of the Democratic Party of Turkmenistan and are preapproved by President NIYAZOV
note: in late 2003, a new law was adopted, reducing the powers of the Mejlis and making the Halk Maslahaty the supreme legislative organ; the Halk Maslahaty can now legally dissolve the Mejlis, and the president is now able to participate in the Mejlis as its supreme leader; the Mejlis can no longer adopt or amend the constitution, or announce referendums or its elections; since the president is both the "Chairman for Life" of the Halk Maslahaty and the supreme leader of the Mejlis, the 2003 law has the effect of making him the sole authority of both the executive and legislative branches of government

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Party of Turkmenistan or DPT [Saparmurat NIYAZOV]
note: formal opposition parties are outlawed; unofficial, small opposition movements exist underground or in foreign countries; the two most prominent opposition groups-in-exile have been Gundogar and Erkin; Gundogar was led by former Foreign Minister Boris SHIKHMURADOV until his arrest and imprisonment in the wake of the 25 November 2002 assassination attempt on President NIYAZOV; Erkin is led by former Foreign Minister Abdy KULIEV and is based out of Moscow; the Union of Democratic Forces, a coalition of opposition-in-exile groups, is based in Europe

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mered Bairamovich ORAZOV
chancery: 2207 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 588-1500
FAX: [1] (202) 588-0697

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Tracey A. JACOBSON
embassy: 9 Pushkin (1984) Street, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan 774000
mailing address: 7070 Ashgabat Place, Washington, D.C. 20521-7070
telephone: [9] (9312) 35-00-45
FAX: [9] (9312) 39-26-14

Flag description:

green field with a vertical red stripe near the hoist side, containing five carpet guls (designs used in producing rugs) stacked above two crossed olive branches similar to the olive branches on the UN flag; a white crescent moon and five white stars appear in the upper corner of the field just to the fly side of the red stripe

Economy

Turkmenistan

Economy - overview:

Turkmenistan is largely desert country with intensive agriculture in irrigated oases and large gas and oil resources. One-half of its irrigated land is planted in cotton; formerly it was the world's tenth-largest producer. Poor harvests in recent years have led to a nearly 46% decline in cotton exports. With an authoritarian ex-Communist regime in power and a tribally based social structure, Turkmenistan has taken a cautious approach to economic reform, hoping to use gas and cotton sales to sustain its inefficient economy. Privatization goals remain limited. In 1998-2004, Turkmenistan suffered from the continued lack of adequate export routes for natural gas and from obligations on extensive short-term external debt. At the same time, however, total exports rose by perhaps 30% in 2003 and 19% in 2004, largely because of higher international oil and gas prices. Overall prospects in the near future are discouraging because of widespread internal poverty, the burden of foreign debt, the government's irrational use of oil and gas revenues, and its unwillingness to adopt market-oriented reforms. Turkmenistan's economic statistics are state secrets, and GDP and other figures are subject to wide margins of error. In particular, the rate of GDP growth is uncertain.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$27.6 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

IMF estimate: 7.5%
note: official government statistics show 21.4% growth, but these estimates are notoriously unreliable (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $5,700 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 28.5%
industry: 42.7%
services: 28.8% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

2.32 million (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 48.2%, industry 13.8%, services 37% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:

60% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

58% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 31.7% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

40.8 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

9% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

29% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $3.05 billion
expenditures: $3.05 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

cotton, grain; livestock

Industries:

natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food processing

Industrial production growth rate:

official government estimate: 22% (2003 est.)

Electricity - production:

11.41 billion kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 99.9%
hydro: 0.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

8.908 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

1.136 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

162,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

63,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

273 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

58.57 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

9.6 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

43.5 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.43 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$114 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$4 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

gas, crude oil, petrochemicals, cotton fiber, textiles

Exports - partners:

Ukraine 46.6%, Iran 17.3%, Turkey 4.2%, Italy 4.1% (2004)

Imports:

$2.85 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

US 11.8%, Russia 9.7%, UAE 9.2%, Ukraine 9%, Turkey 8.6%, Germany 8%, France 5%, Georgia 4.6%, Iran 4.5% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$3.034 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$2.4 billion to $5 billion (2001 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$16 million from the US (2001)

Currency (code):

Turkmen manat (TMM)

Currency code:

TMM

Exchange rates:

Turkmen manats per US dollar - 10,100 (2004), 10,034 (2003), 10,098 (2002), 5,200 (2001)
note: in recent years the unofficial rate has hovered around 21,000 manats to the dollar

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Turkmenistan

Telephones - main lines in use:

374,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

52,000 (2004)

Telephone system:

general assessment: poorly developed
domestic: NA
international: country code - 993; linked by cable and microwave radio relay to other CIS republics and to other countries by leased connections to the Moscow international gateway switch; a new telephone link from Ashgabat to Iran has been established; a new exchange in Ashgabat switches international traffic through Turkey via Intelsat; satellite earth stations - 1 Orbita and 1 Intelsat

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 16, FM 8, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:

1.225 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

4 (government owned and programmed) (2004)

Televisions:

820,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.tm

Internet hosts:

524 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1

Internet users:

8,000 (2002)

Transportation

Turkmenistan

Railways:

total: 2,440 km
broad gauge: 2,440 km 1.520-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 24,000 km
paved: 19,488 km
unpaved: 4,512 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

1,300 km (Amu Darya and Kara Kum canal important inland waterways) (2003)

Pipelines:

gas 6,549 km; oil 1,395 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Turkmenbasy

Merchant marine:

total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,873 GRT/8,345 DWT
by type: cargo 3, combination ore/oil 1, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 1 (2005)

Airports:

53 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 23
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 30
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 26 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

1 (2004 est.)

Military

Turkmenistan

Military branches:

Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces (2004)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,132,833 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 759,978 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 56,532 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$90 million (FY99)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3.4% (FY99)

Transnational Issues

Turkmenistan

Disputes - international:

cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan creates water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river states; bilateral talks continue with Azerbaijan on dividing the seabed and contested oilfields in the middle of the Caspian; demarcation of land boundary with Kazakhstan has started but Caspian seabed delimitation remains stalled

Illicit drugs:

transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and Western European markets; transit point for heroin precursor chemicals bound for Afghanistan

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Tanzania

Introduction

Tanzania

Background:

Shortly after independence, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the nation of Tanzania in 1964. One-party rule came to an end in 1995 with the first democratic elections held in the country since the 1970s. Zanzibar's semi-autonomous status and popular opposition have led to two contentious elections since 1995, which the ruling party won despite international observers' claims of voting irregularities.

Geography

Tanzania

Location:

Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Kenya and Mozambique

Geographic coordinates:

6 00 S, 35 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 945,087 sq km
land: 886,037 sq km
water: 59,050 sq km
note: includes the islands of Mafia, Pemba, and Zanzibar

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than twice the size of California

Land boundaries:

total: 3,861 km
border countries: Burundi 451 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 459 km, Kenya 769 km, Malawi 475 km, Mozambique 756 km, Rwanda 217 km, Uganda 396 km, Zambia 338 km

Coastline:

1,424 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

varies from tropical along coast to temperate in highlands

Terrain:

plains along coast; central plateau; highlands in north, south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Kilimanjaro 5,895 m

Natural resources:

hydropower, tin, phosphates, iron ore, coal, diamonds, gemstones, gold, natural gas, nickel

Land use:

arable land: 4.52%
permanent crops: 1.08%
other: 94.4% (2001)

Irrigated land:

1,550 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season; drought

Environment - current issues:

soil degradation; deforestation; desertification; destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats; recent droughts affected marginal agriculture; wildlife threatened by illegal hunting and trade, especially for ivory

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

Kilimanjaro is highest point in Africa; bordered by three of the largest lakes on the continent: Lake Victoria (the world's second-largest freshwater lake) in the north, Lake Tanganyika (the world's second deepest) in the west, and Lake Nyasa in the southwest

People

Tanzania

Population:

36,766,356
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 44% (male 8,100,216/female 8,074,171)
15-64 years: 53.4% (male 9,665,957/female 9,963,772)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 418,080/female 544,160) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 17.62 years
male: 17.36 years
female: 17.89 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.83% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

38.16 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

16.71 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-3.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 98.54 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 107.85 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 88.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 45.24 years
male: 44.56 years
female: 45.94 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.06 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

8.8% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

1.6 million (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

160,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria, Rift Valley fever and plague are high risks in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Tanzanian(s)
adjective: Tanzanian

Ethnic groups:

mainland - native African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu consisting of more than 130 tribes), other 1% (consisting of Asian, European, and Arab); Zanzibar - Arab, native African, mixed Arab and native African

Religions:

mainland - Christian 30%, Muslim 35%, indigenous beliefs 35%; Zanzibar - more than 99% Muslim

Languages:

Kiswahili or Swahili (official), Kiunguja (name for Swahili in Zanzibar), English (official, primary language of commerce, administration, and higher education), Arabic (widely spoken in Zanzibar), many local languages
note: Kiswahili (Swahili) is the mother tongue of the Bantu people living in Zanzibar and nearby coastal Tanzania; although Kiswahili is Bantu in structure and origin, its vocabulary draws on a variety of sources, including Arabic and English, and it has become the lingua franca of central and eastern Africa; the first language of most people is one of the local languages

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write Kiswahili (Swahili), English, or Arabic
total population: 78.2%
male: 85.9%
female: 70.7% (2003 est.)

Government

Tanzania

Country name:

conventional long form: United Republic of Tanzania
conventional short form: Tanzania
former: United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Dar es Salaam; note - legislative offices have been transferred to Dodoma, which is planned as the new national capital; the National Assembly now meets there on regular basis

Administrative divisions:

26 regions; Arusha, Dar es Salaam, Dodoma, Iringa, Kagera, Kigoma, Kilimanjaro, Lindi, Manyara, Mara, Mbeya, Morogoro, Mtwara, Mwanza, Pemba North, Pemba South, Pwani, Rukwa, Ruvuma, Shinyanga, Singida, Tabora, Tanga, Zanzibar Central/South, Zanzibar North, Zanzibar Urban/West

Independence:

26 April 1964; Tanganyika became independent 9 December 1961 (from UK-administered UN trusteeship); Zanzibar became independent 19 December 1963 (from UK); Tanganyika united with Zanzibar 26 April 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; renamed United Republic of Tanzania 29 October 1964

National holiday:

Union Day (Tanganyika and Zanzibar), 26 April (1964)

Constitution:

25 April 1977; major revisions October 1984

Legal system:

based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts limited to matters of interpretation; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Benjamin William MKAPA (since 23 November 1995); Vice President Dr. Ali Mohammed SHEIN (since 5 July 2001); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Benjamin William MKAPA (since 23 November 1995); Vice President Dr. Ali Mohammed SHEIN (since 5 July 2001); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
note: Zanzibar elects a president who is head of government for matters internal to Zanzibar; Amani Abeid KARUME was elected to that office on 29 October 2000
cabinet: Cabinet ministers, including the prime minister, are appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ballot by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 29 October 2000 (next to be held 30 October 2005); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Benjamin William MKAPA reelected president; percent of vote - Benjamin William MKAPA 71.7%, Ibrahim Haruna LIPUMBA 16.3%, Augustine Lyatonga MREME 7.8%, John Momose CHEYO 4.2%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (274 seats - 232 elected by popular vote, 37 allocated to women nominated by the president, five to members of the Zanzibar House of Representatives; members serve five-year terms); note - in addition to enacting laws that apply to the entire United Republic of Tanzania, the Assembly enacts laws that apply only to the mainland; Zanzibar has its own House of Representatives to make laws especially for Zanzibar (the Zanzibar House of Representatives has 50 seats, directly elected by universal suffrage to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 29 October 2000 (next to be held 30 October 2005)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CCM 244, CUF 16, CHADEMA 4, TLP 3, UDP 2, Zanzibar representatives 5; Zanzibar House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CCM 34, CUF 16

Judicial branch:

Permanent Commission of Enquiry (official ombudsman); Court of Appeal (consists of a chief justice and four judges); High Court (consists of a Jaji Kiongozi and 29 judges appointed by the president; holds regular sessions in all regions); District Courts; Primary Courts (limited jurisdiction and appeals can be made to the higher courts)

Political parties and leaders:

Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (Party of Democracy and Development) or CHADEMA [Bob MAKANI]; Chama Cha Mapinduzi or CCM (Revolutionary Party) [Benjamin William MKAPA]; Civic United Front or CUF [Ibrahim LIPUMBA]; Democratic Party (unregistered) [Christopher MTIKLA]; Tanzania Labor Party or TLP [Augustine Lyatonga MREME]; United Democratic Party or UDP [John CHEYO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, EADB, FAO, G- 6, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Andrew Mhando DARAJA
chancery: 2139 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-6125
FAX: [1] (202) 797-7408

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert V. ROYALL
embassy: 140 Msese Road, Kinondoni District, Dar es Salaam
mailing address: P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam
telephone: [255] (22) 2666-010 through 2666-015
FAX: [255] (22) 2666-701, 2668-501

Flag description:

divided diagonally by a yellow-edged black band from the lower hoist-side corner; the upper triangle (hoist side) is green and the lower triangle is blue

Economy

Tanzania

Economy - overview:

Tanzania is one of the poorest countries in the world. The economy depends heavily on agriculture, which accounts for almost half of GDP, provides 85% of exports, and employs 80% of the work force. Topography and climatic conditions, however, limit cultivated crops to only 4% of the land area. Industry traditionally featured the processing of agricultural products and light consumer goods. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and bilateral donors have provided funds to rehabilitate Tanzania's out-of-date economic infrastructure and to alleviate poverty. Growth in 1991-2002 featured a pickup in industrial production and a substantial increase in output of minerals, led by gold. Recent banking reforms have helped increase private sector growth and investment. Continued donor assistance and solid macroeconomic policies supported real GDP growth of nearly 6% in 2004.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$23.71 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.8% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $700 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 43.2%
industry: 17.2%
services: 39.6% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

19 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 80%, industry and services 20% (2002 est.)

Unemployment rate:

NA

Population below poverty line:

36% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 30.1% (1993)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

38.2 (1993)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.4% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

16.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.985 billion
expenditures: $2.074 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum (insecticide made from chrysanthemums), cashew nuts, tobacco, cloves, corn, wheat, cassava (tapioca), bananas, fruits, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats

Industries:

agricultural processing (sugar, beer, cigarettes, sisal twine), diamond, gold and iron mining, soda ash, oil refining, shoes, cement, apparel, wood products, fertilizer, salt

Industrial production growth rate:

8.4% (1999 est.)

Electricity - production:

2.727 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 18.9%
hydro: 81.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

2.566 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

30 million kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

17,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

11.33 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$-327.4 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$1.248 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

gold, coffee, cashew nuts, manufactures, cotton

Exports - partners:

India 9.1%, Spain 8.3%, Netherlands 6.4%, Japan 5.8%, UK 5%, China 4.8%, Kenya 4.7% (2004)

Imports:

$1.972 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

consumer goods, machinery and transportation equipment, industrial raw materials, crude oil

Imports - partners:

South Africa 13.1%, China 8.1%, India 6.6%, Kenya 5.6%, UAE 5.5%, US 4.9%, UK 4.8%, Bahrain 4.1% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.175 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$7.321 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$1.2 billion (2001)

Currency (code):

Tanzanian shilling (TZS)

Currency code:

TZS

Exchange rates:

Tanzanian shillings per US dollar - 1,089.33 (2004), 1,038.42 (2003), 966.58 (2002), 876.41 (2001), 800.41 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Communications

Tanzania

Telephones - main lines in use:

149,100 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

891,200 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: fair system operating below capacity and being modernized for better service; VSAT (very small aperture terminal) system under construction
domestic: trunk service provided by open-wire, microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and fiber-optic cable; some links being made digital
international: country code - 255; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 12, FM 11, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:

8.8 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (1999)

Televisions:

103,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.tz

Internet hosts:

5,534 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6 (2000)

Internet users:

250,000 (2003)

Transportation

Tanzania

Railways:

total: 3,690 km
narrow gauge: 969 km 1.067-m gauge; 2,721 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 88,200 km
paved: 3,704 km
unpaved: 84,496 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, and Lake Nyasa principal avenues of commerce with neighboring countries; rivers not navigable (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 29 km; oil 866 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Dar es Salaam, Mtwara, Zanzibar City

Merchant marine:

total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 25,481 GRT/31,011 DWT
by type: cargo 2, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 4
registered in other countries: 1 (2005)

Airports:

123 (2004 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 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 112
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 60
under 914 m: 33 (2004 est.)

Military

Tanzania

Military branches:

Tanzanian People's Defense Force (JWTZ): Army, Naval Wing, Air Defense Command (includes Air Wing), National Service

Military service age and obligation:

15 years of age for voluntary military service; 18 years of age for compulsory military service upon graduation from secondary school; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 7,422,869 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 3,879,630 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$20.6 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.2% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Tanzania

Disputes - international:

disputes with Malawi over the boundary in Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and the meandering Songwe River remain dormant

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 447,877 (Burundi) 153,155 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) 3,036 (Somalia) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

growing role in transshipment of southwest and southeast Asian heroin and south American cocaine destined for south African, European, and US markets and of south Asian methaqualone bound for southern Africa; money laundering remains a problem

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Uganda

Introduction

Uganda

Background:

Uganda achieved independence from the UK in 1962. The dictatorial regime of Idi AMIN (1971-79) was responsible for the deaths of some 300,000 opponents; guerrilla war and human rights abuses under Milton OBOTE (1980-85) claimed at least another 100,000 lives. During the 1990s, the government promulgated non-party presidential and legislative elections.

Geography

Uganda

Location:

Eastern Africa, west of Kenya

Geographic coordinates:

1 00 N, 32 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 236,040 sq km
land: 199,710 sq km
water: 36,330 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries:

total: 2,698 km
border countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo 765 km, Kenya 933 km, Rwanda 169 km, Sudan 435 km, Tanzania 396 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

tropical; generally rainy with two dry seasons (December to February, June to August); semiarid in northeast

Terrain:

mostly plateau with rim of mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Lake Albert 621 m
highest point: Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m

Natural resources:

copper, cobalt, hydropower, limestone, salt, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 25.88%
permanent crops: 10.65%
other: 63.47% (2001)

Irrigated land:

90 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; poaching is widespread

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Geography - note:

landlocked; fertile, well-watered country with many lakes and rivers

People

Uganda

Population:

27,269,482
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 50.1% (male 6,875,663/female 6,784,378)
15-64 years: 47.7% (male 6,511,867/female 6,494,859)
65 years and over: 2.2% (male 263,790/female 338,925) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 14.97 years
male: 14.87 years
female: 15.08 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.31% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

47.39 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

12.8 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 67.83 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 71.18 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 64.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 51.59 years
male: 50.74 years
female: 52.46 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.74 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

4.1% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

530,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

78,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) are high risks in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Ugandan(s)
adjective: Ugandan

Ethnic groups:

Baganda 17%, Ankole 8%, Basoga 8%, Iteso 8%, Bakiga 7%, Langi 6%, Rwanda 6%, Bagisu 5%, Acholi 4%, Lugbara 4%, Batoro 3%, Bunyoro 3%, Alur 2%, Bagwere 2%, Bakonjo 2%, Jopodhola 2%, Karamojong 2%, Rundi 2%, non-African (European, Asian, Arab) 1%, other 8%

Religions:

Roman Catholic 33%, Protestant 33%, Muslim 16%, indigenous beliefs 18%

Languages:

English (official national language, taught in grade schools, used in courts of law and by most newspapers and some radio broadcasts), Ganda or Luganda (most widely used of the Niger-Congo languages, preferred for native language publications in the capital and may be taught in school), other Niger-Congo languages, Nilo-Saharan languages, Swahili, Arabic

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 69.9%
male: 79.5%
female: 60.4% (2003 est.)

Government

Uganda

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Uganda
conventional short form: Uganda

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Kampala

Administrative divisions:

56 districts; Adjumani, Apac, Arua, Bugiri, Bundibugyo, Bushenyi, Busia, Gulu, Hoima, Iganga, Jinja, Kabale, Kabarole, Kaberamaido, Kalangala, Kampala, Kamuli, Kamwenge, Kanungu, Kapchorwa, Kasese, Katakwi, Kayunga, Kibale, Kiboga, Kisoro, Kitgum, Kotido, Kumi, Kyenjojo, Lira, Luwero, Masaka, Masindi, Mayuge, Mbale, Mbarara, Moroto, Moyo, Mpigi, Mubende, Mukono, Nakapiripirit, Nakasongola, Nebbi, Ntungamo, Pader, Pallisa, Rakai, Rukungiri, Sembabule, Sironko, Soroti, Tororo, Wakiso, Yumbe

Independence:

9 October 1962 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 9 October (1962)

Constitution:

8 October 1995

Legal system:

in 1995, the government restored the legal system to one based on English common law and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since seizing power 26 January 1986); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI (since seizing power 29 January 1986); Prime Minister Apollo NSIBAMBI (since 5 April 1999); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government; the prime minister assists the president in the supervision of the cabinet
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among elected legislators
elections: president reelected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 12 March 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); note - first popular election for president since independence in 1962 was held in 1996; prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI elected president; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI 69.3%, Kizza BESIGYE 27.8%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly (303 members - 214 directly elected by popular vote, 81 nominated by legally established special interest groups [women 56, army 10, disabled 5, youth 5, labor 5], 8 ex officio members; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 26 June 2001 (next to be held by June 2006);
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; note - election campaigning by party was not permitted

Judicial branch:

Court of Appeal (judges are appointed by the president and approved by the legislature); High Court (judges are appointed by the president)

Political parties and leaders:

only one political organization, the Movement (formerly the NRM) [President MUSEVENI, chairman] is allowed to operate unfettered; note - the president maintains that the Movement is not a political party, but a mass organization, which claims the loyalty of all Ugandans
note: the constitution requires the suspension of political parties while the Movement organization is in governance; of the political parties that exist but are prohibited from sponsoring candidates, the most important are the Ugandan People's Congress or UPC [Milton OBOTE]; Democratic Party or DP [Paul SSEMOGERERE]; Conservative Party or CP [Ken LUKYAMUZI]; Justice Forum [Muhammad Kibirige MAYANJA]; and National Democrats Forum [Chapaa KARUHANGA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Popular Resistance Against a Life President or PRALP

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, EADB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Edith Grace SSEMPALA
chancery: 5911 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
telephone: [1] (202) 726-7100 through 7102, 0416
FAX: [1] (202) 726-1727

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jimmy KOLKER
embassy: 1577 Ggaba Rd., Kampala
mailing address: P. O. Box 7007, Kampala
telephone: [256] (41) 234-142
FAX: [256] (41) 258-451

Flag description:

six equal horizontal bands of black (top), yellow, red, black, yellow, and red; a white disk is superimposed at the center and depicts a red-crested crane (the national symbol) facing the hoist side

Economy

Uganda

Economy - overview:

Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall, and sizable mineral deposits of copper and cobalt. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy, employing over 80% of the work force. Coffee accounts for the bulk of export revenues. Since 1986, the government - with the support of foreign countries and international agencies - has acted to rehabilitate and stabilize the economy by undertaking currency reform, raising producer prices on export crops, increasing prices of petroleum products, and improving civil service wages. The policy changes are especially aimed at dampening inflation and boosting production and export earnings. During 1990-2001, the economy turned in a solid performance based on continued investment in the rehabilitation of infrastructure, improved incentives for production and exports, reduced inflation, gradually improved domestic security, and the return of exiled Indian-Ugandan entrepreneurs. Corruption within the government and slippage in the government's determination to press reforms raise doubts about the continuation of strong growth. In 2000, Uganda qualified for enhanced Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief worth $1.3 billion and Paris Club debt relief worth $145 million. These amounts combined with the original HIPC debt relief added up to about $2 billion. Growth for 2001-02 was solid despite continued decline in the price of coffee, Uganda's principal export. Solid growth in 2003-04 reflected an upturn in Uganda's export markets.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$39.39 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,500 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 35.8%
industry: 20.8%
services: 43.6% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

12.41 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 82%, industry 5%, services 13% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:

NA (2002 est.)

Population below poverty line:

35% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 4%
highest 10%: 21% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

37.4 (1996)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.5% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

22.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.491 billion
expenditures: $1.727 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

73.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), potatoes, corn, millet, pulses; beef, goat meat, milk, poultry, cut flowers

Industries:

sugar, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles, cement, steel production

Industrial production growth rate:

5.6% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

1.775 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 0.9%
hydro: 99.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

1.401 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

250 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

8,750 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-590.8 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$621.7 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

coffee, fish and fish products, tea; gold, cotton, flowers, horticultural products

Exports - partners:

Kenya 15%, Netherlands 10.7%, Belgium 9%, France 4.4%, Germany 4.4% (2004)

Imports:

$1.306 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

capital equipment, vehicles, petroleum, medical supplies; cereals

Imports - partners:

Kenya 32.3%, UAE 7.3%, South Africa 6.5%, India 5.8%, China 5.6%, UK 5.1%, US 4.8%, Japan 4.8% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.2 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$3.865 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$1.4 billion (2000)

Currency (code):

Ugandan shilling (UGX)

Currency code:

UGX

Exchange rates:

Ugandan shillings per US dollar - 1,810.3 (2004), 1,963.7 (2003), 1,797.6 (2002), 1,755.7 (2001), 1,644.5 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 July - 30 June

Communications

Uganda

Telephones - main lines in use:

61,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

776,200 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: seriously inadequate; two cellular systems have been introduced, but a sharp increase in the number of main lines is essential; e-mail and Internet services are available
domestic: intercity traffic by wire, microwave radio relay, and radiotelephone communication stations, fixed and mobile cellular systems for short-range traffic
international: country code - 256; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat; analog links to Kenya and Tanzania

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 7, FM 33, shortwave 2 (2001)

Radios:

5 million (2001)

Television broadcast stations:

8 (plus one low-power repeater) (2001)

Televisions:

500,000 (2001)

Internet country code:

.ug

Internet hosts:

2,692 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

125,000 (2003)

Transportation

Uganda

Railways:

total: 1,241 km
narrow gauge: 1,241 km 1.000-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 27,000 km
paved: 1,809 km
unpaved: 25,191 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

300 km (on Lake Victoria, 200 km on Lake Albert, Lake Kyoga, and parts of Albert Nile) (2004 est.)

Ports and harbors:

Entebbe, Jinja, Port Bell

Airports:

29 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 4
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 25
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 7 (2004 est.)

Military

Uganda

Military branches:

Ugandan Peoples' Defense Force (UPDF): Army, Marine Unit, Air Wing

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military duty; the government has stated that recruitment below that age could occur with proper consent and that "no person under the apparent age of 13 years shall be enrolled in the armed forces"

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 5,012,620 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,889,808 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$170.3 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.2% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Uganda

Disputes - international:

Uganda is subject to armed fighting among hostile ethnic groups, rebels, armed gangs, militias, and various government forces; Ugandan refugees have fled the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) into the southern Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo; LRA forces have also attacked Kenyan villages across the border

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 184,731 (Sudan) 18,000 (Rwanda)
IDPs: 1.4 million note - ongoing Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebellion, mainly in the north; LRA frequently attacks IDP camps (2004)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

United Kingdom

Introduction

United Kingdom

Background:

Great Britain, the dominant industrial and maritime power of the 19th century, played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science. At its zenith, the British Empire stretched over one-fourth of the earth's surface. The first half of the 20th century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two World Wars. The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation. As one of five permanent members of the UN Security Council, a founding member of NATO, and of the Commonwealth, the UK pursues a global approach to foreign policy; it currently is weighing the degree of its integration with continental Europe. A member of the EU, it chose to remain outside the Economic and Monetary Union for the time being. Constitutional reform is also a significant issue in the UK. The Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established in 1999, but the latter is suspended due to bickering over the peace process.

Geography

United Kingdom

Location:

Western Europe, islands including the northern one-sixth of the island of Ireland between the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, northwest of France

Geographic coordinates:

54 00 N, 2 00 W

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 244,820 sq km
land: 241,590 sq km
water: 3,230 sq km
note: includes Rockall and Shetland Islands

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Oregon

Land boundaries:

total: 360 km
border countries: Ireland 360 km

Coastline:

12,429 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: as defined in continental shelf orders or in accordance with agreed upon boundaries

Climate:

temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast

Terrain:

mostly rugged hills and low mountains; level to rolling plains in east and southeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: The Fens -4 m
highest point: Ben Nevis 1,343 m

Natural resources:

coal, petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, lead, zinc, gold, tin, limestone, salt, clay, chalk, gypsum, potash, silica sand, slate, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 23.46%
permanent crops: 0.21%
other: 76.33% (2001)

Irrigated land:

1,080 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

winter windstorms; floods

Environment - current issues:

continues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (has met Kyoto Protocol target of a 12.5% reduction from 1990 levels and intends to meet the legally binding target and move towards a domestic goal of a 20% cut in emissions by 2010); by 2005 the government aims to reduce the amount of industrial and commercial waste disposed of in landfill sites to 85% of 1998 levels and to recycle or compost at least 25% of household waste, increasing to 33% by 2015; between 1998-99 and 1999-2000, household recycling increased from 8.8% to 10.3%

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Geography - note:

lies near vital North Atlantic sea lanes; only 35 km from France and now linked by tunnel under the English Channel; because of heavily indented coastline, no location is more than 125 km from tidal waters

People

United Kingdom

Population:

60,441,457 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 17.7% (male 5,490,592/female 5,229,691)
15-64 years: 66.5% (male 20,329,272/female 19,855,862)
65 years and over: 15.8% (male 4,063,357/female 5,472,683) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 38.99 years
male: 37.89 years
female: 40.13 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.28% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

10.78 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

10.18 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.16 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.38 years
male: 75.94 years
female: 80.96 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.66 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

51,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 500 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Briton(s), British (collective plural)
adjective: British

Ethnic groups:

white (English 83.6%, Scottish 8.6%, Welsh 4.9%, Northern Irish 2.9%) 92.1%, black 2%, Indian 1.8%, Pakistani 1.3%, mixed 1.2%, other 1.6% (2001 census)

Religions:

Christian (Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Methodist) 71.6%, Muslim 2.7%, Hindu 1%, other 1.6%, unspecified or none 23.1% (2001 census)

Languages:

English, Welsh (about 26% of the population of Wales), Scottish form of Gaelic (about 60,000 in Scotland)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has completed five or more years of schooling
total population: 99% (2000 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

United Kingdom

Country name:

conventional long form: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; note - Great Britain includes England, Scotland, and Wales
conventional short form: United Kingdom
abbreviation: UK

Government type:

constitutional monarchy

Capital:

London

Administrative divisions:

England - 47 boroughs, 36 counties, 29 London boroughs, 12 cities and boroughs, 10 districts, 12 cities, 3 royal boroughs
: boroughs: Barnsley, Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Bolton, Bournemouth, Bracknell Forest, Brighton and Hove, Bury, Calderdale, Darlington, Doncaster, Dudley, Gateshead, Halton, Hartlepool, Kirklees, Knowsley, Luton, Medway, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, North Tyneside, Oldham, Poole, Reading, Redcar and Cleveland, Rochdale, Rotherham, Sandwell, Sefton, Slough, Solihull, Southend-on-Sea, South Tyneside, St. Helens, Stockport, Stockton-on-Tees, Swindon, Tameside, Thurrock, Torbay, Trafford, Walsall, Warrington, Wigan, Wirral, Wolverhampton
: counties: Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Cornwall, Cumbria, Derbyshire, Devon, Dorset, Durham, East Sussex, Essex, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Herefordshire, Hertfordshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Lancashire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire, Northumberland, North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Shropshire, Somerset, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Surrey, Warwickshire, West Sussex, Wiltshire, Worcestershire
: London boroughs: Barking and Dagenham, Barnet, Bexley, Brent, Bromley, Camden, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Harrow, Havering, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Islington, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Newham, Redbridge, Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Sutton, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Wandsworth
: cities and boroughs: Birmingham, Bradford, Coventry, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, Salford, Sheffield, Sunderland, Wakefield, Westminster
: districts: Bath and North East Somerset, East Riding of Yorkshire, North East Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire, North Somerset, Rutland, South Gloucestershire, Telford and Wrekin, West Berkshire, Wokingham
: cities: City of Bristol, Derby, City of Kingston upon Hull, Leicester, City of London, Nottingham, Peterborough, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Southampton, Stoke-on-Trent, York
: royal boroughs: Kensington and Chelsea, Kingston upon Thames, Windsor and Maidenhead
: Northern Ireland - 24 districts, 2 cities, 6 counties
: districts: Antrim, Ards, Armagh, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Banbridge, Carrickfergus, Castlereagh, Coleraine, Cookstown, Craigavon, Down, Dungannon, Fermanagh, Larne, Limavady, Lisburn, Magherafelt, Moyle, Newry and Mourne, Newtownabbey, North Down, Omagh, Strabane
: cities: Belfast, Derry
: counties: County Antrim, County Armagh, County Down, County Fermanagh, County Londonderry, County Tyrone
: Scotland - 32 council areas: Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll and Bute, The Scottish Borders, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee City, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, City of Edinburgh, Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow City, Highland, Inverclyde, Midlothian, Moray, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Orkney Islands, Perth and Kinross, Renfrewshire, Shetland Islands, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling, West Dunbartonshire, Eilean Siar (Western Isles), West Lothian;
: Wales - 11 county boroughs, 9 counties, 2 cities and counties
: county boroughs: Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Conwy, Gwynedd, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath Port Talbot, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Torfaen, Wrexham
: counties: Isle of Anglesey, Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Monmouthshire, Pembrokeshire, Powys, The Vale of Glamorgan
: cities and counties: Cardiff, Swansea

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 and Ascension, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands

Independence:

England has existed as a unified entity since the 10th century; the union between England and Wales, begun in 1284 with the Statute of Rhuddlan, was not formalized until 1536 with an Act of Union; in another Act of Union in 1707, England and Scotland agreed to permanently join as Great Britain; the legislative union of Great Britain and Ireland was implemented in 1801, with the adoption of the name the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; the Anglo-Irish treaty of 1921 formalized a partition of Ireland; six northern Irish counties remained part of the United Kingdom as Northern Ireland and the current name of the country, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, was adopted in 1927

National holiday:

the UK does not celebrate one particular national holiday

Constitution:

unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice

Legal system:

common law tradition with early Roman and modern continental influences; has judicial review of Acts of Parliament under the Human Rights Act of 1998; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); Heir Apparent Prince CHARLES (son of the queen, born 14 November 1948)
head of government: Prime Minister Anthony (Tony) BLAIR (since 2 May 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually the prime minister

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament comprised of House of Lords (consists of approximately 500 life peers, 92 hereditary peers and 26 clergy) and House of Commons (646 seats since 2005 elections; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms unless the House is dissolved earlier)
elections: House of Lords - no elections (note - in 1999, as provided by the House of Lords Act, elections were held in the House of Lords to determine the 92 hereditary peers who would remain there; pending further reforms, elections are held only as vacancies in the hereditary peerage arise); House of Commons - last held 5 May 2005 (next to be held by May 2010)
election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party - Labor 35.2%, Conservative 32.3%, Liberal Democrats 22%, other 10.5%; seats by party - Labor 356, Conservative 197, Liberal Democrat 62, other 31; note - as of 30 September 2005 the seats by party - Labor 354, Conservative 196, Liberal Democrat 62, other 34
note: in 1998 elections were held for a Northern Ireland Assembly (because of unresolved disputes among existing parties, the transfer of power from London to Northern Ireland came only at the end of 1999 and has been suspended four times the latest occurring in October 2002); in 1999 there were elections for a new Scottish Parliament and a new Welsh Assembly

Judicial branch:

House of Lords (highest court of appeal; several Lords of Appeal in Ordinary are appointed by the monarch for life); Supreme Courts of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (comprising the Courts of Appeal, the High Courts of Justice, and the Crown Courts); Scotland's Court of Session and Court of the Justiciary

Political parties and leaders:

Conservative and Unionist Party [Michael HOWARD]; Democratic Unionist Party (Northern Ireland) [Rev. Ian PAISLEY]; Labor Party [Anthony (Tony) BLAIR]; Liberal Democrats [Charles KENNEDY]; Party of Wales (Plaid Cymru) [Dafydd IWAN]; Scottish National Party or SNP [Alex SALMOND]; Sinn Fein (Northern Ireland) [Gerry ADAMS]; Social Democratic and Labor Party or SDLP (Northern Ireland) [Mark DURKAN]; Ulster Unionist Party (Northern Ireland) [Sir Reg EMPEY]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament; Confederation of British Industry; National Farmers' Union; Trades Union Congress

International organization participation:

AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C, CDB, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 5, G- 7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UN Security Council, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMOVIC, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UPU, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador David G. MANNING
chancery: 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 588-6500
FAX: [1] (202) 588-7870
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco
consulate(s): Dallas, Denver, Miami, and Seattle

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires David T. JOHNSON
embassy: 24/31 Grosvenor Square, London, W1A 1AE
mailing address: PSC 801, Box 40, FPO AE 09498-4040
telephone: [44] (0) 20 7499-9000
FAX: [44] (0) 20 7629-9124
consulate(s) general: Belfast, Edinburgh

Flag description:

blue field with the red cross of Saint George (patron saint of England) edged in white superimposed on the diagonal red cross of Saint Patrick (patron saint of Ireland), which is superimposed on the diagonal white cross of Saint Andrew (patron saint of Scotland); properly known as the Union Flag, but commonly called the Union Jack; the design and colors (especially the Blue Ensign) have been the basis for a number of other flags including other Commonwealth countries and their constituent states or provinces, as well as British overseas territories

Economy

United Kingdom

Economy - overview:

The UK, a leading trading power and financial center, is one of the quartet of trillion dollar economies of Western Europe. Over the past two decades the government has greatly reduced public ownership and contained the growth of social welfare programs. Agriculture is intensive, highly mechanized, and efficient by European standards, producing about 60% of food needs with less than 2% of the labor force. The UK has large coal, natural gas, and oil reserves; primary energy production accounts for 10% of GDP, one of the highest shares of any industrial nation. Services, particularly banking, insurance, and business services, account by far for the largest proportion of GDP while industry continues to decline in importance. GDP growth slipped in 2001-03 as the global downturn, the high value of the pound, and the bursting of the "new economy" bubble hurt manufacturing and exports. Output recovered in 2004, to 3.2% growth. The economy is one of the strongest in Europe; inflation, interest rates, and unemployment remain low. The relatively good economic performance has complicated the BLAIR government's efforts to make a case for Britain to join the European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Critics point out that the economy is doing well outside of EMU, and they cite public opinion polls that continue to show a majority of Britons opposed to the euro. Meantime, the government has been speeding up the improvement of education, transport, and health services, at a cost in higher taxes.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.782 trillion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.2% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $29,600 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1%
industry: 26.3%
services: 72.7% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

29.78 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 1.5%, industry 19.1%, services 79.5% (2004)

Unemployment rate:

4.8% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

17% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 28.5% (1999)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

36.8 (1999)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.4% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

16.2% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $834.9 billion
expenditures: $896.7 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

39.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

cereals, oilseed, potatoes, vegetables; cattle, sheep, poultry; fish

Industries:

machine tools, electric power equipment, automation equipment, railroad equipment, shipbuilding, aircraft, motor vehicles and parts, electronics and communications equipment, metals, chemicals, coal, petroleum, paper and paper products, food processing, textiles, clothing, and other consumer goods

Industrial production growth rate:

0.9% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

395.9 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 73.8%
hydro: 0.9%
nuclear: 23.7%
other: 1.6% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

337.4 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:

2.959 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:

5.119 billion kWh (2003)

Oil - production:

1.957 million bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1.692 million bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:

1.498 million bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:

1.084 million bbl/day (2003)

Oil - proved reserves:

25.41 billion bbl (2003)

Natural gas - production:

105.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

92.85 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

15.75 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

2.7 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

714.9 billion cu m (2003)

Current account balance:

$-33.46 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$347.2 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals; food, beverages, tobacco

Exports - partners:

US 15.3%, Germany 10.8%, France 9.2%, Ireland 6.8%, Netherlands 6%, Belgium 5.1%, Spain 4.5%, Italy 4.2% (2004)

Imports:

$439.4 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

manufactured goods, machinery, fuels; foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Germany 13%, US 9.3%, France 7.4%, Netherlands 6.6%, Belgium 4.9%, China 4.3%, Italy 4.3% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$48.73 billion (2004)

Debt - external:

$4.71 trillion (2003)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $4.2 billion (2004)

Currency (code):

British pound (GBP)

Currency code:

GBP

Exchange rates:

British pounds per US dollar - 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002), 0.6947 (2001), 0.6609 (2000)

Fiscal year:

6 April - 5 April

Communications

United Kingdom

Telephones - main lines in use:

34.898 million (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

49.677 million (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: technologically advanced domestic and international system
domestic: equal mix of buried cables, microwave radio relay, and fiber-optic systems
international: country code - 44; 40 coaxial submarine cables; satellite earth stations - 10 Intelsat (7 Atlantic Ocean and 3 Indian Ocean), 1 Inmarsat (Atlantic Ocean region), and 1 Eutelsat; at least 8 large international switching centers

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 219, FM 431, shortwave 3 (1998)

Radios:

84.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

228 (plus 3,523 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions:

30.5 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.uk

Internet hosts:

3,398,708 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

more than 400 (2000)

Internet users:

25 million (2002)

Transportation

United Kingdom

Railways:

total: 17,274 km
standard gauge: 16,814 km 1.435-m gauge (5,296 km electrified)
broad gauge: 460 km 1.600-m gauge (in Northern Ireland) (2004)

Highways:

total: 392,931 km
paved: 392,931 km (including 3,431 km of expressways)
unpaved: 0 km (2003)

Waterways:

3,200 km (620 km used for commerce) (2004)

Pipelines:

condensate 370 km; gas 21,446 km; liquid petroleum gas 59 km; oil 6,420 km; oil/gas/water 63 km; refined products 4,474 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Hound Point, Immingham, Milford Haven, Liverpool, London, Southampton, Sullom Voe, Teesport

Merchant marine:

total: 429 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 9,181,284 GRT/9,566,275 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 18, cargo 55, chemical tanker 48, container 134, liquefied gas 11, passenger 12, passenger/cargo 64, petroleum tanker 40, refrigerated cargo 19, roll on/roll off 25, vehicle carrier 3
foreign-owned: 202 (Australia 3, Canada 15, Denmark 38, Finland 2, Germany 56, Greece 4, Ireland 1, Italy 9, Netherlands 12, Norway 28, South Africa 4, Sweden 15, Taiwan 7, United States 8)
registered in other countries: 446 (2005)

Airports:

471 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 334
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 33
1,524 to 2,437 m: 150
914 to 1,523 m: 86
under 914 m: 57 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 137
2438 to 3047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 112 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

11 (2004 est.)

Military

United Kingdom

Military branches:

Army, Royal Navy (includes Royal Marines), Royal Air Force

Military service age and obligation:

16 years of age for voluntary military service (January 2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 14,607,724 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 12,046,268 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$42,836.5 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.4% (2003)

Transnational Issues

United Kingdom

Disputes - international:

in 2003, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to remain a British colony and against a "total shared sovereignty" arrangement while demanding participation in talks between the UK and Spain; Spain disapproves of UK plans to grant Gibraltar greater autonomy; Mauritius and Seychelles claim the Chagos Archipelago (British Indian Ocean Territory), and its former inhabitants since their eviction in 1965; most Chagosians reside in Mauritius, and in 2001 were granted UK citizenship but no right to patriation in the UK; UK rejects sovereignty talks requested by Argentina, which still claims the Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; territorial claim in Antarctica (British Antarctic Territory) overlaps Argentine claim and partially overlaps Chilean claim; Iceland, the UK, and Ireland dispute Denmark's claim that the Faroe Islands' continental shelf extends beyond 200 nm

Illicit drugs:

producer of limited amounts of synthetic drugs and synthetic precursor chemicals; major consumer of Southwest Asian heroin, Latin American cocaine, and synthetic drugs; money-laundering center

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Ukraine

Introduction

Ukraine

Background:

Ukraine was the center of the first Slavic state, Kievan Rus, which during the 10th and 11th centuries was the largest and most powerful state in Europe. Weakened by internecine quarrels and Mongol invasions, Kievan Rus was incorporated into the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and eventually into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The cultural and religious legacy of Kievan Rus laid the foundation for Ukrainian nationalism through subsequent centuries. A new Ukrainian state, the Cossack Hetmanate, was established during the mid-17th century after an uprising against the Poles. Despite continuous Muscovite pressure, the Hetmanate managed to remain autonomous for well over 100 years. During the latter part of the 18th century, most Ukrainian ethnographic territory was absorbed by the Russian Empire. Following the collapse of czarist Russia in 1917, Ukraine was able to bring about a short-lived period of independence (1917-20), but was reconquered and forced to endure a brutal Soviet rule that engineered two artificial famines (1921-22 and 1932-33) in which over 8 million died. In World War II, German and Soviet armies were responsible for some 7 to 8 million more deaths. Although final independence for Ukraine was achieved in 1991 with the dissolution of the USSR, democracy remained elusive as the legacy of state control and endemic corruption stalled efforts at economic reform, privatization, and civil liberties. A peaceful mass protest "Orange Revolution" in the closing months of 2004 forced the authorities to overturn a rigged presidential election and to allow a new internationally monitored vote that swept into power a reformist slate under Viktor YUSHCHENKO. The new government presents its citizens with hope that the country may at last attain true freedom and prosperity.

Geography

Ukraine

Location:

Eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Poland, Romania, and Moldova in the west and Russia in the east

Geographic coordinates:

49 00 N, 32 00 E

Map references:

Asia, Europe

Area:

total: 603,700 sq km
land: 603,700 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 4,663 km
border countries: Belarus 891 km, Hungary 103 km, Moldova 939 km, Poland 526 km, Romania (south) 169 km, Romania (west) 362 km, Russia 1,576 km, Slovakia 97 km

Coastline:

2,782 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

temperate continental; Mediterranean only on the southern Crimean coast; precipitation disproportionately distributed, highest in west and north, lesser in east and southeast; winters vary from cool along the Black Sea to cold farther inland; summers are warm across the greater part of the country, hot in the south

Terrain:

most of Ukraine consists of fertile plains (steppes) and plateaus, mountains being found only in the west (the Carpathians), and in the Crimean Peninsula in the extreme south

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Hora Hoverla 2,061 m

Natural resources:

iron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil, salt, sulfur, graphite, titanium, magnesium, kaolin, nickel, mercury, timber, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 56.21%
permanent crops: 1.61%
other: 42.18% (2001)

Irrigated land:

24,540 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

inadequate supplies of potable water; air and water pollution; deforestation; radiation contamination in the northeast from 1986 accident at Chornobyl' Nuclear Power Plant

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulfur 85, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulfur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds

Geography - note:

strategic position at the crossroads between Europe and Asia; second-largest country in Europe

People

Ukraine

Population:

47,425,336 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 15.6% (male 3,783,725/female 3,619,754)
15-64 years: 68.8% (male 15,619,989/female 16,992,628)
65 years and over: 15.6% (male 2,497,851/female 4,911,389) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 38.22 years
male: 34.91 years
female: 41.21 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.63% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

10.49 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

16.42 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.51 male(s)/female
total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 20.34 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 21.55 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 69.68 years
male: 64.39 years
female: 75.31 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.4 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

1.4% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

360,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

20,000 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Ukrainian(s)
adjective: Ukrainian

Ethnic groups:

Ukrainian 77.8%, Russian 17.3%, Belarusian 0.6%, Moldovan 0.5%, Crimean Tatar 0.5%, Bulgarian 0.4%, Hungarian 0.3%, Romanian 0.3%, Polish 0.3%, Jewish 0.2%, other 1.8% (2001 census)

Religions:

Ukrainian Orthodox - Kiev Patriarchate 19%, Orthodox (no particular jurisdiction) 16%, Ukrainian Orthodox - Moscow Patriarchate 9%, Ukrainian Greek Catholic 6%, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox 1.7%, Protestant, Jewish, none 38% (2004 est.)

Languages:

Ukrainian (official) 67%, Russian 24%; small Romanian-, Polish-, and Hungarian-speaking minorities

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.8%
female: 99.6% (2003 est.)

People - note:

the sex trafficking of Ukrainian women is a serious problem that has only recently been addressed

Government

Ukraine

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Ukraine
local long form: none
local short form: Ukrayina
former: Ukrainian National Republic, Ukrainian State, Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Kiev (Kyyiv)

Administrative divisions:

24 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast'), 1 autonomous republic* (avtonomna respublika), and 2 municipalities (mista, singular - misto) with oblast status**; Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Chernivtsi, Crimea or Avtonomna Respublika Krym* (Simferopol'), Dnipropetrovs'k, Donets'k, Ivano-Frankivs'k, Kharkiv, Kherson, Khmel'nyts'kyy, Kirovohrad, Kiev (Kyyiv)**, Kyyiv, Luhans'k, L'viv, Mykolayiv, Odesa, Poltava, Rivne, Sevastopol'**, Sumy, Ternopil', Vinnytsya, Volyn' (Luts'k), Zakarpattya (Uzhhorod), Zaporizhzhya, Zhytomyr
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Independence:

24 August 1991 (from the Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 24 August (1991); the date of 22 January (1918), the day Ukraine first declared its independence (from Soviet Russia), is now celebrated as Unity Day

Constitution:

adopted 28 June 1996

Legal system:

based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Viktor A. YUSHCHENKO (since 23 January 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Yuriy YEKHANUROV (since 22 September 2005); First Deputy Prime Minister - Stanislav STASHEVSKYY (since 27 September 2005)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president and approved by the Supreme Council
note: there is also a National Security and Defense Council or NSDC originally created in 1992 as the National Security Council, but significantly revamped and strengthened under former-President KUCHMA; the NSDC staff is tasked with developing national security policy on domestic and international matters and advising the president; a Presidential Administration that helps draft presidential edicts and provides policy support to the president; and a Council of Regions that serves as an advisory body
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; note - a special repeat runoff presidential election between Viktor YUSHCHENKO and Viktor YANUKOVYCH took place on 26 December 2004 after the earlier 21 November 2004 contest - won by Mr. YANUKOVYCH - was invalidated by the Ukrainian Supreme Court because of widespread and significant violations; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and approved by the Supreme Council
election results: Viktor YUSHCHENKO elected president; percent of vote - Viktor YUSHCHENKO 51.99%, Viktor YANUKOVYCH 44.2%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Supreme Council or Verkhovna Rada (450 seats; under recent amendments to Ukraine's election law, the Rada's seats are allocated on a proportional basis to those parties that gain 3% or more of the national electoral vote; members serve five-year terms beginning with the next election in 2006)
elections: last held 31 March 2002 (next to be held March 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party/bloc - Our Ukraine 24%, CPU 20%, United Ukraine 12%, SPU 7%, Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc 7%, United Social Democratic Party 6%, other 24%; seats by party/bloc - Our Ukraine 101, Regions of Ukraine 61, CPU 59, Working Ukraine 14, United Social Democratic Party 33, Agrarian Party 22, SPU 20, Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc 19, United Ukraine 19, People's Democratic Party-Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs 16, Center Group 15, Democratic Initiatives 14, unaffiliated 57 (December 2004)
note: following the election, United Ukraine splintered into the Agrarian Party, European Choice, People's Choice, People's Democratic Party, Regions of Ukraine, and Working Ukraine-Industrialists and Entrepreneurs; these factions have since undergone a number of changes

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Constitutional Court

Political parties and leaders:

Agrarian Party [Volodymyr LYTVYN]; Communist Party of Ukraine or CPU [Petro SYMONENKO]; Democratic Initiatives [Stepan HAVRYSH]; Industrialists and Entrepreneurs [Anatoliy KINAKH]; Our Ukraine bloc (comprised of several parties the most prominent of which are Rukh, the Ukrainian People's Party, Reforms and Order, and Solidarity) [Viktor YUSHCHENKO]; People's Democratic Party or PDP [Valeriy PUSTOVOYTENKO]; Regions of Ukraine [Viktor YANUKOVYCH]; Socialist Party of Ukraine or SPU [Oleksandr MOROZ, chairman]; United Social Democratic Party [Viktor MEDVEDCHUK]; Working Ukraine [Serhiy TYHYPKO]; Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc [Yuliya TYMOSHENKO]
note: as well as numerous smaller parties; United Ukraine and Center Group are not actual political parties, but rather deputy groups (factions not based on a party)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

BSEC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMOVIC, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer), ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mykhailo B. REZNIK
chancery: 3350 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 349-2920
FAX: [1] (202) 333-0817
consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador John E. HERBST
embassy: 10 Yuriia Kotsiubynskoho Street, 04053 Kiev
mailing address: 5850 Kiev Place, Washington, DC 20521-5850
telephone: [380] (44) 490-4000
FAX: [380] (44) 490-4085

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of azure (top) and golden yellow represent grainfields under a blue sky

Economy

Ukraine

Economy - overview:

After Russia, the Ukrainian republic was far and away the most important economic component of the former Soviet Union, producing about four times the output of the next-ranking republic. Its fertile black soil generated more than one-fourth of Soviet agricultural output, and its farms provided substantial quantities of meat, milk, grain, and vegetables to other republics. Likewise, its diversified heavy industry supplied the unique equipment (for example, large diameter pipes) and raw materials to industrial and mining sites (vertical drilling apparatus) in other regions of the former USSR. Ukraine depends on imports of energy, especially natural gas, to meet some 85% of its annual energy requirements. Shortly after independence in December 1991, the Ukrainian Government liberalized most prices and erected a legal framework for privatization, but widespread resistance to reform within the government and the legislature soon stalled reform efforts and led to some backtracking. Output by 1999 had fallen to less than 40% of the 1991 level. Loose monetary policies pushed inflation to hyperinflationary levels in late 1993. Ukraine's dependence on Russia for energy supplies and the lack of significant structural reform have made the Ukrainian economy vulnerable to external shocks. Ukrainian government officials have taken some steps to reform the country's Byzantine tax code, such as the implementation of lower tax rates aimed at bringing more economic activity out of Ukraine's large shadow economy, but more improvements are needed, including closing tax loopholes and eliminating tax privileges and exemptions. Reforms in the more politically sensitive areas of structural reform and land privatization are still lagging. Outside institutions - particularly the IMF - have encouraged Ukraine to quicken the pace and scope of reforms. GDP in 2000 showed strong export-based growth of 6% - the first growth since independence - and industrial production grew 12.9%. The economy continued to expand in 2001 as real GDP rose 9% and industrial output grew by over 14%. Growth of 4.6% in 2002 was more moderate, in part a reflection of faltering growth in the developed world. In general, growth has been undergirded by strong domestic demand, low inflation, and solid consumer and investor confidence. Growth was a sturdy 9.3% in 2003 and a remarkable 12% in 2004, despite a loss of momentum in needed economic reforms.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$299.1 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

12% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $6,300 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 18%
industry: 45.1%
services: 36.9% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

21.11 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 24%, industry 32%, services 44% (1996)

Unemployment rate:

3.5% officially registered; large number of unregistered or underemployed workers; the International Labor Organization calculates that Ukraine's real unemployment level is around 9-10 percent (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

29% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.7%
highest 10%: 23.2% (1999)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

29 (1999)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

12% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

18.8% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $13.57 billion
expenditures: $12.26 billion, including capital expenditures of NA; note - these estimates probably do not include the government's doubling of pensions in September of 2004 (2004 est.)

Public debt:

24.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

grain, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, vegetables; beef, milk

Industries:

coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food processing (especially sugar)

Industrial production growth rate:

16.5% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

180 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 48.6%
hydro: 7.9%
nuclear: 43.5%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

132 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:

1.2 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

72,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption:

303,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

395 million bbl (9 November 2004)

Natural gas - production:

19.6 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

79.86 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

5.8 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

60.4 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

560.7 billion cu m (9 November 2004)

Current account balance:

$4.584 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$32.91 billion (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

ferrous and nonferrous metals, fuel and petroleum products, chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, food products

Exports - partners:

Russia 18%, Germany 5.8%, Turkey 5.7%, Italy 5%, US 4.6% (2004)

Imports:

$31.45 billion (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

energy, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports - partners:

Russia 41.8%, Germany 9.6%, Turkmenistan 6.7% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$11.33 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$16.37 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$637.7 million (1995); IMF Extended Funds Facility $2.2 billion (1998)

Currency (code):

hryvnia (UAH)

Currency code:

UAH

Exchange rates:

hryvnia per US dollar - 5.3192 (2004), 5.3327 (2003), 5.3266 (2002), 5.3722 (2001), 5.4402 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Ukraine

Telephones - main lines in use:

10,833,300 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

4.2 million (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: Ukraine's telecommunication development plan, running through 2005, emphasizes improving domestic trunk lines, international connections, and the mobile cellular system
domestic: at independence in December 1991, Ukraine inherited a telephone system that was antiquated, inefficient, and in disrepair; more than 3.5 million applications for telephones could not be satisfied; telephone density is now rising slowly and the domestic trunk system is being improved; the mobile cellular telephone system is expanding at a high rate
international: country code - 380; two new domestic trunk lines are a part of the fiber-optic Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) system and three Ukrainian links have been installed in the fiber-optic Trans-European Lines (TEL) project that connects 18 countries; additional international service is provided by the Italy-Turkey-Ukraine-Russia (ITUR) fiber-optic submarine cable and by earth stations in the Intelsat, Inmarsat, and Intersputnik satellite systems

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 134, FM 289, shortwave 4 (1998)

Radios:

45.05 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

at least 33 (plus 21 repeaters that relay broadcasts from Russia) (1997)

Televisions:

18.05 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.ua

Internet hosts:

94,345 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

260 (2001)

Internet users:

3.8 million (2003)

Transportation

Ukraine

Railways:

total: 22,473 km
broad gauge: 22,473 km 1.524-m gauge (9,250 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 169,679 km
paved: 164,249 km
unpaved: 5,430 km (2002)

Waterways:

1,672 km (most on Dnieper River) (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 20,069 km; oil 4,540 km; refined products 4,169 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Feodosiya, Kerch, Kherson, Mariupol', Mykolayiv, Odesa, Reni, Yuzhnyy

Merchant marine:

total: 201 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 675,904 GRT/709,802 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 148, container 4, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 10, refrigerated cargo 11, roll on/roll off 7, specialized tanker 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Russia 1)
registered in other countries: 113 (2005)

Airports:

656 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 174
over 3,047 m: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 57
1,524 to 2,437 m: 30
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 70 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 482
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 34
under 914 m: 428 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

8 (2004 est.)

Military

Ukraine

Military branches:

Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air Forces (Viyskovo-Povitryani Syly), Air Defense Forces (2002)

Military service age and obligation:

18-27 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months for Army and Air Force, 24 months for Navy (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 11,067,239 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 7,114,337 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 378,176 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$617.9 million (FY02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.4% (FY02)

Transnational Issues

Ukraine

Disputes - international:

1997 boundary treaty with Belarus remains un-ratified due to unresolved financial claims, stalling demarcation and reducing border security; delimitation of land boundary with Russia is complete but the parties have agreed to defer demarcation; maritime boundary through the Sea of Azov and Kerch Strait remains unresolved despite a December 2003 framework agreement and on-going expert-level discussions; Moldova and Ukraine have established joint customs posts to monitor transit through Moldova's break-away Transnistria Region which remains under OSCE supervision; Ukraine and Romania have taken their dispute over Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary to the ICJ for adjudication; Romania opposes Ukraine's reopening of a navigation canal from the Danube border through the Ukraine to the Black Sea

Illicit drugs:

limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; some synthetic drug production for export to the West; limited government eradication program; used as transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs from Africa, Latin America, and Turkey to Europe and Russia; Ukraine has improved anti-money-laundering controls, resulting in its removal from the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF's) Noncooperative Countries and Territories List in February 2004; Ukraine's anti-money-laundering regime continues to be monitored by FATF

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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United States

Introduction

United States

Background:

Britain's American colonies broke with the mother country in 1776 and were recognized as the new nation of the United States of America following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During the 19th and 20th centuries, 37 new states were added to the original 13 as the nation expanded across the North American continent and acquired a number of overseas possessions. The two most traumatic experiences in the nation's history were the Civil War (1861-65) and the Great Depression of the 1930s. Buoyed by victories in World Wars I and II and the end of the Cold War in 1991, the US remains the world's most powerful nation state. The economy is marked by steady growth, low unemployment and inflation, and rapid advances in technology.

Geography

United States

Location:

North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico

Geographic coordinates:

38 00 N, 97 00 W

Map references:

North America

Area:

total: 9,631,418 sq km
land: 9,161,923 sq km
water: 469,495 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; almost two and a half times the size of the European Union

Land boundaries:

total: 12,034 km
border countries: Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with Alaska), Mexico 3,141 km
note: US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is leased by the US and is part of Cuba; the base boundary is 29 km

Coastline:

19,924 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: not specified

Climate:

mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida, arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River, and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest; low winter temperatures in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in January and February by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains

Terrain:

vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low mountains in east; rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska; rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Death Valley -86 m
highest point: Mount McKinley 6,194 m

Natural resources:

coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber

Land use:

arable land: 19.13%
permanent crops: 0.22%
other: 80.65% (2001)

Irrigated land:

214,000 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity around Pacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts; tornadoes in the midwest and southeast; mud slides in California; forest fires in the west; flooding; permafrost in northern Alaska, a major impediment to development

Environment - current issues:

air pollution resulting in acid rain in both the US and Canada; the US is the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels; water pollution from runoff of pesticides and fertilizers; limited natural fresh water resources in much of the western part of the country require careful management; desertification

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Hazardous Wastes

Geography - note:

world's third-largest country by size (after Russia and Canada) and by population (after China and India); Mt. McKinley is highest point in North America and Death Valley the lowest point on the continent

People

United States

Population:

295,734,134 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 20.6% (male 31,095,725/female 29,703,997)
15-64 years: 67% (male 98,914,382/female 99,324,126)
65 years and over: 12.4% (male 15,298,676/female 21,397,228) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 36.27 years
male: 34.94 years
female: 37.6 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.92% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

14.14 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

8.25 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

3.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 6.5 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.17 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.71 years
male: 74.89 years
female: 80.67 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.08 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.6% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

950,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

14,000 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: American(s)
adjective: American

Ethnic groups:

white 81.7%, black 12.9%, Asian 4.2%, Amerindian and Alaska native 1%, native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander 0.2% (2003 est.)
note: a separate listing for Hispanic is not included because the US Census Bureau considers Hispanic to mean a person of Latin American descent (including persons of Cuban, Mexican, or Puerto Rican origin) living in the US who may be of any race or ethnic group (white, black, Asian, etc.)

Religions:

Protestant 52%, Roman Catholic 24%, Mormon 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 1%, other 10%, none 10% (2002 est.)

Languages:

English 82.1%, Spanish 10.7%, other Indo-European 3.8%, Asian and Pacific island 2.7%, other 0.7% (2000 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97% (1999 est.)

Government

United States

Country name:

conventional long form: United States of America
conventional short form: United States
abbreviation: US or USA

Government type:

Constitution-based federal republic; strong democratic tradition

Capital:

Washington, DC

Administrative divisions:

50 states and 1 district*; Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia*, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Dependent areas:

American Samoa, Baker Island, Guam, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Navassa Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Wake Island
note: from 18 July 1947 until 1 October 1994, the US administered the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands; it entered into a political relationship with all four political units: the Northern Mariana Islands is a commonwealth in political union with the US (effective 3 November 1986); the Republic of the Marshall Islands signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 21 October 1986); the Federated States of Micronesia signed a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 3 November 1986); Palau concluded a Compact of Free Association with the US (effective 1 October 1994)

Independence:

4 July 1776 (from Great Britain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 4 July (1776)

Constitution:

17 September 1787, effective 4 March 1789

Legal system:

federal court system based on English common law; each state has its own unique legal system, of which all but one (Louisiana's) is based on English common law; judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President George W. BUSH (since 20 January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President George W. BUSH (since 20 January 2001); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with Senate approval
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by a college of representatives who are elected directly from each state; president and vice president serve four-year terms; election last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2008)
election results: George W. BUSH reelected president; percent of popular vote - George W. BUSH (Republican Party) 50.9%, John KERRY (Democratic Party) 48.1%, other 1.0%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Congress consists of the Senate (100 seats, one-third are renewed every two years; two members are elected from each state by popular vote to serve six-year terms) and the House of Representatives (435 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2006); House of Representatives - last held 2 November 2004 (next to be held November 2006)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Republican Party 55, Democratic Party 44, independent 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Republican Party 231, Democratic Party 200, undecided 4

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (its nine justices are appointed for life on condition of good behavior by the president with confirmation by the Senate); United States Courts of Appeal; United States District Courts; State and County Courts

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Party [Howard DEAN]; Green Party [leader NA]; Libertarian Party [Steve DAMERELL]; Republican Party [Ken MEHLMAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

AfDB, ANZUS, APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group, BIS, CE (observer), CERN (observer), CP, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, G-5, G-7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNMOVIC, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Flag description:

13 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side corner bearing 50 small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars (top and bottom) alternating with rows of five stars; the 50 stars represent the 50 states, the 13 stripes represent the 13 original colonies; known as Old Glory; the design and colors have been the basis for a number of other flags, including Chile, Liberia, Malaysia, and Puerto Rico

Economy

United States

Economy - overview:

The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $40,100. In this market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firms make most of the decisions, and the federal and state governments buy needed goods and services predominantly in the private marketplace. US business firms enjoy considerably greater flexibility than their counterparts in Western Europe and Japan in decisions to expand capital plant, to lay off surplus workers, and to develop new products. At the same time, they face higher barriers to entry in their rivals' home markets than the barriers to entry of foreign firms in US markets. US firms are at or near the forefront in technological advances, especially in computers and in medical, aerospace, and military equipment; their advantage has narrowed since the end of World War II. The onrush of technology largely explains the gradual development of a "two-tier labor market" in which those at the bottom lack the education and the professional/technical skills of those at the top and, more and more, fail to get comparable pay raises, health insurance coverage, and other benefits. Since 1975, practically all the gains in household income have gone to the top 20% of households. The response to the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 showed the remarkable resilience of the economy. The war in March/April 2003 between a US-led coalition and Iraq, and the subsequent occupation of Iraq, required major shifts in national resources to the military. The rise in GDP in 2004 was undergirded by substantial gains in labor productivity. The economy suffered from a sharp increase in energy prices in the second half of 2004. Long-term problems include inadequate investment in economic infrastructure, rapidly rising medical and pension costs of an aging population, sizable trade and budget deficits, and stagnation of family income in the lower economic groups.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$11.75 trillion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.4% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $40,100 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 0.9%
industry: 19.7%
services: 79.4% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

147.4 million (includes unemployed) (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

farming, forestry, and fishing 0.7%, manufacturing, extraction, transportation, and crafts 22.7%, managerial, professional, and technical 34.9%, sales and office 25.5%, other services 16.3%
note: figures exclude the unemployed (2004)

Unemployment rate:

5.5% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

12% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 30.5% (1997)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

45 (2004)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.5% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

15.7% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.862 trillion
expenditures: $2.338 trillion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

65% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

wheat, corn, other grains, fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; forest products; fish

Industries:

leading industrial power in the world, highly diversified and technologically advanced; petroleum, steel, motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining

Industrial production growth rate:

4.4% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

3.839 trillion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 71.4%
hydro: 5.6%
nuclear: 20.7%
other: 2.3% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

3.66 trillion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

13.36 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

36.23 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

7.8 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

19.65 million bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

22.45 billion bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

548.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

640.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

11.16 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

114.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

5.195 trillion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$-646.5 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$795 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

agricultural products (soybeans, fruit, corn) 9.2%, industrial supplies (organic chemicals) 26.8%, capital goods (transistors, aircraft, motor vehicle parts, computers, telecommunications equipment) 49.0%, consumer goods (automobiles, medicines) 15.0% (2003)

Exports - partners:

Canada 23%, Mexico 13.6%, Japan 6.7%, UK 4.4%, China 4.3% (2004)

Imports:

$1.476 trillion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

agricultural products 4.9%, industrial supplies 32.9% (crude oil 8.2%), capital goods 30.4% (computers, telecommunications equipment, motor vehicle parts, office machines, electric power machinery), consumer goods 31.8% (automobiles, clothing, medicines, furniture, toys) (2003)

Imports - partners:

Canada 17%, China 13.8%, Mexico 10.3%, Japan 8.7%, Germany 5.2% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$85.94 billion (2003)

Debt - external:

$1.4 trillion (2001 est.)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $6.9 billion (1997)

Currency (code):

US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

USD

Exchange rates:

British pounds per US dollar - 0.5457 (2004), 0.6139 (2003), 0.6661 (2002), 0.6944 (2001), 0.6596 (2000); Canadian dollars per US dollar - 1.3014 (2004), 1.4045 (2003), 1.5693 (2002), 1.5488 (2001), 1.4851 (2000); Japanese yen per US dollar - 108.13 (2004), 116.08 (2003), 125.39 (2002), 121.53 (2001), 107.77 (2000); euros per US dollar - 0.8048 (2004), 0.8866 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.08540 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 October - 30 September

Communications

United States

Telephones - main lines in use:

181,599,900 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

158.722 million (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: a large, technologically advanced, multipurpose communications system
domestic: a large system of fiber-optic cable, microwave radio relay, coaxial cable, and domestic satellites carries every form of telephone traffic; a rapidly growing cellular system carries mobile telephone traffic throughout the country
international: country code - 1; 24 ocean cable systems in use; satellite earth stations - 61 Intelsat (45 Atlantic Ocean and 16 Pacific Ocean), 5 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 4 Inmarsat (Pacific and Atlantic Ocean regions) (2000)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 4,854, FM 8,950, shortwave 18 (2004)

Radios:

575 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

more than 1,500 (including nearly 1,000 stations affiliated with the five major networks - NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, and PBS; in addition, there are about 9,000 cable TV systems) (1997)

Televisions:

219 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.us

Internet hosts:

115,311,958 (2002)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

7,000 (2002 est.)

Internet users:

159 million (2002)

Transportation

United States

Railways:

total: 227,736 km
standard gauge: 227,736 km 1.435-m gauge (2003)

Highways:

total: 6,393,603 km
paved: 4,180,053 km (including 74,406 km of expressways)
unpaved: 2,213,550 km (2003)

Waterways:

41,009 km (19,312 km used for commerce)
note: Saint Lawrence Seaway of 3,769 km, including the Saint Lawrence River of 3,058 km, shared with Canada (2004)

Pipelines:

petroleum products 244,620 km; natural gas 548,665 km (2003)

Ports and harbors:

Corpus Christi, Duluth, Hampton Roads, Houston, Long Beach, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Tampa, Texas City
note: 13 ports north of New Orleans (South Louisiana Ports) on the Mississippi River handle 290,000,000 tons of cargo annually.

Merchant marine:

total: 486 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 12,436,658 GRT/14,630,116 DWT
by type: barge carrier 7, bulk carrier 19, cargo 152, chemical tanker 19, container 92, passenger 17, passenger/cargo 57, petroleum tanker 79, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 28, vehicle carrier 14
foreign-owned: 49 (Australia 2, Canada 8, China 1, Denmark 20, Malaysia 2, Netherlands 1, Norway 2, Singapore 11, Sweden 1, United Kingdom 1)
registered in other countries: 680 (2005)

Airports:

14,857 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 5,128
over 3,047 m: 188
2,438 to 3,047 m: 221
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1,375
914 to 1,523 m: 2,383
under 914 m: 961 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 9,729
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 160
914 to 1,523 m: 1,718
under 914 m: 7,843 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

155 (2004 est.)

Military

United States

Military branches:

Army, Navy and Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard (Coast Guard administered in peacetime by the Department of Homeland Security, but in wartime reports to the Department of the Navy)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 67,742,879
females age 18-49: 67,070,144 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 54,609,050
females age 18-49: 54,696,706 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 2,143,873
females: 2,036,201 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$370.7 billion (FY04 est.) (March 2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3.3% (FY03 est.) (February 2004)

Transnational Issues

United States

Disputes - international:

prolonged drought, population growth, and outmoded practices and infrastructure in the border region strains water-sharing arrangements with Mexico; the US has stepped up efforts to stem nationals from Mexico, Central America, and other parts of the world from crossing illegally into the United States from Mexico; illegal immigrants from the Caribbean, notably Haiti and the Dominican Republic, attempt to enter the US through Florida by sea; 1990 Maritime Boundary Agreement in the Bering Sea still awaits Russian Duma ratification; managed maritime boundary disputes with Canada at Dixon Entrance, Beaufort Sea, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and around the disputed Machias Seal Island and North Rock; US and Canada seek greater cooperation in monitoring people and commodities crossing the border; The Bahamas and US have not been able to agree on a maritime boundary; US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased from Cuba and only mutual agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease; Haiti claims US-administered Navassa Island; US has made no territorial claim in Antarctica (but has reserved the right to do so) and does not recognize the claims of any other state; Marshall Islands claims Wake Island

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): the United States admitted 52,868 refugees during FY03/04 including: 13,331 (Somalia), 6,000 (Laos), 3,482 (Ukraine), 2,959 (Cuba), 1,787 (Iran); note - 27,239 refugees have been admitted as of 31 May 2005

Illicit drugs:

consumer of cocaine shipped from Colombia through Mexico and the Caribbean; consumer of heroin, marijuana, and increasingly methamphetamine from Mexico; consumer of high-quality Southeast Asian heroin; illicit producer of cannabis, marijuana, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and methamphetamine; money-laundering center

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Burkina Faso

Introduction

Burkina Faso

Background:

Burkina Faso (formerly Upper Volta) achieved independence from France in 1960. Repeated military coups during the 1970s and 1980s were followed by multiparty elections in the early 1990s. Burkina Faso's high population density and limited natural resources result in poor economic prospects for the majority of its citizens. Recent unrest in Cote d'Ivoire and northern Ghana has hindered the ability of several hundred thousand seasonal Burkinabe farm workers to find employment in neighboring countries.

Geography

Burkina Faso

Location:

Western Africa, north of Ghana

Geographic coordinates:

13 00 N, 2 00 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 274,200 sq km
land: 273,800 sq km
water: 400 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Colorado

Land boundaries:

total: 3,193 km
border countries: Benin 306 km, Cote d'Ivoire 584 km, Ghana 549 km, Mali 1,000 km, Niger 628 km, Togo 126 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

tropical; warm, dry winters; hot, wet summers

Terrain:

mostly flat to dissected, undulating plains; hills in west and southeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m
highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m

Natural resources:

manganese, limestone, marble; small deposits of gold, phosphates, pumice, salt

Land use:

arable land: 14.43%
permanent crops: 0.19%
other: 85.38% (2001)

Irrigated land:

250 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

recurring droughts

Environment - current issues:

recent droughts and desertification severely affecting agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy; overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked savanna cut by the three principal rivers of the Black, Red, and White Voltas

People

Burkina Faso

Population:

13,925,313
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 46% (male 3,213,436/female 3,193,253)
15-64 years: 51.2% (male 3,487,201/female 3,635,673)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 164,418/female 231,332) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 16.82 years
male: 16.43 years
female: 17.22 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.53% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

44.17 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

18.86 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 97.57 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 105.55 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 89.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 48.45 years
male: 46.96 years
female: 49.99 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.23 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

4.2% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

300,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

29,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria is a high risk in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis
respiratory disease: meningococcal meningitis (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural)
adjective: Burkinabe

Ethnic groups:

Mossi over 40%, Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, Fulani

Religions:

indigenous beliefs 40%, Muslim 50%, Christian (mainly Roman Catholic) 10%

Languages:

French (official), native African languages belonging to Sudanic family spoken by 90% of the population

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 26.6%
male: 36.9%
female: 16.6% (2003 est.)

Government

Burkina Faso

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Burkina Faso
former: Upper Volta, Republic of Upper Volta

Government type:

parliamentary republic

Capital:

Ouagadougou

Administrative divisions:

45 provinces; Bale, Bam, Banwa, Bazega, Bougouriba, Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Comoe, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Ioba, Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Komondjari, Kompienga, Kossi, Koulpelogo, Kouritenga, Kourweogo, Leraba, Loroum, Mouhoun, Namentenga, Nahouri, Nayala, Noumbiel, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie, Sanmatenga, Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha, Yatenga, Ziro, Zondoma, Zoundweogo

Independence:

5 August 1960 (from France)

National holiday:

Republic Day, 11 December (1958)

Constitution:

2 June 1991 approved by referendum, 11 June 1991 formally adopted; amended April 2000

Legal system:

based on French civil law system and customary law

Suffrage:

universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Blaise COMPAORE (since 15 October 1987)
head of government: Prime Minister Ernest Paramanga YONLI (since 6 November 2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 15 November 1998 (next to be held NA 2005); in April 2000, the constitution was amended reducing the presidential term from seven to five years, enforceable as of 2005, and allowing the president to be reelected only once; it is unclear whether this amendment will be applied retroactively or not; prime minister appointed by the president with the consent of the legislature
election results: Blaise COMPAORE reelected president with 87.5% percent of the vote

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (111 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly election last held 5 May 2002 (next to be held May 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CDP 57, RDA-ADF 17, PDP/PS 10, CFD 5, PAI 5, others 17

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; Appeals Court

Political parties and leaders:

African Democratic Rally-Alliance for Democracy and Federation or RDA-ADF [Herman YAMEOGO]; Confederation for Federation and Democracy or CFD [Amadou Diemdioda DICKO]; Congress for Democracy and Progress or CDP [Roch Marc-Christian KABORE]; Movement for Tolerance and Progress or MTP [Nayabtigungou Congo KABORE]; Party for African Independence or PAI [Philippe OUEDRAOGO]; Party for Democracy and Progress or PDP [Joseph KI-ZERBO]; Socialist Party or PS [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 or CGTB; Burkinabe Movement for Human Rights or MBDHP; Group of 14 February; National Confederation of Burkinabe Workers or CNTB; National Organization of Free Unions or ONSL; watchdog/political action groups throughout the country in both organizations and communities

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Tertius ZONGO
chancery: 2340 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-5577
FAX: [1] (202) 667-1882

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Anthony HOLMES
embassy: 602 Avenue Raoul Follereau, Koulouba, Secteur 4
mailing address: 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou 01; pouch mail - U. S. Department of State, 2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC 20521-2440
telephone: [226] 306723
FAX: [226] 303890

Flag description:

two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and green with a yellow five-pointed star in the center; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia

Economy

Burkina Faso

Economy - overview:

One of the poorest countries in the world, landlocked Burkina Faso has few natural resources and a weak industrial base. About 90% of the population is engaged in subsistence agriculture, which is vulnerable to harsh climatic conditions. Cotton is the key crop and the government has joined with other cotton producing countries in the region to lobby for improved access to Western markets. GDP growth has largely been driven by increases in world cotton prices. Industry remains dominated by unprofitable government-controlled corporations. Following the African franc currency devaluation in January 1994 the government updated its development program in conjunction with international agencies; exports and economic growth have increased. The government devolved macroeconomic policy and inflation targeting to the West African regional central bank (BCEAO), but maintains control over microeconomic policies, including reducing the trade deficit and implementing reforms to encourage private investment. The bitter internal crisis in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire continues to hurt trade and industrial prospects and deepens the need for international assistance.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$15.74 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.8% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,200 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 39.5%
industry: 19.3%
services: 41.3% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

5 million
note: a large part of the male labor force migrates annually to neighboring countries for seasonal employment (2003)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 90% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

NA%

Population below poverty line:

45% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 46.8% (1994)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

48.2 (1994)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.4% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

29.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $695.2 million
expenditures: $876.3 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

cotton, peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, sorghum, millet, corn, rice; livestock

Industries:

cotton lint, beverages, agricultural processing, soap, cigarettes, textiles, gold

Industrial production growth rate:

14% (2001 est.)

Electricity - production:

361 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 69.9%
hydro: 30.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

335.7 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

8,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-471.7 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$418.6 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

cotton, livestock, gold

Exports - partners:

China 32.1%, Singapore 11.5%, Ghana 4.7%, Bangladesh 4.3% (2004)

Imports:

$866.3 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

capital goods, foodstuffs, petroleum

Imports - partners:

France 29.3%, Cote d'Ivoire 16%, Togo 9.8% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$474.9 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.3 billion (2000)

Economic aid - recipient:

$484.1 million (1995)

Currency (code):

Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible authority is the Central Bank of the West African States

Currency code:

XOF

Exchange rates:

Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001), 711.98 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Burkina Faso

Telephones - main lines in use:

65,400 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

227,000 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: all services only fair
domestic: microwave radio relay, open-wire, and radiotelephone communication stations
international: country code - 226; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 3, FM 17, shortwave 3 (2002)

Radios:

394,020 (2000)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2002)

Televisions:

131,340 (2002)

Internet country code:

.bf

Internet hosts:

442 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:

48,000 (2003)

Transportation

Burkina Faso

Railways:

total: 622 km
narrow gauge: 622 km 1.000-m gauge
note:: another 660 km of this railway extends into Cote D'Ivoire (2004)

Highways:

total: 12,506 km
paved: 2,001 km
unpaved: 10,505 km (1999)

Airports:

33 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 31
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 17 (2004 est.)

Military

Burkina Faso

Military branches:

Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service; 20 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,664,572 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,323,548 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$64.2 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.3% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Burkina Faso

Disputes - international:

two villages are in dispute along the border with Benin; Benin accuses Burkina Faso of moving boundary pillars; Burkina Faso border regions remain a staging area for Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire rebels and an asylum for refugees caught in local fighting; the Ivoirian Government accuses Burkina Faso of sheltering Ivoirian rebels

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Uruguay

Introduction

Uruguay

Background:

Montevideo, founded by the Spanish in 1726 as a military stronghold, soon took advantage of its natural harbor to became an important commercial center. Annexed by Brazil as a separate province in 1821, Uruguay declared its independence four years later and secured its freedom in 1828 after a three-year struggle. The administrations of President BATLLE in the early 20th century established widespread political, social, and economic reforms. A violent Marxist urban guerrilla movement, the Tupamaros, launched in the late 1960s, led Uruguay's president to agree to military control of his administration in 1973. By yearend, the rebels had been crushed, but the military continued to expand its hold throughout the government. Civilian rule was not restored until 1985. Uruguay's political and labor conditions are among the freest on the continent.

Geography

Uruguay

Location:

Southern South America, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Argentina and Brazil

Geographic coordinates:

33 00 S, 56 00 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total: 176,220 sq km
land: 173,620 sq km
water: 2,600 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than the state of Washington

Land boundaries:

total: 1,564 km
border countries: Argentina 579 km, Brazil 985 km

Coastline:

660 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

warm temperate; freezing temperatures almost unknown

Terrain:

mostly rolling plains and low hills; fertile coastal lowland

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m

Natural resources:

arable land, hydropower, minor minerals, fisheries

Land use:

arable land: 7.43%
permanent crops: 0.23%
other: 92.34% (2001)

Irrigated land:

1,800 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and occasional violent wind which blows north from the Argentine pampas), droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act as weather barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes from weather fronts

Environment - current issues:

water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry; inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:

second-smallest South American country (after Suriname); most of the low-lying landscape (three-quarters of the country) is grassland, ideal for cattle and sheep raising

People

Uruguay

Population:

3,415,920 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 23.2% (male 403,041/female 389,427)
15-64 years: 63.6% (male 1,076,960/female 1,095,833)
65 years and over: 13.2% (male 183,877/female 266,782) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 32.46 years
male: 31.02 years
female: 33.95 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.47% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

14.09 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

9.06 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 11.95 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.27 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.13 years
male: 72.92 years
female: 79.45 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.91 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.3% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

6,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 500 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Uruguayan(s)
adjective: Uruguayan

Ethnic groups:

white 88%, mestizo 8%, black 4%, Amerindian (practically nonexistent)

Religions:

Roman Catholic 66% (less than half of the adult population attends church regularly), Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, nonprofessing or other 31%

Languages:

Spanish, Portunol, or Brazilero (Portuguese-Spanish mix on the Brazilian frontier)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 98%
male: 97.6%
female: 98.4% (2003 est.)

Government

Uruguay

Country name:

conventional long form: Oriental Republic of Uruguay
conventional short form: Uruguay
local long form: Republica Oriental del Uruguay
local short form: Uruguay
former: Banda Oriental, Cisplatine Province

Government type:

constitutional republic

Capital:

Montevideo

Administrative divisions:

19 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Artigas, Canelones, Cerro Largo, Colonia, Durazno, Flores, Florida, Lavalleja, Maldonado, Montevideo, Paysandu, Rio Negro, Rivera, Rocha, Salto, San Jose, Soriano, Tacuarembo, Treinta y Tres

Independence:

25 August 1825 (from Brazil)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 25 August (1825)

Constitution:

27 November 1966, effective February 1967; suspended 27 June 1973, new constitution rejected by referendum 30 November 1980; two constitutional reforms approved by plebiscite 26 November 1989 and 7 January 1997

Legal system:

based on Spanish civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Tabare VAZQUEZ (since 1 March 2005) and Vice President Rodolfo NIN NOVA (since 1 March 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Tabare VAZQUEZ (since 1 March 2005) and Vice President Rodolfo NIN NOVA (since 1 March 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president with parliamentary approval
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 31 October 2004 (next to be held October 2009)
election results: Tabare VAZQUEZ elected president; percent of vote - Tabare VAZQUEZ 50.5%, Jorge LARRANAGA 35.1%, Guillermo STIRLING 10.3%

Legislative branch:

bicameral General Assembly or Asamblea General consists of Chamber of Senators or Camara de Senadores (30 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and Chamber of Representatives or Camara de Representantes (99 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators - last held 31 October 2004 (next to be held October 2009); Chamber of Representatives - last held 31 October 2004 (next to be held October 2009)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - EP-FA 16, Blanco 11, Colorado Party 3; Chamber of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - EP-FA 52, Blanco 36, Colorado Party 10, Independent Party 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president and elected for 10-year terms by the General Assembly)

Political parties and leaders:

Colorado Party [Jorge BATLLE Ibanez]; National Party or Blanco [Luis Alberto LACALLE Herrera]; New Sector/Space Coalition (Nuevo Espacio) [Rafael MICHELINI]; Progressive Encounter/Broad Front Coalition (Encuentro Progresista/Frente Amplio) or EP-FA [Tabare VAZQUEZ]; Independent Party (Partido Independiente) [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Agrupacion UTE (powerful state worker's union), Rural Association of Uruguay (rancher's association), Uruguayan Construction League, Chamber of Uruguayan Industries (manufacturer's association), Chemist and Pharmaceutical Association (professional organization), Architect's Society of Uruguay (professional organization), the Catholic Church, students

International organization participation:

CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, ONUB, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMOGIP, UNMOT, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos GIANELLI Derois
chancery: 1913 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: [1] (202) 331-1313 through 1316
FAX: [1] (202) 331-8142
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York
consulate(s): San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Martin J. SILVERSTEIN
embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200
mailing address: APO AA 34035
telephone: [598] (2) 418-7777
FAX: [598] (2) 418-8611

Flag description:

nine equal horizontal stripes of white (top and bottom) alternating with blue; there is a white square in the upper hoist-side corner with a yellow sun bearing a human face known as the Sun of May and 16 rays alternately triangular and wavy

Economy

Uruguay

Economy - overview:

Uruguay's well-to-do economy is characterized by an export-oriented agricultural sector, a well-educated workforce, and high levels of social spending. After averaging growth of 5% annually during 1996-98, in 1999-2002 the economy suffered a major downturn, stemming largely from the spillover effects of the economic problems of its large neighbors, Argentina and Brazil. For instance, in 2001-02 massive withdrawals by Argentina of dollars deposited in Uruguayan banks led to a plunge in the Uruguyan peso and a massive rise in unemployment. Total GDP in these four years dropped by nearly 20%, with 2002 the worst year due to the serious banking crisis. Unemployment rose to nearly 20% in 2002, inflation surged, and the burden of external debt doubled. Cooperation with the IMF limited the damage. The debt swap with private creditors carried out in 2003, which extended the maturity dates on nearly half of Uruguay's $11.3 billion in public debt, substantially alleviated the country's amortization burden in the coming years and restored public confidence. The economy grew about 10% in 2004 as a result of high commodity prices for Uruguayan exports, the weakness of the dollar against the euro, growth in the region, low international interest rates, and greater export competitiveness.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$49.27 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

10.2% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $14,500 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 7.9%
industry: 27.4%
services: 64.8% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

1.56 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 14%, industry 16%, services 70%

Unemployment rate:

13% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

21% of households (2003)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.7%
highest 10%: 25.8% (1997)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

44.8 (1999)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7.6% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

9.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $3.332 billion
expenditures: $3.787 billion, including capital expenditures of $193 million (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

rice, wheat, corn, barley; livestock; fish

Industries:

food processing, electrical machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, textiles, chemicals, beverages

Industrial production growth rate:

22% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

8.536 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 0.7%
hydro: 99.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0.3% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

5.878 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:

954 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:

434.2 million kWh (2003)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

41,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

64.5 million cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

65 million cu m (2003 est.)

Current account balance:

$181.8 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$2.2 billion f.o.b. (2003 est.)

Exports - commodities:

meat, rice, leather products, wool, fish, dairy products

Exports - partners:

US 17.3%, Brazil 16%, Germany 6.3%, Argentina 6.2%, Mexico 4.2% (2004)

Imports:

$2.071 billion f.o.b. (2003)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, chemicals, road vehicles, crude petroleum

Imports - partners:

Argentina 19.5%, Brazil 19%, Paraguay 12.9%, US 9.2%, China 6% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.362 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$12.8 billion (March 2004)

Economic aid - recipient:

NA

Currency (code):

Uruguayan peso (UYU)

Currency code:

UYU

Exchange rates:

Uruguayan pesos per US dollar - 28.704 (2004), 28.209 (2003), 21.257 (2002), 13.319 (2001), 12.1 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Uruguay

Telephones - main lines in use:

946,500 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

652,000 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: fully digitalized
domestic: most modern facilities concentrated in Montevideo; new nationwide microwave radio relay network
international: country code - 598; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2002)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 91, FM 149, shortwave 7 (2001)

Radios:

1.97 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

23 (2002)

Televisions:

782,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.uy

Internet hosts:

87,630 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

14 (2001)

Internet users:

400,000 (2002)

Transportation

Uruguay

Railways:

total: 2,073 km
standard gauge: 2,073 km 1.435-m gauge
note: 461 km have been taken out of service and 460 km are in partial use (2004)

Highways:

total: 8,983 km
paved: 8,081 km
unpaved: 902 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

1,600 km (2002)

Pipelines:

gas 192 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Montevideo

Merchant marine:

total: 11 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 10,918 GRT/10,342 DWT
by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 4 (Argentina 3, Greece 1)
registered in other countries: 8 (2005)

Airports:

64 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 50
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 31 (2004 est.)

Military

Uruguay

Military branches:

Army, Navy (includes Naval Air Arm, Marines, Maritime Prefecture in wartime), Air Force

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 764,408 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 637,445 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$257.5 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Uruguay

Disputes - international:

uncontested dispute with Brazil over certain islands in the Quarai/Cuareim and Invernada streams and the resulting tripoint with Argentina

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Uzbekistan

Introduction

Uzbekistan

Background:

Russia conquered Uzbekistan in the late 19th century. Stiff resistance to the Red Army after World War I was eventually suppressed and a socialist republic set up in 1924. During the Soviet era, intensive production of "white gold" (cotton) and grain led to overuse of agrochemicals and the depletion of water supplies, which have left the land poisoned and the Aral Sea and certain rivers half dry. Independent since 1991, the country seeks to gradually lessen its dependence on agriculture while developing its mineral and petroleum reserves. Current concerns include terrorism by Islamic militants, economic stagnation, and the curtailment of human rights and democratization.

Geography

Uzbekistan

Location:

Central Asia, north of Afghanistan

Geographic coordinates:

41 00 N, 64 00 E

Map references:

Asia

Area:

total: 447,400 sq km
land: 425,400 sq km
water: 22,000 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than California

Land boundaries:

total: 6,221 km
border countries: Afghanistan 137 km, Kazakhstan 2,203 km, Kyrgyzstan 1,099 km, Tajikistan 1,161 km, Turkmenistan 1,621 km

Coastline:

0 km (doubly landlocked); note - Uzbekistan includes the southern portion of the Aral Sea with a 420 km shoreline

Maritime claims:

none (doubly landlocked)

Climate:

mostly midlatitude desert, long, hot summers, mild winters; semiarid grassland in east

Terrain:

mostly flat-to-rolling sandy desert with dunes; broad, flat intensely irrigated river valleys along course of Amu Darya, Syr Darya (Sirdaryo), and Zarafshon; Fergana Valley in east surrounded by mountainous Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; shrinking Aral Sea in west

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Sariqarnish Kuli -12 m
highest point: Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m

Natural resources:

natural gas, petroleum, coal, gold, uranium, silver, copper, lead and zinc, tungsten, molybdenum

Land use:

arable land: 10.83%
permanent crops: 0.83%
other: 88.34% (2001)

Irrigated land:

42,810 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

shrinkage of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these substances are then blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and contribute to desertification; water pollution from industrial wastes and the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides is the cause of many human health disorders; increasing soil salination; soil contamination from buried nuclear processing and agricultural chemicals, including DDT

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

along with Liechtenstein, one of the only two doubly landlocked countries in the world

People

Uzbekistan

Population:

26,851,195 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 33.5% (male 4,575,443/female 4,408,146)
15-64 years: 61.7% (male 8,201,993/female 8,371,933)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 528,334/female 765,346) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 22.36 years
male: 21.74 years
female: 23 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.67% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

26.22 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

7.95 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 71.1 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 74.78 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 67.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 64.19 years
male: 60.82 years
female: 67.73 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.94 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

11,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 500 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Uzbekistani
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: 99.3%
male: 99.6%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Government

Uzbekistan

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Uzbekistan
conventional short form: Uzbekistan
local long form: Ozbekiston Respublikasi
local short form: Ozbekiston
former: Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:

republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch

Capital:

Tashkent (Toshkent)

Administrative divisions:

12 provinces (viloyatlar, singular - viloyat), 1 autonomous republic* (respublika), and 1 city** (shahar); Andijon Viloyati, Buxoro Viloyati, Farg'ona Viloyati, Jizzax Viloyati, Namangan Viloyati, Navoiy Viloyati, Qashqadaryo Viloyati (Qarshi), Qaraqalpog'iston Respublikasi* (Nukus), Samarqand Viloyati, Sirdaryo Viloyati (Guliston), Surxondaryo Viloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri**, Toshkent Viloyati, Xorazm Viloyati (Urganch)
note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Independence:

1 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 1 September (1991)

Constitution:

new constitution adopted 8 December 1992

Legal system:

evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independent judicial system

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Islom KARIMOV (since 24 March 1990, when he was elected president by the then Supreme Soviet)
head of government: Prime Minister Shavkat MIRZIYAYEV (since 11 December 2003)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of the Supreme Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (previously was a five-year term, extended by constitutional amendment in 2002); election last held 9 January 2000 (next to be held December 2007); prime minister and deputy ministers appointed by the president
election results: Islom KARIMOV reelected president; percent of vote - Islom KARIMOV 91.9%, Abdulkhafiz JALALOV 4.2%

Legislative branch:

bicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis consists of an Upper House or Senate (100 seats; 84 members are elected by regional governing councils to serve five-year terms and 16 are appointed by the president) and a Lower House or Legislative Chamber (120 seats; elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 26 December 2004 and 9 January 2005 (next to be held December 2009)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; Legislative Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - LDPU 41, NDP 32, Fidokorlar 17, MTP 11, Adolat 9, unaffiliated 10
note: all parties in the Supreme Assembly support President KARIMOV

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Supreme Assembly)

Political parties and leaders:

Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party [Dilorom TOSHMUHAMMADOVA, chairman]; Democratic National Rebirth Party (Milly Tiklanish) or MTP [Xurshid DOSTMUHAMMADOV, chief]; Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan or LDPU [Adham SHODMONOV, chairman]; People's Democratic Party or NDP (formerly Communist Party) [Asliddin RUSTAMOV, first secretary]; Self-Sacrificers Party or Fidokorlar National Democratic Party [Ahtam TURSUNOV, chief]; note - Fatherland Progress Party merged with Self-Sacrificers Party

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Agrarian and Entrepreneurs' Party [Marat ZAHIDOV]; Birlik (Unity) Movement [Abdurakhim POLAT, chairman]; Erk (Freedom) Democratic Party [Muhammad SOLIH, chairman] was banned 9 December 1992; Ezgulik Human Rights Society [Vasilia INOYATOVA]; Free Farmers' Party or Ozod Dehqonlar [Nigara KHIDOYATOVA]; Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan [Tolib YAKUBOV, chairman]; Independent Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan [Mikhail ARDZINOV, chairman]; Mazlum [leader NA]

International organization participation:

AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Abdulaziz KAMILOV
chancery: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 293-6803
FAX: [1] (202) 293-6804
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jon PURNELL
embassy: 82 Chilanzarskaya, Tashkent 700115
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [998] (71) 120-5450
FAX: [998] (71) 120-6335

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green separated by red fimbriations with a white crescent moon and 12 white stars in the upper hoist-side quadrant

Economy

Uzbekistan

Economy - overview:

Uzbekistan is a dry, landlocked country of which 11% consists of intensely cultivated, irrigated river valleys. More than 60% of its population lives in densely populated rural communities. Uzbekistan is now the world's second-largest cotton exporter, a large producer of gold and oil, and a regionally significant producer of chemicals and machinery. Following independence in December 1991, the government sought to prop up its Soviet-style command economy with subsidies and tight controls on production and prices. Uzbekistan responded to the negative external conditions generated by the Asian and Russian financial crises by emphasizing import substitute industrialization and by tightening export and currency controls within its already largely closed economy. The government, while aware of the need to improve the investment climate, sponsors measures that often increase, not decrease, the government's control over business decisions. A sharp increase in the inequality of income distribution has hurt the lower ranks of society since independence. In 2003, the government accepted the obligations of Article VIII under the International Monetary Fund (IMF), providing for full currency convertibility. However, strict currency controls and tightening of borders have lessened the effects of convertibility and have also led to some shortages that have further stifled economic activity.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$47.59 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.4% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 38%
industry: 26.3%
services: 35.7% (2003 est.)

Labor force:

14.64 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 44%, industry 20%, services 36% (1995)

Unemployment rate:

0.6% officially, plus another 20% underemployed (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

28% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 22% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

44.7 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3% (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $2.457 billion
expenditures: $2.482 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

41.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock

Industries:

textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, gold petroleum, natural gas, chemicals

Industrial production growth rate:

6.2% (2003 est.)

Electricity - production:

47.7 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 88.2%
hydro: 11.8%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

46.66 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

4.5 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

6.8 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

143,300 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

142,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

297 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

63.1 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

45.2 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

17.9 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

937.3 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$461.9 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$3.7 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

cotton 41.5%, gold 9.6%, energy products 9.6%, mineral fertilizers, ferrous metals, textiles, food products, automobiles (1998 est.)

Exports - partners:

Russia 22%, China 14.7%, Turkey 6.4%, Tajikistan 6.1%, Kazakhstan 4.2%, Bangladesh 4% (2004)

Imports:

$2.82 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment 49.8%, foodstuffs 16.4%, chemicals, metals (1998 est.)

Imports - partners:

Russia 26.8%, South Korea 12.6%, US 8%, Germany 7.7%, Kazakhstan 6.3%, China 5.8%, Turkey 5.1%, Ukraine 4.5% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.603 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$4.351 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$87.4 million from the US (2003)

Currency (code):

Uzbekistani sum (UZS)

Currency code:

UZS

Exchange rates:

Uzbekistani sums per US dollar - 1,020 (2004), 971.265 (2003), 771.03 (2001), 423.832 (2001), 236.61 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Uzbekistan

Telephones - main lines in use:

1,717,100 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

320,800 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: antiquated and inadequate; in serious need of modernization
domestic: the domestic telephone system is being expanded and technologically improved, particularly in Tashkent (Toshkent) and Samarqand, under contracts with prominent companies in industrialized countries; moreover, by 1998, six cellular networks had been placed in operation - four of the GSM type (Global System for Mobile Communication), one D-AMPS type (Digital Advanced Mobile Phone System), and one AMPS type (Advanced Mobile Phone System)
international: country code - 998; linked by landline or microwave radio relay with CIS member states and to other countries by leased connection via the Moscow international gateway switch; after the completion of the Uzbek link to the Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic cable, Uzbekistan will be independent of Russian facilities for international communications; Inmarsat also provides an international connection, albeit an expensive one; satellite earth stations - NA (1998)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 20, FM 7, shortwave 10 (1998)

Radios:

10.8 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

4 (plus two repeaters that relay Russian programs), 1 cable rebroadcaster in Tashkent; approximately 20 stations in regional capitals (2003)

Televisions:

6.4 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.uz

Internet hosts:

1,040 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

42 (2000)

Internet users:

492,000 (2003)

Transportation

Uzbekistan

Railways:

total: 3,950 km
broad gauge: 3,950 km 1.520-m gauge (620 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 81,600 km
paved: 71,237 km
unpaved: 10,363 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

1,100 km (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 9,149 km; oil 869 km; refined products 33 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Termiz (Amu Darya)

Airports:

226 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 33
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 14
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 193
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 187 (2004 est.)

Military

Uzbekistan

Military branches:

Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 12 months (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 6,340,220 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 4,609,621 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 324,722 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$200 million (FY97)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2% (FY97)

Transnational Issues

Uzbekistan

Disputes - international:

cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan creates water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river states; delimitation with Kazakhstan complete with demarcation underway; delimitation is underway with Kyrgyzstan but serious disputes around enclaves and elsewhere continue to mar progress for some 130 km of border; talks continue with Tajikistan to delimit border and remove minefields

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 3,000 (forced population transfers by government from villages near Tajikistan border) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

transit country for Afghan narcotics bound for Russian and, to a lesser extent, Western European markets; limited illicit cultivation of cannabis and small amounts of opium poppy for domestic consumption; poppy cultivation almost wiped out by government crop eradication program; transit point for heroin precursor chemicals bound for Afghanistan

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Introduction

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Background:

Disputed between France and the United Kingdom in the 18th century, Saint Vincent was ceded to the latter in 1783. Autonomy was granted in 1969 and independence in 1979.

Geography

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Location:

Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Geographic coordinates:

13 15 N, 61 12 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 389 sq km (Saint Vincent 344 sq km)
land: 389 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

84 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)

Terrain:

volcanic, mountainous

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Soufriere 1,234 m

Natural resources:

hydropower, cropland

Land use:

arable land: 17.95%
permanent crops: 17.95%
other: 64.1% (2001)

Irrigated land:

10 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threat

Environment - current issues:

pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, 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:

the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is comprised of 32 islands and cays

People

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Population:

117,534 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 27.1% (male 16,208/female 15,621)
15-64 years: 66.5% (male 40,287/female 37,883)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 3,280/female 4,255) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 26.36 years
male: 26.21 years
female: 26.53 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.27% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

16.34 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-7.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 14.78 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 16.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.62 years
male: 71.78 years
female: 75.51 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.85 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s)
adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian

Ethnic groups:

black 66%, mixed 19%, East Indian 6%, Carib Amerindian 2%, other 7%

Religions:

Anglican 47%, Methodist 28%, Roman Catholic 13%, Hindu, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Protestant

Languages:

English, French patois

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 96%
male: 96%
female: 96% (1970 est.)

Government

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Government type:

parliamentary democracy; independent sovereign state within the Commonwealth

Capital:

Kingstown

Administrative divisions:

6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick

Independence:

27 October 1979 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 27 October (1979)

Constitution:

27 October 1979

Legal system:

based on English common law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Sir Fredrick Nathaniel BALLANTYNE (since 2 September 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Ralph E. GONSALVES (since 29 March 2001)
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 is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister 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 elected by popular vote from single-member constituencies to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 28 March 2001 (next to be held by July 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - ULP 12, NDP 3

Judicial branch:

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia; one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)

Political parties and leaders:

National Reform Party or NRP [Joel MIGUEL]; New Democratic Party or NDP [Arnhim EUSTACE]; People's Progressive Movement or PPM [Ken BOYEA]; Progressive Labor Party or PLP [leader NA]; United People's Movement or UPM [Adrian SAUNDERS]; Unity Labor Party or ULP [Ralph GONSALVES] (formed by the coalition of Saint Vincent Labor Party or SVLP and the Movement for National Unity or MNU)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ellsworth I. A. JOHN
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 364-6730
FAX: [1] (202) 364-6736
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Flag description:

three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double width), and green; the gold band bears three green diamonds arranged in a V pattern

Economy

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Economy - overview:

Economic growth in this lower-middle-income country hinges upon seasonal variations in the agricultural and tourism sectors. Tropical storms wiped out substantial portions of crops in 1994, 1995, and 2002, and tourism in the Eastern Caribbean has suffered low arrivals following 11 September 2001. Saint Vincent is home to a small offshore banking sector and has moved to adopt international regulatory standards. Saint Vincent is also a large producer of marijuana and is being used as a transshipment point for illegal narcotics from South America.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$342 million (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

0.7% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $2,900 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 10%
industry: 26%
services: 64% (2001 est.)

Labor force:

67,000 (1984 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 26%, industry 17%, services 57% (1980 est.)

Unemployment rate:

15% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

-0.4% (2001 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $94.6 million
expenditures: $85.8 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2000 est.)

Agriculture - products:

bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices, small numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, fish

Industries:

food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch

Industrial production growth rate:

-0.9% (1997 est.)

Electricity - production:

91.2 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 69.3%
hydro: 30.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

84.82 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1,250 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$38 million (2002 est.)

Exports - commodities:

bananas 39%, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch; tennis racquets

Exports - partners:

UK 33.5%, Barbados 13.1%, Saint Lucia 11.5%, Trinidad and Tobago 9.9%, Antigua and Barbuda 8.3%, US 5.3%, Grenada 5.3%, Dominica 4.1% (2004)

Imports:

$174 million (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and fuels

Imports - partners:

US 37.5%, Trinidad and Tobago 21.3%, UK 10.5% (2004)

Debt - external:

$167.2 million (2000)

Economic aid - recipient:

$47.5 million (1995); note - EU $34.5 million (1998)

Currency (code):

East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Currency code:

XCD

Exchange rates:

East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003), 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Telephones - main lines in use:

27,300 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

10,000 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate system
domestic: islandwide, fully automatic telephone system; VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to the other islands of the Grenadines
international: country code - 1-784; VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to Barbados; new SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and to Saint Lucia; access to Intelsat earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

77,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (plus three repeaters) (2004)

Televisions:

18,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.vc

Internet hosts:

4 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

15 (2000)

Internet users:

7,000 (2002)

Transportation

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Highways:

total: 829 km
paved: 580 km
unpaved: 249 km (2002)

Ports and harbors:

Kingstown

Merchant marine:

total: 657 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 5,967,418 GRT/9,041,023 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 112, cargo 366, chemical tanker 18, combination ore/oil 1, container 24, liquefied gas 4, livestock carrier 6, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 19, petroleum tanker 29, refrigerated cargo 48, roll on/roll off 22, specialized tanker 2, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 554 (Australia 2, Bangladesh 5, Barbados 1, Belgium 1, British 5, Bulgaria 17, China 115, Congo 1, Croatia 7, Cuba 1, Czech Republic 1, Denmark 12, Egypt 2, Estonia 19, France 12, Germany 8, Greece 99, Guyana 3, Hong Kong 10, Iceland 11, India 6, Iran 1, Ireland 1, Israel 3, Italy 18, Kenya 4, Latvia 9, Lebanon 6, Lithuania 3, Monaco 4, Netherlands 7, Nigeria 3, Norway 19, Pakistan 4, Poland 1, Puerto Rico 1, Romania 1, Russia 20, Saudi Arabia 3, Serbia & Montenegro 1, Singapore 2, Slovenia 6, South Korea 3, Spain 2, Sweden 1, Switzerland 7, Syria 6, Trinidad & Tobago 1, Tunisia 2, Turkey 16, Ukraine 6, UAE 21, United Kingdom 10, United States 24) (2005)

Airports:

6 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Military branches:

no regular military forces; Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (includes Special Service Unit), Coast Guard

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Transnational Issues

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Disputes - international:

joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the Caribbean Sea

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; small-scale cannabis cultivation

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Venezuela

Introduction

Venezuela

Background:

Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Colombia and Ecuador). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since 1959. Current concerns include: a polarized political environment, a politicized military, drug-related violence along the Colombian border, increasing internal drug consumption, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations that are endangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples.

Geography

Venezuela

Location:

Northern South America, bordering the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, between Colombia and Guyana

Geographic coordinates:

8 00 N, 66 00 W

Map references:

South America

Area:

total: 912,050 sq km
land: 882,050 sq km
water: 30,000 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than twice the size of California

Land boundaries:

total: 4,993 km
border countries: Brazil 2,200 km, Colombia 2,050 km, Guyana 743 km

Coastline:

2,800 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 15 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

Climate:

tropical; hot, humid; more moderate in highlands

Terrain:

Andes Mountains and Maracaibo Lowlands in northwest; central plains (llanos); Guiana Highlands in southeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, bauxite, other minerals, hydropower, diamonds

Land use:

arable land: 2.95%
permanent crops: 0.92%
other: 96.13% (2001)

Irrigated land:

540 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts

Environment - current issues:

sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation; urban and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean coast; threat to the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining operations

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed but not ratified:: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

on major sea and air routes linking North and South America; Angel Falls in the Guiana Highlands is the world's highest waterfall

People

Venezuela

Population:

25,375,281 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 29.9% (male 3,909,876/female 3,667,958)
15-64 years: 65% (male 8,287,255/female 8,209,599)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 590,236/female 710,357) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 25.6 years
male: 24.98 years
female: 26.24 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.4% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

18.91 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

4.9 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 22.2 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 25.31 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.31 years
male: 71.27 years
female: 77.58 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.26 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.7% - note - no country specific models provided (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

110,000 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

4,100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Venezuelan(s)
adjective: Venezuelan

Ethnic groups:

Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Arab, German, African, indigenous people

Religions:

nominally Roman Catholic 96%, Protestant 2%, other 2%

Languages:

Spanish (official), numerous indigenous dialects

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 93.4%
male: 93.8%
female: 93.1% (2003 est.)

Government

Venezuela

Country name:

conventional long form: Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
conventional short form: Venezuela
local long form: Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela
local short form: Venezuela

Government type:

federal republic

Capital:

Caracas

Administrative divisions:

23 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 federal district* (distrito federal), and 1 federal dependency** (dependencia federal); Amazonas, Anzoategui, Apure, Aragua, Barinas, Bolivar, Carabobo, Cojedes, Delta Amacuro, Dependencias Federales**, Distrito Federal*, Falcon, Guarico, Lara, Merida, Miranda, Monagas, Nueva Esparta, Portuguesa, Sucre, Tachira, Trujillo, Vargas, Yaracuy, Zulia
note: the federal dependency consists of 11 federally controlled island groups with a total of 72 individual islands

Independence:

5 July 1811 (from Spain)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 5 July (1811)

Constitution:

30 December 1999

Legal system:

open, adversarial court system

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999); Vice President Jose Vicente RANGEL Vale (since 28 April 2002); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Hugo CHAVEZ Frias (since 3 February 1999); Vice President Jose Vicente RANGEL Vale (since 28 April 2002); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 30 July 2000 (next to be held NA 2006)
election results: Hugo CHAVEZ Frias reelected president; percent of vote - 60%
note: a special presidential recall vote on 15 August 2004 resulted in a victory for CHAVEZ; percent of vote - 58% in favor of CHAVEZ fulfilling the remaining two years of his term, 42% in favor of terminating his presidency immediately

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (165 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; three seats reserved for the indigenous peoples of Venezuela)
elections: last held 30 July 2000 (next to be held July 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - pro-government 108 (MVR 92, MAS 6, indigenous 3, other 7), opposition 57 (AD 33, COPEI 6, Justice First 5, other 13)

Judicial branch:

Supreme Tribunal of Justice or Tribuna Suprema de Justicia (magistrates are elected by the National Assembly for a single 12-year term)

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Action or AD [Jesus MENDEZ Quijada]; Fifth Republic Movement or MVR [Hugo CHAVEZ]; Homeland for All or PPT [Jose ALBORNOZ]; Justice First [Julio BORGES]; Movement Toward Socialism or MAS [Hector MUJICA]; National Convergence or Convergencia [Juan Jose CALDERA]; Radical Cause or La Causa R [Andres VELASQUEZ]; Social Christian Party or COPEI [Eduardo FERNANDEZ]; Venezuela Project or PV [Henrique SALAS Romer]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

FEDECAMARAS, a conservative business group; VECINOS groups; Venezuelan Confederation of Workers or CTV (labor organization dominated by the Democratic Action)

International organization participation:

CAN, CDB, CSN, FAO, G-3, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Bernardo ALVAREZ Herrera
chancery: 1099 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 342-2214
FAX: [1] (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 William R. BROWNFIELD
embassy: Calle F con Calle Suapure, Urbanizacion Colinas de Valle Arriba, Caracas 1080
mailing address: P. O. Box 62291, Caracas 1060-A; APO AA 34037
telephone: [58] (212) 975-9234, 975-6411
FAX: [58] (212) 975-8991

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of yellow (top), blue, and red with the coat of arms on the hoist side of the yellow band and an arc of seven white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band

Economy

Venezuela

Economy - overview:

Venezuela continues to be highly dependent on the petroleum sector, accounting for roughly one-third of GDP, around 80% of export earnings, and over half of government operating revenues. A disastrous two-month national oil strike from December 2002 to February 2003, temporarily halted economic activity. The economy remained in depression in 2003, declining by 9.2% after an 8.9% fall in 2002. Despite continued domestic instability, output recovered strongly in 2004, aided by high oil prices. Both inflation and unemployment remain fundamental problems.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$145.2 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

16.8% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $5,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 46.5%
services: 53.4% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

12.25 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 13%, industry 23%, services 64% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate:

17.1% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

47% (1998 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 36.5% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

49.5 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

22.4% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

12.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $26.91 billion
expenditures: $30.7 billion, including capital expenditures of $2.6 billion (2004 est.)

Public debt:

43.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish

Industries:

petroleum, iron ore mining, construction materials, food processing, textiles, steel, aluminum, motor vehicle assembly

Industrial production growth rate:

12.3% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

89.7 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 31.7%
hydro: 68.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

89.3 billion kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:

450 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:

30 million kWh (2003)

Oil - production:

2.6 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

500,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:

2.1 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

78 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

29.4 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

29.4 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

4.19 trillion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$14.59 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$35.84 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural products, basic manufactures

Exports - partners:

US 55.6%, Netherlands Antilles 4.7%, Dominican Republic 2.8% (2004)

Imports:

$14.98 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment, construction materials

Imports - partners:

US 28.8%, Colombia 9.9%, Brazil 7%, Mexico 4.1% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$25.75 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$33.29 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$74 million (2000)

Currency (code):

bolivar (VEB)

Currency code:

VEB

Exchange rates:

bolivares per US dollar - 1,891.3 (2004), 1,607 (2003), 1,161 (2002), 723.7 (2001), 680 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Venezuela

Telephones - main lines in use:

2,841,800 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

6,463,600 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern and expanding
domestic: domestic satellite system with 3 earth stations; recent substantial improvement in telephone service in rural areas; substantial increase in digitalization of exchanges and trunk lines; installation of a national interurban fiber-optic network capable of digital multimedia services
international: country code - 58; 3 submarine coaxial cables; satellite earth stations - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) and 1 PanAmSat; participating with Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia in the construction of an international fiber-optic network

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 201, FM NA (20 in Caracas), shortwave 11 (1998)

Radios:

10.75 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

66 (plus 45 repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

4.1 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.ve

Internet hosts:

35,301 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

16 (2000)

Internet users:

1,274,400 (2002)

Transportation

Venezuela

Railways:

total: 682 km
standard gauge: 682 km 1.435-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 96,155 km
paved: 32,308 km
unpaved: 63,847 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

7,100 km
note: Orinoco River and Lake de Maracaibo navigable by oceangoing vessels, Orinoco for 400 km (2004)

Pipelines:

extra heavy crude 992 km; gas 5,262 km; oil 7,360 km; refined products 1,681 km; unknown (oil/water) 141 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Amuay, La Guaira, Maracaibo, Puerto Cabello, Punta Cardon

Merchant marine:

total: 56 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 740,919 GRT/1,191,483 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 16, chemical tanker 1, container 1, liquefied gas 5, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 19, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 9 (Denmark 2, Greece 1, Hong Kong 2, Mexico 1, Russia 2, Spain 1)
registered in other countries: 20 (2005)

Airports:

369 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 127
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 31
914 to 1,523 m: 61
under 914 m: 19 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 242
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 88
under 914 m: 144 (2004 est.)

Military

Venezuela

Military branches:

National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales, FAN): Ground Forces or Army (Fuerzas Terrestres or Ejercito), Naval Forces (Fuerzas Navales or Armada - includes Marines, Coast Guard), Air Force (Fuerzas Aereas or Aviacion), Armed Forces of Cooperation or National Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperacion or Guardia Nacional)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; conscript service obligation - 30 months (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 6,236,012 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 4,907,947 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 252,396 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$1.687 billion (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.5% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Venezuela

Disputes - international:

claims all of the area west of the Essequibo River in Guyana, preventing any discussion of a maritime boundary; Guyana has expressed its intention to join Barbados in asserting claims before UNCLOS that the Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuela extends into their waters; dispute with Colombia over Los Monjes islands and maritime boundary near the Gulf of Venezuela; Colombian-organized illegal narcotics and paramilitary activities penetrate Venezuela's shared border region resulting in several thousand residents migrating away from the border; US, France and the Netherlands recognize Venezuela's claim to give full effect to Aves Island, which creates a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extending over a large portion of the Caribbean Sea; Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines protest Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation and other states' recognition of it

Illicit drugs:

small-scale illicit producer of opium and coca for the processing of opiates and coca derivatives; however, large quantities of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana transit the country from Colombia bound for US and Europe; significant narcotics-related money-laundering activity, especially along the border with Colombia and on Margarita Island; active eradication program primarily targeting opium; increasing signs of drug-related activities by Colombian insurgents on border

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

British Virgin Islands

Introduction

British Virgin Islands

Background:

First settled by the Dutch in 1648, the islands were annexed in 1672 by the English. The economy is closely tied to the larger and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is the legal currency.

Geography

British Virgin Islands

Location:

Caribbean, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

Geographic coordinates:

18 30 N, 64 30 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 153 sq km
land: 153 sq km
water: 0 sq km
note: comprised of 16 inhabited and more than 20 uninhabited islands; 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:

territorial sea: 3 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:

subtropical; humid; temperatures moderated by trade winds

Terrain:

coral islands relatively flat; volcanic islands steep, hilly

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Sage 521 m

Natural resources:

NEGL

Land use:

arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 6.67%
other: 73.33% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA

Natural hazards:

hurricanes and tropical storms (July to October)

Environment - current issues:

limited natural fresh water resources (except for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchments)

Geography - note:

strong ties to nearby US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico

People

British Virgin Islands

Population:

22,643 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 21% (male 2,400/female 2,358)
15-64 years: 73.9% (male 8,607/female 8,115)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 614/female 549) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 30.9 years
male: 31.1 years
female: 30.7 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.06% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

14.96 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

4.42 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

10.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.12 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 18.05 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 21.02 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.49 years
male: 75.41 years
female: 77.62 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.72 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: British Virgin Islander(s)
adjective: British Virgin Islander

Ethnic groups:

black 83%, white, Indian, Asian and mixed

Religions:

Protestant 86% (Methodist 33%, Anglican 17%, Church of God 9%, Seventh-Day Adventist 6%, Baptist 4%, Jehovah's Witnesses 2%, other 15%), Roman Catholic 10%, none 2%, other 2% (1991)

Languages:

English (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97.8% (1991 est.)
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

British Virgin Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: British Virgin Islands
abbreviation: BVI

Dependency status:

overseas territory of the UK; internal self-governing

Government type:

NA

Capital:

Road Town

Administrative divisions:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Independence:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:

Territory Day, 1 July

Constitution:

1 June 1977

Legal system:

English law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Tom MACAN (since 14 October 2002)
head of government: Chief Minister Orlando D. SMITH (since 17 June 2003)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the Legislative Council
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed chief minister by the governor

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Council (13 seats; members are elected by direct popular vote, one member from each of 9 electoral districts, four at-large members; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 16 May 2003 (next to be held NA 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NDP 8, VIP 5

Judicial branch:

Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of the High Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal (one judge of the Supreme Court is a resident of the islands and presides over the High Court); Magistrate's Court; Juvenile Court; Court of Summary Jurisdiction

Political parties and leaders:

Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Ethlyn SMITH]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Orlando SMITH]; United Party or UP [Gregory MADURO]; Virgin Islands Party or VIP [Ralph T. O'NEAL]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau), IOC, OECS (associate), UNESCO (associate), UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Flag description:

blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the Virgin Islander coat of arms centered in the outer half of the flag; the coat of arms depicts a woman flanked on either side by a vertical column of six oil lamps above a scroll bearing the Latin word VIGILATE (Be Watchful)

Economy

British Virgin Islands

Economy - overview:

The economy, one of the most stable and prosperous in the Caribbean, is highly dependent on tourism, generating an estimated 45% of the national income. An estimated 350,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 1998. Tourism suffered in 2002 because of the lackluster US economy. In the mid-1980s, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands, and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues. Roughly 400,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 2000. The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses, is expected to make the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business. Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity; poor soils limit the islands' ability to meet domestic food requirements. Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands has used the dollar as its currency since 1959.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.498 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $38,500 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1.8%
industry: 6.2%
services: 92% (1996 est.)

Labor force:

12,770 (2004)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture NA%, industry NA%, services NA%

Unemployment rate:

3% (1995)

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.5% (2003)

Budget:

revenues: $121.5 million
expenditures: $115.5 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1997)

Agriculture - products:

fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish

Industries:

tourism, light industry, construction, rum, concrete block, offshore financial center

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

36.28 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

33.74 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

420 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$25.3 million (2002)

Exports - commodities:

rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand

Exports - partners:

Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US

Imports:

$187 million (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:

building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery

Imports - partners:

Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US

Debt - external:

$36.1 million (1997)

Economic aid - recipient:

NA

Currency (code):

US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

USD

Exchange rates:

the US dollar is used

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

British Virgin Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:

11,700 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

8,000 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: worldwide telephone service
domestic: NA
international: country code - 1-284; submarine cable to Bermuda

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

9,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (plus one cable company) (1997)

Televisions:

4,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.vg

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

16 (2000)

Internet users:

4,000 (2002)

Transportation

British Virgin Islands

Highways:

total: 177 km
paved: 177 km
unpaved: 0 km (2000)

Ports and harbors:

Road Town

Merchant marine:

total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 83,825 GRT/155,909 DWT
by type: cargo 1
registered in other countries: 7 (2005)

Airports:

3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

British Virgin Islands

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues

British Virgin Islands

Disputes - international:

none

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for South American narcotics destined for the US and Europe; large offshore financial center makes it vulnerable to money laundering

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Vietnam

Introduction

Vietnam

Background:

The conquest of Vietnam by France began in 1858 and was completed by 1884. It became part of French Indochina in 1887. Independence was declared after World War II, but the French continued to rule until 1954 when they were defeated by Communist forces under Ho Chi MINH, who took control of the North. US economic and military aid to South Vietnam grew through the 1960s in an attempt to bolster the government, but US armed forces were withdrawn following a cease-fire agreement in 1973. Two years later, North Vietnamese forces overran the South. Despite the return of peace, for over two decades the country experienced little economic growth because of conservative leadership policies. Since 2001, Vietnamese authorities have committed to economic liberalization and enacted structural reforms needed to modernize the economy and to produce more competitive, export-driven industries. The country continues to experience protests from the Montagnard ethnic minority population of the Central Highlands over loss of land to Vietnamese settlers and religious persecution.

Geography

Vietnam

Location:

Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, alongside China, Laos, and Cambodia

Geographic coordinates:

16 00 N, 106 00 E

Map references:

Southeast Asia

Area:

total: 329,560 sq km
land: 325,360 sq km
water: 4,200 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than New Mexico

Land boundaries:

total: 4,639 km
border countries: Cambodia 1,228 km, China 1,281 km, Laos 2,130 km

Coastline:

3,444 km (excludes islands)

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

tropical in south; monsoonal in north with hot, rainy season (mid-May to mid-September) and warm, dry season (mid-October to mid-March)

Terrain:

low, flat delta in south and north; central highlands; hilly, mountainous in far north and northwest

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Fan Si Pan 3,144 m

Natural resources:

phosphates, coal, manganese, bauxite, chromate, offshore oil and gas deposits, forests, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 19.97%
permanent crops: 5.95%
other: 74.08% (2001)

Irrigated land:

30,000 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive flooding, especially in the Mekong River delta

Environment - current issues:

logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices contribute to deforestation and soil degradation; water pollution and overfishing threaten marine life populations; groundwater contamination limits potable water supply; growing urban industrialization and population migration are rapidly degrading environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

extending 1,650 km north to south, the country is only 50 km across at its narrowest point

People

Vietnam

Population:

83,535,576 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 27.9% (male 12,065,777/female 11,212,299)
15-64 years: 66.4% (male 27,406,456/female 28,024,250)
65 years and over: 5.8% (male 1,889,585/female 2,937,209) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 25.51 years
male: 24.47 years
female: 26.68 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.04% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

17.07 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.2 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 25.95 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 26.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 25.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.61 years
male: 67.82 years
female: 73.6 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.94 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.4% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

220,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

9,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, malaria, Japanese encephalitis, and plague are high risks in some locations
animal contact disease: rabies
water contact disease: leptospirosis (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Vietnamese (singular and plural)
adjective: Vietnamese

Ethnic groups:

Kinh (Viet) 86.2%, Tay 1.9%, Thai 1.7%, Muong 1.5%, Khome 1.4%, Hoa 1.1%, Nun 1.1%, Hmong 1%, others 4.1% (1999 census)

Religions:

Buddhist 9.3%, Catholic 6.7%, Hoa Hao 1.5%, Cao Dai 1.1%, Protestant 0.5%, Muslim 0.1%, none 80.8% (1999 census)

Languages:

Vietnamese (official), English (increasingly favored as a second language), some French, Chinese, and Khmer; mountain area languages (Mon-Khmer and Malayo-Polynesian)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90.3%
male: 93.9%
female: 86.9% (2002)

Government

Vietnam

Country name:

conventional long form: Socialist Republic of Vietnam
conventional short form: Vietnam
local long form: Cong Hoa Xa Hoi Chu Nghia Viet Nam
local short form: Viet Nam
abbreviation: SRV

Government type:

Communist state

Capital:

Hanoi

Administrative divisions:

59 provinces (tinh, singular and plural) and 5 municipalities (thu do, singular and plural)
: provinces: 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, Cao Bang, Dac Lak, Dac Nong, Dien Bien, Dong Nai, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Giang, Hai Duong, Ha Nam, Ha Tay, Ha Tinh, Hau Giang, Hoa Binh, 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
: municipalities: Can Tho, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh

Independence:

2 September 1945 (from France)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 2 September (1945)

Constitution:

15 April 1992

Legal system:

based on communist legal theory and French civil law system

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Tran Duc LUONG (since 24 September 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Phan Van KHAI (since 25 September 1997); First Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Tan DUNG (since 29 September 1997); Deputy Prime Ministers Vu KHOAN (8 August 2002) and Pham Gia KHIEM (since 29 September 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president based on proposal of prime minister and ratification of National Assembly
elections: president elected by the National Assembly from among its members for a five-year term; election last held 25 July 2002 (next to be held when National Assembly meets following legislative elections in 2007); prime minister appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by the prime minister
election results: Tran Duc LUONG elected president; percent of National Assembly vote - NA%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly or Quoc-Hoi (498 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 19 May 2002 (next to be held 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - CPV 90%, other 10% (the 10% are not CPV members but are approved by the CPV to stand for election); seats by party - CPV 447, CPV-approved 51

Judicial branch:

Supreme People's Court (chief justice is elected for a five-year term by the National Assembly on the recommendation of the president)

Political parties and leaders:

only party - Communist Party of Vietnam or CPV [Nong Duc MANH, general secretary]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

ACCT (observer), APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Nguyen Tam CHIEN
chancery: 1233 20th Street NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 861-0737
FAX: [1] (202) 861-0917
consulate(s) general: San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael W. MARINE
embassy: 7 Lang Ha Road, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 400, FPO AP 96521-0002
telephone: [84] (4) 772-1500
FAX: [84] (4) 772-1510
consulate(s) general: Ho Chi Minh City

Flag description:

red with a large yellow five-pointed star in the center

Economy

Vietnam

Economy - overview:

Vietnam is a densely-populated, developing country that in the last 30 years has had to recover from the ravages of war, the loss of financial support from the old Soviet Bloc, and the rigidities of a centrally planned economy. Substantial progress was achieved from 1986 to 1997 in moving forward from an extremely low level of development and significantly reducing poverty. Growth averaged around 9% per year from 1993 to 1997. The 1997 Asian financial crisis highlighted the problems in the Vietnamese economy and temporarily allowed opponents of reform to slow progress towards a market oriented economy. GDP growth of 8.5% in 1997 fell to 6% in 1998 and 5% in 1999. Growth then rose to 7% in 2000-04 even against the background of global recession. Since 2001, however, Vietnamese authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to economic liberalization and international integration. They have moved to implement the structural reforms needed to modernize the economy and to produce more competitive, export-driven industries. However, equitization of state-owned enterprises and reduction in the proportion of non-performing loans has fallen behind schedule. Vietnam's membership in the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and entry into force of the US-Vietnam Bilateral Trade in December 2001 have led to even more rapid changes in Vietnam's trade and economic regime. Vietnam's exports to the US doubled in 2002 and again in 2003. Vietnam is working toward accession to the WTO in 2005. Among other benefits, accession will allow Vietnam to take advantage of the phase out of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, which eliminated quotas on textiles and clothing for WTO partners on 1 January 2005. Vietnam is working to promote job creation to keep up with the country's high population growth rate. However, in 2004, high levels of inflation prompted Vietnamese authorities to tighten monetary and fiscal policies.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$227.2 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.7% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $2,700 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 21.8%
industry: 40.1%
services: 38.1% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

42.98 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 63%, industry and services 37% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:

1.9% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

28.9% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 29.9% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

36.1 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

9.5% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

36.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $10.66 billion
expenditures: $13.09 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.8 billion (2004 est.)

Public debt:

65.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

paddy rice, coffee, fish and seafood, rubber, cotton, tea, pepper, soybeans, cashews, sugar cane, peanuts, bananas, poultry

Industries:

food processing, garments, shoes, machine-building, mining, cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, coal, steel, paper

Industrial production growth rate:

16% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

34.48 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 43.7%
hydro: 56.3%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

32.06 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

359,400 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

185,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

650 million bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

1.3 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.3 billion cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

192.6 billion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$-2.061 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$23.72 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

crude oil, marine products, rice, coffee, rubber, tea, garments, shoes

Exports - partners:

US 20.2%, Japan 13.6%, China 9%, Australia 7%, Germany 5.9%, Singapore 4.8%, UK 4.6% (2004)

Imports:

$26.31 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer, steel products, raw cotton, grain, cement, motorcycles

Imports - partners:

China 13.7%, Taiwan 11.3%, South Korea 10.8%, Japan 10.5%, Singapore 10.5%, Thailand 6.2%, Hong Kong 4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$6.51 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$16.55 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$2.8 billion in credits and grants pledged by international donors for 2000 (2004)

Currency (code):

dong (VND)

Currency code:

VND

Exchange rates:

dong per US dollar - 15,746 (2004), 15,510 (2003), 15,280 (2002), 14,725 (2001), 14,168 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Vietnam

Telephones - main lines in use:

4.402 million (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.742 million (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: Vietnam is putting considerable effort into modernization and expansion of its telecommunication system, but its performance continues to lag behind that of its more modern neighbors
domestic: all provincial exchanges are digitalized and connected to Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City by fiber-optic cable or microwave radio relay networks; main lines have been substantially increased, and the use of mobile telephones is growing rapidly
international: country code - 84; satellite earth stations - 2 Intersputnik (Indian Ocean region)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 65, FM 7, shortwave 29 (1999)

Radios:

8.2 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

at least 7 (plus 13 repeaters) (1998)

Televisions:

3.57 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.vn

Internet hosts:

340 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2000)

Internet users:

3.5 million (2003)

Transportation

Vietnam

Railways:

total: 2,600 km
standard gauge: 178 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 2,169 km 1.000-m gauge
dual gauge: 253 km three-rail track combining 1.435-m and 1.000-m gauges (2004)

Highways:

total: 93,300 km
paved: 23,418 km
unpaved: 69,882 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

17,702 km (5,000 km navigable by vessels up to 1.8 m draft) (2004)

Pipelines:

condensate/gas 432 km; gas 210 km; oil 3 km; refined products 206 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City

Merchant marine:

total: 194 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,170,621 GRT/1,798,376 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 18, cargo 142, chemical tanker 3, container 2, liquefied gas 4, petroleum tanker 22, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 1
registered in other countries: 11 (2005)

Airports:

24 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 21
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Vietnam

Military branches:

People's Army of Vietnam: Ground Forces, People's Navy Command (includes Naval Infantry), Air and Air Defense Force, Coast Guard

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 21,341,813 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 16,032,358 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 915,572 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$650 million (FY98)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.5% (FY98)

Transnational Issues

Vietnam

Disputes - international:

southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu; Cambodia and Laos protest Vietnamese squatters and armed encroachments along border; in 2004 Laotian-Vietnamese boundary commission agrees to erect missing markers in two adjoining provinces; demarcation of the China-Vietnam boundary proceeds slowly and although the maritime boundary delimitation and fisheries agreements were ratified in June 2004, implementation has been delayed; China occupies Paracel Islands also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan; involved in complex dispute with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and possibly Brunei over the Spratly Islands; the 2002 "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea" has eased tensions but falls short of a legally binding "code of conduct" desired by several of the disputants; Vietnam continues to expand construction of facilities in the Spratly Islands; in March 2005, the national oil companies of China, the Philippines, and Vietnam signed a joint accord to conduct marine seismic activities in the Spratly Islands

Illicit drugs:

minor producer of opium poppy; probable minor transit point for Southeast Asian heroin; domestic opium/heroin/methamphetamine addiction problems

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Virgin Islands

Introduction

Virgin Islands

Background:

During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane, produced by slave labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In 1917, the US purchased the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline since the abolition of slavery in 1848.

Geography

Virgin Islands

Location:

Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Puerto Rico

Geographic coordinates:

18 20 N, 64 50 W

Map references:

Central America and the Caribbean

Area:

total: 352 sq km
land: 349 sq km
water: 3 sq km

Area - comparative:

twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

188 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

subtropical, tempered by easterly trade winds, relatively low humidity, little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season September to November

Terrain:

mostly hilly to rugged and mountainous with little level land

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crown Mountain 474 m

Natural resources:

sun, sand, sea, surf

Land use:

arable land: 11.76%
permanent crops: 2.94%
other: 85.3% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA

Natural hazards:

several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

lack of natural freshwater resources

Geography - note:

important location along the Anegada Passage - a key shipping lane for the Panama Canal; Saint Thomas has one of the best natural deepwater harbors in the Caribbean

People

Virgin Islands

Population:

108,708 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 23.1% (male 12,676/female 12,421)
15-64 years: 66.2% (male 34,069/female 37,918)
65 years and over: 10.7% (male 5,125/female 6,499) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 36.52 years
male: 35.6 years
female: 37.33 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.07% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

14.2 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.26 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-8.64 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.9 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 8.03 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.11 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.91 years
male: 75.08 years
female: 82.96 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.19 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Virgin Islander(s)
adjective: Virgin Islander

Ethnic groups:

black 76.2%, white 13.1%, Asian 1.1%, other 6.1%, mixed 3.5% (2000 census)

Religions:

Baptist 42%, Roman Catholic 34%, Episcopalian 17%, other 7%

Languages:

English 74.7%, Spanish or Spanish Creole 16.8%, French or French Creole 6.6%, other 1.9% (2000 census)

Literacy:

definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Virgin Islands

Country name:

conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands
conventional short form: Virgin Islands
former: Danish West Indies

Dependency status:

organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the US under the jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior

Government type:

NA

Capital:

Charlotte Amalie

Administrative divisions:

none (territory of the US); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three islands at the second order; Saint Croix, Saint John, Saint Thomas

National holiday:

Transfer Day (from Denmark to the US), 27 March (1917)

Constitution:

Revised Organic Act of 22 July 1954

Legal system:

based on US laws

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal; note - island residents are US citizens but do not vote in US presidential elections

Executive branch:

chief of state: President George W. BUSH of the US (since 20 January 2001)
head of government: Governor Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (since 5 January 1999)
cabinet: NA
elections: US president and vice president elected on the same ticket for four-year terms; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 5 November 2002 (next to be held November 2006)
election results: Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL reelected governor; percent of vote - Dr. Charles Wesley TURNBULL (Democrat) 50.5%, John de JONGH 24.4%

Legislative branch:

unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held 2 November 2004)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Democratic Party 10, ICM 2, independent 3
note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the US House of Representatives; election last held 6 November 2002 (next to be held 2 November 2004); results - Donna M. CHRISTIAN-CHRISTENSON (Democrat) reelected

Judicial branch:

US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit jurisdiction); Territorial Court (judges appointed by the governor for 10-year terms)

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Party [Arturo WATLINGTON]; Independent Citizens' Movement or ICM [Usie RICHARDS]; Republican Party [Gary SPRAUVE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

Interpol (subbureau), IOC, UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (territory of the US)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territory of the US)

Flag description:

white, with a modified US coat of arms in the center between the large blue initials V and I; the coat of arms shows a yellow eagle holding an olive branch in one talon and three arrows in the other with a superimposed shield of vertical red and white stripes below a blue panel

Economy

Virgin Islands

Economy - overview:

Tourism is the primary economic activity, accounting for 80% of GDP and employment. The islands normally host 2 million visitors a year. The manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining, textiles, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. The agricultural sector is small, with most food being imported. International business and financial services are a small but growing component of the economy. One of the world's largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The islands are subject to substantial damage from storms. The government is working to improve fiscal discipline, to support construction projects in the private sector, to expand tourist facilities, to reduce crime, and to protect the environment.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.5 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $17,200 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1%
industry: 19%
services: 80% (2003 est.)

Labor force:

48,900 (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 1%, industry 19%, services 80% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:

9.3% (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.2% (2003)

Budget:

revenues: $560
expenditures: NA (2003)

Agriculture - products:

fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle

Industries:

tourism, petroleum refining, watch assembly, rum distilling, construction, pharmaceuticals, textiles, electronics

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

1.035 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

962.6 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

66,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

NA

Exports - commodities:

refined petroleum products

Exports - partners:

US, Puerto Rico

Imports:

NA

Imports - commodities:

crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials

Imports - partners:

US, Puerto Rico

Debt - external:

NA

Economic aid - recipient:

NA

Currency (code):

US dollar (USD)

Currency code:

USD

Exchange rates:

the US dollar is used

Fiscal year:

1 October - 30 September

Communications

Virgin Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:

69,400 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

41,000 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: modern system with total digital switching, uses fiber-optic cable and microwave radio relay
domestic: full range of services available
international: country code - 1-340; 2 submarine cable connections (Taino Carib, Americas-1); satellite earth stations - NA

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 6, FM 17, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

107,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

16 (2004)

Televisions:

68,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.vi

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

50 (2000)

Internet users:

30,000 (2002)

Transportation

Virgin Islands

Highways:

total: 1,257 km
paved: 1,192 km
unpaved: 65 km
note: the only US possession where driving on the left side of the road is practiced (2003)

Ports and harbors:

Charlotte Amalie, Limetree Bay

Airports:

2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Military

Virgin Islands

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues

Virgin Islands

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Holy See (Vatican City)

Introduction

Holy See (Vatican City)

Background:

Popes in their secular role ruled portions of the Italian peninsula for more than a thousand years until the mid 19th century, when many of the Papal States were seized by the newly united Kingdom of Italy. In 1870, the pope's holdings were further circumscribed when Rome itself was annexed. Disputes between a series of "prisoner" popes and Italy were resolved in 1929 by three Lateran Treaties, which established the independent state of Vatican City and granted Roman Catholicism special status in Italy. In 1984, a concordat between the Holy See and Italy modified certain of the earlier treaty provisions, including the primacy of Roman Catholicism as the Italian state religion. Present concerns of the Holy See include religious freedom, international development, the Middle East, terrorism, interreligious dialogue and reconciliation, and the application of church doctrine in an era of rapid change and globalization. About 1 billion people worldwide profess the Catholic faith.

Geography

Holy See (Vatican City)

Location:

Southern Europe, an enclave of Rome (Italy)

Geographic coordinates:

41 54 N, 12 27 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 0.44 sq km
land: 0.44 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:

total: 3.2 km
border countries: Italy 3.2 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

temperate; mild, rainy winters (September to mid-May) with hot, dry summers (May to September)

Terrain:

low hill

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: unnamed location 19 m
highest point: unnamed location 75 m

Natural resources:

none

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (urban area) (2001)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

NA

Environment - international agreements:

party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification

Geography - note:

urban; landlocked; enclave in Rome, Italy; world's smallest state; outside the Vatican City, 13 buildings in Rome and Castel Gandolfo (the pope's summer residence) enjoy extraterritorial rights

People

Holy See (Vatican City)

Population:

921 (July 2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.01% (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: none
adjective: none

Ethnic groups:

Italians, Swiss, other

Religions:

Roman Catholic

Languages:

Italian, Latin, French, various other languages

Literacy:

definition: NA
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100%

Government

Holy See (Vatican City)

Country name:

conventional long form: The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)
conventional short form: Holy See (Vatican City)
local long form: Santa Sede (Stato della Citta del Vaticano)
local short form: Santa Sede (Citta del Vaticano)

Government type:

ecclesiastical

Capital:

Vatican City

Administrative divisions:

none

Independence:

11 February 1929 (from Italy); note - the three treaties signed with Italy on 11 February 1929 acknowledged, among other things, the full sovereignty of the Vatican and established its territorial extent; however, the origin of the Papal States, which over the years have varied considerably in extent, may be traced back to the 8th century

National holiday:

Coronation Day of Pope BENEDICT XVI, 24 April (2005)

Constitution:

new Fundamental Law promulgated by Pope JOHN PAUL II on 26 November 2000, effective 22 February 2001 (replaces the first Fundamental Law of 1929)

Legal system:

based on Code of Canon Law and revisions to it

Suffrage:

limited to cardinals less than 80 years old

Executive branch:

chief of state: Pope BENEDICT XVI (since 19 April 2005)
head of government: Secretary of State Cardinal Angelo SODANO (since 1 December 1990)
cabinet: Pontifical Commission appointed by the pope
elections: pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals; election last held 19 April 2005 (next to be held after the death of the current pope); secretary of state appointed by the pope
election results: Joseph RATZINGER elected Pope BENEDICT XVI

Legislative branch:

unicameral Pontifical Commission

Judicial branch:

there are three tribunals responsible for civil and criminal matters within Vatican City; three other tribunals rule on issues pertaining to the Holy See
note: judicial duties were established by the Motu Proprio of Pius XII on 1 May 1946

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none (exclusive of influence exercised by church officers)

International organization participation:

CE (observer), IAEA, ICFTU, IOM (observer), ITU, NAM (guest), OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UPU, WIPO, WToO (observer), WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Gabriel MONTALVO
chancery: 3339 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 333-7121
FAX: [1] (202) 337-4036

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
embassy: Villa Domiziana, Via delle Terme Deciane 26, 00153 Rome
mailing address: PSC 59, Box 66, APO AE 09624
telephone: [39] (06) 4674-3428
FAX: [39] (06) 575-8346

Flag description:

two vertical bands of yellow (hoist side) and white with the crossed keys of Saint Peter and the papal miter centered in the white band

Economy

Holy See (Vatican City)

Economy - overview:

This unique, noncommercial economy is supported financially by an annual contribution from Roman Catholic dioceses throughout the world (known as Peter's Pence); by the sale of postage stamps, coins, medals, and tourist mementos; by fees for admission to museums; and by the sale of publications. Investments and real estate income also account for a sizable portion of revenue. The incomes and living standards of lay workers are comparable to those of counterparts who work in the city of Rome.

Labor force:

NA

Labor force - by occupation:

essentially services with a small amount of industry; note - dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers live outside the Vatican

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Budget:

revenues: $245.2 million
expenditures: $260.4 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2002)

Industries:

printing; production of coins, medals, postage stamps; a small amount of mosaics and staff uniforms; worldwide banking and financial activities

Electricity - production:

NA kWh

Electricity - consumption:

NA kWh

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh

Electricity - imports:

NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy

Economic aid - recipient:

none

Currency (code):

euro (EUR)

Currency code:

EUR

Exchange rates:

euros per US dollar - 0.8054 (2004), 0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175 (2001), 1.0854 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Holy See (Vatican City)

Telephones - main lines in use:

NA

Telephones - mobile cellular:

NA

Telephone system:

general assessment: automatic exchange
domestic: tied into Italian system
international: country code - 39; uses Italian system

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 3, FM 4, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:

NA

Television broadcast stations:

1 (1996)

Televisions:

NA

Internet country code:

.va

Internet hosts:

9 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

NA

Internet users:

NA

Transportation

Holy See (Vatican City)

Highways:

none; all city streets

Airports:

none (2004 est.)

Military

Holy See (Vatican City)

Military branches:

Pontifical Swiss Guard (Corpo della Guardia Svizzera Pontificia)

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of Italy; ceremonial and limited security duties performed by Pontifical Swiss Guard

Transnational Issues

Holy See (Vatican City)

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Namibia

Introduction

Namibia

Background:

South Africa occupied the German colony of South-West Africa during World War I and administered it as a mandate until after World War II, when it annexed the territory. In 1966 the Marxist South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group launched a war of independence for the area that was soon named Namibia, but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end its administration in accordance with a UN peace plan for the entire region. Namibia won its independence in 1990 and has been governed by SWAPO since. Hifikepunye POHAMBA was elected president in November 2004 in a landslide victory replacing Sam NUJOMA who led the country during its first 14 years of self rule.

Geography

Namibia

Location:

Southern Africa, bordering the South Atlantic Ocean, between Angola and South Africa

Geographic coordinates:

22 00 S, 17 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 825,418 sq km
land: 825,418 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly more than half the size of Alaska

Land boundaries:

total: 3,936 km
border countries: Angola 1,376 km, Botswana 1,360 km, South Africa 967 km, Zambia 233 km

Coastline:

1,572 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

desert; hot, dry; rainfall sparse and erratic

Terrain:

mostly high plateau; Namib Desert along coast; Kalahari Desert in east

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Konigstein 2,606 m

Natural resources:

diamonds, copper, uranium, gold, lead, tin, lithium, cadmium, zinc, salt, hydropower, fish
note: suspected deposits of oil, coal, and iron ore

Land use:

arable land: 0.99%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.01% (2001)

Irrigated land:

70 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

prolonged periods of drought

Environment - current issues:

very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification; wildlife poaching; land degradation has led to few conservation areas

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

first country in the world to incorporate the protection of the environment into its constitution; some 14% of the land is protected, including virtually the entire Namib Desert coastal strip

People

Namibia

Population:

2,030,692
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 38.7% (male 396,247/female 389,543)
15-64 years: 57.7% (male 586,900/female 584,779)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 33,524/female 39,699) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 19.79 years
male: 19.63 years
female: 19.94 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.73% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

25.16 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

18.36 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 48.98 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 53 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 44.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 43.93 years
male: 44.71 years
female: 43.13 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.18 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

21.3% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

210,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

16,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne disease: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Namibian(s)
adjective: Namibian

Ethnic groups:

black 87.5%, white 6%, mixed 6.5%
note: about 50% of the population belong to the Ovambo tribe and 9% to the Kavangos tribe; other ethnic groups are: Herero 7%, Damara 7%, Nama 5%, Caprivian 4%, Bushmen 3%, Baster 2%, Tswana 0.5%

Religions:

Christian 80% to 90% (Lutheran 50% at least), indigenous beliefs 10% to 20%

Languages:

English 7% (official), Afrikaans common language of most of the population and about 60% of the white population, German 32%, indigenous languages: Oshivambo, Herero, Nama

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 84%
male: 84.4%
female: 83.7% (2003 est.)

Government

Namibia

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Namibia
conventional short form: Namibia
former: German Southwest Africa, South-West Africa

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Windhoek

Administrative divisions:

13 regions; Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene, Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa

Independence:

21 March 1990 (from South African mandate)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 21 March (1990)

Constitution:

ratified 9 February 1990, effective 12 March 1990

Legal system:

based on Roman-Dutch law and 1990 constitution

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Hifikepunye POHAMBA (since 15 November 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Nahas ANGULA (since 21 March 2005)
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 15 November 2004 (next to be held November 2009)
election results: Hifikepunye POHAMBA elected president; percent of vote - NA%

Legislative branch:

bicameral legislature consists of the National Council (26 seats; two members are chosen from each regional council to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly (72 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: National Council - elections for regional councils, to determine members of the National Council, held 15-16 November 2004 (next to be held November 2009); National Assembly - last held 15-16 November 2004 (next to be held November 2009)
election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - SWAPO 55, COD 5, DTA 4, UDF 3, MAG 1, other 4
note: the National Council is primarily an advisory body

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (judges appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission)

Political parties and leaders:

Congress of Democrats or COD [Ben ULENGA]; Democratic Turnhalle Alliance of Namibia or DTA [Katuutire KAURA, president]; Monitor Action Group or MAG [Kosie PRETORIUS]; South West Africa People's Organization or SWAPO [Sam Shafishuna NUJOMA]; United Democratic Front or UDF [Justus GAROEB]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Leonard Nangolo IIPUMBU
chancery: 1605 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 986-0540
FAX: [1] (202) 986-0443

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Joyce BARR
embassy: Ausplan Building, 14 Lossen Street, Windhoek
mailing address: Private Bag 12029 Ausspannplatz, Windhoek
telephone: [264] (61) 221601
FAX: [264] (61) 229792

Flag description:

a large blue triangle with a yellow sunburst fills the upper left section and an equal green triangle (solid) fills the lower right section; the triangles are separated by a red stripe that is contrasted by two narrow white-edge borders

Economy

Namibia

Economy - overview:

The economy is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export. Mining accounts for 20% of GDP. Rich alluvial diamond deposits make Namibia a primary source for gem-quality diamonds. Namibia is the fourth-largest exporter of nonfuel minerals in Africa, the world's fifth-largest producer of uranium, and the producer of large quantities of lead, zinc, tin, silver, and tungsten. The mining sector employs only about 3% of the population while about half of the population depends on subsistence agriculture for its livelihood. Namibia normally imports about 50% of its cereal requirements; in drought years food shortages are a major problem in rural areas. A high per capita GDP, relative to the region, hides the great inequality of income distribution; nearly one-third of Namibians had annual incomes of less than $1,400 in constant 1994 dollars, according to a 1993 study. The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the Namibian dollar pegged to the South African rand. Privatization of several enterprises in coming years may stimulate long-run foreign investment. Mining of zinc, copper, and silver and increased fish production led growth in 2003-04.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$14.76 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.8% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $7,300 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 11.3%
industry: 30.8%
services: 57.9% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

840,000 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 47%, industry 20%, services 33% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:

35% (1998)

Population below poverty line:

50% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

70 (2003)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.2% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.788 billion
expenditures: $1.956 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

38.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

millet, sorghum, peanuts; livestock; fish

Industries:

meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products; mining (diamond, lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

1.167 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

NA

Electricity - consumption:

1.92 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

65 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

900 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

31.15 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$234.3 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$1.356 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processed fish, karakul skins

Exports - partners:

EU 79%, US 4% (2001)

Imports:

$1.473 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports - partners:

US 50%, EU 31% (2001)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$360 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$1.136 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA $160 million (2000 est.)

Currency (code):

Namibian dollar (NAD); South African rand (ZAR)

Currency code:

NAD; ZAR

Exchange rates:

Namibian dollars per US dollar - 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003), 10.5407 (2002), 8.6092 (2001), 6.9398 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

Namibia

Telephones - main lines in use:

127,400 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

223,700 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: good system; about 6 telephones for each 100 persons
domestic: good urban services; fair rural service; microwave radio relay links major towns; connections to other populated places are by open wire; 100% digital
international: country code - 264; fiber-optic cable to South Africa, microwave radio relay link to Botswana, direct links to other neighboring countries; connected to Africa ONE and South African Far East (SAFE) submarine cables through South Africa; satellite earth stations - 4 Intelsat (2002)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 39, shortwave 4 (2001)

Radios:

232,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

8 (plus about 20 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

60,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.na

Internet hosts:

3,164 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

65,000 (2003)

Transportation

Namibia

Railways:

total: 2,382 km
narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 42,237 km
paved: 5,406 km
unpaved: 36,831 km (2002)

Ports and harbors:

Luderitz, Walvis Bay

Merchant marine:

total: 1 ship (1,000 GRT or over) 2,265 GRT/3,605 DWT
by type: cargo 1 (2005)

Airports:

136 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 21
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 115
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 71
under 914 m: 20 (2004 est.)

Military

Namibia

Military branches:

Namibian Defense Force: Army (includes Air Wing), Navy, Police

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 441,293 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 217,118 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$168.4 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3.1% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Namibia

Disputes - international:

border commission has yet to resolve small residual disputes with Botswana along the Caprivi Strip, including the Situngu marshlands along the Linyanti River; Botswana residents protest Namibia's planned construction of the Okavango hydroelectric dam on Popa Falls; managed dispute with South Africa over the location of the boundary in the Orange River; Namibia has supported and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited Botswana-Zambia, boundary in the river

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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West Bank

Introduction

West Bank

Background:

The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements (the DOP), signed in Washington on 13 September 1993, provided for a transitional period not exceeding five years of Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Under the DOP, Israel agreed to transfer certain powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, which includes the Palestinian Legislative Council elected in January 1996, as part of the interim self-governing arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A transfer of powers and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip and Jericho took place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area and in additional areas of the West Bank pursuant to the Israel-PLO 28 September 1995 Interim Agreement, the Israel-PLO 15 January 1997 Protocol Concerning Redeployment in Hebron, the Israel-PLO 23 October 1998 Wye River Memorandum, and the 4 September 1999 Sharm el-Sheikh Agreement. The DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility during the transitional period for external and internal security and for public order of settlements and Israeli citizens. Direct negotiations to determine the permanent status of Gaza and West Bank that began in September 1999 after a three-year hiatus, were derailed by a second intifadah that broke out in September 2000. The resulting widespread violence in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Israel's military response, and instability within the Palestinian Authority continue to undermine progress toward a permanent agreement. Following the death of longtime Palestinian leader Yasir ARAFAT in November 2004, the election of his successor Mahmud ABBAS in January 2005 could bring a turning point in the conflict.

Geography

West Bank

Location:

Middle East, west of Jordan

Geographic coordinates:

32 00 N, 35 15 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 5,860 sq km
land: 5,640 sq km
water: 220 sq km
note: includes West Bank, Latrun Salient, and the northwest quarter of the Dead Sea, but excludes Mt. Scopus; East Jerusalem and Jerusalem No Man's Land are also included only as a means of depicting the entire area occupied by Israel in 1967

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Delaware

Land boundaries:

total: 404 km
border countries: Israel 307 km, Jordan 97 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

temperate; temperature and precipitation vary with altitude, warm to hot summers, cool to mild winters

Terrain:

mostly rugged dissected upland, some vegetation in west, but barren in east

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Tall Asur 1,022 m

Natural resources:

arable land

Land use:

arable land: 16.9%
permanent crops: 18.97%
other: 64.13% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

droughts

Environment - current issues:

adequacy of fresh water supply; sewage treatment

Geography - note:

landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for Israel's coastal aquifers; there are 244 West Bank settlements and 29 East Jerusalem settlements in addition to at least 20 occupied outposts (August 2003 est.)

People

West Bank

Population:

2,385,615
note: in addition, there are about 187,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank and fewer than 177,000 in East Jerusalem (July 2004 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 43.4% (male 530,197/female 504,794)
15-64 years: 53.2% (male 649,610/female 619,335)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 34,803/female 46,876) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.14 years
male: 17.99 years
female: 18.3 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.13% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

32.37 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

3.99 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 19.62 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 21.66 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.08 years
male: 71.33 years
female: 74.95 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.4 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: NA
adjective: NA

Ethnic groups:

Palestinian Arab and other 83%, Jewish 17%

Religions:

Muslim 75% (predominantly Sunni), Jewish 17%, Christian and other 8%

Languages:

Arabic, Hebrew (spoken by Israeli settlers and many Palestinians), English (widely understood)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.9%
male: 96.3%
female: 87.4% (2003 est.)

Government

West Bank

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: West Bank

Economy

West Bank

Economy - overview:

The West Bank - the larger of the two areas under the Palestine Authority - has experienced a general decline in economic growth and a degradation in economic conditions made worse since the second intifadah began in September 2000. The downturn has been largely the result of the Israeli closure policies - the imposition of border closures in response to security incidents in Israel - which disrupted labor and commodity market relationships. In 2001, and even more severely in 2002, Israeli military measures in Palestine Authority areas resulted in the destruction of much capital plant, the disruption of administrative structure, and widespread business closures. Including the Gaza Strip, the UN estimates that more than 100,000 Palestinians out of the 125,000 who used to work in Israeli settlements, or in joint industrial zones, have lost their jobs. International aid of $2 billion to the West Bank and Gaza strip in 2004 prevented the complete collapse of the economy and allowed some reforms in the government's financial operations. Meanwhile, unemployment has continued at more than half the labor force. ARAFAT's death in 2004 leaves open more political options that could affect the economy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.8 billion (2003 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $800 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 9%
industry: 28%
services: 63%
note: includes Gaza Strip (2002 est.)

Labor force:

364,000 (2004)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 15%, industry 25%, services 60% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:

27.2% (includes Gaza Strip) (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

59% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.2% (includes Gaza Strip) (2001 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $676.6 million
expenditures: $1.155 billion, including capital expenditures of NA; note - these budget data include Gaza Strip (2003)

Agriculture - products:

olives, citrus, vegetables; beef, dairy products

Industries:

generally small family businesses that produce cement, textiles, soap, olive-wood carvings, and mother-of-pearl souvenirs; the Israelis have established some small-scale, modern industries in the settlements and industrial centers

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

NA kWh; note - most electricity imported from Israel; East Jerusalem Electric Company buys and distributes electricity to Palestinians in East Jerusalem and its concession in the West Bank; the Israel Electric Company directly supplies electricity to most Jewish residents and military facilities; some Palestinian municipalities, such as Nablus and Janin, generate their own electricity from small power plants

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

NA kWh

Electricity - imports:

NA kWh

Exports:

$205 million f.o.b., includes Gaza Strip (2002)

Exports - commodities:

olives, fruit, vegetables, limestone

Exports - partners:

Israel, Jordan, Gaza Strip (2000)

Imports:

$1.5 billion c.i.f., includes Gaza Strip (2002)

Imports - commodities:

food, consumer goods, construction materials

Imports - partners:

Israel, Jordan, Gaza Strip (2000)

Debt - external:

$108 million (includes Gaza Strip) (1997 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$2 billion (includes Gaza Strip) (2004 est.)

Currency (code):

new Israeli shekel (ILS); Jordanian dinar (JOD)

Currency code:

ILS; JOD

Exchange rates:

new Israeli shekels per US dollar - 4.482 (2004), 4.5541 (2003), 4.7378 (2002), 4.2057 (2001), 4.0773 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year (since 1 January 1992)

Communications

West Bank

Telephones - main lines in use:

301,600 (total for West Bank and Gaza Strip) (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

480,000 (cellular subscribers in both West Bank and Gaza Strip) (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: NA
note: Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL are responsible for communication services in the West Bank

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0
note: the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation broadcasts from an AM station in Ramallah on 675 kHz; numerous local, private stations are reported to be in operation (2000)

Radios:

NA; note - most Palestinian households have radios (1999)

Television broadcast stations:

NA

Televisions:

NA; note - many Palestinian households have televisions (1999)

Internet country code:

.ps

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

8 (1999)

Internet users:

145,000 (includes Gaza Strip) (2003)

Transportation

West Bank

Highways:

total: 4,500 km
paved: 2,700 km
unpaved: 1,800 km
note: Israelis have developed many highways to service Jewish settlements (1997 est.)

Airports:

3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

West Bank

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Transnational Issues

West Bank

Disputes - international:

West Bank and Gaza Strip are Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement - permanent status to be determined through further negotiation; Israel continues construction of a "seam line" separation barrier along parts of the Green Line and within the West Bank; Israel announced its intention to pull out settlers and withdraw from four settlements in the northern West Bank in 2005; since 1948, about 350 peacekeepers from the UN Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), headquartered in Jerusalem, monitor ceasefires, supervise armistice agreements, prevent isolated incidents from escalating, and assist other UN personnel in the region

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 665,246 (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)) (2004)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Wallis and Futuna

Introduction

Wallis and Futuna

Background:

Although discovered by the Dutch and the British in the 17th and 18th centuries, it was the French who declared a protectorate over the islands in 1842. In 1959, the inhabitants of the islands voted to become a French overseas territory.

Geography

Wallis and Futuna

Location:

Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Geographic coordinates:

13 18 S, 176 12 W

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 274 sq km
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, DC

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

129 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; hot, rainy season (November to April); cool, dry season (May to October); rains 2,500-3,000 mm per year (80% humidity); average temperature 26.6 degrees C

Terrain:

volcanic origin; low hills

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Singavi 765 m

Natural resources:

NEGL

Land use:

arable land: 5%
permanent crops: 25%
other: 70% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

NA

Environment - current issues:

deforestation (only small portions of the original forests remain) largely as a result of the continued use of wood as the main fuel source; as a consequence of cutting down the forests, the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion; there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of natural fresh water resources

Geography - note:

both island groups have fringing reefs

People

Wallis and Futuna

Population:

16,025 (July 2005 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
note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New Caledonia (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years

Total fertility rate:

NA children born/woman

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Wallisian(s), Futunan(s), or Wallis and Futuna Islanders
adjective: Wallisian, Futunan, or Wallis and Futuna Islander

Ethnic groups:

Polynesian

Religions:

Roman Catholic 99%, other 1%

Languages:

Wallisian 58.9% (indigenous Polynesian language), Futunian 30.1%, French 10.8%, other 0.2% (2003 census)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 50%
male: 50%
female: 50% (1969 est.)

Government

Wallis and Futuna

Country name:

conventional long form: Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands
conventional short form: Wallis and Futuna
local long form: Territoire des Iles Wallis et Futuna
local short form: Wallis et Futuna

Dependency status:

overseas territory of France

Government type:

NA

Capital:

Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)

Administrative divisions:

none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are three kingdoms at the second order named Alo, Sigave, Wallis

Independence:

none (overseas territory of France)

National holiday:

Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)

Constitution:

4 October 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system:

French legal system

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Administrator Xavier DE FURST (since 18 January 2005)
head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Patalione KANIMOA (since NA January 2001)
cabinet: Council of the Territory consists of three kings and three members appointed by the high administrator on the advice of the Territorial Assembly
note: there are three traditional kings with limited powers
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; high administrator appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of the Interior; the presidents of the Territorial Government and the Territorial Assembly are elected by the members of the assembly

Legislative branch:

unicameral Territorial Assembly or Assemblee Territoriale (20 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 11 March 2002 (next to be held March 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - RPR and affiliates 13, Socialists and affiliates 7
note: Wallis and Futuna elects one senator to the French Senate and one deputy to the French National Assembly; French Senate - elections last held 27 September 1998 (next to be held by September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats - RPR (now UMP) 1; French National Assembly - elections last held 16 June 2002 (next to be held by NA 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats - RPR (UMP) 1

Judicial branch:

none; justice generally administered under French law by the high administrator, but the three traditional kings administer customary law and there is a magistrate in Mata-Utu

Political parties and leaders:

Lua Kae Tahi (Giscardians) [leader NA]; Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche or MRG [leader NA]; Rally for the Republic or RPR [Clovis LOGOLOGOFOLAU]; Taumu'a Lelei [Soane Muni UHILA]; Union Populaire Locale or UPL [Falakiko GATA]; Union Pour la Democratie Francaise or UDF [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

FZ, UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of France)

Flag description:

a large white modified Maltese cross - shifted a little off center toward the fly and slightly downward - on a red background; the flag of France outlined in white on two sides is in the upper hoist quadrant; the flag of France is used for official occasions

Economy

Wallis and Futuna

Economy - overview:

The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with about 80% labor force earnings from agriculture (coconuts and vegetables), livestock (mostly pigs), and fishing. About 4% of the population is employed in government. Revenues come from French Government subsidies, licensing of fishing rights to Japan and South Korea, import taxes, and remittances from expatriate workers in New Caledonia.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$60 million (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

NA%

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $3,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Labor force:

NA

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture, livestock, and fishing 80%, government 4% (2001 est.)

Unemployment rate:

NA%

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

NA%

Budget:

revenues: $20 million
expenditures: $17 million, including capital expenditures of NA (1998 est.)

Agriculture - products:

breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats

Industries:

copra, handicrafts, fishing, lumber

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:

NA kWh

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 0%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0%

Electricity - consumption:

NA kWh

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Exports:

$250,000 f.o.b. (1999)

Exports - commodities:

copra, chemicals, construction materials

Exports - partners:

Italy 40%, Croatia 15%, US 14%, Denmark 13%

Imports:

$300,000 f.o.b. (1999)

Imports - commodities:

chemicals, machinery, passenger ships, consumer goods

Imports - partners:

France 97%, Australia 2%, New Zealand 1%

Debt - external:

$NA

Economic aid - recipient:

assistance from France

Currency (code):

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)

Currency code:

XPF

Exchange rates:

Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 96.04 (2004), 105.66 (2003), 126.71 (2002), 133.26 (2001), 129.43 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Wallis and Futuna

Telephones - main lines in use:

1,900 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

0 (1994)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 681

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (2000)

Radios:

NA

Television broadcast stations:

2 (2000)

Televisions:

NA

Internet country code:

.wf

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

900 (2002)

Transportation

Wallis and Futuna

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)

Ports and harbors:

Leava, Mata-Utu

Merchant marine:

total: 4 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 74,754 GRT/1,187 DWT
by type: passenger 4
foreign-owned: 4 (France 3, United States 1) (2005)

Airports:

2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Wallis and Futuna

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues

Wallis and Futuna

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Western Sahara

Introduction

Western Sahara

Background:

Morocco virtually annexed the northern two-thirds of Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and the rest of the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A guerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Rabat's sovereignty ended in a 1991 UN-brokered cease-fire; a UN-organized referendum on final status has been repeatedly postponed.

Geography

Western Sahara

Location:

Northern Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean, between Mauritania and Morocco

Geographic coordinates:

24 30 N, 13 00 W

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 266,000 sq km
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:

contingent upon resolution of sovereignty issue

Climate:

hot, dry desert; rain is rare; cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew

Terrain:

mostly low, flat desert with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m
highest point: unnamed location 463 m

Natural resources:

phosphates, iron ore

Land use:

arable land: 0.02%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.98% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA sq km

Natural hazards:

hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility

Environment - current issues:

sparse water and lack of arable land

Environment - international agreements:

party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

the waters off the coast are particularly rich fishing areas

People

Western Sahara

Population:

273,008 (July 2005 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

Sex ratio:

NA

Infant mortality rate:

total: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: NA years
male: NA years
female: NA years

Total fertility rate:

NA children born/woman

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: intermediate
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: may be a significant risk in some locations during the transmission season (typically April through November) (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)
adjective: Sahrawi, Sahrawian, Sahraouian

Ethnic groups:

Arab, Berber

Religions:

Muslim

Languages:

Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic

Literacy:

definition: NA
total population: NA%
male: NA%
female: NA%

Government

Western Sahara

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Western Sahara
former: Spanish Sahara

Government type:

legal status of territory and issue of sovereignty unresolved; territory contested by Morocco and Polisario Front (Popular Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro), which in February 1976 formally proclaimed a government-in-exile of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), led by President Mohamed ABDELAZIZ; territory partitioned between Morocco and Mauritania in April 1976, with Morocco acquiring northern two-thirds; Mauritania, under pressure from Polisario guerrillas, abandoned all claims to its portion in August 1979; Morocco moved to occupy that sector shortly thereafter and has since asserted administrative control; the Polisario's government-in-exile was seated as an OAU member in 1984; guerrilla activities continued sporadically, until a UN-monitored cease-fire was implemented 6 September 1991

Capital:

none

Administrative divisions:

none (under de facto control of Morocco)

Suffrage:

none; a UN-sponsored voter identification campaign not yet completed

Executive branch:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

none

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none

Economy

Western Sahara

Economy - overview:

Western Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable agricultural production, and most of the food for the urban population must be imported. All trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan Government. Moroccan energy interests in 2001 signed contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Western Sahara, which has angered the Polisario. Incomes and standards of living in Western Sahara are substantially below the Moroccan level.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

NA

GDP - real growth rate:

NA

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - NA

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: NA
industry: NA
services: 40% (1996 est.)

Labor force:

12,000

Labor force - by occupation:

animal husbandry and subsistence farming 50%

Unemployment rate:

NA

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

NA

Budget:

revenues: NA
expenditures: NA, including capital expenditures of NA

Agriculture - products:

fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads)

Industries:

phosphate mining, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate:

NA

Electricity - production:

90 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

83.7 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1,800 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

NA

Exports - commodities:

phosphates 62%

Exports - partners:

Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts

Imports:

NA

Imports - commodities:

fuel for fishing fleet, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts

Debt - external:

NA

Economic aid - recipient:

NA

Currency (code):

Moroccan dirham (MAD)

Currency code:

MAD

Exchange rates:

Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 8.868 (2004), 9.5744 (2003), 11.0206 (2002), 11.303 (2001), 10.6256 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Western Sahara

Telephones - main lines in use:

about 2,000 (1999 est.)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

0 (1999)

Telephone system:

general assessment: sparse and limited system
domestic: NA
international: country code - 212; tied into Morocco's system by microwave radio relay, tropospheric scatter, and satellite; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) linked to Rabat, Morocco

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)

Radios:

56,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

NA

Televisions:

6,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.eh

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

NA

Transportation

Western Sahara

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:

11 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 3 (2004 est.)

Transnational Issues

Western Sahara

Disputes - international:

Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, whose sovereignty remains unresolved - UN-administered cease-fire has remained in effect since September 1991, administered by the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), but attempts to hold a referendum have failed and parties thus far have rejected all brokered proposals

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Wake Island

Introduction

Wake Island

Background:

The US annexed Wake Island in 1899 for a cable station. An important air and naval base was constructed in 1940-41. In December 1941, the island was captured by the Japanese and held until the end of World War II. In subsequent years, Wake was developed as a stopover and refueling site for military and commercial aircraft transiting the Pacific. Since 1974, the island's airstrip has been used by the US military and some commercial cargo planes, as well as for emergency landings. There are over 700 landings a year on the island.

Geography

Wake Island

Location:

Oceania, atoll in the North Pacific Ocean, about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to the Northern Mariana Islands

Geographic coordinates:

19 17 N, 166 36 E

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 6.5 sq km
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:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical

Terrain:

atoll of three coral islands built up on an underwater volcano; central lagoon is former crater, islands are part of the rim

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 6 m

Natural resources:

none

Land use:

arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2001)

Irrigated land:

0 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

occasional typhoons

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:

strategic location in the North Pacific Ocean; emergency landing location for transpacific flights

People

Wake Island

Population:

no indigenous inhabitants
note: US military personnel have left the island, but contractor personnel remain; as of October 2001, 200 contractor personnel were present (July 2005 est.)

Government

Wake Island

Country name:

conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Wake Island

Dependency status:

unincorporated territory of the US; administered from Washington, DC, by the Department of the Interior; activities on the island are conducted by the US Air Force

Legal system:

the laws of the US, where applicable, apply

Flag description:

the flag of the US is used

Economy

Wake Island

Economy - overview:

Economic activity is limited to providing services to contractors located on the island. All food and manufactured goods must be imported.

Electricity - production:

NA

Communications

Wake Island

Telephone system:

general assessment: satellite communications; 1 DSN circuit off the Overseas Telephone System (OTS)
domestic: NA
international: NA

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM NA, shortwave NA
note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio service provided by satellite (1998)

Television broadcast stations:

0 (1997)

Transportation

Wake Island

Ports and harbors:

none; two offshore anchorages for large ships

Airports:

1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Transportation - note:

formerly an important commercial aviation base, now used by US military, some commercial cargo planes, and for emergency landings

Military

Wake Island

Military - note:

defense is the responsibility of the US; launch support facility is part of the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site (RTS) administered by US Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC)

Transnational Issues

Wake Island

Disputes - international:

claimed by Marshall Islands

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Samoa

Introduction

Samoa

Background:

New Zealand occupied the German protectorate of Western Samoa at the outbreak of World War I in 1914. It continued to administer the islands as a mandate and then as a trust territory until 1962, when the islands became the first Polynesian nation to reestablish independence in the 20th century. The country dropped the "Western" from its name in 1997.

Geography

Samoa

Location:

Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about one-half of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand

Geographic coordinates:

13 35 S, 172 20 W

Map references:

Oceania

Area:

total: 2,944 sq km
land: 2,934 sq km
water: 10 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Land boundaries:

0 km

Coastline:

403 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:

tropical; rainy season (November to April), dry season (May to October)

Terrain:

two main islands (Savaii, Upolu) and several smaller islands and uninhabited islets; narrow coastal plain with volcanic, rocky, rugged mountains in interior

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mauga Silisili (Savaii) 1,857 m

Natural resources:

hardwood forests, fish, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 21.2%
permanent crops: 24.38%
other: 54.42% (2001)

Irrigated land:

NA

Natural hazards:

occasional typhoons; active volcanism

Environment - current issues:

soil erosion, deforestation, invasive species, overfishing

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

occupies an almost central position within Polynesia

People

Samoa

Population:

177,287 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 27.2% (male 24,517/female 23,660)
15-64 years: 66.4% (male 73,495/female 44,208)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 5,204/female 6,203) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 24.59 years
male: 27.42 years
female: 21.42 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.23% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

15.95 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

6.54 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-11.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.66 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.39 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 27.71 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 32.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 22.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.72 years
male: 67.93 years
female: 73.65 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.01 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

12

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

3

Nationality:

noun: Samoan(s)
adjective: Samoan

Ethnic groups:

Samoan 92.6%, Euronesians 7% (persons of European and Polynesian blood), Europeans 0.4%

Religions:

Congregationalist 34.8%, Roman Catholic 19.6%, Methodist 15%, Latter-Day Saints 12.7%, Assembly of God 6.6%, Seventh-Day Adventist 3.5%, other Christian 4.5%, Worship Centre 1.3%, other 1.7%, unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)

Languages:

Samoan (Polynesian), English

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99.7%
male: 99.6%
female: 99.7% (2003 est.)

Government

Samoa

Country name:

conventional long form: Independent State of Samoa
conventional short form: Samoa
former: Western Samoa

Government type:

mix of parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy

Capital:

Apia

Administrative divisions:

11 districts; A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai, Atua, Fa'asaleleaga, Gaga'emauga, Gagaifomauga, Palauli, Satupa'itea, Tuamasaga, Va'a-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano

Independence:

1 January 1962 (from New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship)

National holiday:

Independence Day Celebration, 1 June (1962); note - 1 January 1962 is the date of independence from the New Zealand-administered UN trusteeship, 1 June 1962 is the date that independence is celebrated

Constitution:

1 January 1962

Legal system:

based on English common law and local customs; judicial review of legislative acts with respect to fundamental rights of the citizen; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Chief Tanumafili II MALIETOA (cochief of state from 1 January 1962 until becoming sole chief of state 5 April 1963)
head of government: Prime Minister Sailele Malielegaoi TUILA'EPA (since 1996); note - TUILA'EPA served as deputy prime minister from 1992 and assumed the duties of acting prime minister in 1996, when former Prime Minister TOFILAU Eti Alesana resigned in poor health; TUILA'EPA was confirmed as prime minister (November 1998) after TOFILAU died; Deputy Prime Minister MISA Telefoni (since 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of 12 members, appointed by the chief of state on the prime minister's advice
elections: upon the death of Chief Tanumafili II MALIETOA, a new chief of state will be elected by the Legislative Assembly to serve a five-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually appointed prime minister by the chief of state with the approval of the Legislative Assembly

Legislative branch:

unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fono (49 seats - 47 elected by voters affiliated with traditional village-based electoral districts, 2 elected by independent, mostly non-Samoan or part-Samoan, voters who cannot, (or choose not to) establish a village affiliation; only chiefs (matai) may stand for election to the Fono from the 47 village-based electorates; members serve five-year terms)
elections: election last held 3 March 2001 (next election to be held not later than March 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - HRPP 30, SNDP 13, independents 6

Judicial branch:

Court of Appeal; Supreme Court; District Court; Land and Titles Court

Political parties and leaders:

Christian Democratic Party [leader NA]; Human Rights Protection Party or HRPP [Sailele Malielegaoi TUILA'EPA, chairman]; Samoan Democratic United Party or SDUP [LE MAMEA Ropati, chairman] (opposition)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Aliioaiga Feturi ELISAIA
chancery: 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400D, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 599-6196, 6197
FAX: [1] (212) 599-0797

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: US Ambassador to New Zealand is accredited to Samoa
embassy: Accident Compensation Board (ACB) Building, 5th Floor, Apia
mailing address: P. O. Box 3430, Apia
telephone: [685] 21631/22696
FAX: [685] 22030

Flag description:

red with a blue rectangle in the upper hoist-side quadrant bearing five white five-pointed stars representing the Southern Cross constellation

Economy

Samoa

Economy - overview:

The economy of Samoa has traditionally been dependent on development aid, family remittances from overseas, agriculture, and fishing. The country is vulnerable to devastating storms. Agriculture employs two-thirds of the labor force, and furnishes 90% of exports, featuring coconut cream, coconut oil, and copra. The manufacturing sector mainly processes agricultural products. The decline of fish stocks in the area is a continuing problem. Tourism is an expanding sector, accounting for 25% of GDP; about 88,000 tourists visited the islands in 2001. One factory in the Foreign Trade Zone employs 3,000 people to make automobile electrical harnesses for an assembly plant in Australia. The Samoan Government has called for deregulation of the financial sector, encouragement of investment, and continued fiscal discipline, meantime protecting the environment. Observers point to the flexibility of the labor market as a basic strength for future economic advances. Foreign reserves are in a relatively healthy state, the external debt is stable, and inflation is low.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1 billion (2002 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $5,600 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 14%
industry: 23%
services: 63% (2001 est.)

Labor force:

90,000 (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

NA

Unemployment rate:

NA; note - substantial underemployment

Population below poverty line:

NA

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4% (2001 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $105 million
expenditures: $119 million, including capital expenditures of NA (2001-02)

Agriculture - products:

coconuts, bananas, taro, yams, coffee, cocoa

Industries:

food processing, building materials, auto parts

Industrial production growth rate:

2.8% (2000)

Electricity - production:

122 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 58%
hydro: 42%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

113.5 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

1,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Exports:

$14 million f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities:

fish, coconut oil and cream, copra, taro, automotive parts, garments, beer

Exports - partners:

Australia 67.2%, US 5.7%, Indonesia 5.3% (2004)

Imports:

$113 million f.o.b. (2002)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and equipment, industrial supplies, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:

New Zealand 25.1%, Fiji 21.5%, Taiwan 9.1%, Australia 8.9%, Singapore 8.5%, Japan 7.5%, US 4.7% (2004)

Debt - external:

$197 million (2000)

Economic aid - recipient:

$42.9 million (1995)

Currency (code):

tala (SAT)

Currency code:

SAT (former WST code is still in wide use)

Exchange rates:

tala per US dollar - 2.7807 (2004), 2.9732 (2003), 3.3763 (2002), 3.478 (2001), 3.2864 (2000)

Fiscal year:

June 1 - May 31

Communications

Samoa

Telephones - main lines in use:

11,800 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2,700 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: adequate
domestic: NA
international: country code - 685; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2004)

Radios:

174,849 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (2002)

Televisions:

8,634 (1999)

Internet country code:

.ws

Internet hosts:

8,225 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:

4,000 (2002)

Transportation

Samoa

Highways:

total: 790 km
paved: 332 km
unpaved: 458 km (1999 est.)

Ports and harbors:

Apia

Merchant marine:

total: 1 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 7,091 GRT/8,127 DWT
by type: cargo 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Germany 1) (2005)

Airports:

4 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Military

Samoa

Military branches:

no regular armed services; Samoa Police Force

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Military - note:

Samoa has no formal defense structure or regular armed forces; informal defense ties exist with NZ, which is required to consider any Samoan request for assistance under the 1962 Treaty of Friendship

Transnational Issues

Samoa

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Swaziland

Introduction

Swaziland

Background:

Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted in 1968. Student and labor unrest during the 1990s pressured the monarchy (one of the oldest on the continent) to grudgingly allow political reform and greater democracy. Swaziland recently surpassed Botswana as the country with the world's highest known rates of HIV/AIDS infection

Geography

Swaziland

Location:

Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa

Geographic coordinates:

26 30 S, 31 30 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 17,363 sq km
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:

varies from tropical to near temperate

Terrain:

mostly mountains and hills; some moderately sloping plains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 m
highest point: Emlembe 1,862 m

Natural resources:

asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc

Land use:

arable land: 10.35%
permanent crops: 0.7%
other: 88.95% (2001)

Irrigated land:

690 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

drought

Environment - current issues:

limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations being depleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil degradation; soil erosion

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:

landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa

People

Swaziland

Population:

1,173,900
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 40.6% (male 240,643/female 235,895)
15-64 years: 55.6% (male 327,661/female 325,400)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 19,273/female 25,028) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 18.72 years
male: 18.53 years
female: 18.92 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.25% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

27.72 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

25.26 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 69.27 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 72.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 65.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 33.22 years
male: 32.49 years
female: 33.98 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.7 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

38.8% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

220,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

17,000 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Swazi(s)
adjective: Swazi

Ethnic groups:

African 97%, European 3%

Religions:

Zionist (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship) 40%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, Anglican, Bahai, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish and other 30%

Languages:

English (official, government business conducted in English), siSwati (official)

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 81.6%
male: 82.6%
female: 80.8% (2003 est.)

Government

Swaziland

Country name:

conventional long form: Kingdom of Swaziland
conventional short form: Swaziland

Government type:

monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth

Capital:

Mbabane; note - Lobamba is the royal and legislative capital

Administrative divisions:

4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni

Independence:

6 September 1968 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 6 September (1968)

Constitution:

a constitution was due to be adopted in November 2003 but was delayed and scheduled for early 2005

Legal system:

based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts and Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age

Executive branch:

chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)
head of government: Prime Minister Absolom Themba DLAMINI (since 14 November 2003)
cabinet: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister and confirmed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch:

bicameral Parliament or Libandla, an advisory body, consists of the Senate (30 seats - 10 appointed by the House of Assembly and 20 appointed by the monarch; members serve five-year terms) and the House of Assembly (65 seats - 10 appointed by the monarch and 55 elected by popular vote; members serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Assembly - last held 18 October 2003 (next to be held October 2008)
election results: House of Assembly - balloting is done on a nonparty basis; candidates for election are nominated by the local council of each constituency and for each constituency the three candidates with the most votes in the first round of voting are narrowed to a single winner by a second round

Judicial branch:

High Court; Court of Appeal; judges for both courts are appointed by the monarch

Political parties and leaders:

political parties are banned by the government - the following are considered political associations; Imbokodvo National Movement or INM [leader NA]; Ngwane National Liberatory Congress or NNLC [Obed DLAMINI, president]; People's United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO [Mario MASUKU, president]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Madzandza KANYA
chancery: 1712 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 234-5002
FAX: [1] (202) 234-8254

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Lewis LUCKE
embassy: Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane
mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane
telephone: [268] 404-6441 through 404-6445
FAX: [268] 404-5959

Flag description:

three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a large black and white shield covering two spears and a staff decorated with feather tassels, all placed horizontally

Economy

Swaziland

Economy - overview:

In this small, landlocked economy, subsistence agriculture occupies more than 80% of the population. The manufacturing sector has diversified since the mid-1980s. Sugar and wood pulp remain important foreign exchange earners. Mining has declined in importance in recent years with only coal and quarry stone mines remaining active. Surrounded by South Africa, except for a short border with Mozambique, Swaziland is heavily dependent on South Africa from which it receives about nine-tenths of its imports and to which it sends nearly three-quarters of its exports. Customs duties from the Southern African Customs Union and worker remittances from South Africa substantially supplement domestically earned income. The government is trying to improve the atmosphere for foreign investment. Overgrazing, soil depletion, drought, and sometimes floods persist as problems for the future. More than one-fourth of the population needed emergency food aid in 2004 because of drought, and more than one-third of the adult population was infected by HIV/AIDS.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$6.018 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $5,100 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 16.1%
industry: 43.4%
services: 40.5% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

383,200 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:

NA

Unemployment rate:

34% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:

40% (1995)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 50.2% (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.4% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

23.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $494.6 million
expenditures: $552.7 million, including capital expenditures of $147 million (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

sugarcane, cotton, corn, tobacco, rice, citrus, pineapples, sorghum, peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep

Industries:

mining (coal, raw asbestos), wood pulp, sugar, soft drink concentrates, textile and apparel

Industrial production growth rate:

3.7% (FY95/96)

Electricity - production:

402 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 58%
hydro: 42%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

1.173 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

799 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

3,500 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-82.4 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$900.1 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn, refrigerators, citrus and canned fruit

Exports - partners:

South Africa 59.7%, EU 8.8%, US 8.8%, Mozambique 6.2% (2004)

Imports:

$1.14 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals

Imports - partners:

South Africa 95.6%, EU 0.9%, Japan 0.9%, Singapore 0.3% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$320.5 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$320 million (2002 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$104 million (2001)

Currency (code):

lilangeni (SZL)

Currency code:

SZL

Exchange rates:

emalangeni per US dollar - 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003), 10.5407 (2002), 8.6092 (2001), 6.9398 (2000)

Fiscal year:

1 April - 31 March

Communications

Swaziland

Telephones - main lines in use:

46,200 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

88,000 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: a somewhat modern but not an advanced system
domestic: system consists of carrier-equipped, open-wire lines and low-capacity, microwave radio relay
international: country code - 268; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 3, FM 2 plus 4 repeaters, shortwave 3 (2004)

Radios:

170,000 (1999)

Television broadcast stations:

5 plus 7 relay stations (2004)

Televisions:

23,000 (2000)

Internet country code:

.sz

Internet hosts:

1,401 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2002)

Internet users:

27,000 (2003)

Transportation

Swaziland

Railways:

total: 301 km
narrow gauge: 301 km 1.067-m gauge (2004)

Highways:

total: 3,107 km
paved: NA
unpaved: NA (2000)

Airports:

18 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 10 (2004 est.)

Military

Swaziland

Military branches:

Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (USDF): Ground Force (includes Air Wing), Royal Swaziland Police Force (RSPF) (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; both sexes are eligible for military service (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 248,676 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 98,530 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$40.5 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.4% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Swaziland

Disputes - international:

none

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Indian Ocean

Introduction

Indian Ocean

Background:

The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean, but larger than the Southern Ocean and Arctic Ocean). Four critically important access waterways are the Suez Canal (Egypt), Bab el Mandeb (Djibouti-Yemen), Strait of Hormuz (Iran-Oman), and Strait of Malacca (Indonesia-Malaysia). The decision by the International Hydrographic Organization in the spring of 2000 to delimit a fifth ocean, the Southern Ocean, removed the portion of the Indian Ocean south of 60 degrees south.

Geography

Indian Ocean

Location:

body of water between Africa, the Southern Ocean, Asia, and Australia

Geographic coordinates:

20 00 S, 80 00 E

Map references:

Political Map of the World

Area:

total: 68.556 million sq km
note: includes Andaman Sea, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Flores Sea, Great Australian Bight, Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Java Sea, Mozambique Channel, Persian Gulf, Red Sea, Savu Sea, Strait of Malacca, Timor Sea, and other tributary water bodies

Area - comparative:

about 5.5 times the size of the US

Coastline:

66,526 km

Climate:

northeast monsoon (December to April), southwest monsoon (June to October); tropical cyclones occur during May/June and October/November in the northern Indian Ocean and January/February in the southern Indian Ocean

Terrain:

surface dominated by counterclockwise gyre (broad, circular system of currents) in the southern Indian Ocean; unique reversal of surface currents in the northern Indian Ocean; low atmospheric pressure over southwest Asia from hot, rising, summer air results in the southwest monsoon and southwest-to-northeast winds and currents, while high pressure over northern Asia from cold, falling, winter air results in the northeast monsoon and northeast-to-southwest winds and currents; ocean floor is dominated by the Mid-Indian Ocean Ridge and subdivided by the Southeast Indian Ocean Ridge, Southwest Indian Ocean Ridge, and Ninetyeast Ridge

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Java Trench -7,258 m
highest point: sea level 0 m

Natural resources:

oil and gas fields, fish, shrimp, sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules

Natural hazards:

occasional icebergs pose navigational hazard in southern reaches

Environment - current issues:

endangered marine species include the dugong, seals, turtles, and whales; oil pollution in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, and Red Sea

Geography - note:

major chokepoints include Bab el Mandeb, Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca, southern access to the Suez Canal, and the Lombok Strait

Economy

Indian Ocean

Economy - overview:

The Indian Ocean provides major sea routes connecting the Middle East, Africa, and East Asia with Europe and the Americas. It carries a particularly heavy traffic of petroleum and petroleum products from the oilfields of the Persian Gulf and Indonesia. Its fish are of great and growing importance to the bordering countries for domestic consumption and export. Fishing fleets from Russia, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan also exploit the Indian Ocean, mainly for shrimp and tuna. Large reserves of hydrocarbons are being tapped in the offshore areas of Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, and western Australia. An estimated 40% of the world's offshore oil production comes from the Indian Ocean. Beach sands rich in heavy minerals and offshore placer deposits are actively exploited by bordering countries, particularly India, South Africa, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

Transportation

Indian Ocean

Ports and harbors:

Chennai (Madras; India), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Durban (South Africa), Jakarta (Indonesia), Kolkata (Calcutta; India) Melbourne (Australia), Mumbai (Bombay; India), Richards Bay (South Africa)

Transnational Issues

Indian Ocean

Disputes - international:

some maritime disputes (see littoral states)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Arctic Ocean

Introduction

Arctic Ocean

Background:

The Arctic Ocean is the smallest of the world's five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and the recently delimited Southern Ocean). The Northwest Passage (US and Canada) and Northern Sea Route (Norway and Russia) are two important seasonal waterways. A sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes circumscribes the Arctic Ocean.

Geography

Arctic Ocean

Location:

body of water between Europe, Asia, and North America, mostly north of the Arctic Circle

Geographic coordinates:

90 00 N, 0 00 E

Map references:

Arctic Region

Area:

total: 14.056 million sq km
note: includes Baffin Bay, Barents Sea, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea, East Siberian Sea, Greenland Sea, Hudson Bay, Hudson Strait, Kara Sea, Laptev Sea, Northwest Passage, and other tributary water bodies

Area - comparative:

slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US

Coastline:

45,389 km

Climate:

polar climate characterized by persistent cold and relatively narrow annual temperature ranges; winters characterized by continuous darkness, cold and stable weather conditions, and clear skies; summers characterized by continuous daylight, damp and foggy weather, and weak cyclones with rain or snow

Terrain:

central surface covered by a perennial drifting polar icepack that, on average, is about 3 meters thick, although pressure ridges may be three times that thickness; clockwise drift pattern in the Beaufort Gyral Stream, but nearly straight-line movement from the New Siberian Islands (Russia) to Denmark Strait (between Greenland and Iceland); the icepack is surrounded by open seas during the summer, but more than doubles in size during the winter and extends to the encircling landmasses; the ocean floor is about 50% continental shelf (highest percentage of any ocean) with the remainder a central basin interrupted by three submarine ridges (Alpha Cordillera, Nansen Cordillera, and Lomonosov Ridge)

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Fram Basin -4,665 m
highest point: sea level 0 m

Natural resources:

sand and gravel aggregates, placer deposits, polymetallic nodules, oil and gas fields, fish, marine mammals (seals and whales)

Natural hazards:

ice islands occasionally break away from northern Ellesmere Island; icebergs calved from glaciers in western Greenland and extreme northeastern Canada; permafrost in islands; virtually ice locked from October to June; ships subject to superstructure icing from October to May

Environment - current issues:

endangered marine species include walruses and whales; fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow to recover from disruptions or damage; thinning polar icepack

Geography - note:

major chokepoint is the southern Chukchi Sea (northern access to the Pacific Ocean via the Bering Strait); strategic location between North America and Russia; shortest marine link between the extremes of eastern and western Russia; floating research stations operated by the US and Russia; maximum snow cover in March or April about 20 to 50 centimeters over the frozen ocean; snow cover lasts about 10 months

Economy

Arctic Ocean

Economy - overview:

Economic activity is limited to the exploitation of natural resources, including petroleum, natural gas, fish, and seals.

Transportation

Arctic Ocean

Ports and harbors:

Churchill (Canada), Murmansk (Russia), Prudhoe Bay (US)

Transportation - note:

sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes; the Northwest Passage (North America) and Northern Sea Route (Eurasia) are important seasonal waterways

Transnational Issues

Arctic Ocean

Disputes - international:

some maritime disputes (see littoral states)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Serbia and Montenegro

Introduction

Serbia and Montenegro

Background:

The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was formed in 1918; its name was changed to Yugoslavia in 1929. Occupation by Nazi Germany in 1941 was resisted by various paramilitary bands that fought each other as well as the invaders. The group headed by Marshal TITO took full control upon German expulsion in 1945. Although Communist, his new government and its successors (he died in 1980) managed to steer their own path between the Warsaw Pact nations and the West for the next four and a half decades. In the early 1990s, post-TITO Yugoslavia began to unravel along ethnic lines: Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina were recognized as independent states in 1992. The remaining republics of Serbia and Montenegro declared a new "Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" (FRY) in April 1992 and, under President Slobodan MILOSEVIC, Serbia led various military intervention efforts to unite ethnic Serbs in neighboring republics into a "Greater Serbia." All of these efforts were ultimately unsuccessful and led to Yugoslavia being ousted from the UN in 1992. In 1998-99, massive expulsions by FRY forces and Serb paramilitaries of ethnic Albanians living in Kosovo provoked an international response, including the NATO bombing of Serbia and the stationing of a NATO-led force (KFOR), in Kosovo. Federal elections in the fall of 2000, brought about the ouster of MILOSEVIC and installed Vojislav KOSTUNICA as president. The arrest of MILOSEVIC in 2001 allowed for his subsequent transfer to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in The Hague to be tried for crimes against humanity. In 2001, the country's suspension from the UN was lifted, and it was once more accepted into UN organizations under the name of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Kosovo has been governed by the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) since June 1999, under the authority of UN Security Council Resolution 1244, pending a determination by the international community of its future status. In 2002, the Serbian and Montenegrin components of Yugoslavia began negotiations to forge a looser relationship. These talks became a reality in February 2003 when lawmakers restructured the country into a loose federation of two republics called Serbia and Montenegro. The Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro includes a provision that allows either republic to hold a referendum after three years that would allow for their independence from the state union.

Geography

Serbia and Montenegro

Location:

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea, between Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina

Geographic coordinates:

44 00 N, 21 00 E

Map references:

Europe

Area:

total: 102,350 sq km
land: 102,136 sq km
water: 214 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly smaller than Kentucky

Land boundaries:

total: 2,246 km
border countries: Albania 287 km, Bosnia and Herzegovina 527 km, Bulgaria 318 km, Croatia (north) 241 km, Croatia (south) 25 km, Hungary 151 km, Macedonia 221 km, Romania 476 km

Coastline:

199 km

Maritime claims:

NA

Climate:

in the north, continental climate (cold winters and hot, humid summers with well distributed rainfall); central portion, continental and Mediterranean climate; to the south, Adriatic climate along the coast, hot, dry summers and autumns and relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall inland

Terrain:

extremely varied; to the north, rich fertile plains; to the east, limestone ranges and basins; to the southeast, ancient mountains and hills; to the southwest, extremely high shoreline with no islands off the coast

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Daravica 2,656 m

Natural resources:

oil, gas, coal, iron ore, bauxite, copper, lead, zinc, antimony, chromite, nickel, gold, silver, magnesium, pyrite, limestone, marble, salt, hydropower, arable land

Land use:

arable land: 33.35%
permanent crops: 3.2%
other: 63.45% (2001)

Irrigated land:

570 sq km

Natural hazards:

destructive earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in tourist-related areas such as Kotor; air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities; water pollution from industrial wastes dumped into the Sava which flows into the Danube

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
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; strategic location along the Adriatic coast

People

Serbia and Montenegro

Population:

10,829,175 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 18.1% (male 1,014,443/female 943,702)
15-64 years: 66.9% (male 3,610,646/female 3,632,365)
65 years and over: 15% (male 699,446/female 928,573) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 36.79 years
male: 35.3 years
female: 38.29 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.03% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

12.12 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

10.49 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 12.89 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 14.54 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.73 years
male: 72.15 years
female: 77.51 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.67 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.2% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

10,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

less than 100 (2003 est.)

Nationality:

noun: Serb(s); Montenegrin(s)
adjective: Serbian; Montenegrin

Ethnic groups:

Serb 62.6%, Albanian 16.5%, Montenegrin 5%, Hungarian 3.3%, other 12.6% (1991)

Religions:

Orthodox 65%, Muslim 19%, Roman Catholic 4%, Protestant 1%, other 11%

Languages:

Serbian 95%, Albanian 5%

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.4%
male: 98.9%
female: 94.1% (2002 est.)

Government

Serbia and Montenegro

Country name:

conventional long form: Serbia and Montenegro
conventional short form: none
local long form: Srbija i Crna Gora
local short form: none
former: Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
abbreviation: SCG

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Belgrade

Administrative divisions:

2 republics (republike, singular - republika); and 2 nominally autonomous provinces* (autonomn pokrajine, singular - autonomna pokrajina); Kosovo* (temporarily under UN administration, per UN Security Council Resolution 1244), Montenegro, Serbia, Vojvodina*

Independence:

27 April 1992 (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or FRY - now Serbia and Montenegro - formed as self-proclaimed successor to the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia or SFRY)

National holiday:

National Day, 27 April

Constitution:

4 February 2003

Legal system:

based on civil law system

Suffrage:

16 years of age, if employed; 18 years of age, universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Svetozar MAROVIC (since 7 March 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Svetozar MAROVIC (since 7 March 2003); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Federal Ministries act as Cabinet
elections: president elected by the parliament for a four-year term; election last held 7 March 2003 (next to be held 2007)
election results: Svetozar MAROVIC elected president by the parliament; vote was Svetozar MAROVIC 65, other 47

Legislative branch:

unicameral Parliament (126 seats - 91 Serbian, 35 Montenegrin - filled by nominees of the two state parliaments for the first two years, after which the Constitutional Charter calls for direct elections
elections: last held 25 February 2003 (next to be held 2005)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Serbian parties: SRS 30, DSS 20, DS 13, G17 Plus 12, SPO-NS 8, SPS 8; Montenegrin parties: DPS 15, SNP 9, SDP 4, DSS 3, NS 2, LSCG 2

Judicial branch:

The Court of Serbia and Montenegro; judges are elected by the Serbia and Montenegro Parliament for six-year terms
note: since the promulgation of the 2003 Constitution, the Federal Court has constitutional and administrative functions; it has an equal number of judges from each republic

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Party or DS [Boris TADIC]; Democratic Party of Serbia or DSS [Vojislav KOSTUNICA]; Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro or DPS [Milo DJUKANOVIC]; Democratic Serbian Party of Montenegro or DSS [Bozidar BOJOVIC]; G17 Plus [Miroljub LABUS]; New Serbia or NS [Velimir ILIC]; Liberal Party of Montenegro or LSCG [Miodrag ZIVKOVIC]; People's Party of Montenegro or NS [Dragan SOC]; Power of Serbia Movement or PSS [Bogoljub KARIC]; Serbian Radical Party or SRS [Tomislav NIKOLIC]; Serbian Renewal Movement or SPO [Vuk DRASKOVIC]; Serbian Socialist Party or SPS (former Communist Party and party of Slobodan MILOSEVIC) [Ivica DACIC, president of Main Board]; Social Democratic Party of Montenegro or SDP [Ranko KRIVOKAPIC]; Socialist People's Party of Montenegro or SNP [Predrag BULATOVIC]
note: the following political parties participate in elections and institutions only in Kosovo, which has been governed by the UN under UNSCR 1244 since 1999: Albanian Christian Democratic Party or PSHDK [Mark KRASNIQI]; Alliance for the Future of Kosovo or AAK [Ramush HARADINAJ]; Citizens' Initiative of Serbia or GIS [Slavisa PETKOVIC]; Democratic Ashkali Party of Kosovo or PDAK [Sabit RRAHMANI]; Democratic League of Kosovo or LDK [Ibrahim RUGOVA]; Democratic Party of Kosovo or PDK [Hashim THACI]; Justice Party of PD [Sylejman CERKEZI]; Kosovo Democratic Turkish Party of KDTP [Mahir YAGCILAR]; Liberal Party of Kosovo or PLK [Gjergj DEDAJ]; Ora [Veton SURROI]; New Democratic Initiative of Kosovo or IRDK [Bislim HOTI]; Party of Democratic Action or SDA [Numan BALIC]; Popular Movement of Kosovo or LPK [Emrush XHEMAJLI]; Prizren-Dragas Initiative or PDI [Ismajl KARADOLAMI]; Serb List for Kosovo and Metohija or SLKM [Oliver IVANOVIC]; United Roma Party of Kosovo or PREBK [Haxhi Zylfi MERXHA]; Vakat [leader NA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Political Council for Presevo, Medvedja and Bujanovac or PCPMB [leader NA]; Group for Changes of Montenegro or GZP [Nebojsa MEDOJEVIC]

International organization participation:

BSEC, CE, CEI, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ivan VUJACIC
chancery: 2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-0333
FAX: [1] (202) 332-3933
consulate(s) general: Chicago

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael C. POLT
embassy: Kneza Milosa 50, 11000 Belgrade
mailing address: 5070 Belgrade Place, Washington, DC 20521-5070
telephone: [381] (11) 361-9344
FAX: [381] (11) 361-8230
consulate(s): Podgorica
note: there is a branch office in Pristina at 30 Nazim Hikmet 38000 Pristina, Kosovo; telephone: [381](38)549-516; FAX: [381](38)549-890

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and red

Economy

Serbia and Montenegro

Economy - overview:

MILOSEVIC-era mismanagement of the economy, an extended period of economic sanctions, and the damage to Yugoslavia's infrastructure and industry during the NATO airstrikes in 1999 left the economy only half the size it was in 1990. After the ousting of former Federal Yugoslav President MILOSEVIC in October 2000, the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) coalition government implemented stabilization measures and embarked on an aggressive market reform program. After renewing its membership in the IMF in December 2000, a down-sized Yugoslavia continued to reintegrate into the international community by rejoining the World Bank (IBRD) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). A World Bank-European Commission sponsored Donors' Conference held in June 2001 raised $1.3 billion for economic restructuring. An agreement rescheduling the country's $4.5 billion Paris Club government debts was concluded in November 2001 - it wrote off 66% of the debt - and the London Club of private creditors forgave $1.7 billion of debt, just over half the total owed, in July 2004. The smaller republic of Montenegro severed its economy from federal control and from Serbia during the MILOSEVIC era and continues to maintain its own central bank, uses the euro instead of the Yugoslav dinar as official currency, collects customs tariffs, and manages its own budget. Kosovo's economy continues to transition to a market-based system, and is largely dependent on the international community and the diaspora for financial and technical assistance. The euro and the Yugoslav dinar are both accepted currencies in Kosovo. While maintaining ultimate oversight, UNMIK continues to work with the European Union and Kosovo's local provisional government to accelerate economic growth, lower unemployment, and attract foreign investment to help Kosovo integrate into regional economic structures. The complexity of Serbia and Montenegro political relationships, slow progress in privatization, legal uncertainty over property rights, scarcity of foreign-investment and a substantial foreign trade deficit are holding back the economy. Arrangements with the IMF, especially requirements for fiscal discipline, are an important element in policy formation. Severe unemployment remains a key political economic problem for this entire region.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$26.27 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.5% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $2,400 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 15.5%
industry: 27.6%
services: 56.8% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

3.2 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture NA, industry NA, services NA

Unemployment rate:

30%
note: unemployment is approximately 50% in Kosovo (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

30% (1999 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

8.8% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

14.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $9.773 billion
expenditures: $10.46 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

80% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

cereals, fruits, vegetables, tobacco, olives; cattle, sheep, goats

Industries:

machine building (aircraft, trucks, and automobiles; tanks and weapons; electrical equipment; agricultural machinery); metallurgy (steel, aluminum, copper, lead, zinc, chromium, antimony, bismuth, cadmium); mining (coal, bauxite, nonferrous ore, iron ore, limestone); consumer goods (textiles, footwear, foodstuffs, appliances); electronics, petroleum products, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals

Industrial production growth rate:

1.7% (2002 est.)

Electricity - production:

31.64 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 62.9%
hydro: 37.1%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

32.33 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

400 million kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

3.3 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

15,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

64,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

38.75 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

602 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

602 million cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2001 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

24.07 billion cu m (1 January 2002)

Current account balance:

$-3.008 billion (2004 est.)

Exports:

$3.245 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

manufactured goods, food and live animals, raw materials

Exports - partners:

Italy 29%, Germany 16.6%, Austria 7%, Greece 6.7%, France 4.9%, Slovenia 4.1% (2004)

Imports:

$9.538 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, fuels and lubricants, manufactured goods, chemicals, food and live animals, raw materials

Imports - partners:

Germany 18.5%, Italy 16.5%, Austria 8.3%, Slovenia 6.7%, Bulgaria 4.7%, France 4.5% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$3.55 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$12.97 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$2 billion pledged in 2001 (disbursements to follow for several years)

Currency (code):

new Yugoslav dinar (YUM); note - in Montenegro the euro is legal tender; in Kosovo both the euro and the Yugoslav dinar are legal

Currency code:

CSD, EUR

Exchange rates:

new Yugoslav dinars per US dollar - 64.1915 (official rate: 65) (2002)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Serbia and Montenegro

Telephones - main lines in use:

2,611,700 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

3,634,600 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 381; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 113, FM 194, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:

3.15 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

more than 771 (including 86 strong stations and 685 low-power stations, plus 20 repeaters in the principal networks; also numerous local or private stations in Serbia and Vojvodina) (1997)

Televisions:

2.75 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.cs

Internet hosts:

20,207 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

9 (2000)

Internet users:

847,000 (2003)

Transportation

Serbia and Montenegro

Railways:

total: 4,380 km
standard gauge: 4,380 km 1.435-m gauge (1,364 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 45,290 km
paved: 28,261 km (including 374 km of expressways)
unpaved: 17,029 km (2002)

Waterways:

587 km
note: Danube River traffic delayed by pontoon bridge at Novi Sad; plan to replace by summer of 2005 (2004)

Pipelines:

gas 3,177 km; oil 393 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Bar

Merchant marine:

total: 2
by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 1
foreign-owned: 2 (Finland 1, Turkey 1)
registered in other countries: 3 (2005)

Airports:

44 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 19
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 25
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 13 (2004 est.)

Heliports:

4 (2004 est.)

Military

Serbia and Montenegro

Military branches:

Serbian and Montenegrin Armed Forces (Vojska Srbije i Crne Gore, VSCG): Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Naval Forces (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

19 years of age (nine months compulsory service) (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 19-49: 2,389,729 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 19-49: 1,959,166 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 81,033 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$654 million (2002)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Transnational Issues

Serbia and Montenegro

Disputes - international:

Kosovo remains unresolved administered by several thousand peacekeepers from the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) since 1999, with Kosovar Albanians overwhelmingly supporting and Serbian officials opposing Kosovo independence; the international community had agreed to begin a process to determine final status but contingency of solidifying multi-ethnic democracy in Kosovo has not been satisfied; ethnic Albanians in Kosovo refuse demarcation of the boundary with Macedonia in accordance with the 2000 Macedonia-Serbia and Montenegro delimitation agreement; Serbia and Montenegro have delimited about half of the boundary with Bosnia and Herzegovina, but sections along the Drina River remain in dispute

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 99,170 (Bosnia) 188,656 (Croatia)
IDPs: 225,000 (mostly ethnic Serbs and Roma who fled Kosovo in 1999) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin moving to Western Europe on the Balkan route; economy vulnerable to money laundering

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

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Yemen

Introduction

Yemen

Background:

North Yemen became independent of the Ottoman Empire in 1918. The British, who had set up a protectorate area around the southern port of Aden in the 19th century, withdrew in 1967 from what became South Yemen. Three years later, the southern government adopted a Marxist orientation. The massive exodus of hundreds of thousands of Yemenis from the south to the north contributed to two decades of hostility between the states. The two countries were formally unified as the Republic of Yemen in 1990. A southern secessionist movement in 1994 was quickly subdued. In 2000, Saudi Arabia and Yemen agreed to a delimitation of their border.

Geography

Yemen

Location:

Middle East, bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Red Sea, between Oman and Saudi Arabia

Geographic coordinates:

15 00 N, 48 00 E

Map references:

Middle East

Area:

total: 527,970 sq km
land: 527,970 sq km
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:

slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming

Land boundaries:

total: 1,746 km
border countries: Oman 288 km, Saudi Arabia 1,458 km

Coastline:

1,906 km

Maritime claims:

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate:

mostly desert; hot and humid along west coast; temperate in western mountains affected by seasonal monsoon; extraordinarily hot, dry, harsh desert in east

Terrain:

narrow coastal plain backed by flat-topped hills and rugged mountains; dissected upland desert plains in center slope into the desert interior of the Arabian Peninsula

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb 3,760 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, fish, rock salt, marble, small deposits of coal, gold, lead, nickel, and copper, fertile soil in west

Land use:

arable land: 2.78%
permanent crops: 0.24%
other: 96.98% (2001)

Irrigated land:

4,900 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

sandstorms and dust storms in summer

Environment - current issues:

very limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, 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 world's most active shipping lanes

People

Yemen

Population:

20,727,063 (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 46.5% (male 4,905,831/female 4,727,177)
15-64 years: 50.8% (male 5,364,711/female 5,172,811)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 274,166/female 282,367) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 16.54 years
male: 16.53 years
female: 16.56 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.45% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

43.07 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

8.53 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.97 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 61.5 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 66.26 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 56.49 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 61.75 years
male: 59.89 years
female: 63.71 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.67 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.1% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

12,000 (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

NA

Nationality:

noun: Yemeni(s)
adjective: Yemeni

Ethnic groups:

predominantly Arab; but also Afro-Arab, South Asians, Europeans

Religions:

Muslim including Shaf'i (Sunni) and Zaydi (Shi'a), small numbers of Jewish, Christian, and Hindu

Languages:

Arabic

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 50.2%
male: 70.5%
female: 30% (2003 est.)

Government

Yemen

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Yemen
conventional short form: Yemen
local long form: Al Jumhuriyah al Yamaniyah
local short form: Al Yaman
former: Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Sanaa

Administrative divisions:

19 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Abyan, 'Adan, Ad Dali', Al Bayda', Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Al Mahrah, Al Mahwit, 'Amran, Dhamar, Hadramawt, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahij, Ma'rib, Sa'dah, San'a', Shabwah, Ta'izz
note: for electoral and administrative purposes, the capital city of Sanaa is treated as an additional governorate

Independence:

22 May 1990 (Republic of Yemen established with the merger of the Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen] and the Marxist-dominated People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]); note - previously North Yemen had become independent in November of 1918 (from the Ottoman Empire) and South Yemen had become independent on 30 November 1967 (from the UK)

National holiday:

Unification Day, 22 May (1990)

Constitution:

16 May 1991; amended 29 September 1994 and February 2001

Legal system:

based on Islamic law, Turkish law, English common law, and local tribal customary law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Ali Abdallah SALIH (since 22 May 1990, the former president of North Yemen, assumed office upon the merger of North and South Yemen); Vice President Maj. Gen. Abd al-Rab Mansur al-HADI (since 3 October 1994)
head of government: Prime Minister Abd al-Qadir BA JAMAL (since 4 April 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
elections: president elected by direct, popular vote for a seven-year term (recently extended from a five-year term by constitutional amendment); election last held 23 September 1999 (next to be held NA 2006); vice president appointed by the president; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
election results: Ali Abdallah SALIH elected president; percent of vote - Ali Abdallah SALIH 96.3%, Najib Qahtan AL-SHAABI 3.7%

Legislative branch:

a new constitutional amendment ratified on 20 February 2001 created a bicameral legislature consisting of a Shura Council (111 seats; members appointed by the president) and a House of Representatives (301 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year terms)
elections: last held 27 April 2003 (next to be held NA April 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - GPC 228, Islah 47, YSP 7, Nasserite Unionist Party 3, National Arab Socialist Ba'th Party 2, independents 14

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

there are more than 12 political parties active in Yemen, some of the more prominent are: General People's Congress or GPC [President Ali Abdallah SALIH]; Islamic Reform Grouping or Islah [Shaykh Abdallah bin Husayn al-AHMAR]; Nasserite Unionist Party [Abdel Malik al-MAKHLAFI]; National Arab Socialist Ba'th Party [Dr. Qassim SALAAM]; Yemeni Socialist Party or YSP [Ali Salih MUQBIL]
note: President SALIH's General People's Congress or GPC won a landslide victory in the April 1997 legislative election and no longer governs in coalition with Shaykh Abdallah bin Husayn al-AHMAR's Islamic Reform Grouping or Islah - the two parties had been in coalition since the end of the civil war in 1994; the YSP, a loyal opposition party, represents the remnants of the former South Yemeni leadership; leaders of the 1994 secessionist movement have been pardoned by President SALIH and some are now returning to Yemen from exile

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOCI, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Abd al-Wahab Abdallah al-HAJRI
chancery: Suite 705, 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 965-4760
FAX: [1] (202) 337-2017

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas C. KRAJESKI
embassy: Saawan Street, Sanaa
mailing address: P. O. Box 22347, Sanaa
telephone: [967] (1) 303-151 through 159
FAX: [967] (1) 303-160/161/162/164/165

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black; similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars and of Iraq which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription) in a horizontal line centered in the white band; also similar to the flag of Egypt, which has a heraldic eagle centered in the white band

Economy

Yemen

Economy - overview:

Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the Arab world, has reported strong growth since 2000, but its economic fortunes depend mostly on oil. Yemen has embarked on an IMF-supported structural adjustment program designed to modernize and streamline the economy, which has led to substantial foreign debt relief and restructuring. Yemen has worked to maintain tight control over spending and to implement additional components of the IMF program, but a high population growth rate and internal political dissension complicate the government's task. Plans include a diversification of the economy, encouragement of tourism, and more efficient use of scarce water resources.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$16.25 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 15.5%
industry: 44.7%
services: 39.7% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

5.98 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

most people are employed in agriculture and herding; services, construction, industry, and commerce account for less than one-fourth of the labor force

Unemployment rate:

35% (2003 est.)

Population below poverty line:

45.2% (2003)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 25.9% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

33.4 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

12.2% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

16.1% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $4.251 billion
expenditures: $4.568 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

46.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

grain, fruits, vegetables, pulses, qat (mildly narcotic shrub), coffee, cotton; dairy products, livestock (sheep, goats, cattle, camels), poultry; fish

Industries:

crude oil production and petroleum refining; small-scale production of cotton textiles and leather goods; food processing; handicrafts; small aluminum products factory; cement; commercial ship repair

Industrial production growth rate:

3% (2003 est.)

Electricity - production:

3.04 billion kWh (2002 est.)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

2.827 billion kWh (2002 est.)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

417,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:

78,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - exports:

370,300 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports:

NA

Oil - proved reserves:

4 billion bbl (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

480 billion cu m (2004)

Current account balance:

$369.9 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$4.468 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

crude oil, coffee, dried and salted fish

Exports - partners:

Thailand 33.8%, China 30.3%, Singapore 7.8% (2004)

Imports:

$3.734 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

food and live animals, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports - partners:

UAE 12.2%, Saudi Arabia 9.7%, China 8.8%, France 7.3%, India 4.4%, US 4.4%, Kuwait 4.2% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$5.3 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$5.4 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$2.3 billion (2003-07 disbursements) (2003-07 disbursements)

Currency (code):

Yemeni rial (YER)

Currency code:

YER

Exchange rates:

Yemeni rials per US dollar - 184.78 (2004), 183.45 (2003), 175.63 (2002), 168.67 (2001), 161.72 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Yemen

Telephones - main lines in use:

542,200 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

411,100 (2002)

Telephone system:

general assessment: since unification in 1990, efforts have been made to create a national telecommunications network
domestic: the national network consists of microwave radio relay, cable, tropospheric scatter, and GSM cellular mobile telephone systems
international: country code - 967; satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (2 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean), 1 Intersputnik (Atlantic Ocean region), and 2 Arabsat; microwave radio relay to Saudi Arabia and Djibouti

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 6, FM 1, shortwave 2 (1998)

Radios:

1.05 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

7 (plus several low-power repeaters) (1997)

Televisions:

470,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.ye

Internet hosts:

138 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:

100,000 (2002)

Transportation

Yemen

Highways:

total: 67,000 km
paved: 7,705 km
unpaved: 59,295 km (1999 est.)

Pipelines:

gas 88 km; oil 1,174 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Aden, Nishtun

Merchant marine:

total: 5 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 19,766 GRT/24,794 DWT
by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1
registered in other countries: 2 (2005)

Airports:

44 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 16
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 28
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 4 (2004 est.)

Military

Yemen

Military branches:

Army (includes Special Forces), Naval Forces and Coastal Defenses (includes Marines), Air Force (includes Air Defense Forces), Republican Guard (2002)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - 2 years (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 4,058,223 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,790,705 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 236,517 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$885.5 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

7.8% (2003)

Military - note:

a Coast Guard was established in 2002

Transnational Issues

Yemen

Disputes - international:

Yemen protests Eritrea fishing around the Hanish Islands awarded to Yemen by the ICJ in 1999; despite resistance from nomadic groups, the demarcation of the Saudi Arabia-Yemen boundary established under the 2000 Jeddah Treaty is almost complete; Yemen protests Saudi erection of a concrete-filled pipe as a security barrier in 2004 to stem illegal cross-border activities in sections of the boundary

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 60,901 (Somalia) (2004)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

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Zambia

Introduction

Zambia

Background:

The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the South Africa Company from 1891 until it was taken over by the UK in 1923. During the 1920s and 1930s, advances in mining spurred development and immigration. The name was changed to Zambia upon independence in 1964. In the 1980s and 1990s, declining copper prices and a prolonged drought hurt the economy. Elections in 1991 brought an end to one-party rule, but the subsequent vote in 1996 saw blatant harassment of opposition parties. The election in 2001 was marked by administrative problems with three parties filing a legal petition challenging the election of ruling party candidate Levy MWANAWASA. The new president launched a far-reaching anti-corruption campaign in 2002, which resulted in the prosecution of former President Frederick CHILUBA and many of his supporters in late 2003. Opposition parties currently hold a majority of seats in the National Assembly.

Geography

Zambia

Location:

Southern Africa, east of Angola

Geographic coordinates:

15 00 S, 30 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 752,614 sq km
land: 740,724 sq km
water: 11,890 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Texas

Land boundaries:

total: 5,664 km
border countries: Angola 1,110 km, Democratic Republic of the Congo 1,930 km, Malawi 837 km, Mozambique 419 km, Namibia 233 km, Tanzania 338 km, Zimbabwe 797 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

tropical; modified by altitude; rainy season (October to April)

Terrain:

mostly high plateau with some hills and mountains

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m
highest point: unnamed location in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m

Natural resources:

copper, cobalt, zinc, lead, coal, emeralds, gold, silver, uranium, hydropower

Land use:

arable land: 7.08%
permanent crops: 0.03%
other: 92.9% (2001)

Irrigated land:

460 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

periodic drought, tropical storms (November to April)

Environment - current issues:

air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds; poaching seriously threatens rhinoceros, elephant, antelope, and large cat populations; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; lack of adequate water treatment presents human health risks

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Geography - note:

landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with Zimbabwe

People

Zambia

Population:

11,261,795
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 46.5% (male 2,626,911/female 2,609,857)
15-64 years: 51.1% (male 2,848,402/female 2,904,376)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 118,043/female 154,206) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 16.46 years
male: 16.26 years
female: 16.67 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.12% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

41.38 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

20.23 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2005 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: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 88.29 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 95.63 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 80.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 39.7 years
male: 39.43 years
female: 39.98 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.47 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

16.5% (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

920,000 (2003 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

89,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: very high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases: malaria and plague are high risks in some locations
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Zambian(s)
adjective: Zambian

Ethnic groups:

African 98.7%, European 1.1%, other 0.2%

Religions:

Christian 50%-75%, Muslim and Hindu 24%-49%, indigenous beliefs 1%

Languages:

English (official), major vernaculars - Bemba, Kaonda, Lozi, Lunda, Luvale, Nyanja, Tonga, and about 70 other indigenous languages

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write English
total population: 80.6%
male: 86.8%
female: 74.8% (2003 est.)

Government

Zambia

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Zambia
conventional short form: Zambia
former: Northern Rhodesia

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Lusaka

Administrative divisions:

9 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western

Independence:

24 October 1964 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 24 October (1964)

Constitution:

24 August 1991

Legal system:

based on English common law and customary law; judicial review of legislative acts in an ad hoc constitutional council; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Levy MWANAWASA (since 2 January 2002); Vice President Lupando MWAPE (since 4 October 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Levy MWANAWASA (since 2 January 2002); Vice President Lupando MWAPE (since 4 October 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members of the National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 27 December 2001 (next to be held December 2006); vice president appointed by the president
election results: Levy MWANAWASA elected president; percent of vote - Levy MWANAWASA 29%, Anderson MAZOKA 27%, Christon TEMBO 13%, Tilyenji KAUNDA 10%, Godfrey MIYANDA 8%, Benjamin MWILA 5%, Michael SATA 3%, other 5%

Legislative branch:

unicameral National Assembly (150 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 27 December 2001 (next to be held December 2006)
election results: percent of vote by party - MMD 45.9%, UPND 32.4%, UNIP 8.8%, FDD 8.1%, HP 2.7%, PF 0.7%, ZRP 0.7%, independents 0.7%; seats by party - MMD 68, UPND 48, UNIP 13, FDD 12, HP 4, PF 1, ZRP 1, independents 1; seats not determined 2

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court (the final court of appeal; justices are appointed by the president); High Court (has unlimited jurisdiction to hear civil and criminal cases)

Political parties and leaders:

Agenda for Zambia or AZ [Inonge MBIKUSITA-LEWANIKA]; Forum for Democracy and Development or FDD [Christon TEMBO]; Heritage Party or HP [Godfrey MIYANDA]; Liberal Progressive Front or LPF [Roger CHONGWE, president]; Movement for Multiparty Democracy or MMD [Levy MWANAWASA, acting president]; National Leadership for Development or NLD [Yobert SHAMAPANDE]; National Party or NP [Dr. Sam CHIPUNGU]; Patriotic Front or PF [Michael SATA]; Zambian Republican Party or ZRP [Benjamin MWILA]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Gwendoline KONIE]; United National Independence Party or UNIP [Francis NKHOMA, president]; United Party for National Development or UPND [Anderson MAZOKA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIK, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Inonge MBIKUSITA-LEWANIKA
chancery: 2419 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-9717 through 9719
FAX: [1] (202) 332-0826

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Martin George BRENNAN
embassy: corner of Independence and United Nations Avenues
mailing address: P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka
telephone: [260] (1) 250-955
FAX: [260] (1) 252-225

Flag description:

green with a panel of three vertical bands of red (hoist side), black, and orange below a soaring orange eagle, on the outer edge of the flag

Economy

Zambia

Economy - overview:

Despite progress in privatization and budgetary reform, Zambia's economic growth remains somewhat below the 5% to 7% needed to reduce poverty significantly. Privatization of government-owned copper mines relieved the government from covering mammoth losses generated by the industry and greatly improved the chances for copper mining to return to profitability and spur economic growth. Copper output increased in 2004 and is expected to increase again in 2005, due to higher copper prices and the opening of new mines. The maize harvest was again good in 2004, helping boost GDP and agricultural exports. Cooperation continues with international bodies on programs to reduce poverty, including a new lending arrangement with the IMF in the second quarter, 2004. A tighter monetary policy will help cut inflation, but Zambia still has a serious problem with fiscal discipline.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$9.409 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.6% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $900 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 14.9%
industry: 28.9%
services: 56.1% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

4.63 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 85%, industry 6%, services 9%

Unemployment rate:

50% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:

86% (1993)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.1%
highest 10%: 41% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

52.6 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

18.3% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

41.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.129 billion
expenditures: $1.307 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

127.5% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seed, vegetables, flowers, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca); cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, milk, eggs, hides; coffee

Industries:

copper mining and processing, construction, foodstuffs, beverages, chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture

Industrial production growth rate:

6.9% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

8.167 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 0.5%
hydro: 99.5%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

5.345 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

2.25 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

0 kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

11,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-181.4 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$1.548 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

copper/cobalt 64%, cobalt, electricity, tobacco, flowers, cotton

Exports - partners:

South Africa 25.6%, UK 17%, Switzerland 16%, Tanzania 7.4%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 7%, Zimbabwe 5.8% (2004)

Imports:

$1.519 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products, electricity, fertilizer; foodstuffs, clothing

Imports - partners:

South Africa 46.2%, UK 14.2%, UAE 7.1%, Zimbabwe 6% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$345 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$5.353 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$651 million (2000 est.)

Currency (code):

Zambian kwacha (ZMK)

Currency code:

ZMK

Exchange rates:

Zambian kwacha per US dollar - 4,778.9 (2004), 4,733.3 (2003), 4,398.6 (2002), 3,610.9 (2001), 3,110.8 (2000)

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Zambia

Telephones - main lines in use:

88,400 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

241,000 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: facilities are aging but still among the best in Sub-Saharan Africa
domestic: high-capacity microwave radio relay connects most larger towns and cities; several cellular telephone services in operation; Internet service is widely available; very small aperture terminal (VSAT) networks are operated by private firms
international: country code - 260; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 19, FM 5, shortwave 4 (2001)

Radios:

1.2 million (2001)

Television broadcast stations:

9 (2002)

Televisions:

277,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.zm

Internet hosts:

1,880 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2001)

Internet users:

68,200 (2003)

Transportation

Zambia

Railways:

total: 2,173 km
narrow gauge: 2,173 km 1.067-m gauge
note: includes 891 km of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) (2004)

Highways:

total: 91,440 km
paved: 20,117 km
unpaved: 71,323 km (2001)

Waterways:

2,250 km
note: includes Lake Tanganyika and the Zambezi and Luapula rivers (2003)

Pipelines:

oil 771 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Mpulungu

Airports:

109 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 10
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 99
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 62
under 914 m: 32 (2004 est.)

Military

Zambia

Military branches:

Zambian National Defense Force (ZNDF): Army, Air Force, Police, National Service

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.) (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,219,739 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,043,702 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$106.8 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.8% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Zambia

Disputes - international:

in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections and joined Namibia in supporting plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river; 90,000 Angolan refugees were repatriated from Zambia by 2004, the remaining 160,000 are expected to return in 2005

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 158,894 (Angola) 58,405 (Democratic Republic of the Congo) 5,767 (Rwanda) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

transshipment point for moderate amounts of methaqualone, small amounts of heroin, and cocaine bound for Southern Africa and possibly Europe; a poorly developed financial infrastructure coupled with a government commitment to combating money laundering make it an unattractive venue for money launderers

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Country List | World Factbook Home

The World Factbook

Zimbabwe

Introduction

Zimbabwe

Background:

The UK annexed Southern Rhodesia from the South Africa Company in 1923. A 1961 constitution was formulated that favored whites in power. In 1965 the government unilaterally declared its independence, but the UK did not recognize the act and demanded more complete voting rights for the black African majority in the country (then called Rhodesia). UN sanctions and a guerrilla uprising finally led to free elections in 1979 and independence (as Zimbabwe) in 1980. Robert MUGABE, the nation's first prime minister, has been the country's only ruler (as president since 1987) and has dominated the country's political system since independence. His chaotic land redistribution campaign begun in 2000 caused an exodus of white farmers, crippled the economy, and ushered in widespread shortages of basic commodities. Ignoring international condemnation, MUGABE rigged the 2002 presidential election to ensure his reelection. Opposition and labor groups launched general strikes in 2003 to pressure MUGABE to retire early; security forces continued their brutal repression of regime opponents.

Geography

Zimbabwe

Location:

Southern Africa, between South Africa and Zambia

Geographic coordinates:

20 00 S, 30 00 E

Map references:

Africa

Area:

total: 390,580 sq km
land: 386,670 sq km
water: 3,910 sq km

Area - comparative:

slightly larger than Montana

Land boundaries:

total: 3,066 km
border countries: Botswana 813 km, Mozambique 1,231 km, South Africa 225 km, Zambia 797 km

Coastline:

0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:

none (landlocked)

Climate:

tropical; moderated by altitude; rainy season (November to March)

Terrain:

mostly high plateau with higher central plateau (high veld); mountains in east

Elevation extremes:

lowest point: junction of the Runde and Save rivers 162 m
highest point: Inyangani 2,592 m

Natural resources:

coal, chromium ore, asbestos, gold, nickel, copper, iron ore, vanadium, lithium, tin, platinum group metals

Land use:

arable land: 8.32%
permanent crops: 0.34%
other: 91.34% (2001)

Irrigated land:

1,170 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards:

recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; air and water pollution; the black rhinoceros herd - once the largest concentration of the species in the world - has been significantly reduced by poaching; poor mining practices have led to toxic waste and heavy metal pollution

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:

landlocked; the Zambezi forms a natural riverine boundary with Zambia; in full flood (February-April) the massive Victoria Falls on the river forms the world's largest curtain of falling water

People

Zimbabwe

Population:

12,746,990
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)

Age structure:

0-14 years: 39.2% (male 2,522,609/female 2,474,131)
15-64 years: 57.1% (male 3,686,354/female 3,592,662)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 235,478/female 235,756) (2005 est.)

Median age:

total: 19.26 years
male: 19.28 years
female: 19.24 years (2005 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.51% (2005 est.)

Birth rate:

29.74 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Death rate:

24.66 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population negligible migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2005 est.)

Sex ratio:

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2005 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 67.69 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 70.32 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 64.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 39.13 years
male: 40.2 years
female: 38.03 years (2005 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.54 children born/woman (2005 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

24.6% (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

1.8 million (2001 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:

170,000 (2003 est.)

Major infectious diseases:

degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid
vectorborne disease: malaria
water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2004)

Nationality:

noun: Zimbabwean(s)
adjective: Zimbabwean

Ethnic groups:

African 98% (Shona 82%, Ndebele 14%, other 2%), mixed and Asian 1%, white less than 1%

Religions:

syncretic (part Christian, part indigenous beliefs) 50%, Christian 25%, indigenous beliefs 24%, Muslim and other 1%

Languages:

English (official), Shona, Sindebele (the language of the Ndebele, sometimes called Ndebele), numerous but minor tribal dialects

Literacy:

definition: age 15 and over can read and write English
total population: 90.7%
male: 94.2%
female: 87.2% (2003 est.)

Government

Zimbabwe

Country name:

conventional long form: Republic of Zimbabwe
conventional short form: Zimbabwe
former: Southern Rhodesia, Rhodesia

Government type:

parliamentary democracy

Capital:

Harare

Administrative divisions:

8 provinces and 2 cities* with provincial status; Bulawayo*, Harare*, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands

Independence:

18 April 1980 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 18 April (1980)

Constitution:

21 December 1979

Legal system:

mixture of Roman-Dutch and English common law

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987); Vice President Joyce MUJURU (since 6 December 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: Executive President Robert Gabriel MUGABE (since 31 December 1987); Vice President Joyce MUJURU (since 6 December 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president; responsible to the House of Assembly
elections: presidential candidates nominated with a nomination paper signed by at least 10 registered voters (at least one from each province) and elected by popular vote for a 6-year term; election last held 9-11 March 2002 (next to be held March 2008); co-vice presidents appointed by the president
election results: Robert Gabriel MUGABE reelected president; percent of vote - Robert Gabriel MUGABE 56.2%, Morgan TSVANGIRAI 41.9%

Legislative branch:

unicameral House of Assembly (150 seats - 120 elected by popular vote for five-year terms, 12 nominated by the president, 10 occupied by traditional chiefs chosen by their peers, and 8 occupied by provincial governors appointed by the president)
elections: last held 31 March 2005 (next to be held NA 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - ZANU-PF 59.6%, MDC 39.5%, other 0.9%; seats by party - ZANU-PF 78, MDC 41, Independents 1

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court; High Court

Political parties and leaders:

Movement for Democratic Change or MDC [Morgan TSVANGIRAI]; National Alliance for Good Governance or NAGG [Shakespeare MAYA]; United Parties [Abel MUZOREWA]; Zimbabwe African National Union-Ndonga or ZANU-Ndonga [Wilson KUMBULA]; Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front or ZANU-PF [Robert Gabriel MUGABE]; Zimbabwe African Peoples Union or ZAPU [Agrippa MADLELA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

National Constitutional Assembly or NCA [Lovemore MADHUKU]; Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition [Brian KAGORO]; Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions or ZCTU [Lovemore MATOMBO]

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIK, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Simbi Veke MUBAKO
chancery: 1608 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 332-7100
FAX: [1] (202) 483-9326

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph G. SULLIVAN
embassy: 172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue, Harare
mailing address: P. O. Box 3340, Harare
telephone: [263] (4) 250-593 and 250-594
FAX: [263] (4) 796488

Flag description:

seven equal horizontal bands of green, yellow, red, black, red, yellow, and green with a white isosceles triangle edged in black with its base on the hoist side; a yellow Zimbabwe bird representing the long history of the country is superimposed on a red five-pointed star in the center of the triangle, which symbolizes peace; green symbolizes agriculture, yellow - mineral wealth, red - blood shed to achieve independence, and black stands for the native people

Economy

Zimbabwe

Economy - overview:

The government of Zimbabwe faces a wide variety of difficult economic problems as it struggles with an unsustainable fiscal deficit, an overvalued exchange rate, soaring inflation, and bare shelves. Its 1998-2002 involvement in the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for example, drained hundreds of millions of dollars from the economy. Badly needed support from the IMF has been suspended because of the country's failure to meet budgetary goals. Inflation rose from an annual rate of 32% in 1998 to 133% at the end of 2004, while the exchange rate fell from 24 Zimbabwean dollars per US dollar to 6,200 in the same time period. The government's land reform program, characterized by chaos and violence, has badly damaged the commercial farming sector, the traditional source of exports and foreign exchange and the provider of 400,000 jobs.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$24.37 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

-8.2% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita:

purchasing power parity - $1,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 18.1%
industry: 24.3%
services: 57.7% (2004 est.)

Labor force:

4.23 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture 66%, industry 10%, services 24% (1996)

Unemployment rate:

70% (2002 est.)

Population below poverty line:

70% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.97%
highest 10%: 40.42% (1995)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

50.1 (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

133% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

9.9% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:

revenues: $1.325 billion
expenditures: $1.593 billion, including capital expenditures of NA (2004 est.)

Public debt:

52.3% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:

corn, cotton, tobacco, wheat, coffee, sugarcane, peanuts; sheep, goats, pigs

Industries:

mining (coal, gold, platinum, copper, nickel, tin, clay, numerous metallic and nonmetallic ores), steel, wood products, cement, chemicals, fertilizer, clothing and footwear, foodstuffs, beverages

Industrial production growth rate:

-7.8% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:

8.839 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - production by source:

fossil fuel: 47%
hydro: 53%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:

11.22 billion kWh (2002)

Electricity - exports:

0 kWh (2002)

Electricity - imports:

3 billion kWh (2002)

Oil - production:

0 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - consumption:

23,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Oil - exports:

NA

Oil - imports:

NA

Current account balance:

$-230.3 million (2004 est.)

Exports:

$1.409 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:

cotton, tobacco, gold, ferroalloys, textiles/clothing

Exports - partners:

South Africa 31.5%, Switzerland 7.4%, UK 7.3%, China 6.1%, Germany 4.3% (2004)

Imports:

$1.599 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:

machinery and transport equipment, other manufactures, chemicals, fuels

Imports - partners:

South Africa 46.9%, Botswana 3.6%, UK 3.4% (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$57 million (2004 est.)

Debt - external:

$4.086 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$178 million; note - the EU and the US provide food aid on humanitarian grounds (2000 est.)

Currency (code):

Zimbabwean dollar (ZWD)

Currency code:

ZWD

Exchange rates:

Zimbabwean dollars per US dollar - 4,303.28 (2004), 697.424 (2003), 55.036 (2002), 55.052 (2001), 44.418 (2000)
note: these are official exchange rates, non-official rates vary significantly

Fiscal year:

calendar year

Communications

Zimbabwe

Telephones - main lines in use:

300,900 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

379,100 (2003)

Telephone system:

general assessment: system was once one of the best in Africa, but now suffers from poor maintenance; more than 100,000 outstanding requests for connection despite an equally large number of installed but unused main lines
domestic: consists of microwave radio relay links, open-wire lines, radiotelephone communication stations, fixed wireless local loop installations, and a substantial mobile cellular network; Internet connection is available in Harare and planned for all major towns and for some of the smaller ones
international: country code - 263; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat; two international digital gateway exchanges (in Harare and Gweru)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 7, FM 20 (plus 17 repeater stations), shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:

1.14 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

16 (1997)

Televisions:

370,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.zw

Internet hosts:

4,501 (2003)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6 (2000)

Internet users:

500,000 (2002)

Transportation

Zimbabwe

Railways:

total: 3,077 km
narrow gauge: 3,077 km 1.067-m gauge (313 km electrified) (2004)

Highways:

total: 18,338 km
paved: 8,692 km
unpaved: 9,646 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:

on Lake Kariba, length small (2003)

Pipelines:

refined products 261 km (2004)

Ports and harbors:

Binga, Kariba

Airports:

404 (2004 est.)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 17
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 8 (2004 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 387
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 186
under 914 m: 196 (2004 est.)

Military

Zimbabwe

Military branches:

Zimbabwe Defense Forces (ZDF): Zimbabwe National Army, Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ), Zimbabwe Republic Police (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.) (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,840,053 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,148,590 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$217 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

4.3% (2004)

Transnational Issues

Zimbabwe

Disputes - international:

Botswana has built electric fences and South Africa has placed military along the border to stem the flow of thousands of Zimbabweans fleeing to find work and escape political persecution; Namibia has supported and in 2004 Zimbabwe dropped objections to plans between Botswana and Zambia to build a bridge over the Zambezi River, thereby de facto recognizing a short, but not clearly delimited Botswana-Zambia boundary in the river

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 100,000-150,000 (MUGABE-led political violence, human rights violations, land reform, and economic collapse) (2004)

Illicit drugs:

transit point for African cannabis and South Asian heroin, mandrax, and methamphetamines destined for the South African and European markets

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Appendix A - Abbreviations

Home  Reference Maps Appendixes

Appendixes

A
Abbrev.

B
Int'l Org'n
and Groups

C
Selected Int'l
Environmental
Agreements

D
Cross-Reference
List of Country
Data Codes

E
Cross-Reference
List of Hydrographic
Data Codes

F
Cross-Reference
List of Geographic
Names

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

ABEDA

Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa

ACCT

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

Air Pollution

Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution

Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides

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

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 Concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or Their Transboundary Fluxes

AMF

Arab Monetary Fund

AMU

Arab Maghreb Union

Antarctic-Environmental Protocol

Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty

Antarctic Marine Living Resources

Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources

ANZUS

Australia-New Zealand-United States Security Treaty

Antarctic Seals

Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals

APEC

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

Arabsat

Arab Satellite Communications Organization

ARF

ASEAN Regional Forum

AsDB

Asian Development Bank

ASEAN

Association of Southeast Asian Nations

Autodin

Automatic Digital Network

AU

African Union

bbl/day

barrels per day

BCIE

Central American Bank for Economic Integration

BDEAC

Central African States Development Bank

Benelux

Benelux Economic Union

Biodiversity

Convention on Biological Diversity

BGN

United States Board on Geographic Names

BIS

Bank for International Settlements

BSEC

Black Sea Economic Cooperation Zone

C

Commonwealth

c.i.f.

cost, insurance, and freight

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

CEI

Central European Initiative

CEMA

Council for Mutual Economic Assistance; also known as CMEA or Comecon

CEMAC

Monetary and Economic Community of Central Africa

CEPGL

Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries

CERN

European Organization for Nuclear Research

CEPT

Conference Europeanne des Poste et Telecommunications

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

COCOM

Coordinating Committee on Export Controls

Comsat

Communications Satellite Corporation

COMESA

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa

CP

Colombo Plan

CY

calendar year

DC

developed country

Desertification

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa

DDT

dichloro-diphenyl-trichloro-ethane

DSN

Defense Switched Network

DIA

United States Defense Intelligence Agency

DWT

deadweight ton

EADB

East African Development Bank

EAPC

Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council

EBRD

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

EC

European Community

ECA

Economic Commission for Africa

ECE

Economic Commission for Europe

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

ECSC

European Coal and Steel Community

EEC

European Economic Community

EFTA

European Free Trade Association

EEZ

exclusive economic zone

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 Prohibition 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

Eutelsat

European Telecommunications Satellite Organization

Ex-Im

Export-Import Bank of the United States

f.o.b.

free on board

FAO

Food and Agriculture Organization

FAX

facsimile

FLS

Front Line States

FRG

Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany); used for information dated before 3 October 1990 or CY91

FOC

flags of convenience

FSU

former Soviet Union

FY

fiscal year

FZ

Franc Zone

G-2

Group of 2

G-3

Group of 3

G-5

Group of 5

G-6

Group of 6

G-7

Group of 7

G-8

Group of 8

G-9

Group of 9

G-10

Group of 10

G-15

Group of 15

G-11

Group of 11

G-24

Group of 24

G-77

Group of 77

GATT

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade; now WTO

GCC

Gulf Cooperation Council

GDP

gross domestic product

GDR

German Democratic Republic (East Germany); used for information dated before 3 October 1990 or CY91

GNP

gross national product

GRT

gross register ton

GSM

global system for mobile cellular communications

GWP

gross world product

GUUAM

acronym for member states - Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Moldova

Hazardous Wastes

Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal

HF

high-frequency

IADB

Inter-American Development Bank

HIV/AIDS

human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome

IAEA

International Atomic Energy Agency

IANA

Internet Assigned Numbers Authority

IBRD

International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank)

ICAO

International Civil Aviation Organization

ICC

International Chamber of Commerce

ICCt

International Criminal Court

ICJ

International Court of Justice (World Court)

ICFTU

International Confederation of Free Trade Unions

ICRC

International Committee of the Red Cross

ICRM

International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

ICTR

International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda

ICSID

International Center for Secretariat of Investment Disputes

ICTY

International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia

IDA

International Development Association

IDB

Islamic Development Bank

IEA

International Energy Agency

IFAD

International Fund for Agricultural Development

IFC

International Finance Corporation

IFRCS

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

IGAD

Inter-Governmental Authority on Development

IHO

International Hydrographic Organization

ILO

International Labor Organization

IMF

International Monetary Fund

IMO

International Maritime Organization

Inmarsat

International Maritime Satellite Organization

InOC

Indian Ocean Commission

INSTRAW

International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women

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

ISP

Internet Service Provider

kHz

kilohertz

km

kilometer

kW

kilowatt

kWh

kilowatt-hour

LAES

Latin American Economic System

LAIA

Latin American Integration Association

Law of the Sea

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS)

LAS

League of Arab States

LDC

less developed country

LLDC

least developed country

London Convention

see Marine Dumping

LOS

see Law of the Sea

m

meter

Marecs

Maritime European Communications Satellite

Marine Dumping

Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping Wastes and Other Matter

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

MHz

megahertz

MICAH

Internatlional Civilian Support Mission in Haiti

MINURSO

United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara

MIGA

Multilateral Investment Geographic Agency

MINUSTAH

United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti

MONUC

United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

NA

not available

NAM

Nonaligned Movement

NAFTA

North American Free Trade Agreement

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

NC

Nordic Council

NEA

Nuclear Energy Agency

NEGL

negligible

NIB

Nordic Investment Bank

NGA

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

NIC

newly industrializing country

NIE

newly industrializing economy

NIS

new independent states

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

OAPEC

Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries

OAS

Organization of American States

OAU

Organization of African Unity; see African Union

ODA

official development assistance

OECD

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

OECS

Organization of Eastern Caribbean States

OHCHR

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

OIC

Organization of the Islamic Conference

ONUB

United Nations Operation in Burundi

OOF

other official flows

OPANAL

Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean

OPCW

Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

OPEC

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

OSCE

Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe

Ozone Layer Protection

Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer

PCA

Permanent Court of Arbitration

PDRY

People's Democratic Republic of Yemen [Yemen (Aden) or South Yemen]; used for information dated before 22 May 1990 or CY91

PFP

Partnership for Peace

PIF

Pacific Islands Forum

PPP

purchasing power parity

Ramsar

see Wetlands

RG

Rio Group

SAARC

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation

SACU

Southern African Customs Union

SACEP

South Asia Co-opeative Environment Programme

SADC

Southern African Development Community

SAFE

South African Far East Cable

SCO

Shanghai Cooperative Organization

SFRY

Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

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

SPF

South Pacific Forum

sq km

square kilometer

sq mi

square mile

TAT

Trans-Atlantic Telephone

Tropical Timber 83

International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983

Tropical Timber 94

International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994

UAE

United Arab Emirates

UDEAC

Central African Customs and Economic Union

UHF

ultra-high-frequency

UK

United Kingdom

UN

United Nations

UNAMSIL

United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone

UNCLOS

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, also know as LOS

UNCTAD

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

UNDCP

United Nations Drug Control Program

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 Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus

UNFPA

United Nations Population Fund

UNHCR

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

UNICEF

United Nations Children's Fund

UNICEP

United Nations International Comparison Program

UNICRI

United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute

UNIDIR

United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research

UNIDO

United Nations Industrial Development Organization

UNIFIL

United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon

UNITAR

United Nations Institute for Training and Research

UNMEE

United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea

UNMIK

United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo

UNMIL

United Nations Mission in Liberia

UNMISET

United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor

UNMOGIP

United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan

UNMOVIC

United Nations Monitoring, Verification, and Inspection Commission

UNOMIG

United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia

UNOCI

United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire

UNOPS

United Nations Office of Project Services

UNRISD

United Nations Research Institute for Social Development

UNRWA

United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

UNSC

United Nations Security Council

UNSSC

Untied Nations System Staff College

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 25 December 1991

USSR/EE

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics/Eastern Europe

UV

ultra violet

VHF

very-high-frequency

VSAT

very small aperture terminal

WADB

West African Development Bank

WAEMU

West African Economic and Monetary Union

WCL

World Confederation of Labor

WCO

World Customs Organization

Wetlands

Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially As Waterfowl Habitat

WEU

Western European Union

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

World Trade Organization note - see WToO for World Tourism Organization

WToO

World Tourism Organization

YAR

Yemen Arab Republic [Yemen (Sanaa) or North Yemen]; used for information dated before 22 May 1990 or CY91

ZC

Zangger Committee

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Appendix B - International Organizations and Groups

Home  Reference Maps Appendixes

Appendixes

A
Abbreviations

B
International
Organizations and Groups

C
Selected International
Environmental Agreements

D
Cross-Reference List of Country Data Codes

E
Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Data Codes

F
Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names

ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)

established - 25 July 1994

aim - to foster constructive dialogue and consultation on political and security issues of common interest and concern

members - (24) Australia, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Canada, China, EU, India, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, NZ, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, US, Vietnam

ASEAN plus 3 (APT)

established - 16 December 1997

aim - to coordinate areas of cooperation ranging from agriculture to information technologies

members - (13) Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

African Development Bank (AfDB)

note - its predecessor was Organization of African Unity (OAU)
established - 9 September 1999

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, Cote 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, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

nonregional members - (24) Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US

African Union (AU)

note - replaces Organization of African Unity (OAU)
established - 8 July 2001

aim - to achieve greater unity among African States; to defend states' integrity and independence; to accelerate political, social, and economic integration; to encourage international cooperation; to promote democratic principles and institutions

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, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

African, Caribbean, and Pacific Group of States (ACP Group)

established - 6 June 1975

aim - to manage their preferential economic and aid relationship with the EU

members - (79) 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, Cook Island, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Kenya, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Federated States of Micronesia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Swiziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Agency for the French-Speaking Community (ACCT)

note - formerly Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation
established - 20 March 1970; name changed 1996

aim - to promote cultural and technical cooperation among French-speaking countries

members - (50) Albania, 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, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, France, French Community of Belgium, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Laos, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Moldova, Monaco, Morocco, New Brunswick (Canada), Niger, Quebec (Canada), Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Switzerland, Togo, Tunisia, Vanuatu

observers - (5) Czech Republic, Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, Vietnam

Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL)

note - acronym from Organismo para la Proscripcion de las Armas Nucleares en la America Latina y el Caribe (OPANAL)
established - 14 February 1967 under the Treaty of Tlatelolco; effective - 25 April 1969 on the 11th ratification

aim - to encourage the peaceful uses of atomic energy and prohibit nuclear weapons

members - (33) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, 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 - formerly known as the Andean Group (AG), the Andean Parliament, and most recently as the Andean Common Market (Ancom)
established - 26 May 1969; present name established 1 October 1992; effective - 16 October 1969

aim - to promote harmonious development through economic integration

members - (5) Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela

Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (ABEDA)

note - also known as Banque Arabe de Developpement Economique en Afrique (BADEA)
established - 18 February 1974; effective - 16 September 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 Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD)

established - 16 May 1968

aim - to promote economic and social development

members - (20 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq (suspended 1993), Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia (suspended 1993), Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization

Arab Maghreb Union (AMU)

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)

established - 27 April 1976; effective - 2 February 1977

aim - to promote Arab cooperation, development, and integration in monetary and economic affairs

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

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

established - 7 November 1989

aim - to promote trade and investment in the Pacific basin

members - (21) Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, NZ, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, US, Vietnam

observers - (3) Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Pacific Economic Cooperation Council, Pacific Islands Forum

Asian Development Bank (AsDB)

established - 19 December 1966

aim - to promote regional economic cooperation

members - (45) Afghanistan, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, East Timor, 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, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tonga, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam

nonregional members - (17) Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)

established - 8 August 1967

aim - to encourage regional economic, social, and cultural cooperation among the non-Communist countries of Southeast Asia

members - (10) Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

associate member - (1) Papua New Guinea

dialogue partners - (12) Australia, Canada, China, EU, India, Japan, Pakistan, South Korea, NZ, Russia, US, UNDP

Australia Group

established - June 1985

aim - to consult on and coordinate export controls related to chemical and biological weapons

members - (39) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, European Commission, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US

Australia-New Zealand-United States Security Treaty (ANZUS)

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

Bank for International Settlements (BIS)

established - 20 January 1930; effective - 17 March 1930

aim - to promote cooperation among central banks in international financial settlements

members - (55) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, European Central Bank, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, UK, US; note - Serbia and Montenegro have separate central banks; their links with BIS are currently under review

Benelux Economic Union (Benelux)

note - acronym from Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg
established - 3 February 1958; effective - 1 November 1960

aim - to develop closer economic cooperation and integration

members - (3) Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands

Big Seven

note - membership is the same as the Group of 7
established - 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 - 1967

aim - to foster economic cooperation

members - (6) Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK

Black Sea Economic Cooperation Zone (BSEC)

established - 25 June 1992

aim - to enhance regional stability through economic cooperation

members - (12) Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Turkey, Ukraine; note - Macedonia is in the process of joining

observers - (8) Austria, Egypt, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Poland, Tunisia

Caribbean Community and Common Market (Caricom)

established - 4 July 1973; effective - 1 August 1973

aim - to promote economic integration and development, especially among the less developed countries

members - (15) Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago

associate members - (5) Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands

Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)

established - 18 October 1969; effective - 26 January 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 - (5) Canada, China, Germany, Italy, UK

Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC)

see Monetary and Economic Community of Central Africa (CEMAC)

Central African States Development Bank (BDEAC)

note - acronym from Banque de Developpement des Etats de l'Afrique Centrale
established - 3 December 1975

aim - to provide loans for economic development

members - (10) African Development Bank (AfDB), Cameroon, Central African States Bank (BEAC), Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Kuwait

Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE)

note - acronym from Banco Centroamericano de Integracion Economico
established - 13 December 1960 signature of Articles of Agreement; 31 May 1961 began operations

aim - to promote economic integration and development

members - (5) Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua

nonregional members - (5) Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Spain, Taiwan

Central American Common Market (CACM)

established - 13 December 1960, collapsed in 1969, reinstated in 1991

aim - to promote establishment of a Central American Common Market

members - (5) Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua; note - Panama, although not a member, pursues full regional cooperation

Central European Initiative (CEI)

note - evolved from the Quadrilateral Initiative and the Hexagonal Initiative
established - 11 November 1989 as the Quadrilateral Initiative, 27 July 1991 became the Hexagonal Initiative, July 1992 its present name was adopted

aim - to form an economic and political cooperation group for the region between the Adriatic and the Baltic Seas

members - (17) Albania, Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine

Colombo Plan (CP)

established - May 1950 proposal was adopted; 1 July 1951 commenced full operations

aim - to promote economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific

members - (25) Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, US, Vietnam

Commonwealth (C)

note - also known as Commonwealth of Nations
established - 31 December 1931

aim - to foster multinational cooperation and assistance, as a voluntary association that evolved 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, Tuvalu, Uganda, UK, Vanuatu, Zambia; note - on 7 December 2003 Zimbabwe withdrew its membership from the Commonwealth

Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

established - 8 December 1991; effective - 21 December 1991

aim - to coordinate intercommonwealth relations and to provide a mechanism for the orderly dissolution of the USSR

members - (12) Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

Communist countries

traditionally the Marxist-Leninist states with authoritarian governments and command economies based on the Soviet model; most of the original and the successor states are no longer Communist; see centrally planned economies

Coordinating Committee on Export Controls (COCOM)

established in 1949 to control the export of strategic products and technical data from member countries to proscribed destinations; members were: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, UK, US; abolished 31 March 1994; COCOM members established a new organization, the Wassenaar Arrangement, with expanded membership on 12 July 1996 that focuses on nonproliferation export controls as opposed to East-West control of advanced technology

Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CEMA)

note - also known as CMEA or Comecon
established 25 January 1949 to promote the development of socialist economies and abolished 1 January 1991; members included Afghanistan (observer), Albania (had not participated since 1961 break with USSR), Angola (observer), Bulgaria, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, Ethiopia (observer), GDR, Hungary, Laos (observer), Mongolia, Mozambique (observer), Nicaragua (observer), Poland, Romania, USSR, Vietnam, Yemen (observer), Yugoslavia (associate)

Council of Arab Economic Unity (CAEU)

established - 3 June 1957; effective - 30 May 1964

aim - to promote economic integration among Arab nations

members - (10 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Mauritania, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization

Council of Europe (CE)

established - 5 May 1949; effective - 3 August 1949

aim - to promote increased unity and quality of life in Europe

members - (46) Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK

observers - (6) Canada, Holy See, Israel, Japan, Mexico, US

Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS)

established - 6 March 1992

aim - to promote cooperation among the Baltic Sea states in the areas of aid to new democratic institutions, economic development, humanitarian aid, energy and the environment, cultural programs and education, and transportation and communication

members - (12) Denmark, Estonia, EC, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden

Council of the Entente (Entente)

established - 29 May 1959

aim - to promote economic, social, and political coordination

members - (5) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Niger, Togo

Customs Cooperation Council (CCC)

note - see World Customs Organization (WCO)

East African Development Bank (EADB)

established - 6 June 1967; effective - 1 December 1967

aim - to promote economic development

members - (3) Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

established - 28 May 1975

aim - to promote regional economic cooperation

members - (15) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo

Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL)

note - acronym from Communaute Economique des Pays des Grands Lacs
established - 20 September 1976

aim - to promote regional economic cooperation and integration

members - (3) Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda

Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO)

established - 27-29 January 1985

aim - to promote 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"

Economic and Monetary Union (EMU)

note - an integral part of the European Union; also known as the European Economic and Monetary Union
established - 1-2 December 1969 (proposed at summit conference of heads of government; 7 February 1992 (Maastricht Treaty signed)

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 - (12) Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain

Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

established - 26 June 1945; effective - 24 October 1945

aim - to coordinate the economic and social work of the UN; includes five regional commissions (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 nine functional commissions (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

Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC)

note - began as the North Atlantic Cooperation Council (NACC); an extension of NATO
established - 8 November 1991; effective - 20 December 1991

aim - to discuss cooperation on mutual political and security issues

members - (46) Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, 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)

established - 8-9 January 1990 (proposals made); 15 April 1991 (bank inaugurated)

aim - to facilitate the transition of 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 - (62) 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, Macedonia, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US, Uzbekistan

European Community (or European Communities, EC)

established 8 April 1965 to integrate the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom), the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the European Economic Community (EEC or Common Market), and to establish a completely integrated common market and an eventual federation of Europe; merged into the European Union (EU) on 7 February 1992; member states at the time of merger were Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, UK

European Free Trade Association (EFTA)

established - 4 January 1960; effective - 3 May 1960

aim - to promote expansion of free trade

members - (4) Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland

European Investment Bank (EIB)

established - 25 March 1957; effective - 1 January 1958

aim - to promote economic development of the EU and its predecessors, the EEC and the EC

members - (25) Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK

European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)

note - acronym retained from the predecessor organization Conseil Europeenne pour la Recherche Nucleaire
established - 1 July 1953; effective - 29 September 1954

aim - to foster 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 - (8) European Commission, India, Israel, Japan, Russia, Turkey, United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), US

European Space Agency (ESA)

established - 31 May 1975

aim - to promote peaceful cooperation in space research and technology

members - (15) Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK

cooperating states - (2) Canada, Hungary

European Union (EU)

note - see European Union entry at the end of the "country" listings

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)

established - 16 October 1945

aim - to raise living standards and increase availability of agricultural products; a UN specialized agency

members - (187) includes all UN member countries except Andorra, Belarus, Brunei, Liechtenstein, Russia, and Singapore (185 total); plus Cook Islands and Niue

Four Dragons

the four small Asian less developed countries (LDCs) that have experienced unusually rapid economic growth; also known as the Four Tigers; this group consists of Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan; these countries are included in the IMF's "advanced economies" group

Franc Zone (FZ)

note - also known as Conference des Ministres des Finances des Pays de la Zone Franc
established - 1964

aim - to form 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, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo

Front Line States (FLS)

established to achieve black majority rule in South Africa; has since gone out of existence; members included Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

GUUAM

note-acronym standing for the member countries, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova
established - 7 June 2001

aim - commits the countries to cooperation and assistance in social and economic development, the strengthening and broadening of trade and economic relations, and the development and effective use of transport and communications, highways, and related infrastructure crossing the boundaries of the member states

members - (4) Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine; note - Uzbekistan withdrew from GUUAM 5 May 2005

General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)

see the World Trade Organization (WTO)

Group of 10 (G-10)

note - also known as the Paris Club; includes the wealthiest members of the IMF who provide most of the money to be loaned and act as the informal steering committee; name persists despite increased membership
established - October 1962

aim - to coordinate credit policy

members - (19) Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US

nonstate participants - (4) BIS, EU, IMF, OECD

Group of 11 (G-11)

note - also known as the Cartagena Group
established in 21-22 June 1984, in Cartagena, Colombia, aim was to provide a forum for largest debtor nations in Latin America; members were: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela

Group of 15 (G-15)

note - byproduct of the Nonaligned Movement; name persists despite increased membership
established - September 1989

aim - to promote economic cooperation among developing nations; to act as the main political organ for the Nonaligned Movement

members - (17) Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, Zimbabwe

Group of 2 (G-2)

informal term that came into use about 1986; to facilitate bilateral economic cooperation between the two most powerful economic giants; members were Japan, US

Group of 24 (G-24)

established - 1 August 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, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Iran, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela

Group of 3 (G-3)

established - September 1990

aim - mechanism for policy coordination

members - (3) Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela

Group of 5 (G-5)

established - 22 September 1985

aim - to coordinate the economic policies of five major noncommunist economic powers

members - (5) France, Germany, Japan, UK, US

Group of 6 (G-6)

note - also known as Groupe des Six Sur le Desarmement; not to be confused with the Big Six
established - 22 May 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 - 22 September 1985

aim - to facilitate 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 77 (G-77)

established - 15 June1964; October 1967 first ministerial meeting

aim - to promote economic cooperation among developing countries; name persists in spite of 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, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, 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, North Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation Organization

Group of 8 (G-8)

established - October 1975

aim - to facilitate economic cooperation among the developed countries (DCs) that participated in the Conference on International Economic Cooperation (CIEC), held in several sessions between December 1975 and 3 June 1977

members - (8) Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, UK, US

Group of 9 (G-9)

established - NA

aim - to discuss matters of mutual interest on an informal basis

members - (8) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Romania, Sweden

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)

note - also known as the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf
established - 25 May 1981

aim - to promote regional cooperation in economic, social, political, and military affairs

members - (6) Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE

Indian Ocean Commission (InOC)

established - 21 December 1982

aim - to organize and promote regional cooperation in all sectors, especially economic

members - (5) Comoros, France (for Reunion), Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles

Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)

note - also known as Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID)
established - 8 April 1959; effective - 30 December 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 - formerly known as Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD)
established - 15-16 January 1986 as the Inter-Governmental Authority on Drought and Development; revitalized - 21 March 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

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

established - 26 October 1956; effective - 29 July 1957

aim - to promote peaceful uses of atomic energy

members - (137) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)

note - also known as the World Bank
established - 22 July 1944; effective - 27 December 1945

aim - to provide economic development loans; a UN specialized agency

members - (184) includes all UN member countries except Andorra, Cuba, North Korea, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Nauru, and Tuvalu

International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)

established - 1919

aim - to promote free trade and private enterprise and to represent business interests at national and international levels

members - (89 national committees) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Caribbean, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

established - 7 December 1944; effective - 4 April 1947

aim - to promote international cooperation in civil aviation; a UN specialized agency

members - (188) includes all UN member countries except Dominica, East Timor, Liechtenstein, and Tuvalu (187 total); plus Cook Islands

International Civilian Support Mission in Haiti (MICAH)

established 17 December 1999 to promote respect for human rights; members included Argentina, Benin, Canada, France, India, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo, Tunisia, US; closed 2001

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

established - 17 February 1863

aim - to provide humanitarian aid in wartime

members - (25 individuals) all Swiss nationals

International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU)

established - December 1949

aim - to promote the trade union movement

members - (231 affiliated organizations in the following 153 countries plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote 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, Georgia, 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, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation Organization

International Court of Justice (ICJ)

note - also known as the World Court
established - 3 February 1946 superseded Permanent Court of International Justice

aim - primary judicial organ of the UN

members - (15 judges) elected by the UN General Assembly and Security Council to represent all principal legal systems

International Criminal Court (ICCt)

established - 11 April 2002

aim - to hold all individuals and countries accountable to international laws of conduct; to specify international standards of conduct; to provide an important mechanism for implementing these standards; to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice

members (countries that have ratified the treaty) - (97) Afghanistan, Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Canada, Central African Republic, Colombia, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, East Timor, Ecuador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, South Korea, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malawi, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mongolia, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, NZ, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, UK, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia

signatory states (countries that have signed, but not ratified, the treaty) - (46) Algeria, Angola, Armenia, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, Comoros, Cote d'Ivoire, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Eritrea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Iran, Israel, Jamaica, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Madagascar, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Oman, Philippines, Russia, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Ukraine, UAE, US, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Zimbabwe

International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol)

established - September 1923 set up as the International Criminal Police Commission; 13 June 1956 constitution modified and present name adopted

aim - to promote international cooperation among police authorities in fighting crime

members - (182) Afghanistan, 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, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, 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, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, 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, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, 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)

established - 26 January 1960; effective - 24 September 1960

aim - to provide economic loans for low-income countries; UN specialized agency and IBRD affiliate

members - (166)

Part I - (27 developed countries) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, EU, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, UK, US

Part II - (139 less developed countries) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, 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, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, 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, 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, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

International Energy Agency (IEA)

established - 15 November 1974

aim - to promote cooperation on energy matters, especially emergency oil sharing and relations between oil consumers and oil producers; established by the OECD

members - (27) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS)

note - formerly known as League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (LORCS)
established - 5 May 1919

aim - to organize, coordinate, and direct international relief actions; to promote humanitarian activities; to represent and encourage the development of National Societies; to bring help to victims of armed conflicts, refugees, and displaced people; to reduce the vulnerability of people through development programs

members - (182) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, 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, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, 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, Gabon, 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, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, 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, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, 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, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

observers - (5 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Comoros, East Timor, Eritrea, Israel, Tuvalu, Palestine Liberation Organization

International Finance Corporation (IFC)

established - 25 May 1955; effective - 24 July 1956

aim - to support private enterprise in international economic development; a UN specialized agency and IBRD affiliate

members - (177) 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, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, 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, Macedonia, Madgascar, 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, Sebia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, 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)

established - November 1974

aim - to promote agricultural development; a UN specialized agency

members - (163)

Category I - (23 industrialized aid contributors) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, NZ, 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 - (128 aid recipients) Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, 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, 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, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Uruguay, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

International Hydrographic Organization (IHO)

note - name changed from International Hydrographic Bureau on 22 September 1970
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 develop the sciences in the field of hydrography and techniques used for descriptive oceanograrphy

members - (74) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Burma, Canada, Chile, China (including Hong Kong and Macau), 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, Jamaica, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Mozambique, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Syria, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela

membership pending - (3) Bulgaria, Mauritania, Qatar

International Labor Organization (ILO)

established - 28 June 1919 set up as part of Treaty of Versailles; 11 April 1919 became operative; 14 December 1946 affiliated with the UN

aim - to deal with world labor issues; a UN specialized agency

members - (177) includes all UN member countries except Andorra, Bhutan, Brunei, North Korea, Liechtenstein, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu; note - includes the following dependencies: Netherlands (Netherlands Antilles and Aruba)

International Maritime Organization (IMO)

note - name changed from Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization (IMCO) on 22 May 1982
established - 6 March 1948 set up as the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization; effective - 17 Mar 1958

aim - to deal with international maritime affairs; a UN specialized agency

members - (164) includes all UN member countries except Afghanistan, Andorra, Armenia, Belarus, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, East Timor, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Mali, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niger, Palau, Rwanda, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Zambia, Zimbabwe

associate members - (3) Faroe Islands, Hong Kong, Macau

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

established - 22 July 1944; effective - 27 December 1945

aim - to promote world monetary stability and economic development; a UN specialized agency

members - (184) includes all UN member countries except Andorra, Cuba, North Korea, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Nauru, Tuvalu; note - includes the following dependencies or areas of special interest: China (Hong Kong and Macau), Netherlands (Netherlands Antilles and Aruba)

International Olympic Committee (IOC)

established - 23 June 1894

aim - to promote the Olympic ideals and administer the Olympic games: 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy; 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China; 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada

National Olympic Committees - (201 and the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola (suspended), 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, Burma, 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, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, 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, 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, NZ, 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, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, 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, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation Organization

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

note - established as Provisional Intergovernmental Committee for the Movement of Migrants from Europe; renamed Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM) on 15 November 1952; renamed Intergovernmental Committee for Migration (ICM) in Novem
established - 5 December 1951

aim - to facilitate orderly international emigration and immigration

members - (109) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

observers - (25) Belarus, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, China, Cuba, Estonia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Holy See, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Macedonia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Russia, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Somalia, Spain, Turkmenistan, Vietnam

International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

established - February 1947

aim - to promote the development of international standards with a view to facilitating international exchange of goods and services and to developing cooperation in the sphere of intellectual, scientific, technological and economic activity

members - (99 national standards organizations) Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Bahrain, 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, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Libya, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint Lucia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zimbabwe

correspondent members - (36 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Albania, Angola, Benin, Bolivia, Brunei, Democratic Republic of the Congo, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Fiji, Guatemala, Guinea, Hong Kong, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Macau, Madagascar, Malawi, Moldova, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Swaziland, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, Palestine Liberation Operation

subscriber members - (11) Antigua and Barbuda, Burundi, Cambodia, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Honduras, Lesotho, Niger, Tajikistan

International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM)

established - 1928

aim - to promote worldwide humanitarian aid through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in wartime, and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS; formerly League of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies or LORCS) in peacetime

National Societies - (182 countries); note - same as membership for International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS)

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

established - 17 May 1865 set up as the International Telegraph Union; 9 December 1932 adopted present name; effective - 1 January 1934; affiliated with the UN - 15 November 1947

aim - to deal with world telecommunications issues; a UN specialized agency

members - (189) includes all UN member countries except East Timor, Palau, St. Kitts and Nevis (188 total); plus Holy See

Islamic Development Bank (IDB)

established - 15 December 1973 by declaration of intent; effective - 12 August 1974

aim - to promote Islamic economic aid and social development

members - (54 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Cote d?Ivoire, 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, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization

Latin American Economic System (LAES)

note - also known as Sistema Economico Latinoamericana (SELA)
established - 17 October 1975

aim - to promote economic and social development through regional cooperation

members - (27) Argentina, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela

Latin American Integration Association (LAIA)

note - also known as Asociacion Latinoamericana de Integracion (ALADI)
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 - (25) China, Corporacion Andina de Fomento, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, EC, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Inter-American Development Bank, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latin America Economic System, Nicaragua, Organization of American States, Panama, Pan-American Health Organization, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, United Nations Development Program, United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

League of Arab States (LAS)

note - also known as Arab League (AL)
established - 22 March 1945

aim - 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

Monetary and Economic Community of Central Africa (CEMAC)

note - was formerly the Central African Customs and Economic Union (UDEAC)
established - 8 December 1964; effective - 1 January 1966

aim - to promote the establishment of a Central African Common Market

members - (6) Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon

Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)

established - 12 April 1988

aim - encourages flow of foreign direct investment among member countries by offering investment insurance, consultation, and negotiation on conditions for foreign investment and technical assistance; a UN specialized agency

members - (164) includes all UN member countries except Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Bhutan, Brunei, Burma, Comoros, Cuba, Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, Iraq, Kirabati, North Korea, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco, Nauru, NZ, Niger, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Tonga, Tuvalu

Near Abroad

Russian term for the 14 non-Russian successor states of the USSR, in which 25 million ethnic Russians live and in which Moscow has expressed a strong national security interest; the 14 countries are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

Nonaligned Movement (NAM)

established - 1-6 September 1961

aim - to establish political and military cooperation apart from the traditional East or West blocs

members - (114 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, 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, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Palestine Liberation Organization

observers - (13) Armenia, Belarus, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominica, 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, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US

Nordic Council (NC)

established - 16 March 1952; effective - 12 February 1953

aim - to promote regional economic, cultural, and environmental cooperation

members - (5) Denmark (including Faroe Islands and Greenland), Finland (including Aland Islands), Iceland, Norway, Sweden

observers - (3) the Sami (Lapp) local parliaments of Finland, Norway, and Sweden

Nordic Investment Bank (NIB)

established - 4 December 1975; effective - 1 June 1976

aim - to promote economic cooperation and development

members - (8) Denmark (including Faroe Islands and Greenland), Estonia, Finland (including Aland Islands), Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden

North

a popular term for the rich industrialized countries generally located in the northern portion of the Northern Hemisphere; the counterpart of the South; see developed countries (DCs)

North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

established - 17 December 1992

aim - to eliminate trade barriers, promote fair competition, increase investment opportunities, provide protection of intellectual property rights, and create procedures to settle disputes

members - (3) Canada, Mexico, US

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

established - 4 April 1949

aim - to promote mutual defense and cooperation

members - (26) Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, UK, US

Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA)

note - also known as OECD Nuclear Energy Agency
established - 1 February 1958

aim - to promote the peaceful uses of nuclear energy; associated with OECD

members - (28) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UK, US

Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)

note - also known as the London Suppliers Group or the London Group
established - 1974; effective - 1975

aim - to establish guidelines for exports of nuclear materials, processing equipment for uranium enrichment, and technical information to countries of proliferation concern and regions of conflict and instability

members - (44) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US

observer - (1) European Commission (a policy-planning body for the EU)

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

established - 14 December 1960; effective - 30 September 1961

aim - to promote economic cooperation and development

members - (30) 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, Slovakia, 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 3 July 1975
established - 1 January 1995

aim - to foster the implementation of human rights, fundamental freedoms, democracy, and the rule of law; to act as an instrument of early warning, conflict prevention, and crisis management; and to serve as 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, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, UK, US, Uzbekistan

partners for cooperation - (10) Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Mongolia, Morocco, Thailand, Tunisia

Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

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 forum for consultation and cooperation among the signatories of the Convention

members (countries that have ratified the Convention) - (167) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Holy See, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

signatory states (countries that have signed, but not ratified, the Convention) - (16) The Bahamas, Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Israel, Liberia

Organization of African Unity (OAU)

see African Union

Organization of American States (OAS)

established - 14 April 1890 as the International Union of American Republics; 30 April 1948 adopted present 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 - (59) Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, EU, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Holy See, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, Yemen

Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC)

established - 9 January 1968

aim - to promote cooperation in the petroleum industry

members - (11) Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, UAE

Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)

established - 18 June 1981; effective - 4 July 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 member - (2) Anguilla, British Virgin Islands

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)

established - 14 September 1960

aim - to coordinate petroleum policies

members - (11) Algeria, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Venezuela

Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)

established - 22-25 September 1969

aim - to promote Islamic solidarity in economic, social, cultural, and political affairs

members - (56 plus the Palestine Liberation Organization) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Cote d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Suriname, Syria, Tajikistan, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, UAE, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Palestine Liberation Organization

observers - (10) Bosnia and Herzegovina, Central African Republic, ECO, LAS, Moro National Liberation Front, NAM, OAU, Thailand, Turkish Muslim Community of Kibris, UN

Pacific Community

note - formerly known as the South Pacific Commission (SPC)
established - 6 February 1947; effective - 29 July 1948

aim - to promote regional cooperation in economic and social matters

members - (27) 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, UK, US, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna

Pacific Islands Forum (PIF)

note - formerly known as South Pacific Forum (SPF)
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

observers - (3) East Timor, French Polynesia, New Caledonia

Paris Club

established - 1956

aim - to provide a forum for debtor countries to negotiate rescheduling of debt service payments or loans extended by governments or official agencies of participating countries; to help restore normal trade and project finance to debtor countries

members - (19) Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US

Partnership for Peace (PFP)

established - 10-11 January 1994

aim - to expand and intensify political and military cooperation throughout Europe, increase stability, diminish threats to peace, and build relationships by promoting the spirit of practical cooperation and commitment to democratic principles that underpin NATO; program under the auspices of NATO

members - (22) Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Croatia, Finland, Georgia, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan; note - a nation that becomes a member of NATO is no longer a member of PFP

Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)

established - 29 July 1899

aim - to facilitate the settlement of international disputes

members - (103) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Rio Group (RG)

note - formerly known as Grupo de los Ocho, established NA December 1986; composed of the Contadora Group and the Lima Group
established - 1988

aim - to consult on regional Latin American issues

members - (19) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, CARICOM, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, 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

Shanghai Cooperative Organization (SCO)

established - 15 June 1901

aim - to combat terrorism, extremism, and separatism; to safeguard regional security through mutual trust, disarmament, and cooperative security; and to increase cooperation in political, trade, economic, scientific and technological, cultural, and educational fields

members - (6) China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan

observer - (1) Mongolia

South

a popular term for the poorer, less industrialized countries generally located south of the developed countries; the counterpart of the North; see less developed countries (LDCs)

South American Community of Nations (CSN)

established - 9 December 2004

aim - to coordinate common policies regarding multilateral organizations, to integrate physical infrastructure, and to consolidate the merger of CAN and Mercosur

members - (12) Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Surinam, Uruguay, Venezuela

South Asia Co-operative Environment Program (SACEP)

established - January 1983

aim - to promote regional cooperation in South Asia in the field of environment, both natural and human, and on issues of economic and social development; to support conservation and management of natural resources of the region

members - (8) Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)

established - 8 December 1985

aim - to promote economic, social, and cultural cooperation

members - (7) Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka

South Pacific Forum (SPF)

note - see Pacific Island Forum

South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement (Sparteca)

established - 1981

aim - to redress unequal trade relationships of Australia and New Zealand with 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)

established - 11 December 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)
established - 17 August 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)
established - 26 March 1991

aim - to increase regional economic cooperation

members - (4) Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay

associate members - (6) Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela

Third World

another term for the less developed countries; the term is obsolescent; see less developed countries (LDCs)

United Nations (UN)

established - 26 June 1945; effective - 24 October 1945

aim - to maintain international peace and security and to promote cooperation involving economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian problems

constituent organizations - the UN is composed of six principal organs and numerous subordinate agencies and bodies as follows:

1) Secretariat

2) General Assembly: Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UN AIDS), International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW), Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), United Nations Center for Human Settlements (UN-Habitat), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Development Program (UNDP), United Nations Drug Control Program (UNDCP), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Office of Project Services (UNOPS), United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD), United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC), and United Nations University (UNU), World Food Program (WFP)

3) Security Council: International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR), United Nations Compensation Commission, United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF), United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET), United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), United Nations Monitoring and Verification Commission (UNMOVIC), United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG), United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC), United Nations Peace-Keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), and United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO)

4) Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC): Commission for Social Development, Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice, Commission on Human Rights, Commission on Narcotics Drugs, Commission on Population and Development, Commission on Science and Technology for Development, Commission on Sustainable Development, Commission on the Status of Women, Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Center for Secretariat of Investment Disputes (ICSID), International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Development Association (IDA), International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International Labor Organization (ILO), International Maritime Organization (IMO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Multilateral Investment Geographic Agency (MIGA), Statistical Commission, United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), United Nations Forum on Forests, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Universal Postal Union (UPU), World Health Organization (WHO), World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), World Tourism Organization (WToO), and World Trade Organization (WTO)

5) Trusteeship Council (inactive; no trusteeships at this time)

6) International Court of Justice (ICJ)

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

note - acronym retained from the predecessor organization, UN International Children's Emergency Fund
established - 11 December 1946

aim - to help establish child health and welfare services

members - (37) selected on a rotating basis from all regions

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

established - 30 December 1964

aim - to promote international trade

members - (192) all UN members plus Holy See

United Nations Development Program (UNDP)

established - 22 November 1965

aim - to provide technical assistance to stimulate economic and social development

members (executive board) - (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions

United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF)

established - 31 May 1974

aim - to observe the 1973 Arab-Israeli cease-fire; established by the UN Security Council

members - (6) Austria, Canada, Japan, Nepal, Poland, Slovakia

United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

established - 16 November 1945; effective - 4 November 1946

aim - to promote cooperation in education, science, and culture

members - (190) includes all UN member countries except Brunei, Liechtenstein, and Singapore (188 total); plus Cook Islands and Niue

associate members - (6) Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Macau, Netherlands Antilles, Tokelau

United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)

established - 15 December 1972

aim - to promote international cooperation on all environmental matters

members - (58) selected on a rotating basis from all regions

United Nations General Assembly

established - 26 June 1945; effective - 24 October 1945

aim - to function as the primary deliberative organ of the UN

members - (191) all UN members are represented in the General Assembly

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

established - 3 December 1949; effective - 1 January 1951

aim - to ensure the humanitarian treatment of refugees and find permanent solutions to refugee problems

members (executive committee) - (66) Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Holy See, Hungary, India, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Lebanon, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, 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, Yemen, Zambia

United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

established - 17 November 1966; effective - 1 January 1967

aim - UN specialized agency that promotes industrial development especially among the members

members - (171) includes all UN member countries except Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Estonia, Iceland, Kiribati, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, US

United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR)

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) - (21) Austria, Brazil, China, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Ghana, Japan, Kuwait, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US; note - the UN Secretary General can appoint up to 30 members

United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK)

established - 10 June 1999

aim - to promote the establishment of substantial autonomy and self-government in Kosovo; to perform basic civilian administrative functions; to support the reconstruction of key infrastructure and humanitarian and disaster relief

members - (50) Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nepal, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US, Zambia, Zimbabwe

United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL)

established - 19 March 1978

aim - to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces, and assist in reestablishing Lebanese authority in southern Lebanon; established by the UN Security Council

members - (7) France, Ghana, India, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Ukraine

United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP)

established - 24 January 1949

aim - to observe the 1949 India-Pakistan cease-fire; established by the UN Security Council

members - (9) Belgium, Chile, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, Uruguay

United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO)

established - 29 April 1991

aim - to supervise the cease-fire and conduct a referendum in Western Sahara; established by the UN Security Council

members - (24) Argentina, Austria, Bangladesh, Croatia, Egypt, El Slavador, France, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, South Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Sri Lanka, Uruguay

United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE)

established - 31 July 2000

aim - to monitor the cessation of hostilities

members - (41) Algeria, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, India, Iran, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Tunisia, Ukraine, US, Uruguay, Zambia

United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL)

established - 19 September 2003

aim - to support the cease-fire agreement and peace process, protect UN facilities and people, support humanitarian activities, and assist in national security reform

members - (48) Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, The Gambia, Ghana, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Moldova, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, South Africa, Sweden, Togo, Ukraine, UK, US, Zambia

United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL)

established - 22 October 1999

aim - to cooperate with the Government of Sierra Leone and the other parties to the Peace Agreement in the implementation of the agreement; to monitor the military and security situation in Sierra Leone; to monitor the disarmament and demobilization of combatants and members of the Civil Defense Forces (CFD); to assist in monitoring respect for international humanitarian law

members - (31) Bangladesh, Bolivia, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, The Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Guinea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mali, Nepal, NZ, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, Ukraine, UK, Uruguay, Zambia

United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET)

established - 17 May 2002

aim - to provide assistance to structures critical to political stability; to provide law enforcement and public security and to assist in the development of law enforcement agencies; to contribute to external security

members - (16) Australia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Brazil, Denmark, Fiji, Jordan, Malaysia, Mozambique, Nepal, NZ, Pakistan, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Sweden

United Nations Monitoring, Verification, and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC)

note - formerly known as United Nations Special Commission for the Elimination of Iraq's Weapons of Mass Destruction (UNSCOM)
established - December 1999

aim - to identify, account for, and eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and the capacity to produce them

commissioners - (15) Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, Senegal, Ukraine, UK, US; note - the organization's mandate has been extended up to early 2006

United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG)

established - 24 August 1993

aim - to verify compliance with the cease-fire agreement, to monitor weapons exclusion zone, and to supervise CIS peacekeeping force for Abkhazia; established by the UN Security Council

members - (23) Albania, Austria, Bangladesh, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, South Korea, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay

United Nations Operation in Burundi (ONUB)

established - 21 May 2004

aim - to support and help implement the efforts undertaken by Burundians to restore lasting peace and bring about national reconciliation

members - (44) Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Chad, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, India, Jordan, Kenya, South Korea, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mozambique, Nambia, Nepal, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Togo, Tunisia, Uruguay, Yemen, Zambia

United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire (UNOCI)

established - 27 February 2004

aim - to facilitate the implementation by the Ivorian parties of the peace agreement signed by them in January 2003

members - (41) Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chad, China, Republic of the Congo, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, The Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea, India, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Moldova, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Togo, Tunisia, Uruguay, Yemen, Zambia

United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC)

established - 30 November 1999

aim - to establish contacts with the signatories to the cease-fire agreement and to plan for the observation of the cease-fire and disengagement of forces

members - (47) Algeria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, France, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, Ukraine, UK, Uruguay, Zambia

United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP)

established - 4 March 1964

aim - to serve as a peacekeeping force between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus; established by the UN Security Council

(10) Argentina, Austria, Canada, Croatia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Slovakia, UK, Uruguay

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

note - acronym retained from predecessor organization UN Fund for Population Activities
established - July 1967

aim - to assist both developed and developing countries to deal with their population problems

members (executive board ) - (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions

United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)

established - 8 December 1949

aim - to provide assistance to Palestinian refugees

members (advisory commission) - (10) Belgium, Egypt, France, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, UK, US

United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD)

established - 1963

aim - to conduct research into the problems of economic development during different phases of economic growth

members - no country members, but a Board of Directors consisting of a chairman appointed by the UN secretary general and 10 individual members

United Nations Secretariat

established - 26 June 1945; effective - 24 October 1945

aim - to serve as the primary administrative organ of the UN; a Secretary General is appointed for a five-year term by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council

members - the UN Secretary General and staff

United Nations Security Council (UNSC)

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; Algeria (2004-05), Argentina (2005-06), Benin (2004-05), Brazil (2004-05), Denmark (2005-06), Greece (2005-06), Japan (2005-06), Philippines (2004-05), Romania (2004-05), Tanzania (2005-06)

United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH)

established - 30 April 2004

aim - to stabilize Haiti in many areas for at least six months

members - (20) Argentina, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Ecuador, France, Guatemala, Jordan, Nepal, Morocco, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Spain, Sri Lanka, US, Uruguay

United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO)

established - June 1948

aim - to supervise the 1948 Arab-Israeli cease-fire; currently supports timely deployment of reinforcements to other peacekeeping operations in the region as needed; initially established by the UN Security Council

members - (23) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, China, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, US

United Nations Trusteeship Council

established on 26 June 1945, effective on 24 October 1945, to supervise the administration of the 11 UN trust territories; members were China, France, Russia, UK, US; it formally suspended operations 1 November 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)

established - 3 December 1973

aim - to conduct research in development, welfare, and human survival and to train scholars

members - (24 members of UNU Council and the Rector are appointed by the Secretary General of the United Nations and the Director General of UNESCO)

Universal Postal Union (UPU)

established - 9 October 1874, affiliated with the UN 15 November 1947; effective - 1 July 1948

aim - to promote international postal cooperation; a UN specialized agency

members - (188) includes all UN member countries except Andorra, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau (187 total); plus Holy See; note - includes the following dependencies or areas of special interest: Australia (Norfolk Island), China (Hong Kong, Macau), Denmark (Faroe Islands, Greenland), France (French Guiana, French Polynesia, Martinique, Mayotte, New Caledonia, Reunion, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna), Netherlands (Aruba, Netherlands Antilles), NZ (Cook Island, Niue, Tokelau), UK (Guernsey, Jersey, Isle of Man; Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, Saint Helena, Turks and Caicos), US (American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands)

Warsaw Pact (WP)

established 14 May 1955 to promote mutual defense; members met 1 July 1991 to dissolve the alliance; member states at the time of dissolution were: Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the USSR; earlier members included GDR and Albania

West African Development Bank (WADB)

note - also known as Banque Ouest-Africaine de Developpement (BOAD); is a financial institution of WAEMU
established - 14 November 1973

aim - to promote regional economic development and integration

regional members - (9) Central Bank of West African States, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote 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 Union Economique et Monetaire Ouest Africaine (UEMOA)
established - 1 August 1994

aim - to increase competitiveness of members' economic markets; to create a common market

members - (8) Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo

Western European Union (WEU)

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;
affiliate members - (8) Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland. Slovakia, Slovenia

associate members - (3) Iceland, Norway, Turkey;
affiliate associate members - (2) Bulgaria, Romania

observers - (5) Austria, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Sweden;
affiliate observers - (2) Cyprus, Malta

World Bank Group

includes International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Development Association (IDA), International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)

World Confederation of Labor (WCL)

established - 19 June 1920 as the International Federation of Christian Trade Unions (IFCTU), renamed 4 October 1

aim - to promote the trade union movement

members - (102 national organizations) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, French Guiana, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malawi, Malta, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Niger, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe

World Customs Organization (WCO)

note - began as the Customs Cooperation Council (CCC)
established - 15 December 1950

aim - to promote international cooperation in customs matters

members - (164) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d?Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, 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, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, 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

World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)

established - 3 October 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, Cote 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, Reunion, 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 Program (WFP)

established - 24 November 1961

aim - to provide food aid in support of economic development or disaster relief; an ECOSOC organization

members - (36) selected on a rotating basis from all regions

World Health Organization (WHO)

established - 22 July 1946; effective - 7 April 1948

aim - to deal with health matters worldwide; a UN specialized agency

members - (192) includes all UN member countries except Liechtenstein (190 total); plus Cook Islands and Niue

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

established - 14 July 1967; effective - 26 April 1970

aim - to furnish protection for literary, artistic, and scientific works; a UN specialized agency

members - (181) includes all UN member countries except Afghanistan, Comoros, East Timor, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu (180 total); plus Holy See

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

established - 11 October 1947; effective - 4 April 1951

aim - to sponsor meteorological cooperation; a UN specialized agency

members - (187) includes all UN member countries except Andorra, East Timor, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Tuvalu (179 total); plus British Caribbean Territories, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Hong Kong, Macau, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, and Niue

World Tourism Organization (WToO)

established - 2 January 1975

aim - to promote tourism as a means of contributing to economic development, international understanding, and peace

members - (144) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, 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, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Lithuania, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Switzerland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

associate members - (7) Aruba, Flanders, Hong Kong, Macau, Madeira Islands, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico

observers - (2) Holy See, Palestine Liberation Organization

World Trade Organization (WTO)

note - succeeded General Agreement on Tariff and Trade (GATT)
established - 15 April 1994; effective - 1 January 1995

aim - to provide a forum to resolve trade conflicts between members and to carry on negotiations with the goal of further lowering and/or eliminating tariffs and other trade barriers

members - (148) Albania, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, EC, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, 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, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, 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, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe

observers - (31) Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Belarus, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cape Verde, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Holy See, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Libya, Russia, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sudan, Tajikistan, Tonga, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen; note - must start accession negotiations within five years of becoming observers

Zangger Committee (ZC)

established - early 1970s

aim - to establish guidelines for the export control provisions of the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty (NPT)

members - (35) 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, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey Ukraine, UK, US

advanced developing countries

another term for those less developed countries (LDCs) with particularly rapid industrial development; see newly industrializing economies (NIEs)

advanced economies

a term used by the International Monetary FUND (IMF) for the top group in its hierarchy of advanced economies, countries in transition, and developing countries; it includes 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 cover the following seven smaller countries of Andorra, Bermuda, Faroe Islands, Holy See, Liechtenstein, Monaco, and San Marino that are included in the more comprehensive group of "developed countries"

centrally planned economies

a term applied mainly to the traditionally Communist states that looked to the former USSR for leadership; most are now evolving toward more democratic and market-oriented systems; also known formerly as the Second World or as as the Communist countries; through the 1980s, this group included Albania, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Czechoslovakia, GDR, Hungary, North Korea, Laos, Mongolia, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, USSR, Vietnam

countries in transition

a term used by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the middle group in its hierarchy of advanced economies, countries in transition, and developing countries; 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, 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

developed countries (DCs)

the top group 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 the 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 in excess of $10,000 although four OECD countries and South Africa have figures well under $10,000 and two of the excluded OPEC countries have figures of more than $10,000; the 34 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, 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" that adds Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan but drops Malta, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey

developing countries

a term used by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the bottom group in its hierarchy of advanced economies, countries in transition, and developing countries; IMF statistics include 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, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, The 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, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE, Uganda, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe; note - this category would presumably also cover the following 46 other countries that are traditionally included in the more comprehensive 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, Reunion, Saint Helena, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Tokelau, Tonga, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Virgin Islands, Wallis and Futuna, West Bank, Western Sahara

former Soviet Union (FSU)

former 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, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Yugoslavia; this group is identical to the IMF group "countries in transition" except for the IMF's inclusion of Mongolia

high income countries

another term for the industrialized countries with high per capita GDPs; see developed countries (DCs)

industrial countries

another term for the developed countries; see developed countries (DCs)

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 normally less than $1,000, and low literacy rates; also known as the undeveloped countries; the 42 LLDCs are: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burma, 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 bottom group in the hierarchy of developed countries (DCs), former USSR/Eastern Europe (former USSR/EE), and less developed countries (LDCs); mainly countries and dependent areas with low levels of output, living standards, and technology; per capita GDPs are generally below $5,000 and often less than $1,500; however, the group also includes a number of countries with high per capita incomes, areas of advanced technology, and rapid rates of growth; includes 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 countries, undeveloped countries; 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 adds Malta, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey but omits 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

low-income countries

another term for those less developed countries with below-average per capita GDPs; see less developed countries (LDCs)

middle-income countries

another term for those less developed countries with above-average per capita GDPs; see less developed countries (LDCs)

new independent states (NIS)

a term referring to all the countries of the FSU except the Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania)

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

socialist countries

in general, countries in which the government owns and plans the use of the major factors of production; note - the term is sometimes used incorrectly as a synonym for Communist countries

underdeveloped countries

refers to those less developed countries with the potential for above-average economic growth; see less developed countries (LDCs)

undeveloped countries

refers to those extremely poor less developed countries (LDCs) with little prospect for economic growth; see least developed countries (LLDCs)

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Appendix C -

Selected International Environmental Agreements

Home  Reference Maps Appendixes

Appendixes

A
Abbreviations

B
International
Organizations and Groups

C
Selected International
Environmental Agreements

D
Cross-Reference List of Country Data Codes

E
Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Data Codes

F
Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names

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 Concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or Their Transboundary Fluxes

Antarctic - Environmental Protocol

see Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty

Antarctic Treaty

opened for signature - 1 December 1959

entered into force - 23 June 1961

objective - to ensure that Antarctica is used for peaceful purposes only (such as international cooperation in scientific research); to defer the question of territorial claims asserted by some nations and not recognized by others; to provide an international forum for management of the region; applies to land and ice shelves south of 60 degrees South latitude

parties - (45) Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, 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 - abbreviated as Hazardous Wastes
opened for signature - 22 March 1989

entered into force - 5 May 1992

objective - to reduce transboundary movements of wastes subject to the Convention to a minimum consistent with the environmentally sound and efficient management of such wastes; to minimize the amount and toxicity of wastes generated and ensure their environmentally sound management as closely as possible to the source of generation; and to assist LDCs in environmentally sound management of the hazardous and other wastes they generate

parties - (149) Albania, Algeria, Andorra, 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, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU, Finland, France, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, 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, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, 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

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 for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals

note - abbreviated as Antarctic Seals
opened for signature - 1 June 1972

entered into force - 11 March 1978

objective - to promote and achieve the protection, scientific study, and rational use of Antarctic seals, and to maintain a satisfactory balance within the ecological system of Antarctica

parties - (16) Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Poland, Russia, South Africa, UK, US

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (1) NZ

Convention on Biological Diversity

note - abbreviated as Biodiversity
opened for signature - 5 June 1992

entered into force - 29 December 1993

objective - to develop national strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity

parties - (182) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, 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, Cote 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, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, 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, 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, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (6) Afghanistan, Kuwait, Serbia and Montenegro, Thailand, Tuvalu, US

Convention on Fishing and Conservation of Living Resources of the High Seas

note - abbreviated as Marine Life Conservation
opened for signature - 29 April 1958

entered into force - 20 March 1966

objective - to solve through international cooperation the problems involved in the conservation of living resources of the high seas, considering that because of the development of modern technology some of these resources are in danger 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, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, UK, US, Venezuela

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 - 13 November 1979

entered into force - 16 March 1983

objective - to protect the human environment against air pollution and to gradually reduce and prevent air pollution, including long-range transboundary air pollution

parties - (48) Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, EU, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, US

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (2) Holy See, San Marino

Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar)

note - abbreviated as Wetlands
opened for signature - 2 February 1971

entered into force - 21 December 1975

objective - to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural, scientific, and recreational value

parties - (125) Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, 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, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia

Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources

note - abbreviated as Antarctic-Marine Living Resources
opened for signature - 5 May 1980

entered into force - 7 April 1982

objective - to safeguard the environment and protect the integrity of the ecosystem of the seas surrounding Antarctica, and to conserve Antarctic marine living resources

parties - (31) Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, EU, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Namibia, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Peru, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu

Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES)

note - abbreviated as Endangered Species
opened for signature - 3 March 1973

entered into force - 1 July 1975

objective - to protect certain endangered species from overexploitation by means of a system of import/export permits

parties - (156) Afghanistan, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, 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, South Korea, Latvia, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, 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, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, 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 - abbreviated as Marine Dumping
opened for signature - 29 December 1972

entered into force - 30 August 1975

objective - to control pollution of the sea by dumping and to encourage regional agreements supplementary to the Convention

parties - (78) Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Finland, France, Gabon, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong (associate member), Hungary, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Libya, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Nauru, Netherlands, NZ, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saint Lucia, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Tonga, Tunisia, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Vanuatu

Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques

note - abbreviated as Environmental Modification
opened for signature - 10 December 1976

entered into force - 5 October 1978

objective - to prohibit the military or other hostile use of environmental modification techniques in order to further 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

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 - 2 December 1946

entered into force - 10 November 1948

objective - to protect all species of whales from overhunting; to establish a system of international regulation for the whale fisheries to ensure proper conservation and development of whale stocks; and to safeguard for future generations the great natural resources represented by whale stocks

parties - (42) Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Denmark, Dominica, Finland, France, Germany, Grenada, Guinea, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Oman, Panama, Peru, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, US

International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1983

note - abbreviated as Tropical Timber 83
opened for signature - 18 November 1983

entered into force - 1 April 1985; this agreement expired when the International Tropical Timber Agreement, 1994, went into force

objective - to provide an effective framework for cooperation between tropical timber producers and consumers and to encourage the development of national policies aimed at sustainable utilization and conservation of tropical forests and their genetic resources

parties - (54) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma, Cameroon, Canada, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, 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, NZ, 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 - 26 January 1994

entered into force - 1 January 1997

objective - to ensure that by the year 2000 exports of tropical timber originate from sustainably managed sources; to establish a fund to assist tropical timber producers in obtaining the resources necessary to reach this objective

parties - (58) Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, 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, NZ, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, 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 - 16 March 1998

entered into force - 23 February 2005

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 the developed countries

parties - (144) Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Cook Island, Costa Rica, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, 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 Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, UK, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (6) Australia, Croatia, Kazakhstan, Monaco, US, 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 - 16 September 1987

entered into force - 1 January 1989

objective - to protect the ozone layer by controlling emissions of substances that deplete it

parties - (183) 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, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Ethiopia, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, 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, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, 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 preserve the marine environment through the complete elimination of pollution by oil and other harmful substances and the minimization of accidental discharge of such substances

parties - (119) Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burma, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, North Korea, South Korea, Latvia, Lebanon, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, UK, US, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam

Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty

note - abbreviated as Antarctic-Environmental Protocol
opened for signature - 4 October 1991

entered into force - 14 January 1998

objective - to provide for comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems; applies to the area covered by the Antarctic Treaty

consultative parties - (27) Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Peru, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, UK, US, Uruguay

non consultative parties - (16) Austria, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, North Korea, Papua New Guinea, Romania, Slovakia, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine

Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Nitrogen Oxides or Their Transboundary Fluxes

note - abbreviated as Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides
opened for signature - 31 October 1988

entered into force - 14 February 1991

objective - to provide for the control or reduction of nitrogen oxides and their transboundary fluxes

parties - (28) Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, 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 - (1) Poland

Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution Concerning the Control of Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds or Their Transboundary Fluxes

note - abbreviated as Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds
opened for signature - 18 November 1991

entered into force - 29 September 1997

objective - to provide for the control and reduction of emissions of volatile organic compounds in order to reduce their transboundary fluxes so as to protect human health and the environment from adverse effects

parties - (21) Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (6) 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 - 14 June 1994

entered into force - 5 August 1998

objective - to provide for a further reduction in sulfur emissions or transboundary fluxes

parties - (23) Austria, Belgium, 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 - (5) 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 - 24 June 1998

entered into force - 23 October 2003

objective - to provide for the control and reduction of emissions of persistent organic pollutants in order to reduce their transboundary fluxes so as to protect human health and the environment from adverse effects

parties - (22) Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, EU, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (14) Armenia, Belgium, Croatia, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Ukraine, UK, US

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%

note - abbreviated as Air Pollution-Sulphur 85
opened for signature - 8 July 1985

entered into force - 2 September 1987

objective - to provide for a 30% reduction in sulfur emissions or transboundary fluxes by 1993

parties - (22) Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine

Ship Pollution

see Protocol of 1978 Relating 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 - 5 August 1963

entered into force - 10 October 1963

objective - to obtain an agreement on general and complete disarmament under strict international control in accordance with the objectives of the United Nations; to put an end to the armaments race and eliminate incentives for the production and testing of all kinds of weapons, including nuclear weapons

parties - (113) Afghanistan, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belgium, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Burma, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote 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, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, UK, US, Venezuela, Zambia

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (17) Algeria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Chile, Ethiopia, Haiti, Libya, Mali, Pakistan, Paraguay, Portugal, Somalia, Tanzania, Uruguay, Vietnam, Yemen

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 - 10 December 1982

entered into force - 16 November 1994

objective - to set up a comprehensive new legal regime for the sea and oceans; to include rules concerning environmental standards as well as enforcement provisions dealing with pollution of the marine environment

parties - (148) Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, EU, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, South Korea, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UK, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

countries that have signed, but not yet ratified - (29) Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Burundi, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Colombia, Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Iran, North Korea, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco, Niger, Niue, Rwanda, Swaziland, Switzerland, Thailand, UAE

United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa

note - abbreviated as Desertification
opened for signature - 14 October 1994

entered into force - 26 December 1996

objective - to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought through national action programs that incorporate long-term strategies supported by international cooperation and partnership arrangements

parties - (178) Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, 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, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, 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, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, 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, 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, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

note - abbreviated as Climate Change
opened for signature - 9 May 1992

entered into force - 21 March 1994

objective - to achieve stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a low enough level to prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system

parties - (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, 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, Cote 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, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, 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, 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, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, 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, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Wetlands

see Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially As Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar)

Whaling

see International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Appendix D -

Cross-Reference List of Country Data Codes

Home  Reference Maps Appendixes

Appendixes

A
Abbreviations

B
International
Organizations and Groups

C
Selected International
Environmental Agreements

D
Cross-Reference List of Country Data Codes

E
Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Data Codes

F
Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names

FIPS 10-4: Countries, Dependencies, Areas of Special Sovereignty, and Their Principal Administrative Divisions (FIPS PUB 10-4) is maintained 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). FIPS 10-4 codes are intended for general use throughout the US Government, especially in activities associated with the mission of the Department of State and national defense programs.

ISO 3166: Codes for the Representation of Names of Countries (ISO 3166) is prepared by the International Organization for Standardization. ISO 3166 includes two- and three-character alphabetic codes and three-digit numeric codes that may be needed for activities involving exchange of data with international organizations that have adopted that standard. Except for 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: The Internet country code is the two-letter digraph maintained by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in the ISO 3166 Alpha-2 list and used by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) to establish country-coded top-level domains (ccTLDs).

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

016

.as

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 Islands, Coral Sea Islands

Austria

AU

AT

AUT

040

.at

Azerbaijan

AJ

AZ

AZE

031

.az

Bahamas, The

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

-

-

-

-

administered from Reunion; no ISO codes assigned

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

CD

COD

180

.cd

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

TT

TL

TLS

626

.tl

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

-

-

-

-

administered from Reunion; no ISO codes assigned

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

FK

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

.tf

FIPS 10-4 does not include the French-claimed portion of Antarctica (Terre Adelie)

Gabon

GB

GA

GAB

266

.ga

Gambia, The

GA

GM

GMB

270

.gm

Gaza Strip

GZ

PS

PSE

275

.ps

ISO identifies as Occupied Palestinian Territory

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

-

-

-

-

administered from Reunion; no ISO codes assigned

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

-

-

.gg

ISO includes with the UK

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

-

-

.je

ISO includes with the UK

Johnston Atoll

JQ

-

-

-

ISO includes with the US Minor Outlying Islands

Jordan

JO

JO

JOR

400

.jo

Juan de Nova Island

JU

-

-

-

-

adminstered from Reunion; no ISO codes assigned

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

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

-

-

.im

ISO includes with the UK

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

Moldova

MD

MD

MDA

498

.md

Monaco

MN

MC

MCO

492

.mc

Mongolia

MG

MN

MNG

496

.mn

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

-

-

-

-

ISO includes with the US Minor Outlying Islands

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

ROU

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 and Montenegro

YI

CS

SCG

891

.cs

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 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

-

-

-

-

administered from Reunion; no ISO codes assigned

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

AE

AE

ARE

784

.ae

United Kingdom

UK

GB

GBR

826

.uk

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, Navassa Island, 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

.ve

Vietnam

VM

VN

VNM

704

.vn

Virgin Islands

VQ

VI

VIR

850

.vi

Virgin Islands (UK)

-

-

-

.vg

see British Virgin Islands

Virgin Islands (US)

-

-

-

.vi

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

PS

PSE

275

.ps

ISO identifies as Occupied Palestinian Territory

Western Sahara

WI

EH

ESH

732

.eh

Western Samoa

-

-

-

.ws

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

Zaire

-

-

-

-

see Democratic Republic of the Congo

Zambia

ZA

ZM

ZMB

894

.zm

Zimbabwe

ZI

ZW

ZWE

716

.zw

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Appendix E -

Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Data Codes

Home  Reference Maps Appendixes

Appendixes

A
Abbreviations

B
International
Organizations and Groups

C
Selected International
Environmental Agreements

D
Cross-Reference List of Country Data Codes

E
Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Data Codes

F
Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names

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 US Government has not yet adopted a standard for hydrographic codes similar to the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 10-4 country codes. The names and limits of the following oceans and seas are not always directly comparable because of differences in the customers, needs, and requirements of the individual organizations. Even the number of principal water bodies varies from organization to organization. Factbook users, for example, find the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean entries useful, but none of the following standards include those oceans in their entirety. Nor is there any provision for combining codes or overcodes to aggregate water bodies. The recently delimited 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

-

-

-

-

Baltic Sea

2

1

B26

7B

Eastern Mediterranean

3.1.2

28 B

-

8E

Indian Ocean

5

45

F

6A

Mediterranean Sea

3.1

28

B11

-

North Atlantic Ocean

1

23

B

1A

North Pacific Ocean

7

57

D

3A

Pacific Ocean

-

-

-

-

South Atlantic Ocean

4

32

C

2A

South China and Eastern Archipelagic Seas

6

49, 48

D18 plus others

3U plus others

South Pacific Ocean

8

61

E

4A

Western Mediterranean

3.1.1

28 A

-

8W

*The letters after the numbers are subdivisions, not footnotes.

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Appendix F -

Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names

Home  Reference Maps Appendixes

Appendixes

A
Abbreviations

B
International
Organizations and Groups

C
Selected International
Environmental Agreements

D
Cross-Reference List of Country Data Codes

E
Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Data Codes

F
Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

Name

Entry in The World Factbook

Latitude
(deg min)

Longitude
(deg min)

Abidjan (capital)

Cote d'Ivoire

5 19 N

4 02 W

Abkhazia (region)

Georgia

43 00 N

41 00 E

Abu Dhabi (capital)

United Arab Emirates

24 28 N

54 22 E

Abu Musa (island)

Iran

25 52 N

55 03 E

Abuja (capital)

Nigeria

9 12 N

7 11 E

Abyssinia (former name for Ethiopia)

Ethiopia

8 00 N

38 00 E

Acapulco (city)

Mexico

16 51 N

99 55 W

Accra (capital)

Ghana

5 33 N

0 13 W

Adamstown (capital)

Pitcairn Islands

25 04 S

130 05 W

Addis Ababa (capital)

Ethiopia

9 02 N

38 42 E

Adelie Land (claimed by France; also Terre Adelie)

Antarctica

66 30 S

139 00 E

Aden (city)

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

Adygey (region)

Russia

44 30 N

40 10 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 (or FTAI; former name for Djibouti)

Djibouti

11 30 N

43 00 E

Afghanestan (local name for Afghanistan)

Afghanistan

33 00 N

65 00 E

Agalega Islands

Mauritius

10 25 S

56 40 E

Agana (city; former name for Hagatna)

Guam

13 28 N

144 45 E

Ajaccio (city)

France (Corsica)

41 55 N

8 44 E

Ajaria (region)

Georgia

41 45 N

42 10 E

Akmola (city; former name for Astana)

Kazakhstan

51 10 N

71 30 E

Aksai Chin (region)

China (de facto), India (claimed)

35 00 N

79 00 E

Al Arabiyah as Suudiyah (local name for Saudi Arabia)

Saudi Arabia

25 00 N

45 00 E

Al Bahrayn (local name for Bahrain)

Bahrain

26 00 N

50 33 E

Al Imarat al Arabiyah al Muttahidah (local name for the United Arab Emirates)

United Arab Emirates

24 00 N

54 00 E

Al Iraq (local name for Iraq)

Iraq

33 00 N

44 00 E

Al Jaza'ir (local name for Algeria)

Algeria

28 00 N

3 00 E

Al Kuwayt (local name for Kuwait)

Kuwait

29 30 N

45 45 E

Al Maghrib (local name for Morocco)

Morocco

32 00 N

5 00 W

Al Urdun (local name for Jordan)

Jordan

31 00 N

36 00 E

Al Yaman (local name for Yemen)

Yemen

15 00 N

48 00 E

Aland Islands

Finland

60 15 N

20 00 E

Alaska (state)

United States

65 00 N

153 00 W

Alaska, Gulf of

Pacific Ocean

58 00 N

145 00 W

Alboran Sea

Atlantic Ocean

36 00 N

2 30 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 (island group)

United States (Alaska)

57 00 N

134 00 W

Alexander Island

Antarctica

71 00 S

70 00 W

Alexandretta (region; former name for Iskenderun)

Turkey

36 34 N

36 08 E

Alexandria (city)

Egypt

31 12 N

29 54 E

Algiers (capital)

Algeria

36 47 N

2 03 E

Alhucemas, Penon de (island group)

Spain

35 13 N

3 53 W

Alma-Ata (city; former name for Almaty)

Kazakhstan

43 15 N

76 57 E

Almaty (former capital)

Kazakhstan

43 15 N

76 57 E

Alofi (capital)

Niue

19 01 S

169 55 W

Alphonse Island

Seychelles

7 01 S

52 45 E

Alsace (region)

France

48 30 N

7 20 E

Amami Strait

Pacific Ocean

28 40 N

129 30 E

Amindivi Islands (former name for Laccadive Islands)

India

11 30 N

72 30 E

Amirante Isles (island group; also Les Amirantes)

Seychelles

6 00 S

53 10 E

Amman (capital)

Jordan

31 57 N

35 56 E

Amsterdam (capital)

Netherlands

52 23 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

Amurskiy Liman (strait)

Pacific Ocean

53 00 N

141 30 E

Anadyrskiy Zaliv (gulf)

Pacific Ocean

64 00 N

177 00 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 (capital)

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 (former name for Sudan)

Sudan

15 00 N

30 00 E

Anjouan (island)

Comoros

12 15 S

44 25 E

Ankara (capital)

Turkey

39 56 N

32 52 E

Annobon (island)

Equatorial Guinea

1 25 S

5 36 E

Antananarivo (capital)

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 (city)

Belgium

51 13 N

4 25 E

Aomen (local Chinese short-form name for Macau)

Macau

22 10 N

113 33 E

Aozou Strip (region)

Chad

22 00 N

18 00 E

Apia (capital)

Samoa

13 50 S

171 45W

Aqaba, Gulf of

Indian Ocean

29 00 N

34 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

Aru Sea

Pacific Ocean

6 15 S

135 00 E

As-Sudan (local name for Sudan)

Sudan

15 00 N

30 00 E

Ascension Island

Saint Helena

7 57 S

14 22 W

Ashgabat, Ashkhabad (capital)

Turkmenistan

37 57 N

58 23 E

Asmara, Asmera (capital)

Eritrea

15 20 N

38 53 E

Assumption Island

Seychelles

9 46 S

46 34 E

Astana (capital; formerly Akmola)

Kazakhstan

51 10 N

71 30 E

Asuncion (capital)

Paraguay

25 16 S

57 40 W

Asuncion Island

Northern Mariana Islands

19 40 N

145 24 E

Atacama (desert)

Chile

23 00 S

70 10 W

Atacama (region)

Chile

24 30 S

69 15 W

Athens (capital)

Greece

37 59 N

23 44 E

Attu Island

United States

52 55 N

172 57 E

Auckland Islands

New Zealand

51 00 S

166 30 E

Australes, Iles (island group; also Iles Tubuai)

French Polynesia

23 20 S

151 00 W

Avarua (capital)

Cook Islands

21 12 S

159 46 W

Axel Heiberg Island

Canada

79 30 N

90 00 W

Azad Kashmir (region)

Pakistan

34 30 N

74 00 E

Azarbaycan, Azerbaidzhan (local name for Azerbaijan)

Azerbaijan

40 30 N

47 30 E

Azores (islands)

Portugal

38 30 N

28 00 W

Azov, Sea of

Atlantic Ocean

49 00 N

36 00 E

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 (capital)

Iraq

33 21 N

44 25 E

Baku (capital; also Baki, Baky)

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, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia, 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 (capital)

Mali

12 39 N

8 00 W

Banaba (Ocean Island)

Kiribati

0 52 S

169 35 E

Banat (region)

Hungary, Serbia and Montenegro, Romania

45 30 N

21 00 E

Banda Sea

Pacific Ocean

5 00 S

128 00 E

Bandar Seri Begawan (capital)

Brunei

4 52 S

114 55 E

Bangka (island)

Indonesia

2 30 S

106 00 E

Bangkok (capital)

Thailand

13 45 N

100 31 E

Bangui (capital)

Central African Republic

4 22 N

18 35 E

Banjul (capital)

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

Barents Sea

Arctic Ocean

74 00 N

36 00 E

Barranquilla (city)

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 (capital)

Guadeloupe

16 00 N

61 44 W

Basseterre (capital)

Saint Kitts and Nevis

17 18 N

62 43 W

Bastia (city)

France (Corsica)

42 42 N

9 27 E

Basutoland (former name for Lesotho)

Lesotho

29 30 S

28 30 E

Batan Islands

Philippines

20 30 N

121 50 E

Bavaria (region; also 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 (former name for Botswana)

Botswana

22 00 S

24 00 E

Beijing (capital)

China

39 56 N

116 24 E

Beirut (capital)

Lebanon

33 53 N

35 30 E

Bekaa Valley

Lebanon

34 00 N

36 05 E

Belau (Palau Islands)

Palau

7 30 N

134 30 E

Belep Islands (Iles Belep)

New Caledonia

19 45 S

163 40 E

Belgian Congo (former name for Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Democratic Republic of the Congo

0 00 N

25 00 E

Belgie, Belgique (local name for Belgium)

Belgium

50 50 N

4 00 E

Belgrade (capital)

Serbia and Montenegro

44 50 N

20 30 E

Belize City

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 (capital)

Belize

17 15 N

88 46 W

Belorussia (former name for Belarus)

Belarus

53 00 N

28 00 E

Benadir (region; former name of Italian Somaliland)

Somalia

4 00 N

46 00 E

Bengal, Bay of

Indian Ocean

15 00 N

90 00 E

Berau, Gulf of

Pacific Ocean

2 30 S

132 30 E

Bering Island

Russia

55 00 N

166 30 E

Bering Sea

Pacific Ocean

60 00 N

175 00 W

Bering Strait

Pacific Ocean

65 30 N

169 00 W

Berkner Island

Antarctica

79 30 S

49 30 W

Berlin (capital)

Germany

52 31 N

13 24 E

Berlin, East (former name for eastern sector of Berlin)

Germany

52 30 N

13 33 E

Berlin, West (former name for western sector of Berlin)

Germany

52 30 N

13 20 E

Bern (capital)

Switzerland

46 57 N

7 26 E

Bessarabia (region)

Moldova, Romania, Ukraine

47 00 N

28 30 E

Bharat (local name for India)

India

20 00 N

77 00 E

Bhopal (city)

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 (island group)

Guinea-Bissau

11 25 N

16 20 W

Bikini Atoll

Marshall Islands

11 35 N

165 23 E

Bilbao (city)

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 (capital)

Kyrgyzstan

42 54 N

74 36 E

Bishop Rock

United Kingdom

49 52 N

6 27 W

Bismarck Archipelago (island group)

Papua New Guinea

5 00 S

150 00 E

Bismarck Sea

Pacific Ocean

4 00 S

148 00 E

Bissau (capital)

Guinea-Bissau

11 51 N

15 35 W

Bjornoya (Bear Island)

Svalbard

74 26 N

19 05 E

Black Forest (region)

Germany

48 00 N

8 15 E

Black Rock (island)

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

53 39 S

41 48 W

Black Sea

Atlantic Ocean

43 00 N

35 00 E

Bloemfontein (judicial capital)

South Africa

29 12 S

26 07 E

Bo Hai (gulf)

Pacific Ocean

38 00 N

120 00 E

Boa Vista (island)

Cape Verde

16 05 N

22 50 W

Bogota (capital)

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

142 10 E

Bonn (former capital)

Germany

50 44 N

7 05 E

Bophuthatswana (region; enclave)

South Africa

26 30 S

25 30 E

Bora-Bora (island)

French Polynesia

16 30 S

151 45 W

Bordeaux (city)

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

Bosna i Hercegovina (local name for Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

44 00 N

18 00 E

Bosnia (political region)

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

Bourbon Island (former name of Reunion)

Reunion

21 06 S

55 36 E

Brasilia (capital)

Brazil

15 47 S

47 55 W

Bratislava (capital)

Slovakia

48 09 N

17 07 E

Brazzaville (capital)

Republic of the Congo

4 16 S

15 17 E

Bridgetown (capital)

Barbados

13 06 N

59 37 W

Brisbane (city)

Australia

27 28 S

153 02 E

Bristol Bay

Pacific Ocean

57 00 N

160 00 W

Bristol Channel

Atlantic Ocean

51 18 N

3 30 W

Britain (see Great Britain)

United Kingdom

54 00 N

2 00 W

British Bechuanaland (region; former name for northwest South Africa)

South Africa

27 30 S

23 30 E

British Central African Protectorate (former name of Nyasaland)

Malawi

13 30 S

34 00 E

British East Africa (former name for British possessions in eastern Africa)

Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda

1 00 N

38 00 E

British Guiana (former name for Guyana)

Guyana

5 00 N

59 00 W

British Honduras (former name for Belize)

Belize

17 15 N

88 45 W

British Solomon Islands (former name for Solomon Islands)

Solomon Islands

8 00 S

159 00 E

British Somaliland (former name for northern Somalia)

Somalia

10 00 N

49 00 E

Brussels (capital)

Belgium

50 50 N

4 20 E

Bubiyan (island)

Kuwait

29 47 N

48 10 E

Bucharest (capital)

Romania

44 26 N

26 06 E

Budapest (capital)

Hungary

47 30 N

19 05 E

Buenos Aires (capital)

Argentina

34 36 S

58 27 W

Bujumbura (capital)

Burundi

3 23 S

29 22 E

Bukovina (region)

Romania, Ukraine

48 00 N

26 00 E

Byelarus (local name for Belarus)

Belarus

53 00 N

28 00 E

Byelorussia (former name for Belarus)

Belarus

53 00 N

28 00 E

Cabinda (province)

Angola

5 33 S

12 12 E

Cabo Verde (local name for Cape Verde)

Cape Verde

16 00 N

24 00 W

Cabot Strait

Atlantic Ocean

47 20 N

59 30 W

Caicos Islands

Turks and Caicos Islands

21 56 N

71 58 W

Cairo (capital)

Egypt

30 03 N

31 15 E

California, Gulf of

Pacific Ocean

28 00 N

112 00 W

Cameroun (local name for Cameroon)

Cameroon

6 00 N

12 00 E

Campbell Island

New Zealand

52 33 S

169 09 E

Campeche, Bay of

Atlantic Ocean

20 00 N

94 00 W

Canal Zone (former name for US possessions in Panama)

Panama

9 00 N

79 45 W

Canarias Sea

Atlantic Ocean

28 00 N

16 00 W

Canary Islands

Spain

28 00 N

15 30 W

Canberra (capital)

Australia

35 17 S

149 08 E

Cancun (city)

Mexico

21 10 N

86 50 W

Canton (city; now Guangzhou)

China

23 06 N

113 16 E

Canton Island (Kanton Island)

Kiribati

2 49 S

171 40 W

Cape Juby (region; former name for Southern Morocco)

Morocco

27 53 N

12 58 W

Cape Province (region; former name for Northern, Western, and Eastern Cape Provinces of South Africa)

South Africa

31 30 S

22 30 E

Cape Town (legislative capital)

South Africa

33 57 S

18 28 W

Cape of Good Hope (cape; also alternate name for Cape Province of South Africa)

South Africa

34 15 S

18 25 E

Caracas (capital)

Venezuela

10 30 N

66 56 W

Cargados Carajos Shoals

Mauritius

16 25 S

59 38 E

Caribbean Sea

Atlantic Ocean

15 00 N

73 00 W

Caroline Islands

Federated States of Micronesia, Palau

7 30 N

148 00 E

Carpatho-Ukraine (region; former name for Zakarpats'ka oblast')

Ukraine

48 22 N

23 32 E

Carpentaria, Gulf of

Pacific Ocean

14 00 S

139 00 E

Castries (capital)

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 (capital)

French Guiana

4 56 N

52 20 W

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 (former name for Central African Republic)

Central African Republic

7 00 N

21 00 E

Ceram (Seram) Sea

Pacific Ocean

2 30 S

129 30 E

Ceska Republika (local name for Czech Republic)

Czech Republic

49 45 N

15 30 E

Ceskoslovensko (former local name for Czechoslovakia)

Czech Republic, Slovakia

49 00 N

17 30 E

Ceuta (city)

Spain

35 53 N

5 19 W

Ceylon (former name for Sri Lanka)

Sri Lanka

7 00 N

81 00 E

Chafarinas, Islas (island)

Spain

35 12 N

2 26 W

Chagos Archipelago (Oil Islands)

British Indian Ocean Territory

6 00 S

71 30 E

Challenger Deep (Mariana Trench)

Pacific Ocean

11 22 N

142 36 E

Channel Islands

Guernsey, Jersey

49 20 N

2 20 W

Charlotte Amalie (capital)

Virgin Islands

18 21 N

64 56 W

Chatham Islands

New Zealand

44 00 S

176 30 W

Chechnya (region; also Chechnia)

Russia

43 15 N

45 40 E

Cheju Strait

Pacific Ocean

34 00 N

126 30 E

Cheju-do (island)

Korea, South

33 20 N

126 30 E

Chennai (city; also Madras)

India

13 04 N

80 16 E

Chesterfield Islands (Iles Chesterfield)

New Caledonia

19 52 S

158 15 E

Chihli, Gulf of (see Bo Hai)

Pacific Ocean

38 30 N

120 00 E

Chiloe (island)

Chile

42 50 S

74 00 W

China, People's Republic of

China

35 00 N

105 00 E

China, Republic of

Taiwan

23 30 N

121 00 E

Chisinau (capital)

Moldova

47 00 N

28 50 E

Choiseul (island)

Solomon Islands

7 05 S

121 00 E

Choson (local name for North Korea)

North Korea

40 00 N

127 00 E

Christmas Island (Indian Ocean)

Australia

10 25 S

105 39 E

Christmas Island (Pacific Ocean; also Kiritimati)

Kiribati

1 52 N

157 20 W

Chukchi Sea

Arctic Ocean

69 00 N

171 00 W

Chuuk Islands (Truk Islands)

Federated States of Micronesia

7 25 N

151 47 W

Cilicia (region)

Turkey

36 50 N

34 30 E

Ciskei (enclave)

South Africa

33 00 S

27 00 E

Citta del Vaticano (local name for Vatican City)

Holy See

41 54 N

12 27 E

Cochin China (region)

Vietnam

11 00 N

107 00 E

Coco, Isla del (island)

Costa Rica

5 32 N

87 04 W

Cocos Islands

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

12 30 S

96 50 E

Colombo (capital)

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

Comores (local name for Comoros)

Comoros

12 10 S

44 15 E

Con Son (islands)

Vietnam

8 43 N

106 36 E

Conakry (capital)

Guinea

9 31 N

13 43 W

Confederatio Helvetica (local name for Switzerland)

Switzerland

47 00 N

8 00 E

Congo (Brazzaville) (former name for Republic of the Congo)

Republic of the Congo

1 00 S

15 00 E

Congo (Leopoldville) (former name for the Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Democratic Republic of the Congo

0 00 N

25 00 E

Constantinople (city; former name for Istanbul)

Turkey

41 01 N

28 58 E

Cook Strait

Pacific Ocean

41 15 S

174 30 E

Copenhagen (capital)

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 (region)

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 (island; also Corse)

France

42 00 N

9 00 E

Cosmoledo Group (island group; also Atoll de Cosmoledo)

Seychelles

9 43 S

47 35 E

Cotonou (former capital)

Benin

6 21 N

2 26 E

Cotopaxi (volcano)

Ecuador

0 39 S

78 26 W

Courantyne River

Guyana, Suriname

5 57 N

57 06 W

Cozumel (island)

Mexico

20 30 N

86 55 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

Cyclades (island group)

Greece

37 00 N

25 10 E

Cyrenaica (region)

Libya

31 00 N

22 00 E

Czechoslovakia (former name for the entity that subsequently split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia)

Czech Republic, Slovakia

49 00 N

18 00 E

D'Entrecasteaux Islands

Papua New Guinea

9 30 S

150 40 E

Dagestan (region)

Russia

43 00 N

47 00 E

Dahomey (former name for Benin)

Benin

9 30 N

2 15 E

Daito Islands

Japan

43 00 N

17 00 E

Dakar (capital)

Senegal

14 40 N

17 26 W

Dalmatia (region)

Croatia

43 00 N

17 00 E

Daman (city; also Damao)

India

20 10 N

73 00 E

Damascus (capital)

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 (former name for the Virgin Islands)

Virgin Islands

18 20 N

64 50 W

Danmark (local name)

Denmark

56 00 N

10 00 E

Danzig (city; former name for Gdansk)

Poland

54 23 N

18 40 E

Dao Bach Long Vi (island)

Vietnam

20 08 N

107 44 E

Dar es Salaam (capital)

Tanzania

6 48 S

39 17 E

Dardanelles (strait)

Atlantic Ocean

40 15 N

26 25 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

Desolation Islands (Isles Kerguelen)

French Southern and Antarctic Lands

49 30 S

69 30 E

Deutschland (local name for Germany)

Germany

51 00 N

9 00 E

Devils Island (Ile du Diable)

French Guiana

5 17 N

52 35 W

Devon Island

Canada

76 00 N

87 00 W

Dhaka (capital)

Bangladesh

23 43 N

90 25 E

Dhivehi Raajje (local name for Maldives)

Maldives

3 15 N

73 00 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

Dili (capital)

East Timor

8 35 S

125 36 E

Dilmun (former name for Bahrain)

Bahrain

7 00 N

81 00 E

Diomede Islands

Russia (Big Diomede), United States (Little Diomede)

65 47 N

169 00 W

Diu (region)

India

20 42 N

70 59 E

Djibouti (capital)

Djibouti

11 30 N

43 15 E

Dnieper (river)

Belarus, Russia, Ukraine (Dnyapro, Dnepr, Dnipro)

46 30 N

32 18 E

Dniester (river)

Moldova, Ukraine (Nistru, Dnister)

46 18 N

30 17 E

Dobruja (region)

Bulgaria, Romania

43 30 N

28 00 E

Dodecanese (island group)

Greece

36 00 N

27 05 E

Dodoma (city)

Tanzania

6 11 S

35 45 E

Doha (capital)

Qatar

25 17 N

51 32 E

Donets Basin

Russia, Ukraine

48 15 N

38 30 E

Douala (city)

Cameroon

4 03 N

9 42 E

Douglas (capital)

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

Druk Yul (local name for Bhutan)

Bhutan

27 30 N

90 30 E

Dubai, Dubayy (city)

United Arab Emirates

25 18 N

55 18 E

Dublin (capital)

Ireland

53 20 N

6 15 W

Dushanbe (capital)

Tajikistan

38 35 N

68 48 E

Dutch Antilles (former name for the Netherlands Antilles)

Netherlands Antilles

12 10 N

68 30 W

Dutch East Indies (former name for Indonesia)

Indonesia

5 00 S

120 00 E

Dutch Guiana (former name for Suriname)

Suriname

4 00 N

56 00 W

Dutch West Indies (former name for the Netherlands Antilles)

Netherlands Antilles

12 10 N

68 30 W

Dzungarian Gate (valley)

China, Kazakhstan

45 25 N

82 25 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; former name for eastern portion of Germany)

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 (former name for Bangladesh)

Bangladesh

24 00 N

90 00 E

East Siberian Sea

Arctic Ocean

74 00 N

166 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 (former name for American Samoa)

American Samoa

14 20 S

170 00 W

Eesti (local name for Estonia)

Estonia

59 00 N

26 00 E

Eire (local name for Ireland)

Ireland

53 00 N

8 00 W

Elba (island)

Italy

42 46 N

10 17 E

Elemi Triangle (region)

Ethiopia (claimed), Kenya (de facto), Sudan (claimed)

5 00 N

35 30 E

Ellada, Ellas (local name for Greece)

Greece

39 00 N

22 00 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

Ellsworth Land (region)

Antarctica

75 00 S

92 00 W

Elobey, Islas de (island group)

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 (island group)

Italy

38 30 N

15 00 E

Epirus, Northern (region)

Albania, Greece

40 00 N

20 30 E

Episkopi Cantonment (capital)

Akrotiri, Dhekelia

34 40 N

32 51 E

Ertra (local name for Eritrea)

Eritrea

15 00 N

39 00 E

Espana

Spain

40 00 N

4 00 W

Essequibo (region; claimed by Venezuela)

Guyana

6 59 N

58 23 W

Etorofu (island; also Iturup)

Russia (de facto)

44 55 N

147 40 E

Farquhar Group (island group; also Atoll de Farquhar)

Seychelles

10 10 S

51 10 E

Fergana Valley

Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan

41 00 N

72 00 E

Fernando Po (island; see Bioko)

Equatorial Guinea

3 30 N

8 42 E

Fernando de Noronha (island group)

Brazil

3 51 S

32 25 W

Filipinas (local name for the Philippines; also Pilipinas)

Philippines

13 00 N

122 00 E

Finland, Gulf of

Atlantic Ocean

60 00 N

27 00 E

Flores (island)

Indonesia

8 45 S

121 00 E

Flores Sea

Pacific Ocean

7 40 S

119 45 E

Florida, Straits of

Atlantic Ocean

25 00 N

79 45 W

Fongafale (capital)

Tuvalu

8 30 S

179 12 E

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

Foroyar (local name for Faroe Islands)

Faroe Islands

62 00 N

7 00 W

Fort-de-France (capital)

Martinique

14 36 N

61 05 W

Franz Josef Land (island group)

Russia

81 00 N

55 00 E

Freetown (capital)

Sierra Leone

8 30 N

13 15 W

French Cameroon (former name for Cameroon)

Cameroon

6 00 N

12 00 E

French Guinea (former name for Guinea)

Guinea

11 00 N

10 00 W

French Indochina (former name for French possessions in southeast Asia)

Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam

15 00 N

107 00 E

French Morocco (former name for Morocco)

Morocco

32 00 N

5 00 W

French Somaliland (former name for Djibouti)

Djibouti

11 30 N

43 00 E

French Sudan (former name for Mali)

Mali

17 00 N

4 00 W

French Territory of the Afars and Issas (former name for Djibouti; or FTAI)

Djibouti

11 30 N

43 00 E

French Togoland (former name for Togo)

Togo

8 00 N

1 10 E

French West Indies (former name for French possessions in the 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 (city; former name for Bishkek)

Kyrgyzstan

42 54 N

74 36 E

Funafuti (capital, former name for Fongafale)

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

Fyn (island)

Denmark

55 20 N

10 25 E

Gaborone (capital)

Botswana

24 45 S

25 55 E

Galapagos Islands (Archipielago de Colon)

Ecuador

0 00 N

90 30 W

Galicia (region)

Poland, Ukraine

49 30 N

23 00 E

Galicia (region)

Spain

42 45 N

8 10 E

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

Gdansk (city; formerly Danzig)

Poland

54 23 N

18 40 E

Geneva (city)

Switzerland

46 12 N

6 10 E

Genoa (city)

Italy

44 25 N

8 57 E

George Town (capital)

Cayman Islands

19 20 N

81 23 W

George Town (city)

Malaysia

5 26 N

100 16 E

George Town (city)

The Bahamas

23 30 N

75 46 W

Georgetown (capital)

Guyana

6 48 N

58 10 W

Georgetown (city)

The Gambia

13 30 N

14 47 W

German Democratic Republic (former name for eastern portion of Germany; also East Germany)

Germany

52 00 N

13 00 E

German Southwest Africa (former name for Namibia)

Namibia

22 00 S

17 00 E

Germany, Federal Republic of

Germany

51 00 N

9 00 E

Gibraltar (city, peninsula)

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

15 20 N

74 00 E

Gobi (desert)

China, Mongolia

42 30 N

107 00 E

Godthab (capital; also Nuuk)

Greenland

64 11 N

51 44 W

Golan Heights (region)

Syria

33 00 N

35 45 E

Gold Coast (former name for Ghana)

Ghana

8 00 N

2 00 W

Golfo San Jorge (gulf)

Atlantic Ocean

46 00 S

66 00 W

Golfo San Matias (gulf)

Atlantic Ocean

41 30 S

64 00 W

Good Hope, Cape of

South Africa

34 24 S

18 30 E

Goteborg (city)

Sweden

57 43 N

11 58 E

Gotland (island)

Sweden

57 30 N

18 33 E

Gough Island

Saint Helena

40 20 S

9 55 W

Graham Land (region)

Antarctica

65 00 S

64 00 W

Gran Chaco (region)

Argentina, Paraguay

24 00 S

60 00 W

Grand Bahama (island)

The Bahamas

26 40 N

78 35 W

Grand Banks (fishing ground)

Atlantic Ocean

47 06 N

55 48 W

Grand Cayman (island)

Cayman Islands

19 20 N

81 20 W

Grand Turk (capital; also Cockburn Town)

Turks and Caicos Islands

21 28 N

71 08 W

Great Australian Bight

Indian Ocean

35 00 S

130 00 E

Great Belt (strait; also Store Baelt)

Atlantic Ocean

55 30 N

11 00 E

Great Bitter Lake

Egypt

30 20 N

32 23 E

Great Britain (island)

United Kingdom

54 00 N

2 00 W

Great Channel

Indian Ocean

6 25 N

94 20 E

Great Inagua (island)

The Bahamas

21 00 N

73 20 W

Great Rift Valley

Ethiopia, Kenya

0 30 N

36 00 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 (island group)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

13 15 N

61 12 W

Grenadines, Southern (island group)

Grenada

12 07 N

61 40 W

Grytviken (town; on South Georgia)

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

54 15 S

36 45 W

Guadalcanal (island)

Solomon Islands

9 32 S

160 12 E

Guadalupe, Isla de (island)

Mexico

29 11 N

118 17 W

Guantanamo Bay (US Naval Base)

Cuba

20 00 N

75 08 W

Guatemala (capital)

Guatemala

14 38 N

90 31 W

Guine-Bissau (local name for Guinea-Bissau)

Guinea-Bissau

12 00 N

15 00 W

Guinea Ecuatorial (local name for Equatorial Guinea)

Equatorial Guinea

2 00 N

10 00 E

Guinea, Gulf of

Atlantic Ocean

3 00 N

2 30 E

Guinee (local name for Guinea)

Guinea

11 00 N

10 00 W

Guyane Francaise (local name for French Guiana)

French Guiana

4 00 N

53 00 W

Ha'apai Group (island 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 (capital; formerly Agana)

Guam

13 28 N

144 45 E

Hague, The (seat of government)

Netherlands

52 05 N

4 18 E

Haifa (city)

Israel

32 50 N

35 00 E

Hainan Dao (island)

China

19 00 N

109 30 E

Haiphong (city)

Vietnam

20 52 N

106 41 E

Hala'ib Triangle (region)

Egypt (claimed), Sudan (de facto)

22 30 N

35 00 E

Halmahera (island)

Indonesia

1 00 N

128 00 E

Halmahera Sea

Pacific Ocean

0 30 S

129 00 E

Hamilton (capital)

Bermuda

32 17 N

64 46 W

Han-guk (local name for South Korea

South Korea

37 00 N

127 30 E

Hanoi (capital)

Vietnam

21 02 N

105 51 E

Harare (capital)

Zimbabwe

17 50 S

31 03 E

Harvey Islands (former name for Cook Islands)

Cook Islands

21 14 S

159 46 W

Hatay (province)

Turkey

36 30 N

36 15 E

Havana (capital)

Cuba

23 08 N

82 22 W

Hawaii (island)

United States

19 45 N

155 45 W

Hawaiian Islands

United States

21 00 N

157 45 W

Hawar (island)

Bahrain

25 40 N

50 47 E

Hayastan (local name for Armenia)

Armenia

40 00 N

45 00 E

Heard Island

Heard Island and McDonald Islands

53 06 S

73 30 E

Hejaz (region)

Saudi Arabia

24 30 N

38 30 E

Helsinki (capital)

Finland

60 10 N

24 58 E

Herzegovina (political region)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

44 00 N

18 00 E

Hiiumaa (island)

Estonia

58 50 N

22 30 E

Hispaniola (island)

Dominican Republic, Haiti

18 45 N

71 00 W

Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)

Vietnam

10 45 N

106 40 E

Hokkaido (island)

Japan

44 00 N

143 00 E

Holland (region)

Netherlands

52 30 N

5 45 E

Hong Kong (special administrative region)

Hong Kong

22 15 N

114 10 E

Honiara (capital)

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 of Africa (region)

Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia

8 00 N

48 00 E

Horn, Cape (Cabo de Hornos)

Chile

55 59 S

67 16 W

Horne, Iles de (island group)

Wallis and Futuna

14 19 S

178 05 W

Hrvatska (local name for Croatia)

Croatia

45 10 N

15 30 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

Iberian Peninsula

Portugal, Spain

40 00 N

5 00 W

Iceland Sea

Arctic Ocean

68 00 N

20 00 W

Ifni (region; former name of part of Spanish West Africa)

Morocco

29 22 N

10 09 W

Inaccessible Island

Saint Helena

37 17 S

12 40 W

Indochina (region)

Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam

15 00 N

107 00 E

Ingushetia (region)

Russia

43 15 N

45 00 E

Inhambane (region)

Mozambique

22 30 S

34 30 E

Inini (former name for French Guiana)

French Guiana

4 00 N

53 00 W

Inland Sea

Japan

34 20 N

133 30 E

Inner Hebrides (islands)

United Kingdom

56 30 N

6 20 W

Inner Mongolia (region; also 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 (river gorge)

Romania, Serbia and Montenegro

44 41 N

22 31 E

Iskenderun (region; formerly Alexandretta)

Turkey

36 34 N

36 08 E

Islamabad (capital)

Pakistan

33 42 N

73 10 E

Island (local name for Iceland)

Iceland

65 00 N

18 00 W

Islas Malvinas (island group)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

51 45 S

59 00 W

Istanbul (city)

Turkey

41 01 N

28 58 E

Istrian Peninsula

Croatia, Slovenia

45 00 N

14 00 E

Italia (local name for Italy)

Italy

42 50 N

12 50 E

Italian East Africa (former name for Italian possessions in eastern Africa)

Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia

8 00 N

38 00 E

Italian Somaliland (former name for southern Somalia)

Somalia

10 00 N

49 00 E

Ittihad al-Imarat al-Arabiyah (local name for the United Arab Emirates)

United Arab Emirates

24 00 N

54 00 E

Iturup (island; see Etorofu)

Russia (de facto)

44 55 N

147 40 E

Ityop'iya (local name for Ethiopia)

Ethiopia

8 00 N

38 00 E

Ivory Coast (former name for Cote d'Ivoire)

Cote d'Ivoire

8 00 N

5 00 W

Iwo Jima (island)

Japan

24 47 N

141 20 E

Izmir (region)

Turkey

38 25 N

27 10 E

Jakarta (capital)

Indonesia

6 10 S

106 48 E

James Bay

Arctic Ocean

54 00 N

80 00 W

Jamestown (capital)

Saint Helena

15 56 S

5 44 W

Jammu (city)

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

Jerusalem (capital, proclaimed)

Israel, West Bank

31 47 N

35 14 E

Jiddah, Jeddah (city)

Saudi Arabia

21 30 N

39 12 E

Johannesburg (city)

South Africa

26 15 S

28 00 E

Joseph Bonaparte Gulf

Pacific Ocean

14 00 S

128 45 E

Juan Fernandez, Islas de (island group)

Chile

33 00 S

80 00 W

Juan de Fuca, Strait of

Pacific Ocean

48 18 N

124 00 W

Jubal, Strait of

Indian Ocean

27 40 N

33 55 E

Judaea (region)

Israel, West Bank

31 35 N

35 00 E

Jugoslavia, Jugoslavija (local names for Yugoslavia)

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia

43 00 N

21 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

Kabardino-Balkaria (region)

Russia

43 30 N

43 30 E

Kabul (capital)

Afghanistan

34 31 N

69 12 E

Kaduna (city)

Nigeria

10 33 N

7 27 E

Kailas Range

China, India

30 00 N

82 00 E

Kalaallit Nunaat (local name for Greenland)

Greenland

72 00 N

40 00 W

Kalahari (desert)

Botswana, Namibia

24 30 S

21 00 E

Kalimantan (region)

Indonesia

0 00 N

115 00 E

Kaliningrad (region; formerly part of East Prussia)

Russia

54 30 N

21 00 E

Kamaran (island)

Yemen

15 21 N

42 34 E

Kamchatka Peninsula (Poluostrov Kamchatka)

Russia

56 00 N

160 00 E

Kampala (capital)

Uganda

0 19 N

32 25 E

Kampuchea (former name for Cambodia)

Cambodia

13 00 N

105 00 E

Kane Basin (portion of channel)

Arctic Ocean

79 30 N

68 00 W

Kanton Island

Kiribati

2 49 S

171 40 W

Kara Sea

Arctic Ocean

76 00 N

80 00 E

Karachevo-Cherkessia (region)

Russia

43 40 N

41 50 E

Karafuto (island; former name for southern Sakhalin Island)

Russia

50 00 N

143 00 E

Karakoram Pass

China, India

35 30 N

77 50 E

Karelia (region)

Finland, Russia

63 15 N

30 48 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 (capital)

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

Kazakstan (former name for Kazakhstan)

Kazakhstan

48 00 N

68 00 E

Keeling Islands

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

12 30 S

96 50 E

Kerguelen, Iles (island group)

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 (city)

Russia

48 27 N

135 06 E

Khanka, Lake

China, Russia

45 00 N

132 24 E

Khartoum (capital)

Sudan

15 36 N

32 32 E

Khios (island)

Greece

38 22 N

26 04 E

Khmer Republic (former name for Cambodia)

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

Kibris (Turkish local name for Cyprus)

Cyprus

35 00 N

33 00 E

Kiel Canal (Nord-Ostsee Kanal)

Atlantic Ocean

53 53 N

9 08 E

Kiev (capital)

Ukraine

50 26 N

30 31 E

Kigali (capital)

Rwanda

1 57 S

30 04 E

Kingston (capital)

Jamaica

18 00 N

76 48 W

Kingston (capital)

Norfolk Island

29 03 S

167 58 E

Kingstown (capital)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

13 09 N

61 14 W

Kinshasa (capital)

Democratic Republic of the Congo

4 18 S

15 18 E

Kipros (Greek local name for Cyprus)

Cyprus

35 00 N

33 00 E

Kirghiziya, Kirgizia (former name for Kyrgyzstan)

Kyrgyzstan

41 00 N

75 00 E

Kirguizstan (local name for Kyrgyzstan)

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 (city)

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 (town; former capital; changed to Palikir)

Federated States of Micronesia

6 58 N

158 13 E

Korea Bay

Pacific Ocean

39 00 N

124 00 E

Korea Strait

Pacific Ocean

34 00 N

129 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

Koror (capital)

Palau

7 20 N

134 29 E

Kosovo (region)

Serbia and Montenegro

42 30 N

21 00 E

Kosrae (island)

Federated States of Micronesia

5 20 N

163 00 E

Kowloon (city)

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

Kuala Lumpur (capital)

Malaysia

3 10 N

101 42 E

Kunashiri (island; also Kunashir)

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 (capital)

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

Kyiv, Kyyiv (see Kiev)

Ukraine

50 26 N

30 31 E

Kyushu (island)

Japan

33 00 N

131 00 E

La Paz (administrative capital)

Bolivia

16 30 S

68 09 W

La Perouse Strait

Pacific Ocean

45 45 N

142 00 E

Labrador (peninsula, region)

Canada

54 00 N

62 00 W

Labrador Sea

Atlantic Ocean

60 00 N

55 00 W

Laccadive Islands

India

10 00 N

73 00 E

Laccadive Sea

Indian Ocean

7 00 N

76 00 E

Lagos (former capital)

Nigeria

6 27 N

3 24 E

Lake Erie

Atlantic Ocean

42 30 N

81 00 W

Lake Huron

Atlantic Ocean

45 00 N

83 00 W

Lake Michigan

Atlantic Ocean

43 30 N

87 30 W

Lake Ontario

Atlantic Ocean

43 30 N

78 00 W

Lake Superior

Atlantic Ocean

48 00 N

88 00 W

Lakshadweep (Laccadive Islands)

India

10 00 N

73 00 E

Lantau Island

Hong Kong

22 15 N

113 55 E

Lao (local name for Laos)

Laos

18 00 N

105 00 E

Laptev Sea

Arctic Ocean

76 00 N

126 00 E

Las Palmas (city)

Spain (Canary Islands)

28 06 N

15 24 W

Latakia (region)

Syria

36 00 N

35 50 E

Latvija (local name for Latvia)

Latvia

57 00 N

25 00 E

Lau Group (island group)

Fiji

18 20 S

178 30 E

Lefkosa (see Nicosia)

Cyprus

35 10 N

33 22 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

Liaodong Wan (gulf)

Pacific Ocean

40 30 N

121 20 E

Liban (local name for Lebanon)

Lebanon

33 50 N

36 50 E

Libreville (capital)

Gabon

0 23 N

9 27 E

Lietuva (local name for Lithuania)

Lithuania

56 00 N

24 00 E

Ligurian Sea

Atlantic Ocean

43 30 N

9 00 E

Lilongwe (capital)

Malawi

13 59 S

33 44 E

Lima (capital)

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

Lion, Gulf of

Atlantic Ocean

43 20 N

4 00 E

Lisbon (capital)

Portugal

38 43 N

9 08 W

Little Belt (strait; also Lille Baelt)

Atlantic Ocean

55 05 N

9 55 E

Ljubljana (capital)

Slovenia

46 03 N

14 31 E

Llanos (region)

Venezuela

8 00 N

68 00 W

Lobamba (city)

Swaziland

26 27 S

31 12 E

Lombok (island)

Indonesia

8 28 S

116 40 E

Lombok Strait

Indian Ocean

8 30 S

115 50 E

Lome (capital)

Togo

6 08 N

1 13 E

London (capital)

United Kingdom

51 30 N

0 10 W

Longyearbyen (capital)

Svalbard

78 13 N

15 33 E

Lord Howe Island

Australia

31 30 S

159 00 E

Lorraine (region)

France

48 42 N

6 11 E

Louisiade Archipelago

Papua New Guinea

11 00 S

153 00 E

Lourenco Marques (city; former name for Maputo)

Mozambique

25 56 S

32 34 E

Loyalty Islands (Iles Loyaute)

New Caledonia

21 00 S

167 00 E

Luanda (capital)

Angola

8 48 S

13 14 E

Lubnan (local name for Lebanon)

Lebanon

33 50 N

36 50 E

Lubumbashi (city)

Democratic Republic of the Congo

11 40 S

27 28 E

Lusaka (capital)

Zambia

15 25 S

28 17 E

Luxembourg (capital)

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

Macao

Macau

22 10 N

113 33 E

Macquarie Island

Australia

54 36 S

158 54 E

Madagasikara (local name for Madagascar)

Madagascar

20 00 S

47 00 E

Maddalena, Isola

Italy

41 13 N

09 24 E

Madeira Islands

Portugal

32 40 N

16 45 W

Madras (city; see Chennai)

India

13 04 N

80 16 E

Madrid (capital)

Spain

40 24 N

3 41 W

Magellan, Strait of

Atlantic Ocean

54 00 S

71 00 W

Maghreb (region)

Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia

34 00 N

3 00 E

Magreb (local name for Morocco)

Morocco

32 00 N

5 00 W

Magyarorszag (local name for Hungary)

Hungary

47 00 N

20 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 (capital)

Marshall Islands

7 05 N

171 08 E

Makassar Strait

Pacific Ocean

2 00 S

117 30 E

Makedonija (local name for Macedonia)

Macedonia

41 50 N

22 00 E

Malabo (capital)

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

Malay Archipelago

Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines

2 30 N

120 00 E

Malay Peninsula

Malaysia, Thailand

7 10 N

100 35 E

Male (capital)

Maldives

4 10 N

73 31 E

Mallorca, Isla de (island; also Majorca)

Spain

39 30 N

3 00 E

Malmady (region)

Belgium

50 26 N

6 02 E

Malpelo, Isla de (island)

Colombia

4 00 N

90 30 W

Malta Channel

Atlantic Ocean

56 44 N

26 53 E

Malvinas, Islas (island group)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

51 45 S

59 00 W

Mamoutzou (capital)

Mayotte

12 47 S

45 14 E

Managua (capital)

Nicaragua

12 09 N

86 17 W

Manama (capital)

Bahrain

26 13 N

50 35 E

Manchukuo (former state)

China

44 00 N

124 00 E

Manchuria (region)

China

44 00 N

124 00 E

Manila (capital)

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 (capital)

Mozambique

25 58 S

32 35 E

Marcus Island (Minami-tori-shima)

Japan

24 16 N

154 00 E

Margarita, Isla (island)

Venezuela

10 00 N

64 00 W

Mariana Islands

Guam, Northern Mariana Islands

16 00 N

145 30 E

Marie Byrd Land (region)

Antarctica

77 00 S

130 00 W

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

Martin Vaz, Ilhas (island group)

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 (capital)

Lesotho

29 28 S

27 30 E

Mata-Utu (capital)

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

Mauritanie (local name for Mauritania)

Mauritania

20 00 N

12 00 W

Mazatlan (city)

Mexico

23 13 N

106 25 W

Mbabane (capital)

Swaziland

26 18 S

31 06 E

McDonald Islands

Heard Island and McDonald Islands

53 06 S

73 30 E

Mecca (city)

Saudi Arabia

21 27 N

39 49 E

Mediterranean Sea

Atlantic Ocean

36 00 N

15 00 E

Melilla (exclave)

Spain

35 19 N

2 58 W

Memel (region)

Lithuania

55 43 N

21 30 E

Mesopotamia (region)

Iraq

33 00 N

44 00 E

Messina, Strait of

Atlantic Ocean

38 15 N

15 35 E

Mexico City (capital)

Mexico

19 24 N

99 09 W

Mexico, Gulf of

Atlantic Ocean

25 00 N

90 00 W

Middle Congo (former name for Republic of the Congo)

Republic of the Congo

1 00 S

15 00 E

Milwaukee Deep (Puerto Rico Trench)

Atlantic Ocean

19 55 N

65 27 W

Minami-tori-shima (Marcus Island)

Japan

24 16 N

154 00 E

Mindanao (island)

Philippines

8 00 N

125 00 E

Mindanao Sea

Pacific Ocean

9 15 N

124 30 E

Mindoro (island)

Philippines

12 50 N

121 05 E

Mindoro Strait

Pacific Ocean

12 20 N

120 40 E

Mingrelia (region)

Georgia

42 30 N

41 52 E

Minicoy Island

India

8 17 N

73 02 E

Minorca Island (Isla de Menorca)

Spain

40 00 N

4 00 E

Minsk (capital)

Belarus

53 54 N

27 34 E

Misr (local name for Egypt)

Egypt

27 00 N

30 00 E

Mitla Pass

Egypt

30 02 N

32 54 E

Mocambique (local name for Mozambique)

Mozambique

18 15 S

35 00 E

Mogadishu (capital)

Somalia

2 04 N

45 22 E

Moldavia (region)

Moldova, Romania

47 00 N

29 00 E

Molucca Sea

Pacific Ocean

2 00 N

127 00 E

Moluccas (Spice Islands)

Indonesia

2 00 S

128 00 E

Mombasa (city)

Kenya

4 03 S

39 40 E

Mona Passage

Atlantic Ocean

18 30 N

67 45 W

Monaco (capital)

Monaco

43 44 N

7 25 E

Mongol Uls (local name for Mongolia)

Mongolia

46 00 N

105 00 E

Monrovia (capital)

Liberia

6 18 N

10 47 W

Montenegro (political region)

Serbia and Montenegro

42 30 N

19 00 E

Monterrey (city)

Mexico

25 40 N

100 19 W

Montevideo (capital)

Uruguay

34 53 S

56 11 W

Montreal (city)

Canada

45 31 N

73 34 W

Moravia (region)

Czech Republic

49 30 N

17 00 E

Moravian Gate (pass)

Czech Republic

49 35 N

17 50 E

Moroni (capital)

Comoros

11 41 S

43 16 E

Mortlock Islands (Nomoi Islands)

Federated States of Micronesia

5 30 N

153 40 E

Moscow (capital)

Russia

55 45 N

37 35 E

Mount Pinatubo (volcano)

Philippines

15 08 N

120 21 E

Mozambique Channel

Indian Ocean

19 00 S

41 00 E

Muritaniyah (local name for Mauritania)

Mauritania

20 00 N

12 00 W

Musandam Peninsula

Oman, United Arab Emirates

26 18 N

56 24 E

Muscat (capital)

Oman

23 37 N

58 35 E

Muscat and Oman (former name for Oman)

Oman

21 00 N

57 00 E

Myanma, Myanmar

Burma

22 00 N

98 00 E

N'Djamena (capital)

Chad

12 07 N

15 03 E

Nagorno-Karabakh (region)

Azerbaijan

40 00 N

46 40 E

Nairobi (capital)

Kenya

1 17 S

36 49 E

Namib (desert)

Namibia

24 00 S

15 00 E

Nampo-shoto (island group)

Japan

30 00 N

140 00 E

Nassau (capital)

The Bahamas

25 05 N

77 21 W

Natal (region)

South Africa

29 00 S

30 25 E

Natuna Besar Islands

Indonesia

3 30 N

102 30 E

Natuna Sea

Pacific Ocean

3 30 N

108 00 E

Naxcivan (region)

Azerbaijan

39 20 N

45 20 E

Naxos (island)

Greece

37 05 N

25 30 E

Nederland (local name for the Netherlands)

Netherlands

52 30 N

5 45 E

Nederlandse Antillen (local name for the Netherlands Antilles)

Netherlands Antilles

12 15 N

68 45 W

Negev (region)

Israel

30 30 N

34 55 E

Negros (island)

Philippines

10 00 N

123 00 E

Nejd (region)

Saudi Arabia

24 05 N

45 15 E

Netherlands East Indies (former name for Indonesia)

Indonesia

5 00 S

120 00 E

Netherlands Guiana (former name for Suriname)

Suriname

4 00 N

56 00 W

Nevis (island)

Saint Kitts and Nevis

17 09 N

62 35 W

New Britain (island)

Papua New Guinea

6 00 S

150 00 E

New Delhi (capital)

India

28 36 N

77 12 E

New Guinea (island)

Indonesia, Papua New Guinea

5 00 S

140 00 E

New Hebrides (island group)

Vanuatu

16 00 S

167 00 E

New Ireland (island)

Papua New Guinea

3 20 N

152 00 E

New Siberian Islands

Russia

75 00 N

142 00 E

New Territories (mainland region)

Hong Kong

22 24 N

114 10 E

Newfoundland (island, with mainland area, and a province)

Canada

52 00 N

56 00 W

Niamey (capital)

Niger

13 31 N

2 07 E

Nicobar Islands

India

8 00 N

93 30 E

Nicosia (capital)

Cyprus

35 10 N

33 22 E

Nightingale Island

Saint Helena

37 25 S

12 30 W

Nihon, Nippon (local name for Japan)

Japan

36 00 N

138 00 E

Nomoi Islands (Mortlock Islands)

Federated States of Micronesia

5 30 N

153 40 E

Norge (local name for Norway)

Norway

62 00 N

10 00 E

Norman Isles (Channel Islands)

Guernsey, Jersey

49 20 N

2 20 W

North Atlantic Ocean

Atlantic Ocean

30 00 N

45 00 W

North Channel

Atlantic Ocean

55 10 N

5 40 W

North Frisian Islands

Denmark, Germany

54 50 N

8 12 E

North Greenland Sea

Arctic Ocean

78 00 N

5 00 W

North Island

New Zealand

39 00 S

176 00 E

North Ossetia (region)

Russia

43 00 N

44 10 E

North Pacific Ocean

Pacific Ocean

30 00 N

165 00 W

North Sea

Atlantic Ocean

56 00 N

4 00 E

North Vietnam (former name for northern portion of Vietnam)

Vietnam

23 00 N

106 00 E

North Yemen (Yemen Arab Republic; now part of Yemen)

Yemen

15 00 N

44 00 E

Northeast Providence Channel

Atlantic Ocean

25 40 N

77 09 W

Northern Cyprus (region)

Cyprus

35 15 N

33 44 E

Northern Epirus (region)

Albania, Greece

40 00 N

20 30 E

Northern Grenadines (political region)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

12 45 N

61 15 W

Northern Ireland

United Kingdom

54 40 N

6 45 W

Northern Rhodesia (former name for Zambia)

Zambia

15 00 S

30 00 E

Northwest Passages

Arctic Ocean

74 40 N

100 00 W

Norwegian Sea

Atlantic Ocean

66 00 N

6 00 E

Nouakchott (capital)

Mauritania

18 06 N

15 57 W

Noumea (capital)

New Caledonia

22 16 S

166 27 E

Nouvelle-Caledonie (local name for New Caledonia)

New Caledonia

21 30 S

165 30 E

Nouvelles Hebrides (former name for Vanuatu)

Vanuatu

16 00 S

167 00 E

Novaya Zemlya (islands)

Russia

74 00 N

57 00 E

Nubia (region)

Egypt, Sudan

20 30 N

33 00 E

Nuku'alofa (capital)

Tonga

21 08 S

175 12 W

Nunavut (region)

Canada

72 00 N

90 00 W

Nuuk (capital; also Godthab)

Greenland

64 11 N

51 44 W

Nyasaland (former name for Malawi)

Malawi

13 30 S

34 00 E

Nyassa (region)

Mozambique

13 30 S

37 00 E

Oahu (island)

United States (Hawaii)

21 30 N

158 00 W

Ocean Island (Banaba)

Kiribati

0 52 S

169 35 E

Ocean Island (Kure Island)

United States

28 25 N

178 20 W

Oesterreich (local name for Austria)

Austria

47 20 N

13 20 E

Ogaden (region)

Ethiopia, Somalia

7 00 N

46 00 E

Oil Islands (Chagos Archipelago)

British Indian Ocean Territory

6 00 S

71 30 E

Okhotsk, Sea of

Pacific Ocean

53 00 N

150 00 E

Okinawa (island group)

Japan

26 30 N

128 00 E

Oland (island)

Sweden

56 45 N

16 40 E

Oman, Gulf of

Indian Ocean

24 30 N

58 30 E

Ombai Strait

Pacific Ocean

8 30 S

125 00 E

Oran (city)

Algeria

35 43 N

0 43 W

Orange River Colony (region; former name of Free State Province of South Africa)

South Africa

28 20 S

26 40 E

Oranjestad (capital)

Aruba

12 33 N

70 06 W

Oresund (The Sound) (strait)

Atlantic Ocean

55 50 N

12 40 E

Orkney Islands

United Kingdom

59 00 N

3 00 W

Oslo (capital)

Norway

59 55 N

10 45 E

Osumi Strait (Van Diemen Strait)

Pacific Ocean

31 00 N

131 00 E

Otranto, Strait of

Atlantic Ocean

40 00 N

19 00 E

Ottawa (capital)

Canada

45 25 N

75 40 W

Ouagadougou (capital)

Burkina Faso

12 22 N

1 31 W

Outer Hebrides (islands)

United Kingdom

57 45 N

7 00 W

Outer Mongolia (region)

Mongolia

46 00 N

105 00 E

P'yongyang (capital)

North Korea

39 01 N

125 45 E

Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the

Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau

10 00 N

155 00 E

Pagan (island)

Northern Mariana Islands

18 08 N

145 47 E

Pago Pago (capital)

American Samoa

14 16 S

170 42 W

Palawan (island)

Philippines

9 30 N

118 30 E

Palermo (city)

Italy

38 07 N

13 21 E

Palestine (region)

Israel, West Bank

32 00 N

35 15 E

Palikir (capital)

Federated States of Micronesia

6 55 N

158 08 E

Palk Strait

Indian Ocean

10 00 N

79 45 E

Pamirs (mountains)

China, Tajikistan

38 00 N

73 00 E

Pampas (region)

Argentina

35 00 S

63 00 W

Panama (capital)

Panama

8 58 N

79 32 W

Panama Canal

Panama

9 00 N

79 45 W

Panama, Gulf of

Pacific Ocean

8 00 N

79 30 W

Panay (island)

Philippines

11 15 N

122 30 E

Pantelleria, Isola di (island)

Italy

36 47 N

12 00 E

Papeete (capital)

French Polynesia

17 32 S

149 34 W

Paramaribo (capital)

Suriname

5 50 N

55 10 W

Parece Vela (island)

Japan

20 20 N

136 00 E

Paris (capital)

France

48 52 N

2 20 E

Pascua, Isla de (Easter Island)

Chile

27 07 S

109 22 W

Pashtunistan (region)

Afghanistan, Pakistan

32 00 N

69 00 E

Passion, Ile de la (island)

Clipperton Island

10 17 N

109 13 W

Patagonia (region)

Argentina

48 00 S

61 00 W

Peking (see Beijing)

China

39 56 N

116 24 E

Pelagian Islands (Isole Pelagie)

Italy

35 40 N

12 40 E

Peleliu (Beliliou) (island)

Palau

7 01 N

134 15 E

Peloponnese (peninsula)

Greece

37 30 N

22 25 E

Pemba Island

Tanzania

5 20 S

39 45 E

Penang Island

Malaysia

5 23 N

100 15 E

Pentland Firth (channel)

Atlantic Ocean

58 44 N

3 13 W

Perim (island)

Yemen

12 39 N

43 25 E

Perouse Strait, La

Pacific Ocean

44 45 N

142 00 E

Persia (former name for Iran)

Iran

32 00 N

53 00 E

Persian Gulf

Indian Ocean

27 00 N

51 00 E

Pescadores (islands)

Taiwan

23 30 N

119 30 E

Peter I Island

Antarctica

68 48 S

90 35 W

Philip Island

Norfolk Island

29 08 S

167 57 E

Philippine Sea

Pacific Ocean

20 00 N

134 00 E

Phnom Penh (capital)

Cambodia

11 33 N

104 55 E

Phoenix Islands

Kiribati

3 30 S

172 00 W

Pinatubo, Mount (volcano)

Philippines

15 08 N

120 21 E

Pines, Isle of (island; former name for Isla de la Juventud)

Cuba

21 40 N

82 50 W

Pleasant Island

Nauru

0 32 S

166 55 E

Plymouth (capital)

Montserrat

16 44 N

62 14 W

Polska (local name)

Poland

52 00 N

20 00 E

Polynesie Francaise (local name for French Polynesia)

French Polynesia

15 00 S

140 00 W

Pomerania (region)

Germany, Poland

53 40 N

15 35 E

Ponape (Pohnpei) (island)

Federated States of Micronesia

6 55 N

158 15 E

Port Louis (capital)

Mauritius

20 10 S

57 30 E

Port Moresby (capital)

Papua New Guinea

9 30 S

147 10 E

Port-Vila (capital)

Vanuatu

17 44 S

168 19 E

Port-au-Prince (capital)

Haiti

18 32 N

72 20 W

Port-of-Spain (capital)

Trinidad and Tobago

10 39 N

61 31 W

Porto-Novo (capital)

Benin

6 29 N

2 37 E

Portuguese East Africa (former name for Mozambique)

Mozambique

18 15 S

35 00 E

Portuguese Guinea (former name for Guinea-Bissau)

Guinea-Bissau

12 00 N

15 00 W

Portuguese Timor (former name for East Timor)

East Timor

9 00 S

126 00 E

Poznan (city)

Poland

52 25 N

16 55 E

Prague (capital)

Czech Republic

40 55 N

21 00 E

Praia (capital)

Cape Verde

14 55 N

23 31 W

Prathet Thai (local name for Thailand)

Thailand

15 00 N

100 00 E

Pretoria (administrative capital)

South Africa

25 45 S

28 10 E

Prevlaka peninsula

Croatia

42 24 N

18 31 E

Pribilof Islands

United States

57 00 N

170 00 W

Prince Edward Island

Canada

46 20 N

63 20 W

Prince Edward Islands

South Africa

46 35 S

38 00 E

Prince Patrick Island

Canada

76 30 N

119 00 W

Principe (island)

Sao Tome and Principe

1 38 N

7 25 E

Prussia (region)

Germany, Poland, Russia

53 00 N

14 00 E

Pukapuka Atoll

Cook Islands

10 53 S

165 49 W

Punjab (region)

India, Pakistan

30 50 N

73 30 E

Puntland (region)

Somalia

8 21 N

49 08 E

Qazaqstan (local name for Kazakhstan)

Kazakhstan

48 00 N

68 00 E

Qita Ghazzah (local name Gaza Strip)

Gaza Strip

31 25 N

34 20 E

Queen Charlotte Islands

Canada

53 00 N

132 00 W

Queen Elizabeth Islands

Canada

78 00 N

95 00 W

Queen Maud Land (claimed by Norway)

Antarctica

73 30 S

12 00 E

Quemoy (island)

Taiwan

24 27 N

118 23 E

Quito (capital)

Ecuador

0 13 S

78 30 W

Rabat (capital)

Morocco

34 02 N

6 51 W

Ralik Chain (island group)

Marshall Islands

8 00 N

167 00 E

Rangoon (capital; also Yangon)

Burma

16 47 N

96 10 E

Rapa Nui (Easter Island)

Chile

27 07 S

109 22 W

Ratak Chain (island group)

Marshall Islands

9 00 N

171 00 E

Red Sea

Indian Ocean

20 00 N

38 00 E

Redonda (island)

Antigua and Barbuda

16 55 N

62 19 W

Republica Dominicana (local name for Dominican Republic)

Dominican Republic

19 00 N

70 40 W

Republique Centrafricain (local name for Central African Republic)

Central African Republic

7 00 N

21 00 E

Republique Francaise (local name for France)

France

46 00 N

2 00 E

Republique Gabonaise (local name for Gabon)

Gabon

1 00 S

11 45 E

Republique Rwandaise (local name for Rwanda)

Rwanda

2 00 S

30 00 E

Republique Togolaise (local name for Togo)

Togo

8 00 N

1 10 E

Revillagigedo Island

United States (Alaska)

55 35 N

131 06 W

Revillagigedo Islands

Mexico

19 00 N

112 45 W

Reykjavik (capital)

Iceland

64 09 N

21 57 W

Rhodes (island)

Greece

36 10 N

28 00 E

Rhodesia, Northern (former name for Zambia)

Zambia

15 00 S

30 00 E

Rhodesia, Southern (former name for Zimbabwe)

Zimbabwe

20 00 S

30 00 E

Riga (capital)

Latvia

56 57 N

24 06 E

Riga, Gulf of

Atlantic Ocean

57 30 N

23 30 E

Rio Muni (mainland region)

Equatorial Guinea

1 30 N

10 00 E

Rio de Oro (region)

Western Sahara

23 45 N

15 45 W

Rio de la Plata (gulf)

Atlantic Ocean

35 00 S

59 00 W

Riyadh (capital)

Saudi Arabia

24 38 N

46 43 E

Road Town (capital)

British Virgin Islands

18 27 N

64 37 W

Robinson Crusoe Island (Mas a Tierra)

Chile

33 38 S

78 52 W

Rocas, Atol das (island)

Brazil

3 51 S

33 49 W

Rockall (island)

United Kingdom

57 35 N

13 48 W

Rodrigues (island)

Mauritius

19 42 S

63 25 E

Rome (capital)

Italy

41 54 N

12 29 E

Roncador Cay (island)

Colombia

13 32 N

80 03 W

Roosevelt Island

Antarctica

79 30 S

162 00 W

Roseau (capital)

Dominica

15 18 N

61 24 W

Ross Dependency (claimed by New Zealand)

Antarctica

80 00 S

180 00 E

Ross Island

Antarctica

81 30 S

175 00 W

Ross Sea

Antarctica, Southern Ocean

76 00 S

175 00 W

Rossiya (local name for Russia)

Russia

60 00 N

100 00 E

Rota (island)

Northern Mariana Islands

14 10 N

145 12 E

Rotuma (island)

Fiji

12 30 S

177 05 E

Ruanda (former name for Rwanda)

Rwanda

2 00 S

30 00 E

Rub al Khali (desert)

Saudi Arabia

19 30 N

49 00 E

Rumelia (region)

Albania, Bulgaria, Macedonia

42 00 N

22 30 E

Ruthenia (region; former name for Carpatho-Ukraine)

Ukraine

48 22 N

23 32 E

Ryukyu Islands

Japan

26 30 N

128 00 E

Saar (region)

Germany

49 25 N

7 00 E

Saaremaa (island)

Estonia

58 25 N

22 30 E

Saba (island)

Netherlands Antilles

17 38 N

63 10 W

Sabah (state)

Malaysia

5 20 N

117 10 E

Sable Island

Canada

43 55 N

59 50 W

Safety Islands (Iles du Salut)

French Guiana

5 20 N

52 37 W

Sahara Occidental (former name for Western Sahara)

Western Sahara

24 30 N

13 00 W

Sahel (region)

Burkina Faso, Chad, The Gambia, Guinea- Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal

15 00 N

8 00 W

Saigon (city; former name for Ho Chi Minh City)

Vietnam

10 45 N

106 40 E

Saint Barthelemy (island; also Saint Bart's)

Guadeloupe

17 55 N

62 52 W

Saint Brandon (Cargados Carajos Shoals)

Mauritius

16 25 S

59 38 E

Saint Christopher (island)

Saint Kitts and Nevis

17 20 N

62 45 W

Saint Christopher and Nevis

Saint Kitts and Nevis

17 20 N

62 45 W

Saint Eustatius (island)

Netherlands Antilles

17 30 N

63 00 W

Saint George's (capital)

Grenada

12 03 N

61 45 W

Saint George's Channel

Atlantic Ocean

52 00 N

6 00 W

Saint Helens, Mount (volcano)

United States

46 15 N

122 12 W

Saint Helier (capital)

Jersey

49 12 N

2 07 W

Saint John (city)

Canada (New Brunswick)

45 16 N

66 04 W

Saint John's (capital)

Antigua and Barbuda

17 06 N

61 51 W

Saint Lawrence Island

United States

49 30 N

67 00 W

Saint Lawrence Seaway

Atlantic Ocean

49 15 N

67 00 W

Saint Lawrence, Gulf of

Atlantic Ocean

48 00 N

62 00 W

Saint Paul Island

Canada

47 12 N

60 09 W

Saint Paul Island

United States

57 11 N

170 16 W

Saint Paul Island (Ile Saint-Paul)

French Southern and Antarctic Lands

38 43 S

77 29 E

Saint Peter Port (capital)

Guernsey

49 27 N

2 32 W

Saint Peter and Saint Paul Rocks (Penedos de Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo)

Brazil

0 23 N

29 23 W

Saint Petersburg (city; former capital)

Russia

59 55 N

30 15 E

Saint Thomas (island)

Virgin Islands

18 21 N

64 55 W

Saint Vincent Passage

Atlantic Ocean

13 30 N

61 00 W

Saint-Denis (capital)

Reunion

20 52 S

55 28 E

Saint-Martin (island; also Sint Maarten)

Guadeloupe

18 04 N

63 04 W

Saint-Pierre (capital)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

46 46 N

56 11 W

Saipan (island)

Northern Mariana Islands

15 12 N

145 45 E

Sak'art'velo (local name for Georgia)

Georgia

42 00 N

43 30 E

Sakhalin Island (Ostrov Sakhalin)

Russia

51 00 N

143 00 E

Sakishima Islands

Japan

24 30 N

124 00 E

Sala y Gomez, Isla (island)

Chile

26 28 S

105 00 W

Salisbury (city; former name for Harare)

Zimbabwe

17 50 S

105 00 W

Salzburg (city)

Austria

47 48 N

13 02 E

Samar (island)

Philippines

12 00 N

125 00 E

Samaria (region)

West Bank

32 15 N

35 10 E

Samoa Islands

American Samoa, Samoa

14 00 S

171 00 W

Samos (island)

Greece

37 48 N

26 44 E

San Ambrosio, Isla (island)

Chile

26 21 S

79 52 W

San Andres y Providencia, Archipielago (island group)

Colombia

13 00 N

81 30 W

San Bernardino Strait

Pacific Ocean

12 32 N

124 10 E

San Felix, Isla (island)

Chile

26 17 S

80 05 W

San Jose (capital)

Costa Rica

9 56 N

84 05 W

San Juan (capital)

Puerto Rico

18 28 N

66 07 W

San Marino (capital)

San Marino

43 56 N

12 25 E

San Salvador (capital)

El Salvador

13 42 N

89 12 W

Sanaa (capital)

Yemen

15 21 N

44 12 E

Sandzak (region)

Serbia and Montenegro

43 05 N

19 45 E

Santa Cruz (city)

Bolivia

17 48 S

63 10 W

Santa Cruz Islands

Solomon Islands

11 00 S

166 15 E

Santa Sede (local name for the Holy See)

Holy See

41 54 N

12 27 E

Santiago (capital)

Chile

33 27 S

70 40 W

Santo Antao (island)

Cape Verde

17 05 N

25 10 W

Santo Domingo (capital)

Dominican Republic

18 28 N

69 54 W

Sao Pedro e Sao Paulo, Penedos de (rocks)

Brazil

0 23 N

29 23 W

Sao Tiago (island)

Cape Verde

15 05 N

23 40 W

Sao Tome (island)

Sao Tome and Principe

0 12 N

6 39 E

Sapudi Strait

Pacific Ocean

7 05 S

114 10 E

Sarajevo (capital)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

43 52 N

18 25 E

Sarawak (state)

Malaysia

2 30 N

113 30 E

Sardinia (island)

Italy

40 00 N

9 00 E

Sargasso Sea (region)

Atlantic Ocean

30 00 N

55 00 W

Sark (island)

Guernsey

49 26 N

2 21 W

Savage Island (former name for Niue)

Niue

19 02 S

169 52 W

Savu Sea

Pacific Ocean

9 30 S

122 00 E

Saxony (region)

Germany

51 00 N

13 00 E

Schleswig-Holstein (region)

Germany

54 31 N

9 33 E

Schweiz (local German name for Switzerland)

Switzerland

47 00 N

8 00 E

Scopus, Mount

Israel, West Bank

31 48 N

35 14 E

Scotia Sea

Atlantic Ocean, Southern Ocean

56 00 S

40 00 W

Scotland (region)

United Kingdom

57 00 N

4 00 W

Scott Island

Antarctica

67 24 S

179 55 W

Senegambia (region; former name of confederation of Senegal and The Gambia)

The Gambia, Senegal

13 50 N

15 25 W

Senyavin Islands

Federated States of Micronesia

6 55 N

158 00 E

Seoul (capital)

South Korea

37 34 N

127 00 E

Serendib (former name for Sri Lanka)

Sri Lanka

7 00 N

81 00 E

Serrana Bank (shoal)

Colombia

14 25 N

80 16 W

Serranilla Bank (shoal)

Colombia

15 51 N

79 46 W

Settlement, The (capital)

Christmas Island

18 44 N

64 19 W

Severnaya Zemlya (island group; also Northland)

Russia

79 30 N

98 00 E

Shaba (region)

Democratic Republic of the Congo

8 00 S

27 00 E

Shag Island

Heard Island and McDonald Islands

53 00 S

72 30 E

Shag Rocks

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

53 33 S

42 02 W

Shetland Islands

United Kingdom

60 30 N

1 30 W

Shikoku (island)

Japan

33 45 N

133 30 E

Shikotan (island)

Russia (de facto)

43 47 N

146 45 E

Shqiperia (local name for Albania)

Albania

41 00 N

20 00 E

Siam (former name for Thailand)

Thailand

15 00 N

100 00 E

Siberia (region)

Russia

60 00 N

100 00 E

Sibutu Passage

Pacific Ocean

4 50 N

119 35 E

Sicily (island)

Italy

37 30 N

14 00 E

Sicily, Strait of

Atlantic Ocean

37 20 N

11 20 E

Sidra, Gulf of

Atlantic Ocean

31 30 N

18 00 E

Sikkim (state)

India

27 50 N

88 30 E

Silesia (region)

Czech Republic, Germany, Poland

51 00 N

17 00 E

Sinai Peninsula

Egypt

29 30 N

34 00 E

Singapore (capital)

Singapore

1 17 N

103 51 E

Singapore Strait

Pacific Ocean

1 15 N

104 00 E

Sinkiang (autonomous region; also Xinjiang)

China

42 00 N

86 00 E

Sint Eustatius (island)

Netherlands Antilles

17 29 N

62 58 W

Sint Maarten (island; also Saint-Martin)

Netherlands Antilles

18 04 N

63 04 W

Sjaelland (island)

Denmark

55 30 N

12 00 E

Skagerrak (strait)

Atlantic Ocean

57 45 N

9 00 E

Skopje (capital)

Macedonia

41 59 N

21 26 E

Slavonia (region)

Croatia

45 27 N

18 00 E

Slovenija (local name for Slovenia)

Slovenia

46 00 N

15 00 E

Slovensko (local name for Slovakia)

Slovakia

48 40 N

19 30 E

Smyrna (region; former name for Izmir)

Turkey

38 25 N

27 10 E

Society Islands (Iles de la Societe)

French Polynesia

17 00 S

150 00 W

Socotra (island)

Yemen

12 30 N

54 00 E

Sofia (capital)

Bulgaria

42 41 N

23 19 E

Solomon Islands, northern

Papua New Guinea

6 00 S

155 00 E

Solomon Islands, southern

Solomon Islands

8 00 S

159 00 E

Solomon Sea

Pacific Ocean

8 00 S

153 00 E

Somaliland (region)

Somalia

9 30 N

46 00 E

Somers Islands (former name for Bermuda)

Bermuda

32 20 N

64 45 W

Songkhla (city)

Thailand

7 12 N

100 36 E

Sound, The (strait; also Oresund)

Atlantic Ocean

55 50 N

12 40 E

South Atlantic Ocean

Atlantic Ocean

30 00 S

15 00 W

South China Sea

Pacific Ocean

10 00 N

113 00 E

South Georgia (island)

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

54 15 S

36 45 W

South Island

New Zealand

43 00 S

171 00 E

South Korea

South Korea

37 00 N

127 30 E

South Orkney Islands

Antarctica

61 00 S

45 00 W

South Ossetia (region)

Georgia

42 20 N

44 00 E

South Pacific Ocean

Pacific Ocean

30 00 S

130 00 W

South Sandwich Islands

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

57 45 S

26 30 W

South Shetland Islands

Antarctica

62 00 S

59 00 W

South Tyrol (region)

Italy

46 30 N

10 30 E

South Vietnam (former name for the southern portion of Vietnam)

Vietnam

12 00 N

108 00 E

South Yemen (People's Democratic Republic of Yemen; now part of Yemen)

Yemen

14 00 N

48 00 E

South-West Africa (former name for Namibia)

Namibia

22 00 S

17 00 E

Southern Grenadines (island group)

Grenada

12 20 N

61 30 W

Southern Rhodesia (former name for Zimbabwe)

Zimbabwe

20 00 S

30 00 E

Soviet Union (former name of a large Eurasian empire, roughly coequal with the former Russian Empire)

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

Spanish Guinea (former name for Equatorial Guinea)

Equatorial Guinea

2 00 N

10 00 E

Spanish Morocco (former name for northern Morocco)

Morocco

32 00 N

7 00 W

Spanish North Africa (exclaves)

Spain (Ceuta, Islas Chafarinas, Melilla, Penon de Alhucemas, Penon de Velez de la Gomera)

35 15 N

4 00 W

Spanish Sahara (former name)

Western Sahara

24 30 N

13 00 W

Spanish West Africa (former name for Ifni and Spanish Sahara)

Morocco, Western Sahara

25 00 N

13 00 W

Spice Islands (Moluccas)

Indonesia

2 00 S

28 00 E

Spitsbergen (island)

Svalbard

78 00 N

20 00 E

Srbija-Crna Gora (local name for Serbia and Montenegro)

Serbia and Montenegro

44 00 N

21 00 E

St. John's (city)

Canada (Newfoundland)

47 34 N

52 43 W

Stanley (capital)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

51 42 S

57 41 W

Stockholm (capital)

Sweden

59 20 N

18 03 E

Stuttgart (city)

Germany

48 46 N

9 11 E

Sucre (constitutional capital)

Bolivia

19 02 S

65 17 W

Suez Canal

Egypt

29 55 N

32 33 E

Suez, Gulf of

Indian Ocean

28 10 N

33 27 E

Suisse (local French name for Switzerland)

Switzerland

47 00 N

8 00 E

Sulawesi (island; Celebes)

Indonesia

2 00 S

121 00 E

Sulawesi Sea

Pacific Ocean

3 00 N

122 00 E

Sulu Archipelago (island group)

Philippines

6 00 N

121 00 E

Sulu Sea

Pacific Ocean

8 00 N

120 00 E

Sumatra (island)

Indonesia

0 00 N

102 00 E

Sumba (island)

Indonesia

10 00 S

120 00 E

Sumba Strait

Pacific Ocean

9 10 S

120 00 E

Sumbawa (island)

Indonesia

8 30 S

118 00 E

Sunda Islands (Soenda Isles)

Indonesia, Malaysia

2 00 S

110 00 E

Sunda Strait

Indian Ocean

6 00 S

105 45 E

Suomi (local name for Finland)

Finland

64 00 N

26 00 E

Surigao Strait

Pacific Ocean

10 15 N

125 23 E

Surinam (former name for Suriname)

Suriname

4 00 N

56 00 W

Suriyah (local name for Syria)

Syria

35 00 N

38 00 E

Surtsey (volcanic island)

Iceland

63 17 N

20 40 W

Suva (capital)

Fiji

18 08 S

178 25 E

Sverdlovsk (city; also Yekaterinburg)

Russia

56 50 N

60 39 E

Sverige (local name for Sweden)

Sweden

62 00 N

15 00 E

Svizzera (local Italian name for Switzerland)

Switzerland

47 00 N

8 00 E

Swains Island

American Samoa

11 03 S

171 15 W

Swan Islands

Honduras

17 25 S

83 56 W

T'bilisi (capital)

Georgia

41 43 N

44 49 E

Tadzhikistan (former name for Tajikistan)

Tajikistan

39 00 N

71 00 E

Tahiti (island)

French Polynesia

17 37 S

149 27 W

Taipei (capital)

Taiwan

25 03 N

121 30 E

Taiwan Strait

Pacific Ocean

24 00 N

119 00 E

Tallinn (capital)

Estonia

59 25 N

24 45 E

Tanganyika (former name for the mainland portion of Tanzania)

Tanzania

6 00 S

35 00 E

Tangier (city)

Morocco

35 48 N

5 45 W

Tannu-Tuva (region)

Russia

51 25 N

94 45 E

Tarawa (island)

Kiribati

1 25 N

173 00 E

Tartary, Gulf of

Pacific Ocean

50 00 N

141 00 E

Tashkent (capital)

Uzbekistan

41 20 N

69 18 E

Tasman Sea

Pacific Ocean

4 30 S

168 00 E

Tasmania (island)

Australia

43 00 S

147 00 E

Tatar Strait

Pacific Ocean

50 00 N

141 00 E

Taymyr Peninsula (Poluostrov Taymyr)

Russia

76 00 N

104 00 E

Tchad (local name for Chad)

Chad

15 00 N

19 00 E

Tegucigalpa (capital)

Honduras

14 06 N

87 13 W

Tehran (capital)

Iran

35 40 N

51 26 E

Tel Aviv (capital, de facto)

Israel

32 05 N

34 48 E

Teluk Bone (gulf)

Pacific Ocean

4 00 S

120 45 E

Teluk Tomini (gulf)

Pacific Ocean

0 30 S

121 00 E

Terre Adelie (claimed by France; also Adelie Land)

Antarctica

66 30 S

139 00 E

Terres Australes et Antarctiques Francaises (local name for the French Southern and Antarctic Lands)

French Southern and Antarctic Lands

43 00 S

67 00 E

Thailand, Gulf of

Pacific Ocean

10 00 N

101 00 E

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

Macedonia

41 50 N

22 00 E

Thimphu (capital)

Bhutan

27 28 N

89 39 E

Thuringia (region)

Germany

51 00 N

11 00 E

Thurston Island

Antarctica

72 20 S

99 00 W

Tiberias, Lake

Israel

32 48 N

35 35 E

Tibet (autonomous region; also Xizang)

China

32 00 N

90 00 E

Tibilisi (see T'bilisi)

Georgia

41 43 N

44 49 E

Tien Shan (mountains)

China, Kyrgyzstan

42 00 N

80 00 E

Tierra del Fuego (island, island group)

Argentina, Chile

54 00 S

69 00 W

Timor (island)

East Timor, Indonesia

9 00 S

125 00 E

Timor Sea

Pacific Ocean

11 00 S

128 00 E

Timor-Leste, Timor Lorosa'e (local names for East Timor)

East Timor

9 00 N

126 00 E

Tinian (island)

Northern Mariana Islands

15 00 N

145 38 E

Tiran, Strait of

Indian Ocean

28 00 N

34 27 E

Tirana, Tirane (capital)

Albania

41 20 N

19 50 E

Tirol, Tyrol (region)

Austria, Italy

47 00 N

11 00 E

Tobago (island)

Trinidad and Tobago

11 15 N

60 40 W

Tokyo (capital)

Japan

35 42 N

139 46 E

Tonkin, Gulf of

Pacific Ocean

20 00 N

108 00 E

Torres Strait

Pacific Ocean

10 25 S

142 10 E

Torshavn (capital)

Faroe Islands

62 01 N

6 46 W

Toshkent (see Tashkent)

Uzbekistan

41 20 N

69 18 E

Transcarpathia (region; alternate name for Carpatho-Ukraine)

Ukraine

48 22 N

23 32 E

Transjordan (former name for Jordan)

Jordan

31 00 N

36 00 E

Transkei (enclave)

South Africa

32 15 S

28 15 E

Transvaal (region; former name for northeastern South Africa)

South Africa

25 10 S

29 25 E

Transylvania (region)

Romania

46 30 N

24 00 E

Trindade, Ilha de (island)

Brazil

20 31 S

29 20 W

Trinidad (island)

Trinidad and Tobago

10 22 N

61 15 W

Tripoli (capital)

Libya

32 54 N

13 11 E

Tripoli (city)

Lebanon

34 26 N

35 51 E

Tripolitania (region)

Libya

31 00 N

14 00 E

Tristan da Cunha Group (island group)

Saint Helena

37 04 S

12 19 W

Trobriand Islands

Papua New Guinea

8 38 S

151 04 E

Trucial Coast (former name for the United Arab Emirates)

United Arab Emirates

24 00 N

54 00 E

Trucial Oman (former name for the United Arab Emirates)

United Arab Emirates

24 00 N

54 00 E

Trucial States (former name for the United Arab Emirates)

United Arab Emirates

24 00 N

54 00 E

Truk Islands (former name for the Chuuk Islands)

Federated States of Micronesia

7 25 N

151 47 E

Tsugaru Strait

Pacific Ocean

41 35 N

141 00 E

Tuamotu Islands (Iles Tuamotu)

French Polynesia

19 00 S

142 00 W

Tubuai Islands (Iles Tubuai)

French Polynesia

23 00 S

150 00 W

Tunb al Kubra (island)

Iran

26 14 N

55 19 E

Tunb as Sughra (island)

Iran

26 14 N

55 09 E

Tunis (capital)

Tunisia

36 48 N

10 11 E

Turin (city)

Italy

45 04 N

7 40 E

Turkish Straits (see Bosporus and Dardenelles)

Atlantic Ocean

40 40 N

28 00 E

Turkiye (local name for Turkey)

Turkey

39 00 N

35 00 E

Turkmenia, Turkmeniya (former name for Turkmenistan)

Turkmenistan

40 00 N

60 00 E

Turks Island Passage

Atlantic Ocean

21 40 N

71 00 W

Tuscany (region)

Italy

43 25 N

11 00 E

Tutuila (island)

American Samoa

14 18 S

170 42 W

Tyrrhenian Sea

Atlantic Ocean

40 00 N

12 00 E

Ubangi-Shari (former name for the Central African Republic

Central African Republic

6 38 N

20 33 E

Ukrayina (local name for Ukraine)

Ukraine

49 00 N

32 00 E

Ulaanbaatar (capital)

Mongolia

47 55 N

106 53 E

Ullung-do (island)

South Korea

37 29 N

130 52 E

Ulster (region)

Ireland, United Kingdom

54 35 N

7 00 W

Uman (local name for Oman)

Oman

21 00 N

57 00 E

Unimak Pass (strait)

Pacific Ocean

54 20 N

164 50 W

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or USSR (former name of a large Eurasian empire, roughly coequal with the former Russian Empire)

Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

United Arab Republic or UAR (former name for a federation between Egypt and Syria)

Egypt, Syria

Upper Volta (former name for Burkina Faso)

Burkina Faso

13 00 N

2 00 W

Ural Mountains

Kazakhstan, Russia

60 00 N

60 00 E

Urdunn (local name for Jordan)

Jordan

31 00 N

36 00 E

Urundi (former name for Burundi)

Burundi

3 30 S

30 00 E

Ussuri River

China, Russia

48 28 N

135 02 E

Vaduz (capital)

Liechtenstein

47 09 N

9 31 E

Vakhan (Wakhan Corridor)

Afghanistan

37 00 N

73 00 E

Valletta (capital)

Malta

35 54 N

14 31 E

Valley, The (capital)

Anguilla

18 13 N

63 04 W

Van Diemen Strait (Osumi Strait)

Pacific Ocean

31 00 N

131 00 E

Vancouver Island

Canada

49 45 N

126 00 W

Vatican City (capital)

Holy See

41 54 N

12 27 E

Velez de la Gomera, Penon de (island)

Spain

35 11 N

4 18 W

Venda (enclave)

South Africa

23 00 S

31 00 E

Verde Island Passage

Pacific Ocean

13 34 N

120 51 E

Victoria (capital)

Seychelles

4 38 S

55 27 E

Victoria (island)

Canada

71 00 N

110 00 W

Victoria Land (region)

Antarctica

72 00 S

155 00 E

Vienna (capital)

Austria

48 12 N

16 22 E

Vientiane (capital)

Laos

17 58 N

102 36 E

Vilnius (capital)

Lithuania

54 41 N

25 19 E

Viti Levu (island)

Fiji

18 00 S

178 00 E

Vladivostok (city)

Russia

43 10 N

131 56 E

Vojvodina (region)

Serbia and Montenegro

45 35 N

20 00 E

Volcano Islands

Japan

25 00 N

141 00 E

Vostok Island

Kiribati

10 06 S

152 23 W

Wake Atoll

Wake Island

19 17 N

166 36 E

Wakhan Corridor (see Vakhan)

Afghanistan

37 00 N

73 00 E

Walachia (region)

Romania

44 45 N

26 05 E

Wales (region)

United Kingdom

52 30 N

3 30 W

Wallis Islands

Wallis and Futuna

13 17 S

176 10 W

Walvis Bay (city; former exclave)

Namibia

22 59 S

14 31 E

Warsaw (capital)

Poland

52 15 N

21 00 E

Washington, DC (capital)

United States

38 53 N

77 02 W

Weddell Sea

Southern Ocean

72 00 S

45 00 W

Wellington (capital)

New Zealand

41 28 S

174 51 E

West Frisian Islands

Netherlands

53 26 N

5 30 E

West Germany (Federal Republic of Germany; former name for western portion of Germany)

Germany

53 22 N

5 20 E

West Island (capital)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

12 10 S

96 55 E

West Korea Strait (Western Channel)

Pacific Ocean

34 40 N

129 00 E

West Pakistan (former name for present-day Pakistan)

Pakistan

30 00 N

70 00 E

West Siberian Plain

Russia

60 00 N

75 00 E

Western Channel (West Korea Strait)

Pacific Ocean

34 40 N

129 00 E

Western Samoa (former name for Samoa)

Samoa

13 35 S

172 20 W

Wetar Strait

Pacific Ocean

8 20 S

126 30 E

White Sea

Arctic Ocean

65 30 N

38 00 E

Wilkes Land (region)

Antarctica

71 00 S

120 00 E

Willemstad (capital)

Netherlands Antilles

12 06 N

68 56 W

Windhoek (capital)

Namibia

22 34 S

17 06 E

Windward Passage

Atlantic Ocean

20 00 N

73 50 W

Wrangel Island (Ostrov Vrangelya)

Russia

71 14 N

179 36 W

Xianggang (local name for Hong Kong)

Hong Kong

22 15 N

114 10 E

Y'israel (local name for Israel)

Israel

31 30 N

34 45 E

Yaitopya (local name for Ethiopia)

Ethiopia

8 00 N

38 00 E

Yalu River

China, North Korea

39 55 N

124 20 E

Yamoussoukro (capital)

Cote d'Ivoire

6 49 N

5 17 W

Yangon (see Rangoon)

Burma

16 47 N

96 10 E

Yaounde (capital)

Cameroon

3 52 N

11 31 E

Yap Islands

Federated States of Micronesia

9 30 N

138 00 E

Yaren (governmental center)

Nauru

0 32 S

166 55 E

Yekaterinburg (city)

Russia

56 50 N

60 39 E

Yellow Sea

Pacific Ocean

36 00 N

123 00 E

Yemen Arab Republic (also Yemen (Sanaa); former name for northern portion of Yemen)

Yemen

15 00 N

44 00 E

Yemen, People's Democratic Republic of (also Yemen (Aden); former name for southern portion of Yemen)

Yemen

14 00 N

46 00 E

Yerevan (capital)

Armenia

40 11 N

44 30 E

Youth, Isle of (Isla de la Juventud)

Cuba

21 40 N

82 50 W

Yucatan Channel

Atlantic Ocean

21 45 N

85 45 W

Yucatan Peninsula

Mexico

19 30 N

89 00 W

Yugoslavia (former name for Serbia and Montenegro)

Serbia and Montenegro

43 00 N

21 00 E

Yugoslavia, Kingdom of; Yugoslavia, Socialist Federal Republic of (former names for a Balkan federation)

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia

43 00 N

19 00 E

Zagreb (capital)

Croatia

45 48 N

15 58 E

Zaire (former name for the Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Democratic Republic of the Congo

15 00 S

30 00 E

Zakhalinskiy Zaliv (bay)

Pacific Ocean

54 00 N

142 00 E

Zaliv Shelikhova (bay)

Pacific Ocean

60 00 N

157 30 E

Zambezia (region)

Mozambique

16 00 S

37 00 E

Zanzibar (island)

Tanzania

6 10 S

39 11 E

Zhong Guo, Zhonghua (local name for China)

China

35 00 N

105 00 E

Zion, Mount (locale in Jerusalem)

Israel, West Bank

31 46 N

35 14 E

Zurich (city)

Switzerland

47 23 N

8 32 E

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia

43 00 N

19 00 E

This page was last updated on 20 October, 2005

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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Frequently Asked Questions

The World Factbook staff thanks you for your comments, suggestions, updates, kudos, and corrections over the past years. The willingness of readers from around the world to share their observations and specialized knowledge is very helpful as we try to produce the best possible publications. Please feel free to continue to write and e-mail us. At least two Factbook staffers review every item. The sheer volume of correspondence precludes detailed personal replies, but we sincerely appreciate your time and interest in the Factbook. If you include your e-mail address we will at least acknowledge your note. Thank you again.

Answers to many frequently asked questions (FAQs) are explained in the Notes and Definitions section in The World Factbook. Please review this section to see if your question is already answered there. In addition, we have compiled the following list of FAQs to answer other common questions. Select from the following categories to narrow your search:

General
Geography
Spelling and Pronunciation
Policies and Procedures
Technical

General

Top of Page

Can you provide additional information for a specific country?
The staff cannot provide data beyond what appears in The World Factbook. The format and information in the Factbook are tailored to the specific requirements of US Government officials and content is focused on their current and anticipated needs. The staff welcomes suggestions for new entries.

How often is The World Factbook updated?
Formerly our Web site (and the published Factbook) were only updated annually. Beginning in November 2001 we instituted a new system of more frequent online updates. The World Factbook is currently updated every two weeks.

The annual printed version of the Factbook is usually released about midyear. US Government officials may obtain information about Factbook availability from their own organizations or through liaison channels to the CIA. Other users may obtain sales information through the following channels:

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Can I use some or all of The World Factbook for my Web site (book, research project, homework, etc.)?
The World Factbook is in the public domain and may be used freely by anyone at anytime without seeking permission. However, US Code prohibits use of the CIA seal in a manner which implies that the CIA approved, endorsed, or authorized such use. If you have any questions about your intended use, you should consult with legal counsel. Further information on The World Factbook's use is described on the Contributors and Copyright Information page. As a courtesy, please cite The World Factbook when used.

Why doesn't The World Factbook include information on states, departments, provinces, etc., in the country format?
The World Factbook provides national-level information on countries, territories, and dependencies, but not subnational administrative units within a country. A good encyclopedia should provide state/province-level information.

Is it possible to access older editions of The World Factbook to do comparative research and trend analysis?
Only the current version is available for browsing on the CIA Web site. In the future, the staff hopes to post electronic versions of The World Factbook as far back as 1986. Hardcopy editions for earlier years are available from libraries.

Would it be possible to set up a partnership or collaboration between the producers of The World Factbook and other organizations or individuals?
The World Factbook does not partner with other organizations or individuals, but we do welcome comments and suggestions that such groups or persons choose to provide.

Geography

Top of Page

I can’t find a geographic name for a particular country. Why not?
The World Factbook is not a gazetteer (a dictionary or index of places, usually with descriptive or statistical information) and cannot provide more than the names of the administrative divisions (in the Government category) and major cities/towns (on the country maps). Our expanded Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names, however, includes many of the world’s major geographic features as well as historic (former) names of countries and cities mentioned in The World Factbook.

Why are Taiwan and the European Union listed out of alphabetical order at the end of the Factbook entries?
Taiwan is listed after the regular entries because even though the mainland People's Republic of China claims Taiwan, elected Taiwanese authorities de facto administer the island and reject mainland sovereignty claims. With the establishment of diplomatic relations with China on January 1, 1979, the US Government recognized the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, acknowledging the Chinese position that there is only one China and that Taiwan is part of China.

The European Union (EU) is not a country, but it has taken on many nation-like attributes and these are likely to be expanded in the future. A more complete explanation on the inclusion of the EU into the Factbook may be found in the Preliminary statement.

Since we have an ambassador who represents the US at the Vatican, why is this entity not listed in the Factbook?
Vatican City is found under Holy See. The term "Holy See" refers to the authority, jurisdiction, and sovereignty vested in the Pope and his advisors to direct the worldwide Catholic Church. The Holy See has a legal personality that allows it to enter into treaties as the juridical equal of a state and to send and receive diplomatic representatives. Vatican City, created in 1929 to administer properties belonging to the Holy See in Rome, is recognized under international law as a sovereign state, but it does not send or receive diplomatic representatives. Consequently, Holy See is included as a Factbook entry, with Vatican City cross-referenced in the Geographic Names appendix.

Why is Palestine not listed in The World Factbook?
The areas that could potentially form a future Palestinian state -- the West Bank and Gaza Strip -- do appear in the Factbook. These areas are presently Israeli-occupied with current status subject to the Israeli-Palestinian 1995 Interim Agreement; their permanent status is to be determined through further negotiation.

Why are the Golan Heights not shown as part of Israel or Northern Cyprus with Turkey?
Territorial occupations/annexations not recognized by the United States Government are not shown on US Government maps.

Why don’t you include information on entities such as Tibet, Kashmir, or Kosovo?
The World Factbook provides information on the administrative divisions of a country as recommended by the United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN). The BGN is a component of the US Government that develops policies, principles, and procedures governing the spelling, use, and application of geographic names—domestic, foreign, Antarctic, and undersea. Its decisions enable all departments and agencies of the US Government to have access to uniform names of geographic features.

Also included in the Factbook are entries on parts of the world whose status has not yet been resolved (e.g., West Bank, Spratly Islands). Specific regions within a country or areas in dispute among countries are not covered.

What do you mean when you say that a country is "doubly landlocked"?
A doubly landlocked country is one that is separated from an ocean or an ocean-accessible sea by two intervening countries. Uzbekistan and Liechtenstein are the only countries that fit this definition.

Spelling and Pronunciation

Top of Page

Why is the spelling of proper names such as rulers, presidents, and prime ministers in The World Factbook different than their spelling in my country?
The Factbook staff applies the names and spellings from the Chiefs of State link on the CIA Web site. The World Factbook is prepared using the standard American English computer keyboard and does not use any special characters, symbols, or most diacritical markings in its spellings. Surnames are always spelled with capital letters; they may appear first in some cultures.

The spelling of geographic names, features, cities, administrative divisions, etc. in the Factbook differs from those used in my country. Why is this?
The United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN) recommends and approves names and spellings. The BGN is the component of the United States Government that develops policies, principles, and procedures governing the spelling, use, and application of geographic names—domestic, foreign, Antarctic, and undersea. Its decisions enable all departments and agencies of the US Government to use uniform names of geographic features. (A note is usually included where changes may have occurred but have not yet been approved by the BGN). The World Factbook is prepared using the standard American English computer keyboard and does not use any special characters, symbols, or most diacritical markings in its spellings.

Why doesn’t The World Factbook include pronunciations of country or leader names?
There are too many variations in pronunciation among English-speaking countries, not to mention English renditions of non-English names, for pronunciations to be included. American English pronunciations are included for some countries like Qatar and Kiribati.

Why is the name of the Labour party misspelled?
When American and British spellings of common English words differ, The World Factbook always uses the American spelling, even when these common words form part of a proper name in British English.

Policies and Procedures

Top of Page

What is The World Factbook’s source for a specific subject field?
The Factbook staff uses many different sources to publish what we judge are the most reliable and consistent data for any particular category. Space considerations preclude a listing of these various sources.

The names of some geographic features provided in the Factbook differ from those used in other publications. For example, in Asia the Factbook has Burma as the country name, but in other publications Myanmar is used; also, the Factbook uses Sea of Japan whereas other publications label it East Sea. What is your policy on naming geographic features?
The Factbook staff follows the guidance of the United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN). The BGN is the component of the United States Government that develops policies, principles, and procedures governing the spelling, use, and application of geographic names—domestic, foreign, Antarctic, and undersea. Its decisions enable all departments and agencies of the US Government to have access to uniform names of geographic features. The position of the BGN is that the names Burma and Sea of Japan be used in official US Government maps and publications.

Why is most of the statistical information in the Factbook given in metric units, rather than the units standard to US measure?
US Federal agencies are required by the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 (Public Law 94-168) and by Executive Order 12770 of July 1991 to use the International System of Units, commonly referred to as the metric system or SI. In addition, the metric system is used by over 95 percent of the world's population.

Why don’t you include information on minimum and maximum temperature extremes?
The Factbook staff judges that this information would only be useful for some (generally smaller) countries. Larger countries can have large temperature extremes that do not represent the landmass as a whole. In the future, such a category may be adopted listing the extremes, but also adding a normal temperature range found throughout most of a country’s territory.

What information sources are used for the country flags?
Flag designs used in The World Factbook are those recognized by the protocol office of the US Department of State.

Why do your GDP (Gross Domestic Product) statistics differ from other sources?
GDP dollar estimates in The World Factbook are derived from purchasing power parity (PPP) calculations. See the Notes and Definitions section on GDP methodology for more information.

On the CIA Web site, Chiefs of State is updated weekly, but the last update for the Factbook was an earlier date. Why the discrepancy?
Although Chiefs of State and The World Factbook both appear on the CIA Web site, they are produced and updated by separate staffs. Chiefs of State includes fewer countries but more leaders, and is updated more frequently than The World Factbook, which has a much larger database, and includes all countries.

Some percentage distributions do not add to 100. Why not?
Because of rounding, percentage distributions do not always add precisely to 100%. Rounding of numbers always results in a loss of precision—i.e., error. This error becomes apparent when percentage data are totaled, as the following two examples show:

Original Data

Rounded to whole integer

Example 1

43.2

43

30.4

30

26.4

26

100.0

99

Example 2

42.8

43

31.6

32

25.6

26

100.0

101

When this occurs, we do not force the numbers to add exactly to 100, because doing so would introduce additional error into the distribution.

What rounding convention does The World Factbook use?
In deciding on the number of digits to present, the Factbook staff assesses the accuracy of the original data and the needs of US Government officials. All of the economic data are processed by computer—either at the source or by the Factbook staff. The economic data presented in The Factbook, therefore, follow the rounding convention used by virtually all numerical software applications, namely, any digit followed by a "5" is rounded up to the next higher digit, no matter whether the original digit is even or odd. Thus, for example, when rounded to the nearest integer, 2.5 becomes 3, rather than 2, as occurred in some pre-computer rounding systems.

Technical

Top of Page

Does The World Factbook comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act regarding accessibility of Web pages?
The World Factbook home page has a link entitled "Text/Low Bandwidth Version." The country data in the text version is fully accessible. We believe The World Factbook is compliant with the Section 508 law in both fact and spirit. If you are experiencing difficulty, please use our comment form to provide us details of the specific problem you are experiencing and the assistive software and/or hardware that you are using so that we can work with our technical support staff to find and implement a solution. We welcome visitors' suggestions to improve accessibility of The World Factbook and the CIA Web site.

I am using the Factbook online and it is not working. What is wrong?
Hundreds of “Factbook” look-alikes exist on the Internet. The Factbook site at: www.cia.gov is the only official site.

When I attempt to download a PDF (Portable Document Format) map file (or some other map) the file has no image. Can you fix this?
Some of the files on The World Factbook Web site are large and could take several minutes to download on a dial-up connection. The screen might be blank during the download process.

When I open a map on The World Factbook site, it is fuzzy or granular, or too big or too small. Why?
Adjusting the resolution setting on your monitor should correct this problem.

Is The World Factbook country data available in machine-readable format? All I can find is HTML, but I’m looking for simple tabular data.
The Factbook Web site now features "Rank Order" pages for selected Factbook entries. "Rank Order" pages are available for those data fields identified with a small bar chart icon located next to the title of the data entry. In addition, all of the "Rank Order" pages can be downloaded as tab-delimited data files that can be opened in other applications such as spreadsheets and databases.

This page was last updated on 27 September, 2005

Notes and Definitions

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Along with the new entities and the regular information updates, The World Factbook now also features six new fields. In the Economy category, entries have been added for Current account balance, Investment (gross fixed), Public debt, and Reserves of foreign exchange and gold. The Transnational issues category has a new Refugees and internally displaced persons entry.

Abbreviations

This information is included in Appendix A: Abbreviations, which includes all abbreviations and acronyms used in the Factbook, with their expansions.

Acronyms

An acronym is an abbreviation coined from the initial letter of each successive word in a term or phrase. In general, an acronym made up solely from the first letter of the major words in the expanded form is rendered in all capital letters (NATO from North Atlantic Treaty Organization; an exception would be ASEAN for Association of Southeast Asian Nations). In general, an acronym made up of more than the first letter of the major words in the expanded form is rendered with only an initial capital letter (Comsat from Communications Satellite Corporation; an exception would be NAM from Nonaligned Movement). Hybrid forms are sometimes used to distinguish between initially identical terms (WTO: WTrO for World Trade Organization and WToO for World Tourism Organization.)

Administrative divisions

This entry generally gives the numbers, designatory terms, and first-order administrative divisions as approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Changes that have been reported but not yet acted on by BGN are noted.

Age structure

This entry provides the distribution of the population according to age. Information is included by sex and age group (0-14 years, 15-64 years, 65 years and over). The age structure of a population affects a nation's key socioeconomic issues. Countries with young populations (high percentage under age 15) need to invest more in schools, while countries with older populations (high percentage ages 65 and over) need to invest more in the health sector. The age structure can also be used to help predict potential political issues. For example, the rapid growth of a young adult population unable to find employment can lead to unrest.

Agriculture - products

This entry is an ordered listing of major crops and products starting with the most important.

Airports

This entry gives the total number of airports. The runway(s) may be paved (concrete or asphalt surfaces) or unpaved (grass, dirt, sand, or gravel surfaces), but must be usable. Not all airports have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control.

Airports - with paved runways

This entry gives the total number of airports with paved runways (concrete or asphalt surfaces) by length. For airports with more than one runway, only the longest runway is included according to the following five groups - (1) over 3,047 m, (2) 2,438 to 3,047 m, (3) 1,524 to 2,437 m, (4) 914 to 1,523 m, and (5) under 914 m. Only airports with usable runways are included in this listing. Not all airports have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control.

Airports - with unpaved runways

This entry gives the total number of airports with unpaved runways (grass, dirt, sand, or gravel surfaces) by length. For airports with more than one runway, only the longest runway is included according to the following five groups - (1) over 3,047 m, (2) 2,438 to 3,047 m, (3) 1,524 to 2,437 m, (4) 914 to 1,523 m, and (5) under 914 m. Only airports with usable runways are included in this listing. Not all airports have facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control.

Appendixes

This section includes Factbook-related material by topic.

Area

This entry includes three subfields. Total area is the sum of all land and water areas delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines. Land area is the aggregate of all surfaces delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines, excluding inland water bodies (lakes, reservoirs, rivers). Water area is the sum of all water surfaces delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines, including inland water bodies (lakes, reservoirs, rivers).

Area - comparative

This entry provides an area comparison based on total area equivalents. Most entities are compared with the entire US or one of the 50 states based on area measurements (1990 revised) provided by the US Bureau of the Census. The smaller entities are compared with Washington, DC (178 sq km, 69 sq mi) or The Mall in Washington, DC (0.59 sq km, 0.23 sq mi, 146 acres).

Background

This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.

Birth rate

This entry gives the average annual number of births during a year per 1,000 persons in the population at midyear; also known as crude birth rate. The birth rate is usually the dominant factor in determining the rate of population growth. It depends on both the level of fertility and the age structure of the population.

Budget

This entry includes revenues, total expenditures, and capital expenditures. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.

Capital

This entry gives the location of the seat of government.

Climate

This entry includes a brief description of typical weather regimes throughout the year.

Coastline

This entry gives the total length of the boundary between the land area (including islands) and the sea.

Communications

This category deals with the means of exchanging information and includes the telephone, radio, television, and Internet host entries.

Communications - note

This entry includes miscellaneous communications information of significance not included elsewhere.

Constitution

This entry includes the dates of adoption, revisions, and major amendments.

Country data codes

see Data codes

Country map

Most versions of the Factbook provide a country map in color. The maps were produced from the best information available at the time of preparation. Names and/or boundaries may have changed subsequently.

Country name

This entry includes all forms of the country's name approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (Italy is used as an example): conventional long form (Italian Republic), conventional short form (Italy), local long form (Repubblica Italiana), local short form (Italia), former (Kingdom of Italy), as well as the abbreviation. Also see the Terminology note.

Crude oil

See entry for oil.

Currency (code)

This entry identifies the national medium of exchange and, in parenthesis, gives the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 4217 alphabetic currency code for each country.

Current account balance

This entry records a country's net trade in goods and services, plus net earnings from rents, interest, profits, and dividends, and net transfer payments (such as pension funds and worker remittances) to and from the rest of the world during the period specified. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.

Data codes

This information is presented in Appendix D: Cross-Reference List of Country Data Codes and Appendix E: Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Data Codes.

Date of information

In general, information available as of 1 January 2005, was used in the preparation of this edition.

Death rate

This entry gives the average annual number of deaths during a year per 1,000 population at midyear; also known as crude death rate. The death rate, while only a rough indicator of the mortality situation in a country, accurately indicates the current mortality impact on population growth. This indicator is significantly affected by age distribution, and most countries will eventually show a rise in the overall death rate, in spite of continued decline in mortality at all ages, as declining fertility results in an aging population.

Debt - external

This entry gives the total public and private debt owed to nonresidents repayable in foreign currency, goods, or services. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.

Dependency status

This entry describes the formal relationship between a particular nonindependent entity and an independent state.

Dependent areas

This entry contains an alphabetical listing of all nonindependent entities associated in some way with a particular independent state.

Diplomatic representation

The US Government has diplomatic relations with 187 independent states, including 186 of the 191 UN members (excluded UN members are Bhutan, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and the US itself). In addition, the US has diplomatic relations with 1 independent state that is not in the UN - Holy See.

Diplomatic representation from the US

This entry includes the chief of mission, embassy address, mailing address, telephone number, FAX number, branch office locations, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.

Diplomatic representation in the US

This entry includes the chief of mission, chancery, telephone, FAX, consulate general locations, and consulate locations.

Disputes - international

This entry includes a wide variety of situations that range from traditional bilateral boundary disputes to unilateral claims of one sort or another. Information regarding disputes over international terrestrial and maritime boundaries has been reviewed by the US Department of State. References to other situations involving borders or frontiers may also be included, such as resource disputes, geopolitical questions, or irredentist issues; however, inclusion does not necessarily constitute official acceptance or recognition by the US Government.

Distribution of family income - Gini index

This index measures the degree of inequality in the distribution of family income in a country. The index is calculated from the Lorenz curve, in which cumulative family income is plotted against the number of families arranged from the poorest to the richest. The index is the ratio of (a) the area between a country's Lorenz curve and the 45 degree helping line to (b) the entire triangular area under the 45 degree line. The more nearly equal a country's income distribution, the closer its Lorenz curve to the 45 degree line and the lower its Gini index, e.g., a Scandinavian country with an index of 25. The more unequal a country's income distribution, the farther its Lorenz curve from the 45 degree line and the higher its Gini index, e.g., a Sub-Saharan country with an index of 50. If income were distributed with perfect equality, the Lorenz curve would coincide with the 45 degree line and the index would be zero; if income were distributed with perfect inequality, the Lorenz curve would coincide with the horizontal axis and the right vertical axis and the index would be 100.

Economic aid - donor

This entry refers to net official development assistance (ODA) from Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) nations to developing countries and multilateral organizations. ODA is defined as financial assistance that is concessional in character, has the main objective to promote economic development and welfare of the less developed countries (LDCs), and contains a grant element of at least 25%. The entry does not cover other official flows (OOF) or private flows. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.

Economic aid - recipient

This entry, which is subject to major problems of definition and statistical coverage, refers to the net inflow of Official Development Finance (ODF) to recipient countries. The figure includes assistance from the World Bank, the IMF, and other international organizations and from individual nation donors. Formal commitments of aid are included in the data. Omitted from the data are grants by private organizations. Aid comes in various forms including outright grants and loans. The entry thus is the difference between new inflows and repayments. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.

Economy

This category includes the entries dealing with the size, development, and management of productive resources, i.e., land, labor, and capital.

Economy - overview

This entry briefly describes the type of economy, including the degree of market orientation, the level of economic development, the most important natural resources, and the unique areas of specialization. It also characterizes major economic events and policy changes in the most recent 12 months and may include a statement about one or two key future macroeconomic trends.

Electricity - consumption

This entry consists of total electricity generated annually plus imports and minus exports, expressed in kilowatt-hours. The discrepancy between the amount of electricity generated and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is accounted for as loss in transmission and distribution.

Electricity - exports

This entry is the total exported electricity in kilowatt-hours.

Electricity - imports

This entry is the total imported electricity in kilowatt-hours.

Electricity - production

This entry is the annual electricity generated expressed in kilowatt-hours. The discrepancy between the amount of electricity generated and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is accounted for as loss in transmission and distribution.

Elevation extremes

This entry includes both the highest point and the lowest point.

Entities

Some of the independent states, dependencies, areas of special sovereignty, and governments included in this publication are not independent, and others are not officially recognized by the US Government. "Independent state" refers to a people politically organized into a sovereign state with a definite territory. "Dependencies" and "areas of special sovereignty" refer to a broad category of political entities that are associated in some way with an independent state. "Country" names used in the table of contents or for page headings are usually the short-form names as approved by the US Board on Geographic Names and may include independent states, dependencies, and areas of special sovereignty, or other geographic entities. There are a total of 271 separate geographic entities in The World Factbook that may be categorized as follows:
INDEPENDENT STATES
192 Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, The Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Fiji, Finland, France, Gabon, The Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Federated States of Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, NZ, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia and Montenegro, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, US, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe
OTHER
2 Taiwan, European Union
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
17 UK - Akrotiri, Anguilla, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dhekelia, 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

271 total

Environment - current issues

This entry lists the most pressing and important environmental problems. The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout the entry:
acidification - the lowering of soil and water pH due to acid precipitation and deposition usually through precipitation; this process disrupts ecosystem nutrient flows and may kill freshwater fish and plants dependent on more neutral or alkaline conditions (see acid rain).
acid rain - characterized as containing harmful levels of sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxide; acid rain is damaging and potentially deadly to the earth's fragile ecosystems; acidity is measured using the pH scale where 7 is neutral, values greater than 7 are considered alkaline, and values below 5.6 are considered acid precipitation; note - a pH of 2.4 (the acidity of vinegar) has been measured in rainfall in New England.
aerosol - a collection of airborne particles dispersed in a gas, smoke, or fog.
afforestation - converting a bare or agricultural space by planting trees and plants; reforestation involves replanting trees on areas that have been cut or destroyed by fire.
asbestos - a naturally occurring soft fibrous mineral commonly used in fireproofing materials and considered to be highly carcinogenic in particulate form.
biodiversity - also biological diversity; the relative number of species, diverse in form and function, at the genetic, organism, community, and ecosystem level; loss of biodiversity reduces an ecosystem's ability to recover from natural or man-induced disruption.
bio-indicators - a plant or animal species whose presence, abundance, and health reveal the general condition of its habitat.
biomass - the total weight or volume of living matter in a given area or volume.
carbon cycle - the term used to describe the exchange of carbon (in various forms, e.g., as carbon dioxide) between the atmosphere, ocean, terrestrial biosphere, and geological deposits.
catchments - assemblages used to capture and retain rainwater and runoff; an important water management technique in areas with limited freshwater resources, such as Gibraltar.
DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloro-ethane) - a colorless, odorless insecticide that has toxic effects on most animals; the use of DDT was banned in the US in 1972.
defoliants - chemicals which cause plants to lose their leaves artificially; often used in agricultural practices for weed control, and may have detrimental impacts on human and ecosystem health.
deforestation - the destruction of vast areas of forest (e.g., unsustainable forestry practices, agricultural and range land clearing, and the over exploitation of wood products for use as fuel) without planting new growth.
desertification - the spread of desert-like conditions in arid or semi-arid areas, due to overgrazing, loss of agriculturally productive soils, or climate change.
dredging - the practice of deepening an existing waterway; also, a technique used for collecting bottom-dwelling marine organisms (e.g., shellfish) or harvesting coral, often causing significant destruction of reef and ocean-floor ecosystems.
drift-net fishing - done with a net, miles in extent, that is generally anchored to a boat and left to float with the tide; often results in an over harvesting and waste of large populations of non-commercial marine species (by-catch) by its effect of "sweeping the ocean clean".
ecosystems - ecological units comprised of complex communities of organisms and their specific environments.
effluents - waste materials, such as smoke, sewage, or industrial waste which are released into the environment, subsequently polluting it.
endangered species - a species that is threatened with extinction either by direct hunting or habitat destruction.
freshwater - water with very low soluble mineral content; sources include lakes, streams, rivers, glaciers, and underground aquifers.
greenhouse gas - a gas that "traps" infrared radiation in the lower atmosphere causing surface warming; water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, hydrofluorocarbons, and ozone are the primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere.
groundwater - water sources found below the surface of the earth often in naturally occurring reservoirs in permeable rock strata; the source for wells and natural springs.
Highlands Water Project - a series of dams constructed jointly by Lesotho and South Africa to redirect Lesotho's abundant water supply into a rapidly growing area in South Africa; while it is the largest infrastructure project in southern Africa, it is also the most costly and controversial; objections to the project include claims that it forces people from their homes, submerges farmlands, and squanders economic resources.
Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC) - represents the 145,000 Inuits of Russia, Alaska, Canada, and Greenland in international environmental issues; a General Assembly convenes every three years to determine the focus of the ICC; the most current concerns are long-range transport of pollutants, sustainable development, and climate change.
metallurgical plants - industries which specialize in the science, technology, and processing of metals; these plants produce highly concentrated and toxic wastes which can contribute to pollution of ground water and air when not properly disposed.
noxious substances - injurious, very harmful to living beings.
overgrazing - the grazing of animals on plant material faster than it can naturally regrow leading to the permanent loss of plant cover, a common effect of too many animals grazing limited range land.
ozone shield - a layer of the atmosphere composed of ozone gas (O3) that resides approximately 25 miles above the Earth's surface and absorbs solar ultraviolet radiation that can be harmful to living organisms.
poaching - the illegal killing of animals or fish, a great concern with respect to endangered or threatened species.
pollution - the contamination of a healthy environment by man-made waste.
potable water - water that is drinkable, safe to be consumed.
salination - the process through which fresh (drinkable) water becomes salt (undrinkable) water; hence, desalination is the reverse process; also involves the accumulation of salts in topsoil caused by evaporation of excessive irrigation water, a process that can eventually render soil incapable of supporting crops.
siltation - occurs when water channels and reservoirs become clotted with silt and mud, a side effect of deforestation and soil erosion.
slash-and-burn agriculture - a rotating cultivation technique in which trees are cut down and burned in order to clear land for temporary agriculture; the land is used until its productivity declines at which point a new plot is selected and the process repeats; this practice is sustainable while population levels are low and time is permitted for regrowth of natural vegetation; conversely, where these conditions do not exist, the practice can have disastrous consequences for the environment .
soil degradation - damage to the land's productive capacity because of poor agricultural practices such as the excessive use of pesticides or fertilizers, soil compaction from heavy equipment, or erosion of topsoil, eventually resulting in reduced ability to produce agricultural products.
soil erosion - the removal of soil by the action of water or wind, compounded by poor agricultural practices, deforestation, overgrazing, and desertification.
ultraviolet (UV) radiation - a portion of the electromagnetic energy emitted by the sun and naturally filtered in the upper atmosphere by the ozone layer; UV radiation can be harmful to living organisms and has been linked to increasing rates of skin cancer in humans.
water-born diseases - those in which bacteria survive in, and are transmitted through, water; always a serious threat in areas with an untreated water supply.

Environment - international agreements

This entry separates country participation in international environmental agreements into two levels - party to and signed, but not ratified. Agreements are listed in alphabetical order by the abbreviated form of the full name.

Environmental agreements

This information is presented in Appendix C: Selected International Environmental Agreements, which includes the name, abbreviation, date opened for signature, date entered into force, objective, and parties by category.

Ethnic groups

This entry provides an ordered listing of ethnic groups starting with the largest and normally includes the percent of total population.

Exchange rates

This entry provides the official value of a country's monetary unit at a given date or over a given period of time, as expressed in units of local currency per US dollar and as determined by international market forces or official fiat.

Executive branch

This entry includes several subfields. Chief of state includes the name and title of the titular leader of the country who represents the state at official and ceremonial functions but may not be involved with the day-to-day activities of the government. Head of government includes the name and title of the top administrative leader who is designated to manage the day-to-day activities of the government. For example, in the UK, the monarch is the chief of state, and the prime minister is the head of government. In the US, the president is both the chief of state and the head of government. Cabinet includes the official name for this body of high-ranking advisers and the method for selection of members. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote for each candidate in the last election.

Exports

This entry provides the total US dollar amount of merchandise exports on an f.o.b. (free on board) basis. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.

Exports - commodities

This entry provides a rank ordering of exported products starting with the most important; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.

Exports - partners

This entry provides a rank ordering of trading partners starting with the most important; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.

Fiscal year

This entry identifies the beginning and ending months for a country's accounting period of 12 months, which often is the calendar year but which may begin in any month. All yearly references are for the calendar year (CY) unless indicated as a noncalendar fiscal year (FY).

Flag description

This entry provides a written flag description produced from actual flags or the best information available at the time the entry was written. The flags of independent states are used by their dependencies unless there is an officially recognized local flag. Some disputed and other areas do not have flags.

Flag graphic

Most versions of the Factbook include a color flag at the beginning of the country profile. The flag graphics were produced from actual flags or the best information available at the time of preparation. The flags of independent states are used by their dependencies unless there is an officially recognized local flag. Some disputed and other areas do not have flags.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

This entry gives the gross domestic product (GDP) or value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. GDP dollar estimates in the Factbook are derived from purchasing power parity (PPP) calculations. See the note on GDP methodology for more information.

GDP - composition by sector

This entry gives the percentage contribution of agriculture, industry, and services to total GDP. The distribution will total less than 100 percent if the data are incomplete.

GDP - per capita

This entry shows GDP on a purchasing power parity basis divided by population as of 1 July for the same year.

GDP - real growth rate

This entry gives GDP growth on an annual basis adjusted for inflation and expressed as a percent.

GDP methodology

In the Economy category, GDP dollar estimates for all countries are derived from purchasing power parity (PPP) calculations rather than from conversions at official currency exchange rates. The PPP method involves the use of standardized international dollar price weights, which are applied to the quantities of final goods and services produced in a given economy. The data derived from the PPP method provide the best available starting point for comparisons of economic strength and well-being between countries. The division of a GDP estimate in domestic currency by the corresponding PPP estimate in dollars gives the PPP conversion rate. Whereas PPP estimates for OECD countries are quite reliable, PPP estimates for developing countries are often rough approximations. Most of the GDP estimates are based on extrapolation of PPP numbers published by the UN International Comparison Program (UNICP) and by Professors Robert Summers and Alan Heston of the University of Pennsylvania and their colleagues. In contrast, the currency exchange rate method involves a variety of international and domestic financial forces that often have little relation to domestic output. In developing countries with weak currencies the exchange rate estimate of GDP in dollars is typically one-fourth to one-half the PPP estimate. Furthermore, exchange rates may suddenly go up or down by 10% or more because of market forces or official fiat whereas real output has remained unchanged. On 12 January 1994, for example, the 14 countries of the African Financial Community (whose currencies are tied to the French franc) devalued their currencies by 50%. This move, of course, did not cut the real output of these countries by half. One important caution: the proportion of, say, defense expenditures as a percentage of GDP in local currency accounts may differ substantially from the proportion when GDP accounts are expressed in PPP terms, as, for example, when an observer tries to estimate the dollar level of Russian or Japanese military expenditures. Note: the numbers for GDP and other economic data cannot be chained together from successive volumes of the Factbook because of changes in the US dollar measuring rod, revisions of data by statistical agencies, use of new or different sources of information, and changes in national statistical methods and practices.

GNP

Gross national product (GNP) is the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year, plus income earned by its citizens abroad, minus income earned by foreigners from domestic production. The Factbook, following current practice, uses GDP rather than GNP to measure national production. However, the user must realize that in certain countries net remittances from citizens working abroad may be important to national well-being.

GWP

This entry gives the gross world product (GWP) or aggregate value of all final goods and services produced worldwide in a given year.

Geographic coordinates

This entry includes rounded latitude and longitude figures for the purpose of finding the approximate geographic center of an entity and is based on the Gazetteer of Conventional Names, Third Edition, August 1988, US Board on Geographic Names and on other sources.

Geographic names

This information is presented in Appendix F: Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names. It includes a listing of various alternate names, former names, local names, and regional names referenced to one or more related Factbook entries. Spellings are normally, but not always, those approved by the US Board on Geographic Names (BGN). Alternate names and additional information are included in parentheses.

Geography

This category includes the entries dealing with the natural environment and the effects of human activity.

Geography - note

This entry includes miscellaneous geographic information of significance not included elsewhere.

Gini index

See entry for Distribution of family income - Gini index

Government

This category includes the entries dealing with the system for the adoption and administration of public policy.

Government - note

This entry includes miscellaneous government information of significance not included elsewhere.

Government type

This entry gives the basic form of government. Definitions of the major governmental terms are as follows:
Anarchy - a condition of lawlessness or political disorder brought about by the absence of governmental authority.
Commonwealth - a nation, state, or other political entity founded on law and united by a compact of the people for the common good.
Communism - a system of government in which the state plans and controls the economy and a single - often authoritarian - party holds power; state controls are imposed with the elimination of private ownership of property or capital while claiming to make progress toward a higher social order in which all goods are equally shared by the people (i.e., a classless society).
Confederacy (Confederation) - a union by compact or treaty between states, provinces, or territories, that creates a central government with limited powers; the constituent entities retain supreme authority over all matters except those delegated to the central government.
Constitutional - a government by or operating under an authoritative document (constitution) that sets forth the system of fundamental laws and principles that determines the nature, functions, and limits of that government.
Constitutional democracy - a form of government in which the sovereign power of the people is spelled out in a governing constitution.
Constitutional monarchy - a system of government in which a monarch is guided by a constitution whereby his/her rights, duties, and responsibilities are spelled out in written law or by custom.
Democracy - a form of government in which the supreme power is retained by the people, but which is usually exercised indirectly through a system of representation and delegated authority periodically renewed.
Democratic republic - a state in which the supreme power rests in the body of citizens entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them.
Dictatorship - a form of government in which a ruler or small clique wield absolute power (not restricted by a constitution or laws).
Ecclesiastical - a government administrated by a church.
Federal (Federative) - a form of government in which sovereign power is formally divided - usually by means of a constitution - between a central authority and a number of constituent regions (states, colonies, or provinces) so that each region retains some management of its internal affairs; differs from a confederacy in that the central government exerts influence directly upon both individuals as well as upon the regional units.
Federal republic - a state in which the powers of the central government are restricted and in which the component parts (states, colonies, or provinces) retain a degree of self-government; ultimate sovereign power rests with the voters who chose their governmental representatives.
Maoism - the theory and practice of Marxism-Leninism developed in China by Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-tung), which states that a continuous revolution is necessary if the leaders of a communist state are to keep in touch with the people.
Marxism - the political, economic, and social principles espoused by 19th century economist Karl Marx; he viewed the struggle of workers as a progression of historical forces that would proceed from a class struggle of the proletariat (workers) exploited by capitalists (business owners), to a socialist "dictatorship of the proletariat," to, finally, a classless society - communism.
Marxism-Leninism - an expanded form of communism developed by Lenin from doctrines of Karl Marx; Lenin saw imperialism as the final stage of capitalism and shifted the focus of workers' struggle from developed to underdeveloped countries.
Monarchy - a government in which the supreme power is lodged in the hands of a monarch who reigns over a state or territory, usually for life and by hereditary right; the monarch may be either a sole absolute ruler or a sovereign - such as a king, queen, or prince - with constitutionally limited authority.
Oligarchy - a government in which control is exercised by a small group of individuals whose authority generally is based on wealth or power.
Parliamentary democracy - a political system in which the legislature (parliament) selects the government - a prime minister, premier, or chancellor along with the cabinet ministers - according to party strength as expressed in elections; by this system, the government acquires a dual responsibility: to the people as well as to the parliament.
Parliamentary government (Cabinet-Parliamentary government) - a government in which members of an executive branch (the cabinet and its leader - a prime minister, premier, or chancellor) are nominated to their positions by a legislature or parliament, and are directly responsible to it; this type of government can be dissolved at will by the parliament (legislature) by means of a no confidence vote or the leader of the cabinet may dissolve the parliament if it can no longer function.
Parliamentary monarchy - a state headed by a monarch who is not actively involved in policy formation or implementation (i.e., the exercise of sovereign powers by a monarch in a ceremonial capacity); true governmental leadership is carried out by a cabinet and its head - a prime minister, premier, or chancellor - who are drawn from a legislature (parliament).
Republic - a representative democracy in which the people's elected deputies (representatives), not the people themselves, vote on legislation.
Socialism - a government in which the means of planning, producing, and distributing goods is controlled by a central government that theoretically seeks a more just and equitable distribution of property and labor; in actuality, most socialist governments have ended up being no more than dictatorships over workers by a ruling elite.
Sultanate - similar to a monarchy, but a government in which the supreme power is in the hands of a sultan (the head of a Muslim state); the sultan may be an absolute ruler or a sovereign with constitutionally limited authority.
Theocracy - a form of government in which a Deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler, but the Deity's laws are interpreted by ecclesiastical authorities (bishops, mullahs, etc.); a government subject to religious authority.
Totalitarian - a government that seeks to subordinate the individual to the state by controlling not only all political and economic matters, but also the attitudes, values, and beliefs of its population.

Gross domestic product

see GDP

Gross national product

see GNP

Gross world product

see GWP

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

This entry gives an estimate of the percentage of adults (aged 15-49) living with HIV/AIDS. The adult prevalence rate is calculated by dividing the estimated number of adults living with HIV/AIDS at yearend by the total adult population at yearend.

HIV/AIDS - deaths

This entry gives an estimate of the number of adults and children who died of AIDS during a given calendar year.

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

This entry gives an estimate of all people (adults and children) alive at yearend with HIV infection, whether or not they have developed symptoms of AIDS.

Heliports

This entry gives the total number of heliports with hard-surface runways, helipads, or landing areas that support routine sustained helicopter operations exclusively and have support facilities including one or more of the following facilities: lighting, fuel, passenger handling, or maintenance. It includes former airports used exclusively for helicopter operations but excludes heliports limited to day operations and natural clearings that could support helicopter landings and takeoffs.

Highways

This entry states the total length of the highway system and the length of the paved and unpaved parts.

Household income or consumption by percentage share

Data on household income or consumption come from household surveys, the results adjusted for household size. Nations use different standards and procedures in collecting and adjusting the data. Surveys based on income will normally show a more unequal distribution than surveys based on consumption. The quality of surveys is improving with time, yet caution is still necessary in making inter-country comparisons.

Hydrographic data codes

see Data codes

Illicit drugs

This entry gives information on the five categories of illicit drugs - narcotics, stimulants, depressants (sedatives), hallucinogens, and cannabis. These categories include many drugs legally produced and prescribed by doctors as well as those illegally produced and sold outside of medical channels.
Cannabis (Cannabis sativa) is the common hemp plant, which provides hallucinogens with some sedative properties, and includes marijuana (pot, Acapulco gold, grass, reefer), tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, Marinol), hashish (hash), and hashish oil (hash oil).
Coca (mostly Erythroxylum coca) is a bush with leaves that contain the stimulant used to make cocaine. Coca is not to be confused with cocoa, which comes from cacao seeds and is used in making chocolate, cocoa, and cocoa butter.
Cocaine is a stimulant derived from the leaves of the coca bush.
Depressants (sedatives) are drugs that reduce tension and anxiety and include chloral hydrate, barbiturates (Amytal, Nembutal, Seconal, phenobarbital), benzodiazepines (Librium, Valium), methaqualone (Quaalude), glutethimide (Doriden), and others (Equanil, Placidyl, Valmid).
Drugs are any chemical substances that effect a physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral change in an individual.
Drug abuse is the use of any licit or illicit chemical substance that results in physical, mental, emotional, or behavioral impairment in an individual.
Hallucinogens are drugs that affect sensation, thinking, self-awareness, and emotion. Hallucinogens include LSD (acid, microdot), mescaline and peyote (mexc, buttons, cactus), amphetamine variants (PMA, STP, DOB), phencyclidine (PCP, angel dust, hog), phencyclidine analogues (PCE, PCPy, TCP), and others (psilocybin, psilocyn).
Hashish is the resinous exudate of the cannabis or hemp plant (Cannabis sativa).
Heroin is a semisynthetic derivative of morphine.
Mandrax is a trade name for methaqualone, a pharmaceutical depressant.
Marijuana is the dried leaf of the cannabis or hemp plant (Cannabis sativa).
Methaqualone is a pharmaceutical depressant, referred to as mandrax in Southwest Asia and Africa.
Narcotics are drugs that relieve pain, often induce sleep, and refer to opium, opium derivatives, and synthetic substitutes. Natural narcotics include opium (paregoric, parepectolin), morphine (MS-Contin, Roxanol), codeine (Tylenol with codeine, Empirin with codeine, Robitussan AC), and thebaine. Semisynthetic narcotics include heroin (horse, smack), and hydromorphone (Dilaudid). Synthetic narcotics include meperidine or Pethidine (Demerol, Mepergan), methadone (Dolophine, Methadose), and others (Darvon, Lomotil).
Opium is the brown, gummy exudate of the incised, unripe seedpod of the opium poppy.
Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) is the source for the natural and semisynthetic narcotics.
Poppy straw is the entire cut and dried opium poppy-plant material, other than the seeds. Opium is extracted from poppy straw in commercial operations that produce the drug for medical use.
Qat (kat, khat) is a stimulant from the buds or leaves of Catha edulis that is chewed or drunk as tea.
Quaaludes is the North American slang term for methaqualone, a pharmaceutical depressant.
Stimulants are drugs that relieve mild depression, increase energy and activity, and include cocaine (coke, snow, crack), amphetamines (Desoxyn, Dexedrine), ephedrine, ecstasy (clarity, essence, doctor, Adam), phenmetrazine (Preludin), methylphenidate (Ritalin), and others (Cylert, Sanorex, Tenuate).

Imports

This entry provides the total US dollar amount of merchandise imports on a c.i.f. (cost, insurance, and freight) or f.o.b. (free on board) basis. These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.

Imports - commodities

This entry provides a rank ordering of imported products starting with the most important; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.

Imports - partners

This entry provides a rank ordering of trading partners starting with the most important; it sometimes includes the percent of total dollar value.

Independence

For most countries, this entry gives the date that sovereignty was achieved and from which nation, empire, or trusteeship. For the other countries, the date given may not represent "independence" in the strict sense, but rather some significant nationhood event such as the traditional founding date or the date of unification, federation, confederation, establishment, fundamental change in the form of government, or state succession. Dependent areas include the notation "none" followed by the nature of their dependency status. Also see the Terminology note.

Industrial production growth rate

This entry gives the annual percentage increase in industrial production (includes manufacturing, mining, and construction).

Industries

This entry provides a rank ordering of industries starting with the largest by value of annual output.

Infant mortality rate

This entry gives the number of deaths of infants under one year old in a given year per 1,000 live births in the same year; included is the total death rate, and deaths by sex, male and female. This rate is often used as an indicator of the level of health in a country.

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

This entry furnishes the annual percent change in consumer prices compared with the previous year's consumer prices.

International disputes

see Disputes - international

International organization participation

This entry lists in alphabetical order by abbreviation those international organizations in which the subject country is a member or participates in some other way.

International organizations

This information is presented in Appendix B: International Organizations and Groups which includes the name, abbreviation, date established, aim, and members by category.

Internet country code

This entry includes the two-letter codes maintained by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in the ISO 3166 Alpha-2 list and used by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) to establish country-coded top-level domains (ccTLDs).

Internet hosts

This entry lists the number of Internet hosts available within a country. An Internet host is a computer connected directly to the Internet; normally an Internet Service Provider's (ISP) computer is a host. Internet users may use either a hard-wired terminal, at an institution with a mainframe computer connected directly to the Internet, or may connect remotely by way of a modem via telephone line, cable, or satellite to the Internet Service Provider's host computer. The number of hosts is one indicator of the extent of Internet connectivity.

Internet users

This entry gives the number of users within a country that access the Internet. Statistics vary from country to country and may include users who access the Internet at least several times a week to those who access it only once within a period of several months.

Introduction

This category includes one entry, Background.

Investment (gross fixed)

This entry records total business spending on fixed assets, such as factories, machinery, equipment, dwellings, and inventories of raw materials, which provide the basis for future production. It is measured gross of the depreciation of the assets, i.e., it includes invesment that merely replaces worn-out or scrapped capital.

Irrigated land

This entry gives the number of square kilometers of land area that is artificially supplied with water.

Judicial branch

This entry contains the name(s) of the highest court(s) and a brief description of the selection process for members.

Labor force

This entry contains the total labor force figure.

Labor force - by occupation

This entry lists the percentage distribution of the labor force by occupation. The distribution will total less than 100 percent if the data are incomplete.

Land boundaries

This entry contains the total length of all land boundaries and the individual lengths for each of the contiguous border countries.

Land use

This entry contains the percentage shares of total land area for three different types of land use: arable land - land cultivated for crops like wheat, maize, and rice that are replanted after each harvest; permanent crops - land cultivated for crops like citrus, coffee, and rubber that are not replanted after each harvest; includes land under flowering shrubs, fruit trees, nut trees, and vines, but excludes land under trees grown for wood or timber; other - any land not arable or under permanent crops; includes permanent meadows and pastures, forests and woodlands, built-on areas, roads, barren land, etc.

Languages

This entry provides a rank ordering of languages starting with the largest and sometimes includes the percent of total population speaking that language.

Legal system

This entry contains a brief description of the legal system's historical roots, role in government, and acceptance of International Court of Justice (ICJ) jurisdiction.

Legislative branch

This entry contains information on the structure (unicameral, bicameral, tricameral), formal name, number of seats, and term of office. Elections includes the nature of election process or accession to power, date of the last election, and date of the next election. Election results includes the percent of vote and/or number of seats held by each party in the last election.

Life expectancy at birth

This entry contains the average number of years to be lived by a group of people born in the same year, if mortality at each age remains constant in the future. The entry includes total population as well as the male and female components. Life expectancy at birth is also a measure of overall quality of life in a country and summarizes the mortality at all ages. It can also be thought of as indicating the potential return on investment in human capital and is necessary for the calculation of various actuarial measures.

Literacy

This entry includes a definition of literacy and Census Bureau percentages for the total population, males, and females. There are no universal definitions and standards of literacy. Unless otherwise specified, all rates are based on the most common definition - the ability to read and write at a specified age. Detailing the standards that individual countries use to assess the ability to read and write is beyond the scope of the Factbook. Information on literacy, while not a perfect measure of educational results, is probably the most easily available and valid for international comparisons. Low levels of literacy, and education in general, can impede the economic development of a country in the current rapidly changing, technology-driven world.

Location

This entry identifies the country's regional location, neighboring countries, and adjacent bodies of water.

Major infectious diseases

This entry lists major infectious diseases likely to be encountered in countries where the risk of such diseases is assessed to be very high as compared to the United States. These infectious diseases represent risks to US government personnel traveling to the specified country for a period of less than three years. The degree of risk is assessed by considering the foreign nature of these infectious diseases, their severity, and the probability of being affected by the diseases present. The diseases listed do not necessarily represent the total disease burden experienced by the local population.
The risk to an individual traveler varies considerably by the specific location, visit duration, type of activities, type of accommodations, time of year, and other factors. Consultation with a travel medicine physician is needed to evaluate individual risk and recommend appropriate preventive measures such as vaccines.
Diseases are organized into the following six exposure categories shown in italics and listed in typical descending order of risk. Note - The sequence of exposure categories listed in individual country entries may vary according to local conditions.
food or waterborne diseases acquired through eating or drinking on the local economy:
Hepatitis A - viral disease that interferes with the functioning of the liver; spread through consumption of food or water contaminated with fecal matter, principally in areas of poor sanitation; victims exhibit fever, jaundice, and diarrhea; 15% of victims will experience prolonged symptoms over 6-9 months; vaccine available.
Hepatitis E - water-borne viral disease that interferes with the functioning of the liver; most commonly spread through fecal contamination of drinking water; victims exhibit jaundice, fatigue, abdominal pain, and dark colored urine.
Typhoid fever - bacterial disease spread through contact with food or water contaminated by fecal matter or sewage; victims exhibit sustained high fevers; left untreated, mortality rates can reach 20%.
vectorborne diseases acquired through the bite of an infected arthropod:
Malaria - caused by single-cell parasitic protozoa Plasmodium; transmitted to humans via the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito; parasites multiply in the liver attacking red blood cells resulting in cycles of fever, chills, and sweats accompanied by anemia; death due to damage to vital organs and interruption of blood supply to the brain; endemic in 100, mostly tropical, countries with 90% of cases and the majority of 1.5-2.5 million estimated annual deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa.
Dengue fever - mosquito-borne (Aedes aegypti) viral disease associated with urban environments; manifests as sudden onset of fever and severe headache; occasionally produces shock and hemorrhage leading to death in 5% of cases.
Yellow fever - mosquito-borne viral disease; severity ranges from influenza-like symptoms to severe hepatitis and hemorrhagic fever; occurs only in tropical South America and sub-Saharan Africa, where most cases are reported; fatality rate is less than 20%.
Japanese Encephalitis - mosquito-borne (Culex tritaeniorhynchus) viral disease associated with rural areas in Asia; acute encephalitis can progress to paralysis, coma, and death; fatality rates 30%.
African Trypanosomiasis - caused by the parasitic protozoa Trypanosoma; transmitted to humans via the bite of bloodsucking Tsetse flies; infection leads to malaise and irregular fevers and, in advanced cases when the parasites invade the central nervous system, coma and death; endemic in 36 countries of sub-Saharan Africa; cattle and wild animals act as reservoir hosts for the parasites.
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis - caused by the parasitic protozoa leishmania; transmitted to humans via the bite of sandflies; results in skin lesions that may become chronic; endemic in 88 countries; 90% of cases occur in Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and Peru; wild and domesticated animals as well as humans can act as reservoirs of infection.
Plague - bacterial disease transmitted by fleas normally associated with rats; person-to-person airborne transmission also possible; recent plague epidemics occurred in areas of Asia, Africa, and South America associated with rural areas or small towns and villages; manifests as fever, headache, and painfully swollen lymph nodes; disease progresses rapidly and without antibiotic treatment leads to pneumonic form with a death rate in excess of 50%.
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever - tick-borne viral disease; infection may also result from exposure to infected animal blood or tissue; geographic distribution includes Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe; sudden onset of fever, headache, and muscle aches followed by hemorrhaging in the bowels, urine, nose, and gums; mortality rate is approximately 30%.
Rift Valley fever - viral disease affecting domesticated animals and humans; transmission is by mosquito and other biting insects; infection may also occur through handling of infected meat or contact with blood; geographic distribution includes eastern and southern Africa where cattle and sheep are raised; symptoms are generally mild with fever and some liver abnormalities, but the disease may progress to hemorrhagic fever, encephalitis, or ocular disease; fatality rates are low at about 1% of cases.
Chikungunya - mosquito-borne (Aedes aegypti) viral disease associated with urban environments, similar to Dengue Fever; characterized by sudden onset of fever, rash, and severe joint pain usually lasting 3-7 days, some cases result in persistent arthritis.
water contact diseases acquired through swimming or wading in freshwater lakes, streams, and rivers:
Leptospirosis - bacterial disease that affects animals and humans; infection occurs through contact with water, food, or soil contaminated by animal urine; symptoms include high fever, severe headache, vomiting, jaundice, and diarrhea; untreated, the disease can result in kidney damage, liver failure, meningitis, or respiratory distress; fatality rates are low but left untreated recovery can take months.
Schistosomiasis - caused by parasitic trematode flatworm Schistosoma; fresh water snails act as intermediate host and release larval form of parasite that penetrates the skin of people exposed to contaminated water; worms mature and reproduce in the blood vessels, liver, kidneys, and intestines releasing eggs, which become trapped in tissues triggering an immune response; may manifest as either urinary or intestinal disease resulting in decreased work or learning capacity; mortality, while generally low, may occur in advanced cases usually due to bladder cancer; endemic in 74 developing countries with 80% of infected people living in sub-Saharan Africa; humans act as the reservoir for this parasite.
aerosolized dust or soil contact disease acquired through inhalation of aerosols contaminated with rodent urine:
Lassa fever - viral disease carried by rats of the genus Mastomys; endemic in portions of West Africa; infection occurs through direct contact with or consumption of food contaminated by rodent urine or fecal matter containing virus particles; fatality rate can reach 50% in epidemic outbreaks.
respiratory disease acquired through close contact with an infectious person:
Meningococcal meningitis - bacterial disease causing an inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord; one of the most important bacterial pathogens is Neisseria meningitidis because of its potential to cause epidemics; symptoms include stiff neck, high fever, headaches, and vomiting; bacteria are transmitted from person to person by respiratory droplets and facilitated by close and prolonged contact resulting from crowded living conditions, often with a seasonal distribution; death occurs in 5-15% of cases, typically within 24-48 hours of onset of symptoms; highest burden of meningococcal disease occurs in the hyperendemic region of sub-Saharan Africa known as the "Meningitis Belt" which stretches from Senegal east to Ethiopia.
animal contact disease acquired through direct contact with local animals:
Rabies - viral disease of mammals usually transmitted through the bite of an infected animal, most commonly dogs; virus affects the central nervous system causing brain alteration and death; symptoms initially are non-specific fever and headache progressing to neurological symptoms; death occurs within days of the onset of symptoms.

Manpower available for military service

This entry gives the total numbers of males and females age 15-49 and assumes that every individual is fit to serve.

Manpower fit for military service

This entry gives the number of males and females age 15-49 fit for military service. This is a more refined measure of potential military manpower availability which tries to account for the health situation in the country and reduces the maximum potential number to a more realistic estimate of the actual number fit to serve.

Manpower reaching military service age annually

This entry gives the number of draft-age males and females entering the military manpower pool in any given year and is a measure of the availability of draft-age young adults.

Map references

This entry includes the name of the Factbook reference map on which a country may be found. The entry on Geographic coordinates may be helpful in finding some smaller countries.

Maritime claims

This entry includes the following claims, the definitions of which are excerpted from the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which alone contains the full and definitive descriptions:
territorial sea - the sovereignty of a coastal state extends beyond its land territory and internal waters to an adjacent belt of sea, described as the territorial sea in the UNCLOS (Part II); this sovereignty extends to the air space over the territorial sea as well as its underlying seabed and subsoil; every state has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles; the normal baseline for measuring the breadth of the territorial sea is the low-water line along the coast as marked on large-scale charts officially recognized by the coastal state; the UNCLOS describes specific rules for archipelagic states.
contiguous zone - according to the UNCLOS (Article 33), this is a zone contiguous to a coastal state's territorial sea, over which it may exercise the control necessary to: prevent infringement of its customs, fiscal, immigration, or sanitary laws and regulations within its territory or territorial sea; punish infringement of the above laws and regulations committed within its territory or territorial sea; the contiguous zone may not extend beyond 24 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured (e.g. the US has claimed a 12-nautical mile contiguous zone in addition to its 12-nautical mile territorial sea).
exclusive economic zone (EEZ) - the UNCLOS (Part V) defines the EEZ as a zone beyond and adjacent to the territorial sea in which a coastal state has: sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring and exploiting, conserving and managing the natural resources, whether living or non-living, of the waters superjacent to the seabed and of the seabed and its subsoil, and with regard to other activities for the economic exploitation and exploration of the zone, such as the production of energy from the water, currents, and winds; jurisdiction with regard to the establishment and use of artificial islands, installations, and structures; marine scientific research; the protection and preservation of the marine environment; the outer limit of the exclusive economic zone shall not exceed 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.
continental shelf - the UNCLOS (Article 76) defines the continental shelf of a coastal state as comprising the seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas that extend beyond its territorial sea throughout the natural prolongation of its land territory to the outer edge of the continental margin, or to a distance of 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured where the outer edge of the continental margin does not extend up to that distance; the continental margin comprises the submerged prolongation of the landmass of the coastal state, and consists of the seabed and subsoil of the shelf, the slope and the rise; wherever the continental margin extends beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline, coastal states may extend their claim to a distance not to exceed 350 nautical miles from the baseline or 100 nautical miles from the 2500 meter isobath; it does not include the deep ocean floor with its oceanic ridges or the subsoil thereof.
exclusive fishing zone - while this term is not used in the UNCLOS, some states (e.g. the United Kingdom) have chosen not to claim an EEZ, but rather to claim jurisdiction over the living resources off their coast; in such cases, the term exclusive fishing zone is often used; the breadth of this zone is normally the same as the EEZ or 200 nautical miles.

Median age

This entry is the age that divides a population into two numerically equal groups; that is, half the people are younger than this age and half are older. It is a single index that summarizes the age distribution of a population. Currently, the median age ranges from a low of about 15 in Uganda and Gaza Strip to 40 or more in several European countries and Japan. See the entry for "Age structure" for the importance of a young versus an older age structure and, by implication, a low versus a higher median age.

Merchant marine

Merchant marine may be defined as all ships engaged in the carriage of goods; or all commercial vessels (as opposed to all nonmilitary ships), which excludes tugs, fishing vessels, offshore oil rigs, etc. This entry contains information in four fields - total, ships by type, foreign-owned, and registered in other countries.
Total includes the number of ships (1,000 GRT or over), total DWT for those ships, and total GRT for those ships. DWT or dead weight tonnage is the total weight of cargo, plus bunkers, stores, etc., that a ship can carry when immersed to the appropriate load line. GRT or gross register tonnage is a figure obtained by measuring the entire sheltered volume of a ship available for cargo and passengers and converting it to tons on the basis of 100 cubic feet per ton; there is no stable relationship between GRT and DWT. Ships
by type includes a listing of barge carriers, bulk cargo ships, cargo ships, chemical tankers, combination bulk carriers, combination ore/oil carriers, container ships, liquefied gas tankers, livestock carriers, multifunctional large-load carriers, petroleum tankers, passenger ships, passenger/cargo ships, railcar carriers, refrigerated cargo ships, roll-on/roll-off cargo ships, short-sea passenger ships, specialized tankers, and vehicle carriers.
Foreign-owned are ships that fly the flag of one country but belong to owners in another.
Registered in other countries are ships that belong to owners in one country but fly the flag of another.

Military

This category includes the entries dealing with a country's military structure, manpower, and expenditures.

Military - note

This entry includes miscellaneous military information of significance not included elsewhere.

Military branches

This entry lists the names of the ground, naval, air, marine, and other defense or security forces.

Military expenditures - dollar figure

This entry gives current military expenditures in US dollars; the figure is calculated by multiplying the estimated defense spending in percentage terms by the gross domestic product (GDP) calculated on an exchange rate basis, not purchasing power parity (PPP) terms. Dollar figures for military expenditures should be treated with caution because of different price patterns and accounting methods among nations, as well as wide variations in the strength of their currencies.

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

This entry gives current military expenditures as an estimated percent of gross domestic product (GDP). These figures are calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.

Military service age and obligation

This entry gives the minimum age at which an individual may volunteer for military service or be subject to conscription.

Money figures

All money figures are expressed in contemporaneous US dollars unless otherwise indicated.

National holiday

This entry gives the primary national day of celebration - usually independence day.

Nationality

This entry provides the identifying terms for citizens - noun and adjective.

Natural gas - consumption

This entry is the total natural gas consumed in cubic meters (cu m). The discrepancy between the amount of natural gas produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes and other complicating factors.

Natural gas - exports

This entry is the total natural gas exported in cubic meters (cu m).

Natural gas - imports

This entry is the total natural gas imported in cubic meters (cu m).

Natural gas - production

This entry is the total natural gas produced in cubic meters (cu m). The discrepancy between the amount of natural gas produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes and other complicating factors.

Natural gas - proved reserves

This entry is the stock of proved reserves of natural gas in cubic meters (cu m). Proved reserves are those quantities of natural gas, which, by analysis of geological and engineering data, can be estimated with a high degree of confidence to be commercially recoverable from a given date forward, from known reservoirs and under current economic conditions.

Natural hazards

This entry lists potential natural disasters.

Natural resources

This entry lists a country's mineral, petroleum, hydropower, and other resources of commercial importance.

Net migration rate

This entry includes the figure for the difference between the number of persons entering and leaving a country during the year per 1,000 persons (based on midyear population). An excess of persons entering the country is referred to as net immigration (e.g., 3.56 migrants/1,000 population); an excess of persons leaving the country as net emigration (e.g., -9.26 migrants/1,000 population). The net migration rate indicates the contribution of migration to the overall level of population change. High levels of migration can cause problems such as increasing unemployment and potential ethnic strife (if people are coming in) or a reduction in the labor force, perhaps in certain key sectors (if people are leaving).

Oil - consumption

This entry is the total oil consumed in barrels per day (bbl/day). The discrepancy between the amount of oil produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes, refinery gains, and other complicating factors.

Oil - exports

This entry is the total oil exported in barrels per day (bbl/day), including both crude oil and oil products.

Oil - imports

This entry is the total oil imported in barrels per day (bbl/day), including both crude oil and oil products.

Oil - production

This entry is the total oil produced in barrels per day (bbl/day). The discrepancy between the amount of oil produced and/or imported and the amount consumed and/or exported is due to the omission of stock changes, refinery gains, and other complicating factors.

Oil - proved reserves

This entry is the stock of proved reserves of crude oil in barrels (bbl). Proved reserves are those quantities of petroleum which, by analysis of geological and engineering data, can be estimated with a high degree of confidence to be commercially recoverable from a given date forward, from known reservoirs and under current economic conditions.

People

This category includes the entries dealing with the characteristics of the people and their society.

People - note

This entry includes miscellaneous demographic information of significance not included elsewhere.

Personal Names - Capitalization

The Factbook capitalizes the surname or family name of individuals for the convenience of our users who are faced with a world of different cultures and naming conventions. The need for capitalization, bold type, underlining, italics, or some other indicator of the individual's surname is apparent in the following examples: MAO Zedong, Fidel CASTRO Ruz, George W. BUSH, and TUNKU SALAHUDDIN Abdul Aziz Shah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Hisammuddin Alam Shah. By knowing the surname, a short form without all capital letters can be used with confidence as in President Castro, Chairman Mao, President Bush, or Sultan Tunku Salahuddin. The same system of capitalization is extended to the names of leaders with surnames that are not commonly used such as Queen ELIZABETH II.

Personal Names - Spelling

The romanization of personal names in the Factbook normally follows the same transliteration system used by the US Board on Geographic Names for spelling place names. At times, however, a foreign leader expressly indicates a preference for, or the media or official documents regularly use, a romanized spelling that differs from the transliteration derived from the US Government standard. In such cases, the Factbook uses the alternative spelling.

Personal Names - Titles

The Factbook capitalizes any valid title (or short form of it) immediately preceding a person's name. A title standing alone is not capitalized. Examples: President PUTIN and President BUSH are chiefs of state. In Russia, the president is chief of state and the premier is the head of the government, while in the US, the president is both chief of state and head of government.

Petroleum

See entry for "oil."

Petroleum products

See entry for "oil."

Pipelines

This entry gives the lengths and types of pipelines for transporting products like natural gas, crude oil, or petroleum products.

Political parties and leaders

This entry includes a listing of significant political organizations and their leaders.

Political pressure groups and leaders

This entry includes a listing of organizations with leaders involved in politics, but not standing for legislative election.

Population

This entry gives an estimate from the US Bureau of the Census based on statistics from population censuses, vital statistics registration systems, or sample surveys pertaining to the recent past and on assumptions about future trends. The total population presents one overall measure of the potential impact of the country on the world and within its region. Note: starting with the 1993 Factbook, demographic estimates for some countries (mostly African) have explicitly taken into account the effects of the growing impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. These countries are currently: The Bahamas, Benin, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Population below poverty line

National estimates of the percentage of the population falling below the poverty line are based on surveys of sub-groups, with the results weighted by the number of people in each group. Definitions of poverty vary considerably among nations. For example, rich nations generally employ more generous standards of poverty than poor nations.

Population growth rate

The average annual percent change in the population, resulting from a surplus (or deficit) of births over deaths and the balance of migrants entering and leaving a country. The rate may be positive or negative. The growth rate is a factor in determining how great a burden would be imposed on a country by the changing needs of its people for infrastructure (e.g., schools, hospitals, housing, roads), resources (e.g., food, water, electricity), and jobs. Rapid population growth can be seen as threatening by neighboring countries.

Ports and harbors

This entry lists the major ports and harbors selected on the basis of overall importance to each country. This is determined by evaluating a number of factors (e.g., dollar value of goods handled, gross tonnage, facilities, military significance).

Public debt

This entry records the cumulatiive total of all government borrowings less repayments that are denominated in a country's home currency. Public debt should not be confused with external debt, which reflects the foreign currency liabilities of both the private and public sector and must be financed out of foreign exchange earnings.

Radio broadcast stations

This entry includes the total number of AM, FM, and shortwave broadcast stations.

Railways

This entry states the total route length of the railway network and of its component parts by gauge: broad, standard, narrow, and dual. Other gauges are listed under note.

Reference maps

This section includes world and regional maps.

Refugees and internally displaced persons

This entry includes those persons residing in a country as refugees or internally displaced persons (IDPs). The definition of a refugee according to a United Nations Convention is "a person who is outside his/her country of nationality or habitual residence; has a well-founded fear of persecution because of his/her race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion; and is unable or unwilling to avail himself/herself of the protection of that country, or to return there, for fear of persecution." The UN established the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1950 to handle refugee matters worldwide. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has a different, operational definition for a Palestinian refugee: "a person whose normal place of residence was Palestine during the period 1 June 1946 to 15 May 1948 and who lost both home and means of livelihood as a result of the 1948 conflict." However, UNHCR also assists some 400,000 Palestinian refugees not covered under the UNRWA definition. The term "internally displaced person" is not specifically covered in the UN Convention; it is used to describe people who have fled their homes for reasons similar to refugees, but who remain within their own national territory and are subject to the laws of that state.

Religions

This entry is an ordered listing of religions by adherents starting with the largest group and sometimes includes the percent of total population.

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

This entry gives the dollar value for the stock of all financial assets that are available to the central monetary authority for use in meeting a country's balance of payments needs as of the end-date of the period specified. This category includes not only foreign currency and gold, but also a country's holdings of Special Drawing Rights in the International Monetary Fund, and its reserve position in the Fund.

Sex ratio

This entry includes the number of males for each female in five age groups - at birth, under 15 years, 15-64 years, 65 years and over, and for the total population. Sex ratio at birth has recently emerged as an indicator of certain kinds of sex discrimination in some countries. For instance, high sex ratios at birth in some Asian countries are now attributed to sex-selective abortion and infanticide due to a strong preference for sons. This will affect future marriage patterns and fertility patterns. Eventually, it could cause unrest among young adult males who are unable to find partners.

Suffrage

This entry gives the age at enfranchisement and whether the right to vote is universal or restricted.

Telephone numbers

All telephone numbers in the Factbook consist of the country code in brackets, the city or area code (where required) in parentheses, and the local number. The one component that is not presented is the international access code, which varies from country to country. For example, an international direct dial telephone call placed from the US to Madrid, Spain, would be as follows: 011 [34] (1) 577-xxxx, where 011 is the international access code for station-to-station calls; 01 is for calls other than station-to-station calls, [34] is the country code for Spain, (1) is the city code for Madrid, 577 is the local exchange, and xxxx is the local telephone number. An international direct dial telephone call placed from another country to the US would be as follows: international access code + [1] (202) 939-xxxx, where [ 1] is the country code for the US, (202) is the area code for Washington, DC, 939 is the local exchange, and xxxx is the local telephone number.

Telephone system

This entry includes a brief general assessment of the system with details on the domestic and international components. The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout the entry:
Africa ONE - a fiber-optic submarine cable link encircling the continent of Africa.
Arabsat - Arab Satellite Communications Organization (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia).
Autodin - Automatic Digital Network (US Department of Defense).
CB - citizen's band mobile radio communications.
cellular telephone system - the telephones in this system are radio transceivers, with each instrument having its own private radio frequency and sufficient radiated power to reach the booster station in its area (cell), from which the telephone signal is fed to a telephone exchange.
Central American Microwave System - a trunk microwave radio relay system that links the countries of Central America and Mexico with each other.
coaxial cable - a multichannel communication cable consisting of a central conducting wire, surrounded by and insulated from a cylindrical conducting shell; a large number of telephone channels can be made available within the insulated space by the use of a large number of carrier frequencies.
Comsat - Communications Satellite Corporation (US).
DSN - Defense Switched Network (formerly Automatic Voice Network or Autovon); basic general-purpose, switched voice network of the Defense Communications System (US Department of Defense).
Eutelsat - European Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Paris).
fiber-optic cable - a multichannel communications cable using a thread of optical glass fibers as a transmission medium in which the signal (voice, video, etc.) is in the form of a coded pulse of light.
GSM - a global system for mobile (cellular) communications devised by the Groupe Special Mobile of the pan-European standardization organization, Conference Europeanne des Posts et Telecommunications (CEPT) in 1982.
HF - high frequency; any radio frequency in the 3,000- to 30,000-kHz range.
Inmarsat - International Maritime Satellite Organization (London); provider of global mobile satellite communications for commercial, distress, and safety applications at sea, in the air, and on land.
Intelsat - International Telecommunications Satellite Organization (Washington, DC).
Intersputnik - International Organization of Space Communications (Moscow); first established in the former Soviet Union and the East European countries, it is now marketing its services worldwide with earth stations in North America, Africa, and East Asia.
landline - communication wire or cable of any sort that is installed on poles or buried in the ground.
Marecs - Maritime European Communications Satellite used in the Inmarsat system on lease from the European Space Agency.
Marisat - satellites of the Comsat Corporation that participate in the Inmarsat system.
Medarabtel - the Middle East Telecommunications Project of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) providing a modern telecommunications network, primarily by microwave radio relay, linking Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen; it was initially started in Morocco in 1970 by the Arab Telecommunications Union (ATU) and was known at that time as the Middle East Mediterranean Telecommunications Network.
microwave radio relay - transmission of long distance telephone calls and television programs by highly directional radio microwaves that are received and sent on from one booster station to another on an optical path.
NMT - Nordic Mobile Telephone; an analog cellular telephone system that was developed jointly by the national telecommunications authorities of the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden).
Orbita - a Russian television service; also the trade name of a packet-switched digital telephone network.
radiotelephone communications - the two-way transmission and reception of sounds by broadcast radio on authorized frequencies using telephone handsets.
PanAmSat - PanAmSat Corporation (Greenwich, CT).
SAFE - South African Far East Cable
satellite communication system - a communication system consisting of two or more earth stations and at least one satellite that provide long distance transmission of voice, data, and television; the system usually serves as a trunk connection between telephone exchanges; if the earth stations are in the same country, it is a domestic system.
satellite earth station - a communications facility with a microwave radio transmitting and receiving antenna and required receiving and transmitting equipment for communicating with satellites.
satellite link - a radio connection between a satellite and an earth station permitting communication between them, either one-way (down link from satellite to earth station - television receive-only transmission) or two-way (telephone channels).
SHF - super high frequency; any radio frequency in the 3,000- to 30,000-MHz range.
shortwave - radio frequencies (from 1.605 to 30 MHz) that fall above the commercial broadcast band and are used for communication over long distances.
Solidaridad - geosynchronous satellites in Mexico's system of international telecommunications in the Western Hemisphere.
Statsionar - Russia's geostationary system for satellite telecommunications.
submarine cable - a cable designed for service under water.
TAT - Trans-Atlantic Telephone; any of a number of high-capacity submarine coaxial telephone cables linking Europe with North America.
telefax - facsimile service between subscriber stations via the public switched telephone network or the international Datel network.
telegraph - a telecommunications system designed for unmodulated electric impulse transmission.
telex - a communication service involving teletypewriters connected by wire through automatic exchanges.
tropospheric scatter - a form of microwave radio transmission in which the troposphere is used to scatter and reflect a fraction of the incident radio waves back to earth; powerful, highly directional antennas are used to transmit and receive the microwave signals; reliable over-the-horizon communications are realized for distances up to 600 miles in a single hop; additional hops can extend the range of this system for very long distances.
trunk network - a network of switching centers, connected by multichannel trunk lines.
UHF - ultra high frequency; any radio frequency in the 300- to 3,000-MHz range.
VHF - very high frequency; any radio frequency in the 30- to 300-MHz range.

Telephones - main lines in use

This entry gives the total number of main telephone lines in use.

Telephones - mobile cellular

This entry gives the total number of mobile cellular telephones in use.

Television broadcast stations

This entry gives the total number of separate broadcast stations plus any repeater stations.

Terminology

Due to the highly structured nature of the Factbook database, some collective generic terms have to be used. For example, the word Country in the Country name entry refers to a wide variety of dependencies, areas of special sovereignty, uninhabited islands, and other entities in addition to the traditional countries or independent states. Military is also used as an umbrella term for various civil defense, security, and defense activities in many entries. The Independence entry includes the usual colonial independence dates and former ruling states as well as other significant nationhood dates such as the traditional founding date or the date of unification, federation, confederation, establishment, or state succession that are not strictly independence dates. Dependent areas have the nature of their dependency status noted in this same entry.

Terrain

This entry contains a brief description of the topography.

Total fertility rate

This entry gives a figure for the average number of children that would be born per woman if all women lived to the end of their childbearing years and bore children according to a given fertility rate at each age. The total fertility rate (TFR) is a more direct measure of the level of fertility than the crude birth rate, since it refers to births per woman. This indicator shows the potential for population change in the country. A rate of two children per woman is considered the replacement rate for a population, resulting in relative stability in terms of total numbers. Rates above two children indicate populations growing in size and whose median age is declining. Higher rates may also indicate difficulties for families, in some situations, to feed and educate their children and for women to enter the labor force. Rates below two children indicate populations decreasing in size and growing older. Global fertility rates are in general decline and this trend is most pronounced in industrialized countries, especially Western Europe, where populations are projected to decline dramatically over the next 50 years.

Transnational issues

This category includes three entries - Disputes - international, Refugees and internally displaced persons, and Illicit drugs - that deal with current issues going beyond national boundaries.

Transportation

This category includes the entries dealing with the means for movement of people and goods.

Transportation - note

This entry includes miscellaneous transportation information of significance not included elsewhere.

Unemployment rate

This entry contains the percent of the labor force that is without jobs. Substantial underemployment might be noted.

Waterways

This entry gives the total length of navigable rivers, canals, and other inland bodies of water.

Years

All year references are for the calendar year (CY) unless indicated as fiscal year (FY). The calendar year is an accounting period of 12 months from 1 January to 31 December. The fiscal year is an accounting period of 12 months other than 1 January to 31 December.

Note: Information for the US and US dependencies was compiled from material in the public domain and does not represent Intelligence Community estimates.

This page was last updated on 20 October 2005

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Afghanistan

Akrotiri

Albania

Algeria

American Samoa

Andorra

Angola

Anguilla

Antigua and Barbuda

Argentina

Armenia

Aruba

Ashmore and Cartier Islands

Australia

Austria

Azerbaijan

Bahamas, The

Bahrain

Baker Island

Bangladesh

Barbados

Bassas da India

Belarus

Belgium

Belize

Benin

Bermuda

Bhutan

Bolivia

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Botswana

Bouvet Island

Brazil

British Indian Ocean Territory

British Virgin Islands

Brunei

Bulgaria

Burkina Faso

Burma

Burundi

Cambodia

Cameroon

Canada

Cape Verde

Cayman Islands

Central African Republic

Chad

Chile

China

Christmas Island

Clipperton Island

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Colombia

Comoros

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Congo, Republic of the

Cook Islands

Coral Sea Islands

Costa Rica

Cote d'Ivoire

Croatia

Cuba

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Dhekelia

Djibouti

Dominica

Dominican Republic

East Timor

Ecuador

Egypt

El Salvador

Equatorial Guinea

Eritrea

Estonia

Ethiopia

Europa Island

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Faroe Islands

Fiji

Finland

France

French Guiana

French Polynesia

French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Gabon

Gambia, The

Georgia

Germany

Ghana

Gibraltar

Glorioso Islands

Greece

Greenland

Grenada

Guadeloupe

Guam

Guatemala

Guernsey

Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

Guyana

Haiti

Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Holy See (Vatican City)

Honduras

Hong Kong

Howland Island

Hungary

Iceland

India

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, North

Korea, South

Kuwait

Kyrgyzstan

Laos

Latvia

Lebanon

Lesotho

Liberia

Libya

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Macau

Macedonia

Madagascar

Malawi

Malaysia

Maldives

Mali

Malta

Man, Isle of

Marshall Islands

Martinique

Mauritania

Mauritius

Mayotte

Mexico

Micronesia, Federated States of

Midway Islands

Moldova

Monaco

Mongolia

Montserrat

Morocco

Mozambique

Namibia

Nauru

Navassa Island

Nepal

Netherlands

Netherlands Antilles

New Caledonia

New Zealand

Nicaragua

Niger

Nigeria

Niue

Norfolk Island

Northern Mariana Islands

Norway

Oman

Pakistan

Palau

Palmyra Atoll

Panama

Papua New Guinea

Paraguay

Peru

Philippines

Pitcairn Islands

Poland

Portugal

Puerto Rico

Qatar

Reunion

Romania

Russia

Rwanda

Saint Helena

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Lucia

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Samoa

San Marino

Sao Tome and Principe

Saudi Arabia

Senegal

Serbia and Montenegro

Seychelles

Sierra Leone

Singapore

Slovakia

Slovenia

Solomon Islands

Somalia

South Africa

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Spain

Sri Lanka

Sudan

Suriname

Svalbard

Swaziland

Sweden

Switzerland

Syria

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

Yemen

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Taiwan

European Union

UNCLASSIFIED

Guide to Country Profiles

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These are the Categories, Fields, and subfields of information generally recorded for each country. Links are to the Notes and Definitions about each entry.

Introduction

Background

Geography

Location

Geographic coordinates

Map references

Area

total

land

water

Area - comparative

Land boundaries

total

border countries

Coastline

Maritime claims

contiguous zone

exclusive fishing zone

continental shelf

exclusive economic zone

extended fishing zone

territorial sea

Climate

Terrain

Elevation extremes

lowest point

highest point

Natural resources

Land use

arable land

permanent crops

other

Irrigated land

Natural hazards

Environment - current issues

Environment - international agreements

party to

signed, but not ratified

Geography - note

People

Population

Age structure

0-14 years

15-64 years

65 years and over

Median Age

total

male

female

Population growth rate

Birth rate

Death rate

Net migration rate

Sex ratio

at birth

under 15 years

15-64 years

65 years and over

total population

Infant mortality rate

Life expectancy at birth

total population

male

female

Total fertility rate

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS - deaths

Major infectious diseases

Nationality

noun

adjective

Ethnic groups

Religions

Languages

Literacy

definition

total population

male

female

People - note

Government

Country name

conventional long form

conventional short form

local long form

local short form

former

abbreviation

Dependency status

Government type

Capital

Administrative divisions

Dependent areas

Independence

National holiday

Constitution

Legal system

Suffrage

Executive branch

chief of state

head of government

cabinet

elections

election results

Legislative branch

elections

election results

Judicial branch

Political parties and leaders

Political pressure groups and leaders

International organization participation

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission

chancery

telephone

FAX

consulate(s) general

consulate(s)

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission

embassy

mailing address

telephone

FAX

consulate(s) general

consulate(s)

branch office(s)

Flag description

Government - note

Economy

Economy - overview

GDP (purchasing power parity)

GDP - real growth rate

GDP - per capita

GDP - composition by sector

agriculture

industry

services

Investment (gross fixed)

Population below poverty line

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%

highest 10%

Distribution of family income - Gini index

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

Labor force

Labor force - by occupation

Unemployment rate

Budget

revenues

expenditures

Public debt

Agriculture - products

Industries

Industrial production growth rate

Electricity - production

Electricity - consumption

Electricity - exports

Electricity - imports

Oil - production

Oil - consumption

Oil - exports

Oil - imports

Oil - proved reserves

Natural Gas - production

Natural Gas - consumption

Natural Gas - exports

Natural Gas - imports

Natural Gas - proved reserves

Current account balance

Exports

Exports - commodities

Exports - partners

Imports

Imports - commodities

Imports - partners

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

Debt - external

Economic aid - donor

Economic aid - recipient

Currency (code)

Exchange rates

Fiscal year

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use

Telephones - mobile cellular

Telephone system

general assessment

domestic

international

Radio broadcast stations

Television broadcast stations

Internet country code

Internet hosts

Internet users

Communications - note

Transportation

Railways

total

broad gauge

standard gauge

narrow gauge

dual gauge

Highways

total

paved

unpaved

Waterways

Pipelines

Ports and harbors

Merchant marine

total

ships by type

foreign-owned

registered in other countries

Airports

Airports - with paved runways

total

over 3,047 m

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

Airports - with unpaved runways

total

over 3,047 m

2,438 to 3,047 m

1,524 to 2,437 m

914 to 1,523 m

under 914 m

Heliports

Transportation - note

Military

Military branches

Military service age and obligation

Manpower available for military service

males age 15-49

females age 15-49

Manpower fit for military service

males age 15-49

females age 15-49

Manpower reaching military service age annually

males

females

Military expenditures - dollar figure

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

Military - note

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international

Refugees and internally displaced persons

Illicit drugs

This page was last updated on 18 October, 2005

History

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A Brief History of Basic Intelligence and The World Factbook

The Intelligence Cycle is the process by which information is acquired, converted into intelligence, and made available to policymakers.  Information is raw data from any source, data that may be fragmentary, contradictory, unreliable, ambiguous, deceptive, or wrong.  Intelligence is information that has been collected, integrated, evaluated, analyzed, and interpreted. Finished intelligence is the final product of the Intelligence Cycle ready to be delivered to the policymaker.

The three types of finished intelligence are: basic, current, and estimative. Basic intelligence provides the fundamental and factual reference material on a country or issue. Current intelligence reports on new developments. Estimative intelligence judges probable outcomes. The three are mutually supportive: basic intelligence is the foundation on which the other two are constructed; current intelligence continually updates the  inventory of knowledge; and estimative intelligence revises overall interpretations of country and issue prospects for guidance of basic and  current intelligence. The World Factbook, The President's Daily Brief, and the National Intelligence Estimates are examples of the three types of finished intelligence.

The United States has carried on foreign intelligence activities since the days of George Washington but only since World War II have they been coordinated on a government-wide basis. Three programs have highlighted the development of coordinated basic intelligence since that time: (1) the Joint Army Navy Intelligence Studies (JANIS), (2) the National Intelligence Survey (NIS), and (3) The World Factbook.

During World War II, intelligence consumers realized that the production of basic intelligence by different components of the US Government resulted in a great duplication of effort and conflicting information. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 brought home to leaders in Congress and the executive branch the need for integrating departmental reports to national policymakers. Detailed and coordinated information was needed not only on such major powers as Germany and Japan, but also on places of little previous interest. In the Pacific Theater, for example, the Navy and Marines had to launch amphibious operations against many islands about which information was unconfirmed or nonexistent. Intelligence authorities resolved that the United States should never again be caught unprepared.

In 1943, Gen. George B. Strong (G-2), Adm. H. C. Train (Office of Naval Intelligence - ONI), and Gen. William J. Donovan (Director of the Office of Strategic Services - OSS) decided that a joint effort should be initiated. A steering committee was appointed on 27 April 1943 that recommended the formation of a Joint Intelligence Study Publishing Board to assemble, edit, coordinate, and publish the Joint Army Navy Intelligence Studies (JANIS). JANIS was the first interdepartmental basic intelligence program to fulfill the needs of the US Government for an authoritative and coordinated appraisal of strategic basic intelligence. Between April 1943 and July 1947, the board published 34 JANIS studies. JANIS performed well in the war effort, and numerous letters of commendation were received, including a statement from Adm. Forrest Sherman, Chief of Staff, Pacific Ocean Areas, which said, "JANIS has become the indispensable reference work for the shore-based planners."

The need for more comprehensive basic intelligence in the postwar world was well expressed in 1946 by George S. Pettee, a noted author on national security. He wrote in The Future of American Secret Intelligence (Infantry Journal Press, 1946, page 46) that world leadership in peace requires even more elaborate intelligence than in war. "The conduct of peace involves all countries, all human activities - not just the enemy and his war production."

The Central Intelligence Agency was established on 26 July 1947 and officially began operating on 18 September 1947. Effective 1 October 1947, the Director of Central Intelligence assumed operational responsibility for JANIS. On 13 January 1948, the National Security Council issued Intelligence Directive (NSCID) No. 3, which authorized the National Intelligence Survey (NIS) program as a peacetime replacement for the wartime JANIS program. Before adequate NIS country sections could be produced, government agencies had to develop more comprehensive gazetteers and better maps. The US Board on Geographic Names (BGN) compiled the names; the Department of the Interior produced the gazetteers; and CIA produced the maps.

The Hoover Commission's Clark Committee, set up in 1954 to study the structure and administration of the CIA, reported to Congress in 1955 that: "The National Intelligence Survey is an invaluable publication which provides the essential elements of basic intelligence on all areas of the world. There will always be a continuing requirement for keeping the Survey up-to-date." The Factbook was created as an annual summary and update to the encyclopedic NIS studies. The first classified Factbook was published in August 1962, and the first unclassified version was published in June 1971. The NIS program was terminated in 1973 except for the Factbook, map, and gazetteer components. The 1975 Factbook was the first to be made available to the public with sales through the US Government Printing Office (GPO). The year 2005 marks the 58th anniversary of the establishment of the Central Intelligence Agency and the 62nd year of continuous basic intelligence support to the US Government by The World Factbook and its two predecessor programs.

This page was last updated on 28 April, 2005

Contributors and Copyright Information

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The World Factbook is prepared by the Central Intelligence Agency for the use of US Government officials, and the style, format, coverage, and content are designed to meet their specific requirements. Information is provided by Antarctic Information Program (National Science Foundation), Bureau of the Census (Department of Commerce), Bureau of Labor Statistics (Department of Labor), Central Intelligence Agency, Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs, Defense Intelligence Agency (Department of Defense), Department of State, Fish and Wildlife Service (Department of the Interior), National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (Department of Defense), Naval Facilities Engineering Command (Department of Defense), Office of Insular Affairs (Department of the Interior), US Board on Geographic Names (Department of the Interior), and other public and private sources.

The Factbook is in the public domain. Accordingly, it may be copied freely without permission of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).  The official seal of the CIA, however, may NOT be copied without permission as required by the CIA Act of 1949 (50 U.S.C. section 403m).  Misuse of the official seal of the CIA could result in civil and criminal penalties.

Comments and queries are welcome and may be addressed to:

Central Intelligence Agency
Attn.: Office of Public Affairs
Washington, DC 20505
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM Eastern Standard Time
Telephone: [1] (703) 482-0623
FAX: [1] (703) 482-1739

This page was last updated on 18 July, 2005

Purchasing Information

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The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) publishes The World Factbook in printed and Internet versions. US Government officials may obtain information about availability of the Factbook from their organizations or through liaison channels to the CIA. Other users may obtain sales information about printed copies from the following:

Superintendent of Documents
P. O. Box 371954
Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954
Hours: Monday-Friday 7:30 AM-9:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Telephone: [1] (202) 512-1800; toll free: [1] (866) 512-1800
FAX: [1] (202) 512-2104
http://bookstore.gpo.gov/
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-6:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Telephone: [1] (800) 553-6847 (only in the US);
[1] (703) 605-6000 (for outside US)
FAX: [1] (703) 605-6900
http://www.ntis.gov/
The World Factbook can be accessed on the Internet at:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html

This page was last updated on 27 September, 2005