The Project Gutenberg EBook of The 2007 CIA World Factbook, by United

States

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Title: The 2007 CIA World Factbook

Author: United States

Release Date: December 11, 2008 [EBook #27348]

Language: English

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE 2007 CIA

WORLD FACTBOOK ***

Produced by Al Haines
THE CIA WORLD FACTBOOK
2007
CONTENTS

Countries and Locations

Field Listings

Rank Orders

Appendixes

Notes and Definitions

History of the World Factbook

Contributors and Copyright Information

Purchasing Information

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

===================================================================

What's New

- Country information has been updated as of 8 February 2007.

- In the Government category, the "Capital" entry has been greatly expanded and
now contains up to four subfields, including significant new information having
to do with time. The subfields consist of the name of the capital itself, its
geographic coordinates, the time difference at the capital from coordinated
universal time (UTC), and, if applicable, information on daylight saving time
(DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to highlight those
countries that have multiple time zones.

- The Transnational issues category now has a "Trafficking in persons" entry.

Human trafficking connotes modern-day slavery and this important new field
will include information on the most egregious countries (Tier 2 Watch List and
Tier 3) as listed in the US State Department's annual report.

- A new Appendix G lists Weights and Measures. The appendix includes

information on mathematical notation and metric interrelationships, as well as
over 400 examples of standard conversion factors.

-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.

===================================================================

The World Factbook (2007) - Country Listing

[Transcriber's note: To search on a country in this file, prefix the country's name
with "@", e.g. "@Afghanistan". "Afghanistan" will find all occurrences;
prefixing it with "@" will find the correct location.]

World

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

Bahamas, The
Bahrain
Baker Island description under United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Bangladesh
Barbados
Bassas da India description under Iles Eparses
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 description under Iles Eparses
European Union entry follows Taiwan

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
French Polynesia
French Southern and Antarctic Lands

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

Haiti
Heard Island and McDonald Islands
Holy See (Vatican City)
Honduras
Hong Kong
Howland Island description under United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Hungary

Iceland
Iles Eparses
India
Indian Ocean
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Isle of Man
Israel
Italy

J
Jamaica
Jan Mayen
Japan
Jarvis Island description under United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Jersey
Johnston Atoll description under United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Jordan
Juan de Nova Island description under Iles Eparses

Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kingman Reef description under United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Kiribati
Korea, North
Korea, South
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan

Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg

Macau
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mayotte
Mexico
Micronesia, Federated States of
Midway Islands description under United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
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
O

Oman

Pacific Ocean
Pakistan
Palau
Palmyra Atoll description under United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paracel Islands
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Pitcairn Islands
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico

Qatar

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
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

Taiwan entry follows Zimbabwe

Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tromelin Island description under Iles Eparses
Tunisia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Turks and Caicos Islands
Tuvalu

Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States
United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
Uruguay
Uzbekistan

Vanuatu
Venezuela
Vietnam
Virgin Islands

Wake Island
Wallis and Futuna
West Bank
Western Sahara

Y
Yemen

Zambia
Zimbabwe

Taiwan
European Union

===================================================================

Field Listings

[Transcriber's note: To search on a field code in this file, prefix the code number
with "@", e.g. "@2001". "2001" will find all occurrences; prefixing it with "@"
will find the correct location.]

Code Field Description

2001 GDP (purchasing power parity) 2002 Population growth rate 2003 GDP -
real growth rate 2004 GDP - per capita (PPP) 2006 Dependency status 2007
Diplomatic representation from the US 2008 Transportation - note 2010 Age
structure 2011 Geographic coordinates 2012 GDP - composition by sector 2013
Radio broadcast stations 2015 Television broadcast stations 2018 Sex ratio 2019
Heliports 2020 Elevation extremes 2021 Natural hazards 2022 People - note
2023 Area - comparative 2024 Military service age and obligation 2025
Manpower fit for military service 2026 Manpower reaching military service age
annually 2028 Background 2030 Airports - with paved runways 2031 Airports -
with unpaved runways 2032 Environment - current issues 2033 Environment -
international agreements 2034 Military expenditures - percent of GDP 2038
Electricity - production 2042 Electricity - consumption 2043 Electricity -
imports 2044 Electricity - exports 2046 Population below poverty line 2047
Household income or consumption by percentage share 2048 Labor force - by
occupation 2049 Exports - commodities 2050 Exports - partners 2051
Administrative divisions 2052 Agriculture - products 2053 Airports 2054 Birth
rate 2055 Military branches 2056 Budget 2057 Capital 2058 Imports -
commodities 2059 Climate 2060 Coastline 2061 Imports - partners 2062
Economic aid - donor 2063 Constitution 2064 Economic aid - recipient 2065
Currency (code) 2066 Death rate 2068 Dependent areas 2070 Disputes -
international 2075 Ethnic groups 2076 Exchange rates 2077 Executive branch
2078 Exports 2079 Debt - external 2080 Fiscal year 2081 Flag description 2085
Roadways 2086 Illicit drugs 2087 Imports 2088 Independence 2089 Industrial
production growth rate 2090 Industries 2091 Infant mortality rate 2092 Inflation
rate (consumer prices) 2093 Waterways 2094 Judicial branch 2095 Labor force
2096 Land boundaries 2097 Land use 2098 Languages 2100 Legal system 2101
Legislative branch 2102 Life expectancy at birth 2103 Literacy 2105 Manpower
available for military service 2106 Maritime claims 2107 International
organization participation 2108 Merchant marine 2109 National holiday 2110
Nationality 2111 Natural resources 2112 Net migration rate 2113 Geography -
note 2115 Political pressure groups and leaders 2116 Economy - overview 2117
Pipelines 2118 Political parties and leaders 2119 Population 2120 Ports and
terminals 2121 Railways 2122 Religions 2123 Suffrage 2124 Telephone system
2125 Terrain 2127 Total fertility rate 2128 Government type 2129
Unemployment rate 2137 Military - note 2138 Communications - note 2140
Government - note 2142 Country name 2144 Location 2145 Map references
2146 Irrigated land 2147 Area 2149 Diplomatic representation in the US 2150
Telephones - main lines in use 2151 Telephones - mobile cellular 2153 Internet
users 2154 Internet country code 2155 HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate 2156
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS 2157 HIV/AIDS - deaths 2172
Distribution of family income - Gini index 2173 Oil - production 2174 Oil -
consumption 2175 Oil - imports 2176 Oil - exports 2177 Median age 2178 Oil -
proved reserves 2179 Natural gas - proved reserves 2180 Natural gas -
production 2181 Natural gas - consumption 2182 Natural gas - imports 2183
Natural gas - exports 2184 Internet hosts 2185 Investment (gross fixed) 2186
Public debt 2187 Current account balance 2188 Reserves of foreign exchange
and gold 2193 Major infectious diseases 2194 Refugees and internally displaced
persons 2195 GDP (official exchange rate) 2196 Trafficking in persons
===================================================================

Rank Orders

[Transcriber's note: To search on a rank order in this file, prefix the rank's name
with "@", e.g. "@Population". "Population" will find all occurrences; prefixing
it with "@" will find the correct location.]

Rank Order pages are presorted lists of data from selected Factbook data fields.
Rank Order pages are generally given in descending order - highest to lowest -
such as Population and Area. The two exceptions are Unemployment Rate and
Inflation Rate, which are in ascending - lowest to highest - order. Rank Order
pages are available for the following 47 fields in six of the nine Factbook
categories.

Geography

Area - total

People

Population
Birth rate
Death rate
Infant mortality rate
Life expectancy at birth - total
Total fertility rate
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS - deaths

Economy
GDP (purchasing power parity)
GDP - real growth rate
GDP - per capita
Labor force
Unemployment rate
Inflation rate (consumer prices)
Investment (gross fixed)
Public debt
Industrial production growth rate
Electricity - production
Electricity - consumption
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
Imports
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold
Debt - external

Communications

Telephones - main lines in use

Telephones - mobile cellular
Internet hosts
Internet users

Transportation

Airports
Railways - total
Roadways - total
Waterways
Merchant marine - total

Military

Military expenditures - dollar figure

Military expenditures - percent of GDP

Factbook fields with Rank Order pages are easily identified with a small bar
chart icon to the right of the data field title.

Not all Rank Order pages include the same number of entries because
information for a particular field is not available for all countries. In addition,
not all data fields are suitable for displaying as Rank Order pages, such as those
containing textual information. Textual information is more readily viewed by
clicking on the Field Listing icon next to the Data field title. The other icon next
to the data field title provides the definition of the field.

All of the 'Rank Order' pages can be downloaded as tab-delimited data files and
can be opened in other applications such as spreadsheets and databases. To save
a Rank Order page in a spreadsheet, first click on the 'Download Datafile' choice
above the Rank Order page you selected; then, at the top of your browser
window, click on 'File' and 'Save As'. After saving the file, open the spreadsheet,
find the saved file, and 'Open' it.

Additional Rank Order pages being considered for future updates of the
Factbook Web site include:

Median age
Literacy
Population below the poverty line

This page was last updated on 4 April, 2006

===================================================================

Appendixes

Appendix A - Abbreviations

Appendix B - International Organizations and Groups

Appendix C - Selected International Environmental Agreements

Appendix D - Cross-Reference list of Country Data Codes

Appendix E - Cross-Reference List of Hydrographic Data Codes

Appendix F - Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names

Appendix G - Weights and Measures

===================================================================

Notes and Definitions

Along with regular information updates, The World Factbook features several
new or revised fields. In the Government category, the "Capital" entry has been
greatly expanded and now contains up to four subfields, including significant
new information having to do with time. The subfields consist of the name of the
capital itself, its geographic coordinates, the time difference at the capital from
coordinated universal time (UTC), and, if applicable, information on daylight
saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to
highlight those countries that have multiple time zones. The Transnational issues
category now has a "Trafficking in persons" entry. Human trafficking connotes
modern-day slavery and this important new field will include information on the
most egregious countries (Tier 2 Watch List and Tier 3) as listed in the US State
Department's annual report.
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: 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 or airfields recognizable
from the air. The runway(s) may be paved (concrete or asphalt surfaces) or
unpaved (grass, earth, sand, or gravel surfaces) but may include closed or
abandoned installations. Airports or airfields that are no longer recognizable
(overgrown, no facilities, etc.) are not included. Note that not all airports have
accomodations 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 the surfaces of all inland water bodies, such as lakes, reservoirs, or
rivers, as delimited by international boundaries and/or coastlines.

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, 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 name of the seat of government, its geographic
coordinates, the time difference relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)
and the time observed in Washington, DC, and, if applicable, information on
daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a special note has been added to
highlight those countries that have multiple time zones.

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.

Coordinated Universal Time (UTC): UTC is the international atomic time scale
that serves as the basis of timekeeping for most of the world. The hours,
minutes, and seconds expressed by UTC represent the time of day at the Prime
Meridian (0 deg. longitude) located near Greenwich, England as reckoned from
midnight. UTC is calculated by the Bureau International des Poids et Measures
(BIPM) in Sevres, France. The BIPM averages data collected from more than
200 atomic time and frequency standards located at about 50 laboratories
worldwide. UTC is the basis for all civil time with the Earth divided into time
zones expressed as positive or negative differences from UTC. UTC is also
referred to as "Zulu time." See the Standard Time Zones of the World map
included with the Reference Maps.

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 2007, was

used in the preparation of this edition.

Daylight Saving Time (DST): This entry is included for those entities that have
adopted a policy of adjusting the official local time forward, usually one hour,
from Standard Time during summer months. Such policies are most common in
mid-latitude regions.

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

188 independent states, including 187 of the 192 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,
the Holy See, as well as with the EU.

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 268
separate geographic entities in The World Factbook that may be categorized as
follows:

INDEPENDENT STATES

193 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, Montenegro, 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, 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 12 France - Bassas da
India*, Clipperton Island, Europa Island*, French Polynesia, French Southern
and Antarctic Lands, Glorioso Islands*, Juan de Nova Island*, Mayotte, New
Caledonia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Tromelin Island*, Wallis and Futuna (*
consolidated in Iles Eparses entry) 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 (* consolidated in United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges
entry)

MISCELLANEOUS 6 Antarctica, Gaza Strip, Paracel Islands, Spratly Islands,

West Bank, Western Sahara

OTHER ENTITIES 5 oceans - Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean,

Pacific Ocean, Southern Ocean 1 World

268 total

Environment - current issues: This entry lists the most pressing and important
environmental problems. The following terms and abbreviations are used
throughout the entry:

Acidification - the lowering of soil and water pH due to acid precipitation and
deposition usually through precipitation; this process disrupts ecosystem nutrient
flows and may kill freshwater fish and plants dependent on more neutral or
alkaline conditions (see acid rain).

Acid rain - characterized as containing harmful levels of sulfur dioxide or

nitrogen oxide; acid rain is damaging and potentially deadly to the earth's fragile
ecosystems; acidity is measured using the pH scale where 7 is neutral, values
greater than 7 are considered alkaline, and values below 5.6 are considered acid
precipitation; note - a pH of 2.4 (the acidity of vinegar) has been measured in
rainfall in New England.

Aerosol - a collection of airborne particles dispersed in a gas, smoke, or fog.

Afforestation - converting a bare or agricultural space by planting trees and

plants; reforestation involves replanting trees on areas that have been cut or
destroyed by fire.
Asbestos - a naturally occurring soft fibrous mineral commonly used in
fireproofing materials and considered to be highly carcinogenic in particulate
form.

Biodiversity - also biological diversity; the relative number of species, diverse in

form and function, at the genetic, organism, community, and ecosystem level;
loss of biodiversity reduces an ecosystem's ability to recover from natural or
man-induced disruption.

Bio-indicators - a plant or animal species whose presence, abundance, and health

reveal the general condition of its habitat. Biomass - the total weight or volume
of living matter in a given area or volume.

Carbon cycle - the term used to describe the exchange of carbon (in various
forms, e.g., as carbon dioxide) between the atmosphere, ocean, terrestrial
biosphere, and geological deposits.

Catchments - assemblages used to capture and retain rainwater and runoff; an

important water management technique in areas with limited freshwater
resources, such as Gibraltar.

DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloro-ethane) - a colorless, odorless insecticide that

has toxic effects on most animals; the use of DDT was banned in the US in 1972.

Defoliants - chemicals which cause plants to lose their leaves artificially; often
used in agricultural practices for weed control, and may have detrimental
impacts on human and ecosystem health.

Deforestation - the destruction of vast areas of forest (e.g., unsustainable forestry

practices, agricultural and range land clearing, and the over exploitation of wood
products for use as fuel) without planting new growth.

Desertification - the spread of desert-like conditions in arid or semi- arid areas,

due to overgrazing, loss of agriculturally productive soils, or climate change.

Dredging - the practice of deepening an existing waterway; also, a technique

used for collecting bottom-dwelling marine organisms (e.g., shellfish) or
harvesting coral, often causing significant destruction of reef and ocean-floor
ecosystems.
Drift-net fishing - done with a net, miles in extent, that is generally anchored to a
boat and left to float with the tide; often results in an over harvesting and waste
of large populations of non-commercial marine species (by-catch) by its effect of
"sweeping the ocean clean".

Ecosystems - ecological units comprised of complex communities of organisms

and their specific environments.

Effluents - waste materials, such as smoke, sewage, or industrial waste which are
released into the environment, subsequently polluting it.

Endangered species - a species that is threatened with extinction either by direct

hunting or habitat destruction.

Freshwater - water with very low soluble mineral content; sources include lakes,
streams, rivers, glaciers, and underground aquifers.

Greenhouse gas - a gas that "traps" infrared radiation in the lower atmosphere
causing surface warming; water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane,
hydrofluorocarbons, and ozone are the primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's
atmosphere.

Groundwater - water sources found below the surface of the earth often in
naturally occurring reservoirs in permeable rock strata; the source for wells and
natural springs.

Highlands Water Project - a series of dams constructed jointly by Lesotho and

South Africa to redirect Lesotho's abundant water supply into a rapidly growing
area in South Africa; while it is the largest infrastructure project in southern
Africa, it is also the most costly and controversial; objections to the project
include claims that it forces people from their homes, submerges farmlands, and
squanders economic resources.

Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC) - represents the 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 (official exchange rate): This entry gives the gross domestic product (GDP)
or value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year.
A nation's GDP at offical exchange rates (OER) is the home-currency-
denominated annual GDP figure divided by the bilateral average US exchange
rate with that country in that year. The measure is simple to compute and gives a
precise measure of the value of output. Many economists prefer this measure
when gauging the economic power an economy maintains vis-a-vis its
neighbors, judging that an exchange rate captures the purchasing power a nation
enjoys in the international marketplace. Official exchange rates, however, can be
artifically fixed and/or subject to manipulation - resulting in claims of the
country having an under- or over-valued currency - and are not necessarily the
equivalent of a market-determined exchange rate. Moreover, even if the official
exchange rate is market-determined, market exchange rates are frequently
established by a relatively small set of goods and services (the ones the country
trades) and may not capture the value of the larger set of goods the country
produces. Furthermore, OER-converted GDP is not well suited to comparing
domestic GDP over time, since appreciation/depreciation from one year to the
next will make the OER GDP value rise/fall regardless of whether home-
currency-denominated GDP changed.

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. A nation's GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP) exchange rates is
the sum value of all goods and services produced in the country valued at prices
prevailing in the United States. This is the measure most economists prefer when
looking at per- capita welfare and when comparing living conditions or use of
resources across countries. The measure is difficult to compute, as a US dollar
value has to be assigned to all goods and services in the country regardless of
whether these goods and services have a direct equivalent in the United States
(for example, the value of an ox-cart or non-US military equipment); as a result,
PPP estimates for some countries are based on a small and sometimes different
set of goods and services. In addition, many countries do not formally participate
in the World Bank's PPP project that calculates these measures, so the resulting
GDP estimates for these countries may lack precision. For many developing
countries, PPP-based GDP measures are multiples of the official exchange rate
(OER) measure. The difference between the OER- and PPP- denominated GDP
values for most of the weathly industrialized countries are generally much
smaller.

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 (PPP): 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 countries
are reported both on an official exchange rate (OER) and a purchasing power
parity (PPP) basis. Both measures contain information that is useful to the
reader. 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 probably
provides the best available starting point for comparisons of economic strength
and well- being between countries. In contrast, the currency exchange rate
method involves a variety of international and domestic financial forces that may
not capture the value of domestic output. 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. Whereas PPP estimates for
OECD countries are quite reliable, PPP estimates for developing countries are
often rough approximations. In developing countries with weak currencies, the
exchange rate estimate of GDP in dollars is typically one-fourth to one-half the
PPP estimate. Most of the GDP estimates for developing countries 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. GDP derived using the OER
method should be used for the purpose of calculating the share of items such as
exports, imports, military expenditures, external debt, or the current account
balance, because the dollar values presented in the Factbook for these items have
been converted at official exchange rates, not at PPP. One should use the OER
GDP figure to calculate the proportion of, say, Chinese defense expenditures in
GDP, because that share will be the same as one calculated in local currency
units. Comparison of OER GDP with PPP GDP may also indicate whether a
currency is over- or under-valued. If OER GDP is smaller than PPP GDP, the
official exchange rate may be undervalued, and vice versa. However, there is no
strong historical evidence that market exchange rates move in the direction
implied by the PPP rate, at least not in the short- or medium-term. Note: the
numbers for GDP and other economic data should not be chained together from
successive volumes of the Factbook because of changes in the US dollar
measuring rod, revisions of data by statistical agencies, use of new or different
sources of information, and changes in national statistical methods and practices.

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.

Emirate - similar to a monarchy or sultanate, but a government in which the
supreme power is in the hands of an emir (the ruler of a Muslim state); the emir
may be an absolute overlord or a sovereign with constitutionally limited
authority.

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.

Islamic republic - a particular form of government adoped by some Muslim

states; although such a state is, in theory, a theocracy, it remains a republic, but
its laws are required to be compatible with the laws of Islam.

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.

Greenwich Mean Time (GMT): The mean solar time at the Greenwich Meridian,
Greenwich, England, with the hours and days, since 1925, reckoned from
midnight. GMT is now a historical term having been replaced by UTC on 1
January 1972. See Coordinated Universal Time.

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.
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. When
available, official lengths published by national statistical agencies are used.
Because surveying methods may differ, country border lengths reported by
contiguous countries may differ.

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 number of males
and females falling in the military age range for the country and assumes that
every individual is fit to serve.

Manpower fit for military service: This entry gives the number of males and
females falling in the military age range for the country and who are not
otherwise disqualified for health reasons; accounts for the health situation in the
country and provides 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 service branches subordinate to defense
ministries or the equivalent (typically ground, naval, air, and marine forces).

Military expenditures - dollar figure: This entry gives spending on defense

programs in US dollars for the most recent year available; 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 different currencies.

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: This entry gives spending on defense

programs for the most recent year available as a percent of gross domestic
product (GDP); the GDP is calculated on an exchange rate basis, i.e., not in
terms of purchasing power parity (PPP).

Military service age and obligation: This entry gives the required ages for
voluntary or conscript military service and the length of sevice obligation.

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. For Vietnamese names, the
given name is capitalized because officials are referred to by their given name
rather than by their surname. For example, the president of Vietnam is Tran Duc
LUONG. His surname is Tran, but he is referred to by his given name - President
LUONG.

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 entries under Oil.

Petroleum products: See entries under 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 terminals: This entry lists major ports and terminals primarily on the
basis of the amount of cargo tonnage shipped through the facilities on an annual
basis. In some instances, the number of containers handled or ship visits were
also considered.

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.

Roadways: This entry gives the total length of the road network and includes the
length of the paved and unpaved portions.

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 World 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:

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 telephone subscribers.

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.

Time Difference: This entry is expressed in The World Factbook in two ways.
First, it is stated as the difference in hours between the capital of an entity and
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) during Standard Time. Additionally, the
difference in time between the capital of an entity and that observed in
Washington, D.C. is also provided. Note that the time difference assumes both
locations are simultaneously observing Standard Time or Daylight Saving Time.

Time zones: Ten countries (Australia, Brazil, Canada, Indonesia, Kazakhstan,

Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, Spain, and the United States) and the island of
Greenland observe more than one official time depending on the number of
designated time zones within their boundaries. An illustration of time zones
throughout the world and within countries can be seen in the Standard Time
Zones of the World map included in the Reference Maps section of The World
Factbook.

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.

Trafficking in persons: Trafficking in persons is modern-day slavery, involving

victims who are forced, defrauded, or coerced into labor or sexual exploitation.
The International Labor Organization (ILO), the UN agency charged with
addressing labor standards, employment, and social protection issues, estimates
that 12.3 million people worldwide are enslaved in forced labor, bonded labor,
forced child labor, sexual servitude, and involuntary servitude at any given time.
Human trafficking is a multi-dimensional threat, depriving people of their human
rights and freedoms, risking global health, promoting social breakdown,
inhibiting development by depriving countries of their human capital, and
helping fuel the growth of organized crime. In 2000, the US Congress passed the
Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), reauthorized in 2003 and 2005,
which provides tools for the US to combat trafficking in persons, both
domestically and abroad. One of the law's key components is the creation of the
US Department of State's annual Trafficking in Persons Report, which assesses
the government response in some 150 countries with a significant number of
victims trafficked across their borders who are recruited, harbored, transported,
provided, or obtained for forced labor or sexual exploitation. Countries in the
annual report are rated in three tiers, based on government efforts to combat
trafficking. The countries identified in this entry are those listed in the 2006
Trafficking in Persons Report as Tier 2 Watch List or Tier 3 based on the
following definitions:

Tier 2 Watch List countries do not fully comply with the minimum standards for
the elimination of trafficking but are making significant efforts to do so, and
meet one of the following criteria:

1. they display a high or significantly increasing number victims,

2. they have failed to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking

in persons, or,

3. they have committed to take action over the next year.

Tier 3 countries neither satisfy the minimum standards for the elimination of
trafficking nor demonstrate a significant effort to do so. Countries in this tier are
subject to potential non-humanitarian and non-trade sanctions.

Transnational issues: This category includes four entries - Disputes -

international, Refugees and internally displaced persons, Trafficking in 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.

UTC (Coordinated Universal Time): See entry for Coordinated Universal

Time.

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.

Weights and Measures: This information is presented in Appendix G: Weights

and Measures and includes mathematical notations (mathematical powers and
names), metric interrelationships (prefix; symbol; length, weight, or capacity;
area; volume), and standard conversion factors.

Years: All year references are for the calendar year (CY) unless indicated as
fiscal year (FY). The calendar year is 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 8 February 2007

===================================================================

CIA - The World Factbook — History

A Brief History of Basic Intelligence and The World Factbook

The Intelligence Cycle is the process by which information is acquired,

converted into intelligence, and made available to policymakers. Information is
raw data from any source, data that may be fragmentary, contradictory,
unreliable, ambiguous, deceptive, or wrong. Intelligence is information that has
been collected, integrated, evaluated, analyzed, and interpreted. Finished
intelligence is the final product of the Intelligence Cycle ready to be delivered to
the policymaker.

The three types of finished intelligence are: basic, current, and estimative. Basic
intelligence provides the fundamental and factual reference material on a country
or issue. Current intelligence reports on new developments. Estimative
intelligence judges probable outcomes. The three are mutually supportive: basic
intelligence is the foundation on which the other two are constructed; current
intelligence continually updates the inventory of knowledge; and estimative
intelligence revises overall interpretations of country and issue prospects for
guidance of basic and current intelligence. The World Factbook, The President's
Daily Brief, and the National Intelligence Estimates are examples of the three
types of finished intelligence.

The United States has carried on foreign intelligence activities since the days of
George Washington but only since World War II have they been coordinated on a
government-wide basis. Three programs have highlighted the development of
coordinated basic intelligence since that time: (1 ) the Joint Army Navy
Intelligence Studies (JANIS), (2 ) the National Intelligence Survey (NIS), and
(3) The World Factbook.

During World War II, intelligence consumers realized that the production of
basic intelligence by different components of the US Government resulted in a
great duplication of effort and conflicting information. The Japanese attack on
Pearl Harbor in 1941 brought home to leaders in Congress and the executive
branch the need for integrating departmental reports to national policymakers.
Detailed and coordinated information was needed not only on such major
powers as Germany and Japan, but also on places of little previous interest. In
the Pacific Theater, for example, the Navy and Marines had to launch
amphibious operations against many islands about which information was
unconfirmed or nonexistent. Intelligence authorities resolved that the United
States should never again be caught unprepared.

In 1943, Gen. George B. Strong (G-2), Adm. H. C. Train (Office of Naval

Intelligence - ONI), and Gen. William J. Donovan (Director of the Office of
Strategic Services - OSS) decided that a joint effort should be initiated. A
steering committee was appointed on 27 April 1943 that recommended the
formation of a Joint Intelligence Study Publishing Board to assemble, edit,
coordinate, and publish the Joint Army Navy Intelligence Studies (JANIS).
JANIS was the first interdepartmental basic intelligence program to fulfill the
needs of the US Government for an authoritative and coordinated appraisal of
strategic basic intelligence. Between April 1943 and July 1947, the board
published 34 JANIS studies. JANIS performed well in the war effort, and
numerous letters of commendation were received, including a statement from
Adm. Forrest Sherman, Chief of Staff, Pacific Ocean Areas, which said, "JANIS
has become the indispensable reference work for the shore-based planners."

The need for more comprehensive basic intelligence in the postwar world was
well expressed in 1946 by George S. Pettee, a noted author on national security.
He wrote in The Future of American Secret Intelligence (Infantry Journal Press,
1946, page 46) that world leadership in peace requires even more elaborate
intelligence than in war. "The conduct of peace involves all countries, all human
activities - not just the enemy and his war production."

The Central Intelligence Agency was established on 26 July 1947 and officially
began operating on 18 September 1947. Effective 1 October 1947, the Director
of Central Intelligence assumed operational responsibility for JANIS. On 13
January 1948, the National Security Council issued Intelligence Directive
(NSCID) No. 3, which authorized the National Intelligence Survey (NIS)
program as a peacetime replacement for the wartime JANIS program. Before
adequate NIS country sections could be produced, government agencies had to
develop more comprehensive gazetteers and better maps. The US Board on
Geographic Names (BGN) compiled the names; the Department of the Interior
produced the gazetteers; and CIA produced the maps. The Hoover Commission's
Clark Committee, set up in 1954 to study the structure and administration of the
CIA, reported to Congress in 1955 that: "The National Intelligence Survey is an
invaluable publication which provides the essential elements of basic
intelligence on all areas of the world. There will always be a continuing
requirement for keeping the Survey up-to-date." The Factbook was created as an
annual summary and update to the encyclopedic NIS studies. The first classified
Factbook was published in August 1962, and the first unclassified version was
published in June 1971. The NIS program was terminated in 1973 except for the
Factbook, map, and gazetteer components. The 1975 Factbook was the first to be
made available to the public with sales through the US Government Printing
Office (GPO). The Factbook was first made available on the Internet in June
1997. The year 2007 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the
Central Intelligence Agency and the 64th year of continuous basic intelligence
support to the US Government by The World Factbook and its two predecessor
programs.

The Evolution of The World Factbook

National Basic Intelligence Factbook produced semiannually until 1980.

Country entries include sections on Land, Water, People, Government, Economy,
Communications, and Defense Forces.

1981 - Publication becomes an annual product and is renamed The World

Factbook. A total of 165 nations are covered on 225 pages.

1983 - Appendices (Conversion Factors, International Organizations) first

introduced.

1984 - Appendices expanded; now include: A. The United Nations, B.

Selected United Nations Organizations, C. Selected International
Organizations, D. Country Membership in Selected Organizations, E.
Conversion Factors.

1987 - A new Geography section replaces the former separate Land and
Water sections. UN Organizations and Selected International
Organizations appendices merged into a new International
Organizations appendix. First multi-color-cover Factbook.

1988 - More than 40 new geographic entities added to provide complete world
coverage without overlap or omission. Among the new entities are Antarctica,
oceans (Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific), and the World. The front-of-the-book
explanatory introduction expanded and retitled to Notes, Definitions, and
Abbreviations. Two new Appendices added: Weights and Measures (in place of
Conversion Factors) and a Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names. Factbook
size reaches 300 pages.

1989 - Economy section completely revised and now includes an Overview

briefly describing a country's economy. New entries added under People,
Government, and Communications.

1990 - The Government section revised and considerably expanded with new
entries.

1991 - A new International Organizations and Groups appendix added. Factbook

size reaches 405 pages.

1992 - Twenty new successor state entries replace those of the Soviet Union and
Yugoslavia. New countries are respectively: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus,
Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan; and Bosnia and Hercegovina,
Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia. Number of nations in the
Factbook rises to 188.

1993 - Czechoslovakia's split necessitates new Czech Republic and Slovakia

entries. New Eritrea entry added after it secedes from Ethiopia. Substantial
enhancements made to Geography section.

1994 - Two new appendices address Selected International Environmental

Agreements. The gross domestic product (GDP) of most developing countries
changed to a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis rather than an exchange rate
basis. Factbook size up to 512 pages.

1995 - The GDP of all countries now presented on a PPP basis. New appendix
lists estimates of GDP on an exchange rate basis. Communications category
split; Railroads, Highways, Inland waterways, Pipelines, Merchant marine, and
Airports entries now make up a new Transportation category. The World
Factbook is first produced on CD-ROM.

1996 - Maps accompanying each entry now present more detail. Flags also
introduced for nearly all entities. Various new entries appear under Geography
and Communications. Factbook abbreviations consolidated into a new Appendix
A. Two new appendices present a Cross-Reference List of Country Data Codes
and a Cross-Reference List of Hydrogeographic Data Codes. Geographic
coordinates added to Appendix H, Cross-Reference List of Geographic Names.
Factbook size expands by 95 pages in one year to reach 652.

1997 - A special edition for the CIA's 50 th anniversary. A schema or Guide to

Country Profiles introduced. New color maps and flags now accompany each
country profile. Category headings distinguished by shaded backgrounds.
Number of categories expanded to nine - the current number - with the addition
of an Introduction (for only a few countries) and Transnational Issues (which
includes Disputes-international and Illicit drugs). The World Factbook
introduced onto the Internet.

1998 - The Introduction category with two entries, Current issues and Historical
perspective, expanded to more countries. Last year for the production of CD-
ROM versions of the Factbook.

1999 - Historical perspective and Current issues entries in the Introduction

category combined into a new Background statement. Several new Economy
entries introduced. A new physical map of the world added to the back-of-the-
book reference maps.

2000 - A new "country profile" added on the Southern Ocean. The Background
statements dramatically expanded to over 200 countries and possessions. A
number of new Communications entries added.

2001 - Background entries completed for all 267 entities in the Factbook.
Several new HIV/AIDS entries introduced under the People category. Revision
begun on individual country maps to include elevation extremes and a partial
geographic grid. Weights and Measures appendix deleted.

2002 - New entry on Distribution of Family income - Gini index added. Revision
of individual country maps continued (process still ongoing as of 2007).

2003 - In the Economy category, petroleum entries added for oil production,
consumption, exports, imports, and proved reserves, as well as natural gas
proved reserves.

2004 - Additional petroleum entries included for natural gas production,

consumption, exports, and imports. In the Transportation category, under
Merchant marine, subfields added for foreign-owned vessels and those registered
in other countries. Descriptions of the many forms of government mentioned in
the Factbook incorporated into the Notes and Definitions.

2005 - In the People category, a Major infectious diseases field added for
countries deemed to pose a higher risk for travelers. In the Economy category,
entries included for Current account balance, Investment, Public debt, and
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold. The Transnational issues category
expanded to include Refugees and internally displaced persons. Category
headings receive distinctive colored backgrounds. These distinguishing colors
are used in both the printed and online versions of the Factbook. Size of the
printed Factbook reaches 702 pages.

2006 - In the Economy category, national GDP figures now presented at Official
Exchange Rates (OER) in addition to GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP).

2007 - In the Government category, the Capital entry significantly expanded

with up to four subfields, including new information having to do with time. The
subfields consist of the name of the capital itself, its geographic coordinates, the
time difference at the capital from coordinated universal time (UTC), and, if
applicable, information on daylight saving time (DST). Where appropriate, a
special note is added to highlight those countries with multiple time zones. A
Trafficking in persons entry added to the Transnational issues category. A new
appendix, Weights and Measures, (re)introduced to the online version of the
Factbook.

===================================================================
CIA - The World Factbook — Contributors and Copyright Information

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), Armed Forces
Medical Intelligence Center (Department of Defense), 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
Energy, Department of State, Fish and Wildlife Service (Department of the
Interior), Maritime Administration (Department of Transportation), National
Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (Department of Defense), Naval Facilities
Engineering Command (Department of Defense), Office of Insular Affairs
(Department of the Interior), Office of Naval Intelligence (Department of
Defense), US Board on Geographic Names (Department of the Interior), US
Transportation Command (Department of Defense), Oil & Gas Journal, 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
===================================================================

CIA - The World Factbook — Purchasing Information

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
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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
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The World Factbook can be accessed on the Internet at:

http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html

===================================================================

CIA - The World Factbook — FAQs

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 e-mail us. When submitting corrections or updates
to the Factbook, please include your source(s) of information. At least two
Factbook staffers review every submitted 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

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:
Superintendent of Documents
P. O. Box 371954 Pittsburgh, PA 15250-7954
Telephone: [1] (202) 512-1800
FAX: [1] (202) 512-2250
http://bookstore.gpo.gov

National Technical Information Service 5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, VA

22161 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

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.

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===================================================================

@Afghanistan

Introduction Afghanistan

Background:
Ahmad Shah DURRANI unified the Pashtun tribes and founded
Afghanistan in 1747. The country served as a buffer between the
British and Russian empires until it won independence from notional
British control in 1919. A brief experiment in democracy ended in a
1973 coup and a 1978 Communist counter-coup. The Soviet Union
invaded in 1979 to support the tottering Afghan Communist regime,
touching off a long and destructive war. The USSR withdrew in 1989
under relentless pressure by internationally supported
anti-Communist mujahedin rebels. Subsequently, a series of civil
wars saw Kabul finally fall in 1996 to the Taliban, a hardline
 Pakistani-sponsored movement that emerged in 1994 to end the
country's civil war and anarchy. Following the 11 September 2001
terrorist attacks, a US, Allied, and anti-Taliban Northern Alliance
military action toppled the Taliban for sheltering Osama BIN LADIN.
The UN-sponsored Bonn Conference in 2001 established a process for
political reconstruction that included the adoption of a new
constitution and a presidential election in 2004, and National
Assembly elections in 2005. On 7 December 2004, Hamid KARZAI became
the first democratically elected president of Afghanistan. The
National Assembly was inaugurated on 19 December 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: 0.21% other: 87.66% (2005)

Irrigated land:
27,200 sq km (2003)

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:
31,056,997 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.6% (male 7,095,117/female 6,763,759)
15-64 years: 53% (male 8,436,716/female 8,008,463)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 366,642/female 386,300) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 17.6 years
male: 17.6 years
female: 17.6 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.67% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
46.6 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
20.34 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 160.23 deaths/1,000 live births
 male: 164.77 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 155.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 43.34 years
male: 43.16 years
female: 43.53 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.69 children born/woman (2006 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
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified
among birds in this country or surrounding region; it poses a
negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens
who have close contact with birds (2007)

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:
name: Kabul
geographic coordinates: 34 31 N, 69 12 E
time difference: UTC+4.5 (9.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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, 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); Vice Presidents Ahmad Zia
MASOOD and Abdul Karim KHALILI (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); Vice Presidents Ahmad Zia
MASOOD and Abdul Karim KHALILI (since 7 December 2004)
 cabinet: 25 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 (eligible for a second 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 QANUNI 16.3%, Ustad Mohammad
MOHAQQEQ
11.6%, Abdul Rashid DOSTAM 10.0%, Abdul Latif PEDRAM 1.4%, Masooda
JALAL 1.2%

Legislative branch:
the bicameral National Assembly consists of the Wolesi Jirga or
House of People (no more than 249 seats), directly elected for
five-year terms, and the Meshrano Jirga or House of Elders (102
seats, one-third elected from provincial councils for four-year
terms, one-third elected from local district councils for three-year
terms
note: on rare occasions the government may convene a Loya Jirga
(Grand Council) 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: last held 18 September 2005 (next to be held for the
Wolesi Jirga by September 2009; next to be held for the provincial
councils to the Meshrano Jirga by September 2008)
election results: the single non-transferable vote (SNTV) system
used in the election did not make use of political party slates;
most candidates ran as independents

Judicial branch:
the 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; De Afghan Watan Islami Gond [Mohammad Osman SALEKZADA];
De
Afghanistan De Mili Mubarizeeno Islami Gond [Amanat NINGARHAREE];
De
Afghanistan De Mili Wahdat Wolesi Tahreek [Abdul Hakim NOORZAI]; De
Afghanistan De Solay Ghorzang Gond [Shahnawaz TANAI]; De Afghanistan
De Solay Mili Islami Gond [Shah Mohammood Popal ZAI]; Hezb-e
Esteqlal-e-Mili Afghanistan [Taj Mohammad WARDAK]; Hezb-e
Hambastagee Mili Aqwam-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad Zarif NASERI]; Hezb-
e
Harakat-e-Islami-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad Ali JAWID]; Hezb-e
Jamihat-e-Islami [Ustad RABBANI]; Hezb-e Paiwand Mihahani
Afghanistan [Sayed Kamal SADAT];
Hezb-e-Aarman-e-Mardom-e-Afghanistan [Ilhaj Saraj-u-din ZAFAREE];
Hezb-e-Aazaadi Khwahan Maihan [Abdul Hadi DABEER]; Hezb-e-Aazadee
Khwahan Mardom-e-Afghanistan [Feda Mohammad EHSAS];
Hezb-e-Adalat-e-Islami Afghanistan [Mohammad Kabir MARZBAN];
Hezb-e-Afghan Melat [Anwarul Haq AHADI]; Hezb-e-Afghanistan-e-Naween
[Mohammad Yunis QANUNI]; Hezb-e-Afghanistan-e-Wahid [Mohammad
Wasil
RAHIMEE]; Hezb-e-Azadee-e-Afghanistan [Ilaj Abdul MALEK];
Hezb-e-Democracy Afghanistan [Tawos ARAB];
Hezb-e-Domcrat-e-Afghanistan [Abdul Kabir RANJBAR];
Hezb-e-Eatedal-e-Mili Islami-e-Afghanistan [Qara Bik Eized YAAR];
Hezb-e-Eqtedar-e-Mili [Sayed Mustafa KAZEMI];
Hezb-e-Falah-e-Mardom-e-Afghanistan [Ustad Mohammad ZAREEF];
Hezb-e-Hambastagee Mili Jawanan-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad Jamil
KARZAI]; Hezb-e-Hambastagee-e-Afghanistan [Abdul Khaleq NEMAT];
Hezb-e-Harakat-e-Islami Mardom-e-Afghanistan [Ilhaj Said Hussain
ANWARY]; Hezb-e-Harakat-e-Mili Wahdat-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad Nadir
AATASH]; Hezb-e-Ifazat Az Uqooq-e-Bashar Wa Inkishaf-e-Afghanistan
[Baryalai NASRATI]; Hezb-e-Islami-e-Afghanistan-e-Jawan [Sayed Jawad
HUSSINEE]; Hezb-e-Isteqlal-e-Afghanistan [Dr. Ghulam Farooq
 NEJRABEE]; Hezb-e-Jamahat-ul-Dawat ilal Quran-wa-Sunat-e-Afghanistan
[Mawlawee Samiullah NAJEEBEE]; Hezb-e-Jamhoree Khwahane-Afghanistan
[Sebghatullah SANJAR]; Hezb-e-Junbish Democracy Mardom-e-Afghanistan
[Sharif NAZARI]; Hezb-e-Junbish Mili Islami-e-Afghanistan [Sayed
NOORULLAH]; Hezb-e-Kangra-e-Mili-e-Afghanistan [Abdul Latif
PEDRAM];
Hezb-e-Kar Wa Tawsiha-e-Afghanistan [Zulfiqar OMID];
Hezb-e-Lebral-e-Aazadee Khwa-e-Afghanistan [Ajmal SUHAIL];
Hezb-e-Majmeh Mili Faleen-Sulh-e-Afghanistan [Shamsul Haq Noor
SHAMS]; Hezb-e-Mardom-e-Afghanistan [Ahmad Shah ASAR];
Hezb-e-Mardom-e-Mosalman-e-Afghanistan [Besmellah JOYAN];
Hezb-e-Mili Afghanistan [Abdul Rashid ARYAN]; Hezb-e-Mili Heward
[GHULAM MOHAMMAD]; Hezb-e-Mili Islami-e-Afghanistan [Rohullah
LOUDIN]; Hezb-e-Mili Wahdat-e-Aqwam-e-Islami-e-Afghanistan
[Mohammad
Shah KHOGYANI]; Hezb-e-Mutahed Mili [Noorul Haq ULOOMI];
Hezb-e-Nahzat-e-Aazadee Wa Democracy-e-Afghanistan [Abdul Raqib
Jawid KOHISTANEE]; Hezb-e-Nahzat-e-Hambastagee Mili-e-Afghanistan
[Pir Sayed Eshaq GAILANEE]; Hezb-e-Nakhbagan-e-Mardom-e-Afghanistan
[Abdul Hamid JAWAD]; Hezb-e-Paiwand Mili Afghanistan [Sayed Mansoor
NADREEI]; Hezb-e-Rastakhaiz-e-Mardom-e-Afghanistan [Sayed Zahir
Qayed Omul BELADI]; Hezb-e-Refah-e-Afghanistan [Meer Asef ZAEEFI];
Hezb-e-Refah-e-Mardom-e-Afghanistan [Mia Gul WASIQ];
Hezb-e-Refah-e-Mili Afghanistan [Mohammad Hassan JAHFAREE];
Hezb-e-Resalat-e-Mardom-e-Afghanistan [Noor Aqa ROEENE];
Hezb-e-Sahadat-e-Mardom-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad Zubair PAIROZ];
Hezb-e-Sahadat-e-Mili Islami-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad Osman
SALEKZADA]; Hezb-e-Subat-e-Mili Islami-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad Same
KHAROTI]; Hezb-e-Sulh Wa Wahdat-e-Mili-e-Afghanistan [Gulabuddin
Shir ZAEE]; Hezb-e-Sulh-e-Mili Islami Aqwam-e-Afghanistan [Abdul
Qaher SHARIATEE]; Hezb-e-Tafahum Wa Democracy-e-Afghanistan
[Ahamad
SHAHEEN]; Hezb-e-Tahreek Wahdat-e-Mili-e-Afghanistan [Sultan
Mohammad GHAZI]; Hezb-e-Tahreek Wahdat-ul-Musimeen Afghanistan
[Wazir Mohammad WAHDAT]; Hezb-e-Tanzim Jabha Mili
Nejat-e-Afghanistan [Seghatullah MOJADDEDI]; Hezb-e-Taraqee Democrat
Afghanistan [Wali ARYA]; Hezb-e-Taraqee Mili Afghanistan [Dr. Aref
BAKTASH]; Hezb-e-Umat-e-Islam-e-Afghanistan [Toran Noor Aqa Ahmad
ZAI]; Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Islami Mardom-e-Afghanistan [Ustad Mohammad
 MOHAQQEQ]; Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Islami-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad Karim
KHALILI]; Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Islami-e-Melat-e-Afghanistan [Qurban Ali
URFANI]; Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Mili Afghanistan [Abdul Rashid JALILI];
Hezb-e-Wahdat-e-Mili Islami-e-Afghanistan [Mohammad AKBAREE];
Mahaz-e-Mili Islami Afghanistan [Pir Sayed Ahmad GAILANEE]; Mili
Dreez Gong [Habibullah JANBDAD];
Nahzat-e-Hakemyat-e-Mardom-e-Afghanistan [Hayatullah SUBHANEE];
Nahzat-e-Mili Afghanistan [Ahmad Wali MASOOUD]; Tanzim
Daawat-e-Islami-e-Afghanistan [Abdul Rasoul SAYYAF]; (20 August 2005)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

International organization participation:

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Said Tayeb JAWAD
chancery: 2341 Wyoming Avenue 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 Ronald E. NEUMANN
embassy: The Great Masood Road, Kabul
mailing address: U.S. Embassy Kabul, APO, AE 09806
telephone: [00 93] (20) 230-0436
FAX: [00 93] (20) 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 economy is recovering from decades of conflict. The
economy has improved significantly since the fall of the Taliban
regime in 2001 largely because of the infusion of international
assistance, the recovery of the agricultural sector, and service
sector growth. Real GDP growth probably exceeded 8% in 2006. Despite
the progress of the past few years, Afghanistan is extremely poor,
landlocked, and highly dependent on foreign aid, agriculture, and
trade with neighboring countries. Much of the population continues
to suffer from shortages of housing, clean water, electricity,
medical care, and jobs. Criminality, insecurity, and the Afghan
Government's inability to extend rule of law to all parts of the
country pose challenges to future economic growth. It will probably
take the remainder of the decade and continuing donor aid and
attention to significantly raise Afghanistan's living standards from
its current status, among the lowest in the world. While the
international community remains committed to Afghanistan's
development, pledging over $24 billion at three donors' conferences
since 2002, Kabul will need to overcome a number of challenges.
Expanding poppy cultivation and a growing opium trade generate
roughly $3 billion in illicit economic activity and looms as one of
Kabul's most serious policy concerns. Other long-term challenges
include: budget sustainability, job creation, corruption, government
capacity, and rebuilding war torn infrastructure.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$21.5 billion (2004 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$7.095 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

8.4% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$800 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 38% industry: 24% services: 38%
note: data exclude opium production (2005 est.)

Labor force: 15 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 80% industry: 10% services: 10%

(2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:
40% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:

53% (2003)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

16.3% (2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $269 million
expenditures: $561 million; including capital expenditures of $41.7
million
note: Afghanistan has also received $273 million from the
Reconstruction Trust Fund and $63 million from the Law and Order
Trust Fund (FY04-05 budget est.)

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:
 734.3 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 36.3% hydro: 63.7% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
782.9 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
100 million kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
4,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

20 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

20 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:
99.96 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Exports:
$471 million; note - not including illicit exports or reexports
(2005 est.)

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

Exports - partners:
US 25.8%, India 21.2%, Pakistan 20.3%, Finland 4.1% (2005)

Imports:
$3.87 billion (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities:
capital goods, food, textiles, petroleum products

Imports - partners:
Pakistan 38.6%, US 9.5%, Germany 5.5%, India 5.2%, Turkey 4.1%,
Turkmenistan 4% (2005)

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 - 541 (2005), 48 (2004), 49 (2003), 41
(2002), 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:

280,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.4 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: very limited telephone and telegraph service;
many Afghans utilize growing cellular phone coverage in major cities
domestic: telephone service is improving with the licensing of
several wireless telephone service providers in 2005 and 2006;
approximately 4 in 100 Afghans own a wireless telephone; telephone
main lines remain limited.
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 5, shortwave 1 (broadcasts in Pashtu, Afghan Persian
(Dari), Urdu, and English) (2006)

Radios:
167,000 (1999)

Television broadcast stations: at least 7 (one government-run central television

station in Kabul and regional stations in nine of the 34 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) (2006)
Televisions:
100,000 (1999)

Internet country code:

.af

Internet hosts:
22 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:
30,000 (2005)

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 (2002)

Transportation Afghanistan

Airports: 46 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 11
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 35
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 9 (2006)
Heliports:
9 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 466 km (2006)

Roadways:
total: 34,782 km
paved: 8,229 km
unpaved: 26,553 km (2004)

Waterways:
1,200 km (chiefly Amu Darya, which handles vessels up to 500 DWT)
(2005)

Ports and terminals:

Kheyrabad, Shir Khan

Military Afghanistan

Military branches:
Afghan National Army (includes Afghan Air Force) (2006)

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
females age 22-49: 4,663,963 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 22-49: 2,662,946
females age 22-49: 2,508,574 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 275,362
females age 22-49: 259,935 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$122.4 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.7% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Afghanistan

Disputes - international:
most Afghan refugees in Pakistan have been repatriated, but
thousands still remain in Iran, 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; regional conflicts over water-sharing arrangements
with Amu Darya and Helmand River states

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 136,565 (mostly Pashtuns and Kuchis displaced in south and
west due to drought and instability) (2006)

Illicit drugs:
world's largest producer of opium; cultivation dropped 48% to
107,400 hectares in 2005; better weather and lack of widespread
disease returned opium yields to normal levels, meaning potential
opium production declined by only 10% to 4,475 metric tons; if the
entire poppy crop were processed, it is estimated that 526 metric
tons of heroin could be 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 -
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:
 name: Episkopi Cantonment; also serves as capital of Dhekelia
geographic coordinates: 34 40 N, 32 51 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Constitution:
Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Order in Council
1960, effective 16 August 1960

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 Air Vice-Marshal Richard LACEY
(since 26 April 2006); 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.

Currency (code):
 Cypriot pound (CYP)

Exchange rates:
Cypriot pounds per US dollar - 0.46019 (2006), 0.4641 (2005),
0.4686 (2004), 0.5174 (2003), 0.6107 (2002)

Communications Akrotiri

Radio broadcast stations:

FM 1
note: British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides Radio 1
and Radio 2 service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia (2006)

Television broadcast stations:

British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides multi-channel
satellite service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia (2006)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 challenging as successive governments have
tried to deal with high unemployment, widespread corruption, a
dilapidated physical infrastructure, powerful organized crime
networks, and combative political opponents. Albania has made
progress in its democratic development since first holding
multiparty elections in 1991, but deficiencies remain. International
observers 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. The election, and particularly the orderly transition
of power, was considered an important step forward. Although
Albania's economy continues to grow, the country is still one of the
poorest in Europe, hampered by a large informal economy and an
inadequate energy and transportation 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. Albania, with troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, has been a
strong supporter of the global war on terrorism.

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, Montenegro 172
km, Serbia 115 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: 20.1% permanent crops: 4.21% other: 75.69% (2005)

Irrigated land:
3,530 sq km (2003)

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:
3,581,655 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 24.8% (male 464,954/female 423,003)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 1,214,942/female 1,158,562)
65 years and over: 8.9% (male 148,028/female 172,166) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 28.9 years
male: 28.3 years
female: 29.5 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.52% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
15.11 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
 5.22 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-4.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 20.75 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 21.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.43 years
male: 74.78 years
female: 80.34 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.03 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Tirana (Tirane)
geographic coordinates: 41 20 N, 19 50 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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
June 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 (eligible for a second 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 134: for 97, against 19, abstained 14,
invalid votes 4

Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly or Kuvendi (140 seats; 100 are elected by
direct popular vote and 40 by proportional vote for four-year terms)
 elections: last held 3 July 2005 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PD
56, PS 42, PR 11, PSD 7, LSI 5, other 19

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 [Nard NDOKA]; Communist Party of Albania or
PKSH [Hysni MILLOSHI]; Democratic Alliance Party or AD [Neritan
CEKA]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Legality Movement
Party or PLL [Ekrem SPAHIU]; Liberal Union Party or BLD [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
PDRN [Dashamir SHEHI]; Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Social
Democracy Party of Albania or PDSSh [Paskal MILO]; Social Democratic
Party or PSD [Skender GJINUSHI]; Socialist Movement for Integration
or LSI [Ilir META]; Socialist Party or PS [Edi RAMA]; Union for
Human Rights Party or PBDNj [Vangjel DULE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Citizens Advocacy Office [Kreshnik SPAHIU]; Confederation of Trade
Unions of Albania or KSSH [Kastriot MUCO]; Front for Albanian
National Unification or FBKSH [Gafur ADILI]; Mjaft Movement [Erion
VELIAJ]; Omonia [Jani JANI]; Union of Independent Trade Unions of
Albania or BSPSH [Gezim KALAJA]

International organization participation:

BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Aleksander SALLABANDA
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 e Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana
mailing address: US Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Dulles,
VA 20189-9510
telephone: [355] (4) 247285
FAX: [355] (4) 232222

Flag description:
red with a black two-headed eagle in the center

Economy Albania

Economy - overview:
Lagging behind its Balkan neighbors, Albania is making the
difficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. The
government has taken measures to curb violent crime and reduce the
large grey economy. The economy is bolstered by annual remittances
from abroad of $600-$800 million, mostly from Albanians residing in
Greece and Italy; this helps offset the towering trade deficit.
Agriculture, which accounts for about one-quarter of GDP, is held
back because of lack of modern equipment, unclear property rights,
and the prevalence of small, inefficient plots of land. Energy
shortages and antiquated and inadequate infrastructure contribute to
Albania's poor business environment, which 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 eventually 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 2003-06
and inflation is low and stable.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$20.21 billion
note: Albania has a large gray economy that may be as large as 50%
of official GDP (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$9.306 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$5,600 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 23.3% industry: 18.8% services:

57.9% (2006 est.)

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

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 58% industry: 19% services: 23%

(2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:
14.3% official rate, but may exceed 30% due to preponderance of
near-subsistence farming (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:

25% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

28.2 (2002)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.8% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

 24.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $2.323 billion
expenditures: $2.587 billion; including capital expenditures of $500
million (2006 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:
5.434 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 2.9% hydro: 97.1% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
5.231 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
390 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
567 million kWh (2004 est.)

Oil - production:
3,600 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
25,200 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - exports:
 0 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - imports:
21,600 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

185.5 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

30 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

30 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:

2.832 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-679.9 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$763.2 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crude
oil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco

Exports - partners:
Italy 72.4%, Greece 10.5%, Serbia and Montenegro 5% (2005)

Imports:
$2.901 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
 machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals

Imports - partners:
Italy 29.3%, Greece 16.4%, Turkey 7.5%, China 6.6%, Germany 5.4%,
Russia 4% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.621 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$1.55 billion (2004)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA: $366 million (top donors were Italy, EU, Germany) (2003 est.)

Currency (code):
lek (ALL)
note: the plural of lek is leke

Currency code:
ALL

Exchange rates:
leke per US dollar - 98.5927 (2006), 102.649 (2005), 102.78 (2004),
121.863 (2003), 140.155 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Albania

Telephones - main lines in use:

255,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.259 million (2004)

Telephone system:
general assessment: despite new investment in fixed lines, the
 density of main lines remains the lowest in Europe with roughly
seven 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
fiber optic cable and, when necessary, by microwave radio relay from
the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece (2003)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 13, FM 46 (3 national, 62 local), shortwave 1 (2005)

Radios:
1 million (2001)

Television broadcast stations:

65 (3 national, 62 local); note - 2 cable networks (2005)

Televisions:
700,000 (2001)

Internet country code:

.al

Internet hosts:
430 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

10 (2001)

Internet users:
75,000 (2005)

Transportation Albania

Airports: 11 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 339 km; oil 207 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 447 km
standard gauge: 447 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)

Roadways: total: 18,000 km paved: 7,020 km unpaved: 10,980 km (2002)

Waterways:
43 km (2006)

Merchant marine:
total: 24 ships (1000 GRT or over) 52,987 GRT/79,863 DWT
by type: cargo 23, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Turkey 1)
registered in other countries: 1 (Georgia 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore

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
females age 19-49: 784,199 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 19-49: 668,526
females age 19-49: 648,334 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 37,407
females age 19-49: 34,587 (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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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.

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: 3.17% permanent crops: 0.28% other: 96.55% (2005)

Irrigated land:
5,690 sq km (2003)

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:
32,930,091 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.1% (male 4,722,076/female 4,539,713)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 11,133,802/female 10,964,502)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 735,444/female 834,554) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 24.9 years
male: 24.7 years
female: 25.1 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.22% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
17.14 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
4.61 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.88 male(s)/female
 total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 29.87 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 33.62 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 25.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.26 years
male: 71.68 years
female: 74.92 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.89 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

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:
name: Algiers
geographic coordinates: 36 47 N, 2 03 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
48 provinces (wilayat, 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:
8 September 1963; revised 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 Abdelaziz BELKHADEM
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 8 April 2004 (next
to be held in 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 consisting of the National People's Assembly
or Al-Majlis Ech-Chaabi Al-Watani (389 seats - formerly 380 seats;
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 in 2007); Council of Nations (Senate) - last held 30
December 2003 (next to be held in 2006)
election results: National People's Assembly - percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party - FLN 199, RND 47, Islah 43, MSP 38, PT
21, FNA 8, EnNahda 1, PRA 1, MEN 1, independents 30; Council of
Nations - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party NA

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

Algerian National Front or FNA [Moussa TOUATI]; National Democratic
Rally (Rassemblement National Democratique) or RND [Ahmed OUYAHIA,
secretary general]; Islamic Salvation Front or FIS (outlawed April
1992) [Ali BELHADJ, Dr. Abassi MADANI, Rabeh KEBIR]; National
Entente Movement or MEN [Ali BOUKHAZNA]; National Liberation Front
or FLN [Abdelaziz BELKHADEM, secretary general]; 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 SADI];
Renaissance Movement or EnNahda Movement [Fatah RABEI]; Socialist
Forces Front or FFS [Hocine Ait AHMED, secretary general]; Social
Liberal Party or PSL [Ahmed KHELIL]; Society of Peace Movement or
MSP [Boudjerra 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), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAS,
MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, ONUB, OPCW,
OPEC, OSCE
(partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNWTO,
UPU, WCO,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Amine KHERBI
chancery: 2118 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-2800
FAX: [1] (202) 667-2174

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert S. FORD
embassy: 04 Chemin Cheikh Bachir Ibrahimi El-Biar 16030, Algiers
mailing address: B. P. 408, Alger-Gare, 16030 Algiers
telephone: [213] (021) 69-12-55
FAX: [213] (021) 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. Algeria has decreased its external
debt to less than 10% of GDP after repaying its Paris Club and
London Club debt in 2006. 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, such as development
of the banking sector and the construction of infrastructure, moves
ahead slowly hampered by corruption and bureaucratic resistance.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$253.4 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$92.22 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.6% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$7,700 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 9.4% industry: 58.1% services: 32.5%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 9.31 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 14%, industry 14%, construction and

public works 10%, trade 13.4%, government 32%, other 10% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:
15.7% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

25% (2005 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% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

23.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $59.26 billion
expenditures: $49.14 billion; including capital expenditures of $5.8
billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
18.6% of GDP (2006 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:

10% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
29.39 billion kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.7% hydro: 0.3% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
27.4 billion kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - exports:
230 million kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - imports:
 300 million kWh (2004 est.)

Oil - production:
1.373 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
233,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
1.127 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

11 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

80.15 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

19.28 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

60.87 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

4.545 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$25.8 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$55.6 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%
Exports - partners:
US 22.6%, Italy 16%, Spain 10.5%, France 10%, Canada 7.9%, Brazil
6.5%, Belgium 4.3%, Germany 4.2% (2005)

Imports:
$27.6 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods

Imports - partners:
France 28.1%, Italy 7.8%, Spain 7.2%, China 6.6%, Germany 6.3%, US
5.5% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$71.96 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$5 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$313 million (2004 est.)

Currency (code):
Algerian dinar (DZD)

Currency code:
DZD

Exchange rates:
Algerian dinars per US dollar - 73.2 (2006), 73.276 (2005), 72.061
(2004), 77.395 (2003), 79.682 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Algeria

Telephones - main lines in use:

 2.572 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

13.661 million (2005)

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 nearly 2.6 million, 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; submarine cables - 5; microwave
radio relay to Italy, France, Spain, Morocco, and Tunisia; coaxial
cable to Morocco and Tunisia; participant in Medarabtel; satellite
earth stations - 51 (Intelsat, Intersputnik, and Arabsat) (2005)

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:
1,202 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)
Internet users:
1.92 million (2005)

Transportation Algeria

Airports: 142 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 90 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m:

26 914 to 1,523 m: 39 under 914 m: 23 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate 1,344 km; gas 85,946 km; liquid petroleum gas 2,213 km;
oil 6,496 km (2005)

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 (2005)

Roadways:
total: 108,302 km
paved: 76,028 km
unpaved: 32,274 km (2004)

Merchant marine:
total: 41 ships (1000 GRT or over) 744,406 GRT/766,764 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 10, chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas
9, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 5, roll on/roll off 3,
specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 13 (UK 13) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

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

Military Algeria

Military branches:
National Popular 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 (6 months basic training, 12 months
civil projects) (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 19-49: 8,033,049
females age 19-49: 7,926,351 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 19-49: 6,590,079
females age 19-49: 6,711,285 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 374,639
females age 19-49: 369,021 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$3 billion (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3.2% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Algeria

Disputes - international:
Algeria supports the exiled Sahrawi Polisario Front and rejects
Moroccan administration of Western Sahara; most of the approximately
102,000 Western Saharan Sahrawi refugees are sheltered in camps in
 Tindouf, Algeria; Algeria's border with Morocco remains an irritant
to bilateral relations, each nation accusing the other of harboring
militants and arms smuggling; in an attempt to improve relations,
Morocco, in mid-2004, unilaterally lifted the requirement that
Algerians visiting Morocco possess entry visas - 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): 90,000 (Western Saharan Sahrawi,
mostly living in Algerian-sponsored camps in the southwestern
Algerian town of Tindouf)
IDPs: 400,000-600,000 (conflict between government forces, Islamic
insurgents) (2006)

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Algeria is a transit and destination country for
men, women, and children from sub-Saharan Africa and Asia trafficked
for forced labor and sexual exploitation; many victims willingly
migrate to Algeria en route to European countries with the help of
smugglers, where they are often forced into prostitution, labor, and
begging to pay off their smuggling debt; armed militants reportedly
traffic women for sexual exploitation and involuntary servitude, and
children may be trafficked for forced labor as domestic servants or
street vendors
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Algeria took no steps to assess the
scope of trafficking in the country and reported no investigations
or prosecutions for trafficking offenses this year

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 (November to April), dry
season (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 Mountain 964 m

Natural resources:
pumice, pumicite

Land use:
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 15%
other: 75% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

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:
57,794 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 34.7% (male 10,388/female 9,654)
15-64 years: 62.4% (male 18,698/female 17,350)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 633/female 1,071) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 23.2 years
male: 22.9 years
female: 23.4 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.19% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
22.46 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
3.27 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-21.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 9.07 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.66 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.05 years
male: 72.48 years
female: 79.82 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.16 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

Nationality:
noun: American Samoan(s) (US nationals)
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:
name: Pago Pago
geographic coordinates: 14 16 S, 170 42 W
time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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); 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: under the US Consitution, residents of unincorporated
territories, such as American Samoa, do not vote in elections for US
president and vice president; governor and lieutenant governor
elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms
(eligible for a second term); 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 7 November 2006
(next to be held November 2008); 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 7 November 2006 (next
to be held November 2008); 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, SPC, 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:
American Samoa has 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):
$510.1 million (2003 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$333.8 million (2005)

GDP - real growth rate:

3% (2003)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$5,800 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Labor force: 17,630 (2005)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 34% industry: 33% services: 33%

(1990)

Unemployment rate:
29.8% (2005)

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:
128 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
119 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
3,900 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)
Exports:
$445.6 million (FY04 est.)

Exports - commodities:
canned tuna 93% (2004 est.)

Exports - partners:
Indonesia 28.2%, India 22.3%, Australia 15.3%, Japan 11.2%, NZ 7.1%
(2005)

Imports:
$308.8 million (FY04 est.)

Imports - commodities:
materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum products 7%,
machinery and parts 6% (2004 est.)

Imports - partners:
Australia 66%, Samoa 13.8%, NZ 10.8% (2005)

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 - 684; satellite earth station - 1
(Intelsat-Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2006)

Radios:
57,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (Low Power TV); note - one cable TV station (2006)

Televisions:
14,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.as

Internet hosts:
1,456 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:
NA

Transportation American Samoa

Airports: 3 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 185 km (2004)

Ports and terminals:

Pago Pago

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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: 2.13%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.87% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

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, Biodiversity
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
landlocked; straddles a number of important crossroads in the
Pyrenees
People Andorra

Population:
71,201 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.7% (male 5,456/female 4,994)
15-64 years: 71.4% (male 26,632/female 24,172)
65 years and over: 14% (male 4,918/female 5,029) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 40.9 years
male: 41.2 years
female: 40.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.89% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
8.71 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
6.25 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

6.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.09 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.04 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.38 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.68 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 83.51 years
male: 80.61 years
female: 86.61 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.3 children born/woman (2006 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: 100% female: 100%

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:
name: Andorra la Vella
geographic coordinates: 42 30 N, 1 30 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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

Independence:
1278 (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 24 April 2005 (next to be held April-May
2009)
election results: Albert PINTAT SANTOLARIA 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 seven
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-S21 11%, other 9.7%; seats by party - PLA 14, PS 12, CDA-S21 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); Century 21 or S21 [Enric TARRADO]; Liberal Party of Andorra
or PLA (formerly Liberal Union or UL) [Albert PINTAT SANTOLARIA];
Social Democratic Party or PS (formerly part of National Democratic
Group or AND) [Jaume BARTUMEU CASSANY]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

 NA

International organization participation:

CE, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, OIF, OIF
(associate member), OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNWTO,
WCO, WHO,
WIPO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Julian VILA COMA
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 de Montcada, 23, 08034
Barcelona, Spain; telephone: [34] (3) 280-2227; FAX: [34] (3)
205-5206

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 more than 80% of GDP. An estimated 11.6 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 partial "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):

$1.84 billion (2004)

GDP (official exchange rate):

NA

GDP - real growth rate:

4% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$24,000 (2004)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Labor force: 48,740 (2004)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 0.3% industry: 19.6% services: 80%

(2004)

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):

3.4% (2004)
Budget:
revenues: $373.5 million
expenditures: $373.5 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2004)

Agriculture - products:
small quantities of rye, wheat, barley, oats, vegetables; sheep

Industries:
tourism (particularly skiing), cattle raising, timber, banking,
tobacco, furniture

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:
NA kWh

Electricity - production by source:

NA

Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh

Electricity - exports:
NA kWh

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

Exports:
$145 million f.o.b. (2004)

Exports - commodities:
tobacco products, furniture

Exports - partners:
Spain 59.5%, France 17.0% (2005)
Imports:
$1.077 billion (1998)

Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, food, electricity

Imports - partners:
Spain 53.2%, France 21.1% (2005)

Debt - external:
$NA

Economic aid - recipient:

none

Currency (code):
euro (EUR)

Currency code:
EUR

Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 0.79669 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004),
0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Andorra

Telephones - main lines in use:

35,400 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

64,600 (2005)

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:
14,944 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:
21,900 (2005)

Transportation Andorra

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

Military Andorra

Military branches:
no regular military forces, Police Service of Andorra

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 18,418 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 14,721 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 369 (2005 est.)

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France and Spain

Transnational Issues Andorra

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Angola

Introduction Angola

Background:
Angola is slowly rebuilding its country after 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 legislative elections in 2007,
but 2008 may be more realistic.

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: 2.65% permanent crops: 0.23% other: 97.12% (2005)

Irrigated land:
800 sq km (2003)

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, Marine Dumping, 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:
12,127,071 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.7% (male 2,678,185/female 2,625,933)
15-64 years: 53.5% (male 3,291,954/female 3,195,688)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 148,944/female 186,367) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 18 years
male: 18 years
female: 18 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.45% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
45.11 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
24.2 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

3.55 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 185.36 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 197.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 172.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 38.62 years
male: 37.47 years
 female: 39.83 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.35 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

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; multiparty presidential regime

Capital:
name: Luanda
geographic coordinates: 8 48 S, 13 14 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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:
adopted by People's Assembly 25 August 1992

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

Suffrage:
 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21
September 1979); note - the president is both chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Jose Eduardo DOS SANTOS (since 21
September 1979); note - the president is both chief of state and
head of government; Fernando de Piedade Dias DOS SANTOS was
appointed Prime Minister on 6 December 2002
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by universal ballot for a five-year
term (eligible for a second consecutive or discontinuous term) under
the 1992 constitution; 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 in 2009)
election results: Jose Eduardo 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 leaving DOS SANTOS in his current position as the president

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
2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - MPLA 54%, UNITA 34%,
other 12%; seats by party - MPLA 129, UNITA 70, PRS 6, FNLA 5, PLD
3, other 7

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court and separate provincial courts (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); 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; they and the other 115 smaller parties
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's small-scale, highly factionalized armed struggle for
the independence of Cabinda Province has largely ended

International organization participation:

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:

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

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Cynthia EFIRD
embassy: number 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne (in the Miramar area of
Luanda), Luanda
mailing address: international mail: Caixa Postal 6468, Luanda;
pouch: US Embassy Luanda,US Department of State, 2550 Luanda Place,
Washington, DC 20521-2550
telephone: [244] (222) 64-1000
 FAX: [244] (222) 64-1232

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's high growth rate is driven by its oil sector, with record
oil prices and rising petroleum production. Oil production and its
supporting activities contribute about half of GDP and 90% of
exports. Increased oil production supported 12% growth in 2004, 19%
growth in 2005, and nearly 17% growth in 2006. A postwar
reconstruction boom and resettlement of displaced persons has led to
high rates of growth in construction and agriculture as well. Much
of the country's infrastructure is still damaged or undeveloped from
the 27-year-long civil war. Remnants of the conflict such as
widespread land mines still mar the countryside even though an
apparently durable peace was established after the death of rebel
leader Jonas SAVIMBI in February 2002. Subsistence agriculture
provides the main livelihood for half of the population, but half of
the country's food must still be imported. In 2005, the government
started using a $2 billion line of credit from China to rebuild
Angola's public infrastructure, and several large-scale projects
were completed in 2006. The central bank in 2003 implemented an
exchange rate stabilization program using foreign exchange reserves
to buy kwanzas out of circulation, a policy that was more
sustainable in 2005 because of strong oil export earnings, and has
significantly reduced inflation. Consumer inflation declined from
325% in 2000 to about 13% in 2006, but the stabilization policy
places pressure on international net liquidity. To fully take
advantage of its rich national resources - gold, diamonds, extensive
forests, Atlantic fisheries, and large oil deposits - Angola will
need to continue reforming government policies and to reduce
corruption. The government has made little progress on reforms
recommended by the IMF such as promoting greater transparency in
 government spending and continues to be without a formal monitoring
agreement with the institution. Corruption, especially in the
extractive sectors, is a major challenge facing Angola.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$51.95 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$28.37 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

14% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$4,300 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 9.6% industry: 65.8% services: 24.6%

(2005 est.)

Labor force: 6.393 million (2006 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):

13.2% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

 14.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $10.98 billion
expenditures: $9.7 billion; including capital expenditures of $963
million (2006 est.)

Public debt:
32.7% of GDP (2006 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:

13.5% (2004)

Electricity - production:
2.194 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 36.4% hydro: 63.6% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
2.04 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
1.6 million bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - consumption:
48,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

25 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

750 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

750 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:

45.87 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$7.7 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$35.53 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
crude oil, diamonds, refined petroleum products, gas, coffee,
sisal, fish and fish products, timber, cotton

Exports - partners:
US 39.8%, China 29.6%, France 7.8%, Chile 5.4%, Taiwan 4.4% (2005)
Imports:
$10.21 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and electrical equipment, vehicles and spare parts;
medicines, food, textiles, military goods

Imports - partners:
South Korea 20.5%, Portugal 13.4%, US 12.5%, South Africa 7.4%,
Brazil 7%, France 5.1%, China 5% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$6.75 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$11.24 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$383.5 million (1999)

Currency (code):
kwanza (AOA)

Currency code:
AOA

Exchange rates:
kwanza per US dollar - 80.3 (2006), 88.6 (2005), 83.541 (2004),
74.606 (2003), 43.53 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Angola

Telephones - main lines in use:

94,300 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

 1,094,100 (2005)

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 - 29;
fiber optic submarine cable (SAT-3/WASC) provides connectivity to
Europe and Asia (2005)

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:
2,525 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:
172,000 (2005)

Transportation Angola

Airports: 244 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 31
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 213
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 30
914 to 1,523 m: 95
under 914 m: 81 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 235 km; liquid petroleum gas 122 km; oil 867 km; oil/gas/water
5 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 2,761 km
narrow gauge: 2,638 km 1.067-m gauge; 123 km 0.600-m gauge (2005)

Roadways: total: 51,429 km paved: 5,349 km unpaved: 46,080 km (2001)

Waterways:
1,300 km (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 4 ships (1000 GRT or over) 4,343 GRT/4,643 DWT
by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1
registered in other countries: 5 (Bahamas 5) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Cabinda, Luanda, Soyo

Military Angola
Military branches:
Army, Navy (Marinha de Guerra, MdG), Air and Air Defense Forces
(FANA) (2006)

Military service age and obligation:

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

Manpower available for military service:

males age 17-49: 2,548,455
females age 17-49: 2,462,601 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 17-49: 1,282,195
females age 17-49: 1,256,390 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 126,694
females age 17-49: 123,586 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$2 billion (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

8.8% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Angola

Disputes - international: many Cabinda exclave secessionists have sought shelter

in neighboring states

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 13,464 (Democratic Republic of Congo)
IDPs: 61,700 (27-year civil war ending in 2002; 4 million IDPs
already have returned) (2006)

Illicit drugs:
used as a transshipment point for cocaine destined for Western
Europe and other African states
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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) (2005)

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:
13,477 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.8% (male 1,557/female 1,510)
15-64 years: 70.4% (male 4,878/female 4,608)
65 years and over: 6.9% (male 412/female 512) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 31.2 years
male: 31.2 years
female: 31.1 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.57% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
14.17 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
5.34 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

6.9 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.81 male(s)/female
 total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 20.32 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 26.67 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.28 years
male: 74.35 years
female: 80.3 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.73 children born/woman (2006 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
1.5% (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:
name: The Valley
geographic coordinates: 18 13 N, 63 04 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 Andrew N. GEORGE (since 10 July 2006)
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):

$108.9 million (2004 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$108.9 million (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

10.2% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$8,800 (2004 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 4%, construction 18%, transportation and utilities 3%, commerce
36%, services 18% (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):

5.3% (2006 est.)

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 kWh

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA hydro: NA nuclear: NA other:

NA

Electricity - consumption:
 42.6 million kWh

Current account balance:

$-42.87 million (2003 est.)

Exports:
$14.56 million (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:
lobster, fish, livestock, salt, concrete blocks, rum

Exports - partners:
UK, US, Puerto Rico, Saint-Martin (2004)

Imports:
$129.9 million (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities:
fuels, foodstuffs, manufactures, chemicals, trucks, textiles

Imports - partners:
US, Puerto Rico, UK (2004)

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 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7
(2003), 2.7 (2002), 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 hosts:
403 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

16 (2000)

Internet users:
3,000 (2002)
Transportation Anguilla

Airports: 3 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Roadways: total: 175 km paved: 82 km unpaved: 93 km (2004)

Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Blowing Point, Road Bay

Military Anguilla

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 3,614 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,986 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 120 (2005 est.)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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; 21 of 28 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%) (2005)

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
through their National Antarctic Program a number of seasonal-only
(summer) and year-round research stations on the continent and its
nearby islands south of 60 degrees south latitude (the region
covered by the Antarctic Treaty); these stations' population of
persons doing and supporting science or engaged in the management
and protection of the Antarctic region 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; peak
summer (December-February) population - 3,822 total; Argentina 417,
Australia 213, Brazil 40, Bulgaria 15, Chile 224, China 70, Ecuador
22, Finland 20, France 123, Germany 78, India 65, Italy 112, Japan
150, South Korea 60, NZ 85, Norway 44, Peru 28, Poland 40, Russia
429, South Africa 80, Spain 28, Sweden 20, Ukraine 24, UK 205, US
1,170, Uruguay 60 (2005-2006); winter (June-August) station
population - 1,028 total; Argentina 176, Australia 62, Brazil 12,
Chile 88, China 29, France 37, Germany 9, India 25, Italy 2, Japan
40, South Korea 15, NZ 10, Norway 7, Poland 12, Russia 148, South
 Africa 10, Ukraine 12, UK 37, US 288, Uruguay 9 (2005); research
stations operated within the Antarctic Treaty area (south of 60
degrees south latitude) by members of the Council of Managers of
National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP): year-round stations - 37
total; Argentina 6, Australia 3, Brazil 1, Chile 3, China 2, France
1, Germany 1, India 1, Japan 1, South Korea 1, NZ 1, Norway 1,
Poland 1, Russia 5, South Africa 1, Ukraine 1, UK 2, US 3, Uruguay
1, Italy and France jointly 1 (2005); seasonal-only (summer)
stations - 15 total; Australia 1, Bulgaria 1, Chile 1, Ecuador 1,
Finland 1, Germany 1, Italy 1, Japan 1, Norway 1, Peru 1, Russia 1,
Spain 2, Sweden 1, UK 1 (2005-2006); 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 28th Antarctic Treaty
Consultative Meeting was held in Stockholm, Sweden in June 2005; at these
periodic meetings, decisions are made by consensus (not by vote) of all
consultative member nations; at the end of 2005, 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 years in parentheses indicate when a consultative member-
nation acceded to the Treaty and when it 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, NZ, Norway, and the
UK. Nonclaimant consultative nations are - Belgium, Brazil (1975/1983),
Bulgaria (1978/1998) China (1983/1985), Ecuador (1987/1990), Finland
(1984/1989), Germany (1979/1981), India (1983/1983), Italy (1981/1987),
Japan, South Korea (1986/1989), Netherlands (1967/1990), Peru (1981/1989),
Poland (1961/1977), Russia, South Africa, Spain (1982/1988), Sweden
(1984/1988), Ukraine (1992/2004), Uruguay (1980/1985), and the US; non-
consultative members, with year of accession in parentheses, are - Austria
(1987), Canada (1988), Colombia (1989), Cuba (1984), Czech Republic
(1962/1993), Denmark (1965), Estonia (2001), Greece (1987), Guatemala
(1991), Hungary (1984), North Korea (1987), Papua New Guinea (1981),
Romania (1971), Slovakia (1962/1993), Switzerland (1990), Turkey (1996), and
Venezuela (1999); note - Czechoslovakia acceded to the Treaty in 1962 and
separated into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993; 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 six specific annexes: 1) environmental impact assessment,
2) conservation of Antarctic fauna and flora, 3) waste disposal and waste
management, 4) prevention of marine pollution, 5) area protection and
management and 6) liability arising from environmental emergencies; 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 extraterritorially; 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 south latitude, 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
Antarctica's limited economic activity. Antarctic fisheries in
2003-04 (1 July-30 June) reported landing 136,262 metric tons
(estimated fishing from the area covered by the Convention on the
 Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), which
extends slightly beyond the Antarctic Treaty area). Unregulated
fishing, particularly of Patagonian toothfish, is a serious problem.
The CCAMLR determines the recommended catch limits for marine
species. A total of 23,175 tourists visited in the 2004-05 Antarctic
summer, up from the 19,486 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: commercial cellular networks operating in a small number
of locations
international: country code - 672; via satellite (including mobile
Inmarsat and Iridium systems) from all research stations, ships,
aircraft, and most field parties

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 hosts:
7,757 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

NA

Transportation Antarctica

Airports:
20
note: there are no developed public access airports or landing
facilities; 28 stations or remote field locations, operated by 11
National Antarctic Programs from nations party to the Antarctic
Treaty, have restricted aircraft landing facilities comprising a
total of 11 runways and 22 skiways for fixed-wing aircraft; some
stations have both runways and skiways; commercial enterprises
operate two aircraft landing facilities at one station; helicopter
pads are available at all 37 year-round and 15 seasonal stations
operated by National Antarctic Programs; the 11 runways are suitable
for wheeled, fixed-wing aircraft: three are gravel, four blue-ice,
two sea-ice and two compacted snow; of these, five are 3 km in
length, two are between 2 km and 3 km in length, three are between 1
km and 2 km in length and one is less than 1 km in length; the 22
snow surface skiways are limited to use by ski-equipped, fixed-wing
aircraft; of these, three are equal to or greater than 3 km in
length, one is between 2 km and 3 km in length, nine are between 1
km and 2 km in length, five are less than 1 km in length, and four
are of unknown or variable length; snow surface skiways are
generally prepared and maintained during specific periods only and
during summer; all aircraft landing facilities 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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 28 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 4 length unknown or
variable: 4 (2006)

Heliports:
37
note: all 37 year-round and 15 seasonal stations operated by
National Antarctic Programs stations have restricted helicopter
landing facilities (helipads) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

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), and 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 parties 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"); The Hydrographic Committee on
Antarctica (HCA), a special hydrographic commission of International
 Hydrographic Organization (IHO), is responsible for hydrographic
surveying and nautical charting matters in Antarctic Treaty area; it
coordinates and facilitates provision of accurate and appropriate
charts and other aids to navigation in support of safety of
navigation in region; membership of HCA is open to any IHO Member
State whose government has acceded to the Antarctic Treaty and which
contributes resources and/or data to IHO Chart coverage of the area;
members of HCA are Argentina, Australia, Chile, China, France,
Germany, Greece, India, Italy, NZ, Norway, Russia, South Africa,
Spain, and the UK (2005)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 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% (2005)

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, Wetlands, 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:
69,108 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.6% (male 9,716/female 9,375)
15-64 years: 68.5% (male 23,801/female 23,524)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 1,020/female 1,672) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 30 years
male: 29.5 years
female: 30.5 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.55% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
16.93 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
5.37 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-6.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 18.86 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 22.71 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.82 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.16 years
male: 69.78 years
female: 74.66 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.24 children born/woman (2006 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: 85.8%
male: NA%
female: NA% (2003 est.)

Government Antigua and Barbuda

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

Government type:
constitutional parliamentary democracy

Capital:
name: Saint John's
geographic coordinates: 17 06 N, 61 51 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 in 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); member Caribbean Court of Justice

Political parties and leaders:

Antigua Labor Party or ALP [Lester Bryant BIRD]; Barbudans for a
Better Barbuda [Ordrick SAMUEL]; Barbuda People's Movement or BPM
[Thomas H. FRANK]; Barbuda People's Movement for Change [Arthur
NIBBS]; National Democratic Congress [Tillman THOMAS]; United
Progressive Party or UPP [Baldwin SPENCER] (a coalition of three
parties - Antigua Caribbean Liberation Movement or ACLM, Progressive
 Labor Movement or PLM, United National Democratic Party or UNDP)

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, ICRM, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UPU, WCL,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Deborah Mae LOVELL
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; 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 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 (official exchange rate):

$905 million (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.8% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$10,900 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.8% industry: 22% services: 74.3%

(2002 est.)

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):

0.9% (2005 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:

NA

Electricity - production:
105 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
97.65 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
3,800 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
 NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-83.4 million (2004)

Exports:
$46.81 million (2004 est.)

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

Exports - partners:
Spain 34%, Germany 20.7%, Italy 7.7%, Singapore 5.8%, UK 4.9% (2005)

Imports:
$378 million (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
food and live animals, machinery and transport equipment,
manufactures, chemicals, oil

Imports - partners:
US 21.1%, China 16.4%, Germany 13.3%, Singapore 12.7%, Spain 6.5%
(2005)

Debt - external:
$427.3 million; note - data are for public external debt, not total
external debt (2000)

Economic aid - recipient:

$1.65 million (2004)

Currency (code):
 East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Currency code:
XCD

Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7
(2003), 2.7 (2002), note, fixed rate since 1976

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Antigua and Barbuda

Telephones - main lines in use:

38,000 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

54,000 (2004)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: good automatic telephone system
international: country code - 1-268; 1 coaxial submarine cable;
satellite earth station - 2; 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:
2,231 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

16 (2000)

Internet users:
20,000 (2005)

Transportation Antigua and Barbuda

Airports:
3 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 1,165 km
paved: 384 km
unpaved: 781 km (2002)

Merchant marine:
total: 1,011 ships (1000 GRT or over) 7,452,503 GRT/9,783,309 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 40, cargo 596, chemical tanker 7, container
321, liquefied gas 11, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1,
refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 21
foreign-owned: 984 (Australia 1, Bangladesh 4, Belgium 4, Colombia
2, Denmark 14, Estonia 12, France 1, Germany 858, Iceland 8, Isle of
Man 2, Latvia 5, Lebanon 1, Lithuania 3, Netherlands 14, Norway 11,
 NZ 1, Poland 3, Russia 6, Singapore 1, Slovenia 6, Switzerland 4,
Turkey 8, UK 7, US 7, Vietnam 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Saint John's

Military Antigua and Barbuda

Military branches:
Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force (2006)

Military service age and obligation:

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

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 18,952
females age 18-49: 18,360 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 14,859
females age 18-49: 14,947 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 507
females age 18-49: 494 (2005 est.)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 terminals:

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Argentina

Introduction Argentina

Background:
In 1816, the United Provinces of the Rio Plata declared their
independence from Spain. Eventually, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay
went their own way, but the area that remained became Argentina. The
country's population and culture were subsequently heavily shaped by
immigrants from throughout Europe, but most particularly Italy and
Spain, which provided the largest percentage of newcomers from 1860
to 1930. Up until about the mid-20th century, much of Argentina's
history was dominated by periods of internal political conflict
between Federalists and Unitarians and between civilian and military
factions. After World War II, an era 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 has persisted despite numerous challenges, the most formidable
of which was a severe economic crisis in 2001-02 that led to violent
public protests and the resignation of several interim presidents.
The economy has since recovered strongly since bottoming out in
2002. The government renegotiated its public debt in 2005 and paid
off its remaining obligations to the IMF in early 2006.
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: 9,861 km
border countries: Bolivia 832 km, Brazil 1,261 km, Chile 5,308 km,
Paraguay 1,880 km, Uruguay 580 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: 10.03% permanent crops: 0.36% other: 89.61% (2005)

Irrigated land:
15,500 sq km (2003)

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); diverse geophysical landscapes range from tropical
 climates in the north to tundra in the far south; Cerro Aconcagua is
the Western Hemisphere's tallest mountain, while Laguna del Carbon
is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere

People Argentina

Population:
39,921,833 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 25.2% (male 5,153,164/female 4,921,625)
15-64 years: 64.1% (male 12,804,376/female 12,798,731)
65 years and over: 10.6% (male 1,740,118/female 2,503,819) (2006
est.)

Median age: total: 29.7 years male: 28.8 years female: 30.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.96% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
16.73 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
7.55 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 14.73 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 16.58 deaths/1,000 live births
 female: 12.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.12 years
male: 72.38 years
female: 80.05 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.16 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Buenos Aires
geographic coordinates: 34 36 S, 58 27 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 (eligible for a second term);
election last held 27 April 2003 (next election to be held in 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 23 October 2005 (next to be held in
2007); Chamber of Deputies - last held last held 23 October 2005
(next to be held in 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by bloc or party - FV
45.1%, FJ 17.2%, UCR 7.5%, other 30.2%; seats by bloc or party - FV
14, FJ 3, UCR 2, other 5; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by
bloc or party - FV 29.9%, UCR 8.9%, ARI 7.2%, PJ 6.7%, PRO 6.2%, FJ
3.9%, other 37.2%; seats by bloc or party - FV 50, UCR 10, ARI 8, PJ
9, PRO 9, FJ 7, other 34

Judicial branch:
 Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (the nine Supreme Court judges are
appointed by the president with approval by the Senate)
note: the Supreme Court currently has two unfilled vacancies, and
the Argentine Congress is considering a bill to reduce the number of
Supreme Court judges to five

Political parties and leaders:

Affirmation for an Egalitarian Republic or ARI [Elisa CARRIO];
Front for Victory or FV [Nestor KIRCHNER]; Interbloque Federal or IF
(a broad coalition of approximately 12 parties including PRO);
Justicialist Front or FJ [leader NA]; Justicialist Party or PJ
(Peronist umbrella political organization); Radical Civic Union or
UCR [Gerardo MORALES]; Republican Proposal or PRO (including Federal
Recreate Movement or RECREAR [Ricardo LOPEZ MURPHY] and
Commitment
for Change or CPC [Mauricio MACRI]); 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
Confederation or CRA (small to medium landowners' 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; Piquetero groups (popular protest
organizations that can be either pro or anti-government); Roman
Catholic Church; students

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AfDB, Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CAN (associate), CSN, FAO,
G-6, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NSG,
OAS,
OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UN Security Council (temporary),
UNCTAD,
 UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMOVIC, UNTSO, UNWTO,
UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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 Earl Anthony WAYNE
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. Although one of the world's wealthiest
countries 100 years ago, Argentina suffered during most of the
twentieth century from recurring economic crises, persistent fiscal
and current account deficits, high inflation, mounting external
debt, and capital flight. Beginning in 1998, with external debt
equivalent to more than 400 percent of annual exports, economic
growth slowed and ultimately fell into a full-blown depression, as
investors' fears grew in the wake of Russia's debt default,
 political discord caused by then-President Carlos MENEM's unpopular
efforts to run for a constitutionally prohibited third term, and
Brazil's devaluation. The government of Fernando DE LA RUA, elected
President in late 1999, tried several measures to cut the fiscal
deficit and instill confidence and received large IMF credit
facilities, but nothing worked to revive the economy. Depositors
began withdrawing money from the banks in late 2001, and the
government responded with strict limits on withdrawals. When street
protests turned deadly, DE LA RUA was forced to resign in December
2001. Interim President Adolfo Rodriguez SAA declared a default, the
largest in history, on Argentina's foreign debt, but he stepped down
only a few days later when he failed to garner political support
from the country's governors. Eduardo DUHALDE became President in
January 2002 and announced an end to the peso's decade-long 1-to-1
peg to the US dollar. When the peso depreciated and inflation rose,
DUHALDE's government froze utility tariffs indefinitely, curtailed
creditors' rights, and imposed high taxes on exports. The economy
rebounded strongly from the crisis, inflation started falling, and
DUHALDE called for special elections. Nestor KIRCHNER was elected
President, taking office in May 2003, and continued the restrictions
imposed by DUHALDE. With the reemergence of double-digit inflation
in 2005, the KIRCHNER administration pressured businesses into a
series of agreements to hold down prices. The government also
restructured its defaulted debt in 2005, convincing most bondholders
to accept a large cut on the value of their holdings, and paid off
its IMF obligations from reserves in full in early 2006, both of
which have reduced Argentina's external debt burden. Real GDP has
continued growing strongly, averaging 9 percent during the period
2003-2006, bolstering government revenues and keeping the fiscal
accounts-a key vulnerability in the past-in surplus.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$599.1 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$210 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

8.5% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$15,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 9.5% industry: 35.8% services: 54.7%

(2005 est.)

Labor force: 15.35 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Unemployment rate:
10.2% (3rd quarter)

Population below poverty line:

31.4% (June 2006)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 35%

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

48.3 (June 2006)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

10% (November 2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

22.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $52.1 billion
expenditures: $47.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $5.4
billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
62.2% of GDP (2006 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:

8.2% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
93.94 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 52.2% hydro: 40.8% nuclear:

6.7% other: 0.2% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
90.93 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
4.143 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
7.7 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
745,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
470,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
470,000 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports:
39,000 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - proved reserves:

2.116 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

44.88 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
37.85 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

7.83 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

800 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

612.5 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$5.81 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$46 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
edible oils, fuels and energy, cereals, feed, motor vehicles

Exports - partners:
Brazil 15.8%, US 11.4%, Chile 11.2%, China 7.9% (2005)

Imports:
$31.69 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal
manufactures, plastics

Imports - partners:
Brazil 35.9%, US 14.1%, China 7.8%, Germany 4.5% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$30.24 billion (November 2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$106.8 billion (30 June 2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$0 (2002)

Currency (code):
Argentine peso (ARS)

Currency code:
ARS

Exchange rates:
Argentine pesos per US dollar - 3.05999 (2006), 2.9037 (2005),
2.9233 (2004), 2.9006 (2003), 3.0633 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Argentina

Telephones - main lines in use:

8.8 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

22.1 million (2005)

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 telecommunications 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
improving; 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 - 112;
Atlantis II and Unisur submarine cables; two international gateways
 near Buenos Aires (2005)

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:
1,612,423 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

33 (2000)

Internet users:
10 million (2005)

Transportation Argentina

Airports: 1,381 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 154
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 26
1,524 to 2,437 m: 65
914 to 1,523 m: 50
under 914 m: 9 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1,227
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 49
914 to 1,523 m: 587
under 914 m: 587 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 29,804 km; liquid petroleum gas 41 km; oil 10,373 km; refined
products 8,540 km; unknown (oil/water) 13 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 31,902 km
broad gauge: 20,858 km 1.676-m gauge (141 km electrified)
standard gauge: 2,885 km 1.435-m gauge (26 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 7,922 km 1.000-m gauge; 237 km 0.750-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 229,144 km
paved: 68,809 km (including 734 km of expressways)
unpaved: 160,335 km (2004)

Waterways:
11,000 km (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 41 ships (1000 GRT or over) 435,969 GRT/707,767 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 10, chemical tanker 1, passenger 1,
passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 21, refrigerated cargo 2, roll
on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 11 (Chile 6, UK 4, Uruguay 1)
registered in other countries: 24 (Bolivia 1, Chile 1, Liberia 7,
Panama 9, Paraguay 3, Uruguay 3) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

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

Military Argentina
Military branches:
Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic (includes naval
aviation and naval infantry), Argentine Air Force (Fuerza Aerea
Argentina, FAA) (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: 8,981,886
females age 18-49: 8,883,756 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 7,316,038
females age 18-49: 7,442,589 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 344,575
females age 18-49: 334,649 (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 continues to assert its claims to the UK-administered
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) and South Georgia and the South
 Sandwich Islands in its constitution, forcibly occupying 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; action by the
joint boundary commission, established by Chile and Argentina in
2001, for mapping and demarcating the disputed boundary in the
Andean Southern Ice Field (Campo de Hielo Sur) remains pending

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Argentina is primarily a destination country for
women and children trafficked for sexual and labor exploitation with
most victims trafficked internally, from rural to urban areas, for
exploitation in prostitution; foreign women and children trafficked
for commercial sexual exploitation come primarily from Paraguay, but
also from Bolivia, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, and
Chile; Bolivians are trafficked for forced labor; Argentine women
and girls are also trafficked to neighboring countries for sexual
exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Argentina failed to show evidence
of increasing efforts to combat trafficking particularly in the key
area of prosecutions; government efforts to improve interagency
anti-trafficking coordination did not achieve significant progress
in moving cases against traffickers through the judicial system; the
government made progress in other areas, by submitting
anti-trafficking legislation to Congress in August 2005 and
sensitizing provincial and municipal government officials to the
trafficking problem

Illicit drugs:
used as a transshipment country for cocaine headed for Europe; 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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. During
World War I in the western portion of Armenia, Ottoman Turkey
instituted a policy of forced resettlement coupled with other harsh
practices that resulted in an estimated 1 million Armenian deaths.
The eastern area of Armenia was ceded by the Ottomans to Russia in
1828; this portion declared its independence in 1918, but was
conquered by the Soviet Red Army 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: 16.78% permanent crops: 2.01% other: 81.21% (2005)

Irrigated land:
2,860 sq km (2003)

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:
2,976,372 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
 0-14 years: 20.5% (male 322,189/female 286,944)
15-64 years: 68.4% (male 949,975/female 1,085,484)
65 years and over: 11.1% (male 133,411/female 198,369) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 30.4 years
male: 27.8 years
female: 33.2 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.19% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
12.07 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
8.23 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-5.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.17 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 22.47 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 27.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.84 years
male: 68.25 years
female: 76.02 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.33 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Yerevan
geographic coordinates: 40 11 N, 44 30 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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; amendments adopted
through a nationwide referendum 27 November 2005

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
(eligible for a second term); election last held 19 February and 5
March 2003 (next to be held in 2008); prime minister appointed by
 the president and confirmed with the majority support of the
National Assembly; 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; 90
members elected by party list, 41 by direct vote)
elections: last held 25 May 2003 (next to be held in the spring of
2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - Republican Party 23.5%,
Justice Bloc 13.6%, Rule of Law 12.3%, ARF (Dashnak) 11.4%, National
Unity Party 8.8%, United Labor Party 5.7%; seats by faction -
Republican Party 39, Rule of Law 20, Justice Bloc 14, ARF (Dashnak)
11, National Unity 7, United Labor 6, People's Deputy Group 16,
independent (not in faction or group) 18; note - as of 10 March
2006; voting blocs in the legislature are more properly termed
factions and can be composed of members of several parties; seats by
faction 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 BADALYAN]; Armenia Party (Hayastan)
[Myasnik MALKHASYAN]; Armenian National Movement or ANM [Artashes
ZURABYAN]; Armenian Ramkavar Liberal Party or HRAK [Harutyun
MIRZAKHANYAN, chairman]; Armenian Revolutionary Federation
("Dashnak" Party) or ARF [Hrant MARKARYAN]; Democratic Party [Aram
SARKISYAN]; Justice Bloc (comprised of the Democratic Party,
National Democratic Party, National Democratic Union, the People's
Party, and the Republic Party) [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; National
Democratic Party [Shavarsh KOCHARIAN]; National Democratic Union or
NDU [Vazgen MANUKIAN]; National Revival Party [Albert BAZEYAN];
National Unity Party [Artashes GEGHAMYAN, chairman]; People's Party
of Armenia [Stepan DEMIRCHYAN]; Republic Party [Aram SARKISYAN,
 chairman]; Republican Party or RPA [Andranik MARGARYAN]; Rule of Law
Party [Artur BAGHDASARYAN]; Union of Constitutional Rights [Hrant
KHACHATURYAN]; United Labor Party [Gurgen ARSENYAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Yerkrapah Union [Manvel GRIGORIAN]

International organization participation:

ACCT (observer), AsDB, BSEC, CE, CIS, EAEC (observer), EAPC, EBRD,
FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM
(observer), OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, 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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Anthony F.
GODFREY
embassy: 1 American Ave., Yerevan 375082
mailing address: American Embassy Yerevan, US Department of State,
7020 Yerevan Place, Washington, DC 20521-7020
telephone: [374](10) 464-700
FAX: [374](10) 464-742

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 1995-2006. Armenia joined the WTO in
January 2003. Armenia also has managed to slash inflation, stabilize
its currency, and privatize most small- and medium-sized
enterprises. Armenia's unemployment rate, however, remains high,
despite strong economic growth. 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 and bought by Russia's RAO-UES in 2005.
Armenia's severe trade imbalance has been offset somewhat by
international aid, remittances from Armenians working abroad, and
foreign direct investment. Economic ties with Russia remain close,
especially in the energy sector. The government made some
improvements in tax and customs administration in 2005, but
anti-corruption measures will be more difficult to implement.
Construction of a natural gas pipeline between Iran and Armenia has
been completed and it is scheduled to be commissioned by April 2007.
Investment in the construction and industrial sectors is expected to
continue in 2007 and will help to ensure annual average real GDP
growth of more than 10%.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$15.99 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$6.6 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

10.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$5,400 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 23.9% industry: 32.8% services:

43.3% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 1.2 million (2005)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 45% industry: 25% services: 30%

(2002 est.)

Unemployment rate:
7.6% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

43% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 41.3% (2004)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

41.3 (2004)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.1% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

20.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.004 billion
expenditures: $1.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 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:

7.5% (2005 est.)

Electricity - production:
6.317 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 42.3% hydro: 27% nuclear: 30.7%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
4.374 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports:
1.012 billion kWh; note - exports an unknown quantity to Georgia;
includes exports to Nagorno-Karabakh region in Azerbaijan (2004)

Electricity - imports:
260 million kWh; note - imports an unknown quantity from Iran (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - consumption:
41,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.33 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

1.33 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-229.5 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$1.056 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
diamonds, mineral products, foodstuffs, energy

Exports - partners:
Germany 15.6%, Netherlands 13.7%, Belgium 12.8%, Russia 12.2%,
Israel 11.5%, US 11.2%, Georgia 4.8% (2005)

Imports:
$1.684 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs, diamonds

Imports - partners:
Russia 13.5%, Belgium 8%, Germany 7.9%, Ukraine 7%, Turkmenistan
6.3%, US 6.2%, Israel 5.8%, Iran 5%, Romania 4.2% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$761 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$1.936 billion (30 June 2006)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $254 million (2004)

Currency (code):
dram (AMD)

Currency code:
AMD

Exchange rates:
drams per US dollar - 436.8 (2006), 457.69 (2005), 533.45 (2004),
578.76 (2003), 573.35 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Armenia

Telephones - main lines in use:

582,500 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

320,000 (2005)

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 - 3
(2005)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 9, FM 16, shortwave 1 (2006)
Radios:
850,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

40 (private television stations alongside two public networks;
major Russian channels widely available) (2006)

Televisions:
825,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.am

Internet hosts:
8,163 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

9 (2001)

Internet users:
150,000 (2005)

Transportation Armenia

Airports: 13 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 2,002 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 845 km
 broad gauge: 845 km 1.520-m gauge (828 km electrified)
note: some lines are out of service (2005)

Roadways:
total: 7,633 km
paved: 7,633 km (includes 1,561 km of expressways) (2003)

Military Armenia

Military branches:
Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Nagorno-Karabakh Self Defense Force
(NKSDF), Air Force, Air Defense Force (2006)

Military service age and obligation: 18 to 27 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 18-49: 722,836
females age 18-49: 795,084 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 551,938
females age 18-49: 656,493 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 31,774
females age 18-49: 31,182 (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): 219,324 (Azerbaijan)
IDPs: 8,400 (conflict with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh,
majority have returned home since 1994 ceasefire) (2006)

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Armenia is a major source and, to a lesser
extent, a transit and destination country for women and girls
trafficked for sexual exploitation largely to the UAE and Turkey;
traffickers, many of them women, route victims directly into Dubai
or through Moscow; profits derived from the trafficking of Armenian
victims reportedly increased dramatically from 2005
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Armenia has failed to show evidence
of increasing efforts, particularly in the areas of enforcement,
trafficking-related corruption, and victim protection; the
government increased implementation of its anti-trafficking law, but
failed to impose significant penalties for convicted traffickers and
failed to vigorously investigate and prosecute ongoing and
widespread allegations of public officials' complicity in
trafficking; victim protection efforts remain in early, formative
stages and a lack of sensitivity for victims remains a problem,
particularly in the judiciary

Illicit drugs:
illicit cultivation of small amount of cannabis for domestic
consumption; minor 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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% permanent crops: 0% other: 89.47% (2005)

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:
71,891 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.5% (male 7,175/female 6,849)
15-64 years: 68.2% (male 23,894/female 25,140)
65 years and over: 12.3% (male 3,616/female 5,217) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 38.5 years
male: 36.4 years
female: 40.3 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.44% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
11.03 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
6.68 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.79 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.28 years
male: 75.95 years
female: 82.78 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.79 children born/woman (2006 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: NA total population: 97% male: NA% female: NA%

Government Aruba

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Aruba

Dependency status:
member country 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:
name: Oranjestad
geographic coordinates: 12 33 N, 70 06 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 2005 (next to be held by 2009)
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 in 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, ITUC, UNESCO (associate), UNWTO
(associate), UPU, WCL, WMO

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. Over 1.5 million
tourists per year visit Aruba, with 75% of those from the US.
Construction continues to boom, 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. Tourist arrivals have rebounded strongly
following a dip after the 11 September 2001 attacks. The island
experiences only a brief low season, and hotel occupancy in 2004
averaged 80%, compared to 68% throughout the rest of the Caribbean.
The government has made cutting the budget and trade deficits a high
priority.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

 $2.258 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$2.258 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.4% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$21,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.4% industry: 33.3% services: 66.3%

Labor force: 41,500 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

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

Unemployment rate:
6.9% (2005 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% (2005)

Budget:
revenues: $507.9 million
expenditures: $577.9 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)

Public debt:
46.3% of GDP (2005)
Agriculture - products:
aloes; livestock; fish

Industries:
tourism, transshipment facilities, oil refining

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:
770 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
716.1 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
2,363 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
7,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

 0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$80 million f.o.b.; note - includes oil reexports (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
live animals and animal products, art and collectibles, machinery
and electrical equipment, transport equipment

Exports - partners:
Netherlands 33.5%, Panama 16.7%, Colombia 11.9%, US 11.3%,
Venezuela 10.1%, Netherlands Antilles 9% (2005)

Imports:
$875 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and electrical equipment, crude oil for refining and
reexport, chemicals; foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
US 55.9%, Netherlands 12.9%, UK 3.8% (2005)

Debt - external:
$478.6 million (2005 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$-11.3 million (2004)

Currency (code):
Aruban guilder/florin (AWG)

Currency code:
AWG

Exchange rates:
Aruban guilders/florins per US dollar - 1.79 (2005), 1.79 (2004),
1.79 (2003), 1.79 (2002)

Fiscal year:
 calendar year

Communications Aruba

Telephones - main lines in use:

37,100 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

98,400 (2004)

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:
11,548 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

NA
Internet users:
24,000 (2002)

Transportation Aruba

Airports: 1 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways: total: 800 km paved: 513 km unpaved: 287 km

Ports and terminals:

Barcadera, Oranjestad, Sint Nicolaas

Military Aruba

Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; Royal Netherlands Navy and
Marines, Coast Guard

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 16,278 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 13,219 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 520 (2005 est.)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 exclusive fishing

zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

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)
(2005)

Irrigated land:
0 sq km

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 2006 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 terminals: 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 has 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 latitude.

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 terminals:

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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
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 1990s, a performance due in
large part to economic reforms adopted in the 1980s. 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: 6.15% (includes about 27 million hectares of
cultivated grassland)
permanent crops: 0.04%
other: 93.81% (2005)

Irrigated land:
25,450 sq km (2003)

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 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:
20,264,082 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.6% (male 2,031,313/female 1,936,802)
15-64 years: 67.3% (male 6,881,863/female 6,764,709)
65 years and over: 13.1% (male 1,170,589/female 1,478,806) (2006
est.)

Median age: total: 36.9 years male: 36 years female: 37.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.85% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
12.14 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
7.51 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

3.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.63 deaths/1,000 live births
 male: 5.02 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 80.5 years
male: 77.64 years
female: 83.52 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.76 children born/woman (2006 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: 99%
male: 99%
 female: 99% (2003 est.)

Government Australia

Country name:
conventional long form: Commonwealth of Australia
conventional short form: Australia

Government type:
federal parliamentary democracy

Capital:
name: Canberra
geographic coordinates: 35 17 S, 149 08 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in October; ends last
Sunday in March
note: Australia is divided into three time zones

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); ANZAC Day (commemorated as the
anniversary of the 1915 landing of troops of the Australian and New
Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April

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 2 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 5 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 - 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 Greens [Bob BROWN];
Australian Labor Party [Kevin RUDD]; Country Liberal Party [Jodeen
CARNEY]; Family First Party [Steve FIELDING]; Liberal Party [John
Winston HOWARD]; The Nationals [Mark VAILE]

International organization participation:

ANZUS, APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), Australia Group,
BIS, C, CP, EAS, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OECD, OPCW, Paris
Club,
PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMIS,
UNRWA,
UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Dennis J. RICHARDSON
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, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert D. McCALLUM, Jr.
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 or Federation 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; on the fly 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 high export prices for 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 and strong import demand pushed the trade deficit up in
recent years, although the trade balance improved in 2006. Housing
prices probably peaked in 2005, diminishing the prospect that
interest rates would be raised to prevent a speculative bubble.
Conservative fiscal policies have kept Australia's budget in surplus
since 2002.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

 $666.3 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$645.3 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.8% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$32,900 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.8% industry: 26.2% services: 70%

(2005 est.)

Labor force: 10.66 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 3.6% industry: 21.2% services: 75.2%

(2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:
4.9% (2006 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):

3.8% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

26.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $267 billion
 expenditures: $258 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
14.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits, cattle, sheep, poultry

Industries:
mining, industrial and transportation equipment, food processing,
chemicals, steel

Industrial production growth rate:

-3.5% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
225.3 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 90.8% hydro: 8.3% nuclear: 0%

other: 0.9% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
209.5 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
530,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
877,300 bbl/day (2004 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:

37.03 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

26.37 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

10.66 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

821.2 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-41.62 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$117 billion (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, iron ore, wheat, machinery and
transport equipment

Exports - partners:
Japan 20.3%, China 11.5%, South Korea 7.9%, US 6.7%, NZ 6.5%, India
5% (2005)

Imports:
$127.7 billion (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, computers and office machines,
 telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and petroleum
products

Imports - partners:
US 13.9%, China 13.7%, Japan 11%, Singapore 5.6%, Germany 5.6%
(2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$48.25 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$585.1 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $894 million (FY99/00)

Currency (code):
Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code:
AUD

Exchange rates:
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3382 (2006), 1.3095 (2005),
1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

Communications Australia

Telephones - main lines in use:

11.46 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

18.42 million (2005)

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 - 19 (10
Intelsat - 4 Indian Ocean and 6 Pacific Ocean, 2 Inmarsat - Indian
and Pacific Ocean regions, 2 Globalstar, 5 other) (2005)

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:
7,772,888 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

571 (2002)

Internet users:
14,663,622 (2006)

Transportation Australia

Airports: 455 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 311 over 3,047 m: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 133 914 to 1,523 m: 143 under 914 m: 13 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 144 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523
m: 111 under 914 m: 15 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate/gas 546 km; gas 31,323 km; liquid petroleum gas 240 km;
oil 4,808 km; oil/gas/water 110 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 47,738 km
broad gauge: 4,015 km 1.600-m gauge
standard gauge: 28,662 km 1.435-m gauge (1,397 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 14,831 km 1.067-m gauge (2,462 km electrified)
dual gauge: 230 km dual gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 810,641 km
paved: 336,962 km
unpaved: 473,679 km (2004)

Waterways:
2,000 km (mainly used for recreation on Murray and Murray-Darling
river systems) (2002)

Merchant marine:
total: 53 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,361,000 GRT/1,532,874 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 17, cargo 4, chemical tanker 3, container 1,
liquefied gas 4, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 6,
roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned: 17 (Canada 1, France 3, Germany 3, Japan 1,
Netherlands 2, Norway 1, Philippines 1, UK 2, US 3)
registered in other countries: 34 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Bahamas 2,
Bermuda 3, Fiji 1, Hong Kong 1, Liberia 2, Marshall Islands 2,
Netherlands 1, NZ 2, Panama 3, Portugal 1, Singapore 7, Tonga 1, UK
3, US 2, Vanuatu 2) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Brisbane, Dampier, Fremantle, Gladstone, Hay Point, Melbourne,
 Newcastle, Port Hedland, Port Kembla, Port Walcott, Sydney

Military Australia

Military branches:
Australian Defense Force (ADF): Australian Army, Royal Australian
Navy, Royal Australian Air Force, Special Operations Command (2006)

Military service age and obligation:

16 years of age for voluntary service; women allowed to serve in
Army combat units in non-combat support roles (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 4,943,676
females age 18-49: 4,821,264

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 4,092,717
females age 16-49: 3,983,447 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 142,158
females age 16-49: 135,675 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$17.84 billion (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.7% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Australia

Disputes - international:
East Timor and Australia agreed in 2005 to defer the disputed
portion of the boundary for fifty years and to split hydrocarbon
revenues evenly 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
identification zone; Australia asserts land and maritime claims to
Antarctica (see Antarctica); in 2004 Australia submitted its claims
to UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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. The Soviet Union's collapse in 1991 and
Austria's entry into the European Union in 1995 have altered the
 meaning of this neutrality. A prosperous, democratic country,
Austria entered the EU Economic 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: 16.59% permanent crops: 0.85% other: 82.56% (2005)

Irrigated land:
40 sq km (2003)

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:
8,192,880 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.4% (male 645,337/female 614,602)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 2,782,712/female 2,749,620)
65 years and over: 17.1% (male 567,752/female 832,857) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 40.9 years
male: 39.8 years
female: 42 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.09% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
8.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
9.76 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.6 deaths/1,000 live births
 male: 5.65 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.07 years
male: 76.17 years
female: 82.11 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.36 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Vienna
geographic coordinates: 48 12 N, 16 22 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:
9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland,
Kaernten (Carinthia), Niederoesterreich (Lower Austria),
Oberoesterreich (Upper Austria), Salzburg, Steiermark (Styria),
Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien (Vienna)

Independence:
976 (Margravate of Austria established); 17 September 1156 (Duchy
of Austria founded); 11 August 1804 (Austrian Empire proclaimed); 12
November 1918 (republic proclaimed)

National holiday:
National Day, 26 October (1955); note - commemorates 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

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Heinz FISCHER (since 8 July 2004)
head of government: Chancellor Alfred GUSENBAUER (SPOe) (since 11
January 2007); Vice Chancellor Wilhelm MOLTERE (OeVP) (since 11
January 2007)
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 (eligible for a second term); presidential election last held
25 April 2004 (next to be held April 2010); chancellor formally
chosen by the president but determined by the coalition parties
forming a parliamentary majority; 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 - SPOe and OeVP

Legislative branch:
bicameral Federal Assembly or Bundesversammlung consists of Federal
Council or Bundesrat (62 members; members chosen by state
parliaments with each state receiving 3 to 12 members according to
its population; 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 1 October 2006 (next
scheduled for the fall of 2010)
election results: National Council - percent of vote by party - SPOe
35.3%, OeVP 34.3%, Greens 11.1%, FPOe 11.0%, BZOe 4.1%; seats by
party - SPOe 68, OeVP 66, Greens 21, FPOe 21, BZOe 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 [Peter WESENTHALER];
Austrian People's Party or OeVP [Wilhelm MOLTERE]; 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 Social Democratic) or OeGB; Federal Economic Chamber;
OeVP-oriented Association of Austrian Industrialists or IV; 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:

ACCT (observer), 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, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM
(guest), NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE,
Paris Club, PCA, PFP, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO,
UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU,
WCL, WCO,
WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Susan R. McCAW
embassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1090, Vienna
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [43] (1) 31339-0
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 Austrian economy also benefits greatly from strong
commercial relations, especially in the banking and insurance
sectors, with central, eastern, and southeastern Europe. The economy
features a large service sector, a sound industrial sector, and a
small, but highly developed agricultural sector. 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. The outgoing government has successfully pursued a
comprehensive economic reform program, aimed at streamlining
government, creating a more competitive business environment,
further strengthening Austria's attractiveness as an investment
location, and implementing effective pension reforms; however, lower
taxes in 2005-2006 have lead to a small budget deficit in 2006. Weak
domestic consumption and slow growth in Europe have held the economy
to growth rates below 3% in 2002-05. Due to higher growth across
Europe, Austrian grew 3.3 percent in 2006. To meet increased
competition from both EU and Central European countries,
particularly the new EU members, Austria will need to continue
restructuring, emphasizing knowledge-based sectors of the economy,
and encouraging greater labor flexibility and greater labor
participation by its aging population.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$279.5 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$309.3 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.3% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$34,100 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.8% industry: 30.4% services: 67.8%

(2005 est.)

Labor force: 3.52 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 3% industry: 27% services: 70% (2005

est.)

Unemployment rate:
4.9% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

5.9% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.3%
highest 10%: 22.5% (2004)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

31 (2002)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.6% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

21% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
 revenues: $155.9 billion
expenditures: $161.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
63% of GDP (2006 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:

5.7% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
65.56 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 29.3% hydro: 67.2% nuclear: 0%

other: 3.5% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
64.07 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
13.5 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
16.6 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
25,360 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
282,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:
30,140 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports:
152,600 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves:

84.3 million bbl (2004)

Natural gas - production:

1.963 billion cu m (2004)

Natural gas - consumption:

8.981 billion cu m (2004)

Natural gas - exports:

1.324 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

8.407 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

15.01 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$5.913 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$144.4 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, paper and
paperboard, metal goods, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles,
foodstuffs

Exports - partners:
Germany 31.2%, Italy 8.7%, US 5.8%, Switzerland 5.2%, France 4.2%
(2005)

Imports:
 $138.6 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal goods,
oil and oil products; foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
Germany 45.9%, Italy 6.6%, Switzerland 4.5% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$8.413 billion (August 2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$593.9 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $681 million (2004)

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 - 0.79669 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004),
0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Austria

Telephones - main lines in use:

3.705 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
8.16 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: highly developed and efficient
domestic: there are 45 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 - 15; in
addition, there are about 600 VSAT (very small aperture terminals)
(2005)

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:
2,062,035 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

37 (2000)

Internet users:
4.65 million (2005)

Transportation Austria

Airports: 55 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 25 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: 15 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 30 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m: 26 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 2,722 km; oil 663 km; refined products 149 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 6,011 km
standard gauge: 5,568 km 1.435-m gauge (3,427 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 21 km 1.000-m gauge; 422 km 0.760-m gauge (109 km
electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 133,718 km
paved: 133,718 km (including 1,677 km of expressways) (2003)

Waterways:
358 km (2003)

Merchant marine:
total: 8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 34,072 GRT/44,437 DWT
by type: cargo 6, container 2
foreign-owned: 2 (Netherlands 2)
registered in other countries: 14 (Liberia 13, Malta 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Enns, Krems, Linz, Vienna

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 eight months to six
(2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,914,800
females age 18-49: 1,870,134 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,550,441
females age 18-49: 1,515,365 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 48,967
females age 18-49: 46,633 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$1.497 billion (FY01/02)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.9% (2004)

Transnational Issues Austria

Disputes - international:
Austrian anti-nuclear activists have revived blockades of the
Czech-Austrian border to protest operation of the Temelin nuclear
power plant in the Czech Republic

Illicit drugs:
transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and South American
cocaine destined for Western Europe

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Azerbaijan

Introduction Azerbaijan

Background:
Azerbaijan - a nation with a Turkic and majority-Muslim population
- was briefly independent from 1918 to 1920; it 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 528,000 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: 20.62% permanent crops: 2.61% other: 76.77% (2005)

Irrigated land:
14,550 sq km (2003)
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:
7,961,619 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 25.8% (male 1,046,501/female 1,011,492)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 2,573,134/female 2,706,275)
65 years and over: 7.8% (male 246,556/female 377,661) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 27.7 years
male: 26.3 years
female: 29.2 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.66% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
20.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
9.75 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-4.38 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 79 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 81.08 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 76.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 63.85 years
male: 59.78 years
female: 68.13 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.46 children born/woman (2006 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), Azeri(s)
 adjective: Azerbaijani, Azeri

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% (2003 est.)

Government Azerbaijan

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Azerbaijan
conventional short form: Azerbaijan
local long form: Azarbaycan Respublikasi
local short form: Azarbaycan
former: Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Baku (Baki, Baky)
geographic coordinates: 40 23 N, 49 51 E
 time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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
(eligible for a second 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 6 November 2005 (next to be held in November
2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
Yeni 58, Azadliq coalition 8, CSP 2, YES 2, Motherland 2, other
parties with single seats 7, independents 42, undetermined 4

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];
Motherland Party; Musavat [Isa GAMBAR, chairman]; Yeni Azerbaijan
 Party; Party for National Independence of Azerbaijan or PNIA [Etibar
MAMMADLI, chairman]; Social Democratic Party of Azerbaijan or SDP
[Araz ALIZADE]
note: opposition parties regularly factionalize and form new parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

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

International organization participation:

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

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Hafiv Mir Jalal PASHAYEV
chancery: 2741 34th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 337-3500
FAX: [1] (202) 337-5911
Consulate(s) general: Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Anne E. DERSE
embassy: 83 Azadliyg Prospecti, Baku AZ1007
mailing address: American Embassy Baku, US Department of State, 7050
Baku Place, Washington, DC 20521-7050
telephone: [994] (12) 4980-335 through 337
FAX: [994] (12) 4656-671

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. A consortium of Western oil companies began
pumping 1 million barrels a day from a large offshore field in early
2006, through a $4 billion pipeline it built from Baku to Turkey's
Mediterranean port of Ceyhan. Economists estimate that by 2010
revenues from this project will double the country's current GDP.
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. Several other obstacles impede Azerbaijan's economic
progress: the need for stepped up foreign investment in the
non-energy sector, the continuing conflict with Armenia over the
Nagorno-Karabakh region, and the pervasive corruption. 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):

$58.1 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$14.05 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

32.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$7,300 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 14.1% industry: 45.7% services:
40.2% (2002 est.)

Labor force: 5.191 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 41% industry: 7% services: 52%

(2001)

Unemployment rate:
1.2% official rate (2006 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:

36.5 (2001)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

8% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

44.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $6.008 billion
expenditures: $5.804 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
10.4% of GDP (2006 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:

50% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
20.35 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 89.7% hydro: 10.3% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
20.57 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
510 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
2.15 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
477,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
120,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

589 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

5.01 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

 9.94 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

4.93 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

849.5 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$2.737 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$12.51 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
oil and gas 90%, machinery, cotton, foodstuffs

Exports - partners:
Italy 30.3%, France 9.4%, Russia 6.6%, Turkey 6.3%, Turkmenistan
6.3%, Georgia 4.8%, Israel 4.5%, Croatia 4.1% (2005)

Imports:
$5.176 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, oil products, foodstuffs, metals, chemicals

Imports - partners:
Russia 17%, UK 9.1%, Singapore 9.1%, Turkey 7.4%, Germany 6.1%,
Turkmenistan 5.8%, Ukraine 5.4%, China 4.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.8 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$2.483 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $140 million (2000 est.)

Currency (code):
Azerbaijani manat (AZM)

Currency code:
AZM

Exchange rates:
Azerbaijani manats per US dollar - 0.89131 (2006), 4,727.1 (2005),
4,913.48 (2004), 4,910.73 (2003), 4,860.82 (2002)
note: on 1 January 2006 Azerbaijan revalued its currency, with 5,000
old manats equal to 1 new manat

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Azerbaijan

Telephones - main lines in use:

1,091,400 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.242 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate; requires considerable expansion and
modernization; teledensity of 14 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; satellite earth stations - 2
(2005)

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:
880 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:
678,800 (2005)

Transportation Azerbaijan

Airports: 36 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 27 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7

1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 7 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
 gas 3,190 km; oil 2,436 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 2,957 km
broad gauge: 2,957 km 1.520-m gauge (1,278 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 59,141 km
paved: 29,210 km
unpaved: 29,931 km (2004)

Merchant marine:
total: 84 ships (1000 GRT or over) 405,395 GRT/436,666 DWT
by type: cargo 26, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 8, petroleum tanker
43, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 3
registered in other countries: 4 (Georgia 2, Malta 2) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Baku (Baki)

Military Azerbaijan

Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces

Military service age and obligation: men between 18 and 35 are liable for
military service; 18 years of age for voluntary military service; length of military
service is 18 months and 12 months for university graduates (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,961,973
females age 18-49: 2,033,186 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,314,955
females age 18-49: 1,676,408 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 82,358
 females age 18-49: 78,067 (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;
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;
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) continues
to mediate dispute; Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia ratify
Caspian seabed delimitation treaties based on equidistance, while
Iran continues to insist on an even one-fifth allocation and
challenges Azerbaijan's hydrocarbon exploration in disputed waters;
bilateral talks continue with Turkmenistan on dividing the seabed
and contested oilfields in the middle of the Caspian; Azerbaijan and
Georgia continue to discuss the alignment of their boundary at
certain crossing areas

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 2,800 (Russia)
IDPs: 580,000-690,000 (conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh)
(2006)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Bahamas, The

Introduction Bahamas, The

Background:
Lucayan 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: 0.58% permanent crops: 0.29% other: 99.13% (2005)
Irrigated land:
10 sq km (2003)

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:
303,770
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
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.5% (male 41,799/female 41,733)
15-64 years: 66.1% (male 98,847/female 102,074)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 7,891/female 11,426) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 27.8 years
 male: 27.1 years
female: 28.6 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.64% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
17.57 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
9.05 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-2.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 24.68 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 30.29 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 65.6 years
male: 62.24 years
female: 69.03 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.18 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Nassau
geographic coordinates: 25 05 N, 77 21 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last
 Sunday in October

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 Arthur D. HANNA (since 1 February
2006)
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:
Privy Council (London); Courts of Appeal; Supreme (lower) Court;
magistrates courts

Political parties and leaders:

Free National Movement or FNM [Hubert INGRAHAM]; 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, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
(observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: vacant
chancery: 2220 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 319-2660
FAX: [1] (202) 319-2668
consulate(s) general: Miami, 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; US 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 together with
tourism-driven construction and manufacturing accounts for
approximately 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. The current government has presided over a
period of economic recovery and an upturn in large-scale private
sector investments in tourism. 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.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$6.476 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$6.159 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

 4% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$21,300 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 7% services: 90% (2001

est.)

Labor force: 176,300 (2004)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 5%, industry 5%, tourism 50%, other
services 5% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:
10.2% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:

9.3% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: 27%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.2% (2004)

Budget:
revenues: $1.03 billion
expenditures: $1.03 billion; including capital expenditures of $130
million (FY04/05)

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:
1.795 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
1.669 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
27,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
transhipments of 29,000 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$469.3 million (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
mineral products and salt, animal products, rum, chemicals, fruit
and vegetables
Exports - partners:
Spain 31.8%, US 30%, Poland 9%, Germany 5.4% (2005)

Imports:
$1.82 billion (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactures, chemicals, mineral
fuels; food and live animals

Imports - partners:
US 20.1%, South Korea 18%, Brazil 16.9%, Spain 7%, Italy 5.8%,
Germany 4.8% (2005)

Debt - external:
$342.6 million (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$5 million (2004)

Currency (code):
Bahamian dollar (BSD)

Currency code:
BSD

Exchange rates:
Bahamian dollars per US dollar - 1 (2005), 1 (2004), 1 (2003), 1
(2002)

Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

Communications Bahamas, The

Telephones - main lines in use:

139,900 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

 186,000 (2004)

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 - 2 (2005)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 3, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2006)

Radios:
215,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (2006)

Televisions:
67,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.bs

Internet hosts:
591 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

19 (2000)

Internet users:
93,000 (2005)

Transportation Bahamas, The

Airports: 64 (2006)

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 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 35 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m:
10 under 914 m: 22 (2006)

Heliports: 1 (2006)

Roadways: total: 2,693 km paved: 1,546 km unpaved: 1,147 km (1999)

Merchant marine:
total: 1,177 ships (1000 GRT or over) 37,743,270 GRT/50,918,747 DWT
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 253, cargo 250, chemical
tanker 64, container 79, liquefied gas 35, livestock carrier 2,
passenger 115, passenger/cargo 34, petroleum tanker 175,
refrigerated cargo 114, roll on/roll off 20, specialized tanker 5,
vehicle carrier 30
foreign-owned: 1,093 (Angola 5, Australia 2, Belgium 13, Canada 18,
China 3, Cuba 1, Cyprus 13, Denmark 59, Estonia 1, Finland 8, France
37, Germany 22, Greece 232, Hong Kong 8, Iceland 1, India 1,
Indonesia 4, Ireland 2, Israel 1, Italy 5, Japan 51, Jordan 2, Kenya
1, Latvia 1, Malaysia 12, Monaco 17, Montenegro 2, Netherlands 24,
Nigeria 2, Norway 259, Philippines 1, Poland 15, Reunion 1, Russia
6, Saudi Arabia 12, Singapore 12, Slovenia 1, Spain 12, Sweden 6,
Switzerland 2, Thailand 1, Turkey 8, UAE 16, UK 69, Uruguay 2, US
121, Venezuela 1)
registered in other countries: 4 (Barbados 1, Liberia 1, Panama 2)
(2006)

Ports and terminals:

Freeport, Nassau, South Riding Point

Military Bahamas, The

Military branches:
Royal Bahamian Defense Force: Marines, Air Wing (2006)

Military service age and obligation:

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

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 73,121 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 44,309 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 2,804 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Transnational Issues Bahamas, The

Disputes - international:
disagrees with the US on the alignment of the maritime boundary;
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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Bahrain

Introduction Bahrain
Background:
In 1782, the Al Khalifa family captured Bahrain from the Persians.
In order to secure these holdings, it entered into a series of
treaties with the UK during the 19th century that made Bahrain a
British protectorate. The archipelago attained its independence in
1971. 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. King HAMAD
bin Isa Al Khalifa, after coming to power in 1999, pushed economic
and political reforms to improve relations with the Shia community
and Shia political societies participated in 2006 parliamentary and
municipal elections. Al Wifaq, the largest Shia political society,
won the largest number of seats in the elected chamber of the
legislature. However, Shia discontent has resurfaced in recent years
with street demonstrations and occasional low-level violence.

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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
40 sq km (2003)

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:
698,585
note: includes 235,108 non-nationals (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.4% (male 96,567/female 94,650)
15-64 years: 69.1% (male 280,272/female 202,451)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 12,753/female 11,892) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 29.4 years
male: 32.4 years
female: 25.8 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.45% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
17.8 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
4.14 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.38 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.07 male(s)/female
total population: 1.26 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 16.8 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 19.65 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.45 years
male: 71.97 years
female: 77 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.6 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Manama
geographic coordinates: 26 13 N, 50 35 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
5 governorates; Asamah, Janubiyah, Muharraq, Shamaliyah, Wasat
note: each governorate administered by an appointed governor

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 1971); Deputy Prime Ministers ALI bin Khalifa bin Salman
al-Khalifa, MUHAMMAD bin Mubarak al-Khalifa, Jawad al-ARAIDH
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister
appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature 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 November-December 2006
(next election to be held NA)
election results: House of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - Sunni Islamists 18, Al Wifaq (Shia) 17, other
groupings and independents 5
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 term held from December 2002 to
December 2006

Judicial branch:
High Civil Appeals Court

Political parties and leaders:

political parties prohibited but political societies were legalized
per a July 2005 law

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Shi'a activists fomented unrest sporadically in 1994-97 and have
recently engaged in protests and sporadic violence, demanding more
power for the elected Council of Deputies to decrease unemployment;
 Sunni Islamist legislators support a greater role for shari'a in
daily life; several small leftist and Islamic fundamentalist groups
are active

International organization participation:

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

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nasir bin

Muhammad 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] 1727-0547

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:
With its highly developed communication and transport facilities,
Bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with business in the
Gulf. Petroleum production and refining account for about 60% of
Bahrain's export receipts, 70% of government revenues, and 20% of
GDP, underpinning Bahrain's strong economic growth in recent years.
The financial and construction sectors have also bolstered GDP
growth. Bahrain is actively pursuing the diversification and
privatization of its economy to reduce the country's dependence on
oil. As part of this effort, Bahrain and the US in August 2006
 implemented a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the first FTA between the
US and a Gulf state. Unemployment, especially among the young, and
the depletion of oil and underground water resources are major
long-term economic problems.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$17.7 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$12.12 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.6% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$25,300 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 0.5%
industry: 38.7%
services: 60.8% (2005 est.)

Labor force:
352,000
note: 44% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
(2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 1%
industry: 79%
services: 20% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate:
15% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.5% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $5.582 billion
expenditures: $4.197 billion; including capital expenditures of $700
million (2006 est.)

Public debt:
34.2% of GDP (2006 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:
7.794 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
7.248 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
188,300 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
27,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

121 million bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

9.75 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

9.75 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

92.03 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$1.999 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$12.62 billion (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles

Exports - partners:
 Saudi Arabia 3.3%, US 2.6%, UAE 2.3% (2005)

Imports:
$9.036 billion (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
crude oil, machinery, chemicals

Imports - partners:
Saudi Arabia 36.5%, Japan 6.6%, Germany 6.4%, US 5.4%, UK 5%, UAE
4.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.918 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$7.267 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$150 million; note - $50 million annually since 1992 from the UAE
and Kuwait (2002)

Currency (code):
Bahraini dinar (BHD)

Currency code:
BHD

Exchange rates:
Bahraini dinars per US dollar - 0.376 (2006), 0.376 (2005), 0.376
(2004), 0.376 (2003), 0.376 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Bahrain

Telephones - main lines in use:

196,500 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
748,700 (2005)

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 - 1 (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:
2,165 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:
152,700 (2005)

Transportation Bahrain

Airports: 3 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
(2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 20 km; oil 52 km (2006)

Roadways:
total: 3,498 km
paved: 2,768 km
unpaved: 730 km (2003)

Merchant marine:
total: 8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 235,449 GRT/339,728 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 1, container 2, petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 3 (Kuwait 3) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Mina' Salman, Sitrah

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
females age 18-49: 151,734 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 161,372
females age 18-49: 125,488 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 6,013
females age 18-49: 5,852 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$627.7 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

4.9% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Bahrain

Disputes - international:
none

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Bahrain is a destination country for men and
women from South and Southeast Asia who migrate willingly to work as
laborers or domestic servants, but may be subjected to conditions of
involuntary servitude when faced with exorbitant recruitment and
transportation fees, withholding of their passports, restrictions on
their movement, non-payment of wages, and physical or sexual abuse;
Eastern European women are also believed to be trafficked to Bahrain
for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation or forced labor
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Bahrain's efforts to address
trafficking in persons are based largely on pledges of future
efforts; the government did not enact a comprehensive
anti-trafficking law extending labor protection to domestic workers

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@Bangladesh

Introduction Bangladesh

Background:
Europeans began to set up trading posts in the area of Bangladesh
in the 16th century; eventually the British came to dominate the
region and it became part of British India. In 1947, West Pakistan
and East Bengal (both primarily Muslim) separated from India
(largely Hindu) and jointly became the new country of Pakistan. East
Bengal became East Pakistan in 1955, but the awkward arrangement of
a two-part country with its territorial units separated by 1,600 km
left the Bengalis marginalized and dissatisfied. East Pakistan
seceded from its union with West Pakistan in 1971 and was renamed
Bangladesh. 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: 55.39% permanent crops: 3.08% other: 41.53% (2005)

Irrigated land:
47,250 sq km (2003)

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:
147,365,352 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 32.9% (male 24,957,997/female 23,533,894)
15-64 years: 63.6% (male 47,862,774/female 45,917,674)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 2,731,578/female 2,361,435) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 22.2 years
male: 22.2 years
female: 22.2 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.09% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
29.8 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
 8.27 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 60.83 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 61.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 59.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 62.46 years
male: 62.47 years
female: 62.45 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.11 children born/woman (2006 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
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified
among birds in this country or surrounding region; it poses a
negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens
who have close contact with birds (2007)

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
local long form: Gana Prajatantri Banladesh
local short form: Banladesh
former: East Bengal, East Pakistan

Government type:
parliamentary democracy

Capital:
 name: Dhaka
geographic coordinates: 23 43 N, 90 25 E
time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
6 divisions; Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, 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 (eligible for a second 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 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 no later than
January 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - BNP and alliance
partners 41%, AL 40%; seats by party - BNP 193, AL 58, JI 17, JP
(Ershad faction) 14, IOJ 2, JP (Manzur) 4, other 12; note - the
election of October 2001 brought a majority BNP government aligned
with three other smaller parties - JI, IOJ, 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]; Islami Oikya Jote or IOJ [Mufti Fazlul Haq AMINI];
Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh or JIB [Motiur Rahman NIZAMI]; Jatiya
Party or JP (Ershad faction) [Hussain Mohammad ERSHAD]; Jatiya Party
(Manzur faction) [Naziur Rahman MANZUR]; Liberal Democratic Party or
LDP [Badrudozza CHOWDHURY and Oli AHMED]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

 NA

International organization participation:

ARF, AsDB, BIMSTEC, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC,
NAM,
OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNMEE,
UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO,
WMO, 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, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia A. BUTENIS
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 field with a large red disk shifted slightly to the hoist
side of center; the red disk represents the rising sun and the
sacrifice to achieve independence; the green field symbolizes the
lush vegetation of Bangladesh

Economy Bangladesh

Economy - overview:
Despite sustained domestic and international efforts to improve
economic and demographic prospects, Bangladesh remains a poor,
overpopulated, and inefficiently-governed nation. Although more than
 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. 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. On an
encouraging note, growth has been a steady 5-6% for the past several
years.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$330.8 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$69.02 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.1% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,200 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 19.9%
industry: 20.6%
services: 59.5% (2006 est.)

Labor force:
68 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 (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 63% industry: 11% services: 26%
(FY95/96)

Unemployment rate:
2.5% (includes underemployment) (2006 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:

31.8 (2000)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7.2% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

24.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $6.389 billion
expenditures: $8.694 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
46.7% of GDP (2006 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:

7.2% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:
18.09 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 93.7% hydro: 6.3% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
16.82 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
6,813 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
85,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

28.45 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

13.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

13.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

 0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

300.2 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$339 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$11.17 billion (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and seafood
(2001)

Exports - partners:
US 23.6%, Germany 13.5%, UK 9.4%, France 6.4% (2005)

Imports:
$13.77 billion (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles,
foodstuffs, petroleum products, cement (2000)

Imports - partners:
India 14.1%, China 13.5%, Kuwait 8.5%, Singapore 6.2%, Japan 4.1%,
Hong Kong 4.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$3.278 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$22.55 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$1.575 billion (2000 est.)

Currency (code):
taka (BDT)
Currency code:
BDT

Exchange rates:
taka per US dollar - 70.235 (2006), 64.328 (2005), 59.513 (2004),
58.15 (2003), 57.888 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

Communications Bangladesh

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.07 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

9 million (2005)

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 - 6;
international radiotelephone communications and landline service to
neighboring countries (2005)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 15, FM 13, shortwave 2 (2006)

Radios:
6.15 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

15 (1999)

Televisions:
770,000 (1997)
Internet country code:
.bd

Internet hosts:
469 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

10 (2000)

Internet users:
300,000 (2005)

Transportation Bangladesh

Airports: 16 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 15 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4

1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 5 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 2,604 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 2,768 km
broad gauge: 946 km 1.676-m gauge
narrow gauge: 1,822 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 239,226 km
paved: 22,726 km
unpaved: 216,500 km (2003)

Waterways:
8,372 km
note: includes 5,635 km main cargo routes; network reduced to 5,200
 km in dry season (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 42 ships (1000 GRT or over) 341,733 GRT/485,840 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 29, container 6, passenger/cargo 1,
petroleum tanker 3
foreign-owned: 1 (China 1)
registered in other countries: 10 (Antigua and Barbuda 4, Comoros 1,
Malta 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Singapore 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Chittagong, Mongla Port

Military Bangladesh

Military branches:
Bangladesh Defense Force: Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Navy,
Bangladesh Air Force (Bangladesh Biman Bahini, BAF) (2006)

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:

$1.01 billion (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.8% (2005 est.)

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 resists India's attempts to fence or wall 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:

refugees (country of origin): 21,053 (Burma)
IDPs: 65,000 (land conflicts, religious persecution) (2006)

Illicit drugs:
transit country for illegal drugs produced in neighboring countries

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
50 sq km (2003)

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,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
easternmost Caribbean island

People Barbados

Population:
279,912 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.1% (male 28,160/female 28,039)
15-64 years: 71.1% (male 97,755/female 101,223)
65 years and over: 8.8% (male 9,508/female 15,227) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 34.6 years
male: 33.4 years
female: 35.6 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.37% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
12.71 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
8.67 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
 total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 11.77 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.38 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.79 years
male: 70.79 years
female: 74.82 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.65 children born/woman (2006 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

Capital:
name: Bridgetown
geographic coordinates: 13 06 N, 59 37 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
11 parishes and 1 city*; Bridgetown*, Christ Church, Saint Andrew,
Saint George, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint Lucy,
Saint Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas

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; 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 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); Caribbean Court of
Justice is the highest court of appeal

Political parties and leaders:

Barbados Labor Party or BLP [Owen ARTHUR]; Democratic Labor Party
or DLP [David THOMPSON]; People's Empowerment Party or PEP [David
COMISSIONG]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Barbados Secondary Teachers' Union or BSTU [Patrick FROST];
Barbados Union of Teachers or BUT [Herbert GITTENS]; Congress of
Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados or CTUSAB, which
includes the BWU, NUPW, BUT, and BSTU [Leroy TROTMAN]; Barbados
 Workers Union or BWU [Leroy TROTMAN]; Clement Payne Labor Union
[David COMISSIONG]; National Union of Public Workers [Joseph
GODDARD]

International organization participation:

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, ITUC,
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, New York
consulate(s): Los Angeles

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mary M. OURISMAN
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 was positive in 2005-06, as
economic conditions in the US and Europe moderately improved.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$5.108 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$3.157 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$18,200 (2006 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:
896 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
833.3 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
1,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
11,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
1.254 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

29.17 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

29.17 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:

141.6 million cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Exports:
$209 million (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages, chemicals,
electrical components

Exports - partners:
US 18.6%, Trinidad and Tobago 15%, UK 12.1%, Saint Lucia 8.4%,
Jamaica 7.9%, Grenada 4.6%, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4.6%
(2005)

Imports:
$1.476 billion (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, construction materials,
chemicals, fuel, electrical components

Imports - partners:
US 37.2%, Trinidad and Tobago 22.1%, UK 5.5%, Japan 5.2% (2005)
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 (2005), 2 (2004), 2 (2003), 2
(2002)

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Barbados

Telephones - main lines in use:

134,900 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

206,200 (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: island-wide automatic telephone system
international: country code - 1-246; satellite earth stations - 1
(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:
282 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

19 (2000)

Internet users:
160,000 (2005)

Transportation Barbados

Airports: 1 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 1,600 km
paved: 1,600 km (2004)

Merchant marine:
total: 58 ships (1000 GRT or over) 433,390 GRT/664,998 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 11, cargo 32, chemical tanker 7, passenger 1,
passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 2,
specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 57 (Bahamas, The 1, Canada 8, Greece 11, Lebanon 1,
Monaco 1, Norway 29, UAE 1, UK 5)
registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Bridgetown

Military Barbados

Military branches:
Royal Barbados Defense Force: Troops Command, 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: 71,524
females age 18-49: 72,302 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 54,510
females age 18-49: 54,889 (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 the UN Convention on
the Law of the Sea (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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 1994 as the country's first president, Alexandr
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: 26.77% permanent crops: 0.6% other: 72.63% (2005)

Irrigated land:
1,310 sq km (2003)

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

People Belarus

Population:
10,293,011 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.7% (male 825,823/female 791,741)
 15-64 years: 69.7% (male 3,490,442/female 3,682,950)
65 years and over: 14.6% (male 498,976/female 1,003,079) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 37.2 years
male: 34.5 years
female: 39.9 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.06% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
11.16 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
14.02 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 13 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 69.08 years
male: 63.47 years
female: 74.98 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.43 children born/woman (2006 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: Byelarus'
former: Belorussian (Byelorussian) Soviet Socialist Republic
Government type:
republic in name, although in fact a dictatorship

Capital:
name: Minsk
geographic coordinates: 53 54 N, 27 34 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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 SIDORSKIY (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, Aleksandr LUKASHENKO extended his term to 2001 via a
November 1996 referendum; subsequent election held 9 September 2001;
an October 2004 referendum ended presidential term limits and
allowed the president to run in a third election, which was held on
19 March 2006; prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed
by the president
election results: Aleksandr LUKASHENKO reelected president; percent
of vote - Aleksandr LUKASHENKO 82.6%, Aleksandr MILINKEVICH 6%,
Aleksandr KOZULIN 2.3%; note - election marred by electoral fraud

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 four-year terms) and the Chamber of
Representatives or Palata Predstaviteley (110 seats; members elected
by universal adult suffrage to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 17 and 31 October 2004; international observers
widely denounced the 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 [Mikhail SHIMANSKY];
Belarusian Communist Party or KPB; Belarusian Patriotic Movement
(Belarusian Patriotic Party) or BPR [Nikolai ULAKHOVICH, chairman];
Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus [Sergei GAYDUKEVICH]; Party of
Labor and Justice [Viktor SOKOLOV]; Social-Sports Party [Vladimir
ALEXANDROVICH]
opposition parties: 10 Plus Coalition [Alyaksandr MILINKEVICH],
includes: Belarusian Party of Communists or PKB [Syarhey KALYAKIN];
Belarusian Party of Labor (unregistered) [Aleksandr BUKHVOSTOV,
Leonid LEMESHONAK]; Belarusian Popular Front or BPF [Vintsyuk
VYACHORKA]; Belarusian Social-Democratic Gramada [Stanislav
SHUSHKEVICH]; Green Party [Oleg GROMYKO]; Party of Freedom and
Progress (unregistered) [Vladimir NOVOSYAD]; United Civic Party or
UCP [Anatol LYABEDKA]; Women's Party "Nadezhda" [Valentina
MATUSEVICH, chairperson]
other opposition includes: Belarusian Social-Democratic Party
Nardonaya Hromada or BSDP NH [Alyaksandr KOZULIN, chairman];
Christian Conservative BPF [Zyanon PAZNIAK]; Ecological Party of
Greens [Mikhail KARTASH]; Party of Popular Accord [Sergei YERMAKK];
Republican Party [Vladimir BELAZOR]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Assembly of Pro-Democratic NGOs [Sergey MATSKEVICH]; Belarusian
Congress of Democratic Trade Unions [Alyaksandr YAROSHUK];
Belarusian Helsinki Committee [Tatiana PROTKO]; Belarusian
Organization of Working Women [Irina ZHIKHAR]; Charter 97 [Andrey
SANNIKOV]; Lenin Communist Union of Youth (youth wing of the
Belarusian Party of Communists or PKB); National Strike Committee of
Entrepreneurs [Aleksandr VASILYEV, Valery LEVONEVSKY]; Partnership
NGO [Nikolay ASTREYKA]; Perspektiva kiosk watchdog NGO [Anatol
SHUMCHENKO]; Vyasna [Ales BYALATSKY]; Women's Independent
Democratic
Movement [Ludmila PETINA]; Youth Front (Malady Front) [Dzmitryy
DASHKEVICH, Syarhey BAKHUN]; Zubr youth group [Vladimir KOBETS]

International organization participation:

BSEC (observer), CEI, CIS, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, NAM, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNWTO, 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 Karen B. STEWART
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 ornamentation in red

Economy Belarus

Economy - overview:
Belarus's economy in 2006 posted more than 8% growth. The
government has succeeded in lowering inflation over the past several
years. Trade with Russia - by far its largest single trade partner -
decreased in 2006, largely as a result of a change in the way the
Value Added Tax (VAT) on trade was collected. Trade with European
countries increased. 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. Since 2005, the government has
re-nationalized a number of private companies. In addition,
 businesses have been subject to pressure by 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. Because of these restrictive economic policies,
Belarus has had trouble attracting foreign investment, which remains
low. Growth has been strong in recent years, despite the roadblocks
in a tough, centrally directed economy with a high, but decreasing,
rate of inflation. Belarus receives heavily discounted oil and
natural gas from Russia and much of Belarus' growth can be
attributed to the re-export of Russian oil at market prices. This
growth will be threatened in 2007, however, when Russia raises
energy prices closer to world market prices for Belarus. Russia is
planning to increase Belarusian gas prices from $47 per thousand
cubic meters (tcm) to $200 per tcm and introduce a first-time export
duty of $180 per ton on oil shipped to Belarus.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$80.74 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$28.56 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

8.3% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$7,800 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 9.3% industry: 31.6% services: 59.1%

(2005 est.)

Labor force: 4.3 million (31 December 2005)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 14% industry: 34.7% services: 51.3%

(2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:
 1.6% officially registered unemployed; large number of
underemployed workers (2005)

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:

30.4 (2000)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

9.5% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

25.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $6.578 billion
expenditures: $7.164 billion; including capital expenditures of $180
million (2006 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:

15.6% (2005 est.)

Electricity - production:
29.33 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.5% hydro: 0.1% nuclear: 0%

other: 0.4% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
31.05 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
4.723 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
8.5 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
34,260 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
165,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
14,500 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - imports:
360,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

180 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

20.5 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

16.22 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-511.8 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$19.61 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
 machinery and equipment, mineral products, chemicals, metals,
textiles, foodstuffs

Exports - partners:
Russia 35.8%, Netherlands 15.1%, UK 7%, Ukraine 5.7%, Poland 5.3%,
Germany 4.4% (2005)

Imports:
$21.12 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
mineral products, machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs,
metals

Imports - partners:
Russia 60.6%, Germany 6.7%, Ukraine 5.4% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.329 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$5.498 billion (30 June 2006 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 - 2,220 (2006), 2,150 (2005),
2,160.26 (2004), 2,051.27 (2003), 1,790.92 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Belarus
Telephones - main lines in use:
3,284,300 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

4.098 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: Belarus lags behind its neighbors in upgrading
telecommunications infrastructure; state-owned Beltelcom, is the
sole provider of fixed line local and long distance service;
modernization of the network to digital switching progressing slowly
domestic: fixed line penetration is improving although rural areas
continue to be underserved; four GSM wireless networks are
experiencing rapid growth; strict government controls on
telecommunications technologies
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:
33,641 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
23 (2002)

Internet users:
3,394,400 (2005)

Transportation Belarus

Airports: 86 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 41
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: 12 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 45
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 35 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 5,223 km; oil 2,321 km; refined products 1,686 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 5,512 km
broad gauge: 5,497 km 1.520-m gauge (874 km electrified)
standard gauge: 15 km 1.435 m (2005)

Roadways:
total: 93,310 km
 paved: 81,180 km
unpaved: 12,130 km (2004)

Waterways:
2,500 km (use limited by location on perimeter of country and by
shallowness) (2003)

Ports and terminals:

Mazyr

Military Belarus

Military branches:
Belarus Armed Forces: Land Force, Air and Air Defense Force (2006)

Military service age and obligation:

18-27 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - 18 months (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,520,644
females age 18-49: 2,564,696 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,657,984
females age 18-49: 2,102,793 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 85,202
females age 18-49: 82,037 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$420.5 million (2006)

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; the whole boundary with Latvia and more than half
the boundary with Lithuania remains undemarcated; discussions toward
economic and political union with Russia proceed slowly

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Belgium

Introduction Belgium

Background:
Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830; it was
occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. The country
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
contiguous zone: 24 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: 27.42% permanent crops: 0.69% other: 71.89% note:
includes Luxembourg (2005)

Irrigated land:
400 sq km (2003)

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, Whaling
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:
10,379,067 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.7% (male 883,254/female 846,099)
15-64 years: 65.9% (male 3,450,879/female 3,389,565)
65 years and over: 17.4% (male 746,569/female 1,062,701) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 40.9 years
male: 39.6 years
female: 42.1 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.13% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
10.38 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
10.27 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

 total: 4.62 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.2 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.77 years
male: 75.59 years
female: 82.09 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.64 children born/woman (2006 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: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
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 monarchy

Capital:
name: Brussels
geographic coordinates: 50 50 N, 4 20 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:
10 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Dutch:
provincies, singular - provincie) and 3 regions* (French: regions;
Dutch: gewesten); Brussels* (Bruxelles) capital region; Flanders*
region (five provinces): Antwerpen (Antwerp), Limburg,
Oost-Vlaanderen (East Flanders), Vlaams-Brabant (Flemish Brabant),
West-Vlaanderen (West Flanders); Wallonia* region (five provinces):
Brabant Wallon (Walloon Brabant), Hainaut, Liege, Luxembourg, Namur
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 and constitutional;
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 10 June 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 and Democrats or VLD [Bart SOMERS];
GROEN! (formerly AGALEV, Flemish Greens) [Vera DUA]; New Flemish
Alliance or NVA [Bart DE WEVER]; Social Progressive Alternative or
SP.A [Johan Vande LANOTTE]; 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,
Isabelle DURANT, Claude BROUIR]; Humanist and Democratic Center of
CDH [Joelle MILQUET]; National Front or FN [Daniel FERET]; Reform
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, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NATO, NEA,
NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA,
SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL,
UNITAR,
UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO,
WIPO,
WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dominique

STRUYE DE SWIELANDE chancery: 3330 Garfield Street NW, Washington,
DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 333-6900 FAX: [1] (202) 333-3079 consulate(s)
general: Los Angeles, New York consulate(s): Atlanta

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Tom C.

KOROLOGOS; note - Ambassador-designate Sam FOX may take his place in
early 2007; must face Senate confirmation hearing 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 more than 90% 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 2004-06.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$330.4 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$367.8 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$31,800 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 24% services: 74.9%

(2005 est.)

Labor force: 4.89 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 1.3% industry: 24.5% services: 74.2%

(2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:
8.1% (2006 est.)

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:

25 (1996)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.1% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
19.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $195.7 billion
expenditures: $195.5 billion; including capital expenditures of
$1.56 billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
90.3% of GDP (2006 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% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
80.22 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 38.4% hydro: 0.6% nuclear:

59.3% other: 1.8% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
82.41 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
6.8 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
14.6 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
10,690 bbl/day (2004)
Oil - consumption:
641,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
450,000 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
1.042 million bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

17.06 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

16.88 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$6.925 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$335.3 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and metal
products, foodstuffs

Exports - partners:
Germany 19.4%, France 17.3%, Netherlands 11.7%, UK 8.2%, US 6.4%,
Italy 5.3% (2005)

Imports:
$333.5 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, pharmaceuticals,
 foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products

Imports - partners:
Netherlands 17.8%, Germany 17.2%, France 11.4%, UK 6.8%, Ireland
6.5%, US 5.4% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$9.626 billion (August 2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$1.053 trillion (30 June 2006 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 - 0.79669 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004),
0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Belgium

Telephones - main lines in use:

4.801 million (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

9.46 million (2005)
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; submarine cables - 5; satellite
earth stations - 7 (Intelsat - 3) (2005)

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:
2,870,770 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

61 (2000)
Internet users:
5.1 million (2005)

Transportation Belgium

Airports: 43 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 25 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 7 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 16

(2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 1,561 km; oil 158 km; refined products 535 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 3,521 km
standard gauge: 3,521 km 1.435-m gauge (2,927 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 150,567 km
paved: 117,442 km (including 1,747 km of expressways)
unpaved: 33,125 km (2004)

Waterways:
2,043 km (1,528 km in regular commercial use) (2003)

Merchant marine:
total: 66 ships (1000 GRT or over) 3,952,159 GRT/6,521,645 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 19, cargo 4, chemical tanker 2, container 10,
liquefied gas 15, petroleum tanker 12, roll on/roll off 4
foreign-owned: 10 (Denmark 4, Greece 4, UK 2)
registered in other countries: 113 (Antigua and Barbuda 4, Bahamas
13, Bermuda 4, Cyprus 1, French Southern and Antarctic Lands 6,
 Georgia 1, Gibraltar 2, Greece 12, Hong Kong 3, Luxembourg 9, Malta
10, Mozambique 2, Netherlands 2, Netherlands Antilles 4, Panama 11,
Portugal 8, Russia 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 3, Singapore
12, Sweden 2) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Antwerp, Brussels, Gent, Liege, Oostende, Zeebrugge

Military Belgium

Military branches:
Belgian Armed Forces: Land, Naval, and Air Operations Commands
(2005)

Military service age and obligation:

16 years of age for voluntary military service; women comprise
approx. 7% of the Belgian armed forces (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 2,436,736
females age 16-49: 2,369,463 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,998,003
females age 16-49: 1,940,918 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 64,263
females age 16-49: 61,402 (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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Belize

Introduction Belize

Background:
Belize was the site of several Mayan city states until their
decline at the end of the first millennium A.D. The British and
Spanish disputed the region in the 17th and 18th centuries; it
formally became the colony of British Honduras in 1854. Territorial
disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of
Belize until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation
until 1992. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. Current
concerns include 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: 3.05% permanent crops: 1.39% other: 95.56% (2005)

Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2003)

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, Whaling
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:
287,730 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 39.5% (male 57,923/female 55,678)
15-64 years: 57% (male 82,960/female 81,046)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 4,888/female 5,235) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 19.6 years
male: 19.5 years
female: 19.8 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.31% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
28.84 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
5.72 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 24.89 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 28.07 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 68.3 years
male: 66.43 years
female: 70.26 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.6 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Belmopan
geographic coordinates: 17 15 N, 88 46 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
 Time)

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 - 6 on the advice of the prime
minister, 3 on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and 1
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, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU,
ITUC, 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 Robert J. DIETER
 embassy: Floral Park Road, Belmopan City, Cayo District
mailing address: 3050 Belize Place, Washington DC 20521-3050
telephone: [501] 227-7161 through 7163
FAX: [501] 223-0802

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 4% in
1999-2006. Major concerns continue to be the sizable trade deficit
and unsustainable foreign debt. The government in 2006 announced it
would seek a restructuring of its sovereign debt and has been
negotiating with international creditors to find an acceptable
formula for doing so. A key short-term objective remains the
reduction of poverty with the help of international donors.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.307 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.141 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.5% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$8,400 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 22.5%
industry: 14.8%
services: 62.6% (2006 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:

33.5% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

18.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $302.5 million
expenditures: $357.5 million; including capital expenditures of $70
million (2006 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:
175 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 59.9% hydro: 40.1% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
162.8 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
6,400 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

 $-173.4 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$359.5 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses, wood

Exports - partners:
US 30.6%, UK 25%, France 4.8% (2005)

Imports:
$543 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels,
chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco

Imports - partners:
US 31%, Mexico 11.6%, Russia 8.8%, Cuba 6%, Guatemala 5.6%, China
4.6%, Spain 4.5% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$78.96 million (2006 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 (2006), 2 (2005), 2 (2004), 2
(2003), 2 (2002)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Belize

Telephones - main lines in use:

33,300 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

93,100 (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: above-average system
domestic: trunk network depends primarily on microwave radio relay
international: country code - 501; satellite earth station - 8
(Intelsat - 2, unknown - 6) (2005)

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:
3,905 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:
 35,000 (2005)

Transportation Belize

Airports: 43 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 38
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 26 (2006)

Roadways: total: 2,872 km paved: 488 km unpaved: 2,384 km (1999)

Waterways:
825 km (navigable only by small craft) (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 285 ships (1000 GRT or over) 985,464 GRT/1,322,629 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 36, cargo 203, chemical tanker 7, container 4,
passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 13, refrigerated cargo 12, roll
on/roll off 6, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 225 (China 103, Croatia 1, Cyprus 2, Estonia 3,
Germany 3, Greece 2, Hong Kong 8, Iceland 2, Indonesia 2, Italy 4,
Japan 2, North Korea 2, South Korea 4, Latvia 6, Lithuania 1,
Malaysia 1, Mexico 1, Norway 2, Poland 2, Russia 36, Singapore 6,
Spain 3, Switzerland 1, Turkey 11, UAE 5, Ukraine 7, US 5) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Belize City

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: 61,201
females age 18-49: 60,048 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 44,238
females age 18-49: 43,633 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 3,213
females age 18-49: 3,100 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$19 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.7% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Belize

Disputes - international:
Guatemalan squatters continue to settle in the largely uninhabited
rain forests of Belize's border region; OAS seeks to revive the 2002
failed Belize-Guatemala 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

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Belize is a source, transit, and destination
 country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of
labor and sexual exploitation; women and girls are trafficked mainly
from Central America, and exploited in prostitution; children are
trafficked to Belize for labor exploitation; Belize's largely
unmonitored borders with Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico facilitate
the movement of illegal migrants who are vulnerable to traffickers;
girls are trafficked within the country for sexual exploitation,
sometimes with the consent and complicity of their close relatives;
there are unconfirmed reports that Indian and Chinese migrants are
trafficked for involuntary servitude in homes and shops
tier rating: Tier 3 - Belize has failed to show evidence of
significant law enforcement or victim protection efforts

Illicit drugs:
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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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. KEREKOU stepped down at the end of his second term in 2006
and was succeeded by Thomas YAYI BONI, a political outsider and
independent.

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: 23.53% permanent crops: 2.37% other: 74.1% (2005)

Irrigated land:
120 sq km (2003)

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, Whaling
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:
7,862,944
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
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.1% (male 1,751,709/female 1,719,138)
15-64 years: 53.5% (male 2,067,248/female 2,138,957)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 75,694/female 110,198) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 17.6 years
male: 17.2 years
female: 18 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.73% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
38.85 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
12.22 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.67 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 79.56 deaths/1,000 live births
 male: 84.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 74.88 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 53.04 years
male: 51.9 years
female: 54.22 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.2 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

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

Capital:
name: Porto-Novo (official capital)
geographic coordinates: 6 29 N, 2 37 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Cotonou (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:
adopted by referendum 2 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 Thomas YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Thomas YAYI Boni (since 6 April 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); runoff election held 19 March 2006
(next to be held March 2011)
election results: Thomas YAYI Boni elected president; percent of
vote - Thomas YAYI Boni 74.5%, Adrien HOUNGBEDJI 25.5%

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 25 March 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
Presidential Movement (UBF, MADEP, FC, Alliance MDC-PC-CPP, IPD,
AFP, MDS, RDP) 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:

Alliance of Progress Forces or AFP; African Movement for Democracy
and Progress or MADEP [Sefou FAGBOHOUN]; Democratic Renewal Party
or
PRD [Adrien HOUNGBEDJI]; Impulse for Progress and Democracy or IPD;
Key Force or FC; Movement for Development and Solidarity or MDS;
Movement for Development by the Culture-Salute Party-Congress of
People for Progress Alliance or Alliance MDC-PS-CPP; New Alliance or
 NA; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP; Renaissance Party du
Benin or RB [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, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNMIL,
UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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 Gayleatha B. BROWN
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. Many of these proposals were included in Benin's $307
million Millennium Challenge Account grant signed in February 2006.
The 2001 privatization policy continues in telecommunications,
water, electricity, and agriculture in spite of government
reluctance. The Paris Club and bilateral creditors have eased the
external debt situation, with Benin benefiting from a G8 debt
reduction announced in July 2005, 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, which has resulted in increased smuggling and
criminality in the border region.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$8.931 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$4.622 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,100 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 32.8% industry: 13.7% services:

53.5% (2006 est.)

Labor force:
3.211 million (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):

3% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $836.8 million
expenditures: $1.064 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts;
livestock

Industries:
textiles, food processing, construction materials, cement

Industrial production growth rate:

8.3% (2001 est.)

Electricity - production:
82 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 14.2% hydro: 85.8% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
576.3 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:
500 million kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
14,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

4.105 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.133 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-342.7 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$563.1 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa

Exports - partners:
China 31.3%, Indonesia 8.1%, India 7.4%, Niger 6%, Togo 4.8%,
Thailand 4.8%, Nigeria 4.6% (2005)
Imports:
$927.3 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products

Imports - partners:
France 21.8%, Ghana 7.1%, Cote d'Ivoire 7%, China 6.7%, UK 5.2%,
Belgium 4.9%, Togo 4.5%, Thailand 4.2%, Nigeria 4% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$607.3 million (2006 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 -
513.168 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99
(2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Benin

Telephones - main lines in use:

76,300 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
386,700 (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: fair system of open-wire, microwave radio relay, and
cellular connections
international: country code - 229; satellite earth station - 7
(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:
867 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

4 (2002)

Internet users:
425,000 (2005)

Transportation Benin

Airports: 5 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

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 (2006)

Railways:
total: 578 km
narrow gauge: 578 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)

Roadways: total: 16,000 km paved: 1,400 km unpaved: 14,600 km (2005)

Waterways:
150 km (on River Niger along northern border) (2005)

Ports and terminals:

Cotonou

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: 1,295,230
females age 21-49: 1,301,936 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 21-49: 749,774
females age 21-49: 751,329 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 76,661
females: 75,068 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$100.9 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.3% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Benin

Disputes - international:
Benin and Burkina Faso military clash in 2006 over sections of
riverine boundary involving disputed villages and squatters; much of
Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint with Nigeria, remains
undemarcated; in 2005, Nigeria ceded thirteen villages to Benin as a
consequence of a 2004 joint task force to resolve maritime and land
boundary disputes, but clashes among rival gangs along the border
persist; a joint boundary commission continues to resurvey the
boundary with Togo to verify Benin's claim that Togo moved boundary
stones

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 26,632 (Togo) (2006)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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. Although a referendum
on independence from the UK was soundly defeated in 1995, the
present government has reopened debate on the issue.

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) (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

Natural hazards:
hurricanes (June to November)

Environment - current issues:

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:
65,773 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.6% (male 6,146/female 6,098)
15-64 years: 69.2% (male 22,562/female 22,954)
65 years and over: 12.2% (male 3,479/female 4,534) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 40.2 years
male: 39.3 years
female: 41 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.61% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
11.4 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
7.74 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 8.3 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.85 deaths/1,000 live births
 female: 6.73 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.96 years
male: 75.85 years
female: 80.1 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.89 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

0.297% (2005)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

163 (2005)

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
392 (2005)

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% (2005 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; self-governing territory

Capital:
name: Hamilton
geographic coordinates: 32 17 N, 64 46 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last
Sunday in October

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 Ewart BROWN (since 30 October 2006);
Deputy Premier Paula COX
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
not later than 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 [Ewart BROWN]; United Bermuda Party
or UBP [Wayne FURBERT]

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), Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ITUC, UPU, WCO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

 chief of mission: Consul General Gregory W. SLAYTON
consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire DVO3
mailing address: P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate
General Hamilton, US 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 the highest per capita income in the world, more
than 50% higher than that of the US. Its economy is primarily based
on providing financial services for international business and
luxury facilities for tourists. A number of reinsurance companies
relocated to the island following 11 September 2001 and again after
Hurricane Katrina, contributing to the expansion of an already
robust international business sector. Bermuda's tourism industry -
which derives over 80% of its visitors from the US - continues to
struggle but remains the island's number two industry. 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 with only 20% of the land being arable.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$4.5 billion (2004 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

NA

GDP - real growth rate:

4.6% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$69,900 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 10% services: 89%

(2002 est.)

Labor force: 38,360 (2004)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture and fishing 3%, laborers 3%, clerical
19%, professional and technical 17%, administrative and managerial 15%, sales
19%, services 19% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:
2.1% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

19% (2000)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.8% (November 2005)

Budget:
revenues: $738 million
expenditures: $665 million (FY04/05)

Agriculture - products:
bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products, honey

Industries:
international business, tourism, light manufacturing

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:
682.5 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
616.7 million kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2005)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
4,658 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$1.469 billion (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
reexports of pharmaceuticals

Exports - partners:
France 65.9%, Spain 11.8%, US 4.5% (2005)

Imports:
 $982 million (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
clothing, fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction
materials, chemicals, food and live animals

Imports - partners:
France 38.9%, South Korea 20.9%, US 15.5% (2005)

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:

49,000 (2004)

Telephone system:
general assessment: good
domestic: fully automatic digital telephone system; fiber optic
 trunk lines
international: country code - 1-441; submarine cables - 3 (fiber
optic); satellite earth stations - 3 (2005)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)

Radios:
82,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3 (2005)

Televisions:
66,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.bm

Internet hosts:
8,114 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

20 (2000)

Internet users:
39,000 (2005)

Transportation Bermuda

Airports: 1 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways: total: 447 km paved: 447 km note: public roads - 225 km; private
roads - 222 km (2002)

Merchant marine:
total: 132 ships (1000 GRT or over) 7,873,728 GRT/8,688,692 DWT
 by type: bulk carrier 25, cargo 1, container 24, liquefied gas 23,
passenger 19, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 16, refrigerated
cargo 13, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned: 116 (Australia 3, Belgium 4, France 1, Germany 21,
Greece 2, Hong Kong 10, Indonesia 1, Ireland 1, Israel 3, Monaco 2,
Nigeria 11, Norway 5, Sweden 14, Switzerland 2, UK 9, US 27)
registered in other countries: 6 (Liberia 1, Marshall Islands 4,
Panama 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Hamilton, Saint George

Military Bermuda

Military branches:
no regular military forces

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 15,151 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 12,165 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 408 (2005 est.)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 to British India. 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. In March 2005, King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK unveiled the
government's draft constitution - which would introduce major
democratic reforms - and pledged to hold a national referendum for
its approval. A referendum date has yet to be named.
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: 2.3% permanent crops: 0.43% other: 97.27% (2005)

Irrigated land:
400 sq km (2003)

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:
2,279,723
note: other estimates range as low as 810,000 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.9% (male 458,801/female 426,947)
15-64 years: 57.1% (male 671,057/female 631,078)
65 years and over: 4% (male 46,217/female 45,623) (2006 est.)

Median age:
 total: 20.4 years
male: 20.2 years
female: 20.6 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.1% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
33.65 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
12.7 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 98.41 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 96.14 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 100.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 54.78 years
male: 55.02 years
female: 54.53 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.74 children born/woman (2006 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: 47%
male: 60%
female: 34% (2003 est.)

Government Bhutan

Country name:
conventional long form: Kingdom of Bhutan
conventional short form: Bhutan
local long form: Druk Gyalkhap
local short form: Druk Yul

Government type:
monarchy; special treaty relationship with India

Capital:
name: Thimphu
 geographic coordinates: 27 28 N, 89 39 E
time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 March 2005
publicly unveiled it; is awaiting national 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 Khesar Namgyel WANGCHUCK (since 14
December 2006); note - King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK abdicated the
throne on 14 December 2006 and his son immediately succeeded him
head of government: Prime Minister Khandu WANGCHUK (since 7
September 2006)
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 August 2005 (next to be held in
2008)
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, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW,
SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WHO, WIPO,
WMO, 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 80% 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 (official exchange rate):
$840.5 million (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.9% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,400 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 25.8%
industry: 37.9%
services: 36.3% (2004 est.)

Labor force:
NA
note: major shortage of skilled labor

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 93% industry: 2% services: 5%

Unemployment rate:

Population below poverty line:

31.7% (2003)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7% (2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $346.6 million
expenditures: including capital expenditures of $NA
note: the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of
Bhutan's budget expenditures (2004)

Public debt:
 81.4% of GDP (2004)

Agriculture - products:
rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products, eggs

Industries:
cement, wood products, processed fruits, alcoholic beverages,
calcium carbide, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

9.3% (1996 est.)

Electricity - production:
2.05 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.1% hydro: 99.9% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
526.5 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
1.4 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
20 million kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
1,160 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

 0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$154 million f.o.b. (2000 est.)

Exports - commodities:
electricity (to India), cardamom, gypsum, timber, handicrafts,
cement, fruit, precious stones, spices

Exports - partners:
Japan 32.3%, Germany 13.2%, France 13.1%, South Korea 7.6%, US
7.5%, Thailand 5.6%, Italy 5% (2005)

Imports:
$196 million c.i.f. (2000 est.)

Imports - commodities:
fuel and lubricants, grain, aircraft, machinery and parts,
vehicles, fabrics, rice

Imports - partners:
Hong Kong 66.6%, Mexico 20.2%, France 3.8% (2005)

Debt - external:
$593 million (2004)

Economic aid - recipient:

$78 million substantial aid from India and other nations (2004)

Currency (code):
ngultrum (BTN); Indian rupee (INR)

Currency code:
BTN; INR

Exchange rates:
ngultrum per US dollar - 44.101 (2006), 44.101 (2005), 45.317
 (2004), 46.583 (2003), 48.61 (2002)
note: the ngultrum is pegged to the Indian rupee

Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

Communications Bhutan

Telephones - main lines in use:

32,700 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

37,800 (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: telecommunications facilities are poor
domestic: very low teledensity; 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 (2005)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 9, shortwave 1 (2006)

Radios:
37,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2006)

Televisions:
11,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.bt

Internet hosts:
7,567 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
NA

Internet users:
25,000 (2005)

Transportation Bhutan

Airports: 2 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways: total: 8,050 km paved: 4,991 km unpaved: 3,059 km (2003)

Military Bhutan

Military branches:
Royal Bhutan Army: Royal Bodyguard, 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
females age 18-49: 453,683 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 314,975
females age 18-49: 296,833 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

 males age 18-49: 23,939
females age 18-49: 21,979 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$8.29 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Bhutan

Disputes - international:
approximately 105,000 Bhutanese have lived decades as refugees 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 countercoups.
Democratic civilian rule was established in 1982, but leaders have
faced difficult problems of deep-seated poverty, social unrest, and
 illegal drug production. In December 2005, Bolivians elected
Movement Toward Socialism leader Evo MORALES president - by the
widest margin of any leader since the restoration of civilian rule
in 1982 - after he ran on a promise to change the country's
traditional political class and empower the nation's poor majority.
However, since taking office, his controversial strategies have
exacerbated racial and economic tensions between the Amerindian
populations of the Andean west and the non-indigenous communities of
the eastern lowlands.

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: 6,940 km
border countries: Argentina 832 km, Brazil 3,423 km, Chile 860 km,
Paraguay 750 km, Peru 1,075 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: 2.78% permanent crops: 0.19% other: 97.03% (2005)

Irrigated land:
1,320 sq km (2003)

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:
8,989,046 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 35% (male 1,603,982/female 1,542,319)
15-64 years: 60.4% (male 2,660,806/female 2,771,807)
65 years and over: 4.6% (male 182,412/female 227,720) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 21.8 years
male: 21.2 years
female: 22.5 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.45% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
23.3 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
7.53 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 51.77 deaths/1,000 live births
 male: 55.31 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 48.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 65.84 years
male: 63.21 years
female: 68.61 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.85 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: La Paz (administrative capital)
geographic coordinates: 16 30 S, 68 09 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Sucre (constitutional capital)

Administrative divisions:
9 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento); Beni,
Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, 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 Juan Evo MORALES Ayma (since 22 January
2006); Vice President Alvaro GARCIA Linera (since 22 January 2006);
note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Juan Evo MORALES Ayma (since 22
January 2006); Vice President Alvaro GARCIA Linera (since 22 January
2006); 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 a single five-year term; election last held 18
December 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: Juan Evo MORALES Ayma elected president; percent
of vote - Juan Evo MORALES Ayma 53.7%; Jorge Fernando QUIROGA
Ramirez 28.6%; Samuel DORIA MEDINA Arana 7.8%; Michiaki NAGATANI
Morishit 6.5%; Felipe QUISPE Huanca 2.2%; Guildo ANGULA Cabrera 0.7%

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; 70 are directly elected from their districts and 60 are
elected by proportional representation from party lists to serve
five-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Senators and Chamber of Deputies - last held
18 December 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: Chamber of Senators - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - PODEMOS 13, MAS 12, UN 1, MNR 1; Chamber of
Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - MAS 73,
PODEMOS 43, UN 8, MNR 6

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 [Juan Evo MORALES Ayma];
Movement Without Fear or MSM [Juan DEL GRANADO]; National
Revolutionary Movement or MNR [Gonzalo SANCHEZ DE LOZADA]; New
Republican Force or NFR [Manfred REYES-VILLA]; Pachakuti Indigenous
Movement or MIP [Felipe QUISPE Huanca]; Poder Democratico Nacional
or PODEMOS [Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramirez]; 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, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA,
MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN,
UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMISET, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU,
WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Gustavo GUZMAN Saldana
chancery: 3014 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 483-4410
FAX: [1] (202) 328-3712
consulate(s) general: Houston, Miami, New York, Oklahoma City, San
Francisco, Seattle, Washington, DC

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Philip S. GOLDBERG
embassy: Avenida Arce 2780, La Paz
mailing address: P. O. Box 425, La Paz; APO AA 34032
 telephone: [591] (2) 216-8000
FAX: [591] (2) 216-8111

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% 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. In 2005, the government passed a
controversial natural gas law that imposes on the oil and gas firms
significantly higher taxes as well as new contracts that give the
state control of their operations. Bolivian officials are in the
process of implementing the law; meanwhile, foreign investors have
stopped investing and have taken the first legal steps to secure
their investments. Real GDP growth in 2003-06 - helped by increased
demand for natural gas in neighboring Brazil - was positive, but
still below the levels seen during the 1990s. Bolivia's fiscal
position has improved in recent years, but the country remains
dependent on foreign aid from multilateral lenders and foreign
governments to meet budget shortfalls. In 2005, the G8 announced a
$2 billion debt-forgiveness plan over the next few decades that
should help reduce some fiscal pressures on the government in the
near term.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$27.21 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$10.22 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.3% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 12.8% industry: 36.1% services:

51.2% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 4.3 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Unemployment rate:
7.8% in urban areas; widespread underemployment (2006 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:

60.6 (2002)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.3% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

12.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $4.153 billion
 expenditures: $3.619 billion; including capital expenditures of $741
million (2006 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:
4.472 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 44.4% hydro: 54% nuclear: 0%

other: 1.5% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
4.168 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
9 million kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
42,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
47,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
458.8 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

10.05 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

2.14 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

7.91 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

679.6 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$688 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$3.668 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
natural gas, soybeans and soy products, crude petroleum, zinc ore,
tin

Exports - partners:
Brazil 44.2%, US 12.5%, Argentina 10.9%, Colombia 7.8%, Peru 4.8%
(2005)

Imports:
$2.934 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
petroleum products, plastics, paper, aircraft and aircraft parts,
prepared foods, automobiles, insecticides, soybeans

Imports - partners:
 Brazil 21.9%, Argentina 16.7%, US 13.8%, Chile 6.9%, Peru 6.5%,
Japan 6.1%, China 5.8% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$3.303 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$5.916 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$221 million (2005 est.)

Currency (code):
boliviano (BOB)

Currency code:
BOB

Exchange rates:
bolivianos per US dollar - 8.01039 (2006), 8.0661 (2005), 7.9363
(2004), 7.6592 (2003), 7.17 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Bolivia

Telephones - main lines in use:

646,300 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.421 million (2005)

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:
20,085 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

9 (2000)

Internet users:
480,000 (2005)

Transportation Bolivia

Airports: 1,084 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1,068 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: 797 (2006)

Pipelines:
 gas 4,860 km; liquid petroleum gas 47 km; oil 2,475 km; refined
products 1,589 km; unknown (oil/water) 247 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 3,519 km
narrow gauge: 3,519 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)

Roadways: total: 62,479 km paved: 3,749 km unpaved: 56,730 km (2004)

Waterways:
10,000 km (commercially navigable) (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 24 ships (1000 GRT or over) 127,297 GRT/198,525 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 8, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo
3, petroleum tanker 10
foreign-owned: 10 (Argentina 1, China 1, Egypt 2, Iran 1, Singapore
3, Taiwan 1, Yemen 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

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

Military Bolivia

Military branches:
Bolivian Armed Forces: Bolivian Army (Ejercito Boliviano), Bolivian
Navy (Armada Boliviana; includes marines), Bolivian Air Force
(Fuerza Aerea Boliviana, FAB) (2006)

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
 females age 18-49: 2,007,315 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,311,414
females age 18-49: 1,502,177 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 101,101
females age 18-49: 98,671 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$130 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.4% (2005 est.)

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

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Bolivia is a source and transit country for men,
women, and children trafficked for the purposes of labor and sexual
exploitation to Argentina, Brazil, and Chile, as well as to Spain;
children are trafficked internally for sexual exploitation, forced
mining, and agricultural labor; illegal migrants from Asia
transiting Bolivia are vulnerable as trafficking victims
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Bolivia has failed to show evidence
of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in the areas of
prosecutions and victim protection

Illicit drugs:
world's third-largest cultivator of coca (after Colombia and Peru)
with an estimated 26,500 hectares under cultivation in August 2005,
an 8% increase from 2004; intermediate coca products and cocaine
 exported mostly to or through Brazil, Argentina, and Chile to
European drug markets; cultivation steadily increasing despite
eradication and alternative crop programs; money-laundering activity
related to narcotics trade, especially along the borders with Brazil
and Paraguay

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 Peace Accords retained Bosnia and Herzegovina's
international boundaries and created a joint multi-ethnic and
democratic government 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 is to maintain peace and
stability throughout the country. EUFOR plans to phase out its
mission beginning in 2007.

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, Montenegro 225 km, Serbia 302 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: 19.61% permanent crops: 1.89% other: 78.5% (2005)

Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2003)

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:
4,498,976 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.5% (male 359,739/female 336,978)
15-64 years: 70.1% (male 1,590,923/female 1,564,665)
65 years and over: 14.4% (male 265,637/female 381,034) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 38.4 years
male: 37.2 years
female: 39.5 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.35% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
8.77 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
8.27 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

13.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 9.82 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 11.26 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78 years
male: 74.39 years
female: 81.88 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.22 children born/woman (2006 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:
Bosniak 48%, Serb 37.1%, 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:
name: Sarajevo
geographic coordinates: 43 52 N, 18 25 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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 Nebojsa RADMANOVIC
(chairman since 6 November 2006; presidency member since 1 October
2006 - Serb); other members of the three-member presidency rotating
(every eight months): Zeljko KOMSIC (since 1 October 2006 - Croat)
and Haris SILAJDZIC (since 1 October 2006 - Bosniak)
head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers Nikola
SPIRIC (since 4 January 2007)
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
(eligible for a second term, but then ineligible for four years);
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 1
October 2006 (next to be held in 2010); 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 - Nebojsa RADMANOVIC with 53.3% of
the votes for the Serb seat; Zeljko KOMSIC received 39.6% of the
votes for the Croat seat; Haris SILAJDZIC received 62.8% of the
votes for the Bosniak seat
note: current government is caretaker in the Federation of Bosnia
and Herzegovina; President of the Federation of Bosnia and
 Herzegovina: Niko LOZANCIC (since 27 January 2003); Vice Presidents
Sahbaz DZIHANOVIC (since in 2003) and Desnica RADIVOJEVIC (since in
2003); new government will be appointed in coming months; President
of the Republika Srpska: Milan JELIC (since 9 November 2006)

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 1
October 2006 (next to be held in 2010); House of Peoples - last
constituted in January 2003 (next to be constituted in 2007)
election results: national House of Representatives - percent of
vote by party/coalition - NA%; seats by party/coalition - SDA 9,
SBiH 8, SNSD 7, SDP 5, SDS 3, HDZ-BH 3, HDZ 1990 2, other 5; 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 1
October 2006 (next to be held in October 2010); percent of vote by
party - NA; seats by party/coalition - SDA 28, SBiH 24, SDP 17,
HDZ-BH 8, HDZ100 7, other 14; and a House of Peoples (58 seats - 17
Bosniak, 17 Croat, 1i7 Serb, 7 other); 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 1 October 2006 (next to be held in the fall of 2010);
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party/coalition - SNSD 41,
SDS 17, PDP 8, DNS 4, SBH 4, SPRS 3, SDA 3, other 3; 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 eight Croats, eight Bosniaks, eight
Serbs, and four members of the smaller communities

Judicial branch:
BH 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); BH 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 opened
in March 2005
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]; Croat Christian Democratic Union of Bosnia and
Herzegovina or HKDU [Marin TOPIC]; Croat Party of Rights or HSP
[Zvonko JURISIC]; Croat Peasants Party or HSS [Marko TADIC];
Croatian Democratic Union of Bosnia and Herzegovina or HDZ-BH
[Dragan COVIC]; Croatian Democratic Union 1990 or HDZ1990 [Bozo
LJUBIC]; Croatian Peoples Union [Milenko BRKIC]; Democratic National
Union or DNZ [Rifet DOLIC]; Democratic Peoples Alliance or DNS
[Marko PAVIC]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDS [Rasim KADIC]; New
Croat Initiative or NHI [Kresimir ZUBAK]; Party for Bosnia and
Herzegovina or SBiH [Haris SILAJDZIC]; Party for Democratic Action
or SDA [Sulejman TIHIC]; Party of Democratic Progress or PDP [Mladen
IVANIC]; Serb Democratic Party or SDS [Mladen BOSIC]; 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 [Sejfudin TOKIC]; 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, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS (observer), OIC (observer),
OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE,
UNWTO, UPU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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
remains greatly overstaffed, a holdover from the socialist economic
structure of Yugoslavia. TITO had pushed the development of military
industries in the republic with the result that Bosnia was saddled
with a host of industrial firms with little commercial potential.
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 2003-06. 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 pegged to the euro, and confidence in the
currency and the banking sector has increased. 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; foreign banks, primarily from Western Europe, now control
most of the banking sector. 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):

$24.8 billion
note: Bosnia has a large informal sector that could also be as much
as 50% of official GDP (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$9.158 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.3% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$5,500 (2006 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:
45.5% official rate; grey economy may reduce actual unemployment to
25-30% (31 December 2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

25% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

26.2 (2001)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

8.2% (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $5.643 billion
expenditures: $5.677 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
24.5% of GDP (2006 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

Industrial production growth rate:

 5.5% (2003 est.)

Electricity - production:
12.98 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 53.5% hydro: 46.5% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
11.03 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
3.05 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
2 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
23,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

300 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

300 million cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-1.73 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$3.5 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
metals, clothing, wood products

Exports - partners:
Croatia 18.4%, Italy 17.1%, Slovenia 14.7%, Germany 12.8%, Austria
6.5%, Hungary 5.2%, China 4.2% (2005)

Imports:
$8.25 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
Croatia 24.7%, Germany 13.6%, Slovenia 13%, Italy 11%, Austria
6.9%, Hungary 5.5% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.7 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
 $3.927 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$650 million (2001 est.)

Currency (code):
marka (BAM)

Currency code:
BAM

Exchange rates:
marka per US dollar - 1.55818 (2006), 1.5727 (2005), 1.5752 (2004),
1.7329 (2003), 2.0782 (2002)
note: the marka is pegged to the euro

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Bosnia and Herzegovina

Telephones - main lines in use:

968,900 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.594 million (2005)

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:
31,490 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2000)

Internet users:
806,400 (2005)

Transportation Bosnia and Herzegovina

Airports:
28 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 20
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 12 (2006)

Heliports:
5 (2006)

Railways:
 total: 608 km (777 km electrified)
standard gauge: 608 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 21,846 km
paved: 11,425 km (4,686 km of interurban roads)
unpaved: 10,421 km (2005)

Waterways:
Sava River (northern border) open to shipping but use limited (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Bosanska Gradiska, Bosanski Brod, Bosanski Samac, and Brcko (all
inland waterway ports on the Sava), Orasje

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 four months (July 2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,119,508
females age 18-49: 1,079,435 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 910,539
females age 18-49: 881,446 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 32,942
 females age 18-49: 31,466 (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 related to maritime access that hinder
ratification of the 1999 border agreement

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 7,458 (Croatia)
IDPs: 180,251 (Bosnian Croats, Serbs, and Muslims displaced in
1992-95 war) (2006)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
10 sq km (2003)

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:
1,639,833
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
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.3% (male 319,531/female 309,074)
15-64 years: 57.9% (male 460,692/female 488,577)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 23,374/female 38,585) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 19.4 years
male: 18.8 years
female: 20 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.04% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
23.08 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
29.5 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

6.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa
and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2006 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: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 53.7 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 54.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 52.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 33.74 years
male: 33.9 years
female: 33.56 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.79 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

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
local long form: Republic of Botswana
local short form: Botswana
former: Bechuanaland

Government type:
parliamentary republic

Capital:
name: Gaborone
geographic coordinates: 24 45 S, 25 55 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
9 districts and 5 town councils*; Central, Francistown*, Gaborone*,
Ghanzi, Jwaneng*, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*, Northeast,
Northwest, 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; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

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
(eligible for a second term); election last held 20 October 2004
(next to be held in 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 with 8 permanent members consisting of the
chiefs of the principal tribes, and 7 non-permanent members serving
5-year terms, consisting of 4 elected subchiefs and 3 members
selected by the other 12 members) and the National Assembly (63
seats, 57 members are directly elected by popular vote, 4 are
appointed by the majority party, and 2, the President and
 Attorney-General, serve as ex-officio members; 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 51.7%, BNF 26.1%,
BCP 16.6%, 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 Alliance Movement or BAM [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO];
Botswana Congress Party or BCP [Otlaadisa KOOSALETSE]; Botswana
Democratic Party or BDP [Festus G. MOGAE]; Botswana National Front
or BNF [Otswoletse MOUPO]; Botswana Peoples Party or BPP; MELS
Movement of Botswana or MELS; New Democratic Front or NDF
note: a number of minor parties joined forces in 1999 to form the
BAM but did not capture any parliamentary seats - includes the
United Action Party [Ephraim Lepetu SETSHWAELO]; the Independence
Freedom Party or IFP [Motsamai MPHO]; 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, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM,
OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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 Katherine
H. CANAVAN 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 $11,200 in 2006. 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 was
23.8% in 2004, 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 overshadows long-term prospects.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$18.72 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$9.697 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.7% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$11,400 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.4% industry: 46.9% (including 36%

mining) services: 50.7% (2003 est.)

Labor force: 288,400 formal sector employees (2004)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Unemployment rate:
23.8% (2004)

Population below poverty line:

30.3% (2003)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

63 (1993)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

11.4% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $4.256 billion
expenditures: $3.968 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
7.1% of GDP (2006 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:
6.3% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
823 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
2.464 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
1.699 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
11,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
16,000 bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$1.698 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
 $4.836 billion f.o.b. (2006 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% (2004)

Imports:
$3.034 billion f.o.b. (2006 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%
(2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$7.445 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$520 million (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$73 million (1995)

Currency (code):
pula (BWP)

Currency code:
BWP

Exchange rates:
pulas per US dollar - 5.90646 (2006), 5.1104 (2005), 4.6929 (2004),
4.9499 (2003), 6.3278 (2002)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Botswana

Telephones - main lines in use:

132,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

823,100 (2005)

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:
5,499 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
11 (2001)

Internet users:
60,000 (2002)

Transportation Botswana

Airports: 85 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 75
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 55
under 914 m: 17 (2006)

Railways:
total: 888 km
narrow gauge: 888 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)

Roadways: total: 24,455 km paved: 8,914 km unpaved: 15,441 km (2004)

Military Botswana

Military branches:
Botswana Defense Force (includes an air wing) (2006)

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
females age 18-49: 361,642 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 136,322
females age 18-49: 136,315 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 21,103
females age 18-49: 21,379 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$325.5 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3.4% (2005 est.)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@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: 49 sq km
land: 49 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) (2005)

Irrigated land:
0 sq km

Natural hazards:
NA

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:
covered by glacial ice; declared a nature reserve

People Bouvet Island

Population: uninhabited (July 2006 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

Internet hosts:
6 (2006)

Communications - note:
automatic meteorological station

Transportation Bouvet Island

Ports and terminals: 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Brazil

Introduction Brazil

Background:
Following three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazil became
an independent nation in 1822 and a republic in 1889. 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: 16,885 km
border countries: Argentina 1,261 km, Bolivia 3,423 km, Colombia
1,644 km, French Guiana 730.4 km, Guyana 1,606 km, Paraguay 1,365
km, Peru 2,995 km, Suriname 593 km, Uruguay 1,068 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: 6.93% permanent crops: 0.89% other: 92.18% (2005)

Irrigated land:
29,200 sq km (2003)

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:
188,078,227
note: Brazil conducted a census 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 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 25.8% (male 24,687,656/female 23,742,998)
15-64 years: 68.1% (male 63,548,331/female 64,617,539)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 4,712,675/female 6,769,028) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 28.2 years
male: 27.5 years
female: 29 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.04% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
16.56 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
6.17 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 28.6 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 32.3 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 24.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 71.97 years
male: 68.02 years
female: 76.12 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.91 children born/woman (2006 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%, Spiritualist
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:
name: Brasilia
geographic coordinates: 15 47 S, 47 55 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins third Sunday in October; ends
third Sunday in February
note: Brazil is divided into four time zones, including one for the
Fernando de Noronha islands

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)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a single four-year term; election last held 1
October 2006 with runoff 29 October 2006 (next to be held 3 October
2010 and, if necessary, 31 October 2010)
election results: Luiz Inacio LULA DA SILVA (PT) reelected president
- 60.83%, Geraldo ALCKMIN (PSDB) 39.17%

Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress or Congresso Nacional consists of the
Federal Senate or Senado Federal (81 seats; 3 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 1 October 2006 for one-third
of the Senate (next to be held October 2010 for two-thirds of the
Senate); Chamber of Deputies - last held 1 October 2006 (next to be
held October 2010)
election results: Federal Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - PFL 6, PSDB 5, PMDB 4, PTB 3, PT 2, PDT 1, PSB 1,
PL 1, PPS 1, PRTB 1, PP 1, PCdoB 1; total seats following election -
PFL 18, PMDB 15, PSDB 15, PT 10, PDT 5, PTB 4, PSB 3, PL 3, PCdoB 2,
 PRB 2, PPS 1, PRTB 1, PP 1, PSOL 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of
vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PMDB 89, PT 83, PFL 65, PSDB
65, PP 42, PSB 27, PDT 24, PL 23, PTB 22, PPS 21, PCdoB 13, PV 13,
PSC 9, other 17

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 [Flavio de CASTRO MARTINEZ];
Brazilian Renewal Labor Party or PRTB [Jose Levy Fidelix DA CRUZ];
Brazilian Republican Party or PRB [Vitor Paulo Araujo DOS SANTOS];
Brazilian Social Democracy Party or PSDB [Senator Tasso JEREISSATI];
Brazilian Socialist Party or PSB [Federal Deputy Eduardo Henrique
Accioly CAMPOS]; Communist Party of Brazil or PCdoB [Jose Renato
RABELO]; Democratic Labor Party or PDT [Carlos Roberto LUPI];
Democratic Socialist Party or PSD [Luis Marques MENDES]; Green Party
or PV [Jose Luiz de Franca PENNA]; Humanist Party of Solidarity or
PHS [leader NA]; Liberal Party or PL [Federal Deputy Valdemar COSTA
Neto]; National Order Reconstruction Party or PRONA [Federal Deputy
Dr. Eneas Ferreira CARNEIRO]; Partido Municipalista Renovador or PMR
[Natal Wellington Rodrigues FURUCHO]; 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]; Workers' Party or PT [Ricardo Jose Ribeiro BERZOINI]

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, CAN (associate), CSN, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
 IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur,
MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA,
RG, UN,
UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio de Aguiar PATRIOTA
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, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Clifford M. SOBEL
embassy: Avenida das Nacoes, Quadra 801, Lote 3, Distrito Federal
Cep 70403-900, Brasilia
mailing address: Unit 3500, APO AA 34030
telephone: [55] (61) 3312-7000
FAX: [55] (61) 3225-9136
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:
Characterized by 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. Since 2004, Brazil has 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; from 2003 to 2006, 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. 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 2005. Brazil has improved
its debt profile over the past year by shifting its debt burden
toward real denominated and domestically held instruments. LULA DA
SILVA restated his commitment to fiscal austerity by maintaining the
country's primary surplus during the 2006 election and plans to pass
a package of further economic reforms upon entering office for his
second term. 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):

$1.616 trillion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$620.7 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.1% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$8,600 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8% industry: 38% services: 54%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 96.34 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 20% industry: 14% services: 66%

(2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:
9.6% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

31% (2005)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 31.27% (2002)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

56.7 (2005)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.2% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

20.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $140.6 billion
expenditures: $172.4 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2004)

Public debt:
50.7% of GDP (2006 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:

3.4% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
380.9 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 8.3% hydro: 82.7% nuclear: 4.4%
other: 4.6% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
391.7 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
7 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
39 billion kWh; note - supplied by Paraguay (2005)

Oil - production:
2.09 million bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption:
2.194 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - exports:
241,700 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports:
572,600 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

12.22 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

9.66 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
17.28 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

7.62 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

250 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$5.81 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$138 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee, autos

Exports - partners:
US 19.2%, Argentina 8.4%, China 5.8%, Netherlands 4.5%, Germany
4.2% (2005)

Imports:
$95.83 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery, electrical and transport equipment, chemical products,
oil

Imports - partners:
US 17.5%, Argentina 8.5%, Germany 8.4%, China 7.3%, Japan 4.6%
(2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$77.27 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
 $177.7 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$30 billion (2002)

Currency (code):
real (BRL)

Currency code:
BRL

Exchange rates:
reals per US dollar - 2.19132 (2006), 2.4344 (2005), 2.9251 (2004),
3.0771 (2003), 2.9208 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Brazil

Telephones - main lines in use:

42.382 million (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

86.21 million (2005)

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:
6,508,431 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

50 (2000)

Internet users:
25.9 million (2005)

Transportation Brazil

Airports: 4,276 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 714 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 24
1,524 to 2,437 m: 164 914 to 1,523 m: 464 under 914 m: 54 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 3,562 1,524 to 2,437 m: 81 914 to 1,523
m: 1,634 under 914 m: 1,847 (2006)

Heliports:
417 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate/gas 244 km; gas 11,669 km; liquid petroleum gas 341 km;
oil 5,212 km; refined products 4,755 km (2006)

Railways:
 total: 29,252 km
broad gauge: 4,877 km 1.600-m gauge (939 km electrified)
standard gauge: 194 km 1.440-m gauge
narrow gauge: 23,785 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) (2005)

Roadways: total: 1,751,868 km paved: 96,353 km unpaved: 1,655,515 km

(2004)

Waterways:
50,000 km (most in areas remote from industry and population) (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 137 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,038,923 GRT/3,057,820 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 21, cargo 21, chemical tanker 8, container 8,
liquefied gas 12, passenger/cargo 12, petroleum tanker 47, roll
on/roll off 8
foreign-owned: 15 (Chile 1, Germany 7, Norway 2, Spain 4, UK 1)
registered in other countries: 5 (Ghana 1, Liberia 3, Marshall
Islands 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Gebig, Itaqui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande, San Sebasttiao, Santos,
Sepetiba Terminal, Tubarao, Vitoria

Military Brazil

Military branches:
Brazilian Army, Brazilian Navy (Marinha do Brasil (MB), includes
Naval Air and Marine Corps (Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais)), Brazilian
Air Force (Forca Aerea Brasileira, FAB) (2006)

Military service age and obligation: 21-45 years of age for compulsory military
service; conscript service obligation - nine to 12 months; 17-45 years of age for
voluntary service; an increasing percentage of the ranks are "long-service"
volunteer professionals; women were allowed to serve in the armed forces
beginning in early 1980s when the Brazilian Army became the first army in
South America to accept women into career ranks; women serve in Navy and
Air Force only in Women's Reserve Corps (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 19-49: 45,586,036
females age 19-49: 45,728,704 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 19-49: 33,119,098
females age 19-49: 38,079,722 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 1,785,930
females age 19-49: 1,731,648 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$9.94 billion (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.3% (2005 est.)

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 the
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to extend
its maritime continental margin

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Brazil is a source and destination country for
women and girls trafficked for sexual exploitation within Brazil and
to destinations in South America, the Caribbean, Western Europe,
Japan, the US, and the Middle East, and for men trafficked within
the country for forced agricultural labor; child sex tourism is a
problem within the country, particularly in the resort areas and
 coastal cities of Brazil's northeast; foreign victims from Bolivia,
Peru, China, and Korea are trafficked to Brazil for labor
exploitation in factories
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Brazil has failed to show evidence
of increasing efforts to fight trafficking, specifically for its
failure to apply effective criminal penalties against traffickers
who exploit forced labor

Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis; trace amounts of 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; 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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; note - Diego Garcia 7 20 S, 72 25 E

Map references:
Political Map of the World

Area:
total: 54,400 sq km
land: 60 sq km; Diego Garcia 44 sq km
water: 54,340 sq km
note: includes the entire Chagos Archipelago of 55 islands

Area - comparative:
land area is 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 two 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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
0 sq km

Natural hazards:
NA

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:
archipelago of 55 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
November 2004, there were approximately 4,000 UK and US military
personnel and civilian contractors living on the island of Diego
Garcia (July 2006 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.
The country makes money by selling fishing licenses and postage
stamps.

Electricity - production:
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by the US military

Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh

Currency (code):
both the British Pound (GBP) and the US Dollar (USD) are accepted

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 hosts:
65 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Transportation British Indian Ocean Territory

Airports: 1 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways:
total: NA
paved: short section of paved road between port and airfield on
 Diego Garcia

Ports and terminals:

Diego Garcia

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 including
Diego Garcia; in 2001 the former inhabitants of the Chagos
Archipelago, evicted in 1965 and now residing chiefly in Mauritius,
were granted UK citizenship and the right to repatriation; 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@British Virgin Islands

Introduction British Virgin Islands

Background:
First inhabited by Arawak and later by Carib Indians, the Virgin
Islands were settled by the Dutch in 1648 and then annexed by the
English in 1672. The islands were part of the British colony of the
Leeward Islands from 1872-1960; they were granted autonomy in 1967.
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 islands of Tortola, Anegada, Virgin Gorda,
Jost van Dyke

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% (2005)

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:
23,098 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.5% (male 2,403/female 2,331)
 15-64 years: 74.3% (male 8,811/female 8,340)
65 years and over: 5.3% (male 636/female 577) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 31.4 years
male: 31.6 years
female: 31.2 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.97% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
14.89 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
4.42 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

9.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.1 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 16.72 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 19.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.68 years
male: 75.56 years
female: 77.84 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.72 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Road Town
geographic coordinates: 18 27 N, 64 37 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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, amended in 2000

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 David PEAREY (since 18 April 2006)
head of government: Chief Minister Dr. 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, 1 member from each of nine electoral districts,
4 at-large members; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 16 May 2003 (next to be held in 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,
made 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
US dollar as its currency since 1959.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$853.4 million (2004 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$839.7 million (2003)

GDP - real growth rate:

1% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$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: 0.6% industry: 40% services: 59.4%

Unemployment rate:
3.6% (1997)
Population below poverty line:
NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2% (2005)

Budget:
revenues: $204.7 million
expenditures: $180.4 million; including capital expenditures of
$33.8 million (2004)

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:
42 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
39.06 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
480 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$134.3 million (1999)

Exports:
$25.3 million (2002)

Exports - commodities:
rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand

Exports - partners:
Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US (2004)

Imports:
$187 million (2002 est.)

Imports - commodities:
building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs, machinery

Imports - partners:
Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US (2004)

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 hosts:
525 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

16 (2000)

Internet users:
4,000 (2002)

Transportation British Virgin Islands

Airports: 3 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 177 km
paved: 177 km (2002)

Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 1 (North Korea 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Road Town

Military British Virgin Islands

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 6,410 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 5,295 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 201 (2005 est.)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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: 2.08% permanent crops: 0.87% other: 97.05% (2005)

Irrigated land:
10 sq km (2003)

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: Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, 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 within Malaysia

People Brunei

Population:
379,444 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.1% (male 54,411/female 52,134)
15-64 years: 68.8% (male 138,129/female 123,017)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 5,584/female 6,169) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 27.4 years
male: 28 years
female: 26.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.87% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
18.79 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
3.45 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

3.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 1.09 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 12.25 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 15.46 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.01 years
male: 72.57 years
female: 77.59 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

 2.28 children born/woman (2006 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
local long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam
local short form: Brunei
Government type:
constitutional sultanate

Capital:
name: Bandar Seri Begawan
geographic coordinates: 4 52 S, 114 55 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 monarch
for three-year terms; Judicial Committee of Privy Council in London
is final court of appeal for civil cases; Shariah courts deal with
Islamic laws (2006)

Political parties and leaders:

Brunei Solidarity National Party (PPKB) [Haji Mohd HATTA bin Haji
Zainal Abidin]; National Development Party (NDP) [YASSIN Affendi];
People's Awareness Party (PAKAR) [Awang Haji MAIDIN bin Haji Ahmad]
note: parties are small and have limited activity (2005)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, C, EAS, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB,
IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC,
OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Pengiran Anak Dato PUTEH
 chancery: 3520 International Court NW #300, 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, BS8811
mailing address: PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96507; P.O. Box 2991, Bandar
Seri Begawan BS8675, Negara Brunei Darussalam
telephone: [673] 222-0384
FAX: [673] 222-5293

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 and more than 90% of government revenues. 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. 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 (official exchange rate):

$5.486 billion (2004 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.7% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$23,600 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3.6%
industry: 56.1%
services: 40.3% (2004 est.)

Labor force:
146,300
note: includes foreign workers and military personnel; temporary
residents make up about 40% of labor force (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 2.9%
industry: 61.1%
services: 36% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:
4.8% (2004)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

0.9% (2004)
Budget:
revenues: $3.765 billion
expenditures: $4.815 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:
rice, vegetables, fruits; chickens, water buffalo, eggs

Industries:
petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction

Industrial production growth rate:

7.3% (2003 est.)

Electricity - production:
2.806 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
2.609 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
200,800 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - consumption:
10,770 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - exports:
192,700 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:
1.255 billion bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

11.5 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

2 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

9.5 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

390.8 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Exports:
$4.514 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
crude oil, natural gas, refined products

Exports - partners:
Japan 36.8%, Indonesia 19.3%, South Korea 12.7%, US 9.5%, Australia
9.3% (2005)

Imports:
$1.641 billion c.i.f. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food,
chemicals

Imports - partners:
Singapore 32.7%, Malaysia 23.3%, Japan 6.9%, UK 5.3%, Thailand
4.5%, South Korea 4% (2005)

Debt - external:
 $0

Economic aid - recipient:

$770,000 (2004)

Currency (code):
Bruneian dollar (BND)

Currency code:
BND

Exchange rates:
Bruneian dollars per US dollar - 1.6644 (2005), 1.6902 (2004),
1.7422 (2003), 1.7906 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Brunei

Telephones - main lines in use:

90,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

205,900 (2004)

Telephone system:
general assessment: service throughout the country is excellent;
international service is good to Southeast Asia, Middle East,
Western 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 (2006)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 2 (transmitting on 18 different frequencies), shortwave 0
note: British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) station transmits
two FM signals with English and Nepali service (2006)
Radios:
329,000 (1998)

Television broadcast stations:

4; note - including two UHF stations broadcasting a subscription
service (2006)

Televisions:
201,900 (1998)

Internet country code:

.bn

Internet hosts:
27 (2005)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:
56,000 (2005)

Transportation Brunei

Airports: 2 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Heliports:
3 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 672 km; oil 463 km (2006)
Roadways: total: 2,525 km paved: 2,338 km unpaved: 187 km (2000)

Waterways:
209 km (navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m) (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 465,937 GRT/413,393 DWT
by type: liquefied gas 8
foreign-owned: 8 (UK 8) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Lumut, Muara, Seria

Military Brunei

Military branches:
Royal Brunei Armed Forces: Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal Brunei
Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei) (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.) (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 103,885
females age 18-49: 93,024 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 85,045
females age 18-49: 77,436 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 3,478
females age 18-49: 3,342 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$290.7 million (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

5.1% (2003 est.)
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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 from the Ottoman Empire 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. The country joined NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007.

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 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: 29.94% permanent crops: 1.9% other: 68.16% (2005)

Irrigated land:
5,880 sq km (2003)

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, Marine Dumping, 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:
7,385,367 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 13.9% (male 527,881/female 502,334)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 2,496,054/female 2,579,680)
65 years and over: 17.3% (male 527,027/female 752,391) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 40.8 years
male: 38.7 years
female: 42.9 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.86% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
9.65 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
14.27 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-4.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

 total: 19.85 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 23.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.3 years
male: 68.68 years
female: 76.13 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.38 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

less than 0.1% (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
local long form: Republika Balgariya
local short form: Balgariya

Government type:
parliamentary democracy

Capital:
name: Sofia
geographic coordinates: 42 41 N, 23 19 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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 Ministers Ivaylo KALFIN, Daniel VULCHEV, and
Emel ETEM (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 a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
election last held 22 and 29 October 2006 (next to be held in 2011);
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 reelected president; percent of
vote - Georgi PURVANOV 77.3%, Volen SIDEROV 22.7%; 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, UDF 20, ATAKA 17, DSB 17, BPU 13,
independents 4

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:

ATAKA (Attack Coalition) (coalition of parties headed by the Attack
National Union); Attack National Union [Volen SIDEROV]; 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 [Petar STOYANOV]; 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
(new member), FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM
(guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU,
WCL, WCO,
WEU (associate affiliate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John Ross
BEYRLE embassy: 16 Kozyak Street, Sofia 1407 mailing address: American
Embassy Sofia, US Department of State, 5740 Sofia Place, Washington, DC
20521-5740 telephone: [359] (2) 937-5100 FAX: [359] (2) 937-5320

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 that entered the European
Union on 1 January 2007, 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 - the currency is now fixed against the euro - and the
negotiation of an IMF standby agreement. Low inflation and steady
progress on structural reforms improved the business environment;
Bulgaria has averaged 5.1% 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):

$77.13 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$27.85 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$10,400 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8.9% industry: 30.1% services: 61%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 3.45 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 11% industry: 32.7% services: 56.3%

(3rd qtr. 2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:
9.6% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

4% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 23.9% (2003)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

29.2 (2003)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7.2% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

24.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $13.28 billion
expenditures: $12.16 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
23.8% of GDP (2006 est.)
Agriculture - products:
vegetables, fruits, tobacco, wine, wheat, barley, sunflowers, sugar
beets; livestock

Industries:
electricity, gas, water; food, beverages, tobacco; machinery and
equipment, base metals, chemical products, coke, refined petroleum,
nuclear fuel

Industrial production growth rate:

5% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
41.96 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 47.8% hydro: 8.1% nuclear:

44.1% other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
35.23 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
5 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
1.2 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
3,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
109,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - exports:
51,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - imports:
157,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

 15 million bbl (1 January 2006)

Natural gas - production:

1 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

5.301 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

5.3 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

5.947 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-4.13 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$14.6 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and equipment, fuels

Exports - partners:
Italy 12%, Turkey 10.5%, Germany 9.8%, Greece 9.5%, Belgium 5.9%,
France 4.6% (2005)

Imports:
$20.69 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment; metals and ores; chemicals and plastics;
fuels, minerals, and raw materials

Imports - partners:
Russia 15.6%, Germany 13.6%, Italy 9%, Turkey 6.1%, Greece 5%,
France 4.7% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$10.58 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$21.1 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$475 million (2004-06 est.)

Currency (code):
lev (BGL)

Currency code:
BGN

Exchange rates:
leva per US dollar - 1.56441 (2006), 1.5741 (2005), 1.5751 (2004),
1.7327 (2003), 2.077 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Bulgaria

Telephones - main lines in use:

2,483,500 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

6.245 million (2005)

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:
184,975 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

200 (2001)

Internet users:
2.2 million (2005)

Transportation Bulgaria

Airports: 217 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 132 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: 96 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 85 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m:

11 under 914 m: 72 (2006)

Heliports:
4 (2006)

Pipelines:
 gas 2,505 km; oil 339 km; refined products 156 km (2006)

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 (2005)
Roadways:
total: 44,033 km
paved: 43,593 km (including 333 km of expressways)
unpaved: 440 km (2004)

Waterways:
470 km (2006)

Merchant marine:
total: 75 ships (1000 GRT or over) 872,653 GRT/1,294,877 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 40, cargo 17, chemical tanker 4, container 6,
passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 4
foreign-owned: 2 (Germany 1, Russia 1)
registered in other countries: 41 (Cambodia 1, Comoros 1, Malta 13,
Panama 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 17, Slovakia 7, unknown
1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Burgas, Varna

Military Bulgaria

Military branches:
Bulgarian Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Bulgarian Air
Forces (Bulgarski Voennovazdyshni Sily, BVVS) (2006)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
conscript service obligation - 9 months; as of May 2006, 67% of the
Bulgarian Army comprised of professional soldiers; conscription into
the Army to end as of 1 January 2008; Air and Air Defense Forces and
Naval Forces will become fully professional by end of 2006 (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,661,211
females age 18-49: 1,660,982 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

 males age 18-49: 1,302,037
females age 18-49: 1,365,126 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 51,023
females age 18-49: 48,651 (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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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. Current
President Blaise COMPAORE came to power in a 1987 military coup and
has won every election since then. 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: 17.66% permanent crops: 0.22% other: 82.12% (2005)

Irrigated land:
250 sq km (2003)

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:
13,902,972
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
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.8% (male 3,267,202/female 3,235,190)
15-64 years: 50.7% (male 3,513,559/female 3,538,623)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 140,083/female 208,315) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 16.5 years
male: 16.3 years
female: 16.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

3% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
45.62 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
15.6 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 91.35 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 99.17 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 83.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 48.85 years
male: 47.33 years
female: 50.42 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.47 children born/woman (2006 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 note: highly
pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified among birds in this
country or surrounding region; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare
cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2007)

Nationality:
noun: Burkinabe (singular and plural)
adjective: Burkinabe

Ethnic groups:
Mossi over 40%, Gurunsi, Senufo, Lobi, Bobo, Mande, Fulani

Religions:
Muslim 50%, indigenous beliefs 40%, 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
local long form: none
local short form: Burkina Faso
former: Upper Volta, Republic of Upper Volta

Government type:
parliamentary republic

Capital:
name: Ouagadougou
geographic coordinates: 12 22 N, 1 31 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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, Nahouri, Namentenga, 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 and January 2002

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 Paramanga Ernest 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
(eligible for a second term); election last held 13 November 2005
(next to be held in 2010); in April 2000, the constitution was
amended reducing the presidential term from seven to five years,
enforceable as of 2005; prime minister appointed by the president
with the consent of the legislature
election results: Blaise COMPAORE reelected president; percent of
popular vote - Blaise COMPAORE 80.3%, Benewende Stanislas SANKARA
4.9%

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, other 17

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Appeals Court
Political parties and leaders:
African Democratic Rally-Alliance for Democracy and Federation or
ADF-RDA [Gilbert OUEDRAOGO]; 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/Socialist Party or PDP/PS [Ali LANKOANDE];
Rally of Ecologists of Burkina Faso or RDEB [Ram OUEDRAGO];
Republican Party for Integration and Solidarity or PARIS [Cyril
GOUNGOUNGA]; Union for the Republic or UPR [Toussaint Abel
COULIBALY]

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, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO,
UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,
WHO,
WIPO, WMO, 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 Jeanine E. JACKSON
embassy: 602 Avenue Raoul Follereau, Koulouba, Secteur 4
 mailing address: 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou 01; pouch mail - US
Department of State, 2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC
20521-2440
telephone: [226] 50-30-67-23
FAX: [226] 50-30-38-90, 50-31-23-68

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 periodic drought. Cotton is the main cash crop and the
government has joined with three other cotton producing countries in
the region - Mali, Niger, and Chad - 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 CFA 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 fiscal and
microeconomic policies, including 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. Burkina Faso is
eligible for a Millenium Challenge Account grant, which would
increase investment in the country's human capital.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$17.87 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.821 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.2% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,300 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 32.6%
industry: 19.7%
services: 47.7% (2006 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%
industry and services: 10% (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 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

 20.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.158 billion
expenditures: $1.714 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 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:
400 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 69.9% hydro: 30.1% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
372 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
8,200 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
 NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-604.6 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$543.5 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
cotton, livestock, gold

Exports - partners:
China 39.8%, Singapore 13.1%, Thailand 5.9%, Ghana 5.4%, Taiwan
4.6%, Niger 4% (2005)

Imports:
$1.016 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
capital goods, foodstuffs, petroleum

Imports - partners:
France 23.9%, Cote d'Ivoire 23.3%, Togo 6.7% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.328 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$1.85 billion (2003)

Economic aid - recipient:

 $468.4 million (2003)

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 -
523.721 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99
(2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Burkina Faso

Telephones - main lines in use:

97,400 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

572,200 (2005)

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:
399 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:
64,600 (2005)

Transportation Burkina Faso

Airports: 34 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

(2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 32
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 18 (2006)

Railways:
total: 622 km
narrow gauge: 622 km 1.000-m gauge
note:: another 660 km of this railway extends into Cote D'Ivoire
(2005)

Roadways: total: 15,272 km paved: 4,766 km unpaved: 10,506 km (2004)

Military Burkina Faso

Military branches:
Army, Air Force of Burkina Faso (Force Aerienne de Burkina Faso),
National Gendarmerie (2006)

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: 2,651,687 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,530,324 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$74.83 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.3% (2005 est.)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@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 subsequently
transferred to house arrest, where she remains virtually
incommunicado. In February 2006, the junta extended her detention
for another 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: 14.92%
permanent crops: 1.31%
 other: 83.77% (2005)

Irrigated land:
18,700 sq km (2003)

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:
47,382,633
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
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.4% (male 6,335,236/female 6,181,216)
15-64 years: 68.5% (male 16,011,723/female 16,449,626)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 1,035,853/female 1,368,979) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 27 years
male: 26.4 years
female: 27.6 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.81% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
17.91 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
9.83 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 61.85 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 72.68 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 50.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 60.97 years
male: 58.07 years
female: 64.03 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.98 children born/woman (2006 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
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified
among birds in this country or surrounding region; it poses a
negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens
who have close contact with birds (2007)

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:
name: Rangoon (Yangon)
geographic coordinates: 16 47 N, 96 10 E
time difference: UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Nay Pyi Taw is administrative capital

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, Kayah State, Kayin 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
(SPDC) Sr. Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister, Gen SOE WIN (since 19 October
2004)
cabinet: Cabinet is overseen by SPDC; military junta, so named 15
November 1997, assumed power 18 September 1988 under name State Law
and Order Restoration Council (SLORC)
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-regime) [TUN YE]; Shan Nationalities League for Democracy or
SNLD [HKUN HTUN OO]; and other smaller parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Ethnic Nationalities Council or ENC (based in Thailand); Federation
of Trade Unions-Burma or FTUB (exile trade union and labor
advocates); 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 Organization or KIO; Karen National
Union or KNU; Karenni National People's Party or KNPP; National
Council-Union of Burma or NCUB (exile coalition of opposition
groups); several Shan factions; United Wa State Army or UWSA; Union
Solidarity and Development Association or USDA (pro-regime, a social
and political mass-member organization) [HTAY OO, general
secretary]; 88 Generation Students (pro-democracy movement) [MIN KO]

International organization participation:

APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires MYINT LWIN
chancery: 2300 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-3344
FAX: [1] (202) 332-4351
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Shari
VILLAROSA
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 seven administrative divisions
and seven states

Economy Burma

Economy - overview:
Burma, a resource-rich country, suffers from pervasive government
controls, inefficient economic policies, and 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 stalled, and some of the liberalization measures were
rescinded. Lacking monetary or fiscal stability, the economy suffers
from serious macroeconomic imbalances - including inflation,
multiple official exchange rates that overvalue the Burmese kyat,
and a distorted interest rate regime. Most overseas development
assistance ceased after the junta began to suppress the democracy
movement in 1988 and subsequently refused to honor the results of
the 1990 legislative elections. In response to the government of
Burma's attack in May 2003 on AUNG SAN SUU KYI and her convoy, the
US imposed new economic sanctions against Burma - including a ban on
imports of Burmese products and a ban on provision of financial
services by US persons. A poor investment climate further slowed the
inflow of foreign exchange. The most productive sectors will
continue to be in extractive industries, especially oil and gas,
mining, and timber. Other areas, such as manufacturing and services,
are struggling with inadequate infrastructure, unpredictable
import/export policies, deteriorating health and education systems,
and corruption. A major banking crisis in 2003 shuttered the
country's 20 private banks and disrupted the economy. As of 2006,
the largest private banks operate under tight restrictions limiting
the private sector's access to formal credit. 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 as large as the official
economy. Burma's trade with Thailand, China, and India is rising.
 Though the Burmese government has good economic relations with its
neighbors, better investment and business climates and an improved
political situation are needed to promote foreign investment,
exports, and tourism.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$83.84 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$7.845 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.6% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,800 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 54.7% industry: 10.6% services:

34.7% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 28.49 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 70% industry: 7% services: 23% (2001

est.)

Unemployment rate:
10.2% (2006 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):

21.4% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

11.8% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $494.1 million
expenditures: $947.3 million; including capital expenditures of NA
(2006 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; natural gas

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:
6.31 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 44.5% hydro: 43.4% nuclear: 0%

other: 12.1% (2002)

Electricity - consumption:
5.869 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
18,500 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
37,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
3,356 bbl/day (2003)
Oil - imports:
49,230 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - proved reserves:

less than 1 billion bbl (2005)

Natural gas - production:

10.2 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

2.7 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

7.5 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

283.2 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$1.247 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$5.289 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 (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
clothing, gas, wood products, pulses, beans, fish, rice

Exports - partners:
Thailand 43.8%, India 12.1%, China 6.7%, Japan 5% (2005)

Imports:
$2.049 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 (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
fabric, petroleum products, plastics, machinery, transport
equipment, construction materials, crude oil; food products

Imports - partners:
China 28.8%, Thailand 21.8%, Singapore 18.4%, Malaysia 7.6% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$932 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$7.162 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$127 million (2001 est.)

Currency (code):
kyat (MMK)

Currency code:
MMK

Exchange rates:
kyats per US dollar - 1,310 (2006), 5.761 (2005), 5.7459 (2004),
6.0764 (2003), 6.5734 (2002), note, these are official exchange
rates; unofficial exchange rates ranged in 2004 from 815 kyat/US
dollar to nearly 970 kyat/US dollar, and by year-end 2005, the
unofficial exchange rate was 1,075 kyat/US dollar

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Burma

Telephones - main lines in use:

476,200 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
183,400 (2005)

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:
42 (2006)

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:
78,000 (2005)

Transportation Burma
Airports: 85 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 21 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7

1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 64 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 13

914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 32 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 2,224 km; oil 558 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 3,955 km
narrow gauge: 3,955 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)

Roadways: total: 27,000 km paved: 3,200 km unpaved: 23,800 km (2005)

Waterways:
12,800 km (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 34 ships (1000 GRT or over) 402,699 GRT/620,642 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 20, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 3,
specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 9 (Germany 5, Japan 4) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Moulmein, Rangoon, Sittwe

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 (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 12,268,850
females age 18-49: 12,469,771 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 7,946,701
females age 18-49: 8,543,705 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 469,841
females: 455,689 (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 2005 Thailand sheltered about 121,000 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: 540,000 (government offensives against ethnic insurgent
groups near the eastern borders; most IDPs are ethnic Karen,
 Karenni, Shan, Tavoyan, and Mon) (2006)

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Burma is a source country for men, women, and
children trafficked to East and Southeast Asia for sexual
exploitation, domestic service, and forced commercial labor; a
significant number of victims are economic migrants who wind up in
forced or bonded labor and forced prostitution; to a lesser extent,
Burma is a country of transit and destination for women trafficked
from China for sexual exploitation; internal trafficking of persons
occurs primarily for labor in industrial zones and agricultural
estates; internal trafficking of women and girls for sexual
exploitation occurs from villages to urban centers and other areas;
the military junta's economic mismanagement, human rights abuses,
and policy of using forced labor are driving factors behind Burma's
large trafficking problem
tier rating: Tier 3 - Burma does not fully comply with the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making
significant efforts to do so

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 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@Burundi

Introduction Burundi

Background:
Burundi's first democratically elected president was assassinated
in October 1993 after only 100 days in office, triggering widespread
ethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi factions. Over 200,000
Burundians perished during the conflict that spanned almost a dozen
years. Hundreds of thousands of Burundians were internally displaced
or became refugees in neighboring countries. An internationally
brokered power-sharing agreement between the Tutsi-dominated
government and the Hutu rebels in 2003 paved the way for a
transition process that led to an integrated defense force,
established a new constitution in 2005, and elected a majority Hutu
government in 2005. The new government, led by President Pierre
NKURUNZIZA, signed a South African brokered ceasefire with the
country's last rebel group in September of 2006 but still faces many
challenges.

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; two wet seasons (February to May and
September to November), and two dry seasons (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: 35.57%
permanent crops: 13.12%
other: 51.31% (2005)

Irrigated land:
210 sq km (2003)
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, Wetlands
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:
8,090,068
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
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.3% (male 1,884,825/female 1,863,200)
15-64 years: 51.1% (male 2,051,451/female 2,082,017)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 83,432/female 125,143) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 16.6 years
male: 16.4 years
 female: 16.9 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.7% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
42.22 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
13.46 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

8.22 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 63.13 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 70.26 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 55.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 50.81 years
male: 50.07 years
female: 51.58 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.55 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

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: Republique du Burundi/Republika y'u Burundi
local short form: Burundi
former: Urundi
Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Bujumbura
geographic coordinates: 3 23 S, 29 22 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
17 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura Mairie, Bujumbura Rurale, 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:
28 February 2005; ratified by popular referendum

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 Pierre NKURUNZIZA (since 26 August 2005);
First Vice President Martin NDUWIMANA - Tutsi (since 29 August
2005); Second Vice President Marina BARAMPAMA - Hutu (since 8
September 2006)
head of government: President Pierre NKURUNZIZA (since 26 August
2005); First Vice President Martin NDUWIMANA - Tutsi (since 29
August 2005); Second Vice President Marina BARAMPAMA - Hutu (since 8
September 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president
 elections: the president is elected by popular vote to a five-year
term (eligible for a second term); note - the constitution adopted
in February 2005 permits the post-transition president to be elected
by a two-thirds majority of the parliament; vice presidents
nominated by the president, endorsed by parliament
election results: Pierre NKURUNZIZA was elected president by the
parliament by a vote of 151 to 9; note - the constitution adopted in
February 2005 permits the post-transition president to be elected by
a two-thirds majority of the legislature

Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlement, consists of a National Assembly
or Assemblee Nationale (minimum 100 seats - 60% Hutu and 40% Tutsi
with at least 30% being women; additional seats appointed by a
National Independent Electoral Commission to ensure ethnic
representation; members are elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms) and a Senate (54 seats; 34 by indirect vote to
serve five year terms, with remaining seats assigned to ethnic
groups and former chiefs of state)
elections: National Assembly - last held 4 July 2005 (next to be
held in 2010); Senate - last held 29 July 2005 (next to be held in
2010)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party -
CNDD-FDD 58.6%, FRODEBU 21.7%, UPRONA 7.2%, CNDD 4.1%,
MRC-Rurenzangemero 2.1%, others 6.2%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 59,
FRODEBU 25, UPRONA 10, CNDD 4, MRC-Rurenzangemero 2; Senate -
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - CNDD-FDD 30,
FRODEBU 3, CNDD 1

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: Burundi
Democratic Front or FRODEBU [Leonce NGENDAKUMANA, president];
National Council for the Defense of Democracy, Front for the Defense
of Democracy or CNDD-FDD [Hussein RADJABU, president]; Unity for
 National Progress or UPRONA [Aloys RUBUKA, president]
note: a multiparty system was introduced after 1998, included are:
National Council for the Defense of Democracy or CNDD; 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:

none

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), IPU, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Celestin NIYONGABO
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 Patricia Newton MOLLER
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 fly 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 more than 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. An ethnic-based war that lasted for over a decade
resulted in more than 200,000 deaths, forced more than 48,000
refugees into Tanzania, and displaced 140,000 others internally.
Only one in two children go to school, and approximately one in 10
adults has HIV/AIDS. Food, medicine, and electricity remain in short
supply. Political stability and the end of the civil war have
improved aid flows and economic activity has increased, but
underlying weaknesses - a high poverty rate, poor education rates, a
weak legal system, and low administrative capacity - risk
undermining planned economic reforms. Burundi grew about 5 percent
in 2006. Delayed disbursements of funds from the World Bank may add
to budget pressures in 2007. Burundi will continue to remain heavily
dependent on aid from bilateral and multilateral donors.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$5.744 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$778.9 million (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$700 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 44.9% industry: 20.9% services:

34.1% (2006 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:

33.3 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

11% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

11.9% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $239.9 million
expenditures: $297 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 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:
137 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.6% hydro: 99.4% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
157.4 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
30 million kWh; note - supplied by the Democratic Republic of the
Congo (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
3,100 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-57.84 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$55.68 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, hides

Exports - partners:
Germany 24.6%, Belgium 11.2%, Netherlands 8.1%, Switzerland 5.9%,
US 4.7% (2005)

Imports:
$207.3 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
capital goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
Kenya 12.9%, Tanzania 10.5%, Belgium 10.4%, Italy 8.1%, France
5.4%, Uganda 5.3%, China 5%, India 4.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$87.69 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$1.2 billion (2003)

Economic aid - recipient:

$105.5 million (2003)
Currency (code):
Burundi franc (BIF)

Currency code:
BIF

Exchange rates:
Burundi francs per US dollar - 1,170 (2006), 1,138 (2005), 1,100.91
(2004), 1,082.62 (2003), 930.75 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Burundi

Telephones - main lines in use:

27,700 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

153,000 (2005)

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:
160 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:
25,000 (2005)

Transportation Burundi

Airports: 8 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 12,322 km
paved: 1,286 km
unpaved: 11,036 km (2004)

Waterways:
mainly on Lake Tanganyika (2003)

Ports and terminals:

Bujumbura

Military Burundi
Military branches:
National Defense Force (Forces de Defense Nationales, FDN): Army
(includes Naval Detachment and Air Wing), National Gendarmerie
(being disbanded) (2006)

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: 1,676,855
females age 16-49: 1,656,366 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 955,616
females age 16-49: 932,767 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 91,331
females age 16-49: 90,685 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$43.9 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

5.6% (2005 est.)

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): 20,359 (Democratic Republic of the
Congo)
IDPs: 100,000 (armed conflict between government and rebels; most
IDPs in northern and western Burundi) (2006)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Cambodia

Introduction Cambodia

Background:
Most Cambodians consider themselves to be Khmers, descendants of
the Angkor Empire that extended over much of Southeast Asia and
reached its zenith between the 10th and 13th centuries. Attacks by
the Thai and Cham (from present-day Vietnam) weakened the empire
ushering in a long period of decline. The king placed the country
under French protection in 1863. Cambodia became part of French
Indochina in 1887. Following Japanese occupation in World War II,
Cambodia gained full independence from France in 1953. In April
1975, after a five-year struggle, Communist Khmer Rouge forces
captured Phnom Penh and evacuated all cities and towns. At least 1.5
million Cambodians died from execution, forced hardships, or
starvation during the Khmer Rouge regime under POL POT. A December
1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the countryside,
began 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 under a coalition government. 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 remaining
elements of the Khmer Rouge surrendered in early 1999. Some of the
remaining Khmer Rouge leaders are awaiting trial by a UN-sponsored
tribunal for crimes against humanity. Elections in July 2003 were
relatively peaceful, but it took one year of negotiations between
contending political parties before a coalition government was
formed.

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: 20.44% permanent crops: 0.59% other: 78.97% (2005)

Irrigated land:
2,700 sq km (2003)

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, Whaling
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:
13,881,427
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
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 35.6% (male 2,497,595/female 2,447,754)
15-64 years: 61% (male 4,094,946/female 4,370,159)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 180,432/female 290,541) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 20.6 years
male: 19.9 years
female: 21.4 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.78% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
26.9 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
9.06 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 68.78 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 77.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 59.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 59.29 years
male: 57.35 years
female: 61.32 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.37 children born/woman (2006 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 note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified
among birds in this country or surrounding region; it poses a negligible risk with
extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with
birds (2007)
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: Preahreacheanachakr 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

Capital:
name: Phnom Penh
geographic coordinates: 11 33 N, 104 55 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
20 provinces (khaitt, singular and plural) and 4 municipalities*
(krong, singular and plural)
provinces: Banteay Mean Cheay, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong
Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong,
Krachen, Mondol Kiri, Otdar Mean Cheay, Pouthisat, Preah Vihear,
Prey Veng, Rotanah Kiri, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev
municipalities: Keb, Pailin, Phnum Penh (Phnom Penh), Preah Seihanu
(Sihanoukville)

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; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

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); SOK
AN, LU LAY SRENG, TEA BANH, HOR NAMHONG, NHEK BUNCHHAY
(since 16
July 2004); KEV PUT REAKSMEI (since 24 October 2006)
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; 2 members appointed by the monarch, 2 elected by the National
Assembly, and 57 elected by parliamentarians and commune councils;
members serve five-year terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held 27 July 2003 (next to be
held in July 2008); Senate - last held 22 January 2006 (next to be
held in January 2011)
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 - CPP 69%,
FUNCINPEC 21%, SRP 10%; seats by party - CPP 45, FUNCINPEC 10, SRP
2
(January 2006)

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 People's Party or CPP [CHEA SIM]; National United Front
for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful, and Cooperative Cambodia or
FUNCINPEC [KEV PUT REAKSMEI]; Norodom Ranariddh Party or NRP
[Norodom RANARIDDH]; Sam Rangsi Party or SRP [SAM RANGSI]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, EAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
 UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, 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: #1, Street 96, Sangkat Wat Phnom, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh
mailing address: Box P, APO AP 96546
telephone: [855] (23) 728-000
FAX: [855] (23) 728-600

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 an actual building in its design

Economy Cambodia

Economy - overview:
In 1999, the first full year of peace in 30 years, the government
made progress on economic reforms. The US and Cambodia signed a
Bilateral Textile Agreement, 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. From 2001 to 2004, the economy grew
at an average rate of 6.4%, driven largely by an expansion in the
garment sector and tourism. With the January 2005 expiration of a
WTO Agreement on Textiles and Clothing, Cambodia-based textile
producers were forced to compete directly with lower-priced
producing countries such as China and India. Better-than-expected
garment sector performance led to about 6% growth per year in
2005-06. Faced with the possibility that its vibrant garment
 industry, with more than 200,000 jobs, could be in serious danger,
the Cambodian government has committed itself to a policy of
continued support for high labor standards in an attempt to maintain
favor with buyers. The tourism industry continues to grow rapidly,
with foreign visitors surpassing 1 million for per year beginning in
2005. In 2005, exploitable oil and natural gas deposits were found
beneath Cambodia's territorial waters, representing a new revenue
stream for the government once commercial extraction begins in the
coming years. Mining also is attracting significant investor
interest, particularly in the northeastern parts of the country. The
long-term development of the economy remains a daunting challenge.
The Cambodian government is working with bilateral and multilateral
donors, including the World Bank and IMF, to address the country's
many pressing needs. 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 less than
21 years old. The population lacks education and productive skills,
particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside, which suffers from
an almost total lack of basic infrastructure.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$36.78 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$5.122 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.8% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,600 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 35% industry: 30% services: 35%

(2004)

Labor force: 7 million (2003 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 75% industry: NA% services: NA%

(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):

5% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

18.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $731 million
expenditures: $931.8 million; including capital expenditures of $291
million (2006 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:
131 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 65% hydro: 35% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
121.8 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
3,750 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-412 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$3.331 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
clothing, timber, rubber, rice, fish, tobacco, footwear

Exports - partners:
US 48.6%, Hong Kong 24.4%, Germany 5.6%, Canada 4.6% (2005)

Imports:
 $4.477 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
petroleum products, cigarettes, gold, construction materials,
machinery, motor vehicles, pharmaceutical products

Imports - partners:
Hong Kong 16.1%, China 13.6%, France 12.1%, Thailand 11.2%, Taiwan
10.2%, South Korea 7.5%, Vietnam 7.1%, Singapore 4.9%, Japan 4.1%
(2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.385 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$3.664 billion (2006 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 - 4,119 (2006), 4,092.5 (2005), 4,016.25
(2004), 3,973.33 (2003), 3,912.08 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Cambodia

Telephones - main lines in use:

36,400 (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
1.062 million (2005)

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:

11 (including two TV relay stations with French and Vietnamese
broadcasts); 12 regional low power TV stations (2006)

Televisions:
94,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.kh

Internet hosts:
1,378 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:
41,000 (2005)

Transportation Cambodia
Airports:
20 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 14
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Heliports:
2 (2006)

Railways:
total: 602 km
narrow gauge: 602 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)

Roadways: total: 38,257 km paved: 2,406 km unpaved: 35,851 km (2004)

Waterways:
2,400 km (mainly on Mekong River) (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 544 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,777,907 GRT/2,529,708 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 41, cargo 443, chemical tanker 11, container
10, livestock carrier 3, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 9,
refrigerated cargo 19, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 1,
vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 407 (Bulgaria 1, Canada 6, China 128, Cyprus 12,
Egypt 8, Gabon 1, Greece 8, Hong Kong 15, Indonesia 1, Japan 4,
South Korea 23, Latvia 2, Lebanon 6, Nigeria 2, Norway 1,
Philippines 1, Russia 105, Singapore 4, Spain 1, Syria 20, Taiwan 2,
Turkey 26, UAE 1, Ukraine 17, US 8, Yemen 3, unknown 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

 Phnom Penh, Preah Seihanu (Sihanoukville)

Military Cambodia

Military branches:
Royal Cambodian Armed Forces: Royal Cambodian Army, Royal Khmer
Navy, Royal Cambodian Air Force (2005)

Military service age and obligation: conscription law made effective in October
2006 requires all males between 18-30 to register for military service; service
obligation is 18 months (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 3,002,718
females age 18-49: 3,108,254 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,955,141
females age 18-49: 2,048,611 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 175,497
females age 18-49: 172,788 (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 re-erected missing markers
completing most of their demarcations

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Cambodia is a source, destination, and transit
country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of
sexual exploitation and forced labor; a significant number of women
and children are trafficked to Thailand and Malaysia for commercial
sexual exploitation and forced labor; men are trafficked primarily
to Thailand for forced labor in the construction and agricultural
sectors, particularly the fishing industry, while women and girls
are trafficked for factory and domestic work; children are
trafficked to Vietnam and Thailand for the purpose of forced
begging; Cambodia is a transit and destination point for women from
Vietnam trafficked for sexual exploitation; trafficking for sexual
exploitation also occurs within Cambodia's borders, from rural areas
to the cities
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Cambodia does not fully comply with
the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however,
it is committed to making significant efforts to sustain progress
over the coming year

Illicit drugs:
narcotics-related corruption reportedly involving some in the
government, military, and police; possible small-scale heroin and
methamphetamine production; vulnerable to money laundering due to
its cash-based economy and porous borders

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@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 a slow
movement toward democratic reform, political power remains firmly in
the hands of an ethnic oligarchy headed by President Paul BIYA.

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: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 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 4,095 m (on Mt. Cameroon)

Natural resources:
petroleum, bauxite, iron ore, timber, hydropower

Land use: arable land: 12.54% permanent crops: 2.52% other: 84.94% (2005)

Irrigated land:
260 sq km (2003)

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, Wetlands, Whaling
 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:
17,340,702
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
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.2% (male 3,614,430/female 3,531,047)
15-64 years: 55.5% (male 4,835,453/female 4,796,276)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 260,342/female 303,154) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 18.9 years
male: 18.7 years
female: 19 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.04% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
33.89 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
13.47 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

 0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 63.52 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 67.38 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 59.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 51.16 years
male: 50.98 years
female: 51.34 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.39 children born/woman (2006 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
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified
 among birds in this country or surrounding region; it poses a
negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens
who have close contact with birds (2007)

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
local long form: Republique du Cameroun/Republic of Cameroon
local short form: Cameroun/Cameroon
former: French Cameroon, British Cameroon, Federal Republic of
Cameroon, United Republic of Cameroon

Government type:
republic; multiparty presidential regime
Capital:
name: Yaounde
geographic coordinates: 3 52 N, 11 31 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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;
accepts 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 December
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
(eligible for a second term); election last held 11 October 2004
(next to be held by 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 in June 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 nine judges and six substitute judges,
elected by the National Assembly)

Political parties and leaders:

Cameroonian Democratic Union or UDC [Adamou Ndam NJOYA]; Cameroon
People's Democratic Movement or CPDM [Paul BIYA]; Movement for the
Defense of the Republic or MDR [Dakole DAISSALA]; Movement for the
Liberation and Development of Cameroon or MLDC [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 Peoples of
Cameroon 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:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, C, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM,
OIC,
OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL,
WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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 Niels MARQUARDT
embassy: Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde
mailing address: P. O. Box 817, Yaounde; pouch: American Embassy, US
Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520
telephone: [237] 220 15 00; Consular: [237] 220 16 03
FAX: [237] 220 16 20; Consular FAX: [237] 220 17 52
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 modest 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 a significant impact on the
economy.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$42.2 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$16.37 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.1% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,400 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 45.2% industry: 16.1% services:

38.7% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 6.394 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 70% industry: 13% services: 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:

44.6 (2001)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.4% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

16.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $3.339 billion
 expenditures: $3.157 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
28.4% of GDP (2006 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:
3.924 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 2.7% hydro: 97.3% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
3.649 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
82,300 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
24,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - proved reserves:

90 million bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

110.4 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$419 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$4.318 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans, aluminum,
coffee, cotton

Exports - partners:
Spain 17.4%, Italy 13.8%, France 9.5%, South Korea 8.1%, UK 8.1%,
Netherlands 7.9%, Belgium 4.9%, US 4.3% (2005)

Imports:
$3.083 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery, electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel, food
Imports - partners:
France 24%, Nigeria 12%, Belgium 6.3%, China 5.6%, US 5.1%,
Thailand 4.5%, Germany 4.2% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.336 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$3.657 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

in 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 -
522.592 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99
(2002)

Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

Communications Cameroon

Telephones - main lines in use:

99,400 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.259 million (2005)

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:
39 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:
167,000 (2005)

Transportation Cameroon

Airports: 47 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 36 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m:

20 under 914 m: 9 (2006)
Pipelines: gas 70 km; liquid petroleum gas 9 km; oil 1,107 km (2006)

Railways: total: 987 km narrow gauge: 987 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)

Roadways: total: 50,000 km paved: 5,000 km unpaved: 45,000 km (2004)

Waterways:
navigation mainly on Benue River; limited during rainy season (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 38,613 GRT/68,820 DWT
by type: petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 1 (France 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Douala, Limboh Terminal

Military Cameroon

Military branches:
Cameroon Armed Forces: Army, Navy (includes naval infantry), Air
Force (Armee de l'Air du Cameroun, AAC) (2006)

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: 3,525,307
females age 18-49: 3,461,406 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,946,767
females age 18-49: 1,834,600 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 191,619
females age 18-49: 187,082 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$230.2 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.5% (2005 est.)

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 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 Bakassi Peninsula, then agreed,
but 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 the Chad-Niger
and Niger-Nigeria boundaries

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 39,303 (Chad) 9,711 (Nigeria) 13,000
(Central African Republic); note - there are an additional 10,000
Central African refugees unregistered with UNHCR as of December 2006
(2006)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@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 faces the political challenges of
meeting public demands for quality improvements in health care and
education services, as well as responding to separatist concerns in
predominantly francophone Quebec. Canada also aims to develop its
diverse energy resources while maintaining its commitment to the
environment.

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: 4.57%
permanent crops: 0.65%
other: 94.78% (2005)

Irrigated land:
7,850 sq km (2003)

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:
33,098,932 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.6% (male 2,992,811/female 2,848,388)
15-64 years: 69% (male 11,482,452/female 11,368,286)
65 years and over: 13.3% (male 1,883,008/female 2,523,987) (2006
est.)

Median age: total: 38.9 years male: 37.8 years female: 39.9 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

 0.88% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
10.78 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
7.8 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

5.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.69 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.15 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 80.22 years
male: 76.86 years
female: 83.74 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.61 children born/woman (2006 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: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Government Canada

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Canada

Government type:
constitutional monarchy that is also a parliamentary democracy and
 a federation

Capital:
name: Ottawa
geographic coordinates: 45 25 N, 75 40 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends
first Sunday in November
note: Canada is divided into six time zones

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 September
2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Stephen HARPER (since 6 February
2006)
cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister usually 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 23 January 2006 (next to be
held in 2011)
election results: House of Commons - percent of vote by party -
Conservative Party 36.3%, Liberal Party 30.2%, New Democratic Party
17.5%, Bloc Quebecois 10.5%, Greens 4.5%, other 1%; seats by party -
Conservative Party 124, Liberal Party 102, New Democratic Party 29,
Bloc Quebecois 51, other 2; seats by party as of February 2007 -
Conservative Party 125, Liberal Party 100, New Democratic Party 29,
Bloc Quebecois 51, other 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 [Elizabeth MAY]; Liberal Party
[Stephane DION]; New Democratic Party [Jack LAYTON]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT, AfDB, APEC, Arctic Council, 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, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINUSTAH,
MONUC,
NAFTA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE,
Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SECI (observer), UN, UNAMSIL,
UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNMOVIC, UNRWA, UNTSO,
UNWTO, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael WILSON
chancery: 501 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001
telephone: [1] (202) 682-1740
FAX: [1] (202) 682-7701
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas,
Denver, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York, Phoenix,
San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Tucson
consulate(s): Anchorage, Houston, Philadelphia, Princeton (New
Jersey), Raleigh, San Jose (California)

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 in the trillion dollar
class, Canada 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. Top-notch fiscal
management has produced consecutive balanced budgets since 1997,
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 US, which absorbs about 85%
of Canadian exports. Canada is the US' largest foreign supplier of
energy, including oil, gas, uranium, and electric power.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.165 trillion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.089 trillion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.8% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$35,200 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.3% industry: 29.2% services: 68.5%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 17.59 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 2%, manufacturing 14%, construction

5%, services 75%, other 3% (2004)

Unemployment rate: 6.4% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line: 15.9%; note - this figure is the Low Income Cut-
Off (LICO), a calculation that results in higher figures than found in many
comparable economies; Canada does not have an official poverty line (2003)

Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 2.8%

highest 10%: 23.8% (1994)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

33.1 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $183.5 billion
expenditures: $181.8 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)

Public debt:
65.4% of GDP (2006 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:

0.7% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
573 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 28% hydro: 57.9% nuclear: 12.9%
other: 1.3% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
522.4 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
33.01 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
22.48 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
3.135 million bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
2.294 million bbl/day (2004)

Oil - exports:
1.6 million bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports:
963,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves:

178.9 billion bbl
note: includes oil sands (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

 183.6 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

95.85 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

104 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

10.86 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.603 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$20.56 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$405 billion f.o.b. (2006 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 84.2%, Japan 2.1%, UK 1.8% (2005)

Imports:
$353.2 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil,
chemicals, electricity, durable consumer goods

Imports - partners:
US 56.7%, China 7.8%, Mexico 3.8% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$35.79 billion (August 2006 est.)
Debt - external:
$684.7 billion (30 June 2006)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $2.6 billion (2004)

Currency (code):
Canadian dollar (CAD)

Currency code:
CAD

Exchange rates:
Canadian dollars per US dollar - 1.13186 (2006), 1.2118 (2005),
1.301 (2004), 1.4011 (2003), 1.5693 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Canada

Telephones - main lines in use:

18.276 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

16.6 million (2005)

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:
3,934,223 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

760 (2000 est.)

Internet users:
21.9 million (2005)

Transportation Canada

Airports: 1,337 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 509 over 3,047 m: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 151 914 to 1,523 m: 248 under 914 m: 77 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 828 1,524 to 2,437 m: 66 914 to 1,523
m: 355 under 914 m: 407 (2006)

Heliports:
12 (2006)

Pipelines:
crude and refined oil 23,564 km; liquid petroleum gas 74,980 km
(2005)

Railways:
total: 48,467 km
standard gauge: 48,467 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:
total: 1,042,300 km
paved: 415,600 km (including 17,000 km of expressways)
unpaved: 626,700 km (2005)

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)

Merchant marine:
total: 173 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,129,243 GRT/2,716,340 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 62, cargo 10, chemical tanker 9, container 2,
passenger 6, passenger/cargo 63, petroleum tanker 13, roll on/roll
off 8
foreign-owned: 7 (Germany 3, Netherlands 1, Norway 1, US 2)
registered in other countries: 111 (Australia 1, Bahamas 18,
Barbados 8, Cambodia 6, Cyprus 2, Denmark 1, Honduras 1, Hong Kong
28, Liberia 2, Malta 18, Marshall Islands 6, Panama 4, Russia 1,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6, US 4, Vanuatu 5) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Fraser River Port, Halifax, Montreal, Port Cartier, Quebec, Saint
John's (Newfoundland), Sept Isles, Vancouver

Military Canada

Military branches:
Canadian Forces: Land Forces Command, Maritime Command, Air
Command, Canada Command (homeland security) (2006)

Military service age and obligation:

16 years of age for voluntary military service; women comprise
approximately 11% of Canada's armed forces (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 8,216,510
females age 16-49: 8,034,939 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 16-49: 6,740,490
females age 16-49: 6,580,868 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 223,821
females age 16-49: 212,900 (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 ecstasy entering the US market; vulnerable to narcotics money
laundering because of its mature financial services sector

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@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: 11.41% permanent crops: 0.74% other: 87.85% (2005)

Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2003)

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, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, 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 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:
420,979 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.9% (male 80,594/female 79,126)
15-64 years: 55.3% (male 113,450/female 119,423)
65 years and over: 6.7% (male 10,542/female 17,844) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 19.8 years
male: 19 years
female: 20.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.64% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
24.87 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
6.55 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-11.91 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.59 male(s)/female
 total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 46.52 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 51.63 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 41.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.73 years
male: 67.41 years
female: 74.15 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.38 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Praia
geographic coordinates: 14 55 N, 23 31 W
time difference: UTC-1 (4 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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; a 1999 revision created 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 Verona 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
(eligible for a second term); election last held 12 February 2006
(next to be held February 2011); prime minister nominated by the
National Assembly and appointed by the president
election results: Pedro PIRES reelected president; percent of vote -
Pedro PIRES (PAICV) 51.2%, Carlos VIEGA (MPD) 48.8%

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assembleia Nacional (72 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 22 January 2006 (next to be held in January
2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAICV 52.3%, MPD 44%,
UCID 2.7%; seats by party - PAICV 41, MPD 29, 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 [Victor FIDALGO, president]; Democratic and
Independent Cape Verdean Union or UCID [Antonio MONTEIRO]; 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), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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 Roger D. PIERCE
embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo n6, Praia
mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia
telephone: [238] 2-60-89-00
FAX: [238] 2-61-13-55

Flag description:
three horizontal bands of light blue (top, double width), white
(with a horizontal red stripe in the middle third), and light blue;
a circle of 10 yellow five-pointed stars is centered on the hoist
end of the red stripe and extends into the upper and lower blue bands

Economy Cape Verde

Economy - overview:
This island economy suffers from a poor natural resource base,
including serious water shortages exacerbated by cycles of long-term
drought. The economy is service-oriented, with commerce, transport,
 tourism, and public services accounting for 66% of GDP. Although
nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of food
production 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. Cape Verde has been exploring
European Union membership in recent years.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$3.129 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.128 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.5% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$6,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 12.1% industry: 21.9% services: 66%

(2004 est.)

Labor force:
120,600 (1990)

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):

4.7% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

25.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $324.6 million
expenditures: $370.4 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 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:
44 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
40.92 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
 0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
1,150 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-44.43 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$96.71 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides

Exports - partners:
Spain 38.2%, Portugal 33.3%, US 9.2%, Morocco 5.4% (2005)

Imports:
$495.1 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment, fuels

Imports - partners:
Portugal 40.9%, Italy 7.8%, Netherlands 7.2%, Spain 5.5%, Brazil
5.3%, France 4.7%, Belgium 4.6% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

 $166.4 million (2006 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 - 86.2664 (2006), 88.67
(2005), 88.808 (2004), 97.703 (2003), 117.168 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Cape Verde

Telephones - main lines in use:

71,400 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

81,700 (2005)

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:
234 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:
25,000 (2005)

Transportation Cape Verde

Airports: 7 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914
to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 1,350 km
paved: 932 km
unpaved: 418 km (2000)

Merchant marine:
total: 7 ships (1000 GRT or over) 12,300 GRT/7,726 DWT
by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 4
 foreign-owned: 2 (Spain 1, UK 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Mindelo, Praia, Tarrafal

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
females age 18-49: 87,310 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 65,614
females age 18-49: 73,662 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$7.18 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.7% (2005 est.)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Cayman Islands

Introduction Cayman Islands

Background:
The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British
during the 18th and 19th centuries, and were administered by Jamaica
after 1863. In 1959, the islands became a territory within the
Federation of the West Indies, but when the Federation dissolved in
1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency.

Geography Cayman Islands

Location:
Caribbean, three island (Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman)
group in Caribbean Sea, 240 km south of Cuba and 268 km northwest of
Jamaica

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 (Cayman Brac) 43 m

Natural resources:
fish, climate and beaches that foster tourism

Land use:
arable land: 3.85%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 96.15% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

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:
45,436
note: most of the population lives on Grand Cayman (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.7% (male 4,708/female 4,700)
15-64 years: 70.9% (male 15,707/female 16,504)
65 years and over: 8.4% (male 1,793/female 2,024) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 37.2 years
male: 36.8 years
female: 37.5 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.56% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
12.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
4.89 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

17.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: major destination for Cubans trying to migrate to the US (2006
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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 8 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 80.07 years
male: 77.45 years
female: 82.74 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.9 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: George Town (on Grand Cayman)
geographic coordinates: 19 20 N, 81 23 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)

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 1962, 1972, and 1994

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 Stuart JACK (since 23 November 2005)
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, 3 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 in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
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 68,000 companies were registered in the
Cayman Islands as of 2003, including almost 500 banks, 800 insurers,
and 5000 mutual funds. 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 2.1 million in 2003, with about half
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):

$1.939 billion (2004 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

NA

GDP - real growth rate:

0.9% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$43,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.4% industry: 3.2% services: 95.4%

(1994 est.)

Labor force: 23,450 (2004)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 1.4% industry: 12.6% services: 86%

(1995)

Unemployment rate:
 4.4% (2004)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.4% (2004)

Budget:
revenues: $423.8 million
expenditures: $392.6 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2004)

Agriculture - products:
vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming

Industries:
tourism, banking, insurance and finance, construction, construction
materials, furniture

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:
400 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
372 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
 0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
2,600 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$2.52 million (2004)

Exports - commodities:
turtle products, manufactured consumer goods

Exports - partners:
mostly US (2004)

Imports:
$866.9 million (2004)

Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, manufactured goods

Imports - partners:
US, Netherlands Antilles, Japan (2004)

Debt - external:
$70 million (1996)
Economic aid - recipient:
$390,000 (2004)

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 hosts:
8,611 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

16 (2000)

Internet users:
9,909 (2003)

Transportation Cayman Islands

Airports: 3 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 785 km
paved: 785 km (2002)

Merchant marine:
total: 132 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,746,290 GRT/4,366,790 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 32, cargo 14, chemical tanker 42, liquefied
gas 1, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 14, refrigerated cargo 23, roll
on/roll off 3, specialized tanker 1, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 130 (Denmark 5, Germany 13, Greece 21, Italy 12,
 Japan 1, Malaysia 1, Netherlands 4, Norway 2, Philippines 1,
Singapore 10, Sweden 9, UK 10, US 41) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Cayman Brac, George Town

Military Cayman Islands

Military branches:
no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands Police Force

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 10,703 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 8,600 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 257 (2005 est.)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 established a transitional government. Though the
government has the tacit support of civil society groups and the
main parties, a wide field of candidates contested the municipal,
legislative, and presidential elections held in March and May of
2005 in which General BOZIZE was affirmed as president. 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: 0.15% other: 96.75% (2005)

Irrigated land:
20 sq km (2003)

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, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber
94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:
landlocked; almost the precise center of Africa

People Central African Republic

Population:
4,303,356
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
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.9% (male 907,629/female 897,153)
15-64 years: 53.9% (male 1,146,346/female 1,173,268)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 71,312/female 107,648) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 18.4 years
male: 18 years
female: 18.8 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.53% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
 33.91 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
18.65 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 85.63 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 92.44 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 78.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 43.54 years
male: 43.46 years
female: 43.62 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.41 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

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:
name: Bangui
geographic coordinates: 4 22 N, 18 35 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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:
ratified by popular referendum 5 December 2004; effective 27
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: under the new constitution, the president elected to a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); elections last held 13
March and 8 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010); prime minister
appointed by the political party with a parliamentary majority
election results: Francois BOZIZE elected president; percent of
second round balloting - Francois BOZIZE (KNK) 64.6%, Martin ZIGUELE
(MLPC) 35.4%
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (109 seats;
members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 13 March 2005 and 8 May 2005 (next to be held
NA 2010)
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 [Ange-Felix PATASSE] (the party of deposed
president); National Convergence or KNK; 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, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ITU,
 ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC (observer), OIF, OPCW, OPCW (signatory), UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, 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: Ambassador (vacant); 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 more than half of GDP. Timber has
accounted for about 16% of export earnings and the diamond industry,
for 40%. 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. Distribution of
income is extraordinarily unequal. Grants from France and the
international community can only partially meet humanitarian needs.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$4.913 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.542 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,100 (2006 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%

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
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:
109 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 19.8% hydro: 80.2% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
101.4 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
2,420 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$131 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco

Exports - partners:
Belgium 34.9%, France 9.6%, Spain 8.7%, Italy 8.1%, China 7.1%,
Indonesia 6.3%, Democratic Republic of the Congo 4.7%, US 4.5%,
Turkey 4.5% (2005)

Imports:
$203 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
food, textiles, petroleum products, machinery, electrical
equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners:
France 16.6%, Netherlands 10.3%, Cameroon 9.7%, US 7.3% (2005)

Debt - external:
$1.06 billion (2002 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $59.8 million; note - traditional budget subsidies from France
(2002 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 - 527.47
 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Central African Republic

Telephones - main lines in use:

10,000 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

60,000 (2004)

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:
10 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

 1 (2002)

Internet users:
9,000 (2005)

Transportation Central African Republic

Airports:
50 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2006)

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 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 23,810 km (1999)

Waterways:
2,800 km (primarily on the Oubangui and Sangha rivers) (2005)

Ports and terminals:

Bangui, Nola, Salo, Nzinga

Military Central African Republic

Military branches:
Central African Armed Forces (FACA): Ground Forces, Military Air
Service; General Directorate of Gendarmerie Inspection (DGIG),
Republican Guard, National Police (2006)

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: 853,760
females age 18-49: 835,426 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 416,091
females age 18-49: 383,056 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$16.37 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1% (2005 est.)

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): 19,960 (Sudan) 3,325 (Democratic
Republic of the Congo); note - UNHCR resumed repatriation of
Southern Sudanese refugees in 2006
IDPs: 150,000 (ongoing unrest following coup in 2003) (2006)

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Central African Republic is a source and
destination country for children trafficked for domestic servitude,
sexual exploitation, and forced labor in shops and commercial labor
activities; while the majority of child victims are trafficked
within the country, some are also trafficked to and from Cameroon
and Nigeria
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - the Central African Republic failed
to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in
persons during 2005, specifically its inadequate law enforcement
response to trafficking crimes
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 drafted a democratic constitution, and held flawed
presidential elections in 1996 and 2001. In 1998, a rebellion broke
out in northern Chad, which sporadically flares up despite several
peace agreements between the government and the rebels. In 2005 new
rebel groups emerged in western Sudan and have made probing attacks
into eastern Chad. Power remains in the hands of an ethnic minority.
In June 2005, President Idriss DEBY held a referendum successfully
removing constitutional term limits.

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: 2.8% permanent crops: 0.02% other: 97.18% (2005)

Irrigated land:
300 sq km (2003)

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, Hazardous Wastes, 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:
9,944,201 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 47.9% (male 2,396,393/female 2,369,261)
15-64 years: 49.3% (male 2,355,940/female 2,550,535)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 107,665/female 164,407) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 16 years
male: 15.3 years
female: 16.6 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.93% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
45.73 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
16.38 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-0.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 91.45 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 100.12 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 82.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 47.52 years
male: 45.88 years
female: 49.21 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.25 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

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/Jumhuriyat Tshad
local short form: Tchad/Tshad

Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: N'Djamena
geographic coordinates: 12 07 N, 15 03 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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; a June 2005 referendum removed
constitutional term limits

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 Itno (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 3 May 2006 (next to be held by May 2011);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno reelected president;
percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY 64.7%, Delwa Kassire
COUMAKOYE 15.1%, Albert Pahimi PADACKE 7.8%, Mahamat
ABDOULAYE 7.1%,
Brahim KOULAMALLAH 5.3%; note - a June 2005 national referendum
altered the constitution removing presidential term limits and
permitting Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY Itno to run for reelection

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 by April 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
MPS 110, RDP 12, FAR 9, RNDP 5, URD 5, UNDR 3, other 11

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; Criminal Courts; Magistrate Courts

Political parties and leaders:

Federation Action for the Republic or FAR [Ngarledjy YORONGAR];
National Rally for Development and Progress or RNDP [Delwa Kassire
COUMAKOYE]; National Union for Democracy and Renewal or UNDR
[Saleh
KEBZABO]; Party for Liberty and Development or PLD [Ibni Oumar
Mahamat SALEH]; Patriotic Salvation Movement or MPS [Mahamat Saleh
AHMAT, chairman]; Rally for Democracy and Progress or RDP [Lol
Mahamat CHOUA]; Union for Democracy and Republic or UDR [Jean
ALINGUE]; Union for Renewal and Democracy or URD [Gen. Wadal
Abdelkader KAMOUGUE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC,
ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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 M. WALL
embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena
mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena
telephone: [235] 516-211
FAX: [235] 515-654

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 foreign direct investment projects in the oil sector that
began in 2000. Over 80% of Chad's population relies on subsistence
farming and livestock raising for its livelihood. 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. The nation's total oil reserves has been
estimated to be 2 billion barrels. Oil production came on stream in
late 2003. Chad began to export oil in 2004. Cotton, cattle, and gum
arabic provide the bulk of Chad's non-oil export earnings.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$15.26 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$5.255 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,500 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 32.5% industry: 26.6% services:

40.8% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 2.719 million (1993)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 80% (subsistence farming, herding, and fishing)
industry and services: 20%

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):

4% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
9.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $617.3 million
expenditures: $877.6 million; including capital expenditures of $146
million (2006 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:
94 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
87.42 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
225,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
1,460 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - proved reserves:

2 billion bbl (2005)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-324.1 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$4.342 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
cotton, cattle, gum arabic, oil

Exports - partners:
US 78.1%, China 9.9%, Taiwan 4.1% (2005)

Imports:
$823.1 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods,
foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners:
France 21.2%, Cameroon 15.5%, US 12.1%, Belgium 6.8%, Portugal
4.6%, Saudi Arabia 4.3%, Netherlands 4.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$352.8 million (2006 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.5 billion (2003 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$238.3 million received; note - $125 million committed by Taiwan
(August 1997); $30 million committed by African Development Bank;
ODA $246.9 million (2003 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 -
508.494 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99
(2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Chad

Telephones - main lines in use:

13,000 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

210,000 (2005)

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:
9 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:
35,000 (2005)

Transportation Chad

Airports: 52 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 45 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m:

21 under 914 m: 10 (2006)

Pipelines: oil 205 km (2006)

Roadways: total: 33,400 km paved: 267 km unpaved: 33,133 km (1999)

Waterways:
Chari and Legone rivers are navigable only in wet season (2002)

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 three-
year service obligation; 18 years of age for volunteers; no minimum age
restriction for volunteers with consent from a guardian; women are subject to
one year of compulsory military or civic service at age of 21 (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 20-49: 1,527,580
females age 20-49: 1,629,510 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 20-49: 794,988
females age 20-49: 849,500 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 94,536
females age 20-49: 93,521 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$68.95 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Chad

Disputes - international:
since the expulsions of residents from Darfur in 2003 by Janjawid
armed militia and Sudanese military, about 200,000 refugees remain
in eastern Chad; Chad remains an important mediator in the Sudanese
civil conflict, reducing tensions with Sudan arising from
cross-border banditry; 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 the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 234,000 (Sudan), 41,246 (Central
African Republic)
IDPs: 100,000 (2006)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 by
Spain 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: 6,339 km
border countries: Argentina 5,308 km, Bolivia 860 km, Peru 171 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: 2.62% permanent crops: 0.43% other: 96.95% (2005)

Irrigated land:
19,000 sq km (2003)

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:
16,134,219 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 24.7% (male 2,035,278/female 1,944,754)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 5,403,525/female 5,420,497)
65 years and over: 8.2% (male 555,075/female 775,090) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 30.4 years
male: 29.5 years
female: 31.4 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.94% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
15.23 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
5.81 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 8.58 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.32 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.77 years
male: 73.49 years
female: 80.21 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

 2 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Santiago
geographic coordinates: 33 27 S, 70 40 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in October; ends
second Sunday in March

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 1989, 1991,
1997, 1999, 2000, 2003, and 2005

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 - in June 2005, Chile completed overhaul of
its criminal justice system to a new, US-style adversarial system

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Michelle BACHELET Jeria (since 11 March
 2006); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Michelle BACHELET Jeria (since 11
March 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a single four-year
term; election last held 11 December 2005, with runoff election held
15 January 2006 (next to be held December 2009)
election results: Michelle BACHELET Jeria elected president; percent
of vote - Michelle BACHELET Jeria 53.5%; Sebastian PINERA Echenique
46.5%

Legislative branch:
bicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional consists of the
Senate or Senado (38 seats elected by popular vote; 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 11 December 2005 (next to be held
December 2009); Chamber of Deputies - last held 11 December 2005
(next to be held December 2009)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - CPD 20 (PDC 6, PS 8, PPD 3, PRSD 3), APC 17 (UDI 9, RN 8),
independent 1; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - CPD 65 (PDC 21, PPD 22, PS 15, PRSD 7), APC 54 (UDI
34, RN 20), 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 every three years by the 20-member court); Constitutional
Tribunal

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance for Chile ("Alianza") or APC (including National Renewal
or RN [Carlos LARRAIN Pena] and Independent Democratic Union or UDI
[Hernan LARRAIN Fernandez]); Coalition of Parties for Democracy
("Concertacion") or CPD (including Christian Democratic Party or PDC
 [Soledad ALVEAR], Socialist Party or PS [Camilo ESCALONA], Party for
Democracy or PPD [Sergio BITAR Chacra], Radical Social Democratic
Party or PRSD [Jose Antonio GOMEZ Urrutia]); Communist Party or PC
[Guillermo TEILLIER]

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, CAN (associate), CSN, FAO, G-15, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA,
Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW,
PCA,
RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMOGIP, UNTSO,
UNWTO, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mariano FERNANDEZ
chancery: 1732 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 530-4104, 530-4106, 530-4107
FAX: [1] (202) 887-5579
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, 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 about 5% per year in 2004-06,
while Chile maintained a low rate of inflation. GDP growth benefited
from high copper prices, solid export earnings (particularly
forestry, fishing, and mining), and stepped-up foreign direct
investment. Unemployment has exhibited a downward trend over the
past year, but remains fairly 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. Chile
signed a free trade agreement with China in November 2005, and it
 already has several trade deals signed with other nations and blocs,
including the European Union, Mercosur, South Korea, and Mexico.
Record-high copper prices helped to strengthen the peso to a 6 1/2-year
high, as of December 2006, and added investment in the mining sector
will boost GDP in 2007.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$203 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$100.3 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.8% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$12,600 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5.9% industry: 49.3% services: 44.7%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 6.94 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 13.6% industry: 23.4% services: 63%

(2003)

Unemployment rate:
8.3% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

18.2% (2005)

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):

 2.1% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

21% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $36.71 billion
expenditures: $26.68 billion; including capital expenditures of
$3.33 billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
3.9% of GDP (2006 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:

5% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
50.91 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 47% hydro: 51.5% nuclear: 0%

other: 1.4% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
49.09 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
1.744 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
 15,100 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption:
238,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2006)

Oil - imports:
222,900 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

150 million bbl (1 January 2006)

Natural gas - production:

1.09 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

8.29 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

7.2 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

7.2 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

97.98 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$5.063 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$58.21 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
copper, fruit, fish products, paper and pulp, chemicals, wine

Exports - partners:
US 15.8%, Japan 11.5%, China 11.1%, Netherlands 5.8%, South Korea
 5.5%, Brazil 4.4%, Italy 4.2%, Mexico 4% (2005)

Imports:
$35.37 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, electrical and
telecommunications equipment, industrial machinery, vehicles,
natural gas

Imports - partners:
Argentina 14.8%, US 14.6%, Brazil 11.7%, China 7.8%, South Korea
4.8%, Yemen 4.4% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$17.16 billion (November 2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$47.6 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$0 (2002)

Currency (code):
Chilean peso (CLP)

Currency code:
CLP

Exchange rates:
Chilean pesos per US dollar - 532.115 (2006), 560.09 (2005), 609.37
(2004), 691.43 (2003), 688.94 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Chile

Telephones - main lines in use:

 3,435,900 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

10.57 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system based on extensive microwave
radio relay facilities
domestic: extensive microwave radio relay links; domestic satellite
system with three 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:
506,055 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

7 (2000)

Internet users:
6.7 million (2005)

Transportation Chile
Airports: 363 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 73
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 22
under 914 m: 17 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 290
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 58
under 914 m: 216 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 2,567 km; gas/lpg 42 km; liquid petroleum gas 539 km; oil 1,003
km; refined products 757 km; unknown (oil/water) 97 km (2006)

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 (2005)

Roadways:
total: 79,605 km
paved: 16,080 km (including 407 km of expressways)
unpaved: 63,525 km (2001)

Merchant marine:
total: 46 ships (1000 GRT or over) 649,091 GRT/898,110 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 10, cargo 6, chemical tanker 10, container 1,
liquefied gas 2, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 7,
roll on/roll off 1, vehicle carrier 3
foreign-owned: 1 (Argentina 1)
registered in other countries: 17 (Argentina 6, Brazil 1, Marshall
 Islands 1, Panama 9) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Antofagasta, Arica, Huasco, Iquique, Lirquen, San Antonio, San
Vicente, Valparaiso

Military Chile

Military branches:
Army of the Nation, National Navy (Armada de Chile, includes naval
air, marine corps, and Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine
Directorate (Directemar)), Chilean Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Chile,
FACh), Chilean Carabineros (National Police) (2006)

Military service age and obligation:

all male 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
females age 18-49: 3,780,864 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 3,123,281
females age 18-49: 3,128,277 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 140,084
females age 18-49: 134,518 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$3.91 billion (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3.5% (2005 est.)

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; action by the joint
boundary commission, established by Chile and Argentina in 2001, for
mapping and demarcating the disputed boundary in the Andean Southern
Ice Field (Campo de Hielo Sur) remains pending

Illicit drugs:
important transshipment country for cocaine destined for Europe;
economic prosperity and increasing trade have made Chile more
attractive to traffickers seeking to launder drug profits,
especially through the Iquique Free Trade Zone, 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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: 14.86%
permanent crops: 1.27%
other: 83.87% (2005)

Irrigated land:
545,960 sq km (2003)

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:
1,313,973,713 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.8% (male 145,461,833/female 128,445,739)
15-64 years: 71.4% (male 482,439,115/female 455,960,489)
65 years and over: 7.7% (male 48,562,635/female 53,103,902) (2006
est.)

Median age: total: 32.7 years male: 32.3 years female: 33.2 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.59% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
13.25 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
6.97 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 23.12 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 20.6 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 25.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.58 years
male: 70.89 years
female: 74.46 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.73 children born/woman (2006 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, Christian 3%-4%, Muslim 1%-2%
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: Zhongguo
abbreviation: PRC

Government type:
Communist state

Capital:
name: Beijing
geographic coordinates: 39 56 N, 116 24 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
 Standard Time)
note: despite its size, all of China falls within one time zone

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; (see note on Taiwan)
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:
based on civil law system; derived from Soviet and continental
civil code legal principles; legislature retains power to interpret
statutes; constitution ambiguous on judicial review of legislation;
has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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);
Executive Vice Premier HUANG Ju (since 17 March 2003), Vice Premiers
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 a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
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 10th 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 10th 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 People's Courts (comprise higher, intermediate, and
local courts); Special People's Courts (primarily military,
maritime, and railway transport courts)

Political parties and leaders:

Chinese Communist Party or CCP [HU Jintao]; 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), BCIE, BIS,
CDB, EAS, FAO, G-24 (observer), G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), IPU, ISO, ITU, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC,
NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC
(observer), SCO, UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOVIC, UNOCI,
UNTSO,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador ZHOU Wenzhong
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, San
Francisco

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) 6532-3178
consulate(s) general: Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macau,
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: China's economy during the last quarter century has
changed from a centrally planned system that was largely closed to international
trade to a more market-oriented economy that has a rapidly growing private
sector and is a major player in the global economy. Reforms started in the late
1970s with the phasing out of collectivized agriculture, and expanded to include
the gradual liberalization of prices, fiscal decentralization, increased autonomy
for state enterprises, the foundation of a diversified banking system, the
development of stock markets, the rapid growth of the non-state sector, and the
opening to foreign trade and investment. China has generally implemented
reforms in a gradualist or piecemeal fashion, including the sale of equity in
China's largest state banks to foreign investors and refinements in foreign
exchange and bond markets in 2005. The restructuring of the economy and
resulting efficiency gains have contributed to a more than tenfold increase in
GDP since 1978. Measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis, China in
2006 stood as the second-largest economy in the world after the US, although in
per capita terms the country is still lower middle-income and 130 million
Chinese fall below international poverty lines. Economic development has
generally been more rapid in coastal provinces than in the interior, and there are
large disparities in per capita income between regions. The government has
struggled to: (a) sustain adequate job 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) contain environmental
damage and social strife related to the economy's rapid transformation. From 100
to 150 million surplus rural workers are adrift between the villages and the cities,
many subsisting through part-time, low-paying jobs. 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. China has benefited
from a huge expansion in computer Internet use, with more than 100 million
users at the end of 2005. Foreign investment remains a strong element in China's
remarkable expansion in world trade and has been an important factor in the
growth of urban jobs. In July 2005, China revalued its currency by 2.1% against
the US dollar and moved to an exchange rate system that references a basket of
currencies. In 2006 China had the largest current account surplus - nearly $180
billion - in the world. More power generating capacity came on line in 2006 as
large scale investments were completed. Thirteen years in construction at a cost
of $24 billion, the immense Three Gorges Dam across the Yangtze River was
essentially completed in 2006 and will revolutionize electrification and flood
control in the area. The 11th Five-Year Program (2006-10), approved by the
National People's Congress in March 2006, calls for a 20% reduction in energy
consumption per unit of GDP by 2010 and an estimated 45% increase in GDP by
2010. The plan states that conserving resources and protecting the environment
are basic goals, but it lacks details on the policies and reforms necessary to
achieve these goals.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$10 trillion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$2.512 trillion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

10.5% (official data) (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$7,600 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11.9% industry: 48.1% services: 40%

note: industry includes construction (2006 est.)

Labor force: 798 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 45% industry: 24% services: 31%

(2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:
4.2% official registered unemployment in urban areas in 2005;
substantial unemployment and underemployment in rural areas

Population below poverty line:

10% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 33.1% (2001)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

44 (2002)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.5% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

44.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $446.6 billion
expenditures: $489.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
22.1% of GDP (2006 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, satellites

Industrial production growth rate:

22.9% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
2.5 trillion kWh (2005)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 80.2% hydro: 18.5% nuclear:

1.2% other: 0.1% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
2.494 trillion kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports:
 11.2 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - imports:
5 billion kWh (2005)

Oil - production:
3.631 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - consumption:
6.534 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - exports:
443,300 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:
3.181 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

16.1 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

52.88 billion cu m (2005)

Natural gas - consumption:

47.91 billion cu m (2005)

Natural gas - exports:

2.79 billion cu m (2005)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2005)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

2.35 trillion cu m (2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$179.1 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$974 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, plastics, optical and medical equipment,
iron and steel

Exports - partners:
US 21.4%, Hong Kong 16.3%, Japan 11%, South Korea 4.6%, Germany
4.3% (2005)

Imports:
$777.9 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, oil and mineral fuels, plastics, optical
and medical equipment, organic chemicals, iron and steel

Imports - partners:
Japan 15.2%, South Korea 11.6%, Taiwan 11.2%, US 7.4%, Germany 4.6%
(2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.034 trillion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$305.6 billion (2006 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 - 7.97 (2006), 8.1943 (2005), 8.2768 (2004),
8.277 (2003), 8.277 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications China

Telephones - main lines in use:

350.433 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

437.48 million (2006)

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; China continues to develop its telecommunications
infrastructure, and is partnering with foreign providers to expand
its global reach; three of China's six major telecommunications
operators are part of an international consortium which, in December
2006, signed an agreement with Verizon Business to build the first
next-generation optical cable system directly linking the US
mainland and China
domestic: interprovincial fiber-optic trunk lines and cellular
telephone systems have been installed; mobile cellular
subscribership is increasing rapidly; 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:
232,780 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2000)

Internet users:
123 million (2006)

Transportation China

Airports: 486 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 403
over 3,047 m: 56
2,438 to 3,047 m: 127
1,524 to 2,437 m: 138
914 to 1,523 m: 22
under 914 m: 60 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 83
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 25
under 914 m: 39 (2006)

Heliports:
32 (2006)

Pipelines:
 gas 22,664 km; oil 15,256 km; refined products 6,106 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 74,408 km
standard gauge: 74,408 km 1.435-m gauge (19,303 km electrified)
(2004)

Roadways:
total: 1,870,661 km
paved: 1,515,797 km (with at least 34,288 km of expressways)
unpaved: 354,864 km (2004)

Waterways:
123,964 km (2003)

Merchant marine:
total: 1,723 ships (1000 GRT or over) 21,405,633 GRT/32,411,260 DWT
by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 387, cargo 695, chemical
tanker 45, combination ore/oil 1, container 152, liquefied gas 31,
passenger 8, passenger/cargo 83, petroleum tanker 261, refrigerated
cargo 30, roll on/roll off 8, specialized tanker 6, vehicle carrier
14
foreign-owned: 13 (Hong Kong 7, Japan 3, South Korea 2, Norway 1)
registered in other countries: 1,191 (Bahamas 3, Bangladesh 1,
Belize 103, Bolivia 1, Cambodia 128, Cyprus 11, Georgia 2, Honduras
3, Hong Kong 274, India 2, North Korea 1, Liberia 35, Malaysia 1,
Malta 14, Mongolia 4, Norway 3, Panama 420, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 103, Sierra Leone 2, Singapore 23, Thailand 1, Tuvalu 23,
unknown 33) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Dalian, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shanghai

Military China

Military branches:
People's Liberation Army (PLA): Ground Forces, Navy (includes
marines and naval aviation), Air Force (includes airborne forces),
and Second Artillery Corps (strategic missile force); People's Armed
 Police (PAP); Reserve and Militia Forces (2006)

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 (all
officers are volunteers); 18-22 years of age for women who meet
requirements for specific military jobs (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 342,956,265
females age 18-49: 324,701,244 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 281,240,272
females age 18-49: 269,025,517 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 13,186,433
females age 18-49: 12,298,149 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$81.48 billion (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

4.3% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues China

Disputes - international:
in 2005, China and India began 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; Vietnam and China continue to expand construction of
facilities in the Spratlys and 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 equidistance line 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; China and Russia prepare to demarcate
the boundary agreed to in October 2004 between the long-disputed
islands at the Amur and Ussuri; 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): 300,897 (Vietnam) estimated
30,000-50,000 (North Korea)
IDPs: 90,000 (2006)

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: China is a source, transit, and destination
country for women, men, and children trafficked for purposes of
sexual exploitation and forced labor; the majority of trafficking in
China is internal, but there is also international trafficking of
Chinese citizens; women are lured through false promises of
 legitimate employment into commercial sexual exploitation in Taiwan,
Thailand, Malaysia, and Japan; Chinese men and women are smuggled to
countries throughout the world at enormous personal expense and then
forced into commercial sexual exploitation or exploitative labor to
repay debts to traffickers; women and children are trafficked into
China from Mongolia, Burma, North Korea, Russia, and Vietnam for
forced labor, marriage, and sexual slavery; most North Koreans enter
northeastern China voluntarily, but others reportedly are trafficked
into China from North Korea; domestic trafficking remains the most
significant problem in China, with an estimated minimum of
10,000-20,000 victims trafficked each year; the actual number of
victims could be much greater; some experts believe that the serious
and prolonged imbalance in the male-female birth ratio may now be
contributing to Chinese and foreign girls and women being trafficked
as potential brides
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - China failed to show evidence of
increasing efforts to address transnational trafficking; while the
government provides reasonable protection to internal victims of
trafficking, protection for Chinese and foreign victims of
transnational trafficking remain inadequate

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Christmas Island
Introduction Christmas Island

Background:
Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the island was annexed
and settlement began 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% (mainly tropical rainforest; 63% of the island is a
national park) (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

Natural hazards:
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be a maritime
hazard

Environment - current issues:

loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining

Geography - note:
located along major sea lanes of Indian Ocean

People Christmas Island

Population: 1,493 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA (2006
est.)
Population growth rate:
0% (2006 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

Government Christmas Island

Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Christmas Island
conventional short form: Christmas Island

Dependency status:
non-self governing territory of Australia; administered by the
Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services

Government type:
NA

Capital:
name: The Settlement
geographic coordinates: 18 44 N, 64 19 W
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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) as amended by the
Territories Law Reform Act of 1992

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 Neil LUCAS (since 30 January 2006)
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 in May 2005 (next to be held in May 2007)
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:
territorial flag; divided diagonally from upper hoist to lower fly;
the upper triangle is green with a yellow image of the Golden Bosun
Bird superimposed, while the lower triangle is blue with the
Southern Cross constellation, representing Australia, superimposed;
a centered yellow disk displays a green map of the island; the flag
of Australia is used for official purposes

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

Labor force:
NA

Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $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 (2004)

Imports:
$NA

Imports - commodities:
consumer goods

Imports - partners:
principally Australia (2004)

Economic aid - recipient:

$NA

Currency (code):
Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code:
AUD

Exchange rates:
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004),
1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002)

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 - 61-8; satellite earth stations - one
INTELSAT earth station provides telephone and telex service (2005)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2006)

Radios:
1,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

0; note - TV broadcasts received via satellite from mainland
Australia (2006)

Televisions:
600 (1997)

Internet country code:

.cx

Internet hosts:
2,368 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:
464 (2001)

Transportation Christmas Island

Airports: 1 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways: total: 142 km paved: 32 km unpaved: 110 km (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Flying Fish Cove

Military Christmas Island

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia

Transnational Issues Christmas Island

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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, wet season
(May to 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) (2005)

Irrigated land:
0 sq km

Natural hazards:
NA

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:
reef 12 km in circumference

People Clipperton Island

Population: uninhabited (July 2006 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 terminals: 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

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: 574 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA (2006
est.)
Population growth rate:
0% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
NA

Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population

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

Literacy:
NA

Government Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Country name:
conventional long form: Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
conventional short form: Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Dependency status:
non-self governing territory of Australia; administered from
Canberra by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional
Services

Government type:
NA

Capital:
name: West Island
geographic coordinates: 12 10 S, 96 55 E
time difference: UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 1955) as amended
by the Territories Law Reform Act of 1992

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) Neil LUCAS (since 30
January 2006)
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 in May 2005 (next to be held in May 2007)

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

Labor force:
NA

Labor force - by occupation: note: 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 (2004)

Imports:
$NA

Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
Australia (2004)

Economic aid - recipient:

$NA

Currency (code):
Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code:
AUD

Exchange rates:
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004),
1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002)

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; telephone, telex, and facsimile
communications with Australia and elsewhere via satellite; 1
INTELSAT satellite earth station

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

Airports: 1 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways: total: 22 km paved: 10 km unpaved: 12 km (2006)

Ports and terminals:
Port Refuge

Military Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Australia; the territory has a
five-person police force

Transnational Issues Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 conflict between government forces and
anti-government insurgent groups and illegal paramilitary groups -
both heavily funded by the drug trade - escalated during the 1990s.
The insurgents lack the military or popular support necessary to
overthrow the government, and violence has been decreasing since
about 2002, but insurgents continue attacks against civilians and
 large swaths of the countryside are under guerrilla influence.
Paramilitary groups challenge the insurgents for control of
territory and the drug trade. Most paramilitary members have
demobilized since 2002 in an ongoing peace process, although their
commitment to ceasing illicit activity is unclear. The Colombian
Government has stepped up efforts to reassert government control
throughout the country, and now has a presence in every one of its
municipalities. However, 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, and Serrana Bank

Area - comparative:
slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Land boundaries:
total: 6,309 km
border countries: Brazil 1,644 km, Ecuador 590 km, Panama 225 km,
Peru 1,800 km, 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: 2.01% permanent crops: 1.37% other: 96.62% (2005)

Irrigated land:
9,000 sq km (2003)

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:
43,593,035 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.3% (male 6,683,079/female 6,528,563)
15-64 years: 64.5% (male 13,689,384/female 14,416,439)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 996,022/female 1,279,548) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 26.3 years
male: 25.4 years
female: 27.2 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.46% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
20.48 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
5.58 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

 total: 20.35 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 24.25 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.31 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.99 years
male: 68.15 years
female: 75.96 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.54 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Bogota
geographic coordinates: 4 36 N, 74 05 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)

Administrative divisions:
32 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and 1
capital district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca,
Atlantico, 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 and is gradually being
implemented; judicial review of executive and legislative acts
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)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of a coalition of the three largest
parties that supported President URIBE's reelection - the PSUN, PC,
and CR - and independents
elections: president and vice president elected by popular vote for
a four-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 28
May 2006 (next to be held in May 2010)
election results: President Alvaro URIBE Velez reelected president;
percent of vote - Alvaro URIBE Velez 62%, Carlos GAVIRIA Diaz 22%,
Horacio SERPA Uribe 12%, other 4%

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 12 March 2006 (next to be held in
March 2010); House of Representatives - last held 12 March 2006
(next to be held in March 2010)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PSUN 20, PC 18, PL 18, CR 15, PDI 10, other parties 21;
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PL 35, PSUN 33, PC 29, CR 20, PDA 8, other parties 41
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 Conservative Party or PC [Julio MANZUR Abdala];
Alternative Democratic Pole or PDA [Samuel MORENO Rojas]; Liberal
Party or PL [Cesar GAVIRIA Trujillo]; Social National Unity Party or
PSUN [Carlos GARCIA]; Radical Change or CR [German VARGAS Lleras]
note: Colombia has 15 formally recognized political parties, and
numerous unofficial parties that did not meet the vote threshold in
the March 2006 legislative elections required for recognition

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

International organization participation:

BCIE, CAN, CDB, CSN, FAO, G-3, G-15, G-24, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur
(associate), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Carolina BARCO Isakson
chancery: 2118 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
 telephone: [1] (202) 387-8338
FAX: [1] (202) 232-8643
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, San Juan (Puerto Rico),
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 experienced positive growth over the past
three years despite a serious armed conflict. The economy continues
to improve in part because of austere government budgets, focused
efforts to reduce public debt levels, an export-oriented growth
strategy, an improved security situation in the country, and high
commodity prices. Ongoing economic problems facing President URIBE
range from reforming the pension system to reducing high
unemployment, and to achieving congressional passage of a fiscal
transfers reform. New exploration is needed to offset declining oil
production. International and domestic financial analysts note with
concern the growing central government deficit, which hovers at 5%
of GDP. However, the government's economic policy and democratic
security strategy have engendered a growing sense of confidence in
the economy, particularly within the business sector.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$366.7 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$105.5 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.4% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$8,400 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 12% industry: 35.2% services: 52.7%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 20.81 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 22.7% industry: 18.7% services: 58.5%

(2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:
11.1% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

49.2% (2005)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 7.9%
highest 10%: 34.3% (2004)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

53.8 (2005)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.3% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

22.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $50.7 billion
expenditures: $52.29 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)
Public debt:
45.3% of GDP (2006 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:

5.8% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
46.93 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 26% hydro: 72.7% nuclear: 0%

other: 1.3% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
42.01 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
1.682 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
48 million kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
512,400 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
269,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2003)
Oil - proved reserves:
1.282 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

6.18 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

6.18 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

114.4 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-2.219 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$24.86 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
petroleum, coffee, coal, nickel, emeralds, apparel, bananas, cut
flowers

Exports - partners:
US 41.8%, Venezuela 9.9%, Ecuador 6.3% (2005)

Imports:
$24.33 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods,
chemicals, paper products, fuels, electricity

Imports - partners:
US 28.5%, Mexico 8.3%, China 7.6%, Brazil 6.5%, Venezuela 5.7%
 (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$16.5 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$37.21 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$NA

Currency (code):
Colombian peso (COP)

Currency code:
COP

Exchange rates:
Colombian pesos per US dollar - 2,382.9 (2006), 2,320.75 (2005),
2,628.61 (2004), 2,877.65 (2003), 2,504.24 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Colombia

Telephones - main lines in use:

7,678,800 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

21.85 million (2005)

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:
581,877 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

18 (2000)

Internet users:
4.739 million (2005)

Transportation Colombia

Airports: 984 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 101 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 38 914 to 1,523 m: 40 under 914 m: 12 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 883 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m:
35 914 to 1,523 m: 275 under 914 m: 572 (2006)

Heliports:
2 (2006)

Pipelines:
 gas 4,360 km; oil 6,140 km; refined products 3,158 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 3,304 km
standard gauge: 150 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 3,154 km 0.914-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 112,988 km
paved: 16,270 km
unpaved: 96,718 km (2004)

Waterways:
18,000 km (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 17 ships (1000 GRT or over) 42,413 GRT/58,737 DWT
by type: cargo 13, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 3
registered in other countries: 7 (Antigua and Barbuda 2, Panama 5)
(2006)

Ports and terminals:

Barranquilla, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Muelles El Bosque, Puerto
Bolivar, Santa Marta, Turbo

Military Colombia

Military branches:
Army (Ejercito Nacional), National Navy (Armada Nacional, includes
naval aviation, marines, and coast guard), Colombian Air Force
(Fuerza Aerea de Colombia, FAC) (2006)

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
females age 18-49: 10,561,562 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 6,986,228
females age 18-49: 8,794,465 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 389,735
females age 18-49: 383,146 (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: 1.8-3.8 million (conflict between government and illegal
armed groups and FARC factions; drug wars) (2006)

Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of coca, opium poppy, and cannabis; world's
leading coca cultivator (cultivation of coca in 2004 was 114,100
hectares, virtually unchanged from 2003, but down one-third from its
peak of 169,800 ha); producing a potential of 430 mt of pure
cocaine; the world's largest producer of coca derivatives; supplying
most of the US market and the great majority of cocaine to other
 international drug markets; important supplier of heroin to the US
market; opium poppy cultivation fell 50% between 2003 and 2004 to
2,100 hectares yielding a potential 3.8 metric tons of pure heroin,
mostly for the US market; in 2004, aerial eradication treated over
130,000 hectares of coca but aggressive replanting on the part of
growers means Colombia remains a key producer; 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Comoros

Introduction Comoros

Background:
Comoros has endured 19 coups or attempted coups since gaining
independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands of Anjouan
and Moheli declared 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 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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

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:
690,948 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.7% (male 148,009/female 147,038)
15-64 years: 54.3% (male 185,107/female 190,139)
65 years and over: 3% (male 9,672/female 10,983) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 18.6 years
male: 18.4 years
female: 18.9 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.87% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
36.93 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
8.2 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 72.85 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 81.27 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 64.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 62.33 years
male: 60 years
female: 64.72 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.03 children born/woman (2006 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:
republic

Capital:
name: Moroni
geographic coordinates: 11 41 S, 43 16 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
3 islands and 4 municipalities*; Grande Comore (Njazidja), Anjouan
 (Nzwani), Domoni*, Fomboni*, Moheli (Mwali), Moroni*, 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 Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI (since 26 May 2006);
head of government: President Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI (since 26 May
2006);
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 May 2006 (next to
be held by May 2010); prime minister appointed by the president;
note - the post of Prime Minister has been vacant since May 2002
election results: Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI elected president; percent of
vote - Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI 58.0%, Ibrahim HALIDI 28.3%, Mohamed
DJAANFAMI 13.7%

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 in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
CdIA 12, CRC 6; note - 15 additional seats are filled by deputies
from local island assemblies
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:

Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros [AZALI Assowmani]; Camp
of the Autonomous Islands (a coalition of parties organized by the
island Presidents in opposition to the Union President); Front
National pour la Justice or FNJ [Ahmed RACHID] (Islamic party in
opposition); Mouvement pour la Democratie et le Progress or MDP-NGDC
[Abbas DJOUSSOUF]; Parti Comorien pour la Democratie et le Progress
or PCDP [Ali MROUDJAE]; Rassemblement National pour le Development
or RND [Omar TAMOU, Abdoulhamid AFFRAITANE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AMF, AU, COMESA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol,
IOC, ITU, LAS, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Representative to the US and Ambassador to the UN
Mahmoud M. ABOUD
chancery: Mission to the US, 336 East 45th Street (2nd floor), New
York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 750-1637

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador to
Madagascar 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 (official exchange rate):

$402 million (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

 3% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$600 (2005 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% industry and services: 20%

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% (2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $27.6 million
expenditures: $NA (2001 est.)

Agriculture - products:
vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas,
cassava (tapioca)

Industries:
fishing, tourism, perfume distillation

Industrial production growth rate:

-2% (1999 est.)

Electricity - production:
 19 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 90.6% hydro: 9.4% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
17.67 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
720 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-17 million (2005 est.)

Exports:
$34 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), cloves, copra
Exports - partners:
France 26.9%, Singapore 16.3%, Japan 14.6%, Germany 13.2%, US 5.6%,
Netherlands 5% (2005)

Imports:
$115 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum products,
cement, transport equipment

Imports - partners:
France 19.2%, Kenya 18.2%, UAE 8.5%, South Africa 6.3%, Pakistan
5.6%, Belgium 4% (2005)

Debt - external:
$232 million (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$24 million (2003 est.)

Currency (code):
Comoran franc (KMF)

Currency code:
KMF

Exchange rates:
Comoran francs (KMF) per US dollar - 395.6 (2005), 396.21 (2004),
435.9 (2003), 522.74 (2002), 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:

16,900 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
16,100 (2005)

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:
5 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:
20,000 (2005)

Transportation Comoros

Airports:
4 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 880 km
paved: 673 km
unpaved: 207 km (1999)

Merchant marine:
total: 121 ships (1000 GRT or over) 564,882 GRT/801,238 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 10, cargo 85, chemical tanker 1, container 1,
livestock carrier 1, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum
tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 5, specialized
tanker 1
foreign-owned: 72 (Bangladesh 1, Bulgaria 1, Greece 10, India 1,
Kenya 1, Kuwait 1, Lebanon 6, Nigeria 2, Norway 1, Pakistan 2,
Philippines 1, Russia 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Saudi
Arabia 3, Syria 4, Turkey 11, UAE 6, Ukraine 14, US 2) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Mayotte, Moutsamoudou

Military Comoros

Military branches:
Comoran Defense Force: Comoran Security Force (includes Gendarmerie
and Army), Comoran Federal Police (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 138,940
females age 18-49: 139,491 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 98,792
females age 18-49: 106,415 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

 $12.87 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Comoros

Disputes - international: claims French-administered Mayotte

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 (DRC), but in August 1998 his
regime was itself challenged by an insurrection backed by Rwanda and
 Uganda. Troops from Angola, Chad, Namibia, Sudan, and Zimbabwe
intervened to support the Kinshasa regime. A cease-fire was signed
in July 1999 by the DRC, Congolese armed rebel groups, Angola,
Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zimbabwe 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; with Joseph KABILA
as president and joined by four vice presidents representing the
former government, former rebel groups, and the political
opposition. The transitional government held a successful
constitutional referendum in December 2005 and elections for the
presidency, National Assembly, and provincial legislatures in 2006.
KABILA was inaugurated president in December 2006.

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: 2.86%
permanent crops: 0.47%
other: 96.67% (2005)

Irrigated land:
110 sq km (2003)
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:
62,660,551
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
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 47.4% (male 14,906,488/female 14,798,210)
15-64 years: 50.1% (male 15,597,353/female 15,793,350)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 632,143/female 933,007) (2006 est.)

Median age:
 total: 16.2 years
male: 16 years
female: 16.4 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.07% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
43.69 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
13.27 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: fighting between the Congolese Government and Uganda- and
Rwanda-backed Congolese rebels spawned a regional war in DRC in
August 1998, which left 2.33 million Congolese internally displaced
and caused 412,000 Congolese refugees to flee to surrounding
countries (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 88.62 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 96.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 80.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 51.46 years
male: 50.01 years
female: 52.94 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.45 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

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: DRC

Government type:
transitional government

Capital:
name: Kinshasa
geographic coordinates: 4 18 S, 15 18 E
time difference: UTC+1 (six hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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
note: According to the Constitution adopted in December 2005, the
current administrative divisions will be subdivided into 26 new
provinces

Independence:
30 June 1960 (from Belgium)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 30 June (1960)

Constitution:
18 February 2006

Legal system:
a new constitution was adopted by referendum 18 December 2005;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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, his presidency was reconfirmed by the October 2006
elections; 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, his presidency was reconfirmed by the October 2006
elections; the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the president
elections: under the new constitution the president is elected by
popular vote to a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
elections last held 30 July 2006 with a second round held on 29
October 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: results of 29 October 2006 elections (second
round); Joseph KABILA 58%, Jean-Pierre BEMBA Gombo 42%
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 held on 30 July 2006 and
29 October 2006 where the poplar vote confirmed Joseph KABILA as
president

Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of a National Assembly (500 seats;
60 members elected by majority vote in single-member constituencies
440 members elected by open list proportional-representation in
multi-member constituencies; members serve 5-year terms) and a
Senate (108 seats; members elected by provincial assemblies to serve
5-year terms)
elections: National Assembly - last held 30 July 2006 (next to be
held in 2011)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
 seats by party - PPRD 111, MLC 64, PALU 34, MSR 27, FR 26, RCD 15,
Independents 63, others 160 (includes 63 political parties that won
fewer than 10 seats)

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Political parties and leaders:

Congolese Rally for Democracy or RCD [Azaria RUBERWA]; Forces for
Renovation for Union and Solidarity or FONUS [Joseph OLENGHANKOY];
Forces of Renewal or FR [Mbusa NYAMWISI]; Movement for the
Liberation of the Congo or MLC [Jean-Pierre BEMBA]; National
Congolese Lumumbist Movement or MNC [Francois LUMUMBA]; People's
Party for Reconstruction and Democracy or PPRD [Joseph Kabila];
Social Movement for Renewal or MSR; Unified Lumumbast Party or PALU
[Antoine GIZENGA]; Union for Democracy and Social Progress or UDPS
[Etienne TSHISEKEDI wa Mulumba]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, CEPGL, COMESA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (suspended), ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW,
PCA, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU,
WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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, Washington, DC, 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 234-7690, 7691
FAX: [1] (202) 234-2609

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Roger MEECE
embassy: 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa
 mailing address: Unit 31550, APO AE 09828
telephone: [243] (88) 43608
FAX: [243] (88) 43467

Flag description:
sky blue field divided diagonally from the lower hoist corner to
upper fly corner by a red stripe bordered by two narrow yellow
stripes; a yellow, five-pointed star appears in the upper hoist
corner

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
violence, 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. The transitional government
has reopened relations with international financial institutions and
international donors, and President KABILA has begun implementing
reforms. Much economic activity lies outside the GDP data. Economic
stability improved in 2003-06, although an uncertain legal
framework, corruption, and a lack of openness in government policy
continues to hamper growth. In 2005-06, renewed activity in the
mining sector, the source of most exports, boosted Kinshasa's fiscal
position and GDP growth. Business and economic prospects are
expected to improve once a new government is installed after
elections.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$44.6 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

 $8.061 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$700 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 55% industry: 11% services: 34%

(2000 est.)

Labor force: 14.51 million (1993 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: 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):

9% (2004 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $700 million
expenditures: $750 million; including capital expenditures of $24
million (2004 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:
353 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 1.8% hydro: 98.2% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
658.3 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
330 million kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
21,090 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
8,200 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

1.538 billion bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
991.1 million cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Exports:
$1.108 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
diamonds, copper, crude oil, coffee, cobalt

Exports - partners:
Belgium 38.1%, US 17.8%, China 11.6%, France 8%, Finland 7.7%,
Chile 4.3% (2005)

Imports:
$1.319 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, mining and other machinery, transport equipment, fuels

Imports - partners:
South Africa 18%, Belgium 15.6%, France 8.8%, Zambia 6.7%, Kenya
6.2%, Germany 4.5%, US 4.4%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.2%, Netherlands 4%
(2005)

Debt - external:
$10.6 billion (2003 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$2.2 billion (FY03/04)

Currency (code):
Congolese franc (CDF)

Currency code:
CDF

Exchange rates:
Congolese francs per US dollar - 437.86 (2005), 401.04 (2004),
405.34 (2003), 346.49 (2002)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Telephones - main lines in use:

10,600 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.746 million (2005)

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:
1,778 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2001)
Internet users:
140,600 (2005)

Transportation Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Airports: 234 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 25 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 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 209 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523
m: 94 under 914 m: 97 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 54 km; oil 78 km (2006)

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 (2005)

Roadways:
total: 153,497 km
paved: 2,794 km
unpaved: 150,703 km (2004)

Waterways:
15,000 km (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 1,004 GRT/1,640 DWT
by type: petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Congo, Republic of the 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Banana, Boma, Bukavu, Bumba, Goma, Kalemie, Kindu, Kinshasa,
Kisangani, Matadi, Mbandaka

Military Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force

Military service age and obligation:

18-45 years of age for military service

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 11,365,610 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 6,464,223 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$103.7 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.5% (2005 est.)

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 DRC expected to return
in 2005; in 2005, DRC and Rwanda established a border verification
mechanism to address accusations of Rwandan military supporting
Congolese rebels and the DRC 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): 106,772 (Angola), 42,360 (Rwanda),
 19,032 (Burundi), 18,954 (Uganda), 11,723 (Sudan), 5,243 (Republic
of Congo)
IDPs: 1.1 million (fighting between government forces and rebels
since mid-1990s; most IDPs are in eastern provinces) (2006)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 took office in 1992. A brief civil
war in 1997 restored former Marxist President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO,
and ushered in a period of ethnic and political 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 was once one of Africa's
largest petroleum producers, but with declining production it will
need to hope for new offshore oil finds to sustain its oil earnings
 over the long term.

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); persistent 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: 1.45% permanent crops: 0.15% other: 98.4% (2005)

Irrigated land:
20 sq km (2003)

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:
3,702,314
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
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.4% (male 864,407/female 853,728)
15-64 years: 50.7% (male 930,390/female 945,545)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 44,430/female 63,814) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 16.6 years
male: 16.4 years
female: 16.9 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.6% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
42.57 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
12.93 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-3.62 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 85.29 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 91 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 79.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 52.8 years
male: 51.65 years
female: 53.98 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.07 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

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%

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:
name: Brazzaville
geographic coordinates: 4 16 S, 15 17 E
time difference: UTC+1 (six hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 term); election last held 10 March 2002 (next
to be held in 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 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 [Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO, president] (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); 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;
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,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW (signatory), UN, UN Security Council
(temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, 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 Robert WEISBERG
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 through
oil-backed loans that have contributed to a growing debt burden and
chronic revenue shortfalls. Economic reform efforts have been
undertaken with the support of international organizations, notably
the World Bank and the IMF. However, 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. 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. Recovery of oil prices has boosted the economy's GDP and
near-term prospects. In March 2006, the World Bank and the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved Heavily Indebted Poor
Countries (HIPC) treatment for Congo.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$4.958 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$5.093 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,300 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 6.2%
industry: 55.3%
services: 38.5% (2006 est.)

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):

2.6% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

27.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $2.985 billion
expenditures: $1.664 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 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:
6.847 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.3% hydro: 99.7% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
5.127 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
1.25 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
9 million kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
 267,100 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
6,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

93.5 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

90.61 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$1.215 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$5.996 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
petroleum, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa, coffee, diamonds

Exports - partners:
China 38.4%, US 28.6%, Taiwan 11.6%, South Korea 7.1% (2005)
Imports:
$1.964 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
capital equipment, construction materials, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
France 23.2%, China 10.2%, US 7.3%, India 7.2%, Italy 6.7%, Belgium
4.6% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$547 million (2006 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 -
513.168 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99
(2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Congo, Republic of the

Telephones - main lines in use:

13,800 (2004)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
490,000 (2005)

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 (2004)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:
36,000 (2005)

Transportation Congo, Republic of the

Airports: 32 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 28
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 11 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 89 km; liquid petroleum gas 4 km; oil 744 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 894 km
narrow gauge: 894 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)

Roadways: total: 17,289 km paved: 864 km unpaved: 16,425 km (2004)

Waterways:
4,385 km (on Congo and Oubanqui rivers) (2005)

Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 1 (Congo, Democratic Republic of the
1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Brazzaville, Djeno, Impfondo, Ouesso, Oyo, Pointe-Noire

Military Congo, Republic of the

Military branches:
Congolese Armed Forces (FAC): Army, Congolese 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: 688,628
females age 18-49: 685,388 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 406,016
females age 18-49: 394,745 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 38,464
females age 18-49: 38,082 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$85.22 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.4% (2005 est.)

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:

refugees (country of origin): 56,380 (Democratic Republic of
Congo), 6,478 (Rwanda)
IDPs: 48,000 (multiple civil wars since 1992; most IDPs are ethnic
Lari) (2006)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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: 236.7 sq km
land: 236.7 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 oceanic; moderated by trade winds; a dry season from April
to November and a more humid season from December to March

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: 16.67%
permanent crops: 8.33%
other: 75% (2005)

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, Hazardous Wastes, 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, where most of the
population lives, consist of eight elevated, fertile, volcanic
isles, including the largest, Rarotonga, at 67 sq km

People Cook Islands

Population:
21,388 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 34.1% (male 2,718/female 2,388)
15-64 years: 59.5% (male 4,531/female 4,395)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 489/female 469) (2001 census)

Median age:
total: 25.3 years
male: 24.7 years
female: 25.9 years (2001 census)

Population growth rate:

-1.2% between 1996-2001 (2001 census)

Birth rate:
21 births/1,000 population (2001 census)

Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population

Sex ratio:
1.07 male(s)/female (2001 census)

Infant mortality rate:

total: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Life expectancy at birth:

 total population: NA
male: NA
female: NA

Total fertility rate:

3.1 children born/woman (2001 census)

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 Adventists 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%

People - note: 2001 census counted a resident population of 15,017

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:
name: Avarua
geographic coordinates: 21 12 S, 159 46 W
time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 John BRYAN (since 6 September 2005),
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:
bicameral Parliament consisting of a lower house or Legislative
Assembly with 25 seats (24 seats representing districts of the Cook
Islands and one seat representing Cook Islanders living overseas;
members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) and an
upper house or House of Ariki made up of traditional leaders
elections: last held 26 September 2006 (next to be held by 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - Demo 51.9%, CIP 45.5%,
independent 2.7%; seats by party - Demo 15, CIP 8, independent 1
note: the House of Ariki advises on traditional matters and
maintains considerable influence, but has no legislative powers

Judicial branch:
High Court

Political parties and leaders:

Cook Islands Party or CIP [Henry PUNA]; Democratic Party or Demo
[Dr. Terepai MAOATE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AsDB, FAO, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IOC, ITUC, OPCW, PIF,
Sparteca, SPC, 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, employing about 70% of the
working population, provides the economic base with major exports
made up of copra and citrus fruit. Black pearls are the Cook
Island's leading export. 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):

$183.2 million (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$183.2 million (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

0.1% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$9,100 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 15.1% industry: 9.6% services: 75.3%

(2004)

Labor force: 6,820 (2001)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 29% industry: 15% services: 56%

(1995)

Unemployment rate:
13.1% (2005)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.1% (2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $70.95 million
expenditures: $69.05 million; including capital expenditures of
$5.744 million (FY05/06)

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:
 28 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
26.04 million kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
420 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$26.67 million (2005)

Exports:
$5.222 million (2005)

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% (2004)

Imports:
$81.04 million (2005)

Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods

Imports - partners:
New Zealand 61%, Fiji 19%, US 9%, Australia 6%, Japan 2% (2004)

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 - 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004),
1.7221 (2003), 2.1622 (2002)

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 hosts:
1,456 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2000)

Internet users:
3,600 (2002)

Transportation Cook Islands

Airports: 9 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 320 km
paved: 33 km
unpaved: 287 km (2003)

Merchant marine:
total: 6 ships (1000 GRT or over) 48,422 GRT/51,900 DWT
by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3
foreign-owned: 5 (Norway 1, NZ 1, Sweden 3) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Avatiu

Military Cook Islands

Military branches:
no regular military forces; Ministry of Police and Disaster
Management (2005)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Coral Sea Islands

Introduction Coral Sea Islands

Background:
Scattered over more than three-quarters of a 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) (2005)

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 Transport and Regional Services

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 terminals: 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Costa Rica

Introduction Costa Rica

Background:
Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th century, initial
attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved unsuccessful due to a
combination of factors, including: disease from mosquito-infested
swamps, brutal heat, resistance by natives, and pirate raids. It was
not until 1563 that a permanent settlement of Cartago was
established in the cooler, fertile central highlands. The area
remained a colony for some two and a half centuries. In 1821, Costa
Rica became one of several Central American provinces that jointly
declared their independence from Spain. Two years later it joined
the United Provinces of Central America, but this federation
disintegrated in 1838, at which time Costa Rica proclaimed its
sovereignty and independence. Since the late 19th century, only two
brief periods of violence have marred the country's democratic
development. Although it still maintains a large agricultural
sector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to include strong
technology and tourism industries. 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: 4.4% permanent crops: 5.87% other: 89.73% (2005)

Irrigated land:
1,080 sq km (2003)

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:
4,075,261 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.3% (male 590,261/female 563,196)
15-64 years: 66% (male 1,359,750/female 1,329,346)
65 years and over: 5.7% (male 108,041/female 124,667) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 26.4 years
male: 26 years
female: 26.9 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.45% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
18.32 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
4.36 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 9.7 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 10.58 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.02 years
male: 74.43 years
female: 79.74 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.24 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: San Jose
geographic coordinates: 9 56 N, 84 05 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)

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 Oscar ARIAS Sanchez (since 8 May 2006);
First Vice President Laura CHINCHILLA (since 8 May 2006); Second
Vice President Kevin CASAS Zamora (since 8 May 2006); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Oscar ARIAS Sanchez (since 8 May
2006); First Vice President Laura CHINCHILLA (since 8 May 2006);
Second Vice President Kevin CASAS Zamora (since 8 May 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president
elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a single four-year term; election last held 5
February 2006 (next to be held February 2010)
election results: Oscar ARIAS Sanchez elected president; percent of
vote - Oscar ARIAS Sanchez (PLN) 40.9%; Otton SOLIS (PAC) 39.8%,
Otto GUEVARA Guth (PML) 8%, Ricardo TOLEDO (PUSC) 3%

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 5 February 2006 (next to be held February 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PLN 25, PAC 17, PML 6, PUSC 5, other 4

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 [Gerardo
Justo OROZCO Alvarez]; Democratic Force Party or PFD [Vladimir DE LA
CRUZ]; General Union Party or PUGEN [Carlos Alberto FERNANDEZ
Vega];
Homeland First or PP [Juan Jose VARGAS Fallas]; Independent Worker
Party or PIO [Jose Alberto CUBERO Carmona]; Libertarian Movement
Party or PML [Otto GUEVARA Guth]; National Christian Alliance Party
or ANC [Juan Carlos CHAVEZ Mora]; 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 Restoration Party or PRN [Carlos
AVENDANO]; Nationalist Democratic Alliance or ADN [Jose Miguel
VILLALOBOS Umana]; Patriotic Union or UP [Humberto ARCE Salas];
Social Christian Unity Party or PUSC [Luis FILMAN]; Union for Change
Party or UPC [Antonio ALVAREZ Desanti]; United Leftist Coalition or
IU [Humberto VARGAS Carbonel]

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, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM (observer), OAS,
OPANAL,
OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL,
WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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,
Hammond (temporary location in Louisiana), Houston, Los Angeles, Miami,
New York, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Tampa (temporarily closed), Washington,
DC consulate(s): San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mark

LANGDALE embassy: Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose mailing address:
APO AA 34020 telephone: [506] 519-2000 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. The government continues to
grapple with its large internal and external deficits and sizable
internal debt. The reduction of inflation remains a difficult
problem because of rising import prices, labor market rigidities,
and fiscal deficits. The country also needs to reform its tax system
and its pattern of public expenditure. The current administration
has made it a priority to pass the necessary reforms to implement
the US-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). CAFTA
implementation would result in an improved investment climate.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$48.77 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$20.77 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.7% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$12,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8.6% industry: 31% services: 60.4%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 1.866 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 20% industry: 22% services: 58%

(1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:
6.6% (2006 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:

46.5 (2000)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

12.1% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $3.134 billion
expenditures: $3.475 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
53.4% of GDP (2006 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:

8.4% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
8.4 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 1.5% hydro: 81.9% nuclear: 0%

other: 16.6% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
7.574 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
440 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
202 million kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
44,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-1.176 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$7.931 billion (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
coffee, bananas, sugar, pineapples; textiles, electronic
components, medical equipment

Exports - partners:
US 42.6%, Hong Kong 6.9%, Netherlands 6.4%, Guatemala 4.2% (2005)

Imports:
$10.88 billion (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment, petroleum

Imports - partners:
US 41.3%, Japan 5.6%, Venezuela 4.8%, Mexico 4.8%, Ireland 4.3%,
Brazil 4.2%, China 4.2% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.5 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$6.42 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Currency (code):
Costa Rican colon (CRC)

Currency code:
CRC

Exchange rates:
Costa Rican colones per US dollar - 513.302 (2006), 477.79 (2005),
 437.91 (2004), 398.66 (2003), 359.82 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Costa Rica

Telephones - main lines in use:

1,388,500 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.101 million (2005)

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:
 12,751 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (of which only one is legal) (2000)

Internet users:
1 million (2005)

Transportation Costa Rica

Airports: 157 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 32 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 19 under 914 m: 9 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 125 914 to 1,523 m: 24 under 914 m:
101 (2006)

Pipelines: refined products 242 km (2006)

Railways: total: 278 km narrow gauge: 278 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)

Roadways: total: 35,330 km paved: 8,621 km unpaved: 26,709 km (2004)

Waterways:
730 km (seasonally navigable by small craft) (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,308 GRT/743 DWT
by type: passenger/cargo 2 (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Caldera, Puerto Limon

Military Costa Rica

Military branches:
no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security,
Government, and Police (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
18 years of age (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 997,690
females age 18-49: 968,290 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 829,874
females age 18-49: 809,343 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 41,097
females age 18-49: 39,243

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$83.46 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.4% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Costa Rica

Disputes - international:
in September 2005, Costa Rica took its case before the ICJ to
advocate the navigation, security, and commercial rights of Costa
Rican vessels using the Rio San Juan over which Nicaragua retains
sovereignty

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 9,470 (Colombia) (2006)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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. In December 1999, a
military coup - the first ever in Cote d'Ivoire's history -
overthrew the government. Junta leader Robert GUEI blatantly rigged
elections held in late 2000 and declared himself the winner. Popular
protest forced him 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 citizenship, remain
unresolved. The central government has yet to exert control over the
northern regions and tensions remain high between GBAGBO and
opposition 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: 10.23%
permanent crops: 11.16%
other: 78.61% (2005)

Irrigated land:
730 sq km (2003)

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, Whaling
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:
17,654,843
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
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 40.8% (male 3,546,674/female 3,653,990)
15-64 years: 56.4% (male 5,024,575/female 4,939,677)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 238,793/female 251,134) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 19.2 years
male: 19.4 years
female: 18.9 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.03% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
35.11 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
14.84 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 89.11 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 105.73 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 71.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 48.82 years
male: 46.24 years
female: 51.48 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.5 children born/woman (2006 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
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified
among birds in this country or surrounding region; it poses a
negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens
who have close contact with birds (2007)

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:
Muslim 35-40%, indigenous 25-40%, Christian 20-30% (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
note: the government is currently operating under a power-sharing
agreement mandated by international mediators

Capital:
name: Yamoussoukro
geographic coordinates: 5 19 N, 4 02 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
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:
approved by referendum 23 July 2000

Legal system:
based on French civil law system and customary law; judicial review
in the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Laurent GBAGBO (since 26 October 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Charles Konan BANNY (since 7
December 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note -
under the current power-sharing agreement Prime Minister BANNY and
President GBAGBO share the authority to appoint ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(no term limits); election last held 26 October 2000 (next to be
held by October 2007, after the government postponed elections in
2005 and 2006); prime minister appointed by the president (current
Prime Minister BANNY was appointed by African Union mediators as
part of the existing power-sharing agreement)
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 by October 2007, after the
government postponed the elections in 2005 and 2006)
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 2006

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 [Theodore MEL EG]; 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]; Opposition Movement of the
Future or MFA [Anaky KOBENAN]; Rally of the Republicans or RDR
[Alassane OUATTARA]; Union for Democracy and Peace in Cote d'Ivoire
or UDPCI [Mabri TOIKEUSE]; over 20 smaller parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Federation of University and High School Students of Cote d'Ivoire
or FESCI [Serges KOFFI]; Rally of Houphouetists for Democracy and
Peace or RHDP [Alphonse DJEDJE MADY]; Young Patriots [Charles BLE
GOUDE]

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-24, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
 IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF,
OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WADB
(regional),
WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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) 244-3088

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Aubrey HOOKS
embassy: Riviera Golf 01, Abidjan
mailing address: B. P. 1866, 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.
Growth was negative in 2000-03 because of the difficulty of meeting
the conditions of international donors, continued low prices of key
exports, foreign divestment and civil war. Political turmoil has
continued to damage the economy since 2004, with a rising risk
 premium associated with doing business in the country, foreign
investment shriveling, transportation costs increasing, French
businesses fleeing, and criminal elements that traffic in weapons
and diamonds gaining ground. The government will continue to survive
financially off of the sale of cocoa, which represents 90% of
foreign exchange earnings, but the government will probably lose
between 10% and 20% of its cocoa harvest to northern rebels who
smuggle the cocoa they control to neighboring countries where cocoa
prices are higher. The government remains hopeful that ongoing
exploration of Cote d'Ivoire's offshore oil reserves will result in
significant production that could boost daily crude output from
roughly 33,000 barrels per day (b/d) to more than 200,000 b/d by the
end of the decade.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$28.47 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$17.19 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.2% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,600 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 27% industry: 18.5% services: 54.5%

(2006 est.)

Labor force:
6.738 million (68% agricultural) (2006 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:

45.2 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.2% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

11.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $2.837 billion
expenditures: $3.154 billion; including capital expenditures of $420
million (2006 est.)

Public debt:
69.4% of GDP (2006 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:
4.625 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 61.9% hydro: 38.1% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
3.202 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
1.1 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
32,900 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
23,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

220 million bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

1.3 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.3 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

28.32 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$460 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
 $7.832 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
cocoa, coffee, timber, petroleum, cotton, bananas, pineapples, palm
oil, fish

Exports - partners:
France 18.3%, US 14.1%, Netherlands 11%, Nigeria 8%, Panama 4.4%
(2005)

Imports:
$5.548 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
fuel, capital equipment, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
France 27.7%, Nigeria 24.5%, Singapore 6.6% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.4 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$11.96 billion (2006 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 -
522.592 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99
(2002)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Cote d'Ivoire

Telephones - main lines in use:

257,900 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.19 million (2005)

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:
2,534 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2001)
Internet users:
160,000 (2005)

Transportation Cote d'Ivoire

Airports: 35 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 28
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 5 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate 109 km; gas 240 km; oil 112 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 660 km
narrow gauge: 660 km 1.000 meter gauge
note: an additional 622 km of this railroad extends into Burkina
Faso (2005)

Roadways:
total: 80,000 km
paved: 6,500 km
unpaved: 73,500 km
note: includes intercity and urban roads; another 20,000 km of dirt
roads are in poor condition and 150,000 km of dirt roads are
impassable (2006)

Waterways:
980 km (navigable rivers, canals, and numerous coastal lagoons)
(2005)
Ports and terminals:
Abidjan, Aboisso, Dabou, San-Pedro

Military Cote d'Ivoire

Military branches:
Cote d'Ivoire Defense and Security Forces (FDSC): Army, Navy, Air
Force (2006)

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
females age 18-49: 3,569,967 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,973,265
females age 18-49: 1,911,777 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 189,354
females age 18-49: 192,600 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$246.6 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.6% (2005 est.)

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): 39,919 (Liberia)
IDPs: 750,000 (2002 coup; most IDPs are in western regions) (2006)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 241 km, Montenegro 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: 25.82% permanent crops: 2.19% other: 71.99% (2005)

Irrigated land:
110 sq km (2003)

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, Whaling
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; the vast majority of Adriatic Sea islands lie off
the coast of Croatia - some 1,200 islands, islets, ridges, and rocks
People Croatia

Population:
4,494,749 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.2% (male 373,638/female 354,261)
15-64 years: 67% (male 1,497,958/female 1,515,314)
65 years and over: 16.8% (male 288,480/female 465,098) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 40.3 years
male: 38.3 years
female: 42.1 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.03% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
9.61 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
11.48 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.58 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.93 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 6.72 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 74.68 years
male: 71.03 years
female: 78.53 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.4 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Zagreb
geographic coordinates: 45 48 N, 15 58 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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
three-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 POLANCEC (since 15 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
(eligible for a second 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 66%, Jadranka KOSOR (HDZ) 34% in the second round

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: last held 23 November 2003 (next to be held in 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; number of seats by
party - HDZ 63, SDP 34, HNS 11, HSS 9, HSP 7, IDS 4, HDSSB 3, HSLS
3, HSU 3, SDSS 3, other 12
note: minority government coalition - HDZ, DC, HSLS, HSU, SDSS; note
- the Democratic Center party or DC withdrew from the government in
Febuary 2006
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 Congress of
Slavonia and Baranja or HDSSB [Branimir GLAVAS]; Croatian Democratic
Union or HDZ [Ivo SANADER]; Croatian Party of Rights or HSP [Anto
DJAPIC]; Croatian Peasant Party or HSS [Josip FRISCIC]; 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 [Djurdja ADLESIC]; 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]; Social Democratic Party of Croatia or SDP [Ivica RACAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT (observer), BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO,
IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
MINURSO, MINUSTAH, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OIF
(observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNFICYP,
UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNOMIG,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

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 Robert A. BRADTKE
embassy: 2 Thomas Jefferson Street, 10010 Zagreb
mailing address: use street address
telephone: [385] (1) 661-2200
FAX: [385] (1) 661-2373

Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and blue
superimposed by the 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 17%, 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 impressive at about 3% to 4% for the last several
years, has been stimulated, in part, through high fiscal deficits
and rapid credit growth. The EU accession process should accelerate
fiscal and structural reform.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$59.41 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$37.35 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.4% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$13,200 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6.8% industry: 30.9% services: 62.3%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 1.72 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 2.7% industry: 32.8% services: 64.5%

(2004)

Unemployment rate:
17.2% official rate; labor force surveys indicate unemployment
around 14% (2006 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 (2001)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.4% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

28.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $17.78 billion
expenditures: $19.06 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
56.2% of GDP (2006 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:

5% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
12.95 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 33.6% hydro: 66% nuclear: 0%

other: 0.4% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
16.53 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
600 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
5.086 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
20,500 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
93,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

 93.6 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

1.64 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

2.75 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

1.11 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

24.64 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-2.892 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$11.17 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
transport equipment, textiles, chemicals, foodstuffs, fuels

Exports - partners:
Italy 21.8%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 14.7%, Germany 10.7%, Slovenia
8.1%, Austria 7.3% (2005)

Imports:
$21.79 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery, transport and electrical equipment; chemicals, fuels and
lubricants; foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
Italy 15.9%, Germany 14.9%, Russia 9.1%, Slovenia 6.8%, Austria
5.8%, China 4.7%, France 4.2% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$11.07 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$33.09 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $166.5 million (2002)

Currency (code):
kuna (HRK)

Currency code:
HRK

Exchange rates:
kuna per US dollar - 5.85506 (2006), 5.9473 (2005), 6.0358 (2004),
6.7035 (2003), 7.8687 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Croatia

Telephones - main lines in use:

1,889,500 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.984 million (2005)

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

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:
18,825 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

9 (2000)

Internet users:
1,451,100 (2005)

Transportation Croatia

Airports: 68 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 45 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 7

under 914 m: 37 (2006)

Heliports:
 2 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 1,340 km; oil 583 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 2,726 km
standard gauge: 2,726 km 1.435-m gauge (1,199 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 28,344 km
paved: 24,186 km (including 742 km of expressways)
unpaved: 4,158 km (2004)

Waterways:
785 km (2006)

Merchant marine:
total: 72 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,079,286 GRT/1,724,698 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 22, cargo 11, chemical tanker 3,
passenger/cargo 27, petroleum tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 1, roll
on/roll off 3
registered in other countries: 36 (Belize 1, Cyprus 2, Liberia 7,
Malta 10, Marshall Islands 2, Panama 5, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 9) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Omisalj, Ploce, Rijeka, Sibenik, Vukovar (on Danube)

Military Croatia

Military branches:
Ground Forces (Hrvatska Kopnena Vojska, HKoV), Naval Forces
(Hrvatska Ratna Mornarica, HRM), Air and Air Defense Forces
(Hrvatsko Ratno Zrakoplovstvo i Protuzrakoplovna Obrana, HRZiPZO),
Joint Education and Training Command, Logistics Command; Military
Police Force supports each of the three Croatian military forces
(2006)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory military
service, with six-month service obligation; 16 years of age with consent for
voluntary service (December 2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,005,058
females age 18-49: 1,008,511 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 725,914
females age 18-49: 823,611 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 29,020
females age 18-49: 27,897 (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 related to maritime access that
hinders ratification of the 1999 border agreement; 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: 4,200-7,000 (Croats and Serbs displaced in 1992-95 war) (2006)
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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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, marked initially by neglect, became
increasingly repressive, provoking an independence movement and
occasional rebellions that 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 2,810 individuals attempting to cross the Straits
of Florida in fiscal year 2006.

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 remains part of
Cuba

Coastline:
3,735 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
 contiguous zone: 24 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: 27.63% permanent crops: 6.54% other: 65.83% (2005)

Irrigated land:
8,700 sq km (2003)

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:
11,382,820 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.1% (male 1,117,677/female 1,058,512)
15-64 years: 70.3% (male 4,001,161/female 3,999,303)
65 years and over: 10.6% (male 554,148/female 652,019) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 35.9 years
male: 35.2 years
female: 36.5 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.31% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
11.89 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
7.22 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.57 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 6.22 deaths/1,000 live births
 male: 6.99 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.41 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.41 years
male: 75.11 years
female: 79.85 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.66 children born/woman (2006 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
over-land 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:
name: Havana
geographic coordinates: 23 08 N, 82 22 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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)); not acknowledged by the Cuban Government as a
day of independence

National holiday:
 Triumph of the Revolution, 1 January (1959)

Constitution:
24 February 1976; amended July 1992 and June 2002

Legal system:
based on Spanish civil law and influenced by American legal
concepts, 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)
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%
note: due to an ongoing health problem, Fidel CASTRO Ruz
provisionally transferred power to his brother Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz
 on 31 July 2006, in accordance with the Cuban Constitution; CASTRO
has not yet reclaimed control of the government

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly of People's Power or Asemblea Nacional
del Poder Popular (609 seats, elected directly from slates approved
by special candidacy commissions; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 19 January 2003 (next to be held in 2008)
election results: percent of vote - PCC 97.6%; seats - PCC 609

Judicial branch:
People's Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo Popular (president, vice
president, and other judges are elected by the National Assembly)

Political parties and leaders:

only party - Cuban Communist Party or PCC [Fidel CASTRO Ruz, first
secretary]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, NAM, OAS
(excluded from formal participation since 1962), OPANAL, OPCW, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO,
WMO, 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; FAX: [1] (202)
797-8521

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none; note - the US has an Interests Section in the Swiss Embassy,
headed by Principal Officer Michael E. PARMLY; 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, center, and bottom)
alternating with white; a red equilateral triangle based on the
hoist side bears a white, five-pointed star in the center

Economy Cuba

Economy - overview:
The government continues to balance the need for economic loosening
against a desire for firm political control. It has rolled back
limited reforms undertaken in the 1990s to increase enterprise
efficiency and alleviate serious shortages of food, consumer goods,
and services. The average Cuban's standard of living remains at a
lower level than before the downturn of the 1990s, which was caused
by the loss of Soviet aid and domestic inefficiencies. In 2006, high
metals prices continued to boost Cuban earnings from nickel and
cobalt production. Havana continued to invest in the country's
energy sector to mitigate electrical blackouts that have plagued the
country since 2004.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$44.54 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$40 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,900 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5.1% industry: 27.2% services: 67.6%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 4.82 million note: state sector 78%, non-state sector 22% (2006
est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 20% industry: 19.4% services: 60.6%

(2005)

Unemployment rate:
1.9% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

11.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $35.07 billion
expenditures: $36.41 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 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:

17.6% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
15.34 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 93.9% hydro: 0.6% nuclear: 0%

other: 5.4% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
14.1 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
72,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
204,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
259 million bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

704 million cu m (2004)

Natural gas - consumption:

704 million cu m (2004)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

70.79 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-1.218 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$2.956 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus, coffee

Exports - partners:
Netherlands 25.7%, Canada 21%, China 9.9%, Spain 6.8% (2005)

Imports:
$9.51 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
petroleum, food, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports - partners:
China 14.5%, Spain 13.7%, Canada 8.4%, US 8.3%, Germany 7.2%,
Brazil 5.6%, Italy 5.6%, Mexico 5.1%, Japan 4% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$2.618 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$15.15 billion (convertible currency); another $15-20 billion owed
to Russia (2006 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 (2006), 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:

849,900 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

134,500 (2005)

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 less than 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:
2,234 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2001)

Internet users:
190,000
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" (2005)

Transportation Cuba

Airports: 170 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 78 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9

1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 37 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 92 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m:

29 under 914 m: 62 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 49 km; oil 230 km (2006)

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
(2005)

Roadways:
total: 60,858 km
paved: 29,820 km (including 638 km of expressway)
unpaved: 31,038 km (1999)

Waterways:
240 km (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 11 ships (1000 GRT or over) 33,932 GRT/48,791 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, passenger 1,
petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Spain 1)
registered in other countries: 17 (Bahamas 1, Cyprus 2, Netherlands
Antilles 1, Panama 11, Spain 1, unknown 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Cienfuegos, Havana, Matanzas

Military Cuba

Military branches:
Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR): Revolutionary Army (ER),
Revolutionary Navy (Marina de Guerra Revolucionaria, MGR),
Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR), Youth Labor Army
(EJT) (2005)

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 age 18-49: 91,901
females: 87,500 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$694 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.8% (2005 est.)

Military - note:
Moscow, for decades the key military supporter and supplier of
Cuba, cut off almost all military aid by 1993

Transnational Issues Cuba

Disputes - international:
US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay is leased to US and only mutual
agreement or US abandonment of the area can terminate the lease

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Cuba is a source country for women and children
trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced child
labor; Cuba is a major destination for sex tourism, which largely
caters to European, Canadian, and Latin American tourists and
involves large numbers of minors; there are reports that Cuban women
have been trafficked to Mexico for sexual exploitation; forced labor
victims also include children coerced into working in commercial
agriculture
tier rating: Tier 3 - Cuba does not fully comply with the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making
significant efforts to do so

Illicit drugs:
territorial waters and air space serve as transshipment zone for US
and European-bound drugs; established the death penalty for certain
drug-related crimes in 1999

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Cyprus

Introduction Cyprus

Background:
A former British colony, Cyprus became independent 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
Government-sponsored attempt to seize control of Cyprus 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 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. The entire island entered the EU on 1 May 2004, although
the EU acquis - the body of common rights and obligations - applies
only to the areas under direct Republic of Cyprus control, and is
suspended in the areas administered by Turkish Cypriots. However,
individual Turkish Cypriots able to document their eligibility for
Republic of Cyprus citizenship legally enjoy the same rights
accorded to other citizens of European Union states. 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 contiguous zone: 24 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: 10.81% permanent crops: 4.32% other: 84.87% (2005)

Irrigated land:
400 sq km (2003)

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, Wetlands
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:
784,301 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.4% (male 81,776/female 78,272)
15-64 years: 68% (male 270,254/female 263,354)
65 years and over: 11.6% (male 39,536/female 51,109) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 34.9 years
male: 33.9 years
female: 35.9 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.53% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
12.56 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
7.68 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 7.04 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.82 years
male: 75.44 years
female: 80.31 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.82 children born/woman (2006 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
local long form: Kypriaki Dimokratia/Kibris Cumhuriyeti
local short form: Kypros/Kibris
note: the Turkish Cypriot community, which administers the northern
part of the island, 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), which is recognized only by Turkey

Capital:
 name: Nicosia (Lefkosia)
geographic coordinates: 35 10 N, 33 22 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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, although the "TRNC" remains unrecognized by any country
other than Turkey

Legal system:
based on common law, with civil law modifications; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
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 - 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 became "president" of the "TRNC", 24 April
2005, after "presidential" elections on 17 April 2005; results -
Mehmet Ali TALAT 55.6%, Dervis EROGLU 22.7%; Ferdi Sabit SOYER is
"TRNC prime minister" and heads the Council of Ministers (cabinet)
in coalition with "Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister"
Turgay AVCI

Legislative branch:
unicameral - area under government control: 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); area administered by Turkish Cypriots:
Assembly of the Republic or Cumhuriyet Meclisi (50 seats; members
are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: area under government control: last held 21 May 2006
(next to be held 2011); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: last
held 14 December 2003 (next to be held in 2008)
election results: area under government control: House of
Representatives - percent of vote by party - AKEL 31.13%, DISY
30.34%, DIKO 17.92%, KISOS 6.51%, EDEK 8.91%, EURO.KO 5.75%,
Greens
1.95%; seats by party - AKEL (Communist) 18, DISY 18, DIKO 11, KISOS
4, EDEK 4, EURO.KO 4, Greens 1; area administered by Turkish
Cypriots: 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; note - "TRNC" seats by party as of September 2006 - CTP 25, OP 3,
UBP 13, DP 6, BDH 1, independents 2

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed jointly by the president and
vice president)
note: there is also a Supreme Court in the area administered by
Turkish Cyriots

Political parties and leaders:

area under government control: Democratic Party or DIKO [Marios
KAROYIAN]; Democratic Rally or DISY [Nikos ANASTASIADHIS];
European
Democracy or EURO.DI [Prodromos PRODROMOU] (evolved from For
Europe
which merged with New Horizons); European Party or EURO.KO [Demetris
SYLLOURIS]; Fighting Democratic Movement or ADIK [Dinos
MIKHAILIDIS]; Green Party of Cyprus [George PERDIKIS]; Movement for
Social Democrats or EDEK [Yannakis OMIROU]; Political Movement of
Hunters [Michalis PAFITANIS]; Progressive Party of the Working
People or AKEL (Communist Party) [Dimitrios CHRISTOFIAS]; United
Democrats or EDI [Michalis PAPAPETROU]; area administered by Turkish
Cypriots: Communal Liberation Party or TKP [Huseyin ANGOLEMLI];
Cyprus Socialist Party or KSP [Kazim ONGEN]; Democratic Party or DP
[Serder DENKTASH]; Freedom and Reform Party or OP [Turgay AVCI];
National Unity Party or UBP [Tahsin ERTUGRULOGLU]; Nationalist
Justice Party or MAP [Ata TEPE]; New Party or YP [Huseyin TURAN];
Our Party or BP [Okyay SADIKOGLU]; Patriotic Unity Movement or YBH
[Oguz OZEN]; Peace and Democratic Movement or BDH [Mustafa AKINCI];
Renewal Progress Party or YAP [Ertugrul HASIPOGLU]; Republican
Turkish Party or CTP [Ferdi Sabit SOYER]; United Cyprus Party or BKP
[Isset IZCAN]
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, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Andreas KAKOURIS
chancery: 2211 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-5772, 462-0873
FAX: [1] (202) 483-6710
consulate(s) general: New York
note: representative of the Turkish Cypriot community in the US is
Hilmi AKIL; office at 1667 K Street NW, Washington, DC; telephone
[1] (202) 887-6198

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald L. SCHLICHER
embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, 2407 Engomi,
Nicosia
mailing address: P. O. Box 24536, 1385 Nicosia
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 white
field with narrow horizontal red stripes positioned a small distance
from the top and bottom edges between which is centered a red
crescent and red five-pointd star

Economy Cyprus

Economy - overview:
The Republic of Cyprus has a market economy dominated by the
service sector, which accounts for 76% of GDP. Tourism and financial
services are the most important sectors; 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. Nevertheless, the economy
grew a healthy 3.7% per year in 2004 and 2005, well above the EU
average. Cyprus joined the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM2)
in May 2005. The government has initiated an aggressive austerity
program, which has cut the budget deficit to below 3% but continued
fiscal discipline is necessary if Cyprus is to meet its goal of
adopting the euro on 1 January 2008. As in the area administered by
Turkish Cypriots, 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 15.4% 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. Under the 2003-06 economic protocol, Ankara
planned to provide around $700 million to the "TRNC." Agriculture
and services, together, employ more than half of the work force.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

Republic of Cyprus: $17.79 billion; north Cyprus: $4.54 billion
(2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
Republic of Cyprus: $16.35 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

Republic of Cyprus: 3.7%; north Cyprus: 10.6% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

Republic of Cyprus: $22,700 (2005 est.); north Cyprus: $7,135 (2004
est.) (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

Republic of Cyprus: agriculture 3.7%; industry 19.6%; services
76.8% (2005 est.)
north Cyprus: agriculture 10.6%; industry 20.5%; services 68.9%
(2003 est.)

Labor force:
Republic of Cyprus: 380,000, north Cyprus: 95,025 (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

Republic of Cyprus: agriculture 7.4%, industry 38.2%, services
54.4% (2004 est.)
north Cyprus: agriculture 14.5%, industry 29%, services 56.5% (2004
est.)

Unemployment rate:
Republic of Cyprus: 5.5% (2005 est.); 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: 2.8% (2005 est.); north Cyprus: 9.1% (2004 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

Republic of Cyprus: 21.2% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:
revenues: Republic of Cyprus - $7.395 billion (2005 est.)
expenditures: Republic of Cyprus - $7.695 billion (2005 est.)
revenues: $685.7 million; north Cyprus - $231.3 million (2003 est.)
expenditures: north Cyprus - $432.8 million (2003 est.)

Public debt:
Republic of Cyprus: 68.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables; poultry,
pork, lamb; 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: 2.4% (2005 est.); north Cyprus: -0.3% (2002
est.) (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
Republic of Cyprus: 3.926 billion kWh; north Cyprus: NA kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source:

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

Electricity - consumption:
Republic of Cyprus: 3.651 billion kWh (2004); north Cyprus: NA kWh
(2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
Republic of Cyprus: 300 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
Republic of Cyprus: 53,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

Republic of Cyprus: $-1.051 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
Republic of Cyprus: $1.34 billion f.o.b.; north Cyprus: $69 million
f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
Republic of Cyprus: citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals, cement,
clothing and cigarettes; north Cyprus: citrus, potatoes, textiles

Exports - partners:
France 18.8%, UK 18.1%, Greece 13%, Germany 6% (2005)

Imports:
Republic of Cyprus: $5.8 billion f.o.b.; north Cyprus: $415.2
million f.o.b. (2006 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 17.3%, Italy 10.3%, UK 9%, Germany 8.4%, Israel 7.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

Republic of Cyprus: $4.613 billion; north Cyprus $NA (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
Republic of Cyprus: $12.63 billion; north Cyprus: $NA (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

Republic of Cyprus - $NA; north Cyprus - $700 million from Turkey
in grants and loans, which are usually forgiven (2003-06)

Currency (code):
Republic of Cyprus: Cypriot pound (CYP); Turkish Cypriot area:
Turkish New lira (YTL)

Currency code:
CYP; TRL

Exchange rates:
Cypriot pounds per US dollar - 0.46019 (2006), 0.4641 (2005),
0.4686 (2004), 0.5174 (2003), 0.6107 (2002), Turkish lira per US
dollar - 1.44514 (2006), 1.3436 (2005), 1.426 million (2004), 1.501
million (2003), 1.507 million (2002), 1.226 million (2001)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Cyprus

Telephones - main lines in use:

area under government control: 420,000 (2005); area administered by
Turkish Cypriots: 86,228 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

area under government control: 718,800 (2005);; area administered
by Turkish Cypriots: 143,178 (2002)
Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent in both area under government control
and area administered by Turkish Cypriots
domestic: open-wire, fiber-optic cable, and microwave radio relay
international: country code - 357 (area administered by Turkish
Cypriots uses the country code of Turkey - 90); 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:

area under government control: AM 5, FM 76, shortwave 0
area administered by Turkish Cyriots: AM 1, FM 20, shortwave 1 (2004)

Radios:
Greek Cypriot area: 310,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: 56,450
(1994)

Television broadcast stations:

area under government control: 8
area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 2 (plus 4 relay) (2004)

Televisions:
Greek Cypriot area: 248,000 (1997); Turkish Cypriot area: 52,300
(1994)

Internet country code:

.cy

Internet hosts:
67,589 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6 (2000)

Internet users:
298,000 (2005)

Transportation Cyprus
Airports: 16 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Heliports:
10 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 14,496 km (area under government control: 12,146 km; area
administered by Turkish Cypriots: 2,350 km)
paved: area under government control: 7,845 km (including 276 km of
expressways); area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 1,370 km
unpaved: area under government control: 4,301 km; area administered
by Turkish Cypriots: 980 km (2005/1996 est.)

Merchant marine:
total: 884 ships (1000 GRT or over) 19,477,944 GRT/31,157,473 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 354, cargo 210, chemical tanker 44, container
145, liquefied gas 8, passenger 7, passenger/cargo 23, petroleum
tanker 64, refrigerated cargo 15, roll on/roll off 9, vehicle
carrier 5
foreign-owned: 777 (Belgium 1, Canada 2, China 11, Croatia 2, Cuba
2, Denmark 1, Estonia 6, Germany 214, Greece 337, Greenland 1, Hong
Kong 1, India 5, Iran 2, Ireland 3, Israel 3, Italy 2, Japan 17,
South Korea 1, Latvia 4, Netherlands 18, Norway 16, Philippines 1,
Poland 20, Portugal 2, Russia 53, Singapore 1, Slovakia 1, Slovenia
4, Spain 7, Sweden 3, Switzerland 4, Syria 3, UAE 11, UK 6, Ukraine
4, US 7, unknown 1)
registered in other countries: 87 (Bahamas 13, Belize 2, Cambodia
12, Georgia 1, Gibraltar 1, Greece 1, Isle of Man 1, Liberia 3,
Malta 15, Marshall Islands 15, Norway 2, Panama 14, Portugal 1,
Russia 2, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Sierra Leone 1, Turkey
2) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Vasilikos

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:

Greek Cyriot National Guard (GCNG):
males age 18-49: 184,352
females age 18-49: 175,567 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

Greek Cyriot National Guard (GCNG):
males age 18-49: 150,750
females age 18-49: 144,344 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

Greek Cyriot National Guard (GCNG):
males age 18-49: 6,578
females age 18-49: 6,200 (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 30-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: 210,000 (both Turkish and Greek Cypriots; many displaced for
over 30 years) (2006)

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Cyprus is primarily a destination country for a
large number of women trafficked from Eastern and Central Europe,
the Philippines, and the Dominican Republic for the purpose of
sexual exploitation; traffickers continued to fraudulently recruit
victims for work as dancers in cabarets and nightclubs on short-term
"artiste" visas, for work in pubs and bars on employment visas, or
for illegal work on tourist or student visas; there were credible
reports of female domestic workers from India, Sri Lanka, and the
Philippines forced to work excessively long hours and denied proper
compensation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Cyprus does not fully comply with
the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and failed
to show evidence of increasing efforts to address its serious
trafficking for sexual exploitation problem; however, it is making
significant efforts to do so

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 vulnerable to money
laundering; reporting of suspicious transactions in offshore sector
remains weak

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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: 2,290.2 km
border countries: Austria 466.3 km, Germany 810.3 km, Poland 761.8
km, Slovakia 251.8 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: 38.82% permanent crops: 3% other: 58.18% (2005)

Irrigated land:
240 sq km (2003)

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, Whaling
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:
10,235,455 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
 0-14 years: 14.4% (male 755,098/female 714,703)
15-64 years: 71.2% (male 3,656,021/female 3,629,036)
65 years and over: 14.5% (male 576,264/female 904,333) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 39.3 years
male: 37.5 years
female: 41.1 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.06% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
9.02 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
10.59 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.97 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 3.89 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.24 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.22 years
male: 72.94 years
female: 79.69 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.21 children born/woman (2006 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% male: 99% female: 99% (2003
est.)

Government Czech Republic

Country name:
conventional long form: Czech Republic
conventional short form: Czech Republic
local long form: Ceska Republika
local short form: Cesko

Government type:
parliamentary democracy

Capital:
name: Prague
 geographic coordinates: 40 55 N, 21 00 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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)
head of government: Prime Minister Mirek TOPOLANEK (since 9 January
2007), Deputy Prime Minister Petr NECAS (since 9 January 2007),
Deputy Prime Minister Jiri CUNEK (since 9 January 2007), Deputy
Prime Minister Martin BURSIK (since 9 January 2007), and Deputy
Prime Minister Alexandr VONDRA (since 9 January 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of
 the prime minister
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term
(eligible for a second 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 20-21 and 27-28 October
2006 (next to be held October 2008); Chamber of Deputies - last held
2-3 June 2006 (next to be held by June 2010)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - ODS 41, CSSD 12, KDU-CSL 10, others 15, independents 2;
Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - ODS 35.4%, CSSD
32.3%, KSCM 12.8%, KDU-CSL 7.2%, Greens 6.3%, other 6%; seats by
party - ODS 81, CSSD 74, KSCM 26, KDU-CSL 13, Greens 6

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court; chairman and deputy chairmen
are appointed by the president for a 10-year term

Political parties and leaders:

Association of Independent Candidates-European Democrats or SNK-ED
[Jana Hybaskova, chairman]; Christian Democratic Union-Czechoslovak
People's Party or KDU-CSL [Jiri CUNEK, chairman]; Civic Democratic
Alliance or ODA [Jirina NOVAKOVA, chairwoman]; Civic Democratic
Party or ODS [Mirek TOPOLANEK, chairman]; Communist Party of Bohemia
and Moravia or KSCM [Vojtech FILIP, chairman]; Czech Social
Democratic Party or CSSD [Jiri PAROUBEK, chairman]; Freedom
Union-Democratic Union or US-DEU [Jan HADRAVA, chairman]; Green
Party [Martin BURSIK, chairman]; Independent Democrats (NEZDEM)
 [Vladimir ZELEZNY, chairman]; Party of Open Society (SOS) [Pavel
NOVACEK, chairman]; Path of Change [Jiri LOBKOWITZ, chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions or CMKOS [Milan STECH]

International organization participation:

ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CEI,
CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM
(guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE,
UNMIL, UNOMIG,
UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Petr KOLAR
chancery: 3900 Spring of Freedom Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 274-9100
FAX: [1] (202) 966-8540
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Richard W. GRABER
embassy: Trziste 15, 11801 Prague 1
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [420] 257 022 000
FAX: [420] 257 022 809

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
2000-05 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. The current account deficit has declined to
around 3% of GDP as demand for Czech products in the European Union
has increased. 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 took 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):

$221.4 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$118.9 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.2% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$21,600 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.8% industry: 37.8% services: 59.4%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 5.31 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 4.1% industry: 37.6% services: 58.3%

(2003)
Unemployment rate:
8.4% (2006 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:

27.3 (2003)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.7% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

26.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $57.88 billion
expenditures: $62.53 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
29.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, poultry

Industries:
metallurgy, machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, glass,
armaments

Industrial production growth rate:

9.5% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
79.14 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 76.1% hydro: 2.9% nuclear: 20%
other: 1% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
58.8 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
24.6 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
9.8 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
15,240 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - consumption:
203,100 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
26,670 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
182,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves:

17.25 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

216 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

9.6 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

88 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

8.815 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

 3.964 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-4.352 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$89.34 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 52%, chemicals 5%, raw materials
and fuel 9% (2003)

Exports - partners:
Germany 33.5%, Slovakia 8.7%, Austria 5.5%, Poland 5.5%, France
5.3%, UK 4.6%, Italy 4.3% (2005)

Imports:
$87.7 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment 46%, raw materials and fuels 15%,
chemicals 10% (2003)

Imports - partners:
Germany 30%, Russia 5.7%, Slovakia 5.4%, China 5.1%, Poland 5%,
Italy 4.8%, France 4.5%, Netherlands 4% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$30.99 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$50.2 billion (30 June 2006 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 - 22.3072 (2006), 23.957 (2005), 25.7 (2004),
28.209 (2003), 32.739 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Czech Republic

Telephones - main lines in use:

3,217,300 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

11.776 million (2005)

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:
1,267,265 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

more than 300 (2000)

Internet users:
5.1 million (2005)

Transportation Czech Republic

Airports: 121 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 46 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10

1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 19 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 75 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m:

25 under 914 m: 49 (2006)

Heliports:
2 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 7,010 km; oil 547 km; refined products 94 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 9,572 km
standard gauge: 9,473 km 1.435-m gauge (2,951 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 99 km 0.760-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 127,747 km
paved: 127,747 km (including 518 km of expressways) (2003)
Waterways:
664 km (principally on Elbe as well as Vltava and Oder rivers)
(2005)

Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Decin, Prague, Usti nad Labem

Military Czech Republic

Military branches:
Army of the Czech Republic (ACR): Joint Forces Command (includes
air forces), Support and Training Forces Command (2006)

Military service age and obligation:

18-50 years of age for voluntary military service; on-going
transformation of military service into a fully professional,
all-volunteer force no longer dependent on conscription began in
January 2004 and is scheduled to be completed by 2007 (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,414,728
females age 18-49: 2,329,412 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,996,631
females age 18-49: 1,923,508 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 66,583
females age 18-49: 63,363 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$2.17 billion (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

 1.81% FY05

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 from Czechoslovakia after World War II; Austrian
anti-nuclear activists have revived blockades of the Czech-Austrian
border to protest operation of the Temelin nuclear power plant in
the Czech Republic

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 contiguous zone: 24 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: 52.59% permanent crops: 0.19% other: 47.22% (2005)

Irrigated land:
4,490 sq km (2003)

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:
5,450,661 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.7% (male 523,257/female 496,697)
15-64 years: 66.1% (male 1,815,240/female 1,787,406)
65 years and over: 15.2% (male 355,656/female 472,405) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 39.8 years
male: 38.9 years
female: 40.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.33% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
11.13 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
10.36 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.52 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.51 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.54 deaths/1,000 live births
 female: 4.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.79 years
male: 75.49 years
female: 80.22 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.74 children born/woman (2006 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: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)
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:
name: Copenhagen
geographic coordinates: 55 40 N, 12 35 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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: as a result of an extensive 2005 local government reform, with
2006 being a transition year, 271 municipalities will be merged to
98 by 1 January 2007, and the 14 counties will be reorganized into
five regions

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: Council of State appointed by the monarch
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:
Christian Democrats (was Christian People's Party) [Bodil KORNBEK];
Conservative Party (sometimes known as Conservative People's Party)
[Bendt BENDTSEN]; Danish People's Party [Pia KJAERSGAARD]; Liberal
Party [Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN]; Red-Green Unity List (bloc includes
Left Socialist Party, Communist Party of Denmark, Socialist Workers'
Party) [collective leadership]; 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]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

AfDB, Arctic Council, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN,
EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC,
NATO,
NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club,
PCA, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU,
WCO, WEU
(observer), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Friis Arne PETERSEN
chancery: 3200 Whitehaven Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 234-4300
FAX: [1] (202) 328-1470
consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador James P. CAIN
embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen
mailing address: PSC 73, APO AE 09716
telephone: [45] 33 41 71 00
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:
The Danish economy is undergoing strong expansion fueled by private
consumption growth, low unemployment, rising real wages, and a
strong increase in house prices. 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. Nonetheless, the Danish
krone remains pegged to the euro. Economic growth gained momentum in
2004 and the upturn continued through 2006. 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):

$198.5 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$256.3 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

 3% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$37,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.4% industry: 24.6% services: 74%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 2.91 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 3% industry: 21% services: 76% (2004

est.)

Unemployment rate:
4.5% (2006 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:

23.2 (2002)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.8% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

22.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $147 billion
expenditures: $138.9 billion; including capital expenditures of $4.6
billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
28.6% of GDP (2006 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, pharmaceuticals, medical
equipment

Industrial production growth rate:

2.5% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
38.02 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 82.7% hydro: 0.1% nuclear: 0%

other: 17.3% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
32.56 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
11.5 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
8.7 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
391,400 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
185,300 bbl/day (2004 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:

9.43 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

5.171 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

4.099 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

99.99 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$4.941 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$93.93 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, dairy products,
fish, chemicals, furniture, ships, windmills

Exports - partners:
Germany 17.6%, Sweden 13.2%, UK 8.7%, US 6.4%, France 5.5%,
Netherlands 5.3%, Norway 5.1% (2005)

Imports:
$89.32 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, raw materials and semimanufactures for
industry, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, consumer goods

Imports - partners:
 Germany 20.5%, Sweden 13.8%, Norway 6.6%, Netherlands 6.5%, UK
5.9%, China 4.7%, France 4.2%, Italy 4.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$30.38 billion (August 2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$405 billion (30 June 2006)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $2 billion (2004)

Currency (code):
Danish krone (DKK)

Currency code:
DKK

Exchange rates:
Danish kroner per US dollar - 5.93667 (2006), 5.9969 (2005), 5.9911
(2004), 6.5877 (2003), 7.8947 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Denmark

Telephones - main lines in use:

3.35 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

5.469 million (2005)

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:
2,415,530 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

13 (2000)

Internet users:
3,762,500 (2005)

Transportation Denmark

Airports: 92 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 64 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 61

(2006)
Pipelines:
condensate 12 km; gas 3,931 km; oil 626 km; oil/gas/water 2 km
(2006)

Railways:
total: 2,673 km
standard gauge: 2,673 km 1.435-m gauge (601 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 72,257 km
paved: 72,257 km (including 1,032 km of expressways) (2005)

Waterways:
400 km (2001)

Merchant marine:
total: 293 ships (1000 GRT or over) 7,986,735 GRT/9,936,431 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 63, chemical tanker 48, container 86,
liquefied gas 4, livestock carrier 2, passenger 1, passenger/cargo
40, petroleum tanker 23, refrigerated cargo 7, roll on/roll off 8,
specialized tanker 4
foreign-owned: 25 (Canada 1, Germany 13, Greece 5, Greenland 1,
Norway 3, Sweden 1, UK 1)
registered in other countries: 409 (Antigua and Barbuda 14, Bahamas
59, Belgium 4, Cayman Islands 5, Cyprus 1, Egypt 1, Estonia 2,
France 1, French Southern and Antarctic Lands 2, Gibraltar 1, Hong
Kong 6, Isle of Man 53, North Korea 1, Liberia 8, Lithuania 10,
Malta 6, Marshall Islands 1, Mexico 2, Netherlands 9, Netherlands
Antilles 1, Norway 32, Panama 34, Portugal 4, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 14, Singapore 52, South Africa 1, Spain 1, Sweden 4, UK
46, US 24, Vanuatu 6, Venezuela 3, Vietnam 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Aalborg, Aarhus, Asnaesvaerkets, Copenhagen, Elsinore, Ensted,
Esbjerg, Fredericia, Frederikshavn, Kalundborg, Odense, Roenne

Military Denmark

Military branches:
 Defense Command: Army Operational Command, Admiral Danish Fleet,
Tactical Air Command (2006)

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory and
volunteer military service; conscripts serve an initial training period that varies
from four to 12 months according to specialization; reservists are assigned to
mobilization units following completion of their conscript service; women
eligible to volunteer for military service (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,175,108
females age 18-49: 1,150,627 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 955,168
females age 18-49: 935,643 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 31,317
females age 18-49: 29,558 (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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 -
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:
name: Episkopi Cantonment; located in Akrotiri
geographic coordinates: 34 40 N, 32 51 E
 time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Constitution:
Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia Order in Council
1960, effective 16 August 1960

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 Air Vice-Marshal Richard LACEY
(since 26 April 2006); 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
Currency (code):
Cypriot pound (CYP)

Exchange rates:
Cypriot pounds per US dollar - 0.46019 (2006), 0.4641 (2005),
0.4686 (2004), 0.5174 (2003), 0.6107 (2002)

Communications Dhekelia

Radio broadcast stations:

FM 1 (located in Akrotiri)
note: British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides Radio 1
and Radio 2 service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia (2006)

Television broadcast stations:

British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides multi-channel
satellite service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia (2006)

Military Dhekelia

Military - note:
includes Dhekelia Garrison and Ayios Nikolaos Station connected by
a roadway

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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. In 1999, Djibouti's first
multi-party presidential elections resulted in the election of
Ismail Omar GUELLEH; he was re-elected to a second and final term in
2005. Djibouti occupies a 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 is also developing
stronger ties with the US. Djibouti hosts the only US 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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
10 sq km (2003)

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, Wetlands
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:
486,530 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.3% (male 105,760/female 105,068)
15-64 years: 53.3% (male 135,119/female 124,367)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 8,183/female 8,033) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 18.2 years
male: 18.7 years
female: 17.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.02% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
39.53 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
19.31 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 102.44 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 110.07 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 94.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 43.17 years
male: 41.86 years
female: 44.52 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.31 children born/woman (2006 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
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified
among birds in this country or surrounding region; it poses a
negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens
who have close contact with birds (2007)

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
local long form: Republique de Djibouti/Jumhuriyat Jibuti
local short form: Djibouti/Jibuti
former: French Territory of the Afars and Issas, French Somaliland

Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Djibouti
geographic coordinates: 11 30 N, 43 15 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
6 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); Ali Sabieh, Arta, Dikhil,
Djibouti, Obock, Tadjourah

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
(eligible for a second 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 [Ismail Omar GUELLEH] (governing party); 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

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, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, ITUC, LAS, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW (signatory),
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Roble OLHAYE Oudine
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 W. Stuart SYMINGTON
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 (official exchange rate):

$702 million (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.2% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,000 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 17.9% industry: 22.5% services:

59.6% (2003 est.)

Labor force: 282,000 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: 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):

3% (2005 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

Industrial production growth rate:

3% (1996 est.)

Electricity - production:
200 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
186 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
 0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
11,900 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$250 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
reexports, hides and skins, coffee (in transit)

Exports - partners:
Somalia 66.3%, Ethiopia 21.5%, Yemen 3.4% (2005)

Imports:
$987 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum products

Imports - partners:
Saudi Arabia 21.9%, India 18.7%, China 10.1%, Ethiopia 4.8%, France
4.7%, US 4.3%, Japan 4.2% (2005)

Debt - external:
$394 million (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

 $64.1 million (2004)

Currency (code):
Djiboutian franc (DJF)

Currency code:
DJF

Exchange rates:
Djiboutian francs per US dollar - 177.72 (2005), 177.72 (2004),
177.72 (2003), 177.72 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Djibouti

Telephones - main lines in use:

11,100 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

34,500 (2004)

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, Marseille, Colombo, and Singapore; satellite earth stations
- 1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat; Medarabtel regional
microwave radio relay telephone network

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 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:
1,540 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:
9,000 (2005)

Transportation Djibouti

Airports: 13 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 3 (2006)

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 (2005)
Roadways:
total: 2,890 km
paved: 364 km
unpaved: 2,526 km (1999)

Merchant marine:
total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 1,369 GRT/3,030 DWT
by type: cargo 1 (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Djibouti

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
females age 18-49: 87,795 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 46,020
females age 18-49: 42,181 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$29.05 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

4.3% (2005 est.)

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; thousands of Somali refugees await
repatriation in UNHCR camps in Djibouti

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 9,828 (Somalia) (2006)

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Djibouti is a source, transit, and destination
country for women and children trafficked for the purposes of sexual
exploitation and possibly forced labor; small numbers are trafficked
from Ethiopia and Somalia for sexual exploitation; economic migrants
from these countries also fall victim to trafficking upon reaching
Djibouti City or the Ethiopia-Djibouti trucking corridor; women and
children from neighboring countries reportedly transit Djibouti to
Arab countries and Somalia for ultimate use in forced labor or
sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Djibouti does not fully comply with
the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however,
it is making significant efforts to do so based partly on the
government's commitments to undertake future action

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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: 21.33%
other: 72% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

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:
68,910 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.1% (male 9,084/female 8,885)
15-64 years: 66% (male 23,419/female 22,079)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 2,186/female 3,257) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 30.1 years
male: 29.8 years
female: 30.4 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.08% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
15.27 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
6.73 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-9.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 13.71 deaths/1,000 live births
 male: 18.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.11 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.87 years
male: 71.95 years
female: 77.93 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.94 children born/woman (2006 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

Capital:
name: Roseau
geographic coordinates: 15 18 N, 61 24 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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)
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 52.07%, 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]; Dominica United Workers Party or
UWP [Earl WILLIAMS]

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, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO,
 UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Swinburne A.S. 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. Tourism has increased as the
government seeks 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 (official exchange rate):

$279 million (2005)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.1% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,800 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 17.7% industry: 32.8% services:

49.5% (2004 est.)

Labor force: 25,000 (1999 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 40% industry: 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):

-0.1% (2005 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:
83.88 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 47.1% hydro: 52.9% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
78.01 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
900 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
 $74 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
bananas, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges

Exports - partners:
UK 26.8%, Jamaica 10%, South Korea 8.9%, Antigua and Barbuda 8.8%,
Guyana 7.4%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.8%, US 4%, Saint Lucia 4% (2005)

Imports:
$234 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals

Imports - partners:
US 25.5%, China 20.5%, Trinidad and Tobago 12.4%, South Korea 7.1%,
Japan 4.7%, UK 4.4% (2005)

Debt - external:
$213 million (2004)

Economic aid - recipient:

$29.2 million (2004 est.)

Currency (code):
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Currency code:
XCD

Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7
(2003), 2.7 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

Communications Dominica

Telephones - main lines in use:

21,000 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

41,800 (2004)

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:
263 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

16 (2000)

Internet users:
20,500 (2005)

Transportation Dominica

Airports: 2 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)

Roadways: total: 780 km paved: 393 km unpaved: 387 km (1999)

Merchant marine:
total: 48 ships (1000 GRT or over) 634,668 GRT/1,100,558 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 24, chemical tanker 4, container 2,
petroleum tanker 6, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 1,
 vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 45 (Estonia 11, Germany 1, Greece 5, Latvia 1, Norway
1, NZ 4, Russia 2, Saudi Arabia 3, Singapore 9, Syria 1, Turkey 3,
UAE 2, Ukraine 2) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Portsmouth, Roseau

Military Dominica

Military branches:
no regular military forces; Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force
(includes coast guard)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 18,227 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 15,136 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 602 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Transnational Issues Dominica

Disputes - international:
Dominica is the only Caribbean state to challenge Venezuela's
sovereignty claim over Aves Island and joins the other island
nations in challenging whether the feature sustains human
habitation, a criterion under the UN Convention on the Law of the
Sea (UNCLOS), which permits Venezuela to extend its Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ) and continental shelf claims 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Dominican Republic

Introduction Dominican Republic

Background:
Explored and claimed by Christopher 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 followed,
capped by the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas TRUJILLO from
1930-1961. Juan BOSCH was elected president in 1962, but was deposed
in a military coup in 1963. In 1965, the United States led an
intervention in the midst of a civil war sparked by an uprising to
restore BOSCH. In 1966, Joaquin BALAGUER defeated BOSCH in an
 election to become president. BALAGUER 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. Former President (1996-2000)
Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna won election to a second term in 2004
following a constitutional amendment allowing presidents to serve
more than one term.

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: 22.49%
permanent crops: 10.26%
other: 67.25% (2005)

Irrigated land:
2,750 sq km (2003)

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, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea
Geography - note:
shares island of Hispaniola with Haiti

People Dominican Republic

Population:
9,183,984 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 32.6% (male 1,531,145/female 1,464,076)
15-64 years: 61.9% (male 2,902,098/female 2,782,608)
65 years and over: 5.5% (male 235,016/female 269,041) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 24.1 years
male: 24 years
female: 24.3 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.47% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
23.22 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
5.73 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-2.79 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 28.25 deaths/1,000 live births
 male: 30.58 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 25.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.73 years
male: 70.21 years
female: 73.33 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.83 children born/woman (2006 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:
mixed 73%, white 16%, black 11%

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:
name: Santo Domingo
geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 69 54 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
31 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 district*
(distrito); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabon, Distrito Nacional*,
Duarte, El Seibo, Elias Pina, 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, San Cristobal, San Jose de Ocoa, San Juan, San
Pedro de Macoris, Sanchez Ramirez, 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; Criminal Procedures Code modified in
2004 to include important elements of an accusatory system; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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)
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second
consecutive term); 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 House of Representatives or Camara de
Diputados (178 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 16 May 2006 (next to be held in May
2008); House of Representatives - last held 16 May 2006 (next to be
held in May 2008)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - PLD 22, PRD 6, PRSC 4; House of Representatives - percent of
vote by party - NA; seats by party - PLD 96, PRD 60, PRSC 22

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Corte Suprema (judges are appointed by the
National Judicial Council comprised of the president, the leaders of
both chambers of congress, the president of the Supreme Court, and
an additional non-governing party congressional representative)
Political parties and leaders:
Dominican Liberation Party or PLD [Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna];
Dominican Revolutionary Party or PRD [Ramon ALBURQUERQUE];
National
Progressive Front [Vincent CASTILLO, Pelegrin CASTILLO]; Social
Christian Reformist Party or PRSC [Enrique ANTUN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Citizen Participation Group (Participacion Ciudadania); Collective
of Popular Organizations or COP; Foundation for Institution-Building
and Justice (FINJUS)

International organization participation:

ACP, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory),
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO (suspended), ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA
(observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), PCA, RG, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador 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: Anchorage, Boston, Chicago, Mayaguez (Puerto
Rico), Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, 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 that
enjoyed strong GDP growth until 2003. 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. Growth turned negative in 2003 with reduced tourism, a major
bank fraud, and limited growth in the US economy (the source of
about 80% of export revenues), but recovered in 2004-06. With the
help of strict fiscal targets agreed in the 2004 renegotiation of an
IMF standby loan, President FERNANDEZ has stabilized the country's
financial situation. Although the economy continues to grow at a
respectable rate, high unemployment and inflation remain important
challenges. 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. The
Dominican Republic's development prospects improved with the
ratification of the Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade
Agreement (CAFTA-DR) in September 2005.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$73.74 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$19.91 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

 7.2% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$8,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11.2% industry: 30.6% services:

58.2% (2005 est.)

Labor force: 3.896 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 17% industry: 24.3% services: 58.7%

(1998 est.)

Unemployment rate:
16% (2006 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):

8.2% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

15.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $5.852 billion
expenditures: $5.947 billion; including capital expenditures of $1.1
billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
45.6% of GDP (2006 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:
15.02 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 92% hydro: 7.6% nuclear: 0%

other: 0.4% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
13.96 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
11.95 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
127,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
129,900 bbl/day (2003)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
130 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

130 million cu m

Current account balance:

$-1.124 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$6.495 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
ferronickel, sugar, gold, silver, coffee, cocoa, tobacco, meats,
consumer goods

Exports - partners:
US 78.9%, Netherlands 2.4%, Mexico 1.9% (2005)

Imports:
$11.39 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics, chemicals and
pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners:
US 50%, Colombia 6.2%, Mexico 5.8% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.106 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$8.634 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$571.6 million (2004)

Currency (code):
Dominican peso (DOP)
Currency code:
DOP

Exchange rates:
Dominican pesos per US dollar - 33.6046 (2006), 30.409 (2005),
42.12 (2004), 30.831 (2003), 18.61 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Dominican Republic

Telephones - main lines in use:

894,500 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

3.623 million (2005)

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:
91,895 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

24 (2000)

Internet users:
938,300 (2005)

Transportation Dominican Republic

Airports: 33 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3

1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 19 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 10 (2006)

Railways:
total: 517 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 (2005)

Roadways:
total: 12,600 km
paved: 6,224 km
unpaved: 6,376 km (1999)

Merchant marine:
total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 1,587 GRT/1,165 DWT
by type: cargo 1 (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Boca Chica, Puerto Plata, Rio Haina, Santo Domingo

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: 2,133,142
females age 18-49: 2,032,840 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,671,493
females age 18-49: 1,536,257 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 91,699
females age 18-49: 87,550 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$0 (2002 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0% (2002 est.)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 1,400 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. In March of 2006, a military strike led to
violence and a near breakdown of law and order. Over 2,000
Australian, New Zealand, and Portuguese police and peacekeepers
 deployed to East Timor in late May. Although many of the
peacekeepers were replaced by UN police officers, 850 Australian
soldiers remained as of 1 January 2007.

Geography East Timor

Location:
Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda
Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago; note -
East Timor includes the eastern half of the island of Timor, the
Oecussi (Ambeno) region on the northwest portion of the island of
Timor, and the islands of Pulau Atauro and Pulau Jaco

Geographic coordinates:
8 50 S, 125 55 E

Map references:
Southeast Asia

Area:
total: 15,007 sq km
land: NA sq km
water: NA sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than Connecticut

Land boundaries:
total: 228 km
border countries: Indonesia 228 km

Coastline:
706 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive fishing

zone: 200 nm

Climate:
tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons
Terrain:
mountainous

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m
highest point: Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m

Natural resources:
gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble

Land use: arable land: 8.2% permanent crops: 4.57% other: 87.23% (2005)

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:
1,062,777
note: other estimates range as low as 800,000 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 36.3% (male 196,293/female 189,956)
 15-64 years: 60.6% (male 328,111/female 315,401)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 16,072/female 16,944) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 20.8 years
male: 20.8 years
female: 20.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.08% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
26.99 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
6.24 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 45.89 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 52.03 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 39.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 66.26 years
male: 63.96 years
female: 68.67 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.53 children born/woman (2006 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 98%, Muslim 1%, Protestant 1% (2005)

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%
male: NA%
female: NA% (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:
name: Dili
geographic coordinates: 8 35 S, 125 36 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 are to be replaced by civil and penal codes based on Portuguese
law; these have passed but have not been promulgated

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 legislation, dissolve parliament, and call national
elections; he formerly used the name Jose Alexandre GUSMAO
head of government: Prime Minister Jose RAMOS-HORTA (since 10 July
2006); First Deputy Prime Minister Estanlislau Maria Alexio da SILVA
 (since 10 July 2006); Second Deputy Prime Minister Rui Maria do
ARAUJO (since 10 July 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 14 April 2002 (next
to be held 9 April 2007)
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 in May 2007); direct elections for
national parliament were never held; elected delegates to the
national convention adopted a constitution and 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];
 People's Party of Timor or PPT [Jacob XAVIER]; Revolutionary Front
of Independent East Timor or FRETILIN [Francisco Guterres Lu OLO];
Social Democrat Party of East Timor or PSD [Mario CARRASCALAO];
Socialist Party of Timor or PST [Pedro da COSTA]; 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]

International organization participation:

ACP, ARF, AsDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PIF (observer), UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Constancio
PINTO
chancery: 4201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: 202 966-3202
FAX: 202 966-3205
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires William
Gary GRAY
embassy: Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Conqueiros, Dili
mailing address: US 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 the end
of 2005, all refugees either returned or resettled in Indonesia. The
country faces great challenges in continuing the rebuilding of
infrastructure, strengthening the infant civil administration, and
generating jobs for young people entering the work force. The
development of oil and gas resources in nearby waters has begun to
supplement government revenues ahead of schedule and above
expectations - the result of high petroleum prices - but the
technology-intensive industry does little to create jobs for the
unemployed, because there are no production facilities in Timor and
the gas is piped to Australia. The parliament in June 2005
unanimously approved the creation of a Petroleum Fund to serve as a
repository for all petroleum revenues and preserve the value of East
Timor's petroleum wealth for future generations.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$370 million (2004 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$349 million (2005)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.8% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$800 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 8.5%
industry: 23.1%
services: 68.4% (2004)

Labor force:
 NA

Labor force - by occupation:

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

Unemployment rate:
50% estimated; note - unemployment in urban areas reached 20%; data
do not include underemployed (2001 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):

1.4% (2005)

Budget:
revenues: $107.7 million
expenditures: $73 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:
coffee, rice, corn, 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 (2004)

Electricity - production by source:

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

Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Exports:
$10 million; note - excludes oil (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:
coffee, sandalwood, marble; note - potential for oil and vanilla
exports

Exports - partners:
Indonesia 100% (2005)

Imports:
$202 million (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
food, gasoline, kerosene, machinery

Debt - external:
$0

Economic aid - recipient:

$153 million (2004 est.)

Currency (code):
 US dollar (USD)

Currency code:
USD

Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used

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:

East Timor has a state-run media oversight authority, which
oversees at least one television and one radio station.

Televisions:
NA

Internet country code:

.tl; note - ICANN approved the change from .tp in January 2005

Internet hosts:
 68 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

NA

Internet users:
1,000 (2004)

Transportation East Timor

Airports:
8 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Heliports:
9 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 5,000 km
paved: 2,500 km
unpaved: 2,500 km (2005)

Ports and terminals:

Dili

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:

males age 18-49: 235,198
females age 18-49: 223,069 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 179,422
females age 18-49: 184,533 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 12,740
females age 18-49: 12,438 (2005 est.)

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
1,000 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 Pulau Batek/Fatu
Sinai, which prevents delimitation of the northern maritime
boundaries; many refugees who left East Timor in 2003 still reside
in Indonesia and refuse repatriation; Australia and East Timor
agreed in 2005 to defer the disputed portion of the boundary for 50
years and to split hydrocarbon revenues evenly outside the Joint
Petroleum Development Area covered by the 2002 Timor Sea Treaty;
 dispute with Australia has hampered creation of a southern maritime
boundary with Indonesia

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 150,000 (2006)

Illicit drugs:
NA

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Ecuador

Introduction Ecuador

Background:
What is now Ecuador formed part of the northern Inca Empire until
the Spanish conquest in 1533. Quito became a seat of Spanish
colonial government in 1563 and part of the Viceroyalty of New
Granada in 1717. The territories of the Viceroyalty - New Granada
(Colombia), Venezuela, and Quito - gained their independence by 1819
and formed a federation known as Gran Colombia. When Quito withdrew
in 1830, the traditional name was changed in favor of the "Republic
of the Equator." 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. Protests in Quito have contributed to the
mid-term ouster of Ecuador's last three democratically elected
Presidents.
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: 5.71% permanent crops: 4.81% other: 89.48% (2005)

Irrigated land:
8,650 sq km (2003)

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:
13,547,510 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 33% (male 2,281,499/female 2,195,551)
 15-64 years: 61.9% (male 4,178,653/female 4,210,766)
65 years and over: 5% (male 319,719/female 361,322) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 23.6 years
male: 23.1 years
female: 24 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.5% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
22.29 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
4.23 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-3.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 22.87 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 27.42 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.42 years
male: 73.55 years
female: 79.43 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.68 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Quito
geographic coordinates: 0 13 S, 78 30 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)

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 Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15 January
2007); Vice President Lenin MORENO (since 15 January 2007); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Rafael CORREA Delgado (since 15
January 2007); Vice President Lenin MORENO (since 15 January 2007)
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 (may not serve
consecutive terms); election last held 15 October 2006 with a runoff
election on 26 November 2006 (next to be held October 2010)
 election results: Rafael CORREA Delgado elected president; percent
of vote - Rafael CORREA Delgado 56.7%; Alvaro NOBOA 43.3%

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Congress or Congreso Nacional (100 seats;
members are elected through a party-list proportional representation
system to serve 4-year terms)
elections: last held 15 October 2006 (next to be held October 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PRIAN 28; PSP 24; PSC 13; ID 7; PRE 6; MUPP-NP 6; RED 5; UDC 5;
other 6; 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]; Ethical and Democratic
Network or RED [Leon ROLDOS]; National Action Institutional Renewal
Party or PRIAN [Alvaro NOBOA]; Pachakutik Plurinational Unity
Movement - New Country or MUPP-NP [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]

International organization participation:

CAN, CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur (associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, NAM,
OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNMIL,
UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Luis Benigno GALLEGOS Chiriboga
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, San Francisco,
Washington, DC

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Linda L. JEWELL
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-third 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. However, the government under Alfredo PALACIO has reversed
economic reforms that reduced Ecuador's vulnerability to petroleum
price swings and financial crises, allowing the central government
greater access to oil windfalls and disbursing surplus retirement
funds.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$60.48 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$32.57 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.6% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$4,500 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6.3% industry: 33.5% services: 60.2%

(2006 est.)
Labor force: 4.57 million (urban) (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 8% industry: 24% services: 68%

(2001)

Unemployment rate:
10.6% official rate; but underemployment of 47% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

41% (2003)

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):

3.4% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

22.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $11.5 billion
expenditures: planned $10.46 billion; including capital expenditures
of $1.6 billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
36% of GDP (2006 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:

5% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
12.2 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 81% hydro: 19% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
12.95 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
35 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
1.642 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
493,200 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
148,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
387,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

5.115 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

170 million cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
170 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:

9.769 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$727 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$12.56 billion (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp

Exports - partners:
US 50.6%, Peru 7.9%, Germany 4.3%, Colombia 4.3% (2005)

Imports:
$10.81 billion (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
vehicles, medicinal products, telecommunications equipment,
electricity

Imports - partners:
US 22.1%, Colombia 14.8%, Venezuela 7.7%, Brazil 7.2%, China 5.2%
(2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.514 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$18.1 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$216 million (2002)

Currency (code):
US dollar (USD)

Currency code:
USD

Exchange rates:
1 (2006), 25,000 (2005), 25,000 (2004), 25,000 (2003), 25,000 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Ecuador

Telephones - main lines in use:

1,701,500 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

6.246 million (2005)

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:
19,027 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

31 (2001)

Internet users:
616,000 (2005)

Transportation Ecuador

Airports: 359 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 98 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4

1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 29 under 914 m: 43 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 261 914 to 1,523 m: 33 under 914 m:
228 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
extra heavy crude 578 km; gas 71 km; oil 1,386 km; refined products
1,185 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 966 km
narrow gauge: 966 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)

Roadways: total: 43,197 km paved: 6,467 km unpaved: 36,730 km (2004)

Waterways:
1,500 km (most inaccessible) (2005)
Merchant marine:
total: 31 ships (1000 GRT or over) 184,819 GRT/300,339 DWT
by type: chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 1, passenger 7, petroleum
tanker 21, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 2 (Norway 1, Paraguay 1)
registered in other countries: 1 (Georgia 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Esmeraldas, Guayaquil, La Libertad, Manta, Puerto Bolivar

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
females age 20-49: 2,849,519 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 20-49: 2,338,428
females age 20-49: 2,380,327 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 133,922
females age 20-49: 129,758 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$650 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2% (2005 est.)

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 9,851 (Colombia), note - UNHCR
estimates as many as 250,000 Columbians are seeking asylum in
Ecuador, many of whom do not register as refugees for fear of
deportation (2006)

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; increased activity on the northern
frontier by trafficking groups and Colombian insurgents

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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: 2.92% permanent crops: 0.5% other: 96.58% (2005)

Irrigated land:
34,220 sq km (2003)

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:
78,887,007 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 32.6% (male 13,172,641/female 12,548,346)
15-64 years: 62.9% (male 25,102,754/female 24,519,698)
65 years and over: 4.5% (male 1,510,280/female 2,033,288) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 24 years
male: 23.6 years
female: 24.3 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
1.75% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
22.94 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
5.23 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 31.33 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 32.04 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 30.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.29 years
male: 68.77 years
female: 73.93 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.83 children born/woman (2006 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:
Egyptian 98%, Berber, Nubian, Bedouin, and Beja 1%, Greek,
Armenian, other European (primarily Italian and French) 1%

Religions:
Muslim (mostly Sunni) 90%, Coptic 9%, other Christian 1%

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:
name: Cairo
geographic coordinates: 30 03 N, 31 15 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Friday in April; ends last
 Thursday in September

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, As Suways, Ash Sharqiyah,
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 and 25 May 2005

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 (no
term limits); 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
of the elected members)
elections: People's Assembly - three-phase voting - last held 7 and
20 November, 1 December 2005;(next to be held November-December
2010); 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 311, NWP 6, Tagammu 2, Tomorrow Party 1,
independents 112 (12 seats to be determined by rerun elections, 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:

National Democratic Party or NDP [Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK
(governing
party)]; National Progressive Unionist Grouping or Tagammu [Rifaat
EL-SAID]; New Wafd Party or NWP [Mahmoud ABAZA]; Tomorrow Party
[Naji AL-GHATRIFI]
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
Hosni 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,
COMESA,
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, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC,
NAM,
OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, ONUB, OSCE (partner), PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNOMIG, UNRWA,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador 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, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador 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:
Occupying the northeast corner of the African continent, Egypt is
bisected by the highly fertile Nile valley, where most economic
activity takes place. In the last 30 years, the government has
reformed the highly centralized economy it inherited from President
NASSER. In 2005, Prime Minister Ahmed NAZIF reduced personal and
corporate tax rates, reduced energy subsidies, and privatized
several enterprises. The stock market boomed, and GDP grew about 5%
per year in 2005-06. Despite these achievements, the government has
failed to raise living standards for the average Egyptian, and has
had to continue providing subsidies for basic necessities. The
subsidies have contributed to a growing budget deficit - more than
10% of GDP each year - and represent a significant drain on the
economy. Foreign direct investment remains low. To achieve higher
GDP growth the NAZIF government will need to continue its aggressive
pursuit of reform, especially in the energy sector. Egypt's export
sectors - particularly natural gas - have bright prospects.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$328.1 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$84.51 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.7% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$4,200 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 14.7% industry: 35.5% services:

49.8% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 21.8 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 32% industry: 17% services: 51%

(2001 est.)
Unemployment rate:
10.3% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

20% (2005 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):

6.5% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $21.32 billion
expenditures: $31.83 billion; including capital expenditures of $2.7
billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
102.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle, water
buffalo, sheep, goats

Industries:
textiles, food processing, tourism, chemicals, pharmaceuticals,
hydrocarbons, construction, cement, metals, light manufactures

Industrial production growth rate:

5.1% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
91.72 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 81% hydro: 19% nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
84.49 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
1 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
200 million kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
700,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
590,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
134,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

2.6 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

32.56 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

31.46 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

1.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

 1.657 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$2.697 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$24.22 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal products,
chemicals

Exports - partners:
US 13%, Italy 9.2%, Spain 7.7%, Syria 5.5%, France 4.9%, Germany
4.8%, Saudi Arabia 4.7%, UK 4% (2005)

Imports:
$35.86 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, wood products, fuels

Imports - partners:
US 10.5%, Germany 7%, China 6.4%, France 6.3%, Italy 5.7%, Saudi
Arabia 4.8% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$26.3 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$29.59 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $1.12 billion (2002)

Currency (code):
Egyptian pound (EGP)

Currency code:
EGP
Exchange rates:
Egyptian pounds per US dollar - 5.75 (2006), 5.78 (2005), 6.1962
(2004), 5.8509 (2003), 4.4997 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

Communications Egypt

Telephones - main lines in use:

10,396,100 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

14,045,134 (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:
2,254 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

50 (2000)

Internet users:
5 million (2005)

Transportation Egypt

Airports: 88 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 72
over 3,047 m: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 38
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
under 914 m: 5 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 16
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 7 (2006)

Heliports:
3 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate 464 km; condensate/gas 94 km; gas 6,021 km; liquid
petroleum gas 897 km; oil 5,120 km; oil/gas/water 36 km; refined
products 897 km (2006)

Railways:
 total: 5,063 km
standard gauge: 5,063 km 1.435-m gauge (62 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 92,370 km
paved: 74,820 km
unpaved: 17,550 km (2004)

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
(2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 76 ships (1000 GRT or over) 987,524 GRT/1,467,139 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 14, cargo 33, container 2, passenger/cargo 5,
petroleum tanker 13, roll on/roll off 9
foreign-owned: 9 (Denmark 1, Greece 6, Lebanon 2)
registered in other countries: 49 (Bolivia 2, Cambodia 8, Georgia 8,
Honduras 4, North Korea 2, Panama 16, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 3, Sao Tome and Principe 1, Saudi Arabia 2, Sierra Leone
1, Thailand 1, unknown 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Alexandria, Damietta, El Dekheila, Port Said, Suez, Zeit

Military Egypt

Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for conscript military service; three-year service
obligation (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 18,347,560
 females age 18-49: 17,683,904 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 15,540,234
females age 18-49: 14,939,378 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 802,920
females age 18-49: 764,176 (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 themselves as Palestinians but who
largely lack UNRWA assistance and, until recently, UNHCR recognition
as refugees

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 100,000 (Iraq), 70,255 (Palestinian
Territories), 13,446 (Sudan) (2006)

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Egypt is a transit country for women trafficked
from Eastern Europe to Israel for the purpose of sexual
exploitation; these women generally arrive as tourists and are
subsequently trafficked through the Sinai Desert by Bedouin tribes;
 men and women from sub-Saharan Africa and Asia are believed to be
trafficked through the Sinai Desert to Israel and Europe for labor
exploitation; some Egyptian children from rural areas are trafficked
within the country to work as domestic servants or laborers in the
agriculture industry
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Egypt is placed on the Tier 2 Watch
List for its failure to show evidence of increasing efforts to
address trafficking over the past year, particularly in the area of
law enforcement

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
enforcement of financial regulations

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 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: 31.37%
permanent crops: 11.88%
other: 56.75% (2005)

Irrigated land:
450 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:
known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes 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:
6,822,378 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 36.3% (male 1,265,080/female 1,212,216)
15-64 years: 58.5% (male 1,900,372/female 2,092,251)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 156,292/female 196,167) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.8 years
male: 20.7 years
female: 22.9 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.72% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
26.61 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
5.78 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-3.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 24.39 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 27.27 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.49 years
male: 67.88 years
female: 75.28 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.12 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: San Salvador
geographic coordinates: 13 42 N, 89 12 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)

Administrative divisions:
14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento);
Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz,
La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, San Vicente, Santa Ana,
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

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)
cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a single five-year term; 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 12 March 2006 (next to be held in March 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
ARENA 34, FMLN 32, PCN 10, PDC 6, CD 2

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, secretary
general]; Democratic Convergence or CD (formerly United Democratic
Center or CDU) [Ruben ZAMORA, secretary general]; Farabundo Marti
National Liberation Front or FMLN [Medardo GONZALEZ, coordinator
general]; National Conciliation Party or PCN [Ciro CRUZ ZEPEDA,
president]; National Republican Alliance or ARENA [Elias Antonio
SACA Gonzalez]; Popular Social Christian Party or PPSC [Rene
AGUILUZ]; Revolutionary Democratic Front or FDR [Julio Cesar
HERNANDEZ Carcamo, coordinator general]

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, ICRM, IDA,
 IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (observer),
OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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, Elizabeth (New Jersey),
Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York (2), Nogales
(Arizona), Santa Ana (California), San Francisco, 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] 2278-4444
FAX: [503] 2278-5522

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:
 The smallest country in Central America, El Salvador has the third
largest economy, but growth has been minimal in recent years. Hoping
to stimulate the sluggish economy, the government is striving to
open new export markets, encourage foreign investment, and modernize
the tax and healthcare systems. Implementation in 2006 of the
Central America-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement, which El
Salvador was the first to ratify, has strenthened an already
positive export trend. The trade deficit has been offset by annual
remittances from Salvadorans living abroad - equivalent to more than
15% of GDP - and external aid. With the adoption of the US dollar as
its currency in 2001, El Salvador has lost control over monetary
policy and must concentrate on maintaining a disciplined fiscal
policy. The current government has pursued economic diversification,
with some success in promoting textile production, international
port services, and tourism. It is committed to opening the economy
to trade and investment, and has embarked on a wave of
privatizations extending to telecom, electricity distribution,
banking, and pension funds.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$33.2 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$15.14 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$4,900 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 9.7% industry: 29.6% services: 60.7%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 2.856 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 17.1% industry: 17.1% services: 65.8%

(2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:
 6% official rate; but the economy has much underemployment (2006
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):

4.3% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

16.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $356.6 million
expenditures: $384.5 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
44.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
coffee, sugar, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton, sorghum; beef,
dairy products; shrimp

Industries:
food processing, beverages, petroleum, chemicals, fertilizer,
textiles, furniture, light metals

Industrial production growth rate:

2% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
4.174 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 44% hydro: 30.9% nuclear: 0%
other: 25.1% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
4.229 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
109 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
456 million kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
43,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-1.059 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$3.686 billion (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, shrimp, textiles,
chemicals, electricity
Exports - partners:
US 61%, Guatemala 12.1%, Honduras 7.4%, Nicaragua 4.2% (2005)

Imports:
$7.326 billion (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels, foodstuffs,
petroleum, electricity

Imports - partners:
US 43.4%, Guatemala 8.2%, Mexico 7.8% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.951 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$8.841 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$125 million of which, $53 million from US (2003)

Currency (code):
US dollar (USD)

Currency code:
USD

Exchange rates:
8.75 (2006), the US dollar became El Salvador's currency in 2001

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications El Salvador

Telephones - main lines in use:

971,500 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
2.412 million (2005)

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:
4,682 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

4 (2000)

Internet users:
637,100 (2005)

Transportation El Salvador

Airports: 75 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

 total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 71
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 56 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

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 (2005)

Roadways:
total: 10,029 km
paved: 1,986 km
unpaved: 8,043 km (1999)

Waterways:
Rio Lempa partially navigable (2004)

Ports and terminals:

Acajutla, Puerto Cutuco

Military El Salvador

Military branches:
Salvadoran Army (ES), Salvadoran Navy (FNES), Salvadoran Air Force
(Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena, FAS) (2006)

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
females age 18-49: 1,542,323 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 960,315
females age 18-49: 1,310,466 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 70,286
females age 18-49: 69,526 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$161.7 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues El Salvador

Disputes - international:
in 1992, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on the
delimitation of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El
Salvador-Honduras boundary, but despite Organization of American
States (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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO has ruled the
country since 1979 when he seized power in a coup. Although
nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, the 1996 and 2002
presidential elections - as well as the 1999 and 2004 legislative
elections - were widely seen as flawed. The president exerts almost
total control over the political system and has discouraged
political opposition. Equatorial Guinea has experienced rapid
economic growth due to the discovery of large offshore oil reserves,
and in the last decade has become Sub-Saharan Africa's third largest
oil exporter. 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 population'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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA
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, Marine Dumping, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
insular and continental regions widely separated

People Equatorial Guinea

Population:
540,109 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.7% (male 113,083/female 111,989)
15-64 years: 54.5% (male 141,914/female 152,645)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 8,886/female 11,592) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 18.8 years
male: 18.2 years
female: 19.4 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.05% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
35.59 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
15.06 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 89.21 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 95.22 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 83.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 49.54 years
male: 48 years
female: 51.13 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.55 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

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/Republique de Guinee
equatoriale
local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial/Guinee equatoriale
former: Spanish Guinea

Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Malabo
geographic coordinates: 3 45 N, 8 47 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
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 Ricardo Mangue Obama NFUBEA
(since 14 August 2006); First Deputy Prime Minister Mercelino Oyono
NTUTUMU (since 15 June 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(no term limits); 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 (100 seats; members directly elected by
popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 25 April 2004 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PDGE 98, CPDS 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 [Teodoro
OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO] (ruling party); Party for Progress of
Equatorial Guinea or PPGE [Severo MOTO]; Popular Action of
Equatorial Guinea or APGE [Miguel Esono EMAN]; Popular Union or UP

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), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO,
UPU,
WHO, WIPO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Purificacion ANGUE ONDO
chancery: 2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 518-5700
FAX: [1] (202) 518-5252

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Donald C. JOHNSON
embassy: adjacent to the golf course at the base of Mont Febe; note
- relocated embassy is opened for limited functions; inquiries
should continue to be directed to the US Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon
mailing address: B.P. 817, Yaounde, Cameroon; US Embassy Yaounde, US
Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520
telephone: [237] 220 15 00
FAX: [237] 220 16 20

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 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 remained strong
in 2006, led by oil. Equatorial Guinea now has the third highest per
capita income in the world, after Luxembourg and Bermuda.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$25.69 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$7.644 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

18.6% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$50,200 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 2.8%
industry: 92.6%
services: 4.5% (2006 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):

5.2% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

34.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $2.752 billion
expenditures: $1.424 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
4.7% of GDP (2006 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 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 94.3% hydro: 5.7% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
24.18 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
420,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
1,220 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - proved reserves:

563.5 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

100 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

100 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:

36.81 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$175 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
 $8.961 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
petroleum, methanol, timber, cocoa

Exports - partners:
US 24.6%, China 21.8%, Spain 10.9%, Canada 7.3%, Taiwan 7.2%,
Portugal 5.5%, Netherlands 5.2%, Brazil 4.6%, France 4% (2005)

Imports:
$2.543 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
petroleum sector equipment, other equipment

Imports - partners:
US 24.5%, Italy 20.5%, France 12.1%, Spain 10.8%, Cote d'Ivoire
8.6%, UK 6.9% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$3.235 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$289 million (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$NA

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 -
522.594 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99
(2002)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Equatorial Guinea

Telephones - main lines in use:

10,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

96,900 (2005)

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:
19 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)
Internet users:
5,000 (2005)

Transportation Equatorial Guinea

Airports:
4 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate 46 km; condensate/gas 5 km; gas 47 km; oil 31 km (2006)

Roadways:
total: 2,880 km (1999)

Merchant marine:
total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 1,745 GRT/3,434 DWT
by type: cargo 1 (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Malabo

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: 104,563
females age 18-49: 109,923 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 56,462
females age 18-49: 59,260 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$152.2 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.1% (2005 est.)

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

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Equatorial Guinea is a transit and destination
country for women and children trafficked for forced labor,
involuntary domestic servitude, and commercial sexual exploitation
from surrounding countries - primarily Benin, Nigeria, Mali, and
Cameroon; victims work in the agricultural and commercial sectors of
Malabo and Bata, where demand is high due to a booming oil sector;
children work as farmhands, street vendors, or household servants;
girls and women are also trafficked for commercial sexual
exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Equatorial Guinea is placed on the
Tier 2 Watch List for its failure to provide adequate evidence of
 concrete measures to address trafficking over the past year

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 in 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 (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, heaviest June
to September); semiarid in western hills and lowlands

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: 4.78% permanent crops: 0.03% other: 95.19% (2005)
Irrigated land:
210 sq km (2003)

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, Hazardous Wastes
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:
4,786,994 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 44% (male 1,059,458/female 1,046,955)
15-64 years: 52.5% (male 1,244,153/female 1,268,189)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 82,112/female 86,127) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 17.8 years
male: 17.6 years
female: 18 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.47% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
 34.33 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
9.6 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 46.3 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 52.22 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 40.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 59.03 years
male: 57.44 years
female: 60.66 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.08 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

Nationality:
noun: Eritrean(s)
adjective: Eritrean

Ethnic groups:
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: age 15 and over can read and write
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:
name: Asmara (Asmera)
geographic coordinates: 15 20 N, 38 53 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 for a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); 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 (also including Eritrean Islamic
Jihad Movement or EIJM (also known as the Abu Sihel Movement));
Eritrean Islamic Salvation or EIS (also known as the Arafa
Movement); 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, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS (observer), IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador GHIRMAI Ghebremariam
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: 179 Alaa 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 in 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 2002-06. Eritrea's economic future depends upon its
ability to master social problems such as illiteracy, unemployment,
and low skills, as well as the willingness to open its economy to
private enterprise so that the diaspora's money and expertise can
foster economic growth.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$4.471 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.244 billion (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,000 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 9.9%
 industry: 25.4%
services: 64.6% (2006 est.)

Labor force:
NA

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 80%
industry and services: 20%

Unemployment rate:
NA%

Population below poverty line:

50% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

14% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

24.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $257.6 million
expenditures: $424 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
sorghum, lentils, vegetables, corn, cotton, tobacco, coffee, sisal;
livestock, goats; fish

Industries:
food processing, beverages, clothing and textiles, light
manufacturing, salt, cement, commercial ship repair

Industrial production growth rate:

 NA%

Electricity - production:
276.1 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
256.7 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
5,300 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-440.5 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$17.65 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:
livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small manufactures (2000)

Exports - partners:
Italy 36.4%, US 13.8%, Belarus 6.8%, Germany 5.3%, UK 4.6% (2005)

Imports:
$701.8 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery, petroleum products, food, manufactured goods (2000)

Imports - partners:
Germany 21.3%, Italy 19.5%, France 15.3%, US 12.3%, Ireland 7.9%,
Jordan 5.5% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$30.6 million (2006 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 - 14 (2006), 14.5 (2005), 13.788 (2004),
13.878 (2003), 13.958 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Eritrea
Telephones - main lines in use:
37,700 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

58,000 (2006)

Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate
domestic: 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:

2 (2006)

Televisions:
1,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.er

Internet hosts:
1,088 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2001)

Internet users:
70,000 (2005)

Transportation Eritrea
Airports: 17 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

(2006)

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 (2006)

Railways: total: 306 km narrow gauge: 306 km 0.950-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 4,010 km
paved: 874 km
unpaved: 3,136 km (1999)

Merchant marine:
total: 6 ships (1000 GRT or over) 19,506 GRT/23,649 DWT
by type: cargo 3, liquefied gas 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll
off 1 (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Assab, Massawa

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 available for military service:

males age 18-49: 893,361
females age 18-49: 891,662 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 555,553
females age 18-49: 562,426 (2005)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 50,156
females age 18-49: 49,746 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$220.1 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

17.7% (2005 est.)

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 have prevented demarcation; Ethiopia refuses to
withdraw to the delimited boundary until claimed 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; in 2005 Eritrea began severely restricting
the operations of the UN Peacekeeping Mission to Ethiopia and
Eritrea (UNMEE) monitoring the 25km-wide Temporary Security Zone in
Eritrea since 2000; Sudan sustains over 110,000 Eritrean refugees
and accuses Eritrea of supporting Sudanese rebel groups

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 40,000-45,000 (border war with Ethiopia from 1998-2000; most
IDPs are near the central border region) (2006)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@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 - an action never recognized by the US - 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: 12.05% permanent crops: 0.35% other: 87.6% (2005)

Irrigated land:
40 sq km (2003)

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:
1,324,333 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.2% (male 103,367/female 97,587)
15-64 years: 67.6% (male 427,043/female 468,671)
65 years and over: 17.2% (male 75,347/female 152,318) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 39.3 years
male: 35.8 years
female: 42.6 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.64% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
10.04 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
13.25 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

 -3.2 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.5 male(s)/female
total population: 0.84 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 7.73 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.91 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.04 years
male: 66.58 years
female: 77.83 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.4 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Tallinn
geographic coordinates: 59 25 N, 24 45 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal for all Estonian citizens

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Toomas Hendrik ILVES (since 9 October
2006)
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
(eligible for a second 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 23 September 2006 (next to be held fall of 2011); prime
minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament
 election results: Toomas Hendrik ILVES elected president on 23
September 2006 by a 345-member electoral assembly; ILVES received
174 votes to incumbent Arnold RUUTEL's 162; remaining 9 ballots 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 March 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - Center Party of Estonia
25.4%, Res Publica 24.6%, Estonian Reform Party 17.7%, Estonian
People's Union 13%, Pro Patria Union (Fatherland League) 7.3%
People's Party Moodukad 7%; seats by party - Res Publica 26, Center
Party 20, Reform Party 19, Estonian People's Union 13, Pro Patria
Union 7, Social Democrats (formerly People's Party Moodukad) 6,
non-affiliated (Social Liberals and independents) 10

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];
Social Democratic Party (formerly People's Party Moodukad or
Moderates) [Ivari PADAR, chairman]; Social Liberals (group of eight
parliamentarians, former Center Party members) [Peeter KREITZBERG];
Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica (Isamaa je Res Publica Liit)
[Tonis LUKAS and Taavi VESKIMAGI, co-chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG,
OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNTSO,
UPU,
WCO, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Juri LUIK
chancery: 2131 Massachusetts Avenue 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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jeffrey
GOLDSTEIN
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 is essentially in balance, and public debt is low.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$26 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$13.62 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
9.2% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$19,600 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.4% industry: 28% services: 68.6%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 673,000 (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 11% industry: 20% services: 69%

(1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:
5.8% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

5% (2003)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 28.5% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

33 (2003)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.4% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

32.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $5.994 billion
expenditures: $5.718 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
3.6% of GDP (2006 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:

8% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
9.29 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.8% hydro: 0.1% nuclear: 0%

other: 0.2% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
6.846 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
2.141 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
347 million kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
6,819 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
60,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
54,000 bbl/day (2004)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
1.44 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

1.44 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-1.919 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$9.68 billion f.o.b. (2006 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 26.3%, Sweden 13.2%, Latvia 8.8%, Russia 6.5%, Germany
6.2%, Lithuania 4.6% (2005)

Imports:
$12.03 billion f.o.b. (2006 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 19.8%, Germany 13.9%, Russia 9.2%, Sweden 8.9%, Lithuania
6%, Latvia 4.7% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.344 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$13.94 billion (30 June 2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$108 million (2000)

Currency (code):
Estonian kroon (EEK)

Currency code:
EEK

Exchange rates:
krooni per US dollar - 12.5153 (2006), 12.584 (2005), 12.596
(2004), 13.856 (2003), 16.612 (2002), note - the krooni is pegged to
the euro

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Estonia

Telephones - main lines in use:

442,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.445 million (2005)

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
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:
52,241 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

38 (2001)

Internet users:
690,000 (2005)

Transportation Estonia

Airports: 24 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 12
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 12
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 5 (2006)
Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 859 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 958 km
broad gauge: 958 km 1.520 m/1.524-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 56,856 km
paved: 13,384 km (including 99 km of expressways)
unpaved: 43,472 km (2004)

Waterways:
500 km (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 35 ships (1000 GRT or over) 388,723 GRT/98,393 DWT
by type: cargo 7, passenger/cargo 26, petroleum tanker 2
foreign-owned: 4 (Denmark 2, Norway 2)
registered in other countries: 72 (Antigua and Barbuda 12, Bahamas
1, Belize 3, Cyprus 6, Dominica 11, Isle of Man 2, Liberia 1, Malta
4, Norway 1, Panama 3, Russia 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
25, Slovakia 1, Vanuatu 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Kopli, Kuivastu, Muuga, Tallinn, Virtsu

Military Estonia

Military branches:
Estonian Defense Forces: Land Force, Navy, Air Force, Volunteer
Defense League (Kaitseliit, KL) (2006)

Military service age and obligation: compulsory military service for men
between 19 and 28; conscription lasts 11 months for junior NCOs and reserve
platoon leaders; reserve officers and designated specialists have a different
conscript service obligation; Estonia has committed to retaining conscription for
men up to 2010 and, unlike Latvia and Lithuania, has no plan to transition to a
contract armed forces; 17 years of age for volunteers; reserve commitment up to
the age of 60 (2006)

Manpower available for military service: males age 18-49: 291,696 females age
18-49: 304,961 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service: males age 18-49: 200,382 (in 2004, 51% of
the young men called up for service were determined to be unfit; main obstacles
to conscription were psychiatric and behavioral) females age 18-49: 250,351
(2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 11,146
females age 18-49: 10,605 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$155 million (2002 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2% (2002 est.)

Transnational Issues Estonia

Disputes - international:
in 2005, Russia refuses to sign the 1996 technical border agreement
with Estonia when Estonia prepares a unilateral declaration
referencing Soviet occupation and territorial losses; Russia demands
better accommodation of Russian-speaking population in Estonia;
Estonian citizen groups continue to press for realignment of the
boundary based 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 border war with Eritrea late in the
1990's ended with a peace treaty in 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
territory considered sensitive to Ethiopia.

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: 10.01% permanent crops: 0.65% other: 89.34% (2005)

Irrigated land:
2,900 sq km (2003)

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:
74,777,981
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
2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.7% (male 16,373,718/female 16,280,766)
15-64 years: 53.6% (male 19,999,482/female 20,077,014)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 929,349/female 1,117,652) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 17.8 years
male: 17.7 years
female: 17.9 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.31% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
37.98 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
14.86 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: repatriation of Ethiopian refugees residing in Sudan is
expected to continue for several years; some Sudanese, Somali, and
Eritrean refugees, who fled to Ethiopia from the fighting or famine
in their own countries, continue to return to their homes (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 93.62 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 103.43 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 83.51 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

 total population: 49.03 years
male: 47.86 years
female: 50.24 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.22 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

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:
name: Addis Ababa
geographic coordinates: 9 02 N, 38 42 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 (eligible for a second 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 (547 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 in 2010)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats by party - EPRDF 327,
CUD 109, UEDF 52, SPDP 23, OFDM 11, BGPDUF 8, ANDP 8, independent
1,
others 6, undeclared 2
note: irregularities at some polling stations necessitated the
rescheduling of voting in certain constituencies

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; Benishangul Gumuz People's
Democratic Unity Front or BGPDUF [Mulualem BESSE]; Coalition for
Unity and Democracy or CUD [HAILU Shawel]; Ethiopian People's
Revolutionary Democratic Front or EPRDF [MELES Zenawi] (an alliance
of Amhara National Democratic Movement or ANDM, Oromo People's
Democratic Organization or OPDO, the South Ethiopean People's
Democratic Front or SEPDF, and TigrAyan Peoples' Liberation Front or
TPLF); Gurage Nationalities' Democratic Movement or GNDM; Oromo
Federalist Democratic Movement or OFDM [BULCHA Demeksa]; Somali
People's Democratic Party or SPDP; United Ethopian Democratic Forces
or UEDF [BEYENE Petros]; dozens of small parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Ethiopian People's Patriotic Front or EPPF; Ogaden National
Liberation Front or ONLF; Oromo Liberation Front or OLF [DAOUD Ibsa]

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM
(observer), IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Samuel

ASSEFA chancery: 3506 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 364-1200 FAX: [1] (202) 587-0195 consulate(s) general:
Los Angeles consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Donald Y.

YAMAMOTO embassy: Entoto Street, Addis Ababa mailing address: P. O. Box
1014, Addis Ababa telephone: [251] (1) 517-4000 FAX: [251] (1) 517-4888
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, and in December 2005 the
International Monetary Fund voted to forgive Ethiopia's debt to the
body. 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 helped agricultural and GDP growth recover in 2004-06.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$71.63 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$9.789 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

8.5% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 49.2% industry: 9.1% services: 41.7%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 27.27 million (1999)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 80% industry: 8% services: 12%

(1985)

Unemployment rate:
NA%

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:

30 (2000)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

10.5% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $2.565 billion
expenditures: $3.165 billion; including capital expenditures of $788
million (2006 est.)

Public debt:
78.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed, cotton, sugarcane, potatoes, qat,
 cut flowers; hides, cattle, sheep, goats; fish

Industries:
food processing, beverages, textiles, leather, chemicals, metals
processing, cement

Industrial production growth rate:

6.7% (2001 est.)

Electricity - production:
2.294 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 1.3% hydro: 97.6% nuclear: 0%

other: 1.2% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
2.133 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
29,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

214,000 bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

 0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

24.92 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-1.34 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$1.085 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
coffee, qat, gold, leather products, live animals, oilseeds

Exports - partners:
Germany 15.5%, China 10.5%, Japan 8.5%, Saudi Arabia 6.9%, Djibouti
6.8%, Switzerland 6.4%, Italy 5.9%, US 5.5%, Netherlands 4.2% (2005)

Imports:
$4.105 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
food and live animals, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals,
machinery, motor vehicles, cereals, textiles

Imports - partners:
Saudi Arabia 14.7%, China 12.6%, US 12.4%, India 6.7%, Italy 4.6%
(2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.186 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$2.789 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$308 million (FY00/01)
Currency (code):
birr (ETB)

Currency code:
ETB

Exchange rates:
birr per US dollar - 8.69 (2006), 8.68 (2005), 8.6356 (2004),
8.5997 (2003), 8.5678 (2002), 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:

610,300 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

410,600 (2005)

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:
88 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:
113,000 (2005)

Transportation Ethiopia

Airports: 84 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 70 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3

1,524 to 2,437 m: 13 914 to 1,523 m: 28 under 914 m: 23 (2006)

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 (2005)

Roadways:
total: 36,469 km
paved: 6,980 km
unpaved: 29,489 km (2004)

Merchant marine:
 total: 8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 79,441 GRT/97,669 DWT
by type: cargo 6, roll on/roll off 2 (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Ethiopia is landlocked and uses the port of Djibouti

Military Ethiopia

Military branches:
Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF): Ground Forces, Ethiopian
Air Force
note: Ethiopia is landlocked and has no navy; following the
secession of Eritrea, Ethiopian naval facilities remained in
Eritrean possession

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
females age 18-49: 14,482,885 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 8,072,755
females age 18-49: 7,902,660 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 803,777
females age 18-49: 801,789 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$295.9 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3.4% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Ethiopia

Disputes - international:
Eritrea and Ethiopia agreed to abide by the 2002 Eritrea-Ethiopia
Boundary Commission's (EEBC) delimitation decision, but mutual
animosities, accusations, and armed posturing prevail, preventing
demarcation despite international intervention; 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; efforts to
demarcate the porous boundary with Sudan have been delayed by civil
war

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 73,927 (Sudan), 15,901 (Somalia),
10,700 (Eritrea)
IDPs: 100,000-280,000 (border war with Eritrea from 1998-2000 and
ethnic clashes in Gambela; most IDPs are in Tigray and Gambela
Provinces) (2006)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 27 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 became 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 - and in 2007 Bulgaria and
Romania joined, bringing the current membership to 27. In order to
ensure that the EU can continue to function efficiently with an
expanded membership, the Treaty of Nice (in force as of 1 February
2003) 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 rejected the
 proposed constitution. This development set back the ratification
effort and left the longer-term political integration of the EU in
limbo.

Geography European Union

Location:
Europe between the North Atlantic Ocean in the west and Russia,
Belarus, and Ukraine to the east

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 4,324,782 sq km

Area - comparative:
less than one-half the size of the US

Land boundaries:
total: 12,440.8 km
border countries: Albania 282 km, Andorra 120.3 km, Belarus 1,050
km, Croatia 999 km, Holy See 3.2 km, Liechtenstein 34.9 km,
Macedonia 394 km, Moldova 450 km, Monaco 4.4 km, Norway 2,348 km,
Russia 2,257 km, San Marino 39 km, Serbia 945 km, Switzerland 1,811
km, Turkey 446 km, Ukraine 1,257 km
note: data for European Continent only

Coastline:
65,992.9 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: Mont Blanc 4,807 m; note - situated on the border
between France and Italy

Natural resources:
iron ore, natural gas, petroleum, coal, copper, lead, zinc,
bauxite, uranium, potash, salt, hydropower, arable land, timber, fish

Land use: arable land: NA% permanent crops: NA% other: NA%

Irrigated land:
168,050 sq km (2003 est.)

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:
486,642,177 (July 2006 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) (2006
est.)

Median age:
NA

Population growth rate:

0.15% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
10 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
10.1 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female

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 (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.3 years
male: 75.1 years
female: 81.6 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.47 children born/woman (2006 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:
Bulgarian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish,
French, Gaelic, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Latvian,
Lithuanian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Slovak, Slovene,
Spanish, Swedish; note - only official languages are listed

Government European Union

Union name:
conventional long form: European Union
abbreviation: EU

Political structure:
a hybrid intergovernmental and supranational organization

Capital:
name: Brussels (Belgium), Strasbourg (France), Luxembourg
geographic coordinates: 50 50 N, 4 20 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
note: the Council of the European Union meets in Brussels, the
European Parliament meets in Brussels and Strasbourg, France, and
the Court of Justice of the European Communities meets in Luxembourg

Member states:
 27 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands,
Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK;
note - Canary Islands (Spain), Azores and Madeira (Portugal), 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: Croatia, Macedonia, 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 the European Coal and Steel
Community to achieve 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
2003; 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 dealt a severe setback to the
ratification process, though it has continued more slowly with
Finland ratifying in December 2006; as of January 2007, 18 countries
have ratified the Constitutional Treaty; Germany has made revival of
the EU Constitution a goal of its EU Presidency in 2007

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
 chief of union: President of the European Commission Jose Manuel
DURAO BARROSO (since 22 November 2004)
cabinet: European Commission (composed of 27 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 and is confirmed by the European Parliament;
working from member state recommendations, the Commission president
then assembles a "college" of Commission members; the European
Parliament confirms the entire Commission for a five-year term; the
last confirmation process was 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 four times 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 (27 member-state ministers having 345
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 (785 seats (as of 1 January 2007); 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; note - seats by party as of 1 January 2007 -
EPP-ED 277, PES 218, ALDE 106, UEN 44, Greens/EFA 42, EUL/NGL 41,
IND/DEM 23, ITS 20, independents 14

Judicial branch:
Court of Justice of the European Communities (ensures that the
treaties are interpreted and applied uniformly throughout the EU;
resolve constitutional issues among the EU institutions) - 27
justices (one from each member state) appointed for a six-year term;
 note - for the sake of efficiency, the court can sit with 13
justices known as the "Grand Chamber"; Court of First Instance - 27
justices appointed for a six-year term

Political parties and leaders:

Confederal Group of the European United Left-Nordic Green Left or
EUL/NGL [Francis WURTZ]; European People's Party-European Democrats
or EPP-ED [Joseph DAUL]; Group of the Alliance of Liberals and
Democrats for Europe or ALDE [Graham R. WATSON]; Group of
Greens/European Free Alliance or Greens/EFA [Monica FRASSONI and
Daniel Marc COHN-BENDIT]; Identity, Tradition, Sovereignty Group
[Bruno GOLLNISCH]; Independence/Democracy Group or IND/DEM
[Jens-Peter BONDE and Nigel FARAGE]; Socialist Group in the European
Parliament or PES [Martin SCHULZ]; 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),
IDA, OAS (observer), UN (observer), WTO
European Community: Australian Group, CBSS, CERN, FAO, EBRD, G-10,
NAM (observer), NSG (observer), OECD, UNRWA, ZC (observer)
European Central Bank: BIS
European Investment Bank: EBRD, WADB (nonregional member)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador John BRUTON
chancery: 2300 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 862-9500
FAX: [1] (202) 429-1766

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador C. Boyden GRAY
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:
Internally, 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 among member states (from $8,000 to
$61,000) and historic national animosities, the European Union faces
difficulties in devising and enforcing common policies. For example,
since 2003 Germany and France have flouted the member states' treaty
obligation to prevent their national budgets from running more than
a 3% deficit. In 2004 and 2007, the EU admitted 10 and two
countries, respectively, that are, in general, less advanced
technologically and economically than the other 15. Twelve
established EU member states introduced the euro as their common
currency on 1 January 1999, but the UK, Sweden, and Denmark chose
not to participate. Of the 12 most recent member states, only
Slovenia has adopted the euro (1 January 2007); the remaining eleven
are legally required to adopt the currency upon meeting EU's fiscal
and monetary convergence criteria.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$12.82 trillion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$13.62 trillion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.8% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$29,300 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.1% industry: 27.3% services: 70.5%

(2006 est.)
Labor force: 221.5 million (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 4.4% industry: 27.3% services: 67%

note: the remainder is in miscellaneous public and private sector industries and
services (2002 est.)

Unemployment rate:
8.8% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:

see individual country listings

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 25.4% (1995 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

32 (2003 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.2% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

20.4% of GDP (2006 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:
2.8% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
2.98 trillion kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - consumption:
2.77 trillion kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - exports:
278.7 billion kWh

Electricity - imports:
277.1 billion kWh

Oil - production:
3.172 million bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
14.7 million bbl/day (2004)

Oil - exports:
5.318 million bbl/day

Oil - imports:
15.74 million bbl/day

Oil - proved reserves:

7.335 billion bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

238.1 billion cu m (2004)

Natural gas - consumption:

507.4 billion cu m (2004)

Natural gas - exports:

78.89 billion cu m

Natural gas - imports:

 347.7 billion cu m

Natural gas - proved reserves:

3.219 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$NA

Exports:
$1.33 trillion; note - external exports, excluding intra-EU trade
(2005)

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 23.3%, Switzerland 7.6%, Russia 5.2%, China 4.8% (2005)

Imports:
$1.466 trillion; note - external imports, excluding intra-EU trade
(2005)

Imports - commodities:
machinery, vehicles, aircraft, plastics, crude oil, chemicals,
textiles, metals, foodstuffs, clothing

Imports - partners:
US 13.8%, China 13.4%, Russia 8.2%, Japan 6.2% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$NA

Currency (code):
euro, British pound, Bulgarian lev, Cypriot pound, Czech koruna,
Danish krone, Estonian kroon, Hungarian forint, Latvian lat,
Lithuanian litas, Maltese lira, Polish zloty, Romanian leu, Slovak
koruna, Swedish krona; Romanian leu and Bulgarian lev added,
 beginning in 2007

Currency code:
EUR

Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 0.79669 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004),
0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)

Fiscal year:
NA

Communications European Union

Telephones - main lines in use:

238 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

466 million (2005)

Telephone system:
note - see individual country entries of member states

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 930, FM 13,655, shortwave 71 (1998); note - sum of individual
country radio broadcast stations; there is also a European-wide
station (Euroradio)

Television broadcast stations:

2,700 (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:
50.5 million (2005); note - sum of individual country Internet hosts
Internet users:
247 million (2006)

Transportation European Union

Airports:
3,393 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

2,020 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

1,373 (2006)

Heliports:
100 (2006)

Railways:
total: 235,199 km
broad gauge: 28,327 km
standard gauge: 198,913 km
narrow gauge: 7,936 km
other: 23 km (2005)

Roadways:
total: 2,294,641 km (including 61,522 km of expressways)
paved: 1,809,821 km
unpaved: 584,820 km (2005)

Waterways:
52,332 km (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Antwerp (Belgium), Barcelona (Spain), Braila (Romania), Bremen
(Germany), Burgas (Bulgaria), Constanta (Romania), Copenhagen
(Denmark), Galati (Romania), 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), Tulcea
(Romania), Varna (Bulgaria)

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
- commitments 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:
as a political union, the EU has no border disputes with
neighboring countries, but Estonia and Latvia have no land boundary
agreements with Russia, Slovenia disputes its land and maritime
boundaries with Croatia, and Spain has territorial and maritime
disputes with Morocco; the EU 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 12 new member states that joined
the EU in 2004 and 2007 eventually are expected to participate in
Schengen, following a transition period to upgrade their border
controls and procedures

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@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) (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

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 2006 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA (2006
est.)

Population growth rate:

2.44% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
NA births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population

Net migration rate:

NA migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

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
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

Literacy:
NA

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:
name: Stanley
 geographic coordinates: 51 42 S, 57 41 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in September; ends
third Sunday in April

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 Alan HUCKLE (since 25 August 2006);
Chief Executive Chris SIMPKINS (since 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 - two ex officio, eight
elected by popular vote, members serve four-year terms); presided
over by the governor
elections: last held 17 November 2005 (next to be held November 2009)
 election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 8

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 Falkland Islands' 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 (official exchange rate):

NA

GDP - real growth rate:

NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$25,000 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 95% industry: NA% services: NA%

Labor force: 1,724 (est.) (1996)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 95% (mostly sheepherding and fishing)

industry and services: 5%

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:
16 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
14.88 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
 230 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$125 million (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
wool, hides, meat

Exports - partners:
Spain 81.9%, US 6%, UK 4.5% (2005)

Imports:
$90 million (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
fuel, food and drink, building materials, clothing

Imports - partners:
UK 72.5%, US 15.1%, Netherlands 8.5% (2005)

Debt - external:
$NA

Economic aid - recipient:

$0 (1997 est.)

Currency (code):
Falkland pound (FKP)
Currency code:
FKP

Exchange rates:
Falkland pounds per US dollar - 0.55 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125
(2003), 0.6672 (2002), 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
note: British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides Radio 1
(FM) and Radio 2 (AM) service (2006)
Radios:
1,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

2 (British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides
multi-channel satellite service to members of UK Forces as well as
islanders)
note: cable television is available in Stanley (2006)

Televisions:
1,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.fk

Internet hosts:
103 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:
1,900 (2002)

Transportation Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Airports:
5 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 440 km
paved: 50 km
unpaved: 390 km (2003)

Ports and terminals:

Stanley

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 them 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
0 sq km

Natural hazards:
NA

Environment - current issues:

NA

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Marine Dumping -associate member to the London Convention

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:
47,246 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.9% (male 4,940/female 4,952)
15-64 years: 65.1% (male 16,247/female 14,522)
65 years and over: 13.9% (male 2,976/female 3,609) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 35 years
male: 34.7 years
female: 35.5 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.58% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
14.05 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
8.7 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 6.12 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.85 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.35 years
male: 75.91 years
 female: 82.8 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.17 children born/woman (2006 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 100%, 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:
name: Torshavn
geographic coordinates: 62 01 N, 6 46 W
time difference: UTC (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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 34 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

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 Democratic Party 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 Democratic Party 7, Republican Party
8, People's Party 7, Center Party 2, Independence Party 1
note: election of two 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 Leo JOHANNESEN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA
International organization participation:
Arctic Council, 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 have helped 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 (about 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 (official exchange rate):

NA
GDP - real growth rate:
10% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$31,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 27% industry: 11% services: 62%

(1999)

Labor force: 24,250 (October 2000)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 33% industry: 33% 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:
292.6 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 62.4% hydro: 37.6% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
272.1 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
4,550 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$533 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
fish and fish products 94%, stamps, ships (1999)

Exports - partners:
 Denmark 38%, UK 29.4%, Nigeria 8.9%, Norway 6.1%, Netherlands 4.3%
(2005)

Imports:
$639 million c.i.f. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
consumer goods 36%, raw materials and semi-manufactures 32%,
machinery and transport equipment 29%, fuels, fish, salt (1999)

Imports - partners:
Denmark 47.4%, Norway 18.7%, Germany 8.4%, Spain 7.8%, Iceland 4.9%
(2005)

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 - 5.93667 (2006), 5.9969 (2005), 5.9911
(2004), 6.5877 (2003), 7.8947 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Faroe Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:

23,800 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

 42,500 (2005)

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 hosts:
6,915 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:
33,000 (2005)

Transportation Faroe Islands

Airports: 1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 458 km
note: no roads between towns (2003)

Merchant marine:
total: 18 ships (1000 GRT or over) 19,265 GRT/9,171 DWT
by type: cargo 10, container 2, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 2
foreign-owned: 8 (Iceland 4, Norway 4) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Torshavn

Military Faroe Islands

Military branches:
no regular military forces

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 10,695 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 8,852 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 366 (2005 est.)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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). The
coups and a 1990 constitution that cemented native Melanesian
control of Fiji, led to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss
resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians
became the majority. A new constitution enacted in 1997 was more
equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a
government led by an Indo-Fijian, but a civilian-led 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 led by Prime Minister Laisenia
QARASE. Re-elected in May 2006, QARASE was ousted in a December 2006
military coup led by Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA, who initially
appointed himself acting president. In January 2007, BAINIMARAMA was
appointed interim prime minister.

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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2003)

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, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
includes 332 islands; approximately 110 are inhabited

People Fiji

Population:
905,949 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31.1% (male 143,847/female 138,061)
15-64 years: 64.6% (male 293,072/female 292,312)
65 years and over: 4.3% (male 17,583/female 21,074) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 24.6 years
male: 24.1 years
female: 25 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.4% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
22.55 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
5.65 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-2.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 12.3 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.63 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 69.82 years
male: 67.32 years
female: 72.45 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

 2.73 children born/woman (2006 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

Languages:
English (official), Fijian (official), 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
local long form: Republic of the Fiji Islands/Matanitu ko Viti
local short form: Fiji/Viti

Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Suva (on Viti Levu)
geographic coordinates: 18 08 S, 178 25 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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:
enacted on 25 July 1997 to encourage multiculturalism and 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); note - ILOILOVATU was reaffirmed as president by the
Great Council of Chiefs in a statement issued on 22 December, and
reappointed by the coup leader Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA in
January 2007
head of government: Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE (since 10
 September 2000); note - although QARASE is still the legal prime
minister, he has been confined to his home island; the president
appointed Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA interim prime minister under
the military regime
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the
members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament; note - coup
leader Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA has appointed an interim cabinet
elections: president elected by the Great Council of Chiefs for a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); prime minister
appointed by the president; election last held 8 March 2006
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 (32 seats; 14 appointed
by the president on the advice of the Great Council of Chiefs, 9
appointed by the president on the advice of the Prime Minister, 8 on
the advice of the Opposition Leader, and 1 appointed on the advice
of the council of Rotuma) and the House of Representatives (71
seats; 23 reserved for ethnic Fijians, 19 reserved for ethnic
Indians, 3 reserved for other ethnic groups, 1 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 6-13 May 2006 (next
to be held 2011)
election results: House of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - SDL 44.59%, FLP 39.18%, UPP .84%, independents 4.89%; seats
by party - SDL 36, FLP 31, UPP 2, independents 2

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president); Court of
Appeal; High Court; Magistrates' Courts

Political parties and leaders:

Dodonu Ni Taukei Party or DNT [Fereti S. DEWA]; Fiji Democratic
Party or FDP [Filipe BOLE] (a merger of the Christian Democrat
Alliance or VLV [Poesci Waqalevu BUNE], Fijian Association Party or
FAP, Fijian Political Party or SVT (primarily Fijian) [Sitiveni
RABUKA], and New Labor Unity Party or NLUP [Ofa SWANN]); Fiji Labor
 Party or FLP [Mahendra CHAUDHRY]; General Voters Party or GVP
(became part of United General Party); Girmit Heritage Party or GHP;
Justice and Freedom Party or AIM; Lio 'On Famor Rotuma Party or LFR;
National Federation Party or NFP (primarily Indian) [Pramond RAE];
Nationalist Vanua Takolavo Party or NVTLP [Saula TELAWA]; Party of
National Unity or PANU [Ponipate LESAVUA]; Party of the Truth or
POTT; United Fiji Party/Sogosogo Duavata ni Lewenivanua or SDL
[Laisenia QARASE]; United Peoples Party or UPP [Millis Mick BEDDOES]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jesoni VITUSAGAVULU
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 Larry Miles DINGER
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, remittances from
Fijians working abroad, and a growing tourist industry - with
300,000 to 400,000 tourists annually - are the major sources of
foreign exchange. Fiji's sugar has special access to European Union
markets, but will be harmed by the EU's decision to cut sugar
subsidies. Sugar processing makes up one-third of industrial
activity but is not efficient. Fiji's tourism industry was damaged
by the 2006 coup and is facing an uncertain recovery time. Long-term
problems include low investment, uncertain land ownership rights,
and the government's ability to manage its budget. Overseas
remittances from Fijians working in Kuwait and Iraq have increased
significantly.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$5.504 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$2.038 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.7% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$6,100 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8.9% industry: 13.5% services: 77.6%

(2004 est.)

Labor force: 137,000 (1999)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 70% industry and services: 30% (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):

3% (2005)

Budget:
revenues: $720.5 million
expenditures: $728.3 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005)

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:
817 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 18.5% hydro: 81.5% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
759.8 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
10,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-465.8 million

Exports:
$719.6 million f.o.b. (2005)

Exports - commodities:
sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil

Exports - partners:
US 19.7%, Australia 17%, UK 12.3%, Japan 5.4%, Samoa 4.1% (2005)

Imports:
$1.462 billion c.i.f. (2005)

Imports - commodities:
manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum
products, food, chemicals

Imports - partners:
Singapore 27.5%, Australia 23.7%, NZ 19%, Thailand 4.5% (2005)
Debt - external:
$127 million (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$63.9 million (2004)

Currency (code):
Fijian dollar (FJD)

Currency code:
FJD

Exchange rates:
Fijian dollars per US dollar - 1.691 (2005), 1.7331 (2004), 1.8958
(2003), 2.1869 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Fiji

Telephones - main lines in use:

102,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

142,200 (2004)

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; 2
satellite earth stations - 2 INMARSAT (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:
8,987 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:
61,000 (2004)

Transportation Fiji

Airports: 28 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914
to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 18

(2006)

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) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 3,440 km
 paved: 1,692 km
unpaved: 1,748 km (1999)

Waterways:
203 km
note: 122 km navigable by motorized craft and 200-metric-ton barges
(2004)

Merchant marine:
total: 7 ships (1000 GRT or over) 15,867 GRT/8,432 DWT
by type: passenger 3, passenger/cargo 2, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Australia 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Lambasa, Lautoka, Suva

Military Fiji

Military branches:
Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF): Land Forces, Naval Forces
(2006)

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
females age 18-49: 212,739 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 163,960
females age 18-49: 178,714 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 9,266
females age 18-49: 8,916 (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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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. A member of the European Union since 1995, 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)
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 12 nm; extends to continental shelf boundary
with Sweden
continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation

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: 6.54% permanent crops: 0.02% other: 93.44% (2005)

Irrigated land:
640 sq km (2003)

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:
5,231,372 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.1% (male 455,420/female 438,719)
15-64 years: 66.7% (male 1,766,674/female 1,724,858)
65 years and over: 16.2% (male 337,257/female 508,444) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 41.3 years
male: 39.7 years
female: 42.8 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.14% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
10.45 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
9.86 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.84 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 3.55 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 3.86 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.5 years
male: 74.99 years
 female: 82.17 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.73 children born/woman (2006 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%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2000 est.)

Government Finland

Country name:
 conventional long form: Republic of Finland
conventional short form: Finland
local long form: Suomen tasavalta/Republiken Finland
local short form: Suomi/Finland

Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Helsinki
geographic coordinates: 60 10 N, 24 58 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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
(eligible for a second term); election last held 15 January 2006
(next to be held January 2012); 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: percent of vote - Tarja HALONEN (SDP) 46.3%, Sauli
NIINISTO (Kok) 24.1%, Matti Vanhanen (Kesk) 18.6%, Heidi HAUTALA
(VIHR) 3.5%; a runoff election between HALONEN and NIINISTO was held
29 January 2006 - HOLONEN 51.8%, NIINISTO 48.2%
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, other 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 [Martti KORHONEN]; National Coalition
(conservative) Party or Kok [Jyrki KATAINEN]; Social Democratic
Party or SDP [Eero HEINALUOMA]; Swedish People's Party or SFP
[Stefan WALLIN]

International organization participation:

AfDB, Arctic Council, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN,
EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 9, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
 ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NC, NEA,
NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMEE, UNMIL,
UNMIS,
UNMOGIP, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU (observer), WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO,
ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Pekka LINTU
chancery: 3301 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 298-5800
FAX: [1] (202) 298-6030
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Marilyn WARE
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; exports equal 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. High unemployment remains a persistent problem.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$171.7 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$196.2 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.9% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$32,800 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.7% industry: 30.3% services: 67%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 2.62 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture and forestry 4.4%, industry 4.4%,

construction 6%, commerce 17.5%, finance, insurance, and business services
12%, transport and communications 6%, public services 30.2%

Unemployment rate:
7% (2006 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:

26.9 (2000)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
1.7% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

18.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $105.6 billion
expenditures: $101 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
37.7% of GDP (2006 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:

3% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
81.6 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 39% hydro: 18.7% nuclear: 30.4%
other: 11.8% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
80.79 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
6.8 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
11.7 billion kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
9,105 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
220,400 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
101,000 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
318,300 bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

4.86 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

4.866 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$8.749 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$84.72 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; timber, paper, pulp
(1999)

Exports - partners:
Russia 11.2%, Sweden 10.7%, Germany 10.5%, UK 6.6%, US 6.2%,
Netherlands 4.8% (2005)

Imports:
$71.69 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport
equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and fabrics,
grains

Imports - partners:
Germany 16.2%, Sweden 14.1%, Russia 13.9%, Netherlands 6.2%,
Denmark 4.6%, UK 4.3%, China 4.2% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$6.561 billion (August 2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$251.9 billion (30 June 2006)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $850,536,746.4905 (2005)

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 - 0.79987 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004),
0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Finland

Telephones - main lines in use:

2.12 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
5.231 million (2005)

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; note - the IANA has assigned the ccTLD of .ax to the Aland
Islands

Internet hosts:
1,633,614 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2002)

Internet users:
3.286 million (2005)

Transportation Finland
Airports: 148 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 76 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: 14 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 72 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 67

(2006)

Pipelines: gas 694 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 5,741 km
broad gauge: 5,741 km 1.524-m gauge (2,619 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 78,189 km
paved: 50,633 km (including 653 km of expressways)
unpaved: 27,556 km (2006)

Waterways:
7,842 km
note: includes Saimaa Canal system of 3,577 km; southern part leased
from Russia (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 87 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,250,600 GRT/952,072 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 22, chemical tanker 6, container 1,
passenger 5, passenger/cargo 20, petroleum tanker 4, roll on/roll
off 25
foreign-owned: 3 (Norway 1, Russia 1, UK 1)
registered in other countries: 48 (Bahamas 8, Germany 2, Gibraltar
3, Luxembourg 4, Marshall Islands 2, Netherlands 13, Norway 4,
Sweden 11, UK 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Hamina, Hanko, Helsinki, Kotka, Naantali, Pori, Porvoo, Raahe,
Rauma, Turku

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
females age 18-49: 1,076,684 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 913,617
females age 18-49: 875,689 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 32,040
females age 18-49: 30,519 (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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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
French Guiana: Northern South America, bordering the North Atlantic
Ocean, between Brazil and Suriname
Guadeloupe: Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the
North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Puerto Rico
Martinique: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North
Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Reunion: Southern Africa, island in the Indian Ocean, east of
Madagascar

Geographic coordinates:
46 00 N, 2 00 E
French Guiana: 4 00 N, 53 00 W
Guadeloupe: 16 15 N, 61 35 W
Martinique: 14 40 N, 61 00 W
Reunion: 21 06 S, 55 36 E

Map references:
Europe
French Guiana: South America
Guadeloupe: Central America and the Caribbean
Martinique: Central America and the Caribbean
Reunion: World

Area:
total: 643,427 sq km; 547,030 sq km (metropolitan France)
land: 640,053 sq km; 545,630 sq km (metropolitan France)
water: 3,374 sq km; 1,400 sq km (metropolitan France)
note: the first numbers include the overseas regions of French
Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and Reunion

Area - comparative:
slightly less than the size of Texas
Land boundaries:
metropolitan France - 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
Guadeloupe - total: 10.2 km
border countries: Netherlands Antilles (Sint Maarten) 10.2 km
French Guiana - total: 1,183 km
border countries: Brazil 673 km, Suriname 510 km

Coastline:
total: 4,668 km
metropolitan France: 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
French Guiana: tropical; hot, humid; little seasonal temperature
variation
Guadeloupe and Martinique: subtropical tempered by trade winds;
moderately high humidity; rainy season (June to October); vulnerable
to devasting cyclones (hurricanes) every eight years on average
Reunion: tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool
and dry (May to November), hot and rainy (November to April)

Terrain:
mostly flat plains or gently rolling hills in north and west;
remainder is mountainous, especially Pyrenees in south, Alps in east
French Guiana: low-lying coastal plains rising to hills and small
mountains
Guadeloupe: 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
Martinique: mountainous with indented coastline; dormant volcano
Reunion: mostly rugged and mountainous; fertile lowlands along coast

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
French Guiana: gold deposits, petroleum, kaolin, niobium, tantalum,
clay

Land use:
arable land: 33.46%
permanent crops: 2.03%
other: 64.51%
note: French Guiana - arable land 0.13%, permanent crops 0.04%,
other 99.83% (90% forest, 10% other); Guadeloupe - arable land
11.70%, permanent crops 2.92%, other 85.38%; Martinique - arable
land 9.09%, permanent crops 10.0%, other 80.91%; Reunion - arable
land 13.94%, permanent crops 1.59%, other 84.47% (2005)

Irrigated land:
total: 26,190 sq km;
metropolitan France: 26,000 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:
metropolitan France: flooding; avalanches; midwinter windstorms;
drought; forest fires in south near the Mediterranean
overseas departments: hurricanes (cyclones), flooding, volcanic
activity (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion)

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:
total: 62,752,136
note: 60,876,136 in metropolitan France (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.3% (male 5,704,152/female 5,427,213)
15-64 years: 65.3% (male 19,886,228/female 19,860,506)
65 years and over: 16.4% (male 4,103,883/female 5,894,154) (2006
est.)

Median age: total: 39.1 years male: 37.6 years female: 40.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.35% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
11.99 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
9.14 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.21 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.71 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.73 years
male: 76.1 years
female: 83.54 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.84 children born/woman (2006 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
overseas departments: black, white, mulatto, East Indian, Chinese,
Amerindian

Religions:
 Roman Catholic 83%-88%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 5%-10%,
unaffiliated 4%
overseas departments: Roman Catholic, Protestant, Hindu, Muslim,
Buddhist, pagan

Languages:
French 100%, rapidly declining regional dialects and languages
(Provencal, Breton, Alsatian, Corsican, Catalan, Basque, Flemish)
overseas departments: French, Creole patois

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 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:
name: Paris
geographic coordinates: 48 52 N, 2 20 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:
26 regions (regions, singular - region); Alsace, Aquitaine,
Auvergne, Basse-Normandie (Lower Normandy), Bourgogne, Bretagne
(Brittany), Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse (Corsica),
 Franche-Comte, Guadeloupe, Guyane (French Guiana), Haute-Normandie
(Upper Normandy), Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin,
Lorraine, Martinique, Reunion, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais,
Pays de la Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote
d'Azur, Rhone-Alpes
note: France is divided into 22 metropolitan regions (including the
"territorial collectivity" of Corse or Corsica) and 4 overseas
regions and is subdivided into 96 metropolitan departments and 4
overseas departments

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; New Caledonia
has been considered a "sui generis" collectivity of France since
1999, a unique status falling between that of an independent country
and a French overseas deparment

Independence:
486 (unified by Clovis)

National holiday:
Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - although often
incorrectly referred to as Bastille Day, the celebration actually
commemorates the holiday held on the first anniversary of the
storming of the Bastille (on 14 July 1789) and the establishment of
a constitutional monarchy; other names for the holiday are Fete
Nationale (National Holiday) and quatorze juillet (14th of July)

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; amended in 2005 to make the EU constitutional treaty
compatible with the Constitution of France and to ensure that the
 decision to ratify EU accession treaties would be made by referendum

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 22 April 2007,
second round 6 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
(331 seats - 305 for metropolitan France, 9 for overseas
departments, 5 for dependencies, 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 2006 and 2010, 15 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; starting in 2008, 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 - 555 for metropolitan
France, 15 for overseas departments, 7 for dependencies; 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 2008); National Assembly - last held 8-16 June 2002 (next
to be held on 10 and 17 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, Left 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 MRC [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]; Greens [Yann
WEHRLING, national secretary]; 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 FN [Jean-Marie LE PEN]; Rally for
France or RPF [Charles PASQUA]; Socialist Party or PS [Francois
HOLLANDE]; Union for French Democracy or UDF [Francois BAYROU];
Union for a Popular Movement or UMP [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)
French Guiana: NA
Guadeloupe: 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 of Independent
Guadeloupe or MPGI; The Socialist Renewal Movement
Martinique: 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
Reunion: NA

International organization participation:

ABEDA, ACCT, AfDB, Arctic Council (observer), AsDB, Australia
Group, BDEAC, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (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, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IFTU,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA,
MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, OIF,
OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SECI (observer), SPC,
UN, UN Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL,
UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNRWA,
UNTSO, UNWTO,
UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCL, WCO, WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, 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, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Craig R. STAPLETON
embassy: 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08
mailing address: PSC 116, APO AE 09777
 telephone: [33] (1) 43-12-22-22
FAX: [33] (1) 42 66 97 83
consulate(s) general: Marseille, Strasbourg

Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red;
known as the "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 in 2006 focused on introducing measures that
attempt to boost employment through increased labor market
flexibility; however, the population has remained opposed to labor
reforms, hampering the government's ability to revitalize the
economy. The tax burden remains one of the highest in Europe (nearly
50% of GDP in 2005). The lingering economic slowdown and inflexible
budget items probably pushed the budget deficit above the eurozone's
3%-of-GDP limit in 2006; unemployment hovers near 9%.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.871 trillion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.154 trillion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.3% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$30,100 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.2% industry: 20.6% services: 77.2%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 27.88 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 4.1% industry: 24.4% services: 71.5%

(1999)

Unemployment rate:
9.1% (2006 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% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

20% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.15 trillion
expenditures: $1.211 trillion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)
Public debt:
64.7% of GDP (2006 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:

1.5% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
540.6 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 8.2% hydro: 14% nuclear: 77.1%
other: 0.7% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
440.6 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
68.6 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
6.5 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
77,690 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
1.977 million bbl/day (2004 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:

1.4 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

45.41 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

770 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

44.78 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

12.77 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-35.36 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$490 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics,
chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages

Exports - partners:
Germany 14.7%, Spain 9.7%, Italy 8.7%, UK 8.3%, Belgium 7.1%, US
7.1% (2005)

Imports:
$529.1 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft, plastics,
chemicals

Imports - partners:
 Germany 18.9%, Belgium 10.7%, Italy 8.3%, Spain 7%, Netherlands
6.6%, UK 5.9%, US 5.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$39.98 billion (August 2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$3.461 trillion (30 June 2006)

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 - 0.7967 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004),
0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications France

Telephones - main lines in use:

38.433 million; 35.7 million (metropolitan France) (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

49,369,800; 48.058 million (metropolitan France) (2005)

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
overseas departments: country codes: French Guiana - 594; Guadeloupe
- 590; Martinique - 596; Reunion - 262

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:

metropolitan France - .fr; French Guiana - .gf; Guadeloupe - .gp;
Martinique - .mq; Reunion - .re

Internet hosts:
3,149,008; 3,148,379 (metropolitan France) (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

62 (2000)

Internet users:
29.945 million; 29.521 million (metropolitan France) (2006)

Transportation France

Airports: total: 501 metropolitan France: 477 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 292 (metropolitan France) 15 (overseas
departments) over 3,047 m: 13 (metropolitan France) 3 (overseas departments)
2,438 to 3,047 m: 28 (metropolitan France) 1 (overseas departments) 1,524 to
2,437 m: 96 (metropolitan France) 914 to 1,523 m: 81 (metropolitan France) 5
(overseas departments) under 914 m: 74 (metropolitan France) 6 (overseas
departments) (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 185 (metropolitan France) 9 (overseas

departments) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (metropolitan France) 914 to 1,523 m: 73
(metropolitan France) 2 (overseas departments) under 914 m: 108 (metropolitan
France) 7 (overseas departments) (2006)

Heliports:
3 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 14,588 km; oil 3,024 km; refined products 4,889 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 29,085 km
standard gauge: 28,918 km 1.435-m gauge (14,481 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 167 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 956,303 km (including 5,083 km of roads in the overseas
departments)
paved: 951,220 km (metropolitan France; including 10,490 km of
expressways) (2004)

Waterways:
metropolitan France: 8,500 km (1,686 km accessible to craft of
3,000 metric tons)
French Guiana: 3,760 km (460 km navigable by small oceangoing
vessels and coastal and river steamers, 3,300 km by native craft)
(2000)

Merchant marine:
total: 61 ships (1000 GRT or over) 875,777 GRT/1,318,605 DWT
by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 3, container 5, liquefied gas 6,
passenger 3, passenger/cargo 32, petroleum tanker 10, roll on/roll
 off 1
foreign-owned: 13 (Denmark 1, Hong Kong 1, Italy 2, Monaco 1, Norway
1, NZ 1, Singapore 2, Sweden 2, Switzerland 2)
registered in other countries: 154 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Australia
3, Bahamas 37, Bermuda 1, Cameroon 1, French Polynesia 1, French
Southern and Antarctic Lands 36, Gibraltar 1, Indonesia 1, Isle of
Man 2, Italy 1, South Korea 12, Liberia 3, Luxembourg 14, Malta 6,
Mexico 1, Morocco 1, Panama 15, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 8,
UK 4, Wallis and Futuna 5)
note: Reunion owns one ship registered in the Bahamas (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Basse-Terre (Guadeloupe), Bordeaux, Calais, Degrad de Cannes
(French Guiana), Dunkerque, Fort-de-France (Martinique), Gustavia
(Guadeloupe), La Pallice, La Trinite (Martinique), Le Havre, Le Port
(Reunion), Marin (Martinique), Marseille, Nantes, Paris,
Pointe-a-Pitre (Guadeloupe), Rouen, Strasbourg

Military France

Military branches:
Army (includes marines, Foreign Legion, light aviation), Navy
(includes naval air), Air Force (includes air defense), National
Gendarmerie

Military service age and obligation:

17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription ended
in the 1990s; women serve in non-combat military posts (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 17-49: 13,676,509
females age 17-49: 13,504,539 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 17-49: 11,262,661
females age 17-49: 11,079,472 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 17-49: 389,204
 females age 17-49: 372,719 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$45 billion FY06 (2005)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.6% FY06 (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues France

Disputes - international:
Madagascar claims the French territories of 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:
metropolitan France: transshipment point for and consumer of South
American cocaine, Southwest Asian heroin, and European synthetics
French Guiana: small amount of marijuana grown for local
consumption; minor transshipment point to Europe
Martinique: transshipment point for cocaine and marijuana bound for
the US and Europe

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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. In recent
years, French Polynesia's autonomy has been considerably expanded.

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: 0.75% permanent crops: 5.5% other: 93.75% (2005)

Irrigated land:
10 sq km (2003)

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:
274,578 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.1% (male 36,541/female 34,999)
15-64 years: 67.9% (male 96,769/female 89,593)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 8,428/female 8,248) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 27.9 years
male: 28.2 years
female: 27.5 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.48% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
16.68 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
4.69 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 8.29 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.55 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.1 years
male: 73.69 years
female: 78.63 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.01 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Papeete
geographic coordinates: 17 32 S, 149 34 W
time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
none (overseas lands of France); there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are five archipelagic divisions named Archipel des Marquises,
Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du Vent, 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 Anne BOQUET
(since September 2005)
head of government: President of French Polynesia Gaston TONG SANG
(since 14 December 2006); 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 for five-year terms (no
term limits)

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 in 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:

Alliance for a New Democracy or ADN [Nicole BOUTEAU and Philip
SCHYLE](includes the parties The New Star and This Country is
Yours); 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]; Union for Democracy or UPD
[Oscar TEMARU]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

FZ, ITUC, PIF (observer), SPC, 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

Government - note:
under certain acts of France, French Polynesia has acquired
autonomy in all areas except those relating to police and justice,
monetary policy, tertiary education, immigration, and defense and
foreign affairs; the duties of its president are fashioned after
those of the French prime minister

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 (official exchange rate):

NA

GDP - real growth rate:

NA% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$17,500 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.1% industry: 19% services: 76.9%

(2005)

Labor force: 65,870 (December 2005)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 13% industry: 19% services: 68%

(2002)

Unemployment rate:
11.8%

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.1% (2006 est.)

Budget:
 revenues: $865 million
expenditures: $644.1 million; including capital expenditures of $185
million (1999)

Agriculture - products:
fish; coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits, coffee; poultry, beef,
dairy products

Industries:
tourism, pearls, agricultural processing, handicrafts, phosphates

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:
477 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 60.7% hydro: 39.3% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
443.6 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
6,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$211 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:
cultured pearls, coconut products, mother-of-pearl, vanilla, shark
meat

Exports - partners:
France 46.3%, Japan 20.8%, Niger 12.8%, US 12.5% (2005)

Imports:
$1.706 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities:
fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment

Imports - partners:
France 52.7%, Singapore 14.9%, NZ 6.8%, US 6.6% (2005)

Debt - external:
$NA

Economic aid - recipient:

$580 million (2004)

Currency (code):
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)

Currency code:
XPF

Exchange rates:
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 95.01
(2006), 95.89 (2005), 96.04 (2004), 105.66 (2003), 126.71 (2002)
 note: pegged at the rate of 119.25 XPF to the euro

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications French Polynesia

Telephones - main lines in use:

53,400 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

87,000 (2005)

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:
14,047 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)
Internet users:
55,000 (2005)

Transportation French Polynesia

Airports: 51 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 39 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914
to 1,523 m: 25 under 914 m: 7 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 7

(2006)

Heliports: 1 (2006)

Roadways: total: 2,590 km paved: 1,735 km unpaved: 855 km (1999)

Merchant marine:
total: 13 ships (1000 GRT or over) 23,684 GRT/17,291 DWT
by type: cargo 4, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 5, refrigerated cargo
1, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 1 (France 1)
registered in other countries: 2 (Wallis and Futuna 2) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Papeete

Military French Polynesia

Military branches:
no regular military forces; Gendarmerie and National Police Force

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 69,679 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 55,305 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

 males age 18-49: 2,747 (2005 est.)

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues French Polynesia

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
0 sq km

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
note: in 2002, there were 145 researchers whose numbers vary from
winter (July) to summer (January) (July 2006 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
abbreviation: TAAF
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 three districts named Ile Crozet, Iles Kerguelen, 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

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by Senior Administrator Michel CHAMPON

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

Internet hosts:
38 (2006)

Transportation French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Merchant marine:
total: 77 ships (1000 GRT or over) 3,432,833 GRT/5,345,291 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, chemical tanker 27, container 18, liquefied
gas 5, petroleum tanker 15, roll on/roll off 6, vehicle carrier 4
foreign-owned: 76 (Belgium 6, Denmark 2, France 36, Germany 2, Hong
Kong 2, Japan 4, Norway 12, Saudi Arabia 1, Sweden 9, Switzerland 1,
UK 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

none; offshore anchorage only

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 US

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@Gabon

Introduction Gabon

Background:
Only two autocratic presidents have ruled Gabon since independence
from France in 1960. The current president of Gabon, El Hadj Omar
BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-serving heads of state in the
world - has dominated the country's political scene for almost four
decades. President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty system and
a new constitution in the early 1990s. However, allegations of
electoral fraud during local elections in 2002-03 and the
presidential elections in 2005 have exposed the weaknesses of formal
political structures in Gabon. Gabon's political 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: 1.21% permanent crops: 0.64% other: 98.15% (2005)

Irrigated land:
70 sq km (2003)

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,
 Whaling
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:
1,424,906
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
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.1% (male 300,914/female 299,141)
15-64 years: 53.9% (male 383,137/female 384,876)
65 years and over: 4% (male 23,576/female 33,262) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 18.6 years
male: 18.4 years
female: 18.8 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.13% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
36.16 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
12.25 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-2.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 54.51 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 63.65 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 45.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 54.49 years
male: 53.21 years
female: 55.81 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.74 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

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

Capital:
name: Libreville
geographic coordinates: 0 23 N, 9 27 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 Eyeghe NDONG (since 20
January 2006)
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
(no term limits); election last held 27 November 2005 (next to be
held in 2012); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: President El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba reelected;
percent of vote - El Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba 79.2%, Pierre
MAMBOUNDOU 13.6%, Zacharie MYBOTO 6.6%

Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of the Senate (91 seats; members
elected by members of municipal councils and departmental assemblies
to serve six-year terms) and the National Assembly or Assemblee
Nationale (120 seats; members are elected by direct, popular vote to
serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 26 January and 9 February 2003 (next
to be held by January 2009); National Assembly - last held 17 and 24
December 2006 (next to be held December 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
 party - PDG 53, RNB 20, PGP 4, ADERE 3, RDP 1, CLR 1, independents
9; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party
- PDG 82, RPG 8, UPG 8, UGDD 4, ADERE 3, CLR 2, PGP-Ndaot 2, PSD 2,
independents 4, others 5

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
[Simplice Nguedet MANZELA] (former sole party); Gabonese Party for
Progress or PGP [Pierre-Louis AGONDJO-OKAWE]; Gabonese Union for
Democracy and Development or UGDD [Zacherie MYBOTO]; National Rally
of Woodcutters or RNB; 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; Union of Gabonese Patriots 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, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO,
WIPO, WMO,
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 mandated progress in
privatization and fiscal discipline. France provided additional
financial support in January 1997 after Gabon 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):

$10.21 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$7.052 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.8% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$7,200 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5.9% industry: 59.7% services: 34.4%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 581,000 (2006 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):

 2.2% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

22.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $3.1 billion
expenditures: $2.181 billion; including capital expenditures of $325
million (2006 est.)

Public debt:
28.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber; cattle; okoume (a tropical
softwood); fish

Industries:
petroleum extraction and refining; manganese, gold; chemicals, ship
repair, food and beverages, textiles, lumbering and plywood, cement

Industrial production growth rate:

1.6% (2002 est.)

Electricity - production:
1.543 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 34.5% hydro: 65.5% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
1.435 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
 268,900 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
13,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

1.827 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

100 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

100 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:

33.98 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$1.807 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$6.677 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
crude oil 77%, timber, manganese, uranium (2001)

Exports - partners:
US 52.6%, France 6.3%, China 6.2% (2005)
Imports:
$1.607 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, construction
materials

Imports - partners:
France 40.5%, US 6.4%, Cameroon 4.2% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$835 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$3.971 billion (2006 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 -
522.592 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99
(2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Gabon

Telephones - main lines in use:

39,100 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
649,800 (2005)

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:
322 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2001)

Internet users:
67,000 (2005)

Transportation Gabon
Airports: 56 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 45 1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m:

15 under 914 m: 23 (2006)

Pipelines: gas 272 km; oil 1,354 km (2006)

Railways: total: 814 km standard gauge: 814 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)

Roadways: total: 9,170 km paved: 937 km unpaved: 8,233 km (2004)

Waterways:
1,600 km (310 km on Ogooue River) (2005)

Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 2 (Cambodia 1, Panama 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Gamba, Libreville, Lucinda, Owendo, Port-Gentil

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: 278,826
females age 18-49: 279,865 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 159,198
females age 18-49: 156,122 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

 males age 18-49: 15,325
females age 18-49: 15,367 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$253.5 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3.4% (2005 est.)

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 7,298 (Republic of Congo) (2006)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Gambia, The

Introduction Gambia, The

Background:
The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965.
 Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed a short-lived
federation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two
nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty, but tensions
have flared up intermittently since then. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH led
a military coup in 1994 that overthrew the president and banned
political activity. A new constitution and presidential elections in
1996, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a
nominal return to civilian rule. JAMMEH has been elected president
in all subsequent elections, including most recently in late 2006.

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
 exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: not specified

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: 27.88% permanent crops: 0.44% other: 71.68% (2005)

Irrigated land:
20 sq km (2003)

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, Whaling
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:
1,641,564 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.3% (male 365,157/female 361,821)
15-64 years: 53% (male 431,627/female 438,159)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 22,889/female 21,911) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 17.7 years
male: 17.6 years
female: 17.8 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.84% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
39.37 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
12.25 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.29 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 1.05 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 71.58 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 78.06 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 64.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 54.14 years
male: 52.3 years
 female: 56.03 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.3 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

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

Capital:
name: Banjul
geographic coordinates: 12 28 N, 16 39 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 he was chairman of the
Junta); Vice President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(no term limits); election last held 22 September 2006 (next to be
held in 2011)
election results: Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH reelected president; percent
of vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 67.3%, Ousainou DARBOE 26.6%, Halifa
SALLAH 6.0%

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 elected by popular vote,
5 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 17 January 2002 (next to be held 25 January
2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
APRC 45, PDOIS 2, NRP 1,

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC
[Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH] (the ruling party); Gambia People's
Democratic Party or GPDP [Henry GOMEZ]; National Alliance for
Democracy and Development or NADD [Halifa SALLAH]; 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]; United Democratic
Party or UDP [Ousainou DARBOE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
 IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNMIL,
UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Dodou Bammy JAGNE
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] 439-2856, 437-6169, 437-6170
FAX: [220] 439-2475

Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges,
and green

Economy Gambia, The

Economy - overview:
The Gambia has no confirmed 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
Gambia's natural beauty and proximity to Europe has made it one of
the larger markets for tourism in West Africa. The government's 1998
seizure of the private peanut firm Alimenta eliminated the largest
purchaser of Gambian groundnuts. 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):

$3.25 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$461.2 million (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 30.5% industry: 13.9% services:

55.6% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 400,000 (1996)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 75% industry: 19% services: 6%

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):

14% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

 20.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $112.7 million
expenditures: $155.1 million; including capital expenditures of $4.1
million (2006 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:
145 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
134.9 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
2,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
 NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-54.61 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$130.5 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels, re-exports

Exports - partners:
India 29.6%, Kenya 28.4%, UK 13.3%, Indonesia 6.1% (2005)

Imports:
$212.2 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport equipment

Imports - partners:
China 21.5%, Senegal 11.4%, Cote d'Ivoire 8.5%, Brazil 5.6%, US
5.3%, UK 5.2%, Netherlands 4.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$88.11 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$628.8 million (2003 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

 $59.8 million (2003)

Currency (code):
dalasi (GMD)

Currency code:
GMD

Exchange rates:
dalasi per US dollar - 30 (2006), 30.38 (2005), 30.03 (2004),
27.306 (2004), 19.918 (2003), 15.687 (2002), 15.687 (2001)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Gambia, The

Telephones - main lines in use:

44,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

247,500 (2005)

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:
14 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2001)

Internet users:
49,000 (2005)

Transportation Gambia, The

Airports: 1 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways: total: 3,742 km paved: 723 km unpaved: 3,019 km (2004)

Waterways:
390 km (on River Gambia; small ocean-going vessels can reach 190
km) (2004)

Merchant marine:
total: 5 ships (1000 GRT or over) 32,064 GRT/9,751 DWT
by type: passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 1 (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Banjul

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: 311,025
females age 18-49: 316,214 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 183,057
females age 18-49: 194,551 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$1.55 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.4% (2005 est.)

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 5,955 (Sierra Leone) (2006)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@Gaza Strip

Background:
The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements (the DOP), signed in Washington in September 1993,
provided for a transitional period of Palestinian interim
self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. A transfer of
authority to the Palestinian Authority (PA) 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. Direct negotiations to determine the permanent status of
Gaza and the West Bank began in September 1999 after a three-year
hiatus, but were derailed by a second intifadah that broke out a
year later. In April 2003, the Quartet (US, EU, UN, and Russia)
presented a roadmap to a final settlement of the conflict by 2005
based on reciprocal steps by the two parties leading to two states,
Israel and a democratic Palestine. The proposed date for a permanent
status agreement has been postponed indefinitely due to violence and
accusations that both sides have not followed through on their
commitments. Following Palestinian leader Yasir ARAFAT's death in
late 2004, Mahmud ABBAS was elected PA president in January 2005. A
month later, Israel and the PA agreed to the Sharm el-Sheikh
Commitments in an effort to move the peace process forward. In
September 2005, Israel withdrew all its settlers and soldiers and
dismantled its military facilities in the Gaza Strip and four
northern West Bank settlements. Nonetheless, Israel controls
maritime, airspace, and most access to the Gaza Strip. A November
2005 PA-Israeli agreement authorized the reopening of the Rafah
border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt under joint PA and
Egyptian control. In January 2006, the Islamic Resistance Movement,
HAMAS, won control of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). The
international community has refused to accept the HAMAS-led
government because it does not recognize Israel, will not renounce
 violence, and refuses to honor previous peace agreements between
Israel and the PA. Since March 2006, President Abbas has had little
success negotiating with HAMAS to present a political platform
acceptable to the international community so as to lift the economic
siege on Palestinians. The PLC was unable to convene in late 2006 as
a result of Israel's detention of many HAMAS PLC members and
Israeli-imposed travel restrictions on other PLC members.

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: 29% permanent crops: 21% other: 50% (2002)

Irrigated land:
150 sq km; note - includes West Bank (2003)

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:
strategic strip of land along Mideast-North African trade routes
has experienced an incredibly turbulent history; the town of Gaza
itself has been besieged countless times in its history

People Gaza Strip

Population:
1,428,757 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 48.1% (male 351,642/female 335,060)
15-64 years: 49.4% (male 360,147/female 345,318)
 65 years and over: 2.6% (male 15,231/female 21,359) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 15.8 years
male: 15.7 years
female: 16 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.71% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
39.45 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
3.8 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 22.4 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 23.48 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.97 years
male: 70.67 years
female: 73.34 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.78 children born/woman (2006 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 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 security controls have kept economic conditions in the
 Gaza Strip - the smaller of the two areas under the Palestinian
Authority (PA)- even more degraded than in the West Bank. 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 to address security concerns in
Israel, disrupted labor and trade access to and from the Gaza Strip.
In 2001, and even more severely in 2003, Israeli military measures
in PA areas resulted in the destruction of capital, the disruption
of administrative structures, and widespread business closures. The
Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in September 2005 offered
some medium-term opportunities for economic growth, which have not
yet been realized due to Israeli military activities in the Gaza
Strip in 2006, continued crossings closures, and the international
community's financial embargo of the PA after HAMAS took office in
March 2006.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$5.327 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

NA

GDP - real growth rate:

4.9% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,500 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8% industry: 18.2% services: 73.9%

(includes West Bank) (2005 est.)

Labor force: 259,000 (2005)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 12% industry: 18% services: 70%

(2005)

Unemployment rate:
31% (includes West Bank) (January-September 2005 avg.)

Population below poverty line:

 81% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.2% (includes West Bank) (2005)

Budget:
revenues: $1.23 billion
expenditures: $1.64 billion; including capital expenditures of $44
million; note - these budget data include West Bank (2005)

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, but operations ceased prior to Israel's evacuation of Gaza
Strip settlements

Industrial production growth rate:

2.4%

Electricity - production:
140,000 kWh

Electricity - consumption:
230,000 kWh

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh

Electricity - imports:
90,000 kWh; note - from Israeli Electric Company (2005)

Exports:
 $313 million f.o.b.; note - includes West Bank (2004)

Exports - commodities:
citrus, flowers, textiles

Exports - partners:
Israel, Egypt, West Bank

Imports:
$1.37 billion c.i.f.; note - includes West Bank (2004)

Imports - commodities:
food, consumer goods, construction materials

Imports - partners:
Israel, Egypt, West Bank (2004)

Debt - external:
NA (2002)

Economic aid - recipient:

$1.14 billion; note - includes West Bank (2004 est.)

Currency (code):
new Israeli shekel (ILS)

Currency code:
ILS

Exchange rates:
new Israeli shekels per US dollar - 4.4877 (2005), 4.482 (2004),
4.5541 (2003), 4.7378 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Gaza Strip

Telephones - main lines in use:

 349,000 (includes West Bank) (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.095 million (includes West Bank) (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL
are responsible for fixed line services in the Gaza Strip; the
Palestinian JAWAL company provides cellular services
international: country code - 970

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 8, shortwave 0 (2005)

Radios:
NA; note - most Palestinian households have radios (1999)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2005)

Televisions:
NA; note - most Palestinian households have televisions (1997)

Internet country code:

.ps

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (1999)

Internet users:
243,000 (includes West Bank) (2005)

Transportation Gaza Strip

Airports:
2
note: includes Gaza International Airport closed since its runway
was destroyed by the Israeli Defense Forces in December 2001 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Roadways:
note: see entry for West Bank

Ports and terminals:

Gaza

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)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 260,855 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 221,530 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 15,196 (2005 est.)

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 removed
settlers and military personnel from the Gaza Strip in August 2005

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 993,818 (Palestinian Refugees
(UNRWA)) (2006)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 A.D. and Christianity became the state religion
in the 330s. Domination by Persians, Arabs, and Turks was followed
by a Georgian golden age (11th-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.
 An attempt by the incumbent Georgian government to manipulate
national 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. Progress on market reforms and democratization has
been made in the years since independence, but this progress has
been complicated by two civil conflicts in the breakaway regions of
Abkhazia and South Ossetia. These two territories remain outside the
control of the central government and are ruled by de facto,
unrecognized governments, supported by Russia. Russian-led
peacekeeping operations continue in both regions. The Georgian
Government put forward a new peace initiative for the peaceful
resolution of the status of South Ossetia in 2005.

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

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: 11.51%
permanent crops: 3.79%
other: 84.7% (2005)

Irrigated land:
4,690 sq km (2003)

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:
4,661,473 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.3% (male 428,056/female 380,193)
15-64 years: 66.2% (male 1,482,908/female 1,602,064)
65 years and over: 16.5% (male 308,905/female 459,347) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 37.7 years
male: 35.3 years
female: 40.1 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.34% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
10.41 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
9.23 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-4.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.15 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 17.97 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 20.06 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.56 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.09 years
male: 72.8 years
female: 79.87 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.42 children born/woman (2006 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%, Muslim 9.9%, Armenian-Gregorian 3.9%,
Catholic 0.8%, 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: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2004 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:
name: T'bilisi
geographic coordinates: 41 43 N, 44 49 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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, Tbilisi,
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 two 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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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
(eligible for a second term); election last held 4 January 2004
(next to be held in late 2008)
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-Democratic Front 67.6%, Rightist Opposition 7.6%, all other
parties received less than 7% each; seats by party - National
Movement-Democratic Front 135, Rightist Opposition 15

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges elected by the Supreme Council on the
president's or chairman of the Supreme Court'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]; Georgia's Way Party [Salome
ZOURABICHVILI];
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 Rights [David GAMKRELIDZE];
Republican Party [David USUPASHVILI]; 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

International organization participation:

ACCT (observer), BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, GUAM,
IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
 Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OAS
(observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI (observer), UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Vasil SIKHARULIDZE
chancery: 1101 15th Street NW, Suite 602, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 387-2390
FAX: [1] (202) 393-4537

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador John F. TEFFT
embassy: 11 George Balanchine St., T'bilisi 0131
mailing address: 7060 T'bilisi Place, Washington, DC 20521-7060
telephone: [995] (32) 27-70-00
FAX: [995] (32) 53-23-10

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 grapes, citrus fruits, and hazelnuts;
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. It has sizeable but
underdeveloped hydropower capacity. 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
2000, achieving positive GDP growth and curtailing inflation.
Georgia had suffered from a chronic failure to collect tax revenues;
however, the new government is making progress and has reformed the
tax code, improved tax administration, increased tax enforcement,
and cracked down on corruption. In addition, the reinvigorated
privatization process has met with success, supplementing government
expenditures on infrastructure, defense, and poverty reduction.
Despite customs and financial (tax) enforcement improvements,
smuggling is a drain on the economy. Georgia also suffers from
energy shortages due to aging and badly maintained infrastructure,
as well as poor management. Due to concerted reform efforts,
collection rates have improved considerably to roughly 60%, both in
T'bilisi and throughout the regions. Continued reform in the
management of state-owned power entities is essential to successful
privatization and onward sustainability in this sector. 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.
Nevertheless, high energy prices have compounded the pressure on the
country's inefficient energy sector. Restructuring the sector and
finding energy supply alternatives to Russia remain major challenges.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$17.79 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$5.272 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

8.8% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,800 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 17.7% industry: 27.5% services:

54.8% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 2.04 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 40% industry: 20% services: 40%

(1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:
12.6% (2004 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:

38 (2003)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

10% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

30% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $1.726 billion
expenditures: $1.879 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 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:
6.804 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 19.7% hydro: 80.3% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
8.528 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
200 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
2.4 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
1,981 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
13,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
 NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

20 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.5 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

NA cu m

Natural gas - imports:

1.5 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-735 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$1.761 billion (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
scrap metal, machinery, chemicals; fuel reexports; citrus fruits,
tea, wine

Exports - partners:
Russia 18.1%, Turkey 14.3%, Azerbaijan 9.8%, Turkmenistan 8.9%,
Bulgaria 5%, Armenia 4.7%, Ukraine 4.4%, Canada 4.2% (2005)

Imports:
$3.32 billion (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
fuels, machinery and parts, transport equipment, grain and other
foods, pharmaceuticals

Imports - partners:
Russia 15.4%, Turkey 11.4%, Azerbaijan 9.4%, Ukraine 8.8%, Germany
8.3%, US 6% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

 $492 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$2.04 billion (2004)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $150 million (2000 est.)

Currency (code):
lari (GEL)

Currency code:
GEL

Exchange rates:
lari per US dollar - 1.79 (2006), 1.8127 (2005), 1.9167 (2004),
2.1457 (2003), 2.1957 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Georgia

Telephones - main lines in use:

683,200 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.459 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: local - T'bilisi, K'ut'aisi, and Batumi 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:
10,752 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6 (2000)

Internet users:
175,600 (2005)

Transportation Georgia

Airports: 23 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 19 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7

1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Heliports:
3 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 1,349 km; oil 1,010 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 1,612 km
broad gauge: 1,575 km 1.520-m gauge (1,575 electrified)
narrow gauge: 37 km 0.912-m gauge (37 electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 20,247 km
paved: 7,973 km
unpaved: 12,274 km (2004)

Merchant marine:
total: 222 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,059,386 GRT/1,538,746 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 27, cargo 176, container 4, liquefied gas 1,
passenger 1, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated
cargo 4, roll on/roll off 2, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 188 (Albania 1, Azerbaijan 2, Belgium 1, China 2,
Cyprus 1, Ecuador 1, Egypt 8, Germany 1, Greece 8, Indonesia 1,
South Korea 1, Lebanon 7, Monaco 13, Romania 11, Russia 28, Slovakia
1, Slovenia 1, Syria 43, Turkey 30, UAE 1, UK 4, Ukraine 22) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Bat'umi, P'ot'i

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, Navy (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
18 to 34 years of age for compulsory and voluntary active duty
military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,038,736
females age 18-49: 1,105,910 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 827,281
females age 18-49: 903,791 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 38,857
females age 18-49: 38,238 (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 continue to discuss the alignment of their
boundary at certain crossing areas

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 220,000-240,000 (displaced from Abkhazia and South Ossetia)
(2006)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Germany

Introduction Germany

Background:
As Europe's largest economy and second most populous nation,
Germany is 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: 33.13% permanent crops: 0.6% other: 66.27% (2005)

Irrigated land:
4,850 sq km (2003)

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:
82,422,299 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.1% (male 5,973,437/female 5,665,971)
15-64 years: 66.4% (male 27,889,936/female 26,874,858)
65 years and over: 19.4% (male 6,602,478/female 9,415,619) (2006
est.)

Median age: total: 42.6 years male: 41.3 years female: 43.9 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.02% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
8.25 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
10.62 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.7 male(s)/female
 total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.12 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.8 years
male: 75.81 years
female: 81.96 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.39 children born/woman (2006 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%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

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:
name: Berlin
geographic coordinates: 52 31 N, 13 24 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:
16 states (Laender, singular - Land); Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bayern
(Bavaria), Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen,
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania),
Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony), Nordrhein-Westfalen (North
Rhine-Westphalia), Rheinland-Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate), Saarland,
Sachsen (Saxony), Sachsen-Anhalt (Saxony-Anhalt),
Schleswig-Holstein, Thueringen (Thuringia); note - Bayern, Sachsen,
and Thueringen refer to themselves as free states (Freistaaten,
singular - Freistaat)

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
Germany 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 Angela MERKEL (since 22 November 2005)
cabinet: Cabinet or Bundesminister (Federal Ministers) appointed by
the president on the recommendation of the chancellor
elections: president elected for a five-year term (eligible for a
second 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; Bundestag election last held
22 November 2005 (next to be held November 2009)
election results: Horst KOEHLER elected president; received 604
votes of the Federal Convention against 589 for Gesine SCHWAN;
Angela MERKEL elected chancellor; vote by Federal Assembly 397 to
202 with 12 abstentions
Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Federal Assembly
or Bundestag (614 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
proportional representation and caucus recogntion; members serve
four-year terms) and the Federal Council or Bundesrat (69 votes;
state governments are directly represented by votes; each has three
to six 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 53, Greens 51, and
independents 2

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 [Claudia ROTH 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.PDS (Linkspartei.PDS)
[Lothar BISKY]; note - a merger with the Electoral Alternative-Work
and Social Justice or WASG [Klaus ERNST] is planned for summer 2007;
Social Democratic Party or SPD [Kurt BECK]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

business associations and employers' organizations; religious,
trade unions, immigrant, expellee, and veterans groups

International organization participation:

AfDB, Arctic Council (observer), 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, ICRM,
IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, SECI (observer), UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNMOVIC, UNOMIG,
UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (nonregional), WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO,
WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Klaus SCHARIOTH
chancery: 4645 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 298-4000
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 William

R. TIMKEN, Jr. 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; however, stronger growth this year has
improved employment considerably. Growth in 2001-03 fell short of
 1%, rising to 1.7% in 2004, falling back to 0.9% in 2005, and
increasing to 2.2% in 2006. Unemployment fell to 7.1% in October
2006, based on the Internation Labor Organization's measurement. 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 chronic 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 - and a lack of competition in the sevice sectors
have made slow growth a chronic problem. Corporate restructuring and
growing capital markets are setting the foundations that could help
Germany meet the long-term challenges of European economic
integration and globalization; however, the current government has
failed to pass meaningful economic reform that would improve growth
prospects. Higher government revenues from the cyclical upturn in
2006 reduced Germany's budget deficit to within the EU's 3% debt
limit.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.585 trillion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$2.858 trillion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.2% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$31,400 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.9% industry: 29.1% services: 70%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 43.66 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 2.8% industry: 33.4% services: 63.8%

(1999)
Unemployment rate:
7.1%
note: this is the International Labor Organization's estimated rate
for international comparisons; Germany's Federal Employment Office
estimated a seasonally adjusted rate of 9.8% (2006 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:

28.3 (2000)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.7% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

17.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.277 trillion
expenditures: $1.344 trillion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
66.8% of GDP (2006 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:
4.4% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
566.9 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 61.8% hydro: 4.2% nuclear:

29.9% other: 4.1% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
524.6 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
50.8 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
48.2 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
167,400 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
2.65 million bbl/day (2004)

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:

19.9 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

102 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

 8.81 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

90.11 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

279.1 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$134.8 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$1.133 trillion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
machinery, vehicles, chemicals, metals and manufactures,
foodstuffs, textiles

Exports - partners:
France 10.2%, US 8.8%, UK 7.9%, Italy 6.9%, Netherlands 6.1%,
Belgium 5.6%, Austria 5.4%, Spain 5.1% (2005)

Imports:
$916.4 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery, vehicles, chemicals, foodstuffs, textiles, metals

Imports - partners:
France 8.7%, Netherlands 8.5%, US 6.6%, China 6.4%, UK 6.3%, Italy
5.7%, Belgium 5%, Austria 4% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$48.76 billion (August 2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$3.904 trillion (30 June 2006)

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 - 0.7967 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004),
0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Germany

Telephones - main lines in use:

55.046 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

79.2 million (2005)

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:
11,859,131 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

200 (2001)

Internet users:
50.616 million (2006)

Transportation Germany

Airports: 554 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 332 over 3,047 m: 13 2,438 to 3,047 m: 54
1,524 to 2,437 m: 58 914 to 1,523 m: 72 under 914 m: 135 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 222 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437
m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 33 under 914 m: 185 (2006)

Heliports:
 32 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate 37 km; gas 25,035 km; oil 3,546 km; refined products
3,827 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 47,201 km
standard gauge: 46,948 km 1.435-m gauge (19,674 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 229 km 1.000-m gauge (16 km electrified); 24 km
0.750-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 231,581 km
paved: 231,581 km (including 12,200 km of expressways) (2005)

Waterways:
7,467 km
note: Rhine River carries most goods; Main-Danube Canal links North
Sea and Black Sea (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 394 ships (1000 GRT or over) 11,017,754 GRT/13,091,194 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 60, chemical tanker 13, container
273, liquefied gas 3, passenger 6, passenger/cargo 25, petroleum
tanker 10, roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned: 4 (Finland 2, Italy 1, Switzerland 1)
registered in other countries: 2,491 (Antigua and Barbuda 858,
Australia 3, Bahamas 22, Belize 3, Bermuda 21, Brazil 7, Bulgaria 1,
Burma 5, Canada 3, Cayman Islands 13, Cyprus 214, Denmark 13,
Dominica 1, French Southern and Antarctic Lands 2, Georgia 1,
Gibraltar 108, Guyana 1, Hong Kong 6, Indonesia 1, Ireland 2, Isle
of Man 56, Jamaica 3, Liberia 587, Luxembourg 10, Malaysia 2, Malta
64, Marshall Islands 194, Morocco 2, Netherlands 56, Netherlands
Antilles 60, NZ 1, Panama 35, Portugal 17, Russia 2, Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines 8, Samoa 1, Singapore 9, Spain 12, Sri Lanka 5,
Sweden 3, Turkey 1, UK 76, US 2) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

 Bremen, Bremerhaven, Brunsbuttel, Duisburg, Frankfurt, Hamburg,
Karlsruhe, Mainz, Rostock, Wilhemshaven

Military Germany

Military branches:
Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr): Army (Heer), Navy (Deutsche
Marine, includes naval air arm), Air Force (Luftwaffe), Joint
Service Support Command (Streitkraeftebasis), Central Medical
Service (Zentraler Sanitaetsdienst) (2006)

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
females age 18-49: 17,913,113 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 15,258,931
females age 18-49: 14,443,412 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 497,048
females age 18-49: 470,537 (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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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
John 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: 17.54% permanent crops: 9.22% other: 73.24% (2005)

Irrigated land:
310 sq km (2003)

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:
22,409,572
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
2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.8% (male 4,395,744/female 4,288,720)
15-64 years: 57.7% (male 6,450,828/female 6,483,781)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 371,428/female 419,071) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 19.9 years
male: 19.7 years
female: 20.1 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.07% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
30.52 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
9.72 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 55.02 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 59.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 50.33 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 58.87 years
male: 58.07 years
female: 59.69 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

 3.99 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

Nationality:
noun: Ghanaian(s)
adjective: Ghanaian

Ethnic groups:
African 98.5% (includes 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:
name: Accra
geographic coordinates: 5 33 N, 0 13 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 (eligible for a second term);
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]; Democratic Freedom Party or DFP [Obed ASAMOAH,
chairman]; 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]; United Renaissance Party or
URP [Charles Wayo, chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OAS
(observer),
OIF, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL,
UNITAR,
UNMEE, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Fritz Kwabena POKU
chancery: 1156 15th St. NW #905, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379
FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela BRIDGEWATER
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 poorest 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, but was included in a G-8 debt relief
program decided upon at the Gleneagles Summit in July 2005.
Priorities under its current $38 million Poverty Reduction and
Growth Facility (PRGF) include tighter monetary and fiscal policies,
accelerated privatization, and improvement of social services.
Receipts from the gold sector helped sustain GDP growth in 2006
along with record high prices for Ghana's largest cocoa crop to
date. Ghana received a Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) grant
in 2006, which aims to assist in transforming Ghana's agricultural
export sector.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$59.15 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$10.18 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.7% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,600 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 37.3% industry: 25.3% services:

37.5% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 10.87 million (2006 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:

30 (1999)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

10.9% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

29% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $3.616 billion
expenditures: $3.947 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
38.6% of GDP (2006 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:
6.489 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 5% hydro: 95% nuclear: 0% other:

0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
7.095 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
900 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
1.96 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
7,477 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
44,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - proved reserves:

8.255 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

23.79 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-219 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$3.286 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
 gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore,
diamonds

Exports - partners:
Netherlands 12.5%, UK 8.3%, US 6.7%, Belgium 5.8%, France 5.6%,
Germany 4.4% (2005)

Imports:
$5.666 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
Nigeria 15.2%, China 12.5%, US 6.3%, UK 5.2%, South Africa 4.5%,
Brazil 4.1%, Netherlands 4% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.098 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$3.546 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$6.9 billion

Currency (code):
cedi (GHC)

Currency code:
GHC

Exchange rates:
cedis per US dollar - 9,178.85 (2006), 9,072.5 (2005), 9,004.6
(2004), 8,677.4 (2003), 7,932.7 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Ghana
Telephones - main lines in use:
321,500 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.842 million (2005)

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:
380 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

12 (2000)

Internet users:
401,300 (2005)
Transportation Ghana

Airports: 12 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914
to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Pipelines:
oil 13 km; refined products 316 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 953 km
narrow gauge: 953 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 42,623 km
paved: 3,267 km
unpaved: 39,356 km (2004)

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
(2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 4 ships (1000 GRT or over) 6,308 GRT/9,418 DWT
by type: cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Brazil 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Takoradi, Tema

Military Ghana
Military branches:
Ghanaian Army, Ghanaian Navy, Ghanaian Air Force (2006)

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: 4,808,451
females age 18-49: 4,762,459 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 3,011,081
females age 18-49: 2,991,551 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 251,056
females age 18-49: 247,777 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$83.65 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.8% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Ghana

Disputes - international:
Ghana struggles to accommodate returning nationals who worked in
the cocoa plantations and escaped fighting in Cote d'Ivoire

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 38,684 (Liberia), 14,136 (Togo) (2006)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Gibraltar

Introduction Gibraltar

Background:
Strategically important, Gibraltar was reluctantly ceded to Great
Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British garrison
was formally declared a colony in 1830. In a referendum held in
1967, Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly to remain a British
dependency. Although the current 1969 Constitution for Gibraltar
states that the British government will never allow the people of
Gibraltar to pass under the sovereignty of another state against
their freely and democratically expressed wishes, a series of talks
were held by the UK and Spain between 1997 and 2002 on establishing
temporary joint sovereignty over Gibraltar. In response to these
talks, the Gibraltarian Government set up a referendum in late 2002
in which a majority of the citizens voted overwhelmingly against any
sharing of sovereignty with Spain. Since the referendum, tripartite
talks have been held with Spain, the UK, and Gibraltar, and in
September 2006 a three-way agreement was signed. Spain agreed to
allow airlines other than British to serve Gibraltar, to speed up
customs procedures, and to add more telephone lines into Gibraltar.
Britain agreed to pay pensions to Spaniards who had been employed in
Gibraltar before the border closed in 1969. Spain will be allowed to
open a cultural institute from which the Spanish flag will fly.
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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

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:
27,928 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.5% (male 2,499/female 2,388)
15-64 years: 66% (male 9,443/female 8,999)
65 years and over: 16.5% (male 2,059/female 2,540) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 39.8 years
male: 39.4 years
female: 40.1 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.14% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
10.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
9.31 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.06 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.63 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.8 years
male: 76.92 years
female: 82.83 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.65 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Gibraltar
geographic coordinates: 39 11 N, 5 22 W
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
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 British citizens who have
been residents six months or more

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor Sir Robert FULTON (since 27 October 2006)
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, 1 appointed for the Speaker, and 2 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 (official exchange rate):

NA

GDP - real growth rate:

NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$27,900 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Labor force: 12,690 (including non-Gibraltar laborers) (2001)

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:
131.2 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
122 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
24,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)
Exports:
$271 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
(principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods 41%,
other 8%

Exports - partners:
UK 30.8%, Spain 22.7%, Germany 13.7%, Turkmenistan 10.4%,
Switzerland 8.3%, Italy 6.7% (2005)

Imports:
$2.967 billion c.i.f. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
Spain 23.4%, Russia 12.3%, Italy 12%, UK 9%, France 8.9%,
Netherlands 6.8%, US 4.7% (2005)

Debt - external:
$NA (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$NA

Currency (code):
Gibraltar pound (GIP)

Currency code:
GIP

Exchange rates:
Gibraltar pounds per US dollar - 0.54413 (2006), 0.55 (2005),
0.5462 (2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002), 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 hosts:
641 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:
6,200 (2002)
Transportation Gibraltar

Airports: 1 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 29 km
paved: 29 km (2002)

Merchant marine:
total: 180 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,129,379 GRT/1,437,754 DWT
by type: barge carrier 3, bulk carrier 1, cargo 105, chemical tanker
26, container 26, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 11, roll on/roll off
6, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 165 (Belgium 2, Cyprus 1, Denmark 1, Finland 3,
France 1, Germany 108, Greece 7, Iceland 1, Ireland 1, Italy 6,
Latvia 2, Netherlands 5, Norway 18, Sweden 5, UK 4) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Gibraltar

Military Gibraltar

Military branches:
Royal Gibraltar Regiment

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 5,959 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 4,893 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 187 (2005 est.)
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 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to
reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement; the government of
Gibraltar insists on equal 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Greece

Introduction Greece

Background:
Greece achieved 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 supporters of the king and Communist rebels. Following the
latter's defeat in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. A military
 dictatorship, which in 1967 suspended many political liberties and
forced the king to flee the country, lasted seven years. The 1974
democratic elections and a referendum created a parliamentary
republic and abolished the monarchy. In 1981 Greece joined the EC
(now the EU); 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: 20.45% permanent crops: 8.59% other: 70.96% (2005)

Irrigated land:
14,530 sq km (2003)

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:
10,688,058 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.3% (male 790,291/female 742,902)
15-64 years: 66.7% (male 3,562,251/female 3,566,097)
65 years and over: 19% (male 891,620/female 1,134,897) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 40.8 years
male: 39.7 years
female: 42 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.18% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
9.68 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
10.24 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.34 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.43 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 79.24 years
male: 76.72 years
female: 81.91 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.34 children born/woman (2006 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%, Turkish and 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

Capital:
name: Athens
geographic coordinates: 37 59 N, 23 44 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:
51 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos) and 1 autonomous region*;
Achaia, Agion Oros* (Mt. Athos), Aitolia kai Akarnania, 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; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

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 (Kostas) 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
(eligible for a second 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; note - seats by party as of December 2006 - ND
164, PASOK 113, KKE 12, Synaspismos 6, independents 5, other 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 or
LAOS [Yeoryios KARATZAFERIS]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

General Confederation of Greek Workers or GSEE [Khristos
POLYZOGOPOULOS]; 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, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD,
OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UN Security Council (temporary),
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIS, UNOMIG,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WEU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Alexandros P. MALLIAS
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, Tampa
consulate(s): Atlanta, Houston, New Orleans

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Charles P. RIES
embassy: 91 Vasilisis 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 at least 75% 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 nearly 4.0% per year between
2003 and 2006, largely because of an investment boom and
infrastructure upgrades for the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. Greece
has not met the EU's Growth and Stability Pact budget deficit
criteria of 3% of GDP since 2000. Public debt, inflation, and
unemployment are above the euro-zone average. To overcome these
challenges, the Greek Government is expected to continue cutting
government spending, reducing the size of the public sector, and
reforming the labor and pension systems, despite vocal opposition
from the country's powerful labor unions and the general public.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$251.7 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$222.5 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.6% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

 $23,500 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5.1% industry: 20.6% services: 74.4%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 4.88 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 12% industry: 20% services: 68%

(2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:
9.2% (2006 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:

35.1 (2003)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.3% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

25.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $99.16 billion
expenditures: $106.7 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
104.6% of GDP (2006 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:

2% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
55.51 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 94.5% hydro: 3.8% nuclear: 0%

other: 1.7% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
53.5 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Electricity - exports:
1.5 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
3.4 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
5,401 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
435,700 bbl/day (2005 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:

23 million cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
2.34 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

2.641 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

991.1 million cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-21.37 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$24.42 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products,
chemicals, textiles

Exports - partners:
Germany 12.4%, Italy 10.4%, UK 6.7%, Bulgaria 5.9%, US 5.3%, Cyprus
5.2%, Turkey 5.1%, France 4.2% (2005)

Imports:
$59.12 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery, transport equipment, fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners:
Germany 12.7%, Italy 12.4%, Russia 7.8%, France 5.7%, Netherlands
5.5%, Saudi Arabia 4.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.5 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
 $301.9 billion (30 June 2006 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 - 0.79987 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004),
0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Greece

Telephones - main lines in use:

6.303 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

10.043 million (2005)

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:
587,717 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

27 (2000)

Internet users:
3.8 million (2005)

Transportation Greece

Airports: 82 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 66 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 16

1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 17 under 914 m: 9 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 13

(2006)

Heliports:
8 (2006)

Pipelines:
 gas 1,166 km; oil 94 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 2,571 km
standard gauge: 1,565 km 1.435-m gauge (764 km electrified)
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) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 114,931 km
paved: 105,507 km (including 880 km of expressways)
unpaved: 9,424 km (2004)

Waterways:
6 km
note: Corinth Canal (6 km) crosses the Isthmus of Corinth; shortens
sea voyage by 325 km (2006)

Merchant marine:
total: 817 ships (1000 GRT or over) 31,895,832 GRT/54,341,584 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 270, cargo 61, chemical tanker 47, container
47, liquefied gas 5, passenger 11, passenger/cargo 114, petroleum
tanker 244, roll on/roll off 17, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 24 (Belgium 12, Cyprus 1, Hong Kong 1, UK 9, US 1)
registered in other countries: 2,363 (Bahamas 232, Barbados 11,
Belgium 4, Belize 2, Bermuda 2, Cambodia 8, Cayman Islands 21,
Comoros 10, Cyprus 337, Denmark 5, Dominica 5, Egypt 6, Georgia 8,
Gibraltar 7, Honduras 3, Hong Kong 27, Isle of Man 45, Italy 6,
Jamaica 6, North Korea 1, Lebanon 3, Liberia 267, Malta 495,
Marshall Islands 199, Norway 1, Panama 524, Philippines 5, Portugal
4, Russia 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 82, Sao Tome and Principe 1, Singapore 9, Slovakia 4, UAE
2, UK 7, Uruguay 1, US 1, Venezuela 3, unknown 7) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Agioitheodoroi, Aspropyrgos, Irakleion, Pachi, Piraeus, Thessaloniki

Military Greece
Military branches:
Hellenic Army (Ellinikos Stratos, ES), Hellenic Navy (Ellinikos
Polemiko Navtiko, EPN), Hellenic Air Force (Elliniki Polimiki
Aeroporia, EPA) (2006)

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory military
service; during wartime the law allows for recruitment beginning 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, Air Force; 15
months for Navy; women are eligible for military service (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,459,988
females age 18-49: 2,442,818 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,018,557
females age 18-49: 2,000,650 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 58,399
females age 18-49: 55,571 (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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Greenland

Introduction Greenland

Background:
Greenland, the world's largest island, 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 EU) with Denmark in 1973, but withdrew in 1985 over a
dispute centered on 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 in consultation with Greenland's Home
Rule Government.

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
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
continental shelf: 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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

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:
56,361 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 24.5% (male 7,072/female 6,740)
15-64 years: 68.9% (male 20,904/female 17,919)
65 years and over: 6.6% (male 1,768/female 1,958) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 34 years
male: 35.3 years
female: 32.3 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.03% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
15.93 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
7.84 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-8.37 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 15.4 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 16.73 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 69.94 years
male: 66.36 years
female: 73.6 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.4 children born/woman (2006 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% (2000)

Religions:
Evangelical Lutheran

Languages:
Greenlandic (East Inuit), Danish, English

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 100%
male: 100%
female: 100% (2001 est.)

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:
name: Nuuk (Godthab)
geographic coordinates: 64 11 N, 51 44 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
note: Greenland is divided into four time zones
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 Soren MOLLER (since April
2005)
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 15 November 2005 (next to be held by
December 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - Siumut 30.7%,
Demokratiit 22.8%, Inuit Ataqatigiit 22.6%, Atassut Party 19.1%;
Katusseqatigiit 4.1%, other 0.7%; seats by party - Siumut 10,
Demokratiit 7, Inuit Ataqatigiit 7, Atassut 6, 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) [Finn KARLSEN]; Demokratiit [Per
BERTHELSEN]; Inuit Ataqatigiit or IA (Eskimo Brotherhood, a leftist
party favoring complete independence from Denmark rather than home
rule) [Josef MOTZFELDT]; Kattusseqatigiit (Candidate List, an
independent right-of-center party with no official platform; 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:

Arctic Council, 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 mineral exploration activities, it will take a
number of 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 (official exchange rate):

NA

GDP - real growth rate:

1.8% (2001 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$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:
295 million kWh (2004)

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:
274.4 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
3,860 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$480 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
fish and fish products 94% (prawns 63%)

Exports - partners:
Denmark 61.7%, Japan 12.2%, China 5.2%, Spain 4.6% (2005)

Imports:
$601 million c.i.f. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food,
petroleum products

Imports - partners:
Denmark 67.1%, Sweden 19.2%, Ireland 3.5% (2005)
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 - 5.93667 (2006), 5.9969 (2005), 5.9911
(2004), 6.5877 (2003), 7.8947 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Greenland

Telephones - main lines in use:

25,300 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

32,200 (2004)

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:
8,851 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:
38,000 (2005)

Transportation Greenland

Airports:
14 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 5 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Roadways:
total: NA
note: while there are short roads in towns, there are no roads
between towns; inter-town transport takes place either by sea or air
(2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1000 GRT or over) 5,540 GRT/2,540 DWT
by type: cargo 1, passenger 2
registered in other countries: 2 (Cyprus 1, Denmark 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Sisimiut

Military Greenland

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 14,653 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 10,199 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 440 (2005 est.)

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Denmark

Transnational Issues Greenland

Disputes - international:
managed 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Grenada

Introduction Grenada

Background:
Carib Indians inhabited Grenada when COLUMBUS discovered the island
in 1498, but it remained uncolonized for more than a century. The
French settled Grenada in the 17th century, established sugar
estates, and imported large numbers of African slaves. Britain took
the island in 1762 and vigorously expanded sugar production. In the
19th century, cacao eventually surpassed sugar as the main export
crop; in the 20th century, nutmeg became the leading export. In
1967, Britain gave Grenada autonomy over its internal affairs. Full
independence was attained in 1974 making Grenada one of the smallest
independent countries in the Western Hemisphere. Grenada was seized
by a Marxist military council on 19 October 1983. Six days later the
island was invaded by US forces and those of six other Caribbean
nations, which quickly captured the ringleaders and their hundreds
of Cuban advisers. Free elections were reinstituted the following
year and have continued since that time. Hurricane Ivan struck
Grenada in September of 2004 causing severe damage.

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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

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:
89,703 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 33.4% (male 15,097/female 14,820)
15-64 years: 63.4% (male 30,106/female 26,764)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 1,394/female 1,522) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 21.7 years
male: 22.1 years
female: 21.2 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.26% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
22.08 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
6.88 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-12.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 14.27 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.67 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 64.87 years
male: 63.06 years
female: 66.68 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.34 children born/woman (2006 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: 96%
male: NA%
female: NA% (2003 est.)

Government Grenada

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Grenada

Government type:
parliamentary democracy

Capital:
name: Saint George's
geographic coordinates: 12 03 N, 61 45 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 3 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 - NNP 46.65%, NDC 44.12%; seats by party - NNP 8, NDC 7
Judicial branch:
Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, consisting of a court of Appeal
and a High Court of Justice (a High Court judge is assigned to and
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]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC,
LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, 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
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 (official exchange rate):

$454 million (2005)

GDP - real growth rate:

0.9% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,900 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5.4% industry: 18% services: 76.6%

(2003)

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):

3% (2005 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:
171.3 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
159.3 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
1,800 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$40 million (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace

Exports - partners:
Saint Lucia 12.2%, US 11.4%, Antigua and Barbuda 8.3%, Germany 8%,
Netherlands 7.9%, Saint Kitts & Nevis 7.4%, Dominica 7.4%, UK 6.8%,
France 4.2% (2005)

Imports:
$276 million (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
food, manufactured goods, machinery, chemicals, fuel

Imports - partners:
Trinidad and Tobago 27.6%, US 26.8%, UK 5.9% (2005)

Debt - external:
$347 million (2004)
Economic aid - recipient:
$15.4 million (2004)

Currency (code):
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Currency code:
XCD

Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7
(2003), 2.7 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Grenada

Telephones - main lines in use:

32,700 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

43,300 (2004)

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:
17 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

14 (2000)

Internet users:
19,000 (2005)

Transportation Grenada

Airports:
3 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 1,127 km
paved: 687 km
unpaved: 440 km (1999)

Ports and terminals:

Saint George's

Military Grenada

Military branches:
no regular military forces; Royal Grenada Police Force
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 24,031 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 17,483 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 1,274 (2005 est.)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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: 541.3 sq km
land: 541.3 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:
three times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
125.5 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:
tropical marine; generally warm and humid, moderated by northeast
trade winds; dry season (January to June), rainy season (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: 3.64%
permanent crops: 18.18%
other: 78.18% (2005)

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:
171,019 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 29% (male 25,703/female 23,903)
15-64 years: 64.3% (male 56,020/female 53,894)
65 years and over: 6.7% (male 5,391/female 6,108) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 28.6 years
male: 28.3 years
female: 28.8 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.43% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
18.79 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
4.48 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 6.81 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.48 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.58 years
male: 75.52 years
female: 81.83 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

 2.58 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

Nationality:
noun: Guamanian(s) (US citizens)
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
local short 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:
name: Hagatna (Agana)
geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 144 45 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 Guam, 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. CAMACHO (since 6 January 2003)
and Lieutenant Governor Dr. Michael W. CRUZ (since 1 January 2007)
cabinet: heads of executive departments; appointed by the governor
with the consent of the Guam legislature
elections: under the US Consitution, residents of unincorporated
territories, such as Guam, do not vote in elections for US president
and vice president; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the
same ticket by popular vote for four-year term (can serve two
consecutive terms, then must wait a full term before running again);
election last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2010)
election results: Felix P. CAMACHO reelected governor; Dr. Michael
W. CRUZ elected lieutenant governor; percent of vote - NA

Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislature (15 seats; members are elected by popular
vote to serve two-year terms)
elections: last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
Republican Party 8, Democratic Party 7
note: Guam elects one nonvoting delegate to the US House of
Representatives; election last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held
November 2008); results - Madeleine BORDALLO (Democratic Party) was
reelected as delegate; percent of vote by party - NA; 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:

IOC, SPC, 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 largely on US military spending and tourism.
Total US grants, wage payments, and procurement outlays amounted to
$1.3 billion in 2004. Over the past 30 years, the tourist industry
has grown to become the largest income source following national
defense. The Guam economy continues to experience expansion in both
its tourism and military sectors.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$2.5 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$2.773 billion (2001)

GDP - real growth rate:

NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$15,000 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA industry: NA services: NA

Labor force: 62,050 (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 26% industry: 10% services: 64%
(2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:
11.4% (2002 est.)

Population below poverty line:

23% (2001 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.5% (2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $319.6 million
expenditures: $427.8 million (2002 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:
1.764 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
1.641 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
 0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
16,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$45 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products; construction
materials, fish, food and beverage products

Exports - partners:
Japan 67.2%, Singapore 11.6%, UK 4.8% (2005)

Imports:
$701 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods

Imports - partners:
 Singapore 50%, South Korea 21.4%, Japan 14%, Hong Kong 4.6% (2005)

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:

98,000 (2004)

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 3, FM 11, shortwave 2 (2006)

Radios:
221,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

3; 6 (Low Power TV) (2006)

Televisions:
106,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.gu

Internet hosts:
76 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

20 (2000)

Internet users:
79,000 (2004)

Transportation Guam

Airports: 5 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914
to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 977 km (2004)

Ports and terminals:

Apra Harbor

Military Guam

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues Guam

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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

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: 13.22% permanent crops: 5.6% other: 81.18% (2005)

Irrigated land:
1,300 sq km (2003)

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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
no natural harbors on west coast

People Guatemala

Population:
12,293,545 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.1% (male 2,573,359/female 2,479,098)
 15-64 years: 55.5% (male 3,353,630/female 3,468,184)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 194,784/female 224,490) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 18.9 years
male: 18.5 years
female: 19.4 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.27% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
29.88 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
5.2 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 30.94 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 33.55 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 28.2 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 69.38 years
male: 67.65 years
female: 71.18 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.82 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Guatemala
geographic coordinates: 14 38 N, 90 31 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in April; ends last
Friday in September; note - there is no DST planned for 2007-2009

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 Jorge 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)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term
(may not serve consecutive terms); election last held 9 November
2003; runoff held 28 December 2003 (next to be held September 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 September 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]; Grand
National Alliance or GANA [Fraterno VILLA, secretary general];
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 Principles and Values or MPV
[Francisco BIANCHI]; National Advancement Party or PAN [Leonel LOPEZ
Rodas, secretary general]; National Unity for Hope or UNE [Alvaro
COLOM Caballeros]; New Nation Alliance or ANN (formed by an alliance
of DIA, URNG, and several splinter groups most of whom subsequently
defected) [Pablo MONSANTO]; Patriot Party or PP [Ret. Gen. Otto
PEREZ Molina]; Reform Movement or MR [Alfredo SKINNER-KLEE,
secretary general]; Unionista Party [Fritz GARCIA]

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, ICC, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA,
MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS, ONUB, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG,
UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, 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, Providence, San Francisco
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador James M. DERHAM
embassy: 7-01 Avenida Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City
mailing address: APO AA 34024
telephone: [502] 2326-4000
FAX: [502] 2326-4654

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-fifths 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, and Guatemala since then has
pursued important reforms and macroeconomic stabilization. The
distribution of income remains highly unequal with about 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. Remittances from a large expatriate community that
moved to the United States during the war have become an important
source of foreign exchange.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$60.57 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$28.84 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.9% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$4,900 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 22.5% industry: 18.8% services:

58.7% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 3.85 million (2006 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:

48.3 (2000)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6.6% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

15.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $3.894 billion
expenditures: $4.828 billion; including capital expenditures of $750
million (2006 est.)
Public debt:
25.9% of GDP (2006 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:
7.604 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 51.9% hydro: 35.2% nuclear: 0%

other: 12.9% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
6.649 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
464 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
41 million kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
22,300 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
67,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
3,104 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
263 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

3.087 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-2.028 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$4.097 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
coffee, sugar, petroleum, apparel, bananas, fruits and vegetables,
cardamom

Exports - partners:
US 50.1%, El Salvador 12.1%, Honduras 7.3%, Mexico 4% (2005)

Imports:
$9.118 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction materials,
grain, fertilizers, electricity

Imports - partners:
US 38.1%, Mexico 7.6%, El Salvador 4.8%, South Korea 4.8%, Panama
4.4% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$3.959 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
 $6.169 billion (2006 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 - 7.60102 (2006), 7.6339 (2005), 7.9465
(2004), 7.9409 (2003), 7.8217 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Guatemala

Telephones - main lines in use:

1,132,100 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

3,168,300 (2004)

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:
49,026 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2000)

Internet users:
756,000 (2005)

Transportation Guatemala

Airports: 450 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 439
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 111
under 914 m: 319 (2006)

Pipelines:
oil 480 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 886 km
narrow gauge: 886 km 0.914-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 14,095 km
paved: 4,863 km (including 75 km of expressways)
unpaved: 9,232 km (1999)

Waterways:
990 km
note: 260 km navigable year round; additional 730 km navigable
during high-water season (2004)

Ports and terminals:

Puerto Quetzal, Santo Tomas de Castilla

Military Guatemala

Military branches:
Army, Navy (includes marines), Air Force

Military service age and obligation: all male citizens between the ages of 18 and
50 are liable for military service; conscript service obligation varies from 12 to
24 months (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,429,033
females age 18-49: 2,503,482 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,911,412
females age 18-49: 2,070,806 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 134,032
females age 18-49: 130,641 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

 $169.8 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.5% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Guatemala

Disputes - international:
Guatemalan squatters continue to settle in the rain forests of
Belize's border region; Organization of American States (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: undetermined (estimates vary from none to 1 million displaced
from government's scorched-earth offensive in 1980s against
indigenous people) (2006)

Illicit drugs:
major transit country for cocaine and heroin; in 2004, reemerged as
a potential source of opium, growing 330 hectares of opium poppy,
with potential pure heroin production of 1.4 metric tons; 76% of
opium poppy cultivation in western highlands along Mexican border;
marijuana cultivation 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

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@Guernsey

Introduction Guernsey

Background:
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. Guernsey is a British crown
dependency, but is not part of the UK. However, the UK Government is
constitutionally responsible for defense and international
representation.

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

Natural hazards:
NA

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:
large, deepwater harbor at Saint Peter Port

People Guernsey
Population:
65,409 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 15% (male 4,998/female 4,842)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 21,752/female 22,170)
65 years and over: 17.8% (male 4,926/female 6,721) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 41.3 years
male: 40.4 years
female: 42.2 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.26% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
8.81 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
10.01 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

3.82 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.65 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 80.42 years
male: 77.41 years
 female: 83.53 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.39 children born/woman (2006 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:
parliamentary democracy

Capital:
name: Saint Peter Port
geographic coordinates: 49 27 N, 2 32 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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 Castel, Forest, Saint Andrew, Saint
Martin, Saint Peter Port, Saint Pierre du Bois, Saint Sampson, Saint
Saviour, Torteval, Vale

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 Sir Fabian MALBON (since 28
October 2005)
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 four years); note - Alderney and Sark have their
own parliaments
elections: last held 21 April 2004 (next to be held in 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 23% of employment and 32% of total income in this tiny,
prosperous Channel Island economy. Tourism, manufacturing, and
horticulture, mainly tomatoes and cut flowers, have been declining.
Financial services, construction, retail, and the public sector have
been growing. 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):

$2.742 billion (2005)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$2.742 billion (2005)

GDP - real growth rate:

3% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$44,600 (2005)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 10% services: 87%

(2000)

Labor force:
31,470 (March 2006)

Unemployment rate:
0.9% (March 2006 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% (June 2006)

Budget:
 revenues: $563.6 million
expenditures: $530.9 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 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; note - regarded as internal trade (2004)

Imports:
$NA

Imports - commodities:
coal, gasoline, oil, machinery and equipment

Imports - partners:
UK; note - regarded as internal trade (2004)

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 - 0.5441 (2006), 0.55 (2005), 0.5462
(2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002), note, the Guernsey pound is at
par with the British pound

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Guernsey

Telephones - main lines in use:

55,100 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

43,800 (2004)
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 hosts:
1,245 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

NA

Internet users:
36,000 (2005)

Transportation Guernsey

Airports: 2 (one on Alderney) (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways:
total: NA

Ports and terminals:

 Saint Peter Port, Saint Sampson

Military Guernsey

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues Guernsey

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@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. In
2006, declining economic conditions prompted two massive strikes
that sparked urban unrest in many Guinean cities.

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: 4.47% permanent crops: 2.64% other: 92.89% (2005)

Irrigated land:
950 sq km (2003)

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:
9,690,222 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.4% (male 2,171,733/female 2,128,027)
15-64 years: 52.5% (male 2,541,140/female 2,542,847)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 134,239/female 172,236) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 17.7 years
male: 17.4 years
female: 17.9 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.63% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
41.76 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
15.48 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: as a result of conflict in neighboring countries, Guinea is
host to approximately 141,500 refugees from Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia,
and Sierra Leone (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 90 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 95.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 84.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 49.5 years
male: 48.34 years
female: 50.7 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.79 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

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); note - 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:
name: Conakry
geographic coordinates: 9 31 N, 13 43 W
 time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations

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: vacant; note - Prime Minister Cellou Dalein
DIALLO was dismissed on 5 April 2006
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(no term limits); candidate must receive a majority of the votes
cast to be elected president; election last held 21 December 2003
(next to be held December 2010); 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 in 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]; Dyama; 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 [Charles Pascal TOLNO]; Rally for the Guinean People
or RPG [Alpha CONDE]; Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea or UFDG
[Mamadou BAH]; Union of Republican Forces or UFR [Sidya TOURE];
Union for Progress of Guinea or UPG [Jean-Marie DORE,
secretary-general]; Union for Progress and Renewal or UPR [Ousmane
BAH]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Labor Union of Guinean Workers - National Confederation of Guinean
Workers or USTG-NCTG Alliance [Ibrahima FOFANA]; Student and teacher
unions

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OIC,
OIF,
OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNOCI,
UNWTO, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
chancery: 2112 Leroy Place NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 986-4300
FAX: [1] (202) 478-3800

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jackson C. MCDONALD
embassy: Koloma, Conakry, east of Hamdallaye Circle
mailing address: B. P. 603, Transversale No. 2, Centre Administratif
de Koloma, Commune de Ratoma, Conakry
telephone: [224] 30-42-08-61
FAX: [224] 30-42-08-73

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 almost half of the world's bauxite reserves and is the
second-largest bauxite producer. The mining sector accounts for over
70% of exports. 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. Panic buying has created food shortages and inflation
and caused riots in local markets. Guinea is trying to reengage with
the IMF and World Bank, which cut off most assistance in 2003.
Growth rose slightly in 2006, primarily due to increases in global
demand and commodity prices on world markets, but the standard of
living fell. The Guinea franc depreciated sharply as the prices for
basic necessities like food and fuel rose beyond the reach of most
Guineans. Dissatisfaction with economic conditions prompted
 nationwide strikes in February and June 2006.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$19.4 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$3.737 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 23.7% industry: 36.1% services:

40.2% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 3 million (1999)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 80%
industry and services: 20% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:
NA%

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):

27% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

 17.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $288.2 million
expenditures: $556.7 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 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:

NA

Electricity - production:
790 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 45.5% hydro: 54.5% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
734.7 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
8,440 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
 NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-344 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$615.1 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural
products

Exports - partners:
Russia 14.6%, South Korea 11.3%, Spain 10.2%, Ukraine 7.9%, US
6.1%, Ireland 6%, France 5.7%, Germany 5%, Belgium 4.5% (2005)

Imports:
$730 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment,
textiles, grain and other foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
China 8.5%, US 7.3%, France 7.2%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.2%, Italy 4.7%,
Belgium 4.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$59.6 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
 $3.46 billion (2003 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$237.5 million (2003)

Currency (code):
Guinean franc (GNF)

Currency code:
GNF

Exchange rates:
Guinean francs per US dollar - 5,555 (2006), 3,644.3 (2005), 2,225
(2004), 1,984.9 (2003), 1,975.8 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Guinea

Telephones - main lines in use:

26,200 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

189,000 (2005)

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:
367 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

4 (2001)

Internet users:
46,000 (2005)

Transportation Guinea

Airports: 16 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Railways:
total: 837 km
standard gauge: 175 km 1.435-m gauge
 narrow gauge: 662 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 44,348 km
paved: 4,342 km
unpaved: 40,006 km (2003)

Waterways:
1,300 km (navigable by shallow-draft native craft) (2005)

Ports and terminals:

Kamsar

Military Guinea

Military branches:
Army, Navy, Air Force, Presidential Guard (2006)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service
obligation - 24 months (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,852,534
females age 18-49: 1,827,560 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,034,006
females age 18-49: 1,032,885 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$119.7 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.9% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Guinea

Disputes - international:
conflicts among rebel groups, warlords, and youth gangs in
neighboring states have spilled over into Guinea, resulting in
domestic instability; Sierra Leone has pressured Guinea to remove
its forces from the town of Yenga, occupied since 1998

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 54,810 (Liberia), 5,423 (Sierra
Leone), 3,900 (Cote d'Ivoire)
IDPs: 19,000 (cross-border incursions from Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia,
Sierra Leone) (2006)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Guinea-Bissau

Introduction Guinea-Bissau

Background:
Since independence from Portugal in 1974, Guinea-Bissau has
experienced considerable political and military upheaval. In 1980, a
military coup established authoritarian dictator Joao Bernardo
'Nino' VIEIRA as president. Despite setting a path to a market
economy and multiparty system, VIEIRA's regime was characterized by
the suppression of political opposition and the purging of political
rivals. Several coup attempts through the 1980s and early 1990s
failed to unseat him. In 1994 VIEIRA was elected president in the
country's first free elections. A military mutiny and resulting
civil war in 1998 eventually led to VIEIRA's ouster in May 1999. In
February 2000, a transitional government turned over power to
 opposition leader Kumba YALA, after he was elected president in
transparent polling. In September 2003, after only three years in
office, YALA was ousted by the military in a bloodless coup, and
businessman Henrique ROSA was sworn in as interim president. In
2005, former President VIEIRA was re-elected president pledging to
pursue economic development and national reconciliation.

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: 8.31% permanent crops: 6.92% other: 84.77% (2005)

Irrigated land:
250 sq km (2003)

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:
1,442,029 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.4% (male 297,623/female 298,942)
15-64 years: 55.6% (male 384,559/female 417,811)
65 years and over: 3% (male 18,048/female 25,046) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 19 years
male: 18.4 years
female: 19.6 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.07% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
37.22 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
16.53 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 105.21 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 115.53 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 94.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 46.87 years
male: 45.05 years
 female: 48.75 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.86 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

Nationality:
noun: Guinean(s)
adjective: Guinean

Ethnic groups:
African 99% (includes 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

Capital:
name: Bissau
geographic coordinates: 11 51 N, 15 35 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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, NA 1996

Legal system:
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Joao Bernardo 'Nino' VIEIRA (since 1
October 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Aristides GOMES (since 2 November
2005)
cabinet: NA
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(no term limits); election last held 24 July 2005 (next to be held
in 2010); prime minister appointed by the president after
consultation with party leaders in the legislature
election results: Joao Bernardo VIEIRA elected president; percent of
vote, second ballot - Joao Bernardo VIEIRA 52.4%, Malam Bacai SANHA
47.6%

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 in 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]; Broad Republican Front or FRA
 (coalition formed by PAIGC, UM, PST, UPG, FCGSD, UE, PP, PDG, PDSG,
PRP, and the International League for Ecological Protection);
Democratic Social Front or FDS; Electoral Union or UE; Guinea-Bissau
Civic Forum/Social Democracy or FCGSD [Antonieta Rosa GOMES];
Guinea-Bissau Democratic Party or PDG; Guinea-Bissau Socialist
Democratic Party or PDSG [Serifo BALDE]; Labor and Solidarity Party
or PST [Iancuba INDJAI]; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD;
Party for Renewal and Progress or PRP; Party for Social Renewal or
PRS [Kumba YALA]; Progress Party or PP; Union for Change or UM
[Amine SAAD]; Union of Guinean Patriots or UPG [Francisca VAZ];
United Platform or UP (coalition formed by PCD, FDS, FLING, and
RGB-MB); United Popular Alliance or APU; United Social Democratic
Party or PUSD

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC,
OIF, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU,
WADB
(regional), WAEMU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); note - Guinea-Bissau does
not have official representation in Washington, DC

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; the US Ambassador to Senegal is accredited to
Guinea-Bissau

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, offshore oil
prospecting has begun and could lead to 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 2002-06.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.244 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$295.1 million (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

 2.9% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$900 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 62% industry: 12% services: 26%

(1999 est.)

Labor force: 480,000 (1999)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 82%
industry and services: 18% (2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:
NA%

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

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:

4.7% (2003 est.)
Electricity - production:
58.02 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
53.96 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
2,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$116 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
cashew nuts, shrimp, peanuts, palm kernels, sawn lumber

Exports - partners:
 India 71.9%, Nigeria 17.1%, Ecuador 4% (2005)

Imports:
$176 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, petroleum products

Imports - partners:
Italy 24.8%, Senegal 18.2%, Portugal 15.4%, Cote d'Ivoire 4.2%
(2005)

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

Currency code:
XOF; GWP

Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 527.47
(2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), note, since 1
January 1999, the XOF franc has been 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:
67,000 (2005)

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 (2005)

Televisions:
NA

Internet country code:

.gw

Internet hosts:
5 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2002)

Internet users:
26,000 (2005)

Transportation Guinea-Bissau

Airports: 28 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3
 over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 25
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 20 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 3,455 km
paved: 965 km
unpaved: 2,490 km (2002)

Waterways:
four largest rivers are navigable for some distance; many inlets
and creeks give shallow-water access to much of interior (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Bissau, Buba, Cacheu, Farim

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: 287,542
females age 18-49: 297,295 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 152,681
females age 18-49: 161,033 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$9.46 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3.1% (2005 est.)

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

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 7,320 (Senegal) (2006)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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, and since then it has been 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. After his death five years later,
his wife, Jane JAGAN, became president but resigned in 1999 due to
poor health. Her successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001
and again in 2006.

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: 2,949 km
border countries: Brazil 1,606 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 August, November to 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: 2.23% permanent crops: 0.14% other: 97.63% (2005)

Irrigated land:
1,500 sq km (2003)

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:
767,245
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
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.2% (male 102,551/female 98,772)
15-64 years: 68.6% (male 265,193/female 260,892)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 17,043/female 22,794) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 27.4 years
male: 26.9 years
female: 27.9 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.25% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
18.28 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
8.28 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-7.49 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 32.19 deaths/1,000 live births
 male: 35.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 28.4 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 65.86 years
male: 63.21 years
female: 68.65 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.04 children born/woman (2006 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: Cooperative Republic of Guyana
conventional short form: Guyana
former: British Guiana

Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Georgetown
geographic coordinates: 6 48 N, 58 10 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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
and reelected in 2001, and again in 2006
head of government: Prime Minister Samuel HINDS (since October 1992,
except for a period as chief of state after the death of President
Cheddi JAGAN on 6 March 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president,
responsible to the legislature
elections: president elected by popular vote as leader of a party
list in parliamentary elections, which must be held at least every
five years (no term limits); elections last held 28 August 2006
(next to be held by August 2011); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: President Bharrat JAGDEO reelected; percent of
vote 54.6%

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (65 members elected by popular vote,
also not more than four non-elected non-voting ministers and two
non-elected non-voting parliamentary secretaries appointed by the
president; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 28 August 2006 (next to be held by August 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - PPP/C 54.6%, PNC/R 34%,
AFC 8.1%, other 3.3%; seats by party - PPP/C 36, PNC/R 22, AFC 5,
other 2

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Judicature, consisting of the High Court and the
Judicial Court of Appeal, with right of final appeal to the
Caribbean Court of Justice

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance for Change or AFC [Raphael TROTMAN and Khemraj
RAMJATTAN];
Guyana Action Party or GAP [Paul HARDY]; Justice for All Party [C.N.
SHARMA]; People's National Congress/Reform or PNC/R [Robert Herman
Orlando CORBIN]; People's Progressive Party/Civic or PPP/C [Bharrat
JAGDEO]; Rise, Organize, and Rebuild or ROAR [Ravi DEV]; The United
Force or TUF [Manzoor NADIR]; The Unity Party [Joey JAGAN]; Vision
 Guyana [Peter RAMSAROOP]; Working People's Alliance or WPA [Rupert
ROOPNARAINE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Amerindian People's Association; Guyana Citizens Initiative; Guyana
Bar Association; Guyana Human Rights Association; Guyana Public
Service Union or GPSU; Private Sector Commission; Trades Union
Congress

International organization participation:

ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer),
ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC, 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 David M. ROBINSON
embassy: 100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown
mailing address: P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown; US Embassy, 3170
Georgetown Place, Washington DC 20521-3170
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. 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 InterAmerican Development Bank in
November 2006 canceled Guyana's nearly $400 million debt with the
Bank. The bauxite mining sector should benefit in the near term from
restructuring and partial privatization. Export earnings from
agriculture and mining have fallen sharply, while the import bill
has risen, driven by higher energy prices. Guyana's entrance into
the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) in January 2006 will
broaden the country's export market, primarily in the raw materials
sector.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$3.62 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$826.6 million (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.2% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$4,700 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 35.5% industry: 19.3% services:

45.2% (2006 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):

6% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

31.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $359.9 million
expenditures: $430.3 million; including capital expenditures of
$93.4 million (2006 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:

NA%

Electricity - production:
818.8 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.4% hydro: 0.6% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
761.5 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
11,200 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-84.3 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$621.6 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
sugar, gold, bauxite/alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses, rum, timber

Exports - partners:
Canada 18.9%, US 18.9%, UK 11.8%, Portugal 8.1%, Jamaica 5.3%,
Trinidad and Tobago 4.2% (2005)

Imports:
$706.9 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food
Imports - partners:
US 26.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 23.9%, Cuba 6.6%, UK 5%, China 4.1%
(2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$294.9 million (2006 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 - 200.281 (2006), 200.79 (2005),
198.31 (2004), 193.88 (2003), 190.67 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Guyana

Telephones - main lines in use:

110,100 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

281,400 (2005)

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:
1,046 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2000)

Internet users:
160,000 (2005)

Transportation Guyana

Airports:
90 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
under 914 m: 6 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 81
 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 65 (2006)

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.)

Roadways:
total: 7,970 km
paved: 590 km
unpaved: 7,380 km (1999)

Waterways:
Berbice, Demerara, and Essequibo rivers are navigable by oceangoing
vessels for 150 km, 100 km, and 80 km respectively (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 7 ships (1000 GRT or over) 12,461 GRT/15,155 DWT
by type: cargo 5, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Germany 1)
registered in other countries: 4 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
3, unknown 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Georgetown

Military Guyana

Military branches:
Guyana Defense Force: Ground Forces, Coast Guard, Air Corps (2006)

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:
$6.48 million (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.9% (2003 est.)

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 arbitration
under provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
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; rising money
laundering related to drug trafficking and human smuggling

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Haiti

Introduction Haiti
Background:
The native Taino 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, which later became 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. After a prolonged struggle, Haiti became the first
black republic to declare its independence in 1804. The poorest
country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti has been plagued by
political violence for most of its history. After an armed rebellion
led to the departure of President Jean-Betrand ARISTIDE in February
2004, an interim government took office to organize new elections
under the auspices of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in
Haiti (MINUSTAH). Continued violence and technical delays prompted
repeated postponements, but Haiti finally did inaugurate a
democratically elected president and parliament in May of 2006.
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: 28.11%
permanent crops: 11.53%
other: 60.36% (2005)

Irrigated land:
920 sq km (2003)

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:
8,308,504
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
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.4% (male 1,770,523/female 1,749,853)
15-64 years: 54.2% (male 2,201,957/female 2,301,886)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 125,298/female 158,987) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 18.2 years
male: 17.8 years
female: 18.6 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.3% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
36.44 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
12.17 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.31 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 71.65 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 78.01 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 65.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

 total population: 53.23 years
male: 51.89 years
female: 54.6 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.94 children born/woman (2006 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%
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/Repiblik d' Ayiti
local short form: Haiti/Ayiti

Government type:
elected government

Capital:
name: Port-au-Prince
geographic coordinates: 18 32 N, 72 20 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last
Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:
10 departments (departements, singular - departement); Artibonite,
Centre, Grand 'Anse, Nippes, 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; constitutional government ousted in a
military coup in September 1991, although in October 1991, military
government claimed to be observing the constitution; returned to
constitutional rule in October 1994; constitution, while technically
in force between 2004-2006, was not enforced; returned to
constitutional rule in May 2006

Legal system:
based on Roman civil law system; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Rene PREVAL (since 14 May 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Jacques-Edouard ALEXIS (since 30
May 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with
the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(may not serve consecutive terms); election last held 7 February
2006 (next to be held in 2010); prime minister appointed by the
president, ratified by the National Assembly
election results: Rene PREVAL elected president; percent of vote -
Rene PREVAL 51%

Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale consists of the
Senate (30 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve six-year
terms; one-third elected every two years) and the Chamber of
Deputies (99 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms); note - in reestablishing the Senate, the candidate
in each department receiving the most votes in the last election
serves six years, the candidate with the second most votes serves
four years, and the candidate with the third most votes serves two
years
elections: Senate - last held 21 April 2006, with run-off elections
on 3 December 2006 (next regular election, for one third of seats,
to be held in 2008); Chamber of Deputies - last held 21 April 2006,
with run-off elections on 3 December 2006 (next regular election to
be held in 2010)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - L'ESPWA 11, OPL 4, FL 3, FUSION 5, LAAA 2, UNCRH 2, ALYANS
1, PONT 2; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - L'ESPWA 21, FUSION 15, ALYANS 11, OPL 8, FL 6,
UNCRH 6, MPH 4, RDNP 4, LAAA 4,KONBA 3, FRN 2, MOCHRENHA 1,
MRN 1,
Tet-Ansanm 1, MIRN 1, JPDN 1, UNITE 1, PLH 1; results for six other
seats contested on 3 December 2006 remain unknown
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour de Cassation

Political parties and leaders:

Artibonite in Action or LAAA [Youri LATORTUE]; Assembly of
Progressive National Democrats or RDNP [Leslie MANIGAT]; Convention
for Democratic Unity or KID [Evans PAUL]; Cooperative Action to
Build Haiti or KONBA [Evans LESCOUFALIR]; Democratic Alliance or
ALYANS (coalition composed of KID and PPRH) [Evans PAUL]; Effort and
Solidarity to Create an Alternative for the People or ESKAMP [Joseph
JASME]; For Us All or PONT [Jean-Marie CHERESTAL]; Front for Hope or
LESPWA (alliance of ESKAMP, PLB, and grass-roots organizations
Grand-Anse Resistance Committee, the Central Plateau Peasants'
Group, and Kombit Sudest) [Rene PREVAL]; Haitian Christian
Democratic Party or PDCH [Osner FEVRY and Marie-Denise CLAUDE];
Haitian Democratic and Reform Movement or MODEREH [Dany
TOUSSAINT
and Pierre Soncon PRINCE]; Heads Together or Tet-Ansanm [Dr. Gerard
BLOT]; Independent Movement for National Reconciliation or MIRN [Luc
FLEURINORD]; Justice for Peace and National Development or JPDN
[Rigaud DUPLAN]; Fanmi Lavalas or FL [Rudy HERIVEAUX]; Liberal Party
of Haiti or PLH [Gehy MICHEL]; Merging of Haitian Social Democratic
Parties or FUSION or FPSDH (coalition of Ayiti Capable, Haitian
National Revolutionary Party, and National Congress of Democratic
Movements) [Serge GILLES]; Mobilization for Haiti's Development or
MPH [Samir MOURRA]; 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 Christian Union for the
Reconstruction of Haiti or UNCRH [Marie Claude GERMAIN]; National
Front for the Reconstruction of Haiti or FRN [Guy PHILIPPE]; New
Christian Movement for a New Haiti or MOCHRENA [Luc MESADIEU];
Open
the Gate Party or PLB [Anes LUBIN]; Popular Party for the Renewal of
Haiti or PPRH [Claude ROMAIN]; Struggling People's Organization or
OPL [Edgard LEBLANC]; Union of Nationalist and Progressive Haitians
or UNITE [Edouard FRANCISQUE]

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; General Organization of Independent
Haitian Workers [Patrick NUMAS]; Grand-Anse Resistance Committee, or
KOREGA; 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, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ITU, ITUC, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW
(signatory), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL,
WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Raymond JOSEPH
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, San Juan
(Puerto Rico)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Janet A. SANDERSON
embassy: 5 Harry S Truman Boulevard, Bicentenaire-Port-au-Prince
mailing address: P. O. Box 1761, Port-au-Prince
telephone: [509] 222-0200
FAX: [509] 223-9038

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:
Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with 80% of
the population living under the poverty line and 54% in abject
poverty. Two-thirds of all Haitians depend on the agriculture
sector, mainly small-scale subsistence farming, and remain
vulnerable to damage from frequent natural disasters, exacerbated by
the country's widespread deforestation. A macroeconomic program
developed in 2005 with the help of the International Monetary Fund
helped the economy grow 1.8% in 2006, the highest growth rate since
1999. Haiti suffers from higher inflation than similar low-income
countries, a lack of investment, and a severe trade deficit. In
2005, Haiti paid its arrears to the World Bank, paving the way for
reengagement with the Bank. The government relies on formal
international economic assistance for fiscal sustainability. In
2006, Haiti held a successful donors conference in which the total
aid pledged exceeded Haiti's request. Remittances are the primary
source of foreign exchange, equaling nearly a quarter of GDP.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$14.56 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$5.947 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.8% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,800 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 28% industry: 20% services: 52%

(2004 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):

14.4% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

27.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $385 million
expenditures: $807.7 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 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:
536.2 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 60.3% hydro: 39.7% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
498.6 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
 0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
11,600 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-58.72 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$443.7 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
manufactures, coffee, oils, cocoa, mangoes

Exports - partners:
US 80.9%, Dominican Republic 6.9%, Canada 4% (2005)

Imports:
$1.721 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
food, manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, fuels,
 raw materials

Imports - partners:
US 48.7%, Netherlands Antilles 11.9%, Brazil 3.3% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$123.4 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$1.309 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$153 million (FY05 est.)

Currency (code):
gourde (HTG)

Currency code:
HTG

Exchange rates:
gourdes per US dollar - 45.189 (2006), 40.449 (2005), 38.352
(2004), 42.367 (2003), 29.251 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September

Communications Haiti

Telephones - main lines in use:

140,000 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

400,000 (2004)

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:
6 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2000)

Internet users:
500,000 (2005)

Transportation Haiti

Airports:
12 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 8
 914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 7 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 4,160 km
paved: 1,011 km
unpaved: 3,149 km (1999)

Ports and terminals:

Cap-Haitien

Military Haiti

Military branches:
the regular Haitian Armed Forces (FAdH) - Army, Navy, and Air Force
- have been demobilized but still exist on paper 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
females age 18-49: 1,637,657 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 948,320
females age 18-49: 931,972 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 98,554
females age 18-49: 97,690 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$25.96 million (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.9% (2003 est.)
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 the Dominican
Republic and sail to neighboring countries; Haiti claims
US-administered Navassa Island

Illicit drugs:
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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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% (2005)

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 2006 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
abbreviation: HIMI

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 terminals: 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@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 May) with hot, dry
summers (May to September)

Terrain:
urban; 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) (2005)

Irrigated land:
0 sq km

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:
landlocked; enclave in Rome, Italy; world's smallest state; beyond
the territorial boundary of Vatican City, the Lateran Treaty of 1929
grants the Holy See extraterritorial authority over 23 sites in Rome
and five outside of Rome, including the Pontifical Palace at Castel
Gandolfo (the Pope's summer residence)

People Holy See (Vatican City)

Population:
932 (July 2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.01% (2006 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:
name: Vatican City
geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 27 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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 Tarcisio BERTONE
(since 15 September 2006)
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 Pope
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, IOM (observer), ITU, ITUC, NAM (guest), OAS
(observer), OPCW, OSCE, UN (observer), UNCTAD, UNHCR, UNWTO
(observer), UPU, WIPO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Pietro SAMBI
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 Francis ROONEY
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 arms
of the Holy See, consisting of the crossed keys of Saint Peter
surmounted by the three-tiered papal tiara, 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.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$NA

Labor force:
NA

Labor force - by occupation:

note: essentially services with a small amount of industry;
dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000 lay workers live
outside the Vatican
Population below poverty line:
NA%

Budget:
revenues: $247 million
expenditures: $243 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005)

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:

$0

Currency (code):
euro (EUR)

Currency code:
EUR

Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 0.79669 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004),
0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Holy See (Vatican City)

Telephones - main lines in use:

5,120 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

NA

Telephone system:
general assessment: automatic digital exchange
domestic: connected via fiber optic cable to Telecom Italia network
international: country code - 39; uses Italian system

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 4, FM 3, shortwave 2 (2004)

Radios:
NA

Television broadcast stations:

1 (2005)

Televisions:
NA

Internet country code:

.va

Internet hosts:
45 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

NA

Internet users:
93 (2000)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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: 9.53% permanent crops: 3.21% other: 87.26% (2005)

Irrigated land:
800 sq km (2003)

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:
7,326,496
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
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 39.9% (male 1,491,170/female 1,429,816)
15-64 years: 56.7% (male 2,076,727/female 2,077,975)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 113,747/female 137,061) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 19.5 years
male: 19.1 years
female: 19.8 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.16% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
28.24 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
5.28 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 25.82 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 29 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 22.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

 total population: 69.33 years
male: 67.75 years
female: 70.98 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.59 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Tegucigalpa
geographic coordinates: 14 06 N, 87 13 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends
first Sunday in November; note - these new dates become effective in
2007

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 Manuel ZELAYA Rosales (since 27 January
2006); First Vice President Elvin Ernesto SANTOS Ordonez (since 27
January 2006); Second Vice President (vacant); Third Vice President
(vacant); note - the president is both the chief of state and head
of government
head of government: President Manuel ZELAYA Rosales (since 27
January 2006); First Vice President Elvin Ernesto SANTOS Ordonez
(since 27 January 2006); Second Vice President (vacant); Third Vice
President (vacant)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 27 November 2005 (next to be held November 2009)
election results: Manuel ZELAYA Rosales (PL) elected president -
49.8%, Porfirio "Pepe" LOBO Sosa (PN) 46.1%, other 4.1%

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 27 November 2005 (next to be held November 2009)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PL
62, PN 55, PUD 5, PDC 4, PINU 2

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 [Arturo CORRALES]; Democratic
Unification Party or PUD [Matias FUNES]; Liberal Party or PL
[Patricia RODAS]; National Innovation and Unity Party or PINU [Olban
F. VALLADARES]; National Party of Honduras or PN [Porfirio LOBO]

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 Confederation of
Honduran Workers or CUTH

International organization participation:

BCIE, CACM, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO
(subscriber), ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, NAM,
OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNWTO, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Roberto

FLORES Bermudez 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 Charles

A. FORD embassy: Avenida La Paz, Apartado Postal No. 3453, Tegucigalpa
mailing address: American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa telephone:
[504] 236-9320, 238-5114 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, the second poorest country in Central America and 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 US-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. The economy relies heavily on a narrow range of exports,
notably bananas and coffee, making it vulnerable to natural
disasters and shifts in commodity prices, but in recent years has
experienced a rapid rise in exports of light manufacturers. Growth
remains dependent on the economy of the US, its largest trading
partner, and on reduction of the high crime rate, as a means of
attracting and maintaining investment.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$22.13 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$8.414 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.2% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13.6% industry: 31.4% services: 55%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 2.589 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 34% industry: 23% services: 43%

(2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:
27.9% (2006 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:

55 (1999)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.7% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

23.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $2.002 billion
expenditures: $2.028 billion; including capital expenditures of $106
million (2006 est.)

Public debt:
67.1% of GDP (2006 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:
4.805 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 50.2% hydro: 49.8% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
 4.824 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
356 million kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
37,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-160 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$1.947 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
coffee, shrimp, bananas, gold, palm oil, fruit, lobster, lumber

Exports - partners:
US 73.3%, Guatemala 2.9%, El Salvador 2.9% (2005)

Imports:
$4.86 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, industrial raw materials,
chemical products, fuels, foodstuffs (2000)

Imports - partners:
US 52.6%, Guatemala 6.4%, El Salvador 4.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.778 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$5.587 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$557.8 million (1999)

Currency (code):
lempira (HNL)

Currency code:
HNL

Exchange rates:
lempiras per US dollar - 18.9278 (2006), 18.92 (2005), 18.206
(2004), 17.345 (2003), 16.433 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Honduras

Telephones - main lines in use:

494,400 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.282 million (2005)

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:
3,973 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

8 (2000)

Internet users:
223,000 (2005)

Transportation Honduras

Airports: 116 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 105 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m:
19 under 914 m: 84 (2006)
Railways: total: 699 km narrow gauge: 279 km 1.067-m gauge; 420 km 0.914-m
gauge (2005)

Roadways: total: 13,603 km paved: 2,775 km unpaved: 10,828 km (1999)

Waterways:
465 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 136 ships (1000 GRT or over) 405,984 GRT/557,179 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 11, cargo 61, chemical tanker 5, container 1,
liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 1, passenger 5, passenger/cargo
9, petroleum tanker 29, refrigerated cargo 8, roll on/roll off 4,
specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 43 (Canada 1, China 3, Egypt 4, Greece 3, Hong Kong
2, Israel 1, Japan 4, South Korea 6, Lebanon 1, Mexico 1, Qatar 1,
Singapore 11, Taiwan 2, Tanzania 1, US 1, Vietnam 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Puerto Castilla, Puerto Cortes, San Lorenzo, Tela

Military Honduras

Military branches:
Army, Navy (includes naval infantry), Honduran Air Force (Fuerza
Aerea Hondurena, FAH) (2006)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary two-three year military service (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,537,232
females age 18-49: 1,515,120 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,100,991
females age 18-49: 1,121,649 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

 males age 18-49: 82,105
females age 18-49: 78,971 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$52.8 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.55% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Honduras

Disputes - international:
in 1992, International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on the
delimitation of "bolsones" (disputed areas) along the El
Salvador-Honduras border, but despite Organization of American
States (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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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:
subtropical 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:
6,940,432 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 13.5% (male 488,607/female 445,593)
15-64 years: 73.7% (male 2,495,679/female 2,620,336)
65 years and over: 12.8% (male 413,031/female 477,186) (2006 est.)

Median age:
 total: 40.7 years
male: 40.4 years
female: 40.9 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.59% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
7.29 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
6.29 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

4.89 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 2.95 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 3.13 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 81.59 years
male: 78.9 years
female: 84.5 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

0.95 children born/woman (2006 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 14 official members and 15
non-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; TSANG was elected on 16 June 2005 to fill final
two years of TUNG's term (next election to be held in March 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;
non-voting LEGCO president 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]; Citizens Party [Alex CHAN Kai-chung];
Civic Party [KUAN Hsin-chi]; Democratic Alliance for the Betterment
and Progress of Hong Kong or DAB [MA Lik]; Democratic Party [Albert
HO]; Frontier Party [Emily LAU Wai-hing]; Liberal Party [James TIEN
Pei-chun]
note: political blocs include: pro-democracy - ADPL, Democratic
Party, Frontier Party; pro-Beijing - DAB, 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, IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), IOC, ISO
 (correspondent), ITUC, UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCL, WCO, WMO, 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] 2845-1598

Flag description: red with a stylized, white, five-petal bauhinia flower in the
center

Economy Hong Kong

Economy - overview:
Hong Kong has a free market economy highly dependent on
international trade. The territory has become more closely linked to
mainland China over the past few years. Even before Hong Kong
reverted to Chinese administration on 1 July 1997, it had extensive
trade and investment ties with China. Hong Kong's service industry
over the past decade has grown rapidly as its manufacturing industry
has moved to the mainland. Hong Kong also has stepped up its efforts
to gain approval to offer more mainland financial services in a bid
to remain competitive with China's growing financial centers. Hong
Kong's 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. Per capita GDP exceeds that of the four big economies of
Western Europe. GDP growth averaged a strong 5% from 1989 to 2006,
but Hong Kong suffered two recessions in the past eight years
because of the Asian financial crisis in 1997-1998 and the global
downturn in 2001-2002. Although the Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003 also battered Hong Kong's economy,
a solid rise in exports, a boom in tourism from the mainland because
of China's easing of travel restrictions, and a return of consumer
confidence resulted in the resumption of strong growth from late
2003 through 2006. Moreover, several large initial public offerings
 of Chinese companies on the Hong Kong stock exchange since late 2005
have helped to boost Hong Kong's status as a financial hub and have
contributed to the improved performance of the market in late 2006.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$253.1 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$187.1 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.9% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$36,500 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.1% industry: 9% services: 90.9%

(2006 est.)

Labor force:
3.63 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

manufacturing 7.5%, construction 7.5%, wholesale and retail trade,
restaurants, and hotels 43.9%, financing, insurance, and real estate
2.9%, transport and communications 7.1%, community and social
services 43.9%
note: above data exclude public sector (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:
4.9% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

 52.25 (2001)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.2% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $35.16 billion
expenditures: $33.02 billion; including capital expenditures of $5.9
billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
fresh vegetables; poultry, pork; fish

Industries:
textiles, clothing, tourism, banking, shipping, electronics,
plastics, toys, watches, clocks

Industrial production growth rate:

4% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
38.45 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
44.55 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports:
4.497 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - imports:
10.39 billion kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
285,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day

Oil - imports:
25,000 bbl/day

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

2.2 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

2.524 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$20.9 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$611.6 billion f.o.b., including reexports (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
electrical machinery and appliances, textiles, apparel, footwear,
watches and clocks, toys, plastics, precious stones, printed material

Exports - partners:
China 45%, US 16.1%, Japan 5.3% (2005)

Imports:
$329.8 billion (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:
raw materials and semi-manufactures, consumer goods, capital goods,
foodstuffs, fuel (most is re-exported)

Imports - partners:
China 45%, Japan 11%, Taiwan 7.2%, Singapore 5.8%, US 5.1%, South
Korea 4.4% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$132 billion (November 2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$472.9 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Currency (code):
Hong Kong dollar (HKD)

Currency code:
HKD

Exchange rates:
Hong Kong dollars per US dollar - 7.77367 (2006), 7.7773 (2005),
7.788 (2004), 7.7868 (2003), 7.7989 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Hong Kong

Telephones - main lines in use:

3,794,600 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

8.693 million (2005)

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:

55 low power stations
note: two TV networks, each one broadcasting on two channels (2006)

Televisions:
1.84 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.hk

Internet hosts:
800,834 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

17 (2000)

Internet users:
4,878,713 (2005)

Transportation Hong Kong

Airports: 3 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Heliports: 3 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 1,955 km
paved: 1,955 km (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 924 ships (1000 GRT or over) 30,838,025 GRT/51,957,682 DWT
by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 495, cargo 121, chemical
tanker 44, container 133, liquefied gas 22, passenger 6,
passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 76, roll on/roll off 3,
specialized tanker 7, vehicle carrier 8
foreign-owned: 562 (Australia 1, Belgium 3, Canada 28, China 274,
Denmark 6, Germany 6, Greece 27, Indonesia 4, Japan 67, South Korea
6, Norway 26, Philippines 16, Portugal 1, Singapore 24, Syria 1,
Taiwan 6, UAE 2, UK 43, US 21)
registered in other countries: 417 (Bahamas 8, Belize 8, Bermuda 10,
Cambodia 15, China 7, Cyprus 1, France 1, French Southern and
Antarctic Lands 2, Greece 1, Honduras 2, India 1, Liberia 37,
Malaysia 14, Malta 2, Marshall Islands 7, Norway 55, Panama 169,
Philippines 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 6, Singapore 50,
Taiwan 3, Tuvalu 8, unknown 7) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Hong Kong

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
females age 18-49: 1,904,967 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,403,088
females age 18-49: 1,527,278 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 40,343
females age 18-49: 38,234 (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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 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: 49.58% permanent crops: 2.06% other: 48.36% (2005)

Irrigated land: 2,300 sq km (2003)

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, Whaling
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:
9,981,334 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.6% (male 799,163/female 755,389)
15-64 years: 69.2% (male 3,403,375/female 3,505,640)
65 years and over: 15.2% (male 550,297/female 967,470) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 38.7 years
male: 36.3 years
female: 41.4 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.25% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
9.72 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
13.11 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.86 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 8.39 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.66 years
male: 68.45 years
female: 77.14 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.32 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Budapest
geographic coordinates: 47 30 N, 19 05 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:
19 counties (megyek, singular - megye), 22 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, Salgotarjan, Sopron, Szeged, Szekesfehervar,
Szekszard, 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; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

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 (eligible for a second 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 9 and 23 April 2006 (next to be held April 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party (5% or more of the vote
required for parliamentary representation in the first round) - MSzP
43.2%, Fidesz-KDNP 42%, SzDSz 6.5%, MDF 5%, other 3.3%; seats by
party - MSzP 190, Fidesz 141, KDNP 23, SzDSz 20, MDF 11, independent
1

Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court (judges are elected by the National Assembly
for nine-year terms)

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance of Free Democrats or SzDSz [Gabor KUNCZE]; Christian
Democratic People's Party or KDNP [Zsolt SEMJEN]; Hungarian Civic
Alliance or Fidesz [Viktor ORBAN, chairman]; Hungarian Democratic
Forum or MDF [Ibolya DAVID]; Hungarian Socialist Party or MSzP
[Istvan HILLER, chairman]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD,
EIB, ESA (cooperating state), EU, FAO, G- 9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG,
OAS
(observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN,
UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WEU
(associate), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador April H.
FOLEY embassy: Szabadsag ter 12, H-1054 Budapest mailing address: pouch:
American Embassy Budapest, 5270 Budapest Place, US 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 nearly two-thirds that of
the EU-25 average. Hungary continues to demonstrate strong economic
growth and acceded to the EU 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 $60 billion since 1989. Hungarian
sovereign debt was upgraded in 2000 - together with the Czech
Republic, Hungary holds the highest rating among the Central
European transition economies. Rating agencies, however, have
expressed concerns over Hungary's fiscal and current account
deficits. Inflation has declined from 14% in 1998 to 3.7% in 2006.
Unemployment has persisted above 6%. Hungary's labor force
participation rate of 57% is one of the lowest in the Organization
for Economic Cooperation and Development (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
6.5% in 2006, and orchestrating an orderly interest rate reduction
without sparking capital outflows.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$172.7 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$113.1 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.8% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$17,300 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.1% industry: 32.1% services: 64.8%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 4.2 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 5.5% industry: 33.3% services: 61.2%

(2003)

Unemployment rate:
7.4% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

8.6%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 22.2% (2002)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

26.9 (2002)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.7% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

23.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $48.73 billion
expenditures: $59.62 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
68.6% of GDP (2006 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:

9.5% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
31.83 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 60.1% hydro: 0.5% nuclear: 39%
other: 0.3% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
37.1 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
6.3 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
13.8 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
47,530 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
132,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
47,180 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
94,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves:

110.7 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

 2.963 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

14.46 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

11.42 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

34.26 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-8.392 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$67.99 billion f.o.b. (2006 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 30.2%, Italy 5.7%, Austria 5.6%, France 5.3%, UK 5.1% (2005)

Imports:
$69.75 billion f.o.b. (2006 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 27.5%, Russia 7.4%, China 7.1%, Austria 6.6%, France 4.9%,
Italy 4.9%, Netherlands 4.3% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$21.05 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:
$107.3 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$3.4 billion in available EU structural adjustment and cohesion
funds (2004-06)

Currency (code):
forint (HUF)

Currency code:
HUF

Exchange rates:
forints per US dollar - 215.105 (2006), 199.58 (2005), 202.75
(2004), 224.31 (2003), 257.89 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Hungary

Telephones - main lines in use:

3.356 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

9.32 million (2005)

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:
608,085 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

16 (2000)

Internet users:
3.05 million (2005)

Transportation Hungary

Airports: 46 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 26 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m:

3 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 10 (2006)

Heliports:
5 (2006)

Pipelines:
 gas 4,397 km; oil 990 km; refined products 335 km (2006)

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 (2005)

Roadways:
total: 159,568 km
paved: 70,050 km (30,874 km of interurban roads including 626 km of
expressways)
unpaved: 89,518 km (2005)

Waterways:
1,622 km (most on Danube River) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Budapest, Dunaujvaros, Gyor-Gonyu, Csepel, Baja, Mohacs (2003)

Military Hungary

Military branches:
Ground Forces, Hungarian Air Force (Magyar Legiero, ML) (2006)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription
abolished in June 2004 (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,303,116
females age 18-49: 2,265,463 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,780,513
females age 18-49: 1,864,580 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 63,847
 females age 18-49: 61,037 (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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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:
4,970 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 2,110 m (at Vatnajokull glacier)

Natural resources:
fish, hydropower, geothermal power, diatomite

Land use:
arable land: 0.07%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 99.93% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

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,
Whaling
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:
299,388 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.7% (male 33,021/female 32,021)
15-64 years: 66.5% (male 100,944/female 98,239)
65 years and over: 11.7% (male 15,876/female 19,287) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 34.2 years
male: 33.8 years
female: 34.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.87% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
13.64 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
6.72 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

 1.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 3.29 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 3.43 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 80.31 years
male: 78.23 years
female: 82.48 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.92 children born/woman (2006 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%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Government Iceland

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Iceland
conventional short form: Iceland
local long form: Lydveldid Island
local short form: Island

Government type:
constitutional republic

Capital:
name: Reykjavik
geographic coordinates: 64 09 N, 21 57 W
time difference: UTC (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 Geir H. HAARDE (since 7 June 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
elections: president, largely a ceremonial post, is elected by
popular vote for a four-year term (no term limits); 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 85.6%, 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%, Progressive Party 17.7%,
Left-Green Movement 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 [Geir H. HAARDE]; Left-Green Movement or
LGM [Steingrimur SIGFUSSON]; Liberal Party or LP [Gudjon
KRISTJANSSON]; Progressive Party or PP [Jon SIGURDSSON]; 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:

Arctic Council, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EFTA,
FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, 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 Albert JONSSON
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 Carol VAN VOORST
embassy: Laufasvegur 21, 101 Reykjavik
mailing address: US Department of State, 5640 Reykjavik Place,
Washington, D.C. 20521-5640
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 nearly 60% of export earnings and
employs 6% 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 current
account deficit, limiting foreign borrowing, containing inflation,
revising agricultural and fishing policies, and diversifying the
economy. 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. Since 2000
growth has varied from a -1% in 2002 to 8% in 2004.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$11.4 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$13.85 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.7% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$38,100 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8.4% industry: 15.6% services: 76%

(2006 est.)
Labor force: 173,000 (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 5.1% industry: 23% services: 71.4%

(2005)

Unemployment rate:
1.3% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6.8% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

31.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $7.345 billion
expenditures: $6.655 billion; including capital expenditures of $467
million (2006 est.)

Public debt:
23.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
potatoes, green vegetables; mutton, dairy products; fish

Industries:
fish processing; aluminum smelting, ferrosilicon production;
geothermal power, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

5% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
 8.474 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.1% hydro: 82.5% nuclear: 0%

other: 17.5% (geothermal) (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
7.881 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
20,560 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
15,470 bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-2.932 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$3.587 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
fish and fish products 70%, aluminum, animal products,
 ferrosilicon, diatomite

Exports - partners:
UK 17.9%, Germany 16.4%, Netherlands 13%, US 8.1%, Spain 7.7%,
Denmark 4.3% (2005)

Imports:
$5.189 billion (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners:
Germany 13.4%, US 9.1%, Sweden 8.6%, Denmark 7.3%, Norway 7.2%, UK
5.9%, China 5.3%, Netherlands 5%, Japan 4.7% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.018 billion (August 2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$3.073 billion (2002)

Economic aid - donor:

$6.7 million (2004)

Currency (code):
Icelandic krona (ISK)

Currency code:
ISK

Exchange rates:
Icelandic kronur per US dollar - 69.5108 (2006), 62.982 (2005),
70.192 (2004), 76.709 (2003), 91.662 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Iceland
Telephones - main lines in use:
193,900 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

304,000 (2005)

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:
212,897 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

20 (2001)

Internet users:
258,000 (2005)

Transportation Iceland
Airports: 98 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 93
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 29
under 914 m: 61 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 13,028 km
paved/oiled gravel: 4,241 km (does not include urban roads)
unpaved: 8,787 km (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 3,354 GRT/480 DWT
by type: passenger/cargo 1
registered in other countries: 34 (Antigua and Barbuda 8, Bahamas 1,
Belize 2, Faroe Islands 4, Gibraltar 1, Malta 4, Norway 4, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 10) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Grundartangi, Hafnarfjordur, Hornafjordhur, Reykjavik,
Seydhisfjordhur

Military Iceland

Military branches:
no regular armed forces; Icelandic National Police, Icelandic Coast
Guard (Islenska Landhelgisgaeslan) subordinate to Ministry of
Justice, Icelandic Crisis Response Unit (2006)

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 expenditures - percent of GDP:

0%

Military - note:
under a 1951 bilateral agreement, Iceland's defense was provided by
a US-manned Icelandic Defense Force (IDF) headquartered in Keflavik;
in October 2006, all US military forces in Iceland were withdrawn;
nonetheless, the US and Iceland signed a Joint Understanding to
strengthen their bilateral defense relationship, including regular
security consultations, military communications in the event of
national emergencies, annual bilateral exercises on Icelandic
territory, and future bilateral and NATO support to four Iceland Air
Defense System (IADS) radar sites

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@Iles Eparses

Introduction Iles Eparses

Background:
The Iles Eparses, or scattered islands, are a group of five French
entities - Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de
Nova Island, and Tromelin Island - which on 1 April 1960 came under
the authority of the Minister in charge of overseas possessions. On
19 September 1960 by decree, the islands were transferred to the
charge of the Prefet of Reunion where they remained until 3 January
2005 when they were transferred by another decree to the Senior
Administrator of the Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic
Lands (TAAF).
Bassas da India: A French possession since 1897, this atoll is a
volcanic seamount surrounded by reefs and awash at high tide.
Europa Island: A French possession since 1897, the island is heavily
wooded; it is the site of a small military garrison that staffs a
weather station.
Glorioso Islands: A French possession since 1892, the Glorioso
Islands are composed of two lushly vegetated coral islands (Ile
Glorieuse and Ile du Lys) and three rock islets. A military garrison
operates a weather and radio station on Ile Glorieuse.
Juan de Nova Island: Named after a famous 15th century Spanish
navigator and explorer, the island has been a French possession
since 1897. It has been exploited for its guano and phosphate.
Presently a small military garrison oversees a meteorological
station.
Tromelin Island: First explored by the French in 1776, the island
came under the jurisdiction of Reunion in 1814. At present, it
serves as a sea turtle sanctuary and is the site of an important
meteorological station.

Geography Iles Eparses

Location:
Southern Africa, in the Indian Ocean
Bassas da India: atoll in the southern Mozambique Channel, about
half way from Madagascar to Mozambique
Europa Island: island in the Mozambique Channel, about half way
between southern Madagascar and southern Mozambique
Glorioso Islands: group of islands in the Indian Ocean, northwest of
Madagascar
Juan de Nova Island: island in the Mozambique Channel, about
one-third of the way between Madagascar and Mozambique
Tromelin Island: island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar

Geographic coordinates:
Bassas da India: 21 30 S, 39 50 E
Europa Island: 22 20 S, 40 22 E
Glorioso Islands: 11 30 S, 47 20 E
Juan de Nova Island: 17 03 S, 42 45 E
Tromelin Island: 15 52 S, 54 25 E

Map references:
Africa

Area:
Bassas da India: total - 80 sq km; land - 0.2 sq km; water - 79.8
sq km (lagoon)
Europa Island: total - 28 sq km; land - 28 sq km; water - 0 sq km
Glorioso Islands: total - 5 sq km; land - 5 sq km; water - 0 sq km
Juan de Nova Island: total - 4.4 sq km; land - 4.4 sq km; water - 0
sq km
Tromelin Island: total - 1 sq km; land - 1 sq km; water - 0 sq km

Area - comparative:
Bassas da India: land area about one-third the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Europa Island: about one-sixth the size of Washington, DC
Glorioso Islands: about eight times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Juan de Nova Island: about seven times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
 Tromelin Island: about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC

Land boundaries:
none

Coastline:
Bassas da India: 35.2 km
Europa Island: 22.2 km
Glorioso Islands: 35.2 km
Juan de Nova Island: 24.1 km
Tromelin Island: 3.7 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm; note - Juan de Nova Island and
Tromelin Island claim a continental shelf of 200-m depth or to the
depth of exploitation

Climate:
tropical

Terrain:
Bassas da India: atoll, awash at high tide; shallow (15 m) lagoon
Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island: low, flat, and
sandy
Tromelin Island: low, flat, sandy; likely volcanic seamount

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Bassas da India 2.4 m; Europa Island 24 m; Glorioso
Islands 12 m; Juan de Nova Island 10 m; Tromelin Island 7 m (all
unnamed locations)

Natural resources:
Bassas da India and Europa Island: none
Glorioso Islands and Juan de Nova Island: guano, phosphates; coconuts
Tromelin Island: fish

Land use:
 Bassas da India - 100% rock, coral reef, and sand; Europa Island -
100% mangrove swamp and dry woodlands; Glorioso Islands - 100% lush
vegetation and coconut palms; Juan de Nova Island - 90% forest, 10%
other; Tromelin Island - 100% grasses and scattered brush

Natural hazards:
all islands subject to periodic cyclones
Bassas da India: maritime hazard since it is under water for a
period of three hours prior to and following the high tide and
surrounded by reefs

Geography - note:
Bassas da India: the atoll is a circular reef that sits atop a
long-extinct, submerged volcano
Europa Island and Juan de Nova Island: wildlife sanctuary for
seabirds and sea turtles
Glorioso Islands: the islands and rocks are surrounded by an
extensive reef system
Tromelin Island: climatologically important location for forecasting
cyclones in the western Indian Ocean; wildlife sanctuary (seabirds,
tortoises)

People Iles Eparses

Population:
Bassas da India: uninhabitable
Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island: a small French
military garrison and a few meteorologists on each possession;
visited by scientists
Tromelin Island: uninhabited, except for visits by scientists

Government Iles Eparses

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso
Islands, Juan de Nova Island, Tromelin Island
local long form: none
 local short form: Bassas da India, Ile Europa, Iles Glorieuses, Ile
Juan de Nova, Ile Tromelin

Dependency status:
possessions of France; administered by the Senior Administrator of
the Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF),
resident in Reunion

Legal system:
the laws of France, where applicable, apply

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17 May
1995), represented by Senior Administrator Michel CHAMPON

Flag description:
the flag of France is used

Economy Iles Eparses

Economy - overview: no economic activity

Communications Iles Eparses

Communications - note:
Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, Tromelin
Island: 1 meteorological station on each possession; note -
meteorological station on Tromelin Island is important for
forecasting cyclones

Transportation Iles Eparses

Airports:
4 (2006)

Ports and terminals:

none; offshore anchorage only
Transportation - note:
aids to navigation - lighthouses: Europa Island 18m; Juan de Nova
Island (W side) 37m; Tromelin Island (NW point) 11m

Military Iles Eparses

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of France

Transnational Issues Iles Eparses

Disputes - international:
Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova
Island: claimed by Madagascar
Tromelin Island: claimed by Mauritius

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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
infiltrated onto Indian lands 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: 48.83%
permanent crops: 2.8%
other: 48.37% (2005)

Irrigated land:
558,080 sq km (2003)

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; Kanchenjunga, third tallest mountain in the world,
lies on the border with Nepal

People India

Population:
1,095,351,995 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.8% (male 173,478,760/female 163,852,827)
15-64 years: 64.3% (male 363,876,219/female 340,181,764)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 27,258,020/female 26,704,405) (2006
est.)

Median age: total: 24.9 years male: 24.9 years female: 24.9 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.38% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
22.01 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
8.18 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 54.63 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 55.18 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 54.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 64.71 years
male: 63.9 years
female: 65.57 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.73 children born/woman (2006 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
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified
among birds in this country or surrounding region; it poses a
negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens
who have close contact with birds (2007)
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
local long form: Republic of India/Bharatiya Ganarajya
local short form: India/Bharat

Government type:
federal republic

Capital:
 name: New Delhi
geographic coordinates: 28 36 N, 77 12 E
time difference: UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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, Puducherry*, Punjab,
Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal,
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; 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 25 July 2002);
Vice President Bhairon Singh SHEKHAWAT (since 19 August 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Manmohan SINGH (since 22 May 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet 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 (no term limits); 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 must be held before May 2009)
election results: People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - INC 147, BJP 129, CPI(M) 43, SP 38, RJD 23, DMK 16,
BSP 15, SS 12, BJD 11, CPI 10, NCP 10, JD(U) 8, SAD 8, PMK 6, JMM 5,
LJSP 4, MDMK 4, TDP 4, TRS 4, independent 6, other 29, vacant 13;
note - party seat composition as of December 2006

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (one chief justice and 25 associate justices are
appointed by the president and remain in office until they reach the
age of 65 or are removed for "proved misbehavior")

Political parties and leaders:

note - India has dozens of national and regional political parties;
only parties with four or more seats in the People's Assembly are
listed; Bahujan Samaj Party or BSP [MAYAWATI]; Bharatiya Janata
Party or BJP [Rajnath SINGH]; Biju Janata Dal or BJD [Naveen
PATNAIK]; Communist Party of India or CPI [Ardhendu Bhushan
BARDHAN]; Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI (M) [Prakash
 KARAT]; Dravida Munnetra Kazagham or DMK [M. KARUNANIDHI];
Indian
National Congress or INC [Sonia GANDHI]; Janata Dal (United) or
JD(U) [Sharad YADEV]; Jharkhand Mukti Morcha or JMM [Shibu SOREN];
Lok Jan Shakti Party or LJSP [Ram Vilas PASWAN]; Marumalarchi
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or MDMK [VAIKU]; Nationalist Congress
Party or NCP [Sharad PAWAR]; Pattali Makkal Katchi or PMK [S.
RAMADOSS]; Rashtriya Janata Dal or RJD [Laloo Prasad YADAV];
Samajwadi Party or SP [Mulayam Singh YADAV]; Shiromani Akali Dal or
SAD [Prakash Singh BADAL]; Shiv Sena or SS [Bal THACKERAY];
Telangana Rashtra Samithi or TRS [K. Chandrasekhar RAO]; Telugu
Desam Party or TDP [Chandrababu NAIDU]

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), BIMSTEC, BIS, C, CERN
(observer), CP, EAS, FAO, G- 6, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OAS
(observer), ONUB, OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC, SACEP, SCO
(observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL,
UNMEE,
UNMIS, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, 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, 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, accounting for more than half of India's output
with less than one quarter of its labor force. About three-fifths of
the work force is in agriculture, leading the UPA government to
articulate an economic reform program that includes developing basic
infrastructure to improve the lives of the rural poor and boost
economic performance. The government has reduced controls on foreign
trade and investment. Tariffs averaged 12.5% on non-agricultural
items in 2006. Higher limits on foreign direct investment were
permitted in a few key sectors, such as telecommunications. However,
tariff spikes in sensitive categories, including agriculture, and
incremental progress on economic reforms still hinder foreign access
to India's vast and growing market. Privatization of
government-owned industries remained stalled in 2006, and continues
to generate political debate; populist pressure from within the UPA
 government and from its Left Front allies continues to restrain
needed initiatives. The economy has posted an average growth rate of
more than 7% in the decade since 1996, reducing poverty by about 10
percentage points. India achieved 8.5% GDP growth in 2006,
significantly expanding manufacturing. 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. Economic expansion has helped New Delhi continue
to make progress in reducing its federal fiscal deficit. However,
strong growth - more than 8 percent growth in each of the last three
years - combined with easy consumer credit and a real estate boom is
fueling inflation concerns. The huge and growing population is the
fundamental social, economic, and environmental problem.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$4.042 trillion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$796.1 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

8.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,700 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 19.9% industry: 19.3% services:

60.7% (2005 est.)

Labor force: 509.3 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 60% industry: 12% services: 28%

(2003)

Unemployment rate:
7.8% (2006 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:

32.5 (2000)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.3% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

29.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $109.4 billion
expenditures: $143.8 billion; including capital expenditures of $15
billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
52.8% of GDP (federal and state debt combined) (2006 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:

7.5% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
630.6 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 81.7% hydro: 14.5% nuclear:

3.4% other: 0.3% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
587.9 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
60 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
1.5 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
785,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
2.45 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
350,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - imports:
2.09 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

5.6 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

28.2 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

30.83 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

2.63 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

853.5 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-26.4 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
 $112 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
textile goods, gems and jewelry, engineering goods, chemicals,
leather manufactures

Exports - partners:
US 16.7%, UAE 8.5%, China 6.6%, Singapore 5.3%, UK 4.9%, Hong Kong
4.4% (2005)

Imports:
$187.9 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
crude oil, machinery, gems, fertilizer, chemicals

Imports - partners:
China 7.3%, US 5.6%, Switzerland 4.7% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$165 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$132.1 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$2.9 billion (FY98/99)

Currency (code):
Indian rupee (INR)

Currency code:
INR

Exchange rates:
Indian rupees per US dollar - 45.5 (2006), 44.101 (2005), 45.317
(2004), 46.583 (2003), 48.61 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
Communications India

Telephones - main lines in use:

49.75 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

69,193,321 (2006)

Telephone system:
general assessment: recent deregulation and liberalization of
telecommunications laws and policies have prompted rapid growth;
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 ten for each 100 persons nationwide and only
one per 100 persons in rural areas; there remains 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 six satellites supporting 33,000 very
small aperture terminals (VSAT)
international: country code - 91; nine 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; 6 submarine cables, including Sea-Me-We-3
with landing sites at Cochin and Mumbai (Bombay), Sea-Me-We-4 with
landing site at Chennai, 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
(2006)

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:
1,543,289 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

43 (2000)

Internet users:
60 million (2005)

Transportation India

Airports: 341 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 243 over 3,047 m: 17 2,438 to 3,047 m: 51
1,524 to 2,437 m: 73 914 to 1,523 m: 81 under 914 m: 21 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 98 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m:

7 914 to 1,523 m: 42 under 914 m: 48 (2006)

Heliports:
28 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate/gas 8 km; gas 5,184 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,993 km;
oil 6,500 km; refined products 6,152 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 63,230 km
broad gauge: 45,718 km 1.676-m gauge (16,528 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 14,406 km 1.000-m gauge (165 km electrified); 3,106 km
0.762-m gauge and 0.610-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 3,383,344 km
paved: 1,603,705 km
unpaved: 1,779,639 km (2002)

Waterways:
14,500 km
note: 5,200 km on major rivers and 485 km on canals suitable for
mechanized vessels (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 316 ships (1000 GRT or over) 7,772,313 GRT/13,310,858 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 96, cargo 72, chemical tanker 13, container 8,
liquefied gas 17, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker
96, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 10 (China 2, Hong Kong 1, UAE 6, UK 1)
registered in other countries: 46 (Bahamas 1, Comoros 1, Cyprus 5,
North Korea 1, Liberia 3, Malta 1, Mauritius 2, Panama 19, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 6, Singapore 5, Venezuela 1, unknown 1)
(2006)

Ports and terminals:

Chennai, Haldia, Jawaharal Nehru, Kandla, Kolkata (Calcutta),
Mumbai (Bombay), New Mangalore, Vishakhapatnam
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
females age 16-49: 268,524,835 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 219,471,999
females age 16-49: 209,917,553 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 11,446,452
females age 16-49: 10,665,877 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$19.04 billion (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.5% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues India

Disputes - international:
since China and India launched a security and foreign policy
dialogue in 2005, consolidated 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 continue; various talks and
confidence-building measures have cautiously begun to defuse
tensions over Kashmir, particularly since the October 2005
earthquake in the region; Kashmir nevertheless remains the 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
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 its 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 of the border; 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 maintains a strict border regime to keep
out Maoist insurgents and control illegal cross-border activities
from Nepal

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 77,200 (Tibet/China), 50,730 (Sri
Lanka), 9,700 (Afghanistan)
IDPs: at least 600,000 (about half are Kashmiri Pandits from Jammu
 and Kashmir) (2006)

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: India is a source, destination, and transit
country for men, women, and children trafficked for the purposes of
forced or bonded labor and commercial sexual exploitation; the large
population of men, women, and children - numbering in the millions -
in debt bondage face involuntary servitude in brick kilns, rice
mills, and embroidery factories, while some children endure
involuntary servitude as domestic servants; internal trafficking of
women and girls for the purposes of commercial sexual exploitation
and forced marriage also occurs; the government estimates that 90
percent of India's sex trafficking is internal; India is also a
destination for women and girls from Nepal and Bangladesh trafficked
for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation; boys from
Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are trafficked through India
to the Gulf states for involuntary servitude as child camel jockeys;
Indian men and women migrate willingly to the Persian Gulf region
for work as domestic servants and low-skilled laborers, but some
later find themselves in situations of involuntary servitude
including extended working hours, nonpayment of wages, restrictions
on their movement by withholding of their passports or confinement
to the home, and physical or sexual abuse
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - India has been on the Tier 2 Watch
List since 2004 for its failure to show evidence of increasing
efforts to address trafficking in persons

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 latitude.

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 terminals:

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 and home to the
world's largest Muslim population. Current issues include:
alleviating poverty, preventing terrorism, consolidating democracy
after four decades of authoritarianism, implementing financial
sector reforms, stemming corruption, and holding the military and
police accountable for human rights violations. Indonesia was the
nation worst hit by the December 2004 tsunami, which particularly
affected Aceh province causing over 100,000 deaths and over $4
billion in damage. An additional earthquake in March 2005 created
heavy destruction on the island of Nias. Reconstruction in these
areas may take up to a decade. In 2005, Indonesia reached a historic
peace agreement with armed separatists in Aceh, but it continues to
face a low intensity separatist guerilla movement 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: 11.03% permanent crops: 7.04% other: 81.93% (2005)

Irrigated land:
45,000 sq km (2003)
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, 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:
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:
245,452,739 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.8% (male 35,995,919/female 34,749,582)
15-64 years: 65.8% (male 80,796,794/female 80,754,238)
65 years and over: 5.4% (male 5,737,473/female 7,418,733) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 26.8 years
male: 26.4 years
female: 27.3 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.41% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
 20.34 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
6.25 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 34.39 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 39.36 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 29.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 69.87 years
male: 67.42 years
female: 72.45 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.4 children born/woman (2006 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
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified
among birds in this country or surrounding region; it poses a
negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens
who have close contact with birds (2007)

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:
name: Jakarta
geographic coordinates: 6 10 S, 106 48 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Indonesia is divided into three time zones

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: following the implementation of decentralization beginning on
1 January 2001, the 440 districts or regencies have become 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; series of
amemdments concluded in 2002

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); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president were elected for five-year
terms (eligible for a second term) by direct vote of the citizenry;
last held 20 September 2004 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: Susilo Bambang YUDHOYONO elected president
receiving 60.6% of vote; MEGAWATI Sukarnoputri received 39.4%

Legislative branch:
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 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 percentage 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 Mahkamah 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; Labor
Court under supervision of Supreme Court began functioning in
January 2006

Political parties and leaders:

Crescent Moon and Star Party or PBB [MS KABAN]; Democratic Party or
PD [Hadi UTOMO]; Functional Groups Party or Golkar [Yusuf KALLA];
Indonesia Democratic Party-Struggle or PDI-P [MEGAWATI
Sukarnoputri]; National Awakening Party or PKB [MUHAIMIN Iskander];
National Mandate Party or PAN [Sutrisno BACHIR]; Prosperous Justice
Party or PKS [Tifatul SEMBIRING]; United Development Party or PPP
[Hamzah HAZ]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, CP, EAS, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
MONUC, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PIF (partner), UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador SUDJADNAN Parnohadiningrat
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, San
 Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador B. Lynn

PASCOE embassy: Jalan 1 Medan Merdeka Selatan 4-5, Jakarta 10110 mailing
address: Unit 8129, Box 1, FPO AP 96520 telephone: [62] (21) 3435-9000 FAX:
[62] (21) 3435-9922 consulate(s) general: Surabaya consulate(s): Medan;
Denpasar (consular agency)

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 struggled to overcome the
Asian financial crisis, and still grapples with high poverty and
unemployment, inadequate infrastructure, endemic corruption, a
fragile banking sector, a poor investment climate, and unequal
resource distribution among regions. The country continues the slow
work of rebuilding from the devastating December 2004 tsunami and
from an earthquake in central Java in May 2006 that caused over $3
billion in damage and losses. Declining oil production and lack of
new exploration investment turned Indonesia into a net oil importer
in 2004. The cost of subsidizing domestic fuel placed increasing
strain on the budget in 2005, and combined with indecisive monetary
policy, contributed to a run on the currency in August, prompting
the government to enact a 126% average fuel price hike in October.
The resulting inflation and interest rate hikes dampened growth
through mid-2006, while large increases in rice prices pushed
millions more people under the national poverty line. Economic
reformers introduced three policy packages in 2006 to improve the
investment climate, infrastructure, and the financial sector, but
translating them into reality has not been easy. Keys to future
growth remain internal reform, building up the confidence of
international and domestic investors, and strong global economic
growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$935 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$264.4 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.4% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,800 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13.1% industry: 46% services: 41%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 108.2 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 43.3% industry: 18% services: 38.7%

(2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:
12.5% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

17.8% (2006)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 28.5% (2002)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

34.8 (2004)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

13.2% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

20.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
 revenues: $75.58 billion
expenditures: $79.45 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
43.8% of GDP (2006 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:

2.6% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
112.6 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 86.9% hydro: 10.5% nuclear: 0%

other: 2.6% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
104.7 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
1.061 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
1.084 million bbl/day (2005 est.)
Oil - exports:
431,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - imports:
345,700 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

4.85 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

83.4 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

22.5 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

37.5 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

2.557 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$1.636 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$102.3 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
oil and gas, electrical appliances, plywood, textiles, rubber

Exports - partners:
Japan 21.1%, US 11.5%, Singapore 9.2%, South Korea 8.3%, China
7.8%, Malaysia 4% (2005)

Imports:
$77.73 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
Singapore 16.4%, Japan 12%, China 10.1%, US 6.7%, Thailand 6%,
South Korea 5%, Saudi Arabia 4.7%, Australia 4.4% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$43.04 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$130.4 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$43 billion (2002 est.)
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 $5 billion in aid money pledged by a variety
bilateral, multilateral, and non-governmental organization (NGO)
donors 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 rupiah per US dollar - 9,207.18 (2006), 9,704.7 (2005),
8,938.9 (2004), 8,577.1 (2003), 9,311.2 (2002)

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:
12.772 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

46.91 million (2005)

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: 54 local TV stations note: 11 national TV

networks; each with their own group of local, often low power, transmitters
(2006)

Televisions:
13.75 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.id

Internet hosts:
170,834 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

24 (2000)

Internet users:
16 million (2005)

Transportation Indonesia
Airports: 662 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 159 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 49 914 to 1,523 m: 49 under 914 m: 42 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 503 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m:
26 under 914 m: 471 (2006)

Heliports:
23 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate 944 km; condensate/gas 135 km; gas 9,175 km; oil 7,684
km; oil/gas/water 89 km; refined products 1,367 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 6,458 km
narrow gauge: 5,961 km 1.067-m gauge (125 km electrified); 497 km
0.750-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 368,360 km
paved: 213,649 km
unpaved: 154,711 km (2002)

Waterways:
21,579 km (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 824 ships (1000 GRT or over) 3,773,771 GRT/4,887,614 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 43, cargo 451, chemical tanker 21, container
50, liquefied gas 7, livestock carrier 1, passenger 41,
passenger/cargo 58, petroleum tanker 132, refrigerated cargo 2, roll
on/roll off 12, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 2
foreign-owned: 30 (France 1, Germany 1, Japan 3, South Korea 1,
Norway 1, Philippines 1, Singapore 17, Switzerland 3, UK 2)
registered in other countries: 122 (Bahamas 4, Belize 2, Bermuda 1,
Cambodia 1, Georgia 1, Hong Kong 4, Liberia 1, Panama 50, Singapore
56, Thailand 1, unknown 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Banjarmasin, Belawan, Ciwandan, Krueg Geukueh, Palembang, Panjang,
Sungai Pakning, Tanjung Perak, Tanjung Priok

Military Indonesia

Military branches:
Indonesia Armed Forces (Tentara Nasional Indonesia, TNI): Army
(TNI-AD), Navy (TNI-AL, includes marines, naval air arm), Air Force
(TNI-AU)
note: the TNI is directly subordinate to the president but the
government is making efforts to incorporate it into the Department
of Defense

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
conscript service obligation - two years (2002)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 60,543,028
females age 18-49: 59,981,730 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 48,687,234
females age 18-49: 50,252,911 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 2,201,047
females age 18-49: 2,139,573 (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; many East Timorese refugees who left in 2003
still reside in Indonesia and refuse repatriation; Indonesia and
East Timor contest the sovereignty of the uninhabited coral island
of Pulau 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: 200,000-350,000 (government offensives against rebels in
Aceh; most IDPs in Aceh, Central Kalimantan, Central Sulawesi
Provinces, and Maluku), 300,000 (December 2006 floods in Aceh
regions) (2006)

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Indonesia is a source, transit, and destination
country for women, children and men trafficked for the purposes of
sexual exploitation and forced labor; Indonesian victims are
trafficked to Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Hong Kong,
Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore; a significant number of
Indonesian women who go overseas each year to work as domestic
servants or "cultural performers" are subjected to conditions of
involuntary servitude and commercial sexual exploitation; to a
minimal extent, Indonesia is a destination for women from East Asia,
Europe, and South America who are trafficked for sexual
exploitation; there is extensive trafficking within Indonesia from
rural to urban metropolitan areas particularly for sexual
 exploitation and involuntary domestic servitude
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Indonesia is placed on the Tier 2
Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts
to combat trafficking

Illicit drugs:
illicit producer of cannabis largely for domestic use; producer of
methamphetamine and ecstasy

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 floundered as conservative
politicians prevented reform measures from being enacted, increased
repressive measures, and made electoral gains against reformers.
Parliamentary elections in 2004 and the August 2005 inauguration of
a conservative stalwart as president, completed the reconsolidation
of conservative power in Iran's 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: 9.78% permanent crops: 1.29% other: 88.93% (2005)

Irrigated land:
76,500 sq km (2003)

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:
68,688,433 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.1% (male 9,204,785/female 8,731,429)
15-64 years: 69% (male 24,133,919/female 23,245,255)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 1,653,827/female 1,719,218) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 24.8 years
male: 24.6 years
female: 25 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.1% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
17 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
5.55 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.96 male(s)/female
 total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 40.3 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 40.49 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 40.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.26 years
male: 68.86 years
female: 71.74 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.8 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Tehran
geographic coordinates: 35 40 N, 51 26 E
time difference: UTC+3.5 (8.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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); and various
Islamic observances that change in accordance with the lunar-based
hejira calendar

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 Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June
1989)
head of government: President Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD (since 3 August
2005); First Vice President Parviz DAVUDI (since 11 September 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president with
legislative approval; the Supreme Leader has some control over
appointments to the more sensitive ministries
note: also considered part of the Executive branch of government are
three oversight bodies: 1) Assembly of Experts, a popularly elected
body of 86 religious scholars constitutionally charged with
determining the succession of the Supreme Leader, reviewing his
performance, and deposing him if deemed necessary; 2) Expediency
Council or Council for the Discernment of Expediency is a policy
advisory and implementation board consisting of permanent and
temporary members representing all major government factions, some
of whom are appointed by the Supreme Leader; the Council exerts
supervisory authority over the executive, judicial, and legislative
branches and resolves legislative issues on which the Majles and the
Council of Guardians disagree; 3) Council of Guardians or Council of
Guardians of the Constitution is a 12-member board of clerics and
jurists serving six-year terms that determines whether proposed
legislation is both constitutional and faithful to Islamic law; the
Council also vets candidates for suitability and supervises national
 elections
elections: Supreme Leader appointed for life by the Assembly of
Experts; president elected by popular vote for a four-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 17 June 2005 with a
two-candidate runoff on 24 June 2005 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD elected president; percent of
vote - Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD 62%, Ali Akbar Hashemi RAFSANJANI
36%

Legislative branch:
unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly or
Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami (290 seats - formerly 270 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 20 February 2004 with a runoff held 7 May 2004
(by-elections next to be held in December 2006; general election to
be held in 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; following his defeat in the 2005
presidential elections, former MCS Secretary General Mehdi KARRUBI
formed the National Trust Party; 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 Office of Strengthening Unity
(OSU); 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:

ABEDA, CP, ECO, 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, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA,
SCO (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE,
UNWTO, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

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 Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD 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 nearly $60 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):

$610.4 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$194.8 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$8,900 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11.2% industry: 41.7% services:

47.1% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 24.36 million note: shortage of skilled labor (2006 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%

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

43 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

15.8% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

30% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $104.6 billion
expenditures: $100.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $7.6
billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
25.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
wheat, rice, other grains, sugar beets, fruits, nuts, cotton; dairy
products, wool; caviar

Industries:
petroleum, petrochemicals, fertilizers, caustic soda, textiles,
cement and other construction materials, food processing
(particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), ferrous
and non-ferrous metal fabrication, armaments

Industrial production growth rate:

3.2% excluding oil (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:
155.7 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 97.1% hydro: 2.9% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
145.1 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
1.837 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
2.17 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
3.979 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
1.51 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
2.5 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

132.5 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

83.9 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

85.54 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

3.56 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

 5.2 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

26.62 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$13.13 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$63.18 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, fruits and
nuts, carpets

Exports - partners:
Japan 16.9%, China 11.2%, Italy 5.9%, South Korea 5.8%, Turkey
5.7%, Netherlands 4.6%, France 4.4%, South Africa 4.1%, Taiwan 4.1%
(2005)

Imports:
$45.48 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
industrial raw materials and intermediate goods, capital goods,
foodstuffs and other consumer goods, technical services, military
supplies

Imports - partners:
Germany 13.9%, UAE 8.4%, China 8.3%, Italy 7.1%, France 6.3%, South
Korea 5.4%, Russia 4.9% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$58.46 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$14.8 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$408 million (2002 est.)
Currency (code):
Iranian rial (IRR)

Currency code:
IRR

Exchange rates:
rials per US dollar - 9,246.94 (2006), 8,964 (2005), 8,614 (2004),
8,193.9 (2003), 6,907 (2002), 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:

18.986 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

8.5 million (2005)

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: the addition of new fiber cables and modern switching and
exchange systems installed by Iran's state owned telecom company
have improved and expanded the main line network greatly; main line
availability has more than doubled to 19 million lines since 1995;
additionally, mobile service has increased dramatically serving some
8.5 million subscribers in 2005
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:
5,242 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

100 (2002)

Internet users:
7.5 million (2005)

Transportation Iran

Airports: 321 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 129 over 3,047 m: 41 2,438 to 3,047 m: 26
1,524 to 2,437 m: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 31 under 914 m: 6 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 192 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 140 under 914 m: 43 (2006)
Heliports:
15 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate 7 km; condensate/gas 397 km; gas 17,099 km; liquid
petroleum gas 570 km; oil 8,521 km; refined products 7,808 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 7,256 km
broad gauge: 94 km 1.676-m gauge
standard gauge: 7,162 km 1.435-m gauge (186 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 179,388 km
paved: 120,782 km (including 878 km of expressways)
unpaved: 58,606 km (2003)

Waterways:
850 km (850 km on Karun River; additional service on Lake Urmia)
(2006)

Merchant marine:
total: 141 ships (1000 GRT or over) 5,086,702 GRT/8,878,829 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 39, cargo 45, chemical tanker 4, container 12,
liquefied gas 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker
30, roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned: 1 (UAE 1)
registered in other countries: 22 (Bolivia 1, Cyprus 2, Malta 14,
Panama 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Assaluyeh, Bushehr

Military Iran

Military branches:
Islamic Republic of Iran Regular Forces (Artesh): Ground Forces,
Navy, Air Force (Niruye Havayi Jomhuriye Islamiye Iran; 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 (2006)

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
females age 18-49: 17,541,037 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 15,665,725
females age 18-49: 15,005,597 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 862,056
females age 18-49: 808,044 (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 dispute Tunb
Islands and Abu Musa Island, which are occupied by Iran; 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): 662,355 (Afghanistan), 54,000 (Iraq)
(2006)

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Iran is a source, transit, and destination
country for women and girls trafficked for the purposes of sexual
exploitation and involuntary servitude; according to foreign
observers, women and girls are trafficked to Pakistan, Turkey, the
Persian Gulf, and Europe for sexual exploitation, while boys from
Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan are trafficked through Iran en
route to Persian Gulf states where they are ultimately forced to
work as camel jockeys, beggars, or laborers; Afghan women and girls
are trafficked to the country for forced marriages and sexual
exploitation; women and children are also trafficked internally for
the purposes of forced marriage, sexual exploitation, and
involuntary servitude
tier rating: Tier 3 - Iran is downgraded to Tier 3 after persistent,
credible reports of Iranian authorities punishing victims of
trafficking with beatings, imprisonment, and execution

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 2 million drug users
in the country; lacks anti-money-laundering laws

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 until 2003, the last 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 led to the US-led invasion of Iraq in
March 2003 and the ouster of the SADDAM Husayn regime. Coalition
forces remain in Iraq under a UNSC mandate, helping to provide
security and to support the freely elected government. The Coalition
Provisional Authority, which temporarily administered Iraq after the
invasion, transferred full governmental authority on 28 June 2004 to
the Iraqi Interim Government, which governed under the Transitional
Administrative Law for Iraq (TAL). Under the TAL, elections for a
275-member Transitional National Assembly (TNA) were held in Iraq on
30 January 2005. Following these elections, the Iraqi Transitional
Government (ITG) assumed office. The TNA was charged with drafting
Iraq's permanent constitution, which was approved in a 15 October
2005 constitutional referendum. An election under the constitution
for a 275-member Council of Representatives (CoR) was held on 15
December 2005. The CoR approval in the selection of most of the
cabinet ministers on 20 May 2006 marked the transition from the ITG
to Iraq's first constitutional government in nearly a half-century.

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: 13.12% permanent crops: 0.61% other: 86.27% (2005)

Irrigated land:
35,250 sq km (2003)

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: Biodiversity, 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:
 26,783,383 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 39.7% (male 5,398,645/female 5,231,760)
15-64 years: 57.3% (male 7,776,257/female 7,576,726)
65 years and over: 3% (male 376,700/female 423,295) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 19.7 years
male: 19.6 years
female: 19.8 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.66% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
31.98 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
5.37 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 48.64 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 54.39 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 42.61 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 69.01 years
male: 67.76 years
female: 70.31 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.18 children born/woman (2006 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:
parliamentary democracy

Capital:
name: Baghdad
geographic coordinates: 33 21 N, 44 25 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins 1 April; ends 1 October

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; the Government of Iraq has yet to
declare a new national holiday

Constitution:
ratified on 15 October 2005 (subject to review by the
Constitutional Review Committee and a possible public referendum in
2007)

Legal system:
based on European civil and Islamic law under the framework
outlined in the Iraqi Constitution

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jalal TALABANI (since 6 April 2005); Vice
 Presidents Adil ABD AL-MAHDI and Tariq al-HASHIMI (since 22 April
2006); note - the president and vice presidents comprise the
Presidency Council)
head of government: Prime Minister Nuri al-MALIKI (since 20 May
2006); Deputy Prime Ministers Barham SALIH and Salam al-ZUBAI (since
20 May 2006)
cabinet: 37 ministers appointed by the Presidency Council, plus
Prime Minister Nuri al-MALIKI, and Deputy Prime Ministers Barham
SALIH and Salam al-ZUBAI
elections: held 15 December 2005 to elect a 275-member Council of
Representatives

Legislative branch:
bicameral Council of Representatives (consisting of 275 members
elected by a closed-list, proportional representation system) and a
Federation Council (membership not established and authorities
undefined)
elections: held 15 December 2005 to elect a 275-member Council of
Representatives; the Council of Representatives elected the
Presidency Council and approved the Prime Minister
election results: Council of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - Unified Iraqi Alliance 41%, Kurdistan Alliance 22%, Tawafuq
Coalition 15%, Iraqi National List 8%, Iraqi Front for National
Dialogue 4%, others 10%; number of seats by party - Unified Iraqi
Alliance 128, Kurdistan Alliance 53, Tawafuq Coalition 44, Iraqi
National List 25, Iraqi Front for National Dialogue 11, others 14

Judicial branch:
the Iraq Constitution calls for the Federal Judicial Authority,
comprised of the Higher Juridical Council, Supreme Federal Court,
Federal Court of Cassation, Public Prosecution Department, Judiciary
Oversight Commission and other federal courts that are regulated in
accordance with the law

Political parties and leaders:

Assyrian Democratic Movement [Yunadim KANNA]; Badr Organization
[Hadi al-AMIRI]; Constitutional Monarchy Movement or CMM [Sharif Ali
Bin al-HUSAYN]; Da'wa al-Islamiyya Party [Ibrahim al-JA'FARI];
General Conference of Iraqi People [Adnan al-DULAYMI]; Independent
 Iraqi Alliance or IIA [Falah al-NAQIB]; Iraqi Communist Party [Hamid
al-MUSA]; Iraqi Front for National Dialogue [Salih al-MUTLAQ]; Iraqi
Hizballah [Karim Mahmud al-MUHAMMADAWI]; Iraqi Independent
Democrats
or IID [Adnan PACHACHI, Mahdi al-HAFIZ]; Iraqi Islamic Party or IIP
[Tariq al-HASHIMI]; Iraqi National Accord or INA [Ayad ALLAWI];
Iraqi National Congress or INC [Ahmad CHALABI]; Iraqi National
Council for Dialogue or INCD [Khalaf Ulayan al-Khalifawi
al-DULAYMI]; Iraqi National Unity Movement or INUM [Ahmad
al-KUBAYSI, chairman]; Islamic Action Organization or IAO [Ayatollah
Muhammad al-MUDARRISI]; Jama'at al Fadilah or JAF [Muhammad Ali
al-YAQUBI]; Kurdistan Democratic Party or KDP [Masud BARZANI];
Kurdistan Islamic Union [Salah ad-Din Muhammad BAHA al-DIN];
National Reconciliation and Liberation Party [Mishan al-JABBURI];
Patriotic Union of Kurdistan or PUK [Jalal TALABANI]; Sadrist Trend
[Muqtada al-SADR] (not an organized political party, but it fields
independent candidates affiliated with Muqtada al-SADR); Supreme
Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq or SCIRI [Abd al-Aziz
al-HAKIM]
note: the Kurdistan Alliance, Iraqi National List, Tawafuq
Coalition, Iraqi Front for National Dialogue, and Unified 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 Government of

Iraq and Coalition forces is primarily concentrated in Baghdad and in areas
north, northeast, and west of the capital; the diverse, multigroup insurgency
consists principally of Sunni Arabs whose only common denominator is a shared
desire to oust the Coalition and end US influence in Iraq; a number of
predominantly Shia militias, some of which are associated with political parties,
challenge governmental authority in Baghdad and southern 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,
UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Samir Shakir al-SUMAYDI
chancery: 1801 P Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 483-7500
FAX: [1] (202) 462-5066

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Zalmay KHALILZAD
embassy: Baghdad
mailing address: APO AE 09316
telephone: 00-1-240-553-0584 ext. 5340 or 5635; 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, which began 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 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. Attacks on key economic
facilities - especially oil pipelines and infrastructure - have
prevented Iraq from reaching projected export volumes, but total
government revenues have been higher than anticipated due to high
oil prices. Despite political uncertainty, Iraq is making some
progress in building the institutions needed to implement economic
policy and has concluded a debt reduction agreement with the Paris
Club and a Standby Arrangement with the IMF. Iraq's economic
prospects will depend on the government's ability to control
inflation, to implement structural reforms such as bank
restructuring, and to develop the private sector.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$94.1 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$46.5 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.1% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,900 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 7.3% industry: 66.6% services: 26.1%

(2004 est.)

Labor force: 7.4 million (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Unemployment rate:
 25% to 30% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

50% (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $30.8 billion
expenditures: $34.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $5
billion (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep,
poultry

Industries:
petroleum, chemicals, textiles, leather, construction materials,
food processing, fertilizer, metal fabrication/processing

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:
31.7 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 98.4% hydro: 1.6% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
33.3 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:
2.02 billion kWh (2005)

Oil - production:
2.093 million bbl/day; note - prewar production (in 2002) was 2.2
million bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
351,500 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - exports:
1.42 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

112.5 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

1.75 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.75 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

3.115 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$8.134 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$32.19 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:
crude oil 84%, crude materials excluding fuels 8%, food and live
animals 5%

Exports - partners:
US 49.7%, Italy 10.4%, Spain 6.3%, Canada 5.6% (2005)

Imports:
$20.76 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
food, medicine, manufactures

Imports - partners:
Turkey 23.3%, Syria 23%, US 11.6%, Jordan 6.2% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$15.65 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$81.48 billion (2006 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 - 1,477.17 (2006), 1,475 (2005),
1,890 (second half, 2003), 0.3109 (2001)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Iraq
Telephones - main lines in use:
1.547 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

8.7 million (2006)

Telephone system:
general assessment: the aftermath of the liberation of Iraq in 2003
severely disrupted telecommunications throughout Iraq including
international connections; USAID repaired switching capabilities and
constructed a mobile and satellite communication facility; landlines
now exceed pre-war levels
domestic: repairs to switches and lines destroyed during 2003 have
been completed, but sabotage remains a problem; additional switching
capacity is improving access; cellular service is widely available
in major cities and centered on three regional GSM networks,
improving country-wide connectivity. There are currently 8.7 million
users of cellular services.
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;
despite a new satellite gateway, international calls outside of
Baghdad are sometimes problematic

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 hosts:
5 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:
36,000 (2005)

Transportation Iraq

Airports: 110 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 77
over 3,047 m: 20
2,438 to 3,047 m: 37
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 9 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 33
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 10 (2006)

Heliports:
8 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 2,228 km; liquid petroleum gas 918 km; oil 5,506 km; refined
products 1,637 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 2,200 km
standard gauge: 2,200 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)
Roadways:
total: 45,550 km
paved: 38,399 km
unpaved: 7,151 km (1999)

Waterways:
5,279 km
note: Euphrates River (2,815 km), Tigris River (1,899 km), and Third
River (565 km) are principal waterways (2004)

Merchant marine:
total: 13 ships (1000 GRT or over) 67,796 GRT/101,317 DWT
by type: cargo 11, petroleum tanker 2 (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Al Basrah, Khawr az Zubayr, Umm Qasr

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:

all volunteer force; the Iraqi 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 (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 5,870,640
females age 18-49: 5,642,073 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 4,930,074
females age 18-49: 4,771,105 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 198,518
females age 18-49: 289,879 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$1.34 billion (2005 est.)

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): 22,698 (Palestinian Territories),
13,382 (Iran), 13,332 (Turkey)
IDPs: 1.6 million (ongoing US-led war and Kurds' subsequent return)
(2006)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@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 UK. 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 is being implemented with some
difficulties. In 2006, the Irish and British governments developed
and began working to implement the St. Andrew's Agreement, building
on the Good Friday Agreement approved in 1998.

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: 16.82%
permanent crops: 0.03%
other: 83.15% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

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:
4,062,235 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.9% (male 437,903/female 409,774)
15-64 years: 67.6% (male 1,373,771/female 1,370,452)
65 years and over: 11.6% (male 207,859/female 262,476) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 34 years
male: 33.2 years
female: 34.8 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.15% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
 14.45 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
7.82 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

4.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.31 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.82 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.73 years
male: 75.11 years
female: 80.52 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.86 children born/woman (2006 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: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Government Ireland

Country name: conventional long form: none conventional short form: Ireland
local long form: none local short form: Eire

Government type:
republic, parliamentary democracy

Capital:
name: Dublin
geographic coordinates: 53 20 N, 6 15 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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
(eligible for a second 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 (taoiseach) 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 other 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%, other 10.9%; seats by party - Fianna Fail 81, Fine Gael 31,
Labor Party 21, Sinn Fein 5, Progressive Democrats 8, Green Party 6,
other 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 RABBITTE]; Progressive Democrats
[Michael McDOWELL]; Sinn Fein [Gerry ADAMS]; Socialist Party [Joe
HIGGINS]; The Workers' Party [Sean GARLAND]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC,
NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, 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, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas C. FOLEY
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 6% in 1995-2006. 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):

 $177.2 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$202.9 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.2% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$43,600 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 46% services: 49%

(2002 est.)

Labor force: 2.12 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 8% industry: 29% services: 64% (2002

est.)

Unemployment rate:
4.3% (2006 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 (1996)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.9% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

28% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $74.49 billion
 expenditures: $73.05 billion; including capital expenditures of $5.5
billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
22.8% of GDP (2006 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:

5% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
23.26 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 95.9% hydro: 2.3% nuclear: 0%

other: 1.7% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
23.23 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
1.6 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
182,400 bbl/day (2004 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:

855 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

4.295 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

3.44 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

19.82 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-9.45 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$119.8 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals;
live animals, animal products

Exports - partners:
US 18.7%, UK 17.4%, Belgium 15.2%, Germany 7.4%, France 6.4%,
Netherlands 4.8% (2005)

Imports:
$87.36 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:
data processing equipment, other machinery and equipment,
chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products, textiles, clothing

Imports - partners:
UK 37.1%, US 13.8%, Germany 9.2%, Netherlands 4.5% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$842.5 million (August 2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$1.392 trillion (30 June 2006)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $607 million (2004)

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 - 0.79987 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004),
0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Ireland

Telephones - main lines in use:

2.033 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

 4.21 million (2005)

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:
238,191 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

22 (2000)

Internet users:
2.06 million (2005)

Transportation Ireland

Airports: 36 (2006)

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 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 21 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 17
(2006)

Pipelines:
gas 1,728 km (2006)

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)
(2005)

Roadways:
total: 96,602 km
paved: 96,602 km (including 200 km of expressways) (2003)

Waterways:
753 km (pleasure craft only) (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 23 ships (1000 GRT or over) 103,589 GRT/145,044 DWT
by type: cargo 19, chemical tanker 2, container 1, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 4 (Germany 2, US 2)
registered in other countries: 21 (Bahamas 2, Bermuda 1, Cyprus 3,
Gibraltar 1, Netherlands 10, Panama 2, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 1, UK 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Cork, Dublin, New Ross, Shannon Foynes, Waterford

Military Ireland

Military branches:
Irish Defense Forces (Oglaigh na h-Eireann): Army (includes Naval
Service and Air Corps) (2006)

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
females age 17-49: 978,465 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 17-49: 814,768
females age 17-49: 813,981 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 29,327
females age 17-49: 28,139 (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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Isle of Man

Introduction Isle of Man

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. Isle of Man is a British crown
dependency, but is not part of the UK. However, the UK Government
remains constitutionally responsible for defense and international
representation.

Geography Isle of Man

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

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 Isle of Man

Population:
75,441 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.3% (male 6,669/female 6,350)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 24,884/female 24,678)
65 years and over: 17% (male 5,197/female 7,663) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 39.6 years
male: 38.4 years
female: 41 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.52% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
11.05 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
11.19 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

5.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.82 deaths/1,000 live births
 male: 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.79 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.49 years
male: 75.14 years
female: 82.02 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.65 children born/woman (2006 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 Isle of Man

Country name:
 conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Isle of Man

Dependency status:
British crown dependency

Government type:
parliamentary democracy

Capital:
name: Douglas
geographic coordinates: 54 09 N, 4 28 W
time difference: UTC 0 (five hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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:
16 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir Paul K. HADDACKS
(since 17 October 2005)
head of government: Chief Minister Tony BROWN (since 14 December
2006)
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 2006 (next to be held
December 2008)
election results: House of Keys speaker Tony BROWN elected chief
minister by the Tynwald

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 eight 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 23 November 2006 (next to be
held November 2011)
election results: House of Keys - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - Liberal Vannin Party 2, Man Labor Party 1,
independents 21

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:

Alliance for Progressive Government; Liberal Vannin Party [Peter
KARRAN]; Man Labor Party; Man Nationalist Party (Mec Vannin) (branch
of the British National Party)
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 Isle of Man

Economy - overview:
Offshore banking, manufacturing, and tourism are key sectors of the
economy. The government offers incentives to high-technology
companies and financial institutions to locate on the island; this
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. The Isle of
Man also attracts online gambling sites and the film industry. 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 (official exchange rate):

$2.26 billion (2003)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.3% (2003)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$27,800 (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 3%,
construction 10%, transport and communication 11%, wholesale and
retail distribution 11%, professional and scientific services 10%,
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):

2.7% (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 (2004)

Imports:
$NA

Imports - commodities:
timber, fertilizers, fish

Imports - partners:
UK (2004)

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 - 0.54413 (2006), 0.55 (2005), 0.5462
(2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Isle of Man

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 hosts:
290 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

NA

Internet users:
NA

Transportation Isle of Man

Airports: 1 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Railways:
total: 65 km
standard guage: 7 km 1.067-m guage (7 km electrified)
narrow guage: 58 km 0.914-m guage (29 km electrified)
note: primarily summer tourist attractions (2006)

Roadways:
total: 800 km
paved: 800 km (1999)

Merchant marine:
total: 305 ships (1000 GRT or over) 8,266,229 GRT/13,792,927 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 38, cargo 65, chemical tanker 53, container
16, liquefied gas 38, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 74,
refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 9, specialized tanker 1,
vehicle carrier 5
foreign-owned: 213 (Cyprus 1, Denmark 53, Estonia 2, France 2,
Germany 56, Greece 45, Italy 5, Japan 4, Monaco 3, Netherlands 1,
Norway 27, Singapore 7, Sweden 1, Turkey 3, US 3)
registered in other countries: 9 (Antigua and Barbuda 2, Liberia 5,
Marshall Islands 1, NZ 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Castletown, Douglas, Ramsey

Military Isle of Man

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues Isle of Man

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 Israel occupied
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. In April 2003, US President BUSH, working in
conjunction with the EU, UN, and Russia - the "Quartet" - took the
lead in laying out a roadmap to a final settlement of the conflict
by 2005, based on reciprocal steps by the two parties leading to two
states, Israel and a democratic Palestine. However, progress toward
a permanent status agreement was undermined by Israeli-Palestinian
violence between September 2003 and February 2005. An
Israeli-Palestinian agreement reached at Sharm al-Sheikh in February
2005, along with an internally-brokered Palestinian ceasefire,
significantly reduced the violence. In the summer of 2005, Israel
unilaterally disengaged from the Gaza Strip, evacuating settlers and
its military. The election of HAMAS in January 2006 to head the
 Palestinian Legislative Council froze relations between Israel and
the Palestinian Authority. Ehud OLMERT became prime minister in
March 2006; following an Israeli military operation in Gaza in
June-July 2006, he shelved plans to unilaterally evacuate from most
of the West Bank. The kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers by Lebanese
Hizballah led to a 34-day conflict in Lebanon in June-August 2006.

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: 15.45% permanent crops: 3.88% other: 80.67% (2005)

Irrigated land:
1,940 sq km (2003)

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, Whaling
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, 0 in the
Gaza Strip, and 29 in East Jerusalem (August 2005 est.); Sea of
 Galilee is an important freshwater source

People Israel

Population:
6,352,117
note: includes about 187,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank,
about 20,000 in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, and fewer than
177,000 in East Jerusalem (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.3% (male 855,054/female 815,619)
15-64 years: 63.9% (male 2,044,135/female 2,016,647)
65 years and over: 9.8% (male 266,671/female 353,991) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 29.6 years
male: 28.8 years
female: 30.5 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.18% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
17.97 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
6.18 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.89 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.61 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.46 years
male: 77.33 years
female: 81.7 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.41 children born/woman (2006 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 76.4% (of which Israel-born 67.1%, Europe/America-born
22.6%, Africa-born 5.9%, Asia-born 4.2%), non-Jewish 23.6% (mostly
Arab) (2004)

Religions:
Jewish 76.4%, Muslim 16%, Arab Christians 1.7%, other Christian
0.4%, Druze 1.6%, unspecified 3.9% (2004)

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:
name: Jerusalem
geographic coordinates: 32 05 N, 34 48 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Friday in March; ends the
Sunday between the holidays of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur
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 Ehud OLMERT (since May 2006);
Deputy Prime Minister Tzipora "Tzipi" LIVNI (since May 2006)
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 (no term limits); election last
held 28 March 2006 (next to be held in 2010, but can be called
earlier); following legislative elections, the president assigns a
Knesset member - traditionally the leader of the largest party - the
task of forming a governing coalition
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); Ehud OLMERT won
the right to lead the government when his Kadima Party won 29 seats
in elections held on 28 March 2006; in May 2006 OLMERT formed a
coalition government with the Labor, GIL (Pensioners), and SHAS
parties. In October 2006 the Yisrael Beiteinu party joined the
government

Legislative branch:
unicameral Knesset (120 seats; members elected by popular vote to
serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 28 March 2006 (next scheduled to be held in
 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - Kadima 22%, Labor
15.1%, Likud 9%, SHAS 9.5%, Yisrael Beiteinu 9%, NU/NRP 7.1%, GIL
5.9%, Torah and Shabbat Judaism 4.7%, Meretz-YAHAD 3.8%, United Arab
List 3%, Balad 2.3%, HADASH 2.7%; seats by party - Kadima 29, Labor
19, Likud 12, SHAS 12, Yisrael Beiteinu 11, NU/NRP 9, GIL 7, Torah
and Shabbat Judaism 6, Meretz-YAHAD 5, United Arab List 4, Balad 3,
HADASH 3

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (justices appointed by Judicial Selection Committee -
made up of all three branches of the government; mandatory
retirement age is 70)

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (HADASH) [Muhammad BARAKA];
GIL (Pensioners) [Rafael EITAN]; Kadima [Ehud OLMERT]; Labor Party
[Amir PERETZ]; Likud Party [Binyamin NETANYAHU]; Meretz-YAHAD
[Yossi
BEILIN]; National Democratic Assembly (Balad) [Azmi BISHARA];
National Union (NU)/National Religious Party (NRP) [Binyamin ELON];
SHAS [Eliyahu YISHAI]; Torah and Shabbat Judaism [Yaakov LITZMAN];
United Arab List [Ibrahim SARSOUR]; Yisrael Beiteinu [Avigdor
LIEBERMAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Israeli nationalists advocating Jewish settlement on the West Bank
and Gaza Strip; Peace Now [Yariv OPPENHEIMER, Secretary
General]supports territorial concessions in the West Bank and Gaza
Strip; Yesha Council of Settlements [Bentzi LIEBERMAN, Chairman]
promotes settler interests and opposes territorial compromise;
B'Tselem monitors human rights abuses

International organization participation:

BIS, BSEC (observer), CERN (observer), EBRD, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OAS (observer), OPCW (signatory), OSCE
(partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO,
 WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Salai MERIDOR
chancery: 3514 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 364-5500
FAX: [1] (202) 364-5607
consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los
Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Richard

H. JONES embassy: 71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv 63903 mailing address: PSC
98, Box 29, APO AE 09830 telephone: [972] (3) 519-7575 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, though diminishing, 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 trade 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
rebounded in 2003-05, growing at a 4% rate each year, as the
government tightened fiscal policy and implemented structural
reforms to boost competition and efficiency in the markets. The
conflict with Lebanon in summer 2006 dampened slightly GDP growth
estimates for the year, but continuing strong foreign investment,
tax revenue, and private consumption levels helped the economy
recover quickly.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$166.3 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$121.6 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.8% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$26,200 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.6% industry: 30.8% services: 66.6%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 2.6 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture, forestry, and fishing 1.8%,

manufacturing 1.8%, construction 5.3%, wholesale and retail trade 15.7%,
transport, storage, and communications 6.3%, finance and business 5.3%,
personal and other services 11.5%, public services 28.6% (1996)

Unemployment rate:
8.5% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

22.6% (2005)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.4%
 highest 10%: 32% (2004)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

34 (2005)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.9% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

17.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $47.57 billion
expenditures: $49.57 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
91% of GDP (2006 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,
footwear

Industrial production growth rate:

4.7% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
46.07 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.9% hydro: 0.1% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
 41.38 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
1.47 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
3,209 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
248,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

1.92 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

780 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

780 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:

38.94 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$1.463 billion (2006 est.)
Exports:
$42.86 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, agricultural
products, chemicals, textiles and apparel

Exports - partners:
US 36.5%, Belgium 8.7%, Hong Kong 5.6% (2005)

Imports:
$47.8 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
raw materials, military equipment, investment goods, rough
diamonds, fuels, grain, consumer goods

Imports - partners:
US 13.4%, Belgium 10.1%, Germany 6.4%, UK 5.7%, Switzerland 5.5%,
China 4.2% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$28.2 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$81.98 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$240 million from US (FY06)

Currency (code):
new Israeli shekel (ILS); note - NIS is the currency abbreviation;
ILS is the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) code
for the NIS

Currency code:
ILS

Exchange rates:
new Israeli shekels per US dollar - 4.5 (2006), 4.4877 (2005),
 4.482 (2004), 4.5541 (2003), 4.7378 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Israel

Telephones - main lines in use:

2,936,300 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

7.757 million (2005)

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:
1,251,881 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
21 (2000)

Internet users:
3.7 million (2006)

Transportation Israel

Airports: 53 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 30 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: 6 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 23 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 20 (2006)

Heliports:
3 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 193 km; oil 442 km; refined products 261 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 853 km
standard gauge: 853 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 17,446 km
paved: 17,446 km (including 144 km of expressways) (2004)

Merchant marine:
total: 18 ships (1000 GRT or over) 716,382 GRT/845,053 DWT
by type: cargo 2, container 16
registered in other countries: 51 (Bahamas 1, Bermuda 3, Cyprus 3,
Honduras 1, Liberia 5, Malta 23, Panama 6, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 2, Slovakia 7) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Ashdod, Elat (Eilat), Hadera, Haifa
Military Israel

Military branches:
Israel Defense Forces (IDF): Army Headquarters, Israel Navy,
Israeli Air and Space Force (ISAF, includes air defense forces);
historically there have been no separate Israeli military services
(2005)

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 age 18-49: 53,760
females: 51,293 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$9.45 billion (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

7.7% (2005 est.)

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 withdrew
its settlers and military from the Gaza Strip and from four
settlements in the West Bank in August 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: 150,000-420,000 (Arab villagers displaced from homes in
northern Israel) (2006)
Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Israel is a destination country for low-skilled
workers from Eastern Europe and Asia who migrate voluntarily for
contract labor in the construction, agriculture, and health care
industries, some of whom are subsequently subjected to conditions of
involuntary servitude; many labor recruitment agencies in source
countries and in Israel require workers to pay large up-front fees
that often lead to debt bondage and vulnerability to forced labor;
Israel is also a destination country for women trafficked from
Eastern Europe for the purpose of sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Israel is placed on the Tier 2
Watch List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts
to address trafficking, namely the conditions of involuntary
servitude allegedly facing thousands of foreign migrant workers

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Italy

Introduction Italy

Background:
Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the regional 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: 26.41%
permanent crops: 9.09%
other: 64.5% (2005)

Irrigated land:
27,500 sq km (2003)

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:
58,133,509 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 13.8% (male 4,147,149/female 3,899,980)
15-64 years: 66.5% (male 19,530,512/female 19,105,841)
65 years and over: 19.7% (male 4,771,858/female 6,678,169) (2006
est.)

Median age: total: 42.2 years male: 40.7 years female: 43.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.04% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
8.72 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
10.4 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

 2.06 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.83 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.42 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.19 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.81 years
male: 76.88 years
female: 82.94 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.28 children born/woman (2006 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:
approximately 90% Roman Catholic (about one-third regularly attend
services); 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:
name: Rome
geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 29 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:
15 regions (regioni, singular - regione) and 5 autonomous regions*
 (regioni autonome, singular - regione autonoma); Abruzzo,
Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia
Giulia*, Lazio (Latium), Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise,
Piemonte (Piedmont), Puglia (Apulia), Sardegna* (Sardinia),
Sicilia*, Toscana (Tuscany), Trentino-Alto Adige* (Trentino-South
Tyrol), Umbria, Valle d'Aosta* (Aosta Valley), 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 Giorgio NAPOLITANO (since 15 May 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister (referred to in Italy as the
president of the Council of Ministers) Romano PRODI (since 17 May
2006)
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 (no term limits); election last held 10 May 2006
(next to be held May 2013); prime minister appointed by the
president and confirmed by parliament
 election results: Giorgio NAPOLITANO elected president on the fourth
round of voting; electoral college vote - 543

Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Parlamento consists of the Senate or Senato
della Repubblica (315 seats; elected by proportional vote with the
winning coalition in each region receiving 55% of seats from that
region; members serve five-year terms) and the Chamber of Deputies
or Camera dei Deputati (630 seats; elected by popular vote with the
winning national coalition receiving 54% of chamber seats; members
serve five-year terms); note - electoral vote reform passed in
December 2005
elections: Senate - last held 10 April 2006 (next to be held in
2011); Chamber of Deputies - last held 10 April 2006 (next to be
held May 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - The Union 158 (DS 62, DL 39, RC 27, Together with the Union
11, other 19), House of Freedoms 154 (FI 79, AN 41, UDC 21, LEGA
13), other 3; Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - The Union 348 (DS 220, RC 41, Rose in the Fist 18,
Italy of Values 17, PdCI 16, Greens Federation 15, UDEUR 10, other
11), House of Freedoms 276 (FI 140, AN 71, Union of Christian and
Center Democrats 39, LEGA 26), other 6

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 Union Coalition [Romano PRODI]: Ulivo Alliance
(including Democrats of the Left or DS [Piero FASSINO];
Daisy-Democracy is Freedom or DL [Francesco RUTELLI]); Rose in the
Fist (including Italian Social Democrats or SDI [Enrico BOSELLI];
Italian Radical Party [Emma BONINO]); Italian Communist Party or
PdCI [Oliviero DILIBERTO]; Green Federation [Alfonso PECORARO
SCANIO]; Communist Renewal or RC [Fausto BERTINOTTI]; Italy of
Values or IdV [Antonio DI PIETRO]; Union of Democrats for Europe or
 UDEUR [Clemente MASTELLA]; Republican European Movement or MRE
[Luciana SBARBATI]
Center-Right Freedom House Coalition [Silvio BERLUSCONI]: Forza
Italia or FI [Silvio BERLUSCONI]; National Alliance or AN
[Gianfranco FINI]; Union of Christian Democrats of the Center or UDC
[Pier Ferdinando CASINI]; Northern League or LEGA [Umberto BOSSI];
Christian Democracy (Per la Autonomie) [Gianfranco ROTONDI]
other non-allied parties: New Italian Socialist Party or New PSI
[Gianni DE MICHELIS]; Italian Republican Party or PRI [Giorgio LA
MALFA]; Social Alternative [Alessandra MUSSOLINI]; Social
Movement-Tricolor Flame or MSI-Fiamma [Luca ROMAGNOLI]; Social Idea
Movement with Rauti or MIS [Pino RAUTI]; South Tyrol People's Party
or SVP (German speakers) [Elmar Pichler ROLLE]; Union of Valley
Aosta Region or UV [Guido CESAL]

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), CBSS (observer),
CDB, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 7, G- 8,
G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC,
LAIA (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, SECI (observer), UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMOGIP, UNRWA,
UNTSO, UNWTO,
UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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, San Francisco consulate(s): Detroit

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald P.

SPOGLI embassy: Via Vittorio Veneto 121, 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 deficit
has breached the 3% EU ceiling. The economy experienced low growth
in 2006, and unemployment remained at a high level.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.727 trillion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.78 trillion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.6% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$29,700 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2% industry: 29.1% services: 69%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 24.63 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 5% industry: 32% services: 63%

(2001)

Unemployment rate:
7% (2006 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:

36 (2000)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.3% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

20.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
 revenues: $832.9 billion
expenditures: $925 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
107.8% of GDP (2006 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:

1.5% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
277.6 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 78.6% hydro: 18.4% nuclear: 0%

other: 3% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
303.8 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
800 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
46.4 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
145,100 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
1.881 million bbl/day (2004 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:

12.96 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

80.61 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

396 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

67.91 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

226.5 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-23.73 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$450.1 billion f.o.b. (2006 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 13.1%, France 12.3%, US 8.1%, Spain 7.4%, UK 6.4% (2005)

Imports:
$445.6 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:
engineering products, chemicals, transport equipment, energy
products, minerals and nonferrous metals, textiles and clothing;
food, beverages, and tobacco

Imports - partners:
Germany 17.2%, France 9.9%, Netherlands 5.7%, China 4.6%, Belgium
4.5%, Spain 4.2% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$70.5 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$1.957 trillion (30 June 2006 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 - 0.79669 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004),
0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Italy

Telephones - main lines in use:

25.049 million (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
72.2 million (2005)

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:
1,731,165 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

93 (Italy and Holy See) (2000)

Internet users:
28.87 million (2005)

Transportation Italy

Airports: 133 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 98 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 30
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 31 under 914 m: 14 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 35 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m:

14 under 914 m: 19 (2006)

Heliports:
5 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 17,589 km; oil 1,136 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 19,459 km
standard gauge: 18,037 km 1.435-m gauge (11,354 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 123 km 1.000-m gauge (122 km electrified); 1,299 km
0.950-m gauge (161 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 484,688 km
paved: 484,688 km (including 6,621 km of expressways) (2004)

Waterways:
2,400 km
note: used for commercial traffic; of limited overall value compared
to road and rail (2004)

Merchant marine:
total: 591 ships (1000 GRT or over) 11,737,175 GRT/12,573,225 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 52, cargo 45, chemical tanker 136, container
25, liquefied gas 37, livestock carrier 3, passenger 16,
passenger/cargo 150, petroleum tanker 49, refrigerated cargo 4, roll
on/roll off 33, specialized tanker 13, vehicle carrier 28
foreign-owned: 36 (France 1, Greece 6, Spain 1, Taiwan 10, UK 3, US
15)
registered in other countries: 152 (Bahamas 5, Belize 4, Cayman
Islands 12, Cyprus 2, France 2, Germany 1, Gibraltar 6, Isle of Man
5, Jamaica 1, Liberia 16, Malta 29, Marshall Islands 1, Norway 4,
Panama 15, Portugal 12, Romania 1, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
18, Singapore 2, Spain 2, Sweden 7, Turkey 3, UK 4) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Augusta, Genoa, Livorno, Melilli Oil Terminal, Ravenna, Taranto,
Trieste, Venice

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:

voluntary military service; conscription abolished January 2005
(2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 13,491,260
females age 18-49: 12,886,033 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 10,963,513
females age 18-49: 10,452,189 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 286,344
females age 18-49: 270,099 (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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Jamaica

Introduction Jamaica

Background:
The island - discovered by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1494 - was
settled by the Spanish early in the 16th century. The native Taino
Indians, who had inhabited Jamaica for centuries, were gradually
exterminated, replaced by African slaves. England siezed the island
in 1655 and a plantation economy - based on sugar, cocoa, and coffee
- was established. The abolition of slavery in 1834 freed a quarter
million slaves, many of which became small farmers. Jamaica
gradually obtained increasing independence from Britain, and in 1958
it joined other British Caribbean colonies in forming the Federation
of the West Indies. Jamaica gained full independence when it
withdrew from the federation in 1962. Deteriorating economic
conditions during the 1970s led to recurrent violence as rival gangs
created by the major political parties evolved into powerful
organized crime networks involved in international drug smuggling
and money laundering. The cycle of violence, drugs, and poverty has
served to impoverish large sectors of the populace. Nonetheless,
 many rural and resort areas remain relatively safe and contribute
substantially to the economy.

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: 15.83%
permanent crops: 10.01%
other: 74.16% (2005)

Irrigated land:
250 sq km (2002)

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:
2,758,124 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 33.1% (male 464,297/female 449,181)
 15-64 years: 59.6% (male 808,718/female 835,394)
65 years and over: 7.3% (male 90,100/female 110,434) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 23 years
male: 22.4 years
female: 23.5 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.8% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
20.82 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
6.52 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-6.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 15.98 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 16.66 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 15.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.24 years
male: 71.54 years
female: 75.03 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.41 children born/woman (2006 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%, Seventh-Day Adventist 9%,
Baptist 8.8%, Pentecostal 7.6%, Anglican 5.5%, Methodist 2.7%,
United Church 2.7%, Jehovah's Witness 1.6%, Brethren 1.1%, 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:
name: Kingston
geographic coordinates: 18 00 N, 76 48 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)

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 Kenneth O. HALL (since 15 February
2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Portia SIMPSON-MILLER (since 30
March 2006)
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 no later than
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]; People's National Party
or PNP [Portia SIMPSON-MILLER]

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), ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, LAES, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
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, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Brenda LaGrange JOHNSON
embassy: Mutual Life Building, 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 remittances, tourism, and bauxite/alumina.
Jamaica's economy, already saddled with a record of relatively low
growth, was hit hard by Hurricane Ivan in late 2004, and is making a
gradual recovery. But the economy faces serious long-term problems:
high interest rates, increased foreign competition, exchange rate
instability, a sizable merchandise trade deficit, large-scale
unemployment and underemployment, and a high debt burden - the
result of government bailouts to ailing sectors of the economy, most
notably the financial sector in the mid-1990s. Following a strategy
begun in 2004, Jamaica has reduced its public debt to 130% of GDP.
Inflation has declined to 9%. Uncertain economic conditions have led
to increased civil unrest, including gang violence fueled by the
drug trade. The government faces the difficult prospect of having to
achieve fiscal discipline in order to maintain debt payments while
simultaneously attacking a serious and growing crime problem that is
hampering economic growth.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$12.71 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$8.579 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.7% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$4,600 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5.3% industry: 33.9% services: 60.8%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 1.197 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 19.3% industry: 16.6% services: 64.1%

(2004)

Unemployment rate:
11% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

19.1% (2003 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 (2003)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

9.1% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

30.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
 revenues: $3.302 billion
expenditures: $3.564 billion; including capital expenditures of
$180.4 million (2006 est.)

Public debt:
129.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus, yams, ackees, vegetables;
poultry, goats, milk; crustaceans, mollusks

Industries:
tourism, bauxite/alumina, agro processing, light manufactures, rum,
cement, metal, paper, chemical products, telecommunications

Industrial production growth rate:

-2% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:
6.913 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 96.8% hydro: 1.8% nuclear: 0%

other: 1.4% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
6.429 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
71,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
 NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-970 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$2.087 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
alumina, bauxite, sugar, bananas, rum, coffee, yams, beverages,
chemicals, wearing apparel, mineral fuels

Exports - partners:
US 25.8%, Canada 19.3%, UK 10.7%, Netherlands 8.6%, China 7%,
Norway 6.4%, Germany 5.6% (2005)

Imports:
$4.682 billion f.o.b. (2006 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 41.4%, Trinidad and Tobago 14%, Venezuela 5.5%, Japan 4.6% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.15 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
 $7.384 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$18.5 million; note - US aid only (2004)

Currency (code):
Jamaican dollar (JMD)

Currency code:
JMD

Exchange rates:
Jamaican dollars per US dollar - 65.9329 (2006), 62.51 (2005),
61.197 (2004), 57.741 (2003), 48.416 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Jamaica

Telephones - main lines in use:

342,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.7 million (2005)

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:
1,402 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

21 (2000)

Internet users:
1.067 million (2005)

Transportation Jamaica

Airports: 35 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4

under 914 m: 5 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 24 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 22

(2006)

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)

Roadways:
total: 20,996 km
paved: 15,386 km (including 33 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,610 km (2004)
Merchant marine:
total: 10 ships (1000 GRT or over) 124,323 GRT/184,247 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 5, cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll
off 2
foreign-owned: 10 (Germany 3, Greece 6, Italy 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Kingston, Port Esquivel, Port Kaiser, Port Rhoades, Rocky Point

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: 592,018
females age 18-49: 616,500 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 478,761
females age 18-49: 504,541 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 27,923
females age 18-49: 27,889 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$31.17 million (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.4% (2003 est.)

Transnational Issues Jamaica

Disputes - international:
none

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Jamaica is a source country for men, women, and
children trafficked for the purposes of sexual exploitation and
labor; information suggests that women from the Dominican Republic
and Eastern Europe are also trafficked to Jamaica for sexual
exploitation; women and children are trafficked internally from
rural to urban and tourist areas for sexual exploitation; there may
also be trafficking for domestic servitude and forced labor
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Jamaica is placed on the Tier 2
Watch List based on the determination that it is making significant
efforts to undertake future action

Illicit drugs:
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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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: 377 sq km
land: 377 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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
0 sq km

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 2006 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

Airports:
1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Ports and terminals:
none; offshore anchorage only

Military Jan Mayen

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Norway

Transnational Issues Jan Mayen

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 US 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 1931-32
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.

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: 11.64% permanent crops: 0.9% other: 87.46% (2005)

Irrigated land:
25,920 sq km (2003)

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:
127,463,611 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.2% (male 9,309,524/female 8,849,476)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 42,158,122/female 41,611,754)
65 years and over: 20% (male 10,762,585/female 14,772,150) (2006
est.)

Median age: total: 42.9 years male: 41.1 years female: 44.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.02% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
9.37 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
9.16 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 3.24 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 3.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 81.25 years
male: 77.96 years
female: 84.7 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.4 children born/woman (2006 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
local long form: Nihon-koku/Nippon-koku
local short form: Nihon/Nippon

Government type:
constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government

Capital:
name: Tokyo
geographic coordinates: 35 42 N, 139 46 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:
47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui, Fukuoka,
Fukushima, Gifu, Gunma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo, Ibaraki,
Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi, Kumamoto,
Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara, Niigata, Oita,
Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga, Shimane, Shizuoka,
Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama, Wakayama, Yamagata,
Yamaguchi, Yamanashi

Independence:
660 B.C. (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 Shinzo ABE (since 26 September
2006)
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; monarch is hereditary
election results: ABE was elected prime minister with 339 of 476
votes cast in the House of Representatives and 136 of 240 votes cast
in the House of Councilors.
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; 146 members in multi-seat
constituencies and 96 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 December 2006 - LDP 111, DPJ
82, Komeito 24, JCP 9, SDP 6, others 10
: 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; note - seats by party as of December
2006 - LDP 305, DPJ 113, Komeito 31, JCP 9, SDP 7, others 15 (2006)

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 [Ichiro OZAWA]; Japan Communist
Party or JCP [Kazuo SHII]; Komeito [Akihoro OTA]; Liberal Democratic
Party or LDP [Shinzo ABE]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Mizuho
FUKUSHIMA]

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, EAS, EBRD, FAO, G-5,
G-7, G-8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU,
 ITUC, LAIA, MIGA, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE
(partner), Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SECI
(observer), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNDOF,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMOVIC, UNRWA, UNWTO,
UPU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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, Seattle

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador J. Thomas SCHIEFFER
embassy: 1-10-5 Akasaka, 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 the third-largest economy in the world after the US and
China, measured on a purchasing power parity (PPP) basis. One
 notable characteristic of the economy is how manufacturers,
suppliers, and distributors work together 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. Japan's industrial sector 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 60% of its food on a caloric basis.
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 and to force a
restructuring of the economy. 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
2004-06, growth improved and the lingering fears of deflation in
prices and economic activity lessened. Japan's huge government debt,
which totals 175% of GDP, and the aging of the population are two
major long-run problems. Some fear that a rise in taxes could
endanger the current economic recovery. Internal conflict over the
proper way to reform the financial system will continue as Japan
Post's banking, insurance, and delivery services undergo
privatization between 2007 and 2017.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$4.22 trillion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$4.911 trillion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.8% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

 $33,100 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.6% industry: 25.3% services: 73.1%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 66.44 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 4.6% industry: 27.8% services: 67.7%

(2004)

Unemployment rate:
4.1% (2006 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:

38.12 (2002)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

0.4% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

23.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.411 trillion
expenditures: $1.639 trillion; including capital expenditures
(public works only) of about $71 billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
175.5% of GDP (2006 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:

3.3% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
974.4 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 60% hydro: 8.4% nuclear: 29.8%
other: 1.8% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
906.2 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
120,600 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
5.353 million bbl/day (2004 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:

2.957 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
83.55 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

81.23 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

39.64 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$174.4 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$590.3 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
transport equipment, motor vehicles, semiconductors, electrical
machinery, chemicals

Exports - partners:
US 22.9%, China 13.4%, South Korea 7.8%, Taiwan 7.3%, Hong Kong
6.1% (2005)

Imports:
$524.1 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuels, foodstuffs, chemicals, textiles,
raw materials (2001)

Imports - partners:
China 21%, US 12.7%, Saudi Arabia 5.5%, UAE 4.9%, Australia 4.7%,
South Korea 4.7%, Indonesia 4% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$864.7 billion (August 2006 est.)
Debt - external:
$1.547 trillion (30 June 2006)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $8.9 billion (2004)

Currency (code):
yen (JPY)

Currency code:
JPY

Exchange rates:
yen per US dollar - 116.175 (2006), 110.22 (2005), 108.19 (2004),
115.93 (2003), 125.39 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Japan

Telephones - main lines in use:

58.78 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

94.745 million (2005)

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:
28,321,846 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

73 (2000)

Internet users:
86.3 million (2005)

Transportation Japan

Airports: 175 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 145 over 3,047 m: 7 2,438 to 3,047 m: 41
1,524 to 2,437 m: 39 914 to 1,523 m: 28 under 914 m: 30 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 30 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 26

(2006)

Heliports:
15 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 8,015 km; oil 170 km; oil/gas/water 60 km (2006)

Railways:
 total: 23,556 km
standard gauge: 3,204 km 1.435-m gauge (3,204 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 77 km 1.372-m gauge (77 km electrified); 20,264 km
1.067-m gauge (13,280 km electrified); 11 km 0.762-m gauge (11 km
electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 1.183 million km
paved: 925,000 km (including 6,946 km of expressways)
unpaved: 258,000 km (2003)

Waterways:
1,770 km (seagoing vessels use inland seas) (2006)

Merchant marine:
total: 683 ships (1000 GRT or over) 10,415,892 GRT/11,765,038 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 134, cargo 30, chemical tanker 20, container
11, liquefied gas 59, passenger 14, passenger/cargo 149, petroleum
tanker 156, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 51, vehicle
carrier 56
registered in other countries: 2,459 (Australia 1, Bahamas 51,
Belize 2, Burma 4, Cambodia 4, Cayman Islands 1, China 3, Cyprus 17,
French Southern and Antarctic Lands 4, Honduras 4, Hong Kong 67,
Indonesia 3, Isle of Man 4, South Korea 1, Liberia 102, Malaysia 4,
Malta 1, Marshall Islands 7, Mongolia 1, Norway 1, Panama 2007,
Philippines 26, Portugal 9, Singapore 100, Sweden 2, Thailand 4,
Vanuatu 28, unknown 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Chiba, Kawasaki, Kiire, Kisarazu, Kobe, Mizushima, Nagoya, Osaka,
Tokyo, Yohohama

Military Japan

Military branches:
Japanese Defense Agency (JDA): Ground Self-Defense Force (Rikujou
Jietai, GSDF), Maritime Self-Defense Force (Kaijou Jietai, MSDF),
Air Self-Defense Force (Nihon Koku-Jieitai, ASDF) (2006)
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
females age 18-49: 26,153,482 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 22,234,663
females age 18-49: 21,494,947 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 683,147
females age 18-49: 650,157 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$44.31 billion (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1% (2005 est.)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Jersey

Introduction Jersey

Background:
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. Jersey is a British crown dependency, but is
not part of the UK. However, the UK Government is constitutionally
responsible for defense and international representation.

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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

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:
91,084 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.2% (male 8,139/female 7,552)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 30,407/female 30,691)
65 years and over: 15.7% (male 6,299/female 7,996) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 41.4 years
male: 40.7 years
female: 42.1 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.28% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
9.3 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
9.28 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.74 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.16 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.78 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.38 years
male: 76.89 years
 female: 82.05 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.58 children born/woman (2006 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:
parliamentary democracy

Capital:
name: Saint Helier
geographic coordinates: 49 12 N, 2 07 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:
none (British crown dependency); there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are 12 parishes including Grouville, Saint Brelade, Saint Clement,
Saint Helier, Saint John, Saint Lawrence, Saint Martin, Saint Mary,
Saint Quen, Saint Peter, Saint Saviour, and Trinity

Independence:
none (British crown dependency)

National holiday:
Liberation Day, 9 May (1945)

Constitution:
unwritten; partly statutes, partly common law and practice

Legal system:
English law and local statute; justice is administered by the Royal
Court

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Lieutenant Governor Andrew RIDGEWAY (since 14 June
2006)
head of government: Chief Minister Frank WALKER (since December
2005); Bailiff Philip Martin BAILHACHE (since February 1995)
 cabinet: Cabinet (since December 2005)
elections: ministers of the Cabinet including the chief minister are
elected by the Assembly of States; the monarch is hereditary;
lieutenant governor and bailiff appointed by the monarch

Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly of the States of Jersey (55 voting members - 12
senators (elected for six-year terms), 12 constables or heads of
parishes (elected for three-year terms), 29 deputies (elected for
three-year terms); the bailiff and the deputy bailiff; and three
non-voting members - the Dean of Jersey, the Attorney General, and
the Solicitor General all appointed by the monarch)
elections: last held 19 October 2005 for senators and 23 November
2005 for deputies (next to be held in 2008)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - independents 55

Judicial branch:
Royal Court (judges elected by an electoral college and the bailiff)

Political parties and leaders:

two declared parties: Centre Party; Jersey Democratic Alliance
note: all senators and deputies elected in 2005 were 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:
Jersey's economy is based on international financial services,
agriculture, and tourism. In 2005 the finance sector accounted for
about 50% 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 one-quarter 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 (official exchange rate):

NA

GDP - real growth rate:

NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$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, electronics

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 (2004)

Imports:
$NA

Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs,
 mineral fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners:
UK (2004)

Debt - external:
$NA

Economic aid - recipient:

$0

Currency (code):
British pound (GBP); note - there is also a Jersey pound

Currency code:
GBP

Exchange rates:
Jersey pounds per US dollar - 0.54413 (2006), 0.55 (2005), 0.5462
(2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002), 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:

83,900 (2004)

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 hosts:
1,240 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

NA

Internet users:
27,000 (2005)

Transportation Jersey

Airports: 1 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 577 km

Ports and terminals:

Gorey, Saint Aubin, Saint Helier

Military Jersey

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the UK

Transnational Issues Jersey

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Jordan

Introduction Jordan

Background:
Following World War I and the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire,
the UK received a mandate to govern much of the Middle East. Britain
separated out a semi-autonomous region of Transjordan from Palestine
in the early 1920s, and the area gained its independence in 1946; it
adopted the name of Jordan in 1950. The country's long-time ruler
was King HUSSEIN (1953-99). A pragmatic leader, 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 peace treaty with Israel. King
ABDALLAH II, the son of King HUSSEIN, 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 appointed in November 2005
 stated the government would focus on political reforms, improving
conditions for the poor, and fighting corruption.

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: 3.32% permanent crops: 1.18% other: 95.5% (2005)

Irrigated land:
750 sq km (2003)

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:
5,906,760 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 33.8% (male 1,018,070/female 976,442)
15-64 years: 62.4% (male 1,966,794/female 1,716,255)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 111,636/female 117,563) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 23 years
male: 23.7 years
female: 22.4 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.49% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
21.25 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
2.65 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

6.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 16.76 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 20.04 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.4 years
male: 75.9 years
female: 81.05 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.63 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Amman
geographic coordinates: 31 57 N, 35 56 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Thursday in March; ends last
Friday in September

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 1954, 1955, 1958, 1960, 1965, 1973, 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), eldest son of King ABDALLAH, is first in line
to inherit the throne
head of government: Prime Minister Marouf al-BAKHIT (since 24
November 2005); Deputy Prime Minister Ziad FARIZ (since 24 November
 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 Chamber of
Deputies, also called the House of Representatives (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: Chamber of Deputies - last held 17 June 2003 (next to be
held in 2007)
election results: Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party -
independents and other 84.6%, IAF 15.4%; seats by party -
independents and other 88, IAF 16; note - six women were appointed
to fill the woman's quota seats, including one female member of the
IAF; two IAF members were expelled from the Chamber of Deputies in
2006

Judicial branch:
Court of Cassation; Supreme Court (court of final appeal)

Political parties and leaders:

al-Ahd Party; Arab Islamic Democratic Movement [Yusuf ABU BAKR,
president]; Arab Land Party [Dr. Ayishah Salih HIJAZAYN, secretary
general]; Arab Socialist Ba'th Party [Taysir al-HIMSI, secretary
general]; Ba'th Arab Progressive Party [Fu'ad DABBUR, secretary
general]; Freedom Party; Future Party; Islamic Action Front or IAF
[Zaki Sa'ed BANI IRSHEID, secretary general]; Islamic Center Party
[Marwan al-FAURI, secretary general]; Jordanian Arab Ansar Party;
Jordanian Arab New Dawn Party; Jordanian Arab Party; Jordanian
Citizens' Rights Movement; Jordanian Communist Party [Munir
HAMARINAH, secretary general]; Jordanian Communist Workers Party;
 Jordanian Democratic Left Party [Musa MA'AYTEH, secretary general];
Jordanian Democratic Popular Unity Party [Sa'id Dhiyab Ali MUSTAFA,
secretary general]; Jordanian Generations Party [Muhammad KHALAYLEH,
secretary general]; Jordanian Green Party [Muhammad BATAYNEH,
secretary general]; Jordanian Labor Party [Dr. Mazin Sulayman Jiryis
HANNA, secretary general]; Jordanian Peace Party; Jordanian People's
Committees Movement; Jordanian People's Democratic Party (Hashd)
[Ahmad YUSUF, secretary general]; Jordanian Rafah Party; Jordanian
Renaissance Party; Mission Party; Nation Party [Ahmad al-HANANDEH,
secretary general]; National Action Party (Haqq) [Tariq al-KAYYALI,
secretary general]; National Constitutional Party [Abdul Hadi
MAJALI, secretary general]; National Popular Democratic Movement
[Mahmud al-NUWAYHI, secretary general]; Progressive Party [Fawwaz
al-ZUBI, secretary general]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Anti-Normalization Committee [Ali Abu SUKKAR, president vice
chairman]; Jordan Bar Association [Hussein Mujalli, chairman];
Jordanian Press Association [Sayf al-SHARIF, president]; Muslim
Brotherhood [Salem AL-FALAHAT, controller general]

International organization participation:

ABEDA, AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, OIC, ONUB,
OPCW,
OSCE (partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE,
UNMIL,
UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO,
WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador ZEID Ra'ad Zeid al-Hussein, Prince
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 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) 590-6000
FAX: [962] (6) 592-0121

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 insufficient supplies of water,
oil, and other natural resources. 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. Since Jordan's
graduation from its most recent IMF program in 2002, Amman has
continued to follow IMF guidelines, practicing careful monetary
policy, and making 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, and has forced 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):

$28.89 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$12.32 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.6% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$4,900 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.6% industry: 30.5% services: 65.9%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 1.512 million (2006 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% (2006 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):

 4.6% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

24.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $4.191 billion
expenditures: $5.305 billion; including capital expenditures of
$1.092 billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
79.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, citrus, tomatoes, melons, olives; sheep, goats,
poultry

Industries:
textiles, phosphate mining, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, petroleum
refining, cement, potash, inorganic chemicals, light manufacturing,
tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

6% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
8.431 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.4% hydro: 0.6% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
8.387 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
4 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
550 million kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
107,000 bbl/day (2005 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:

310 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.41 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

1.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

6.23 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-2.834 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$4.798 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
clothing, pharmaceuticals, potash, phosphates, fertilizers,
vegetables, manufactures
Exports - partners:
US 26.2%, Iraq 17.1%, India 8.1%, Saudi Arabia 5.9%, Syria 4.7%
(2005)

Imports:
$10.42 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
crude oil, textile fabrics, machinery, transport equipment,
manufactured goods

Imports - partners:
Saudi Arabia 23.6%, China 9.2%, Germany 8%, US 5.6% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$5.55 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$9.071 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $752 million (2005 est.)

Currency (code):
Jordanian dinar (JOD)

Currency code:
JOD

Exchange rates:
Jordanian dinars per US dollar - 0.709 (2006), 0.709 (2005), 0.709
(2004), 0.709 (2003), 0.709 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Jordan

Telephones - main lines in use:

 628,200 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

3,012,800 (2005)

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:
3,441 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2000)
Internet users:
629,500 (2005)

Transportation Jordan

Airports: 17 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 426 km; oil 49 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 505 km
narrow gauge: 505 km 1.050-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 7,500 km
paved: 7,500 km (2004)

Merchant marine:
total: 25 ships (1000 GRT or over) 346,698 GRT/501,060 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 9, container 2, passenger/cargo 6,
petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 4
foreign-owned: 11 (UAE 11)
registered in other countries: 15 (Bahamas 2, Panama 13) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Al 'Aqabah

Military Jordan
Military branches:
Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF): Royal Jordanian Land Force, Royal
Jordanian Navy, Royal Jordanian Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya
al-Malakiya al-Urduniya), Special Operations Command (Socom); Public
Security Directorate (normally falls under Ministry of Interior, but
comes under JAF in wartime or crisis situations) (2006)

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; women not subject to conscription, but can
volunteer to serve in non-combat military positions (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 17-49: 1,573,995
females age 17-49: 1,346,642 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 17-49: 1,348,076
females age 17-49: 1,158,011 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 60,625
females age 17-49: 58,218 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$1.4 billion (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

11.4% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Jordan

Disputes - international:
2004 Agreement settles border dispute with Syria pending demarcation

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 1,835,704 (Palestinian Refugees
(UNRWA)), 700,000 (Iraq)
IDPs: 160,000 (1967 Arab-Israeli War) (2006)
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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: 8.28%
permanent crops: 0.05%
other: 91.67% (2005)

Irrigated land:
35,560 sq km (2003)

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, Wetlands
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:
 15,233,244 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 23% (male 1,792,685/female 1,717,294)
15-64 years: 68.8% (male 5,122,027/female 5,357,819)
65 years and over: 8.2% (male 438,541/female 804,878) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 28.8 years
male: 27.2 years
female: 30.5 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.33% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
16 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
9.42 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-3.33 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.55 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 28.3 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 32.88 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 23.45 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 66.89 years
male: 61.56 years
female: 72.52 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.89 children born/woman (2006 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: Qazaqstan
former: Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:
republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power
outside the executive branch

Capital:
name: Astana
geographic coordinates: 51 10 N, 71 30 E
time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Kazakhstan is divided into three time zones

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 Karim MASIMOV (since 10 January
2007); Deputy Prime Minister Aslan MUSIN (since 11 January 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(two term limit); election last held 4 December 2005 (next to be
held in 2012); prime minister and first deputy prime minister
appointed by the president
election results: Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV reelected president;
percent of vote - Nursultan A. NAZARBAYEV 91.1%, Zharmakhan A.
TUYAKBAI 6.6%, Alikhan M. BAIMENOV 1.6%
note: President NAZARBAYEV arranged a referendum in 1995 that
extended his term of office and 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 elected by local
government bodies, 2 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 Mazhilis (77 seats; 10 out of
the 77 Mazhilis members are elected from the winning party's lists;
members are popularly elected to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - (indirect) last held December 2005; next to be
held in 2011; Mazhilis - last held 19 September and 3 October 2004
(next to be held in September 2009)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - NA; candidates nominated by local councils; Mazhilis -
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - Otan 42, AIST 11,
ASAR (All Together) 4, Aq Zhol (Bright Path) 1, Democratic Party 1
(party refused to take the seat due to criticism of the election and
seat remained unoccupied), 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:

Adilet (Justice) [Maksut NARIKBAYEV, co-chair, Zeynulla
ALSHIMBAYEV, co-chair, Bakhytbek AKHMETZHAN, co-chair, Yerkin
ONGARBAYEV, co-chair, Tolegan SYDYKOV, co-chair] (formerly
Democratic Party of Kazakhstan); Aq Zhol Party (Bright Path)
[Alikhan BAIMENOV, chairman]; AUL (Village) [Gani KALIYEV,
chairman]; Communist Party of Kazakhstan or KPK [Serikbolsyn
ABDILDIN, first secretary]; Communist People's Party of Kazakhstan
[Vladislav KOSAREV, first secretary]; Otan [Bakhytzhan ZHUMAGULOV,
acting chairman] (the Agrarian, Asar, and Civic parties merged with
Otan); Patriots' Party [Gani KASYMOV, chairman]; Rukhaniyat
(Spirituality) [Altynshash ZHAGANOVA, chairwoman]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Adil-Soz [Tamara KALEYEVA]; Almaty Helsinki Group [Ninel FOKINA];
Confederation of Free Trade Unions [Sergei BELKIN]; For a Just
Kazakhstan [Bolat ABILOV]; For Fair Elections [Yevgeniy ZHOVTIS,
Sabit ZHUSUPOV, Sergey DUVANOV, Ibrash NUSUPBAYEV]; Kazakhstan
International Bureau on Human Rights [Yevgeniy ZHOVTIS, executive
director]; Pan-National Social Democratic Party of Kazakhstan
[Zharmakhan TUYAKBAI]; Pensioners Movement or Pokoleniye [Irina
SAVOSTINA, chairwoman]; Republican Network of International Monitors
[Dos KUSHIM]; Transparency International [Sergei ZLOTNIKOV]

International organization participation:

AsDB, CIS, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW,
OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL,
WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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: Ak Bulak 4, Str. 23-22, Building #3, Astana 010010
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [7] (3172) 70-21-00
FAX: [7] (3172) 34-08-90

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
and 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 - 8% or more per year in
2002-06 - thanks largely to its booming energy sector, but also to
economic reform, good harvests, and foreign investment. The opening
of the Caspian Consortium pipeline in 2001, from western
Kazakhstan's Tengiz oilfield to the Black Sea, substantially raised
export capacity. Kazakhstan in 2006 completed the Atasu-Alashankou
portion of an oil pipeline to China that is planned to extend from
the country's Caspian coast eastward to the Chinese border in future
construction. The country has embarked upon an industrial policy
designed to diversify the economy away from overdependence on the
oil sector by developing light industry. 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; tensions
continue. Upward pressure on the local currency continued in 2006
due to massive oil-related foreign-exchange inflows.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$138.7 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$52.6 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

 8.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$9,100 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6.3% industry: 41.1% services: 52.7%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 7.834 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 20% industry: 30% services: 50%

(2002 est.)

Unemployment rate:
7.4% (2006 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):

8.6% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

27% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $18.48 billion
expenditures: $18.09 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
11% of GDP (2006 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:

7.7% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
63.26 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 84.3% hydro: 15.7% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
58.3 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
4.9 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
4.37 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
1.3 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
220,000 bbl/day (2004 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:

20.49 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

15.75 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

7.01 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

2.27 billion cu m

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.841 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$133 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$35.55 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
oil and oil products 58%, ferrous metals 24%, chemicals 5%,
machinery 3%, grain, wool, meat, coal (2001)

Exports - partners:
Russia 12.4%, Germany 12%, China 11.2%, Italy 8.8%, France 8.6%,
Romania 5.1%, US 4.5% (2005)

Imports:
$22 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment 41%, metal products 28%, foodstuffs 8%
(2001)

Imports - partners:
Russia 35.7%, China 21.3%, Germany 7.1% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$15.26 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$53.89 billion (30 June 2006 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 - 125.556 (2006), 132.88 (2005), 136.04 (2004),
149.58 (2003), 153.28 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Kazakhstan

Telephones - main lines in use:

2.5 million (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

4.955 million (2005)

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:
21,187 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

10 (with their own international channels) (2001)

Internet users:
400,000 (2005)

Transportation Kazakhstan

Airports: 150 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 67
over 3,047 m: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 10 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 83
over 3,047 m: 5
 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 53 (2006)

Heliports:
4 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate 658 km; gas 11,019 km; oil 10,338 km; refined products
1,095 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 13,700 km
broad gauge: 13,700 km 1.520-m gauge (3,700 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 90,018 km
paved: 84,104 km
unpaved: 5,914 km (2004)

Waterways:
4,000 km (on the Ertis (Irtysh) (80%) and Syr Darya (Syrdariya)
rivers) (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 6 ships (1000 GRT or over) 27,173 GRT/43,475 DWT
by type: cargo 2, petroleum tanker 3, refrigerated cargo 1
foreign-owned: 2 (Oman 2) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Aqtau (Shevchenko), Atyrau (Gur'yev), Oskemen (Ust-Kamenogorsk),
Pavlodar, Semey (Semipalatinsk)

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 - two years; minimum age for volunteers NA (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 3,758,255
females age 18-49: 3,822,845 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,473,529
females age 18-49: 3,168,048 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 173,129
females age 18-49: 168,697 (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

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 5,000 (Russia) (2006)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Kenya

Introduction Kenya

Background:
Founding president and liberation struggle icon Jomo KENYATTA led
Kenya from independence in 1963 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 were viewed as having generally reflected the will of the
Kenyan people. President MOI stepped down in December 2002 following
fair and peaceful elections. Mwai KIBAKI, running as the candidate
of the multiethnic, united opposition group, the National Rainbow
Coalition (NARC), defeated KANU candidate Uhuru KENYATTA and
assumed
the presidency following a campaign centered on an anticorruption
platform. KIBAKI's NARC coalition splintered in 2005 over the
constitutional review process. Government defectors joined with KANU
 to form a new opposition coalition, the Orange Democratic Movement,
which defeated the government's draft constitution in a popular
referendum in November 2005.

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: 8.01% permanent crops: 0.97% other: 91.02% (2005)

Irrigated land:
1,030 sq km (2003)

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:
34,707,817
note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the
effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower
life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower
population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of
population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.6% (male 7,454,765/female 7,322,130)
15-64 years: 55.1% (male 9,631,488/female 9,508,068)
65 years and over: 2.3% (male 359,354/female 432,012) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 18.2 years
male: 18.1 years
female: 18.3 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.57% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
39.72 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
14.02 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: according to the UNHCR, by the end of 2005 Kenya was host to
233,778 refugees from neighboring countries, including Somalia
153,627, Sudan 67,556, Ethiopia 12,595 (2006 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: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 59.26 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 61.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 56.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 48.93 years
male: 49.78 years
female: 48.07 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.91 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

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
local long form: Republic of Kenya/Jamhuri y Kenya
local short form: Kenya
former: British East Africa

Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Nairobi
geographic coordinates: 1 17 S, 36 49 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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, 2001; note - a
new draft constitution was defeated by popular referendum in 2005

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);
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);
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
(eligible for a second 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 December 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-Kenya or FORD-Kenya
[Musikari KOMBO or Soita SHITANDA, disputed]; Forum for the
Restoration of Democracy-People or FORD-People [Simeon NYACHAE];
Kenya African National Union or KANU [Nicholas BIWOTT or Uhuru
KENYATTA, disputed]; National Rainbow Coalition-Kenya or NARC-K
[Mwai KIBAKI, unofficially, since the break-up of Kibaki's original
coalition]; Orange Democratic Movement-Kenya or ODM-Kenya [Raila
ODINGA, unofficially]

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 [Ndung'u WAINANA];
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, COMESA, EADB, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM,
ONUB,
OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE,
UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter Rateng Oginga OGEGO
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 Michael RANNEBERGER
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 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. Since then,
however, the KIBAKI government has been rocked by high-level graft
scandals. The World Bank suspended aid for most of 2006, and the IMF
has delayed loans pending further action by the government on
corruption. The scandals have not seemed to affect growth, with GDP
growing more than 5% in 2006.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$40.77 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$17.39 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,200 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 16.3% industry: 18.8% services: 65%

(2004 est.)

Labor force: 1.955 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 75% industry and services: 25% (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:
44.5 (1997)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

10.5% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $4.448 billion
expenditures: $5.377 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
50.5% of GDP (2006 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, clothing, soap, cigarettes, flour), agricultural products,
horticulture, oil refining; aluminum, steel, lead; cement,
commercial ship repair, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

6.3% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
5.709 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 17.7% hydro: 71% nuclear: 0%

other: 11.3% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
5.459 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
 0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
150 million kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
55,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-1.119 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$3.614 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
tea, horticultural products, coffee, petroleum products, fish,
cement

Exports - partners:
Uganda 14.2%, UK 10.8%, US 9.7%, Netherlands 8.3%, Egypt 5.2%,
Pakistan 4.8%, Tanzania 4.8% (2005)

Imports:
$6.602 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products, motor
vehicles, iron and steel, resins and plastics

Imports - partners:
UAE 20.9%, US 9.2%, India 7.7%, South Africa 6.7%, China 6.6%,
Saudi Arabia 6.5%, UK 5.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.35 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$6.675 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$453 million (1997)

Currency (code):
Kenyan shilling (KES)

Currency code:
KES

Exchange rates:
Kenyan shillings per US dollar - 72.7649 (2006), 75.554 (2005),
79.174 (2004), 75.936 (2003), 78.749 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

Communications Kenya

Telephones - main lines in use:

281,800 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

6.5 million (2006)

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:
13,274 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

65 (2001)

Internet users:
1,054,900 (2005)

Transportation Kenya

Airports: 225 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 15 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 210 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523
m: 115 under 914 m: 84 (2006)

Pipelines: refined products 894 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 2,778 km
narrow gauge: 2,778 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 63,265 km (interurban roads)
paved: 8,933 km
unpaved: 54,332 km
note: there also are 100,000 km of rural roads and 14,500 km of
urban roads for a national total of 177,765 km (2004)

Waterways:
part of Lake Victoria system is within boundaries of Kenya (2003)

Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1000 GRT or over) 6,049 GRT/7,082 DWT
by type: passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 1
registered in other countries: 6 (Bahamas 1, Comoros 1, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 2, Tuvalu 1, unknown 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Mombasa

Military Kenya

Military branches:
Kenyan Army, Kenyan Navy, Kenyan Air Force (2006)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.) (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 7,303,153
females age 18-49: 7,083,726 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 3,963,532
females age 18-49: 3,471,926 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$280.5 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.6% (2005 est.)

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; the Kenya-Somalia border is open to
pastoralists and is susceptible to cross-border clan insurgencies;
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): 150,459 (Somalia), 76,646 (Sudan),
14,862 (Ethiopia)
IDPs: 431,150 (KANU attacks on opposition tribal groups in 1990s)
(2006)

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Kenya is a source, transit, and destination
country for men, women, and children trafficked for forced labor and
sexual exploitation; children are trafficked within the country for
domestic servitude, street vending, agricultural labor, and sexual
exploitation; men, women, and girls are trafficked to the Middle
East, other African nations, Western Europe, and North America for
domestic servitude, enslavement in massage parlors and brothels, and
manual labor; Chinese women trafficked for sexual exploitation
reportedly transit Nairobi and Bangladeshis may transit Kenya for
forced labor in other countries
 tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Kenya is placed on the Tier 2 Watch
List due to a lack of evidence of increasing efforts to combat
severe forms of trafficking

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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: 47.95%
other: 49.31% (2005)

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, Whaling
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:
105,432 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.6% (male 20,608/female 20,060)
15-64 years: 58.1% (male 30,216/female 31,004)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 1,517/female 2,027) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 20.2 years
male: 19.8 years
female: 20.8 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.24% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
30.65 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
8.26 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 47.27 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 52.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 41.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 62.08 years
male: 59.06 years
female: 65.24 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

 4.16 children born/woman (2006 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, 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
local long form: Republic of Kiribati
local short form: Kiribati
note: pronounced keer-ree-bahss
former: Gilbert Islands

Government type:
 republic

Capital:
name: Tarawa
geographic coordinates: 1 25 N, 173 00 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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
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 (eligible for two more terms); 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, 1 ex officio member - the attorney
general, 1 appointed to represent Banaba, and 1 other; members serve
four-year terms)
elections: legislative elections were held in two rounds - the first
round on 9 May 2003 and the second round on 14 May 2003 (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)

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;
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, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD,
 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 more than 10% of GDP. Remittances from seamen on
merchant ships abroad account for more than $5 million each year.
Kiribati receives around $15 million annually for the government
budget from an Australian trust fund.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$206.4 million (2004 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$76.4 million (2005 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
0.3% (2005)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,700 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 8.9%
industry: 24.2%
services: 66.8% (2004)

Labor force:
7,870 economically active, not including subsistence farmers (2001
est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 2.7% industry: 32% services: 65.3%

Unemployment rate:
2% official rate; 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):

0.5% (2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $55.52 million
expenditures: $59.71 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY05)

Agriculture - products:
copra, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; fish

Industries:
fishing, handicrafts
Industrial production growth rate:
0.7% (1991 est.)

Electricity - production:
13 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
12.09 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
200 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-19.87 million (2004)

Exports:
 $17 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
copra 62%, coconuts, seaweed, fish

Exports - partners:
US 22.8%, Belgium 21.5%, Japan 14.3%, Samoa 7.8%, Australia 7.5%,
Malaysia 6.7%, Taiwan 5.6%, Denmark 4.6% (2005)

Imports:
$62 million c.i.f. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous manufactured
goods, fuel

Imports - partners:
Australia 33%, Fiji 27.1%, Japan 18.1%, NZ 6.9% (2005)

Debt - external:
$10 million (1999 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$16.7 million largely from UK and Japan (2004)

Currency (code):
Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code:
AUD

Exchange rates:
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004),
1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002)

Fiscal year:
NA

Communications Kiribati
Telephones - main lines in use:
4,500 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

600 (2004)

Telephone system:
general assessment: generally good quality national and
international service
domestic: wire line service available on Tarawa and Kiritimati
(Christmas Island); 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 hosts:
42 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:
 2,000 (2004)

Transportation Kiribati

Airports: 19 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m:

11 under 914 m: 4 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 670 km (1999)

Waterways:
5 km (small network of canals in Line Islands) (2003)

Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,749 GRT/3,911 DWT
by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 1
foreign-owned: 1 (UAE 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Betio

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)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 21,938 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 14,231 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

 males age 18-49: 1,128 (2005 est.)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Korea, North

Introduction Korea, North

Background:
An independent kingdom for much of its long history, 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 of Korea (ROK) in
the southern portion by force, North Korea (DPRK), under its founder
President KIM Il-so'ng, adopted a policy of ostensible diplomatic
and economic "self-reliance" as a check against excessive Soviet or
Communist Chinese influence. The DPRK demonized the US as the
ultimate threat to its social system through state-funded
propaganda, and 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 his father's successor in
1980, assuming a growing political and managerial role until the
elder KIM's death in 1994. After decades of economic mismanagement
and resource misallocation, the DPRK since the mid-1990s has relied
heavily on international aid to feed its population while continuing
to expend resources to maintain an army of 1 million. North Korea's
long-range missile development, as well as its nuclear, chemical,
and biological weapons programs and massive conventional armed
forces, are of major concern to the international community. In
December 2002, following revelations that the DPRK was pursuing a
 nuclear weapons program based on enriched uranium in violation of a
1994 agreement with the US 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." Since August
2003, North Korea has participated in the Six-Party Talks with
China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, and the US designed to resolve
the stalemate over its nuclear programs. The fourth round of
Six-Party Talks were held in Beijing during July-September 2005. All
parties agreed to a Joint Statement of Principles in which, among
other things, the six parties unanimously reaffirmed the goal of
verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful
manner. In the Joint Statement, the DPRK committed to "abandoning
all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs and returning, at
an early date, to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear
Weapons and to IAEA safeguards." The Joint Statement also commits
the US and other parties to certain actions as the DPRK
denuclearizes. The US offered a security assurance, specifying that
it had no nuclear weapons on ROK territory and no intention to
attack or invade the DPRK with nuclear or other weapons. The US and
DPRK will take steps to normalize relations, subject to the DPRK's
implementing its denuclearization pledge and resolving other
longstanding concerns. While the Joint Statement provides a vision
of the end-point of the Six-Party process, much work lies ahead to
implement the elements of the agreement.

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: 22.4% permanent crops: 1.66% other: 75.94% (2005)

Irrigated land:
14,600 sq km (2003)

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:
23,113,019 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 23.8% (male 2,788,944/female 2,708,331)
15-64 years: 68% (male 7,762,442/female 7,955,522)
65 years and over: 8.2% (male 667,792/female 1,229,988) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 32 years
male: 30.7 years
female: 33.4 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.84% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
15.54 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
7.13 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.54 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 23.29 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 24.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.65 years
male: 68.92 years
female: 74.51 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.1 children born/woman (2006 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: Choson
abbreviation: DPRK

Government type:
Communist state one-man dictatorship

Capital:
name: Pyongyang
geographic coordinates: 39 01 N, 125 45 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
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 Prussian 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: Naegak (cabinet) members, except for Minister of People's
Armed Forces, are appointed by SPA
elections: 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]; minor
parties - Chondoist Chongu Party [RYU Mi Yong] (under KWP control),
Social Democratic Party [KIM Yong Dae] (under KWP control)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

ARF, FAO, G-77, ICAO, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, IHO, IMO, IOC, IPU, ISO,
ITU, NAM, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none; North Korea has a Permanent Mission to the UN in New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none; note - 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 shortages of spare parts. Industrial and power
output have declined in parallel. Due in part to severe summer
flooding followed by dry weather conditions in the fall of 2006, the
nation has suffered its 12th year of food shortages because of
on-going systemic problems, including a lack of arable land,
collective farming practices, and chronic shortages of tractors and
fuel. Massive international food aid deliveries have allowed the
people of North Korea to escape mass starvation since famine
threatened in 1995, but the population continues to suffer from
prolonged malnutrition and poor living conditions. Large-scale
military spending eats up resources needed for investment and
civilian consumption. In 2004, the regime formalized an arrangement
whereby private "farmers markets" were allowed to begin selling a
wider range of goods. It also permitted some private farming on an
experimental basis in an effort to boost agricultural output. In
October 2005, the regime reversed some of these policies by
forbidding private sales of grains and reinstituting a centralized
food rationing system. By December 2005, the regime terminated most
international humanitarian assistance operations in the DPRK
(calling instead for developmental assistance only) and restricted
the activities of remaining international and non-governmental aid
organizations such as the World Food Program. Firm political control
remains the Communist government's overriding concern, which will
likely inhibit the loosening of economic regulations.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$40 billion
 note: North Korea does not publish any reliable National Income
Accounts data; the datum shown here is derived from purchasing power
parity (PPP) GDP estimates for North Korea that were made by Angus
Maddison in a study conducted for the OECD; his figure for 1999 was
extrapolated to 2005 using estimated real growth rates for North
Korea's GDP and an inflation factor based on the US GDP deflator;
the result was rounded to the nearest $10 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

NA

GDP - real growth rate:

1% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,800 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 30% industry: 34% services: 36%

(2002 est.)

Labor force: 9.6 million

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 36%
industry and services: 64%

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

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:
21.71 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 29% hydro: 71% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
20.19 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
138.5 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
25,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports:
22,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$1.4 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:
minerals, metallurgical products, manufactures (including
armaments), textiles, fishery products

Exports - partners:
China 35%, South Korea 24%, Thailand 9%, Japan 9% (2005)

Imports:
$2.6 billion c.i.f. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities:
petroleum, coking coal, machinery and equipment, textiles, grain

Imports - partners:
China 42%, South Korea 28%, Russia 9%, Thailand 8% (2005)

Debt - external:
$12 billion (1996 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$NA; note - approximately 350,000 metric tons in food aid, worth
approximately $118 million, through the World Food Program appeal in
2004, 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 - 141 (2006), 170
(December 2004), 150 (December 2002), 2.15 (December 2001); market:
North Korean won per US dollar - 2,500-3,000 (December 2006)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Korea, North

Telephones - main lines in use:

980,000 (2003)

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; North Korea has a "national intercom" cable radio station
wired throughout the country that is a significant source of
information for the average North Korean citizen; it is wired into
most residences and workplaces and carries news and commentary), FM
14, shortwave 14 (2006)

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

Airports: 77 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 36 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 22

1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 41 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m:

20 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 7 (2006)

Heliports:
22 (2006)

Pipelines:
oil 154 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 5,214 km
standard gauge: 5,214 km 1.435-m gauge (3,500 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways: total: 31,200 km paved: 1,997 km unpaved: 29,203 km (1999 est.)

Waterways:
2,250 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2006)

Merchant marine:
total: 232 ships (1000 GRT or over) 983,182 GRT/1,370,104 DWT
 by type: bulk carrier 14, cargo 176, chemical tanker 1, container 4,
livestock carrier 3, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 17,
refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 8, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 60 (British Virgin Islands 1, China 1, Denmark 1,
Egypt 2, Greece 1, India 1, Lebanon 6, Lithuania 1, Marshall Islands
1, Pakistan 3, Romania 11, Russia 1, Singapore 1, Syria 14, Turkey
4, UAE 6, US 3, Yemen 2)
registered in other countries: 5 (Belize 2, Mongolia 3) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Ch'ongjin, Haeju, Hungnam (Hamhung), Kimch'aek, Kosong, Najin,
Namp'o, Sinuiju, Songnim, Sonbong (formerly Unggi), Ungsang, Wonsan

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
females age 17-49: 5,850,733 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 17-49: 4,810,831
females age 17-49: 4,853,270 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 194,605
females age 17-49: 187,846 (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) (2006)

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: North Korea is a source country for men, women,
and children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual
exploitation; North Korea's own system of political repression
includes forced labor in a network of prison camps where an
estimated 150,000 to 200,000 persons are incarcerated; the illegal
status of North Koreans in China and other countries increases their
vulnerability to trafficking schemes and sexual and physical abuse;
North Koreans forcibly returned from China may be subject to hard
labor in prison camps operated by the government
tier rating: Tier 3 - North Korea does not fully comply with minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making
significant efforts to do so

Illicit drugs:
for years, from the 1970s into the 2000s, 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; police investigations in Taiwan and Japan in recent years 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

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Korea, South

Introduction Korea, South

Background:
An independent Korean state or collection of states has existed
almost continuously for several millennia. Between its initial
unification in the 7th century - from three predecessor Korean
states - until the 20th century, Korea existed as a single
independent country. In 1905, following the Russo-Japanese War,
Korea became a protectorate of imperial Japan, and in 1910 it was
annexed as a colony. Korea regained its independence following
Japan's surrender to the United States in 1945. After World War II,
a Republic of Korea (ROK) was set up in the southern half of the
Korean Peninsula while a Communist-style government was installed in
the north (the DPRK). During the Korean War (1950-53), US troops and
UN forces fought alongside soldiers from the ROK to defend South
Korea from DPRK attacks supported by China and the Soviet Union. 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 1993, KIM Yo'ng-sam
became South Korea's first civilian president following 32 years of
military rule. 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: 16.58% permanent crops: 2.01% other: 81.41% (2005)

Irrigated land:
8,780 sq km (2003)

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:
48,846,823 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.9% (male 4,844,083/female 4,368,139)
15-64 years: 71.9% (male 17,886,148/female 17,250,862)
65 years and over: 9.2% (male 1,818,677/female 2,678,914) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 35.2 years
male: 34.2 years
female: 36.3 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.42% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
10 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
5.85 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 6.16 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.54 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.75 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.04 years
male: 73.61 years
female: 80.75 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

 1.27 children born/woman (2006 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: Han'guk
abbreviation: ROK
Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Seoul
geographic coordinates: 37 34 N, 127 00 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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:
29 October 1987

Legal system:
combines elements of continental European civil law systems,
Anglo-American law, and Chinese classical thought

Suffrage:
19 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President ROH Moo-hyun (since 25 February 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister HAN Myeong-sook (since 20 April
 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers KIM Woo-sik (since 10 February 2006);
KWON O-kyu (since 18 July 2006); KIM Shin-il (since 20 September
2006)
cabinet: State Council appointed by the president on the prime
minister's recommendation
elections: president elected by popular vote for a single five-year
term; election last held 19 December 2002 (next to be held on 19
December 2007); prime minister appointed by president with consent
of National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by president
on prime minister's recommendation
election results: 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 to fill vacant seats)
election results: percent of vote by party - Uri 51%, GNP 41%, DLP
3%, DP 3%, others 2%; seats by party - Uri 141, GNP 127, DP 12, DLP
9, PFP 5, independents 5
note: percent of vote is for 2004 general election; seats by party
reflect results of 2005 and 2006 byelections; MDP became DP in May
2005; United Liberal Democrats (ULD) merged with GNP in February 2006

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 [MOON Seong-hyun]; Democratic Party
or DP [HAHN Hwa-kap]; Grand National Party or GNP [KANG Jae-sup];
People-First Party or PFP [SHIN Kook-hwan and SIM Dae-pyung]; Uri
Party [KIM Geun-tae]

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, EAS, EBRD, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA, MIGA, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE (partner), PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC
(observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNMOGIP,
UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador LEE Tae-sik
chancery: 2450 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-5600
FAX: [1] (202) 387-0205
consulate(s) general: Agana (Guam), Atlanta, Boston, Chicago,
Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Alexander VERSHBOW
embassy: 32 Sejong-no, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-710
mailing address: US Embassy Seoul, 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 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, South Korea joined the
trillion dollar club of world economies. Today its GDP per capita is
equal to the lesser economies of the EU. This success 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.
GDP plunged by 6.9% in 1998, then recovered 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%, despite
anemic global growth. Between 2003 and 2006, growth moderated to
about 4-5%. A downturn in consumer spending was offset by rapid
export growth. Moderate inflation, low unemployment, an export
surplus, and fairly equal distribution of income characterize this
solid economy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.18 trillion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$768.5 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.1% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$24,200 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.3% industry: 40.7% services: 56%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 23.88 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 6.4% industry: 26.4% services: 67.2%

(2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:
3.6% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

15% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 25% (2005 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

35.8 (2000)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

29.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $218 billion
expenditures: $209.5 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
21.4% of GDP (2006 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% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
345.2 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 62.4% hydro: 0.8% nuclear:

36.6% other: 0.2% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
321 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
7,378 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
2.149 million bbl/day (2004)

Oil - exports:
645,200 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports:
2.263 million bbl/day (2004)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

27.84 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
28.93 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$6.741 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$327.9 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
semiconductors, wireless telecommunications equipment, motor
vehicles, computers, steel, ships, petrochemicals

Exports - partners:
China 21.8%, US 14.6%, Japan 8.5%, Hong Kong 5.5% (2005)

Imports:
$300.4 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil, steel,
transport equipment, organic chemicals, plastics

Imports - partners:
Japan 18.5%, China 14.8%, US 11.8%, Saudi Arabia 6.2% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$235 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$229.3 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $423.3 million (2004)

Currency (code):
South Korean won (KRW)

Currency code:
KRW
Exchange rates:
South Korean won per US dollar - 952 (2006), 1,024.1 (2005),
1,145.3 (2004), 1,191.6 (2003), 1,251.1 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Korea, South

Telephones - main lines in use:

23.745 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

38.342 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent domestic and international services
domestic: NA
international: country code - 82; 10 fiber-optic submarine cables -
1 Korea-Russia-Japan, 1 Korea-Japan-Hong Kong, 3 Korea-Japan-China,
1 Korea-Japan-China-Europe, 1 Korea-Japan-China-US-Taiwan, 1
Korea-Japan-China, 1 Korea-Japan-Hong Kong-Taiwan, 1 Korea-Japan;
satellite earth stations - 3 Intelsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian
Ocean) and 3 Inmarsat (1 Pacific Ocean and 2 Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 61, FM 150, shortwave 2 (2005)

Radios:
47.5 million (2000)

Television broadcast stations:

terrestrial stations 43; cable operators 59; relay cable operators
190 (2005)

Televisions:
15.9 million (1997)

Internet country code:

 .kr

Internet hosts:
5,433,591 (2005)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

11 (2000)

Internet users:
33.9 million (2005)

Transportation Korea, South

Airports: 107 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 69 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 21

1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 20 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 38 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 35

(2006)

Heliports:
540 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 1,482 km; refined products 827 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 3,472 km
standard gauge: 3,472 km 1.435-m gauge (1,361 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 100,279 km
paved: 87,032 km (including 3,060 km of expressways)
unpaved: 13,247 km (2004)

Waterways:
1,608 km (most navigable only by small craft) (2006)
Merchant marine:
total: 669 ships (1000 GRT or over) 8,634,188 GRT/13,733,624 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 157, cargo 193, chemical tanker 98, container
81, liquefied gas 22, passenger 5, passenger/cargo 24, petroleum
tanker 57, refrigerated cargo 17, roll on/roll off 6, specialized
tanker 3, vehicle carrier 6
foreign-owned: 22 (France 12, Japan 1, UK 2, US 7)
registered in other countries: 365 (Belize 4, Cambodia 23, China 2,
Cyprus 1, Georgia 1, Honduras 6, Hong Kong 6, Indonesia 1, Liberia
3, Malaysia 1, Malta 6, Marshall Islands 1, Panama 291, Singapore
17, unknown 2) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Inch'on, Masan, P'ohang, Pusan, Ulsan

Military Korea, South

Military branches:
Army, Navy, Republic of Korea Air Force (Han-guk Kong Goon), Marine
Corps, National Maritime Police (coast guard) (2006)

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, but excluded from artillery, armor, anti-air, and
chaplaincy corps (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 20-49: 12,483,677
females age 20-49: 12,014,462 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 20-49: 10,115,817
females age 20-49: 9,721,914 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 344,943
 females age 20-49: 312,720 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$21.06 billion FY05 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.6% FY05 (2005 est.)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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. The AL-SABAH family has ruled since
returning to power in 1991, and reestablished an elected legislature
that in recent years has become increasingly assertive.

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: 0.84% permanent crops: 0.17% other: 98.99% (2005)

Irrigated land:
130 sq km (2003)

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:
2,418,393
note: includes 1,291,354 non-nationals (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.9% (male 331,768/female 319,895)
15-64 years: 70.3% (male 1,085,721/female 613,746)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 42,460/female 24,803) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 25.9 years
male: 28 years
female: 22.3 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.52%
note: this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of
expatriates (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
21.94 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
2.41 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

15.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 1.71 male(s)/female
total population: 1.52 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 9.71 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 10.72 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.2 years
male: 76.13 years
female: 78.31 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.91 children born/woman (2006 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:
constitutional hereditary emirate

Capital:
name: Kuwait
geographic coordinates: 29 20 N, 47 59 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
6 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi, Al
'Asimah, Al Farwaniyah, Al Jahra', Hawalli, Mubarak Al Kabir

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 are not in the military forces, and adult females
(as of 16 May 2005); all voters must have been citizens for 20 years

Executive branch:
chief of state: Amir SABAH al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah (since 29
January 2006); Crown Prince NAWAF al-Ahmad al-Jabir al-Sabah
head of government: Prime Minister NASIR al-Muhammad al-Ahmad
al-Sabah (since 7 February 2006) First Deputy Prime Minister JABIR
Mubarak al-Hamad al-Sabah (since 9 February 2006); Deputy Prime
Ministers MUHAMMAD al-Sabah al-Salim al-Sabah (since 9 February
2006) and Ismail al-SHATTI (since 10 July 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister and
approved by the amir
 elections: none; the amir is hereditary; the amir appoints the prime
minister and deputy prime ministers

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Majlis al-Umma (50 seats; members
elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms; all cabinet
ministers are also ex officio voting members of the National
Assembly)
elections: last held 29 June 2006 (next election to be held in 2010)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - NA

Judicial branch:
High Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders:

none; formation of political parties is illegal

Political pressure groups and leaders:

a number of political groups act as de facto parties; several
legislative blocs operate in the National Assembly: tribal groups,
merchants, Shi'a activists, Islamists, and secular liberals; in
mid-2006, a coalition of Islamists, liberals, and Shia campaigned
successfully for electoral reform to reduce corruption

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, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM,
OAPEC, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNITAR,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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) 966-0517

Diplomatic representation from the US:

 chief of mission: Ambassador Richard LEBARON
embassy: Bayan 36302, 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] 259-1001
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 self-reported
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. High oil prices in recent years have helped build Kuwait's
budget and trade surpluses and foreign reserves. As a result of this
positive fiscal situation, the need for economic reforms is less
urgent and the government has not earnestly pushed through new
initiatives.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$52.17 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$58.3 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

8% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$21,600 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.4% industry: 48.3% services: 51.3%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 1.136 million note: non-Kuwaitis represent about 80% of the labor
force (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: NA% industry: 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):

3% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

26.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $59.58 billion
expenditures: $33.62 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
8.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
practically no crops; fish

Industries:
petroleum, petrochemicals, cement, shipbuilding and repair,
 desalination, food processing, construction materials

Industrial production growth rate:

13.1% (2005 est.)

Electricity - production:
40.37 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
37.54 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
2.418 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
335,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
1.97 million bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2003)

Oil - proved reserves:

96.5 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

9.7 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
9.7 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.572 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$40.75 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$56.06 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
oil and refined products, fertilizers

Exports - partners:
Japan 19.7%, South Korea 15.4%, US 11.9%, Taiwan 11.1%, Singapore
9.5%, Netherlands 4.7% (2005)

Imports:
$19.12 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing

Imports - partners:
US 14.1%, Germany 10.8%, Japan 8.4%, Saudi Arabia 6.2%, UK 5.7%,
France 4.8%, China 4.5% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$11.08 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
 $19.7 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$NA (2001)

Currency (code):
Kuwaiti dinar (KD)

Currency code:
KWD

Exchange rates:
Kuwaiti dinars per US dollar - 0.29 (2006), 0.292 (2005), 0.2947
(2004), 0.298 (2003), 0.3039 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Kuwait

Telephones - main lines in use:

510,300 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.536 million (2006)

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:
2,310 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2000)

Internet users:
700,000 (2005)

Transportation Kuwait

Airports: 7 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Heliports:
5 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 269 km; oil 540 km; refined products 57 km (2006)

Roadways:
total: 5,749 km
paved: 4,887 km
unpaved: 862 km (2004)

Merchant marine:
total: 38 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,424,983 GRT/3,996,755 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 1, container 6, liquefied gas 5,
livestock carrier 3, petroleum tanker 21
registered in other countries: 28 (Bahrain 3, Comoros 1, Liberia 1,
Libya 1, Panama 2, Qatar 7, Saudi Arabia 5, UAE 8) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Ash Shu'aybah, Ash Shuwaykh, Az Zawr (Mina' Sa'ud), Mina' 'Abd
Allah, Mina' al Ahmadi

Military Kuwait

Military branches:
Land Forces, Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya
al-Kuwaitiya), National Guard (2006)

Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory and
voluntary military service; 1 month annual training to age 40; women have
served in police forces since 1999 (2001)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 864,745
females age 18-49: 467,120 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 737,292
females age 18-49: 405,207 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 18,743
 females age 18-49: 20,065 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$3.01 billion (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

4.2% (2005 est.)

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

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Kuwait is a destination country for men and
women who migrate legally from South and Southeast Asia for domestic
or low-skilled labor, but are subjected to conditions of involuntary
servitude by employers in Kuwait including conditions of physical
and sexual abuse, non-payment of wages, confinement to the home, and
withholding of passports to restrict their freedom of movement;
Kuwait is reportedly a transit point for South and East Asian
workers recruited for low-skilled work in Iraq; some of these
workers are deceived as to the true location and nature of this
work, and others are subjected to conditions of involuntary
servitude in Iraq; in past years, Kuwait was also a destination
country for children exploited as camel jockeys, but this form of
trafficking appears to have ceased
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Kuwait is placed on the Tier 2
Watch List because its efforts are based largely on pledges of
future actions

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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. Nationwide
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 2005 were won
overwhelmingly by former prime minister Kurmanbek BAKIYEV. The
political opposition organized demonstrations in Bishkek in in
April, May, and November 2006 resulting in the adoption of new
constitution that transfered some of the president's powers to
parliament and the government. Current concerns include:
privatization of state-owned enterprises, expansion of democracy and
political freedoms, reduction of corruption, improving 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: 6.55%
permanent crops: 0.28%
other: 93.17%
note: Kyrgyzstan has the world's largest natural growth walnut
forest (2005)
Irrigated land:
10,720 sq km (2003)

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, Wetlands
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:
5,213,898 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.9% (male 821,976/female 789,687)
15-64 years: 62.9% (male 1,607,396/female 1,669,612)
65 years and over: 6.2% (male 126,847/female 198,380) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 23.6 years
male: 22.8 years
female: 24.5 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.32% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
22.8 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
7.08 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-2.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 34.49 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 39.72 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 28.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 68.49 years
male: 64.48 years
female: 72.7 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.69 children born/woman (2006 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: Kyrgyzstan
former: Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic

Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Bishkek
geographic coordinates: 42 54 N, 74 36 E
time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 Askar
AKAYEV and passed in a national referendum on 2 February 2003
significantly expanded the powers of the president at the expense of
the legislature; during large-scale demonstrations in November 2006,
President BAKIYEV and the opposition negotiated a new constitution
granting greater powers to the parliament and the government

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)
head of government: Prime Minister Azim ISABEKOV (since 29 January
2007); First Deputy Prime Minister Daniyar USENOV (since 10 May 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister; note - the new constitution of
November 2006 calls for the legislature to appoint the prime
minister and members of the Cabinet after the elections of 2010
elections: Kurmanbek BAKIYEV elected by popular vote for a five-year
term (eligible for a second term); election last held 10 July 2005
(next scheduled for 2010); prime minister nominated by the president
for approval by Parliament; note - the new constitution of November
2006 calls for the legislature to appoint the prime minister and
 members of the Cabinet after the elections of 2010
election results: Kurmanbek BAKIYEV elected president; percent of
vote - Kurmanbek BAKIYEV 88.6%, Tursunbai BAKIR-UULU 3.9%, other
candidates 7.5%; Azim ISABEKOV approved as prime minister 57-4

Legislative branch:
unicameral Supreme Council or Jorgorku Kenesh (75 seats; members
are elected by popular vote to serve five year terms); note - the
November 2006 constitution calls for 90 seats
elections: elections for the new unicameral body or Jorgorku Kenesh
were held 27 February 2005, but the vast majority of positions
remained undecided and were contested in a runoff election on 13
March 2005; election irregularities caused widespread protests that
resulted in the president being forced to flee the country
election results: Supreme Council - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - NA

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court (judges of both the Supreme and
Constitutional Courts are appointed for 10-year terms by the
Jorgorku Kenesh on the recommendation of the president); Higher
Court of Arbitration; Local Courts (judges appointed by the
president on the recommendation of the National Council on Legal
Affairs for a probationary period of five years, then 10 years)

Political parties and leaders:

Ar-Namys (Dignity) Party [Emil ALIYEV]; Asaba (Banner National
Revival Party) [Azimbek BEKNAZAROV and Roza OTUNBAYEVA]; Ata-
Meken
(Fatherland) [Omurbek TEKEBAYEV]; Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan
or DDK [Viktor TCHETRNOMORETS]; Erkindik (Freedom) Party
[Topchubek
TURGUNALIYEV]; Moya Strana (My Country Party of Action) [Medet
SADYRKULOV]; Party of Communists of Kyrgyzstan or KCP [Ishak
MASALIYEV]; Party of Justice and Progress [Muratbek IMANALIEV];
Party of Peasants [Esengul ISAKOV]; Republican Party of Labor and
Unity [Tabaldy OROZALIYEV]; Sanjira (Tree of Life) [Ednan
KARABAYEV]; Social Democratic Party [Almaz ATAMBAYEV];
Sodruzhestvo
 (Cooperation) [Alisher SABIROV]; Union of Democratic Forces
[Kubatbek BAIBOLOV]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Adilet Legal Clinic [Cholpon JAKUPOVA]; Coalition for Democracy and
Civil Society [Edil BAISALOV]; For Reforms [Omurbek TEKEBAYEV and
Almazbek ATAMBAYEV]; Interbilim [Asiya SASYKBAYEVA]

International organization participation:

AsDB, CIS, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM (observer), OIC,
OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL,
UNMIS,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Zamira SYDYKOVA
chancery: 2360 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 338-5141
FAX: [1] (202) 386-7550
consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Marie L. YOVANOVITCH
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,
natural gas, and electricity. Following independence Kyrgyzstan was
progressive in carrying out market reforms, such as an improved
regulatory system and land reform, but political instability during
2005-06 has undercut the investment climate. Kyrgyzstan was the
first CIS country to be accepted into the World Trade Organization.
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. The economy is heavily weighted toward
gold export and a drop in output at the main Kumtor gold mine
sparked a 0.5% decline in GDP in 2002, but GDP growth bounced back
the following year. In 2005 Kyrgyzstan again experienced a decline
in GDP, this time 0.6%. The government has made steady strides in
controlling its substantial fiscal deficit, virtually balancing
revenues and expenditures in 2006. The government and international
financial institutions have been engaged in a comprehensive
medium-term poverty reduction and economic growth strategy; in 2005
Bishkek agreed to pursue much-needed tax reform and in 2006 became
eligible for the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) initiative.
Progress fighting corruption, further restructuring of domestic
industry, and success in attracting foreign investment are keys to
future growth.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$10.49 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$2.24 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,000 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 34.5% industry: 19.5% services:
46.1% (2006 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):

6.4% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

15.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $498.3 million
expenditures: $544.8 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 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:
-4.5% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
14.06 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 7.6% hydro: 92.4% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
6.777 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
6.4 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
100 million kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
1,378 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
10,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

29 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

919 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

 890 million cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-287.3 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$701.8 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
cotton, wool, meat, tobacco; gold, mercury, uranium, natural gas,
hydropower; machinery; shoes

Exports - partners:
UAE 35.6%, Russia 18.6%, China 13.4%, Kazakhstan 13% (2005)

Imports:
$1.177 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
oil and gas, machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
China 43%, Russia 19.7%, Kazakhstan 12.1%, Turkey 4.4% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$621.2 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$2.483 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$50 million from the US (2001)

Currency (code):
som (KGS)

Currency code:
KGS

Exchange rates:
 soms per US dollar - 40.673 (2006), 41.012 (2005), 42.65 (2004),
43.648 (2003), 46.937 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Kyrgyzstan

Telephones - main lines in use:

438,200 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

541,700 (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: development of telecommunications
infrastructure is slow; fixed line penetration remains low and
concentrated in Bishkek
domestic: mobile cellular subscribership has risen sharply since
2000 reaching 541,700 in 2005 as three companies compete for the
rapidly expanding market; main line availability has been virtually
flat over the same timeframe; four major providers compete for
shares of the main line market
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:

7 (2006)
Televisions:
210,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.kg

Internet hosts:
18,928 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

NA

Internet users:
280,000 (2005)

Transportation Kyrgyzstan

Airports: 37 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 18 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3

1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 19 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 16 (2006)

Pipelines: gas 254 km; oil 16 km (2006)

Railways: total: 470 km broad gauge: 470 km 1.520-m gauge (2005)

Roadways: total: 18,500 km paved: 16,854 km unpaved: 1,646 km (1999)

Waterways:
600 km (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Balykchy (Ysyk-Kol or Rybach'ye)

Military Kyrgyzstan
Military branches:
Army, Air Force, National Guard (2005)

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
females age 18-49: 1,219,080 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 871,493
females age 18-49: 1,024,568 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 61,091
females age 18-49: 59,784 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$19.2 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.4% (FY01)

Transnational Issues Kyrgyzstan

Disputes - international:
Kyrgystan has yet to ratify the 2001 boundary delimitation with
Kazakhstan; disputes in Isfara Valley delay completion of
delimitation with Tajikistan; delimitation of 130 km of border with
Uzbekistan is hampered by serious disputes around enclaves and other
areas

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Laos

Introduction Laos

Background:
Modern-day Laos has its roots in the ancient Lao kingdom of Lan
Xang, established in the 14th Century under King FA NGUM. For three
hundred years Lan Xang included large parts of present-day Cambodia
and Thailand, as well as all of what is now Laos. After centuries of
gradual decline, Laos came 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
and instituting a strict socialist regime closely aligned to
Vietnam. A gradual return to private enterprise and the
liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1986. Laos became
a member of 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: 4.01% permanent crops: 0.34% other: 95.65% (2005)

Irrigated land:
1,750 sq km (2003)
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:
6,368,481 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.4% (male 1,324,207/female 1,313,454)
15-64 years: 55.4% (male 1,744,206/female 1,786,139)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 89,451/female 111,024) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 18.9 years
male: 18.6 years
female: 19.2 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.39% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
35.49 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
11.55 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 83.31 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 92.95 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 73.26 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 55.49 years
male: 53.45 years
female: 57.61 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.68 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Vientiane
geographic coordinates: 17 58 N, 102 36 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 Lt. Gen. CHOUMMALI Saignason (since 8
June 2006) and Vice President BOUN-GNANG Volachit (since 8 June 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister BOUASONE Bouphavanh (since 8 June
2006); Deputy Prime Ministers Maj. Gen. ASANG Laoli (since May
2002), Maj. Gen. DOUANGCHAI Phichit (since 8 June 2006), SOMSAVAT
Lengsavat (since 26 February 1998), and THONGLOUN Sisoulit (since 27
March 2001)
cabinet: Ministers appointed by president, approved by National
Assembly
elections: president and vice president elected by National Assembly
for five-year terms; election last held 8 June 2006 (next to be held
in 2011); prime minister nominated by president and elected by
National Assembly for five-year term
election results: CHOUMMALI Saignason elected president; BOUN-GNANG
Volachit elected vice president; percent of National Assembly vote -
100%; BOUASONE Bouphavanh elected prime minister; percent of
National Assembly vote - 97%

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (115 seats; members elected by popular
 vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 30 April 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
LPRP 113, independents 2

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 [CHOUMMALI Saignason];
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, EAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM,
OIF, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador PHIANE Philakone
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, That Dam Road, Vientiane
mailing address: American Embassy Vientiane, Box V, APO AP 96546
telephone: [856] 21-26 7000
 FAX: [856] 21-26 7074

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% per year in 1988-2006
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, though the government is sponsoring
major improvements in the road system with possible support from
Japan. Electricity is available in only a few urban areas.
Subsistence agriculture, dominated by rice, accounts for about half
of GDP and provides 80% of total employment. The economy will
continue to benefit from aid by the IMF and other international
sources and from new foreign investment in hydropower and mining.
Construction will be another strong economic driver, especially as
hydroelectric dam and road projects gain steam. Several policy
changes since 2004 may help spur growth. In late 2004, Laos gained
Normal Trade Relations status with the US, allowing Laos-based
producers to benefit from lower tariffs on exports. Laos is taking
steps to join the World Trade Organization in the next few years;
the resulting trade policy reforms will improve the business
environment. On the fiscal side, a value-added tax (VAT) regime,
slated to begin in 2008, will streamline the government's
inefficient tax system.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$13.43 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$2.768 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.2% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,100 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 43.4% industry: 30.6% services: 26%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 2.8 million (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 80% industry and services: 20% (2005
est.)

Unemployment rate:
2.4% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:

34% (2005 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):

5.9% (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $400 million
expenditures: $537.4 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco,
 cotton, tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry

Industries:
copper, tin, and gypsum mining; timber, electric power,
agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism, cement

Industrial production growth rate:

13% (2005 est.)

Electricity - production:
3.936 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 1.4% hydro: 98.6% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
3.26 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
600 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
200 million kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
3,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

 0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-381.7 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$593.6 million (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
garments, wood products, coffee, electricity, tin

Exports - partners:
Thailand 29.4%, Vietnam 12.5%, France 6%, Germany 4.5% (2005)

Imports:
$1.092 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods

Imports - partners:
Thailand 66.8%, China 9.1%, Vietnam 5.8% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$316.9 million (2006 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 - 10,235 (2006), 10,820 (2005), 10,585.5 (2004),
 10,569 (2003), 10,056.3 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September

Communications Laos

Telephones - main lines in use:

90,067 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

520,546 (2006)

Telephone system:
general assessment: service to general public is poor but
improving; 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 7, FM 14, shortwave 2 (2007)

Radios:
730,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

7; note - including one station relaying Vietnam Television from
Hanoi (2006)

Televisions:
52,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.la

Internet hosts:
1,108 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)

Internet users:
25,000 (2005)

Transportation Laos

Airports:
44 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 35
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 21 (2006)

Pipelines:
refined products 540 km (2006)

Roadways:
total: 31,210 km
paved: 4,494 km
unpaved: 26,716 km (2003)

Waterways:
4,600 km
note: primarily Mekong and tributaries; 2,897 additional km are
intermittently navigable by craft drawing less than 0.5 m (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 2,370 GRT/3,110 DWT
by type: cargo 1 (2006)
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
females age 15-49: 1,521,116 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 15-49: 954,816
females age 15-49: 1,006,082 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 73,167
females age 15-49: 71,432 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$11.04 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.4% (2005 est.)

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; talks continue on completion of demarcation
with Thailand but disputes remain over islands in the Mekong River;
concern among Mekong Commission members that China's construction of
dams on the Mekong River will affect water levels

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Laos is a source country for men and women
trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual exploitation;
a significant number are economic migrants who are subjected to
commercial sexual exploitation or conditions of forced or bonded
labor in Thailand; to a lesser extent, Laos is a transit and
destination country for women who are trafficked for sexual
exploitation including a small number of victims from China and
Vietnam trafficked to work as street vendors and for sexual
exploitation in prostitution
tier rating: Tier 3 - Laos does not fully comply with the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making
significant efforts to do so

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Latvia
Introduction Latvia

Background:
After a brief period of independence between the two World Wars,
Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized
by the US and many other countries. 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: 1,368 km
border countries: Belarus 167 km, Estonia 343 km, Lithuania 576 km,
Russia 282 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: 28.19%
permanent crops: 0.45%
other: 71.36% (2005)

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 (2003)

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:
2,274,735 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 14% (male 162,562/female 155,091)
15-64 years: 69.6% (male 769,004/female 815,042)
65 years and over: 16.4% (male 121,646/female 251,390) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 39.4 years
male: 36.3 years
female: 42.4 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.67% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
9.24 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
13.66 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-2.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 9.35 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 11.31 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.33 years
male: 66.08 years
female: 76.85 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.27 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Riga
geographic coordinates: 56 57 N, 24 06 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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:
18 November 1918 (from Soviet Russia)

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; restored to force by the Constitutional Law of
the Republic of Latvia adopted by the Supreme Council on 21 August
1991; multiple amendments since

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
(no term limits); election last held 20 June 2003 (next to be held
by July 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
proportional representation from party lists across five districts
through direct, popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 7 October 2006 (next to be held October 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - TP 19.5%, ZZS 16.7%, JL
16.4%, SC 14.4%; LPP/LC 8.6%; TB/LNNK 7%; PCTVL 6%; seats by party -
 TP 23, ZZS 18, JL 18, SC 17, LPP/LC 10, TB/LNNK 8, PCTVL 6

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by Parliament);
Constitutional Court (judges' appointments are confirmed by
Parliament)

Political parties and leaders:

First Party of Latvia or LPP [Ainars SLESERS]; For Human Rights in
a United Latvia or PCTVL [Jakovs PLINERS]; For the Fatherland and
Freedom/Latvian National Independence Movement or TB/LNNK [Roberts
ZILE, Maris GRINBLATS]; Harmony Center or SC [Janis URBANOVICS,
Nils
USAKOVS]; 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, Ainars BERZINS]; New Democrats or JD
[Maris GULBIS]; New Era Party or JL [Einars REPSE, Krisjanis
KARINS]; People's Party or TP [Aigars KALVITIS]; The Union of
Latvian Greens and Farmers Party or ZZS [Indulis EMSIS]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Headquarters for the Protection of Russian Schools (SHTAB)
[Aleksandr KAZAKOV]

International organization participation:

Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO,
NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Maris SELGA
chancery: 2306 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 328-2840
FAX: [1] (202) 328-2860

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 deficit - 15.7% of GDP in 2006 - remains a major concern.
The perception that many of Latvia's banks facilitate illicit
activity could damage the country's vibrant financial sector.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$35.08 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$16.13 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

9.3% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$15,400 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.7% industry: 26.3% services: 70%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 1.136 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 15% industry: 25% services: 60%

(2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:
6.7% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:
NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 26.1% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

35.03 (2003)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6.3% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

31.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $6.172 billion
expenditures: $6.45 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
11% of GDP (2006 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% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
4.55 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 29.1% hydro: 70.9% nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
6.329 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
636 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
2.733 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
47,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2004)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.91 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

1.91 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-2.538 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
 $6.98 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals, textiles,
foodstuffs

Exports - partners:
Lithuania 11%, Estonia 10.8%, Germany 10.2%, UK 10.2%, Russia 7.9%,
Sweden 7.8%, Denmark 5.3%, Poland 5.3% (2005)

Imports:
$10.33 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles

Imports - partners:
Germany 13.9%, Lithuania 13.6%, Russia 8.6%, Estonia 7.9%, Poland
6.4%, Finland 5.9%, Belarus 5.8%, Sweden 5.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.61 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$18.9 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$96.2 million

Currency (code):
Latvian lat (LVL)

Currency code:
LVL

Exchange rates:
lati per US dollar - 0.55991 (2006), - 0.5647 (2005), 0.5402
(2004), 0.5715 (2003), 0.6182 (2002)

Fiscal year:
 calendar year

Communications Latvia

Telephones - main lines in use:

731,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.872 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: recent efforts focused on bringing competition
to the telecommunications sector, beginning in 2003; the number of
fixed lines is decreasing as wireless telephony expands
domestic: two wireless service providers in addition to Lattelekom,
the incumbent monopoly
international: country code - 371; the Latvian network is now
connected via fiber optic cable to Estonia, Finland, and Sweden

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:
65,858 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

41 (2001)
Internet users:
1.03 million (2005)

Transportation Latvia

Airports: 46 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 24 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 13 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 22 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 19 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 1,097 km; oil 82 km; refined products 415 km (2006)

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 (2005)

Roadways:
total: 69,532 km
paved: 69,532 km (2004)

Waterways:
300 km (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 21 ships (1000 GRT or over) 250,559 GRT/336,136 DWT
by type: cargo 7, chemical tanker 1, liquefied gas 2,
passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 1
registered in other countries: 105 (Antigua and Barbuda 5, Bahamas
1, Belize 6, Cambodia 2, Cyprus 4, Dominica 1, Gibraltar 2, Liberia
14, Malta 40, Marshall Islands 7, Panama 3, Russia 2, Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines 18) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Riga, Ventspils
Military Latvia

Military branches:
Latvian Republic Defense Force: Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force,
Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze) (2005)

Military service age and obligation: 19 years of age for compulsory military
service; conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for volunteers;
plans are to phase out conscription, tentatively moving to an all-professional
force by 2007; under current law, every citizen is entitled to serve in the armed
forces for life (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 19-49: 517,713
females age 19-49: 519,631 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 19-49: 361,098
females age 19-49: 422,913 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 19,137
females age 19-49: 18,505 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$87 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.2% (FY01)

Transnational Issues Latvia

Disputes - international:
Russia refuses to sign the 1997 boundary treaty due to Latvian
insistence on a unilateral clarificatory declaration referencing
Soviet occupation of Latvia and territorial losses; Russia demands
better Latvian treatment of ethnic Russians in Latvia; as of January
2007, ground demarcation of the boundary with Belarus was complete
 and mapped with final ratification documentation in preparation; 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 with Russia

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; despite
improved legislation, vulnerable to money laundering due to nascent
enforcement capabilities and comparatively weak regulation of
offshore companies and the gaming industry; CIS organized crime
(including counterfeiting, corruption, extortion, stolen cars, and
prostitution) accounts for most laundered proceeds

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Lebanon

Introduction Lebanon

Background:
Following the capture of Syria from the Ottoman Empire by
Anglo-French forces in 1918, France received a mandate over this
territory and separated out a region of Lebanon in 1920. France
granted this area independence in 1943. A 15-year civil war
(1976-1991) devastated the country, but Lebanon has since made
progress toward rebuilding its political institutions. Under the
 Ta'if Accord - the blueprint for national reconciliation - the
Lebanese established a more equitable political system, particularly
by giving Muslims a greater voice in the political process while
institutionalizing sectarian divisions in the government. Since the
end of the war, Lebanon has conducted several successful elections,
most militias have been disbanded, and the Lebanese Armed Forces
(LAF) have extended authority over about two-thirds of the country.
Hizballah, a radical Shi'a organization listed by the US State
Department as a Foreign Terrorist 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. The assassination of former Prime Minister
Rafiq HARIRI and 20 others in February 2005 led to massive
demonstrations in Beirut against the Syrian presence ("the Cedar
Revolution"). Syria finally withdrew the remainder of its military
forces from Lebanon in April 2005. In May-June 2005, Lebanon held
its first legislative elections since the end of the civil war free
of foreign interference, handing a majority to the bloc led by Saad
HARIRI, the slain prime minister's son. Hizballah kidnapped two
Israeli soldiers in July 2006 leading to a 34-day conflict with
Israel. UNSCR 1701, which passed in August 2006, called for the
disarmament of Hizballah.

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: 16.35%
permanent crops: 13.75%
other: 69.9% (2005)

Irrigated land:
1,040 sq km (2003)

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 is the 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:
3,874,050 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.5% (male 523,220/female 502,372)
15-64 years: 66.6% (male 1,235,915/female 1,342,540)
65 years and over: 7% (male 122,155/female 147,848) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 27.8 years
male: 26.7 years
female: 28.9 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.23% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
18.52 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
6.21 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 23.72 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 26.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.88 years
male: 70.41 years
female: 75.48 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.9 children born/woman (2006 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%
note: many Christian Lebanese do not identify themselves as Arab but
rather as descendents of the ancient Canaanites and prefer to be
called Phoenicians

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: 17 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
former: Greater Lebanon

Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Beirut
geographic coordinates: 33 53 N, 35 30 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:
8 governorates (mohafazat, singular - mohafazah); Aakkar,
Baalbek-Hermel, 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 (may not serve consecutive terms); election last held 15
October 1998 (next to be held in 2007 based on three-year
extension); 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 National Assembly is a Shi'a 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); note - Nahib BERRI is the National Assembly
Speaker (since 1992)
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 (as
of December 2006) - Future Movement Bloc 36; Democratic Gathering
15; Development and Resistance Bloc 15; Loyalty to the Resistance
14; Free Patriotic Movement 15; Lebanese Forces 5; Qornet Shewan 6;
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 4

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:

note - organized in three major political blocs; 14 March Coalition
(bloc includes Democratic Gathering [Walid JUNBLATT, leader of
Progressive Socialist Party]; Democratic Left [Ilyas ATALLAH];
Democratic Renewal Movement [Nassib LAHUD]; Future Movement Bloc
[Sa'ad HARIRI]; Kataeb Reform Movement [Amine GEMAYEL]; Lebanese
Forces [Samir JA'JA]; Nasserite Popular Movement [Ussama SAAD];
Qornet Shewan Gathering (a grouping composed of political parties
and independent members of the National Assembly [no individual
leader]; Tripoli Independent Bloc); Change and Reform Alliance (bloc
includes Free Patriotic Movement [Michel AWN]; Metn Bloc [Michel
MURR]; Popular Bloc [Elias SKAFF]; Tachnaq); Hizballah and Amal
Alliance (bloc includes Ba'th Party [Muhammad MUHAMMADIYAH];
Development and Resistance Bloc [Nabih BERRI, leader of Amal
Movement]; Kataeb Party [Karim PAKRADONI]; Loyalty to the Resistance
[Mohammad RA'AD]; Syrian National Socialist Party [Ali QANSU])

Political pressure groups and leaders:

none

International organization participation:

ABEDA, ACCT, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU,
ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO,
WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Carla
JAZZAR; note - ambassador designate is Antoine CHEDID
chancery: 2560 28th Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-6320
FAX: [1] (202) 939-6324
consulate(s) general: Detroit, New York, Los Angeles
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Ambassador Designate Antoine
CHEDID
embassy: Awkar, Lebanon; (Akwar facing the Municipality)
mailing address: P. O. Box 70-840, Antelias, Lebanon; PSC 815, Box
2, FPO AE 09836-0002; from US: US Embassy Beirut, 6070 Beirut Place,
Washington, DC 20521-6070
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 Rafiq HARIRI government began an austerity program,
reining in government expenditures, increasing revenue collection,
and privatizing state enterprises, but economic and financial reform
initiatives stalled and public debt continued to grow despite
receipt of more than $2 billion in bilateral assistance at the Paris
II Donors Conference. The Israeli-Hizballah conflict caused an
estimated $3.6 billion in infrastructure damage in July and August
2006, and internal Lebanese political tension continues to hamper
economic activity.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$21.45 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

 $19.62 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

-5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$5,500 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 7%
industry: 21%
services: 72% (2005)

Labor force:
1.5 million
note: in addition, there are as many as 1 million foreign workers
(2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

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

Unemployment rate:
20% (2006 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):

4.8% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

17.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
 revenues: $4.444 billion
expenditures: $7.429 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
209% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
citrus, grapes, tomatoes, apples, vegetables, potatoes, olives,
tobacco; sheep, goats

Industries:
banking, tourism, food processing, jewelry, cement, textiles,
mineral and chemical products, wood and furniture products, oil
refining, metal fabricating

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:
9.762 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 97.2% hydro: 2.8% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
9.529 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
450 million kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
107,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-5.339 billion (October 2006)

Exports:
$1.881 billion f.o.b. (2005 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 25.3%, UAE 11.4%, Switzerland 8.1%, Turkey 6%, Saudi Arabia
5.4% (2005)

Imports:
$9.34 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities:
petroleum products, cars, medicinal products, clothing, meat and
live animals, consumer goods, paper, textile fabrics, tobacco

Imports - partners:
Italy 11.1%, Syria 10.7%, France 9.2%, Germany 6.4%, China 5.4%, US
5.3%, UK 4.4%, Saudi Arabia 4.3% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$16.78 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:
$31.1 billion (2006 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 (2006), 1,507.5 (2005),
1,507.5 (2004), 1,507.5 (2003), 1,507.5 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Lebanon

Telephones - main lines in use:

990,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.178 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: repair of the telecommunications system,
severely damaged during the civil war, now complete
domestic: two commercial wireless networks provide good service;
political instability hampers privatization and deployment of new
technologies
international: country code - 961; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Atlantic Ocean) (erratic operations);
coaxial cable to Syria; 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:
3,307 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

22 (2000)

Internet users:
700,000 (2005)

Transportation Lebanon

Airports: 7 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 914
to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 43 km (2006)

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 done during
fighting in the 1980s and in 2006 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 7,300 km
paved: 6,198 km
unpaved: 1,102 km (1999)

Merchant marine:
total: 39 ships (1000 GRT or over) 150,598 GRT/178,295 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 4, cargo 18, livestock carrier 10,
refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 3, vehicle carrier 3
foreign-owned: 4 (Greece 3, Syria 1)
registered in other countries: 59 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Barbados
1, Cambodia 6, Comoros 6, Egypt 2, Georgia 7, Honduras 1, North
Korea 6, Liberia 2, Malta 10, Mongolia 1, Panama 2, Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines 4, Sao Tome and Principe 1, Syria 7, unknown 2)
(2006)

Ports and terminals:

Beirut, Chekka, Jounie, Tripoli

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
females age 18-49: 1,024,273 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 821,762
 females age 18-49: 865,770 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$540.6 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3.1% (2004)

Transnational Issues Lebanon

Disputes - international:
Lacking a treaty or other documentation describing the boundary,
portions of the Lebanon-Syria boundary are unclear with several
sections in dispute; since 2000, Lebanon has claimed Shab'a Farms
area in the 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): 405,425 (Palestinian Refugees
(UNRWA)), 20,000-40,000 (Iraq)
IDPs: 17,000 (1975-90 civil war, Israeli invasions), 200,000
(July-August 2006 war) (2006)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@Lesotho

Introduction Lesotho

Background:
Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence
from the UK in 1966. The Basuto National Party ruled for the first
two decades. King MOSHOESHOE was exiled in 1990, but returned to
Lesotho in 1992 and reinstated in 1995. Constitutional government
was restored in 1993 after 7 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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2003)

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, Wetlands
 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:
2,022,331
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
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 36.8% (male 374,102/female 369,527)
15-64 years: 58.3% (male 572,957/female 606,846)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 39,461/female 59,438) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 20.3 years
male: 19.7 years
female: 21 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.46% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
24.75 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
28.71 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 87.24 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 92.04 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 82.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 34.4 years
male: 35.55 years
female: 33.21 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.28 children born/woman (2006 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
local long form: Kingdom of Lesotho
local short form: Lesotho
former: Basutoland

Government type:
parliamentary constitutional monarchy

Capital:
name: Maseru
geographic coordinates: 29 28 S, 27 30 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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
depose the monarch, determine who is next in the line of succession,
or who shall serve as regent in the event that the successor is not
of mature age

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 17 February 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - LCD 54.9%, BNP 22.4%,
LPC 5.8%, NIP 5.5% other 11.5%; seats by party - LCD 77, BNP 21, LPC
5, NIP 5, other 10

Judicial branch:
High Court (chief justice appointed by the monarch acting on the
 advice of the Prime Minister); Court of Appeal; Magistrate Courts;
customary or traditional court

Political parties and leaders:

All Basotho Convention or ABC [Thomas THABANE]; Basotholand African
Congress or BAC [Khauhelo RALITAPOLE]; Basotho Congress Party or BCP
[Ntsukunyane MPHANYA]; Basotho National Party or BNP [Maj. Gen.
Justin Metsing LEKHANYA]; Kopanang Basotho Party or KPB [Pheelo
MOSALA]; Lesotho Congress for Democracy or LCD [Pakalitha MOSISILI]
(the governing party); Lesotho Education Party or LEP [Thabo PITSO];
Lesotho People's Congress or LPC [Kelebone MAOPE]; Lesotho Workers
Party or LWP [Macaefa BILLY]; Marematlou Freedom Party or MFP
[Vincent MALEBO]; National Democratic Party [J.S. Bereng]; National
Independent Party or NIP [Anthony MANYELI]; National Progressive
Party or NPP [Chief Peete Nkoebe PEETE]; New Lesotho Freedom Party
or NLFP [Manapo MAJARA]; Popular Front for Democracy or PFD
[Lekhetho RAKUOANE]; Sefate Democratic Union or SDU [Bofihla
NKUEBE]; Social Democratic Party of SDP [Masitise SELESO]; United
Democratic Party or UDP [C.D. MOFELI]; United Party or UP [Makara
SEKAUTU]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, 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,
UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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:
three horizontal stripes of blue (top), white, and green in the
proportions of 3:4:3; the colors represent rain, peace, and
prosperity respectively; centered in the white stripe is a black
Basotho hat representing the indigenous people; the flag was
unfurled in October 2006 to celebrate 40 years of independence

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. However, the government has recently 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, as well
as a rapidly expanding apparel-assembly sector. The latter 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):

$5.195 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

 $1.419 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.7% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,600 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 16.1% industry: 43% services: 40.9%

(2006 est.)

Labor force:
838,000 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 86% of resident population engaged in subsistence
agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners work in
South Africa
industry and services: 14%

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:

63.2 (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

32% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
 revenues: $778.9 million
expenditures: $734.7 million; including capital expenditures of NA
(2006 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:
250 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2004)

Electricity - consumption:
244.5 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
12 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
1,400 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-75.44 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$779.1 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool and
mohair, food and live animals (2000)

Exports - partners:
Hong Kong 41.8%, China 33.9%, Germany 7.9% (2005)

Imports:
$1.401 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines, petroleum
products (2000)

Imports - partners:
US 83.9%, Belgium 12.7%, Canada 2.4% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$528.2 million (2006 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 - 6.6 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004),
7.5648 (2003), 10.5407 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Lesotho

Telephones - main lines in use:

48,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

245,100 (2005)

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:
168 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:
43,000 (2005)

Transportation Lesotho

Airports: 28 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under
914 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 21 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 5,940 km
paved: 1,087 km
unpaved: 4,853 km (1999)

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: 428,982
 females age 18-49: 440,102 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 180,797
females age 18-49: 160,681 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$41.1 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.1% (2005 est.)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Liberia

Introduction Liberia

Background:
 Settlement of freed slaves from the US in what is today Liberia
began in 1822; by 1847, the Americo-Liberians were able to establish
a republic. William TUBMAN, president from 1944-71, did much to
promote foreign investment and to bridge the economic, social, and
political gaps between the descendents of the original settlers and
the inhabitants of the interior. In 1980, a military coup led by
Samuel DOE ushered in a decade of authoritarian rule. In December
1989, Charles TAYLOR launched a rebellion against DOE's regime that
led to a prolonged civil war in which DOE himself was killed. A
period of relative peace in 1997 allowed for elections that brought
TAYLOR to power, but major fighting resumed in 2000. An August 2003,
peace agreement ended the war and prompted the resignation of former
president Charles TAYLOR, who was exiled to Nigeria. After two years
of rule by a transitional government, democratic elections in late
2005 brought President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF to power. The UN
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: 3.43% permanent crops: 1.98% other: 94.59% (2005)

Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2003)

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, Hazardous Wastes,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical
Timber 94, Wetlands
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:
3,042,004 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.1% (male 656,016/female 653,734)
15-64 years: 54.2% (male 816,443/female 832,152)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 40,591/female 43,068) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 18.1 years
male: 18 years
female: 18.3 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

4.91% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
44.77 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
23.1 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

27.39 migrant(s)/1,000 population
 note: at least 238,500 Liberian refugees are in surrounding
countries; the uncertain security situation has hindered their
ability to return (2006 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: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 155.76 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 171.96 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 139.06 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 39.65 years
male: 37.99 years
female: 41.35 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.02 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

Nationality:
noun: Liberian(s)
adjective: Liberian

Ethnic groups:
indigenous African 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:
name: Monrovia
geographic coordinates: 6 18 N, 10 47 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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; accepts compulsory ICJ
jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF (since 16 January
2006); note - the President is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF (since 16
January 2006); note - the President is both the chief of state and
head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president and confirmed by the
Senate
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 8 November 2005
(next to be held in 2011)
election results: Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF elected president; percent
of vote, second round - Ellen JOHNSON SIRLEAF (UP) 59.6%, George
WEAH (CDC) 40.4%

Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly consists of the Senate (30 seats -
number of seats changed in 11 October 2005 elections; 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 11 October 2005 (next to be held in
2011); House of Representatives - last held 11 October 2005 (next to
be held in 2011)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - COTOL 7, NPP 4, CDC 3, LP 3, UP 3, APD 3, other 7; House of
Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
CDC 15, LP 9, UP 8, COTOL 8, APD 5, NPP 4, other 15
note: junior senators - those who received the second most votes in
 each county in the 11 October 2005 election - will only serve a
six-year first term because the Liberian constitution mandates
staggered Senate elections to ensure continuity of government; all
senators will be eligible for nine-year terms thereafter

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance for Peace and Democracy or APD [Togba-na TIPOTEH];
Coalition for the Transformation of Liberia or COTOL; Congress for
Democratic Change or CDC [George WEAH]; Liberian Action Party or LAP
[H. Varney SHERMAN]; Liberty Party or LP [Charles BRUMSKINE];
National Patriotic Party or NPP [Cyril ALLEN]; Unity Party or UP
[Charles CLARKE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Demobilized former military officers

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ITU,
ITUC, NAM, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU,
WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Charles A. MINOR
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 Donald E. BOOTH
embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, P. O. Box 10-0098, Mamba Point,
1000 Monrovia, 10
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. 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.
President JOHNSON SIRLEAF, a Harvard-trained economist, has taken
steps to reduce corruption, build support from international donors,
and encourage private investment. An embargo on timber exports has
been lifted, opening a source of revenue for the government, but
diamonds remain under UN sanctions. 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):

$2.911 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$902.9 million (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.7% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,000 (2006 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:
325 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
302.3 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
3,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$910 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee

Exports - partners:
Belgium 40.7%, Spain 15.2%, US 8.9%, Malaysia 5.4%, Thailand 4.5%,
Poland 4.5%, Germany 4.3% (2005)

Imports:
$4.839 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured
goods; foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
South Korea 38.1%, Japan 21.2%, Singapore 14.2%, Croatia 4.7% (2005)

Debt - external:
$3.2 billion (2005 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$94 million (1999)

Currency (code):
Liberian dollar (LRD)

Currency code:
LRD

Exchange rates:
Liberian dollars per US dollar - NA (2005), 54.906 (2004), 59.379
(2003), 61.754 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Liberia

Telephones - main lines in use:

6,900 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

160,000 (2005)

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 .23 fixed
main lines 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:
8 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2001)

Internet users:
1,000 (2002)

Transportation Liberia

Airports: 53 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

(2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 51 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 8

under 914 m: 38 (2006)

Railways:
total: 490 km
 standard gauge: 345 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 145 km 1.067-m gauge
note: railway is inoperable because of damage suffered during the
civil war (2005)

Roadways:
total: 10,600 km
paved: 657 km
unpaved: 9,943 km (1999)

Merchant marine:
total: 1,687 ships (1000 GRT or over) 62,522,787 GRT/96,776,521 DWT
by type: barge carrier 3, bulk carrier 322, cargo 83, chemical
tanker 199, combination ore/oil 2, container 477, liquefied gas 75,
passenger 2, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 397, refrigerated
cargo 76, roll on/roll off 4, specialized tanker 11, vehicle carrier
35
foreign-owned: 1,611 (Argentina 7, Australia 2, Austria 13, Bahamas,
The 1, Bermuda 1, Brazil 3, Canada 2, China 35, Croatia 7, Cyprus 3,
Denmark 8, Estonia 1, France 3, Germany 587, Greece 267, Hong Kong
37, India 3, Indonesia 1, Isle of Man 5, Israel 5, Italy 16, Japan
102, South Korea 3, Kuwait 1, Latvia 14, Lebanon 2, Mexico 1, Monaco
10, Netherlands 29, Norway 38, Poland 14, Qatar 2, Russia 77, Saudi
Arabia 24, Singapore 28, Slovenia 2, Sweden 8, Switzerland 7, Taiwan
69, Turkey 1, UAE 18, UK 41, Ukraine 16, Uruguay 3, US 93, unknown
1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Buchanan, Monrovia

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: 575,384
females age 18-49: 588,780 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 267,430
females age 18-49: 286,231 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$67.4 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

7.5% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Liberia

Disputes - international:
although civil unrest continues to abate with the assistance of
18,000 UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) peacekeepers, as of January
2007, 22,000 Liberian refugees still remain in both Guinea and Cote
d'Ivoire, 38,500 in Sierra Leone, and 39,690 in Ghana; Liberia, in
turn, shelters 12,580 refugees fleeing turmoil in Cote d'Ivoire and
3,600 from Sierra Leone; despite the presence of over 9000 UN forces
(UNOCI) in Cote d'Ivoire since 2004, ethnic conflict continues to
spread into neighboring states who can no longer send their migrant
workers to Ivorian cocoa plantations; UN sanctions ban Liberia from
exporting diamonds and timber

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 6,592 (Cote d'Ivoire)
IDPs: 13,000 (civil war from 1990-2004; IDP resettlement began in
November 2004) (2006)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Libya

Introduction Libya

Background:
The Italians supplanted the Ottoman Turks from the area around
Tripoli in 1911 and did not relinquish their hold until 1943 when
defeated in World War II. Libya then passed to UN administration and
achieved independence in 1951. Following a 1969 military coup, Col.
Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI began to espouse 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 resolved in 2004 some of the
outstanding cases against his government for terrorist activities in
the 1980s by compensating some families of victims of the Pan Am
103, French airliner UTA, and La Belle disco bombings. The US
resumed full diplomatic relations with Libya in May 2006 and
rescinded Libya's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism in
June.

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
exclusive fishing zone: 62 nm

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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
4,700 sq km (2003)

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,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:
more than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert

People Libya

Population:
5,900,754
note: includes 166,510 non-nationals (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 33.6% (male 1,012,748/female 969,978)
15-64 years: 62.2% (male 1,891,643/female 1,778,621)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 121,566/female 126,198) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 23 years
male: 23.1 years
female: 22.9 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.3% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
26.49 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
3.48 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
 65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 23.71 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 25.99 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.69 years
male: 74.46 years
female: 79.02 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.28 children born/woman (2006 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)
(2007)

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 practice, an authoritarian state

Capital:
name: Tripoli
geographic coordinates: 32 54 N, 13 11 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 UN trusteeship)

National holiday:
Revolution Day, 1 September (1969)

Constitution:
none; note - following the September 1969 military overthrow of the
Libyan government, the Revolutionary Command Council replaced the
existing constitution with the Constitutional Proclamation in
December 1969; in March 1977, Libya adopted the Declaration of the
Establishment of the People's Authority

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) al-Baghdadi Ali al-MAHMUDI (since 5 March 2006)
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 March 2006 (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, COMESA, FAO, G-77,
IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC,
OPCW,
OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Ali AUJALI
chancery: 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Suite 705, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 944-9601
FAX: [1] (202) 944-9060

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad Interim
Charles O. CECIL
embassy: Corinthia Bab Africa Hotel, Souq At-Tlat Al-Qadim, Tripoli
mailing address: US Embassy, 8850 Tripoli Place, Washington, DC
20521-8850
telephone: [218] 21-335-1848

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 about 95% of export earnings, about
one-quarter of GDP, and 60% of public sector wages. Substantial
revenues from the energy sector coupled with 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, helping Libya attract more foreign
direct investment, mostly in the energy sector. Libyan oil and gas
licensing rounds continue to draw high international interest. 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 more than 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):

$74.97 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$34.83 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

8.1% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$12,700 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 7.3% industry: 51.3% services: 41.4%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 1.787 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 17% industry: 23% services: 59%

(2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:
30% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

7.4%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.1% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

7.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $33.34 billion
expenditures: $19.3 billion; including capital expenditures of $5.6
billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
5.6% of GDP (2006 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:
19.44 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
18.08 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
1.72 million bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption:
237,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
1.34 million bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves:

42 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

8.06 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

 5.93 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

2.13 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.472 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$14.5 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$37.02 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas, chemicals

Exports - partners:
Italy 37.7%, Germany 15.1%, Spain 9.3%, Turkey 6.2%, France 6.2%,
US 5.2% (2005)

Imports:
$14.47 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery, semi-finished goods, food, transport equipment, consumer
products

Imports - partners:
Italy 21.2%, Germany 10.3%, Tunisia 5.6%, Turkey 4.8%, UK 4.8%,
France 4.7%, South Korea 4.6%, China 4.5% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$57.48 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$4.492 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
ODA, $18 million (2004 est.)

Currency (code):
Libyan dinar (LYD)

Currency code:
LYD

Exchange rates:
Libyan dinars per US dollar - 1.315 (2006), 1.3084 (2005), 1.305
(2004), 1.2929 (2003), 1.2707 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Libya

Telephones - main lines in use:

750,000 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

234,800 (2004)

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:
31 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:
205,000 (2005)

Transportation Libya

Airports: 141 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 60
over 3,047 m: 23
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 81
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 41
under 914 m: 18 (2006)
Heliports:
2 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate 882 km; gas 3,481 km; oil 6,916 km (2006)

Railways:
0 km
note: Libya is working on seven lines totaling 2,757 km of 1.435-m
gauge track; it hopes to have trains running by 2008 (2005)

Roadways:
total: 83,200 km
paved: 47,590 km
unpaved: 35,610 km (1999)

Merchant marine:
total: 18 ships (1000 GRT or over) 86,034 GRT/89,820 DWT
by type: cargo 10, liquefied gas 3, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum
tanker 2, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 4 (Kuwait 1, Norway 1, Turkey 2) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

As Sidrah, Az Zuwaytinah, Marsa al Burayqah, Ra's Lanuf, Tripoli,
Zawiyah

Military Libya

Military branches:
Armed Peoples on Duty (APOD, Army), Libyan Arab Navy, Libyan Arab
Air Force (LAAF) (2006)

Military service age and obligation:

17 years of age (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 17-49: 1,505,675
females age 17-49: 1,429,152 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 17-49: 1,291,624
females age 17-49: 1,230,824 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 62,034
females age 17-49: 59,533 (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 the Tommo region of Niger in a currently
dormant dispute; various Chadian rebels from the Aozou region reside
in southern Libya

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 8,873 (Palestinian Territories) (2006)

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Libya is a transit and destination country for
men, women, and children from sub-Saharan Africa and Asia trafficked
for forced labor and sexual exploitation; many victims willingly
migrate to Libya en route to Europe with the help of smugglers, but
may be forced into prostitution or work as laborers and beggars to
pay off their $800-$1,200 smuggling debt; laborers from Egypt,
Sudan, and Ethiopia are reportedly trafficked to Libya for the
purpose of labor exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Libya is placed on the Tier 2 Watch
List for its lack of evidence of increasing efforts to address
trafficking since 2004
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 resulted in concerns about the use of
financial institutions for money laundering. However, Liechtenstein
implemented anti-money-laundering legislation over the past several
years and a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty with the US went into
effect in 2003.

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: Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 m

Natural resources:
hydroelectric potential, arable land

Land use:
arable land: 25%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 75% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA
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:
33,987 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.4% (male 2,922/female 2,988)
15-64 years: 70.2% (male 11,842/female 12,022)
65 years and over: 12.4% (male 1,773/female 2,440) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 39.6 years
male: 39.2 years
female: 40.1 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.78% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
10.21 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
7.18 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

4.77 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.64 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.24 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.68 years
male: 76.1 years
female: 83.28 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.51 children born/woman (2006 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:
constitutional monarchy

Capital:
name: Vaduz
geographic coordinates: 47 09 N, 9 31 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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 Klaus TSCHUETSCHER (since 21
April 2005)
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 if there is a
coalition government

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 [Adolf HEEB];
Progressive Citizens' Party or FBP [Otmar HASLER]; The Free List or
FL [Claudia HEEB-FLECK and Egon MATT]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

CE, EBRD, EFTA, IAEA, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU,
OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Claudia FRITSCHE
chancery: 888 17th Street NW, Suite 1250, Washington, DC 20006
telephone: [1] (202) 331-0590
FAX: [1] (202) 331-3221

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):

$1.786 billion (2001 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$2.487 billion (2001)

GDP - real growth rate:

11% (1999 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$25,000 (1999 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 6%
industry: 39%
services: 55% (2001)

Labor force:
29,500 of whom 13,900 commute from Austria, Switzerland, and
Germany to work each day (31 December 2001)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 2% industry: 47% services: 51% (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% (2004)
Imports:
$917.3 million (1996)

Imports - commodities:
agricultural products, raw materials, machinery, metal goods,
textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles

Imports - partners:
EU, Switzerland (2004)

Debt - external:
$0 (2001)

Economic aid - recipient:

$0

Currency (code):
Swiss franc (CHF)

Currency code:
CHF

Exchange rates:
Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.2508 (2006), 1.2452 (2005), 1.2435
(2004), 1.3467 (2003), 1.5586 (2002)

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:
4,697 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

44 (Liechtenstein and Switzerland) (2000)

Internet users:
20,000 (2002)

Transportation Liechtenstein

Pipelines:
gas 20 km (2006)

Railways:
9 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified)
note: belongs to the Austrian Railway System connecting Austria and
Switzerland (2006)

Roadways:
 total: 380 km
paved: 380 km (2006)

Waterways:
28 km (2005)

Ports and terminals:

none

Military Liechtenstein

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 7,736 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 6,250 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 208 (2005 est.)

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of Switzerland

Transnational Issues Liechtenstein

Disputes - international:
none

Illicit drugs:
has strengthened money-laundering controls, but money laundering
remains a concern due to Liechtenstein's sophisticated offshore
financial services sector

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Lithuania

Introduction Lithuania

Background:
Independent between the two World Wars, Lithuania was annexed by
the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US. 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: 1,613 km
border countries: Belarus 653.5 km, Latvia 588 km, Poland 103.7 km,
Russia (Kaliningrad) 267.8 km

Coastline:
90 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 293.6 m

Natural resources:
peat, arable land, amber

Land use: arable land: 44.81% permanent crops: 0.9% other: 54.29% (2005)

Irrigated land:
70 sq km (2003)

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:
3,585,906 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.5% (male 284,888/female 270,458)
15-64 years: 69.1% (male 1,210,557/female 1,265,542)
65 years and over: 15.5% (male 190,496/female 363,965) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 38.2 years
male: 35.7 years
female: 40.8 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.3% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
8.75 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
10.98 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.71 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female
total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 6.78 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.12 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.2 years
male: 69.2 years
female: 79.49 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.2 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Vilnius
geographic coordinates: 54 41 N, 25 19 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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: Prime Minister Gediminas KIRKILAS (since 4 July
2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
nomination of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 13 and 27 June 2004
(next to be held June 2009); prime minister 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%; Gediminas
KIRKILAS approved by Parliament 85-13, with 5 abstentions
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%, TS
14.6%, For Order and Justice (Liberal Democrats and Lithuanian
People's Union) 11.4%, Liberal and Center Union 9.1%, Farmers and
New Democracy Union 6.6%, other 9%; seats by faction - Labor 29,
Homeland Union 26, Social Democrats 23, Civil Democracy (split from
Labor) 11, Liberal Movement (formerly Liberal Political Group) 11,
National Farmer's Union (formerly Farmers and New Democracy Union)
11, Social Liberal 10, Liberal Democrats 9, Liberal and Center Union
8, independents 3 (as of late-July 2006)

Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal; judges for
all courts appointed by the President

Political parties and leaders:

Civil Democracy Party [Viktor MUNTIANAS, chairman]; Electoral
Action of Lithuanian Poles [Valdemar TOMASZEVSKI, chairman];
National Farmer's Union [Kazimiera PRUNSKIENE, chairwoman]; Homeland
Union/Conservative Party or TS [Andrius KUBILIUS, chairman]; Labor
Party [Kestutis DAUKSYS, chairman]; Liberal and Center Union
[Arturas ZUOKAS, chairman]; Liberal Democratic Party [Rolandas
PAKSAS, chairman]; Liberal Movement [Petras AUSTREVICIUS, chairman];
Lithuanian Christian Democrats or LKD [Valentinas STUNDYS,
chairman]; Lithuanian People's Union for a Fair Lithuania [Julius
VESELKA, chairman]; Lithuanian Social Democratic Party [Algirdas
BRAZAUSKAS, chairman]; Social Liberal/New Union [Arturas
PAULAUSKAS,
chairman]; Social Union of Christian Conservatives [Gediminas
VAGNORIUS, chairman]; Young Lithuania and New Nationalists
[Stanislovas BUSKEVICIUS, chairman]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:

ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BA, BIS, CBSS, CE, EAPC, EBRD,
EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IFC, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, NATO, NIB, NSG, OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN,
UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate partner),
WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Kornelija
JURGAITIENE
chancery: 4590 MacArthur Blvd. NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 234-5860
FAX: [1] (202) 328-0466
consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John A.

CLOUD embassy: Akmenu Gatve 6, Vilnius, LT-03106 mailing address:
American Embassy, Akmenu Gatve 6, Vilnius LT-03106 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 4.5% in 2006. 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):

$54.03 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$25.78 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.2% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$15,100 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5.5% industry: 33.3% services: 61.2%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 1.617 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 15.8% industry: 28.2% services: 56%

(2004)

Unemployment rate:
4.5% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

4%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 24.9% (2000)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

32.5 (2003)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.6% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
23% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $9.415 billion
expenditures: $9.761 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
18% of GDP (2006 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 jewelry

Industrial production growth rate:

7% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
17.8 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 16.5% hydro: 5.7% nuclear:

77.7% other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
9.358 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
11.49 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
4.293 billion kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
14,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
56,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports:
93,000 bbl/day (2004)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004)

Natural gas - consumption:

2.92 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

2.92 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-2.572 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$14.64 billion f.o.b. (2006 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:
Russia 10.4%, Latvia 10.2%, Germany 9.4%, France 7.1%, Estonia
5.9%, Poland 5.5%, Sweden 5%, US 4.7%, UK 4.7%, Denmark 4.3% (2005)

Imports:
 $18.25 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
mineral products, machinery and equipment, transport equipment,
chemicals, textiles and clothing, metals

Imports - partners:
Russia 27.9%, Germany 15.1%, Poland 8.3% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$5.22 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$15.12 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$1.6 billion (1995)

Currency (code):
litas (LTL)

Currency code:
LTL

Exchange rates:
litai per US dollar - 2.7508 (2006), 2.774 (2005), 2.7806 (2004),
3.0609 (2003), 3.677 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Lithuania

Telephones - main lines in use:

801,100 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

4.353 million (2005)
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:
148,675 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

32 (2001)

Internet users:
1,221,700 (2005)

Transportation Lithuania
Airports: 91 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 34 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: 20 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 57 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m: 53 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 1,696 km; oil 228 km; refined products 121 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 1,771 km
broad gauge: 1,749 km 1.524-m gauge (122 km electrified)
standard gauge: 22 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 79,497 km
paved: 70,549 km (including 417 km of expressways)
unpaved: 8,948 km (2005)

Waterways:
425 km (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 49 ships (1000 GRT or over) 353,094 GRT/352,883 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 20, chemical tanker 1, container 1,
passenger/cargo 5, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 14, roll
on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 10 (Denmark 10)
registered in other countries: 17 (Antigua and Barbuda 3, Belize 1,
North Korea 1, Norway 1, Panama 5, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
3, unknown 3) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Klaipeda

Military Lithuania
Military branches:
Ground Forces, Naval Force, Lithuanian Military Air Forces,
National Defense Volunteer Forces (2005)

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
females age 19-49: 830,524 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 19-49: 590,606
females age 19-49: 676,102 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 29,689
females age 19-49: 28,543 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$230.8 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.9% (FY01)

Transnational Issues Lithuania

Disputes - international:
Lithuania and Russia committed to demarcating their boundary in
2006 in accordance with the land and maritime treaty ratified by
Russia in May 2003 and by Lithuania in 1999; Lithuania operates a
simplified transit regime for Russian nationals traveling from the
Kaliningrad coastal exclave into Russia, while still conforming, as
a EU member state having an external border with a non-EU member, to
strict Schengen border rules; the Latvian parliament has not
ratified its 1998 maritime boundary treaty with Lithuania, primarily
due to concerns over potential hydrocarbons; as of January 2007,
ground demarcation of the boundary with Belarus was complete and
 mapped with final ratification documents in preparation

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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: 23.94%
permanent crops: 0.39%
other: 75.67% (includes Belgium) (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

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:
474,413 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.9% (male 46,118/female 43,356)
15-64 years: 66.5% (male 159,498/female 156,075)
65 years and over: 14.6% (male 28,027/female 41,339) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 38.7 years
 male: 37.7 years
female: 39.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.23% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
11.94 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
8.41 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

8.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.74 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.73 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.89 years
male: 75.6 years
female: 82.38 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.78 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Luxembourg
geographic coordinates: 49 45 N, 6 10 E
 time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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 (also known 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);
Greenpeace (environment protection); LCGP (center-right trade
union); Mouvement Ecologique (protection of ecology); OGBL
(center-left trade union)

International organization participation:

ACCT, AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux, CE, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU,
ESA, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD,
 IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE,
PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNRWA, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WEU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph

WEYLAND chancery: 2200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-4171/72 FAX: [1] (202) 328-8270 consulate(s) general:
New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ann

WAGNER 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 - benefitting from its proximity
to 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 28% 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 about 60% 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 per
 capita ranks first in the world.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$32.6 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$34.37 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.7% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$68,800 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 1%
industry: 13%
services: 86% (2005 est.)

Labor force:
203,000 of whom 121,600 are foreign cross-border workers commuting
primarily from France, Belgium, and Germany (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 1% industry: 13% services: 86% (2004

est.)

Unemployment rate:
4.1% (2006 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% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

 18.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $19.07 billion
expenditures: $19.79 billion; including capital expenditures of
$975.5 million (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
wine, grapes, barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits; dairy
products, livestock products

Industries:
banking and financial services, iron and steel, information
technology, telecommunications, cargo transportation, food
processing, chemicals, metal products, engineering, tires, glass,
aluminum, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

4.3% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
3.203 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 57.3% hydro: 25.2% nuclear: 0%

other: 17.5% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
6.14 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Electricity - exports:
2.346 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Electricity - imports:
5.287 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
62,420 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:
634 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
50,700 bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.361 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

1.361 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$4.63 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$19.55 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals, rubber
products, glass

Exports - partners:
Germany 21%, France 16.3%, Belgium 9.2%, UK 8.3%, Italy 7.5%, Spain
6.6%, Netherlands 4.3% (2005)

Imports:
$24.22 billion c.i.f. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods

Imports - partners:
Belgium 28.2%, Germany 21.8%, China 12.8%, France 9.6%, Netherlands
 5.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$232.2 million (August 2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$NA

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $235.59 million (2004)

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 - 0.79987 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004),
0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Luxembourg

Telephones - main lines in use:

244,500 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

720,000 (2005)

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:
88,661 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

8 (2000)

Internet users:
315,000 (2005)

Transportation Luxembourg

Airports: 2 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 155 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 274 km
standard gauge: 274 km 1.435-m gauge (262 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 5,227 km
paved: 5,227 km (including 147 km of expressways) (2004)

Waterways:
37 km (on Moselle River) (2003)

Merchant marine:
total: 42 ships (1000 GRT or over) 557,636 GRT/792,069 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 6, chemical tanker 16, container 7, liquefied
gas 2, passenger 3, petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned: 42 (Belgium 9, Finland 4, France 14, Germany 10,
Netherlands 2, US 3) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Mertert

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
females age 17-49: 108,758 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 17-49: 90,279
females age 17-49: 88,638 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 2,775
females age 17-49: 2,703 (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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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: 28.2 sq km
land: 28.2 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:
less than one-sixth 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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

Natural hazards:
typhoons

Environment - current issues:

NA

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Marine Dumping -associate member to the London Convention

Geography - note:
essentially urban; an area of land reclaimed from the sea measuring
5.2 sq km and known as Cotai now connects the islands of Coloane and
Taipa; the island area is connected to the mainland peninsula by
three bridges

People Macau

Population:
453,125 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.2% (male 37,934/female 35,412)
15-64 years: 75.9% (male 163,975/female 179,830)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 15,099/female 20,875) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 36.1 years
male: 35.7 years
female: 36.4 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.86% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
8.48 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
4.47 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

4.56 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.35 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.54 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 82.19 years
male: 79.36 years
female: 85.17 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.02 children born/woman (2006 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,
three legislators, four businessmen, one pro-Beijing unionist, and
one pro-Beijing educator
elections: chief executive chosen by a 300-member Election Committee
for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last
held 29 August 2004 (next to be held in 2009)
election results: Edmund HO Hau-wah reelected received 296 votes;
 three members submitted blank ballots; one member was absent

Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly (29 seats; 12 elected by popular
vote, 10 by indirect vote, and 7 appointed by the chief executive;
members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 25 September 2005 (next in September 2009)
election results: percent of vote - New Democratic Macau Association
18.2%, Macau United Citizens' Association 16%, Development Union
12.8%, Macau Development Alliance 9%, others NA; seats by political
group - New Democratic Macau Association 2, Macau United Citizens'
Association 2, Development Union 2, Macau Development Alliance 1,
New Hope 1, United 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

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

IHO, IMF, IMO (associate), ISO (correspondent), UNESCO (associate),
UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCO, WMO, 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 1997-98 Asian financial crisis and the global downturn
in 2001, its economy grew 10.1% in 2002, 14.2% in 2003, and 28.6% in
2004 before slowing to 6.7% in 2005. The economic boom was powered
by gambling, tourism, and the construction necessary to support such
endeavours. China's decision to ease travel restrictions led to a
rapid rise in the number of mainland visitors. The opening of
Macau's gaming industry to foreign access in 2001 spurred an
increase in public works expenditures. 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. Much of Macau's textile industry may move to the
mainland due to the termination in 2005 of the Multi-Fiber
Agreement, which provided a near guarantee of export markets,
leaving the territory more dependant on gambling and trade-related
services to generate growth. 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. The range of products covered by CEPA was
expanded on 1 January 2005.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$10 billion (2004)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$11.56 billion (2005)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.7% (2005)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$24,300 (2005)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.1% industry: 7.2% services: 92.7%

(2002 est.)

Labor force: 248,000 (2005)

Labor force - by occupation: manufacturing 13.7%, construction 13.7%,

transport and communications 5.9%, wholesale and retail trade 10.5%,
restaurants and hotels 10.3%, gambling 5.9%, public sector 7.8%, other services
and agriculture 19.3% (2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:
4.1% (2005)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.4% (2005)

Budget:
revenues: $3.16 billion
expenditures: $3.16 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY05/06)

Agriculture - products:
only 2% of land area is cultivated, mainly by vegetable growers;
fishing, mostly for crustaceans, is important; some of the catch is
exported to Hong Kong

Industries:
tourism, gambling, clothing, textiles, electronics, footwear, toys

Industrial production growth rate:

 NA%

Electricity - production:
2.027 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
2.159 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports:
1 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
340.8 million kWh (2005)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
12,360 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - exports:
21 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:
12,840 bbl/day (2005)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

43.96 million cu m (2005 est.)

Exports:
$3.156 billion f.o.b.; note - includes reexports (2005)

Exports - commodities:
clothing, textiles, footwear, toys, electronics, machinery and parts
Exports - partners:
US 48.7%, China 14.9%, Hong Kong 9.8%, Germany 5.9% (2005)

Imports:
$3.912 billion c.i.f. (2005)

Imports - commodities:
raw materials and semi-manufactured goods, consumer goods
(foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco), capital goods, mineral fuels and
oils

Imports - partners:
China 43.1%, Japan 10.9%, Hong Kong 10%, Singapore 5.2%, US 4.1%,
Taiwan 4% (2005)

Debt - external:
$3.1 billion (2004)

Economic aid - recipient:

$NA

Currency (code):
pataca (MOP)

Currency code:
MOP

Exchange rates:
patacas per US dollar - 8.011 (2005), 8.022 (2004), 8.021 (2003),
8.033 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Macau

Telephones - main lines in use:

174,400 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
532,800 (2005)

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 (2006)

Televisions:
49,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.mo

Internet hosts:
108 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:
201,000 (2004)

Transportation Macau

Airports: 1 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 368 km
paved: 368 km (2005)

Ports and terminals:

Macau

Military Macau

Military branches:
no regular military forces

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.)

Military - note:
defense is the responsiblity of China

Transnational Issues Macau

Disputes - international:
none

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Macau is a transit and destination territory for
women trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation;
most females in Macau's sizeable sex industry come from the interior
regions of China or Mongolia, though a significant number also come
from Russia, Eastern Europe, Thailand, and Vietnam; the majority of
women in Macau's prostitution trade appear to have entered Macau and
the sex trade voluntarily, though there is evidence that some are
 deceived or coerced into sexual servitude, often through the use of
debt bondage; organized criminal syndicates are reportedly involved
in bringing women to Macau, and fear of reprisals from these groups
may prevent some women from seeking help
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Macau is placed on the Tier 2 Watch
List for failing to show evidence of increasing efforts to address
trafficking since 2004

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Macedonia

Introduction Macedonia

Background:
Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in
1991, but Greece's objection to the new state's use of what it
considered a Hellenic name and symbols delayed international
recognition, which occurred under the provisional designation of
"the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia." In 1995, Greece lifted
a 20-month trade embargo and the two countries agreed to normalize
relations. The United States began referring to Macedonia by its
constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia, in 2004 and negotiations
continue between Greece and Macedonia to resolve the name issue.
Some ethnic Albanians, angered by perceived political and economic
inequities, launched an insurgency in 2001 that eventually won the
support of the majority of Macedonia's Albanian population and led
to the internationally-brokered Framework Agreement, which ended the
fighting by establishing a set of new laws enhancing the rights of
 minorities. The undetermined status of neighboring Kosovo,
implementation of the Framework Agreement, 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 221 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
warm, dry summers and autumns; 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: 22.01% permanent crops: 1.79% other: 76.2% (2005)

Irrigated land:
550 sq km (2003)

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:
2,050,554 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
 0-14 years: 20.1% (male 213,486/female 199,127)
15-64 years: 68.9% (male 711,853/female 701,042)
65 years and over: 11% (male 98,618/female 126,428) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 34.1 years
male: 33.2 years
female: 35.1 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.26% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
12.02 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
8.77 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 9.81 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 9.94 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.66 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.97 years
male: 71.51 years
female: 76.62 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.57 children born/woman (2006 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 64.7%, other Christian 0.37%, Muslim 33.3%,
other and unspecified 1.63% (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
local long form: Republika Makedonija
local short form: Makedonija
note: the provisional designation used by the UN, EU, and NATO is
 Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)
former: People's Republic of Macedonia, Socialist Republic of
Macedonia

Government type:
parliamentary democracy

Capital:
name: Skopje
geographic coordinates: 41 59 N, 21 26 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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 the larger Skopje Municipality

Independence:
8 September 1991 (referendum by registered voters endorsing
independence from Yugoslavia)
National holiday:
Ilinden Uprising Day, 2 August (1903); note - also known as Saint
Elijah's Day

Constitution:
adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991; amended
November 2001 by a series of new constitutional amendments
strengthening minority rights and in 2005 with amendments related to
the judiciary

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 Nikola GRUEVSKI (since 26 August
2006)
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 VMRO/DPMNE, NSDP, PDSh/DPA, and several
small parties
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); two-round election last held 14 April
and 28 April 2004 (next to be held by April 2009); prime minister
elected by the Assembly following legislative elections
election results: Branko CRVENKOVSKI elected president on
second-round ballot; percent of vote - Branko CRVENKOVSKI 62.7%,
Sasko KEDEV 37.3%
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 5 July 2006 (next to be held by July 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - VMRO-DPMNE 33%, SDSM
22%, BDI/DUI 12%, PDSh/DPA 7%, NSDP 6%, VMRO-Narodna 6%; seats by
party - VMRO-DPMNE 45, SDSM 32, BDI/DUI 17, PDSh/DPA 11, NSDP 7,
VMRO-Narodna 6, other 2

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 League of the
Bosniaks [Rafet MUMINOVIC]; Democratic Party of Albanians or
PDSh/DPA [Arben XHAFERI]; Democratic Party of Serbs [Ivan
STOILJKOVIC]; Democratic Party of Turks [Kenan HASIPI]; Democratic
Renewal of Macedonia [Liljana POPOVSKA]; Democratic Union of Vlachs
for Macedonia [Mitko KOSTOV]; Democratic Union for Integration or
BDI/DUI [Ali AHMETI]; Internal Macedonian Revolutionary
Organization-Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity or
VMRO-DPMNE [Nikola GRUEVSKI]; 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 Alternative
[Harun ALIU]; National Democratic Party-New Democratic Forces or
PDK-FRO [Hysni SHAQIR]; New Social Democratic Party or NSDP [Tito
PETKOVSKI]; Party for Democratic Future [Alajdin DEMIRI]; Party for
Democratic Prosperity or PPD/PDP [Abduljhadi VEJSELI]; Party for
European Future or PEI [Fijat CANOSKI]; Social Democratic Alliance
of Macedonia or SDSM [Radmila SEKERINSKA]; Socialist Party of
Macedonia or SP [Ljubisav IVANOV-ZINGO]; Union of Romas or SR [Saliu
SHABAN]; United Party for Emancipation or OPE [Nezdet MUSTAFA]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Federation of Free Trade Unions [Svetlana PETROVIC]; Federation of
Trade Unions [Vanco MURATOVSKI]; World Macedonian Congress [Todor
PETROV]

International organization participation:

BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU,
ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP, SECI, UN,
UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)

chancery: 2129 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1]
(202) 667-0501 FAX: [1] (202) 667-2131 consulate(s) general: Southfield
(Michigan)

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Gillian A.

MILOVANOVIC embassy: Bul. Ilindenska bb, 1000 Skopje mailing address:
American Embassy Skopje, US 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 central government and
eliminated advantages from inclusion in a de facto free trade area.
An absence of infrastructure, UN sanctions on the downsized
Yugoslavia, 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 averaged 4% per year during 2003-06. Macedonia
has maintained macroeconomic stability with low inflation, but it
has lagged the region in attracting foreign investment and job
growth has been anemic. Macedonia has an extensive grey market,
estimated to be more than 20 percent of GDP, that falls outside
official statistics.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$16.91 billion
note: Macedonia has a large informal sector (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$5.649 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$8,200 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13% industry: 27.7% services: 59.3%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 880,000 (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 21.7% industry: 32.6% services: 45.7%

(September 2006)

Unemployment rate:
35% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

29.6% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

28.2 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

18.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $2.113 billion
expenditures: $2.149 billion; including capital expenditures of $114
million (2006 est.)

Public debt:
27.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
grapes, wine, tobacco, vegetables; milk, eggs

Industries:
food processing, beverages, textiles, chemicals, iron, steel,
cement, energy, pharmaceuticals

Industrial production growth rate:

3.5% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
6.271 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 83.7% hydro: 16.3% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
7.933 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports:
 0 kWh (2005)

Electricity - imports:
1.662 billion kWh (2005)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
23,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

100 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

100 million cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-167 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$2.341 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
food, beverages, tobacco; textiles, miscellaneous manufactures,
iron and steel

Exports - partners:
 Serbia and Montenegro 22.5%, Germany 17.8%, Greece 15.3%, Italy
8.3% (2005)

Imports:
$3.631 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, automobiles, chemicals, fuels, food
products

Imports - partners:
Russia 13.2%, Germany 10.4%, Greece 9.2%, Serbia and Montenegro
8.2%, Bulgaria 7.3%, Italy 6% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.845 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$2.138 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

NA

Currency (code):
Macedonian denar (MKD)

Currency code:
MKD

Exchange rates:
Macedonian denars per US dollar - 48.9962 (2006), 48.92 (2005),
49.41 (2004), 54.322 (2003), 64.35 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Macedonia

Telephones - main lines in use:

 533,200 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.261 million (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:
3,716 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6 (2000)

Internet users:
392,671 (2005)

Transportation Macedonia

Airports: 17 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

 total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
under 914 m: 8 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 268 km; oil 120 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 699 km
standard gauge: 699 km 1.435-m gauge (233 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways: total: 8,684 km paved: 5,540 km unpaved: 3,144 km (1999)

Military Macedonia

Military branches:
Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM): Joint Operational Command,
with subordinate Air Wing (Makedonsko Voeno Vozduhoplovstvo, MVV),
Special Force Command (2006)

Military service age and obligation:

conscription to be phased out by 2007; current tour of conscript
duty is six months; 18 years of age for voluntary military service
(2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 498,259
females age 18-49: 481,317 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 411,156
females age 18-49: 397,839 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

 males age 18-49: 16,686
females age 18-49: 15,664 (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 Serbia 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: fewer than 1,000 (ethnic conflict in 2001) (2006)

Illicit drugs:
major transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin and hashish;
minor transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe;
although not a financial center and most criminal activity is
thought to be domestic, 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@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: 5.03% permanent crops: 1.02% other: 93.95% (2005)

Irrigated land:
10,860 sq km (2003)

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 endangered species of flora and fauna
unique to the island

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:
18,595,469 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.8% (male 4,171,821/female 4,158,288)
15-64 years: 52.2% (male 4,809,173/female 4,900,675)
65 years and over: 3% (male 249,414/female 306,098) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 17.5 years
male: 17.3 years
female: 17.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.03% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
41.41 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
11.11 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 75.21 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 83.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 66.84 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 57.34 years
male: 54.93 years
female: 59.82 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.62 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

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/Repoblikan'i Madagasikara
local short form: Madagascar/Madagasikara
former: Malagasy Republic

Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Antananarivo
geographic coordinates: 18 52 S, 47 30 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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
(eligible for a second term); election last held 3 December 2006
(next to be held December 2011); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: percent of vote - Marc RAVALOMANANA (TIM) 54.8%,
Jean LAHINIRIKO 11.7%, Roland RATSIRAKA 10.1%, Herizo
RAZAFIMAHALEO
(LEADER-Fanilo) 9.1%, Norbert RATSIRAHONANA (AVI) 4.2%, Ny Hasina
ANDRIAMANJATO 4.2%, Elia RAVELOMANANTSOA 2.6%, Pety
RAKOTONIAINA
1.7%, other 1.6%

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 in 2007)
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:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM,
OIF, OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO,
UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Narisoa RAJAONARIVONY
chancery: 2374 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 265-5525, 5526
FAX: [1] (202) 265-3034
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador James D. MCGEE
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 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):

$17.27 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$5.097 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$900 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 26.9% industry: 16.5% services:

56.6% (2006 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:

47.5 (2001)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

12% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

26.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $879.9 million
expenditures: $1.147 billion; including capital expenditures of $331
million (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca),
beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products

Industries:
meat processing, seafood, soap, breweries, tanneries, sugar,
textiles, glassware, cement, automobile assembly plant, paper,
petroleum, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

3% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:
984 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 36.1% hydro: 63.9% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
915.1 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
90.59 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
14,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-504 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$993.5 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:
coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar, cotton cloth, chromite,
petroleum products

Exports - partners:
France 31.5%, US 31%, Germany 8.8% (2005)

Imports:
$1.544 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food

Imports - partners:
France 16.7%, China 10.6%, Iran 8%, Mauritius 6.6%, Hong Kong 5%,
South Africa 4.9% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$563 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$4.6 billion (2002)

Economic aid - recipient:

$354 million (2001)

Currency (code):
Madagascar ariary (MGA)

Currency code:
MGF

Exchange rates:
Malagasy ariary per US dollar - 2,167.5 (2006), 2,003 (2005),
1,868.9 (2004), 1,238.3 (2003), 1,366.4 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Madagascar
Telephones - main lines in use:
66,900 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

504,700 (2005)

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:
1,504 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:
90,000 (2005)

Transportation Madagascar
Airports: 116 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 87 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m:

42 under 914 m: 43 (2006)

Railways: total: 854 km narrow gauge: 854 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)

Roadways: total: 49,827 km paved: 5,780 km unpaved: 44,047 km (1999)

Waterways:
600 km (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 9 ships (1000 GRT or over) 13,896 GRT/18,466 DWT
by type: cargo 5, passenger 2, petroleum tanker 2 (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Antsiranana, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Military Madagascar

Military branches:
People's Armed Forces: Intervention Force, Development Force, and
Aeronaval Force (navy and air); National Gendarmerie

Military service age and obligation:

18-50 years of age; conscript service obligation - 18 months
(either military or equivalent civil service) (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 3,542,797
females age 18-49: 3,551,447 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,218,662
females age 18-49: 2,408,810 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 187,000
females age 18-49: 184,833 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$329 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

7.2% (2005 est.)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 a failed attempt by
the previous president to amend the constitution to permit another
term, has struggled to assert his authority against his predecessor,
who still leads their shared political party. MUTHARIKA's
anti-corruption efforts have led to several high-level arrests and
one prominent conviction. Increasing corruption, population growth,
increasing pressure on agricultural lands, and the spread of
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: 20.68% permanent crops: 1.18% other: 78.14% (2005)

Irrigated land:
560 sq km (2003)

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:
13,013,926
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
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.5% (male 3,056,522/female 3,000,493)
15-64 years: 50.8% (male 3,277,573/female 3,332,907)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 139,953/female 206,478) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 16.5 years
male: 16.2 years
female: 16.8 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.38% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
43.13 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
19.33 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 94.37 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 98.66 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 89.96 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 41.7 years
male: 41.93 years
female: 41.45 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.92 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

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
local long form: Dziko la Malawi
local short form: Malawi
former: British Central African Protectorate, Nyasaland
Protectorate, Nyasaland

Government type:
multiparty democracy

Capital:
name: Lilongwe
geographic coordinates: 13 59 S, 33 44 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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
(eligible for a second 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]; Congress for
National Unity or CONU; Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [Bingu
wa MUTHARIKA]; 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
[Gwandaguluwe CHAKUAMBA] (coalition of MAFUNDE, MDP, MGODE,
NUP,
PETRA, PPM, RP); Movement for Genuine Democratic Change or MGODE
[Sam Kandodo BANDA]; National Democratic Alliance or NDA [Brown
MPINGANJIRA]; National Unity Party or NUP [Harry CHIUME]; 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

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, SADC,
UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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 36% of GDP and 80% of export revenues in 2005. The
performance of the tobacco sector is key to short-term growth as
tobacco accounts for over 60% 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, President MUTHARIKA
championed an anticorruption campaign. Malawi's recent fiscal policy
performance has been very strong, but a serious drought in 2005 and
2006 heightened pressure on the government to increase spending.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

 $8.038 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$2.172 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$600 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 35.4% industry: 17.6% services: 47%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 4.5 million (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 90%
industry and services: 10% (2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:
NA%

Population below poverty line:

55% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

50.3 (1997)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

15.1% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

9.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
 revenues: $818.4 million
expenditures: $895.9 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
68.4% of GDP (2006 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:

6.4% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
1.293 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 3.3% hydro: 96.7% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
1.202 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
5,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-186 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$513.1 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
tobacco 60%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood products,
apparel

Exports - partners:
US 17.9%, South Africa 11.2%, Egypt 7.6%, Germany 7%, Netherlands
6.9%, Japan 4.8%, Russia 4.6%, Mozambique 4.3%, UK 4.2% (2005)

Imports:
$767.9 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods,
transportation equipment

Imports - partners:
South Africa 36.9%, Zambia 9.2%, Zimbabwe 7.7%, Mozambique 7.1%,
India 6.8%, Tanzania 4.9%, US 4% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$175.5 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$982.4 million (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$401.5 million (2001)

Currency (code):
Malawian kwacha (MWK)

Currency code:
MWK

Exchange rates:
Malawian kwachas per US dollar - 139.786 (2006), 108.894 (2005),
108.898 (2004), 97.433 (2003), 76.687 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

Communications Malawi

Telephones - main lines in use:

102,700 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

429,300 (2005)

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:
377 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2002)

Internet users:
52,500 (2005)

Transportation Malawi

Airports: 42 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 20 (2006)

Railways:
total: 797 km
narrow gauge: 797 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)

Roadways: total: 15,451 km paved: 6,956 km unpaved: 8,495 km (2003)

Waterways:
700 km (on Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) and Shire River) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Chipoka, Monkey Bay, Nkhata Bay, Nkhotakota, Chilumba

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: 2,430,514 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,226,802 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$15.81 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.8% (2005 est.)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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. During the 22-year term of Prime Minister MAHATHIR bin Mohamad
(1981-2003), Malaysia was successful in diversifying its economy
from dependence on exports of raw materials, to expansion in
manufacturing, services, and tourism.

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: 5.46% permanent crops: 17.54% other: 77% (2005)

Irrigated land:
3,650 sq km (2003)
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:
24,385,858 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 32.6% (male 4,093,859/female 3,862,730)
15-64 years: 62.6% (male 7,660,680/female 7,613,537)
65 years and over: 4.7% (male 509,260/female 645,792) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 24.1 years
male: 23.6 years
female: 24.8 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.78% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
22.86 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
5.05 deaths/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 17.16 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 19.87 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.5 years
male: 69.8 years
female: 75.38 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.04 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

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 (Cantonese, Mandarin,
Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Panjabi,
Thai
note: in East Malaysia there are several indigenous languages; most
widely spoken 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
local long form: none local 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 25 seats in House of
Representatives; Sarawak holds 28 seats in House of Representatives

Capital:
name: Kuala Lumpur
geographic coordinates: 3 10 N, 101 42 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
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; Islamic law is applied to
Muslims in matters of family law and religion

Suffrage:
21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Paramount Ruler Sultan MIZAN Zainal Abidin (since
13 December 2006)
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 3
November 2006 (next to be held in 2011); 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: Sultan MIZAN Zainal Abidin 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 [LIEW Vui Keong]; Malaysian Chinese
Association (Persatuan China Malaysia) or MCA [ONG Ka Ting];
Malaysian Indian Congress (Kongresi India Malaysia) or MIC [S. Samy
VELLU]; Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah or PBRS [Joseph KURUP]; Parti
Bersatu Sabah or PBS [Joseph PAIRIN Kitingan]; Parti Pesaka
Bumiputera 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 DUNDANG];
opposition coalition Alternative Front (Barisan Alternatif) or BA -
consists of PAS and PKR

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, FAO, G-15, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC,
NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador RAJMAH binti Hussain
chancery: 3516 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 572-9700
FAX: [1] (202) 572-9882
consulate(s) general: Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher J. LAFLEUR
embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur 50440
mailing address: US 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 1990s 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% because of 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
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and the Iraq War led to
caution in the business community. Growth topped 7% in 2004 and 5%
per year in 2005-06. As an oil and gas exporter, Malaysia has
 profited from higher world energy prices, although the rising cost
of domestic gasoline and diesel fuel forced Kuala Lumpur to reduce
government subsidies, contributing to higher inflation. Malaysia
"unpegged" the ringgit from the US dollar in 2005 and the currency
appreciated 6% against the dollar in 2006. Healthy foreign exchange
reserves and a small external debt greatly reduce the risk that
Malaysia will experience a financial crisis over the near term
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):

$308.8 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$131.8 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$12,700 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8.3% industry: 48.1% services: 43.6%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 10.73 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 14.5% industry: 36% services: 49.5%

(2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:
3.5% (2006 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):

3.8% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $31.63 billion
expenditures: $37 billion; including capital expenditures of $9.4
billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
46.7% of GDP (2006 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, timber processing; Sabah - logging, petroleum
production; Sarawak - agriculture processing, petroleum production
and refining, logging

Industrial production growth rate:

5.8% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
78.24 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 89.5% hydro: 10.5% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
72.71 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
50 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
770,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
515,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
230,200 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2003)

Oil - proved reserves:

3.1 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

62.43 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

32.97 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

29.46 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

2.124 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$17.86 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
 $158.7 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
electronic equipment, petroleum and liquefied natural gas, wood and
wood products, palm oil, rubber, textiles, chemicals

Exports - partners:
US 19.7%, Singapore 15.6%, Japan 9.3%, China 6.6%, Hong Kong 5.8%,
Thailand 5.4% (2005)

Imports:
$127.3 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
electronics, machinery, petroleum products, plastics, vehicles,
iron and steel products, chemicals

Imports - partners:
Japan 14.6%, US 13%, Singapore 11.8%, China 11.6%, Taiwan 5.6%,
Thailand 5.3%, South Korea 5%, Germany 4.5% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$82.3 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$57.77 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Currency (code):
ringgit (MYR)

Currency code:
MYR

Exchange rates:
ringgits per US dollar - 3.67 (2006), 3.8 (2005), 3.8 (2004), 3.8
(2003), 3.8 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Malaysia

Telephones - main lines in use:

4.366 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

19.545 million (2005)

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:

mainland Malaysia 51; Sabah 16; Sarawak 21; note - many are low
power stations (2006)

Televisions:
10.8 million (1999)

Internet country code:

.my

Internet hosts:
158,650 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

7 (2000)
Internet users:
11.016 million (2005)

Transportation Malaysia

Airports: 117 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 37 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9

1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 7 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 80 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 7

under 914 m: 72 (2006)

Heliports:
2 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate 282 km; gas 5,372 km; oil 1,715 km; oil/gas/water 19 km;
refined products 114 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 1,890 km
standard gauge: 57 km 1.435-m gauge (57 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,833 km 1.000-m gauge (150 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 98,721 km
paved: 80,280 km (including 1,821 km of expressways)
unpaved: 18,441 km (2004)

Waterways:
7,200 km
note: Peninsular Malaysia 3,200 km, Sabah 1,500 km, Sarawak 2,500 km
(2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 312 ships (1000 GRT or over) 5,542,727 GRT/7,544,154 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 19, cargo 99, chemical tanker 38, container
48, liquefied gas 27, livestock carrier 1, passenger/cargo 8,
 petroleum tanker 61, roll on/roll off 5, vehicle carrier 6
foreign-owned: 66 (China 1, Germany 2, Hong Kong 14, Japan 4, South
Korea 1, Singapore 44)
registered in other countries: 68 (Bahamas 12, Belize 1, Cayman
Islands 1, Mongolia 1, Panama 13, Philippines 1, Singapore 35, US 4)
(2006)

Ports and terminals:

Bintulu, Johor, Labuan, Lahad Datu, Lumut, Miri, George Town
(Penang), Port Kelang, Tanjung Pelepas

Military Malaysia

Military branches:
Malaysian Armed Forces (Angkatan Tentera Malaysia, ATM): Malaysian
Army (Tentera Darat Malaysia), Royal Malaysian Navy (Tentera Laut
Diraja Malaysia, TLDM), Royal Malaysian Air Force (Tentera Udara
Diraja Malaysia, TUDM) (2006)

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
females age 18-49: 5,510,345 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 4,574,854
females age 18-49: 4,613,321 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 244,418
females age 18-49: 231,896 (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, and maritime boundaries in the
Johor and Singapore Straits; in November 2007 the ICJ will hold
public hearings in response to the Memorials and Countermemorials
filed by the parties in 2003 and 2005 over sovereignty of Pedra
Branca Island/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge; ICJ
awarded Ligitan and Sipadan islands, also claimed by Indonesia and
Philippines, to Malaysia but left maritime boundary and sovereignty
of Unarang rock in the hydrocarbon-rich Celebes Sea in dispute;
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 dormant claim to
Malaysia's Sabah State in northern Borneo; Brunei and Malaysia are
still considering international adjudication over their disputed
offshore and deepwater seabeds, where hydrocarbon exploration was
terminated in 2003; Malaysia's land boundary with Brunei around
Limbang is in dispute; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 19,153 (Indonesia), 14,208 (Burma)
(2006)

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Malaysia is a destination and, to a lesser
extent, a source and transit country for men and women trafficked
for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor; foreign
victims, mostly women and girls from China, Indonesia, Thailand, the
 Philippines, and Vietnam, are trafficked to Malaysia for commercial
sexual exploitation; economic migrants from countries in the region
who work as domestic servants or laborers in the construction and
agricultural sectors face exploitative conditions in Malaysia that
meet the definition of involuntary servitude; some Malaysian women,
primarily of Chinese ethnicity, are trafficked abroad for sexual
exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Malaysia is placed on Tier 2 Watch
List for its failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to
combat trafficking, particularly its failure to provide protection
for victims of trafficking

Illicit drugs:
regional transit point for some illicit drugs; drug trafficking
prosecuted vigorously and carries severe penalties

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 pledged to embark upon democratic
reforms, including a more representative political system and
 expanded political freedoms. Progress has been slow, however, and
many promised reforms have been delayed indefinitely. 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: 30%
other: 56.67% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

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:
 359,008 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.4% (male 80,113/female 75,763)
15-64 years: 53.5% (male 98,040/female 94,029)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 5,477/female 5,586) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 17.9 years
male: 17.8 years
female: 18 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.78% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
34.81 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
7.06 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.98 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 54.89 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 54.01 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 55.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 64.41 years
male: 63.08 years
female: 65.8 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.9 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Male
geographic coordinates: 4 10 N, 73 31 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
19 atolls (atholhu, singular and plural) and the capital city*;
Alifu, Baa, Dhaalu, Faafu, Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu Dhaalu, Gnaviyani, Haa
Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Kaafu, Laamu, Lhaviyani, Maale* (Male), 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:

political parties were allowed to register in June 2005; the first
entrants are: Adhaalath (Justice) Party or AP [Abdul Majeed Abdul
BARI]; Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (Maldivian People's Party) or DRP
[Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM]; Islamic Democratic Party or IDP [Omar
NASEER]; Maldivian Democratic Party or MDP [Mohamed NASHEED]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

various unregistered political parties

International organization participation:

AsDB, C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mohamed LATHEEF
chancery: 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400E, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 599-6195
FAX: [1] (212) 661-6405
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 28% 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 the second leading sector.
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 7% of GDP. 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. Real GDP growth averaged over 7.5%
per year for more than a decade. In late December 2004, a major
tsunami left more than 100 dead, 12,000 displaced, and property
damage exceeding $300 million. As a result of the tsunami, the GDP
contracted by about 3.6% in 2005. A rebound in tourism, post-tsunami
reconstruction, and development of new resorts helped boost GDP by
nearly 18 percent in 2006. The trade deficit has expanded sharply as
a result of high oil prices and imports of construction material.
Diversifying beyond tourism and fishing is the major challenge
facing the government. Over the longer term Maldivian authorities
worry about the impact of erosion and possible global warming on
their low-lying country; 80% of the area is one meter or less above
sea level.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.25 billion (2002 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$817 million (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

-3.6% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$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:

21% (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6% (2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $508 million (including foreign grants)
expenditures: $671 million (2006 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:

-0.9% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:
149.9 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
139.4 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
7,200 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)
Exports:
$123 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
fish

Exports - partners:
Japan 22.8%, Thailand 22.7%, Sri Lanka 16.4%, UK 12.6%, Singapore
5.8%, Germany 4.8%, France 4.3% (2005)

Imports:
$567 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
petroleum products, ships, foodstuffs, clothing, intermediate and
capital goods

Imports - partners:
Singapore 24.1%, UAE 15.7%, India 11.3%, Malaysia 7.2%, Sri Lanka
5.7%, UK 4.5% (2005)

Debt - external:
$304 million (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$27.9 million (2004)

Currency (code):
rufiyaa (MVR)

Currency code:
MVR

Exchange rates:
rufiyaa per US dollar - 12.8 (2006), 12.8 (2005), 12.8 (2004), 12.8
(2003), 12.8 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Maldives

Telephones - main lines in use:

32,181 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

271,053 (2006)

Telephone system:
general assessment: Telephone services have improved; each island
now has at least one public telephone, and there are mobile cellular
networks with expanding subscribership
domestic: interatoll communication through microwave links; all
inhabited islands and resorts 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 (2006)

Televisions:
10,000 (1999)

Internet country code:

.mv

Internet hosts:
1,357 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)
Internet users:
19,000 (2005)

Transportation Maldives

Airports: 5 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

(2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 88 km
paved roads: 88 km - 60 km in Male; 14 km on Addu Atolis; 14 km on
Laamu
note: village roads are mainly compacted coral (2006)

Merchant marine:
total: 17 ships (1000 GRT or over) 67,149 GRT/87,220 DWT
by type: cargo 13, petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 2
registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Male

Military Maldives

Military branches:
National Security Service: 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
females age 18-49: 69,229 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 56,687
females age 18-49: 54,454 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$45.07 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

5.5% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Maldives

Disputes - international:
none

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 10,000 (December 2004 tsunami victims) (2006)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 by a coup
that ushered in democratic government. President Alpha KONARE won
Mali's first democratic presidential election in 1992 and was
reelected in 1997. In keeping with Mali's two-term constitutional
limit, KONARE 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: 3.76% permanent crops: 0.03% other: 96.21% (2005)

Irrigated land:
2,360 sq km (2003)

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, Whaling
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:
11,716,829 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 48.2% (male 2,857,670/female 2,787,506)
15-64 years: 48.8% (male 2,804,344/female 2,910,097)
65 years and over: 3% (male 146,458/female 210,754) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 15.8 years
male: 15.4 years
female: 16.3 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.63% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
49.82 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
16.89 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-6.6 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 107.58 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 117.32 deaths/1,000 live births
 female: 97.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 49 years
male: 47.05 years
female: 51.01 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

7.42 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

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:
name: Bamako
geographic coordinates: 12 39 N, 8 00 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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
(eligible for a second term); election last held 12 May 2002 (next
to be held April 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 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 (including RPM 42, CNID 10, and MPR 3), ADEMA
51, other 30

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance for Democracy and Progress or ADP (a coalition of 14
political parties including ADEMA and URD formed in December 2006 to
support the presidential candidacy of Amadou TOURE); Alliance for
Democracy or ADEMA [Diounconda TRAORE, party chairman]; Convergence
2007 [Soumeylou Boubeye MAIGA]; Hope 2002 (a coalition of CNID, MPR,
RDT, and RPM); 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 [Tiebile
DRAME, secretary general]; Patriotic Movement for Renewal or MPR
[Choguel MAIGA]; Rally for Democracy and Labor or RDT; Rally for
Mali or RPM [Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA, chairman]; Sudanese
 Union/African Democratic Rally or US/RDA [Mamadou Bamou 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:

Alliance for Democratic Change or ACD; 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,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, ONUB,
OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU,
WADB
(regional), WAEMU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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 Terrence P. MCCULLEY
embassy: Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V, Bamako
mailing address: B. P. 34, Bamako
telephone: [223] 222-5470
FAX: [223] 222-3712

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 CFA franc in January 1994 have pushed up economic
growth to a sturdy 5% average in 1996-2006. Worker remittances and
external trade routes for the landlocked country have been
jeopardized by continued unrest in neighboring Cote d'Ivoire.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$14.59 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$5.847 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.1% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,200 (2006 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: 80% industry and services: 20% (2001
est.)

Unemployment rate:
14.6% (2001 est.)

Population below poverty line:

 64% (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%

Electricity - production:
410 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 41.7% hydro: 58.3% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption: 381.3 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports: 0 kWh; note - recent hydropower developments may be

providing electricity to Senegal and Mauritania (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
4,300 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$323 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
cotton, gold, livestock

Exports - partners:
China 29.3%, Thailand 10.1%, Taiwan 7.7%, Italy 5.3%, Bangladesh
4.5%, France 4.4% (2005)

Imports:
$1.858 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
petroleum, machinery and equipment, construction materials,
foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners:
France 13%, Senegal 13%, Cote d'Ivoire 8.5% (2005)

Debt - external:
$2.8 billion (2002)
Economic aid - recipient:
$472.1 million (2002)

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 - 527.47
(2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Mali

Telephones - main lines in use:

75,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

869,600 (2005)

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:
278 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

13 (2001)

Internet users:
60,000 (2005)

Transportation Mali

Airports:
29 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 20 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m:

5 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 8 (2006)

Railways: total: 729 km narrow gauge: 729 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)

Roadways: total: 18,709 km paved: 3,368 km unpaved: 15,341 km (2004)

Waterways:
1,815 km (2005)

Ports and terminals:

Koulikoro

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 - two years (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,094,432
females age 18-49: 2,027,352 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,244,176
females age 18-49: 1,226,226 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$106.3 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.9% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Mali

Disputes - international:
none

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 6,165 (Mauritania) (2006)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 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; mild, rainy winters; hot, dry summers

Terrain:
mostly low, rocky, flat to dissected plains; many coastal cliffs

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)

Natural resources:
limestone, salt, arable land

Land use: arable land: 31.25% permanent crops: 3.13% other: 65.62% (2005)

Irrigated land:
20 sq km (2003)

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:
400,214 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.1% (male 35,264/female 33,368)
15-64 years: 69.1% (male 139,890/female 136,767)
65 years and over: 13.7% (male 23,554/female 31,371) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 38.7 years
male: 37.2 years
female: 40.1 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.42% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
10.22 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
8.1 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 3.86 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.34 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.35 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.01 years
male: 76.83 years
female: 81.31 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.5 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Valletta
geographic coordinates: 35 54 N, 14 31 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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 Edward 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 (eligible for a second 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; 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 August 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - PN 51.79%, MLP 47.51%,
AD 0.68%; 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, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NSG, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO,
UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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 Molly BORDONARO
embassy: 3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana,
VLT 01
mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta, 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 few 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):

$8.122 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$5.39 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.3% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$20,300 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3% industry: 23% services: 74%

(2003 est.)

Labor force: 160,000 (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 3% industry: 22% services: 75% (2005

est.)

Unemployment rate:
7.8% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.3% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
25.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $2.503 billion
expenditures: $2.703 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 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:
2.291 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
2.13 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
19,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-966.2 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$2.425 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactures

Exports - partners:
France 15.4%, US 14.4%, Singapore 12.3%, UK 11.3%, Germany 11.2%,
Italy 5.1%, Libya 4.2% (2005)

Imports:
$4.077 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured and
semi-manufactured goods; food, drink, tobacco

Imports - partners:
Italy 32.3%, UK 11.5%, France 9.6%, Germany 8%, US 5.5%, Singapore
4.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$3.065 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
 $188.8 million (2005)

Economic aid - recipient:

$NA

Currency (code):
Maltese lira (MTL)

Currency code:
MTL

Exchange rates:
Maltese liri per US dollar - 0.37 (2006), 0.34578 (2005), 0.34466
(2004), 0.37723 (2003), 0.43362 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Malta

Telephones - main lines in use:

202,100 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

324,000 (2005)

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:

 5 (2006)

Televisions:
280,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.mt

Internet hosts:
14,025 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6 (2002)

Internet users:
127,200 (2005)

Transportation Malta

Airports: 1 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways: total: 2,227 km paved: 2,014 km unpaved: 213 km (2004)

Merchant marine:
total: 1,220 ships (1000 GRT or over) 23,917,414 GRT/38,685,924 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 434, cargo 344, chemical tanker 105,
combination ore/oil 1, container 59, liquefied gas 7, livestock
carrier 1, passenger 15, passenger/cargo 14, petroleum tanker 146,
refrigerated cargo 43, roll on/roll off 33, specialized tanker 2,
vehicle carrier 16
foreign-owned: 1,162 (Austria 1, Azerbaijan 2, Bangladesh 3, Belgium
10, Bulgaria 13, Canada 18, China 14, Croatia 10, Cyprus 15, Denmark
6, Estonia 4, France 6, Germany 64, Greece 495, Hong Kong 2, Iceland
4, India 1, Iran 14, Israel 23, Italy 29, Japan 1, South Korea 6,
Latvia 40, Lebanon 10, Monaco 1, Netherlands 6, Norway 49, Pakistan
1, Poland 27, Portugal 3, Romania 9, Russia 70, Slovenia 3, Spain 6,
Sweden 3, Switzerland 21, Syria 7, Taiwan 2, Turkey 123, UAE 5, UK
 8, Ukraine 24, US 3)
registered in other countries: 8 (Panama 3, Portugal 1, Russia 4)
(2006)

Ports and terminals:

Marsaxlokk, Valletta

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
females age 18-49: 87,047 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 74,525
females age 18-49: 71,333 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$38.168 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1% (2005 est.)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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, two archipelagic island chains of 29 atolls, each made up
of many small islets, and five single islands 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: 11,854.3 sq km
land: 181.3 sq km
water: 11,673 sq km (note - lagoon waters)
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 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: 11.11%
permanent crops: 44.44%
 other: 44.45% (2005)

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, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
Bikini and Enewetak are former US nuclear test sites; Kwajalein,
the famous World War II battleground, is used as a US missile test
range; island city of Ebeye is the second largest settlement in the
Marshall Islands, after the capital of Majuro, and one of the most
densely populated locations in the Pacific

People Marshall Islands

Population:
60,422 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.1% (male 11,720/female 11,295)
15-64 years: 59.2% (male 18,305/female 17,445)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 801/female 856) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 20.3 years
male: 20.4 years
female: 20.3 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.25% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
33.05 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
4.78 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-5.78 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 28.43 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 31.93 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 24.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.31 years
male: 68.33 years
female: 72.39 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.85 children born/woman (2006 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
local long form: Republic of the Marshall Islands
local short form: Marshall Islands
abbreviation: RMI
former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Marshall Islands
District

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:
name: Majuro
geographic coordinates: 7 05 N, 171 08 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president from among the members of
the legislature
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 legislature or Nitijela (33 seats; members elected by
popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 17 November 2003 (next to be held by November
2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA
note: the Council of Chiefs or Ironij is a 12-member body comprised
of tribal chiefs that advises on matters affecting customary law and
practice

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; High Court; Traditional Rights 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 - Aelon Kein Ad
Party [Michael 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, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, 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 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 (official exchange rate):

$144 million (2005)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.5% (2005 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,900 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 31.7% industry: 14.9% services:

53.4% (2004 est.)

Labor force: 14,680 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 21.4% industry: 20.9% services: 57.7%

Unemployment rate:
30.9% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3% (2005 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 seashells, wood,
and pearls

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0% other:

1% (solar)
Exports:
$9.1 million f.o.b. (2000)

Exports - commodities:
copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish

Exports - partners:
US, Japan, Australia, China (2004)

Imports:
$54.7 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 (2004)

Debt - external:
$86.5 million (FY99/00 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$51.1 million more than $1 billion from the US, 1986-2002 (2004)

Currency (code):
US dollar (USD)

Currency code:
USD

Exchange rates:
the US dollar is used

Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September

Communications Marshall Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:

 5,510 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1,198 (2004)

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
high frequency radiotelephone (used mostly for government purposes)
and mini-satellite telephones
international: country code - 692; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean); US Government satellite communications
system on Kwajalein (2001)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0
note: additionally, the US Armed Forces Radio and Television
Services (Central Pacific Network) operate one FM and one AM station
on Kwajalein (2005)

Radios:
NA

Television broadcast stations:

2 (both are US military stations)
note: Marshalls Broadcasting Service (cable company) operates on
Majuro (2005)

Televisions:
NA

Internet country code:

.mh

Internet hosts:
6 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2002)

Internet users:
2,000 (2005)

Transportation Marshall Islands

Airports:
15 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 64.5 km
paved: 64.5 km
note: paved roads on major islands (Majuro, Kwajalein), otherwise
stone-, coral-, or laterite-surfaced roads and tracks (2002)

Merchant marine:
total: 795 ships (1000 GRT or over) 30,772,611 GRT/50,987,293 DWT
by type: barge carrier 2, bulk carrier 178, cargo 53, chemical
tanker 133, container 147, liquefied gas 25, passenger 7, petroleum
tanker 234, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 7, specialized
tanker 2, vehicle carrier 5
foreign-owned: 730 (Australia 2, Bermuda 4, Brazil 1, Canada 6,
Chile 1, Croatia 2, Cyprus 15, Denmark 1, Finland 2, Germany 194,
Greece 199, Hong Kong 7, Isle of Man 1, Italy 1, Japan 7, South
Korea 1, Latvia 7, Monaco 8, Netherlands 1, Norway 65, Russia 1,
Saudi Arabia 1, Singapore 6, Slovenia 3, Spain 3, Switzerland 13,
Turkey 20, UAE 3, UK 12, US 143)
 registered in other countries: 1 (North Korea 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Majuro

Military Marshall Islands

Military branches:
no regular military forces; Marshall Islands Police

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 13,465 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 10,792 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 726 (2005 est.)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 seized 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 and organized elections. Accordingly, parliamentary
elections were held in December of 2006 and senatorial and
presidential elections will follow (January and March 2007
respectively). The newly-elected legislature is expected to assume
power following the inauguration of the new president. For now,
however, Mauritania remains an autocratic state, and the country
continues to experience ethnic tensions among its black population
and different Moor (Arab-Berber) communities.

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: 0.2% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 99.79% (2005)
Irrigated land:
490 sq km (2002)

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, Whaling
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:
3,177,388 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 45.6% (male 726,376/female 723,013)
15-64 years: 52.2% (male 818,408/female 839,832)
65 years and over: 2.2% (male 28,042/female 41,717) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 17 years
male: 16.8 years
female: 17.3 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.88% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
40.99 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
12.16 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 69.48 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 72.44 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 66.43 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 53.12 years
male: 50.88 years
female: 55.42 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.86 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

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:
 name: Nouakchott
geographic coordinates: 18 06 N, 15 57 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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: Col. Ely Ould Mohamed VALL, whose Military Council
for Justice and Democracy deposed longtime President Maaouya Ould
Sid Ahmed TAYA in a coup 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 five-year term
(eligible for a second consecutive term); note - passage of a
constitutional reform referendum in July 2006 limits president to
two five-year terms; election last held 7 November 2003 (next to be
held 11 March 2007); 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 portion of 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 (95 seats; members elected
by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 9 and 16 April 2004 (next to be held
21 January 2007); National Assembly - last held 19 November and 3
December 2006
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - NA; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA; seats
by party - CFCD 41 (including RFD 16, United Forces for Progress
(UDP) 9, APP 5, Islamists 5, HATEM-PMUC 3, RD 2, FP 1), RNI
(coalition of independent candidates) 38, PRDR 7, Union for
Democracy and Progress (UDP) 3, RDU 3, Alternative (Al-Badil) 1,
RNDLE 1, UCD 1

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Cour Supreme; Court of Appeals; lower courts

Political parties and leaders:

Alternative or Al-Badil; Coalition for Forces for Democratic Change
or CFCD (coalition of political parties including RFD, United Forces
of Progress or UDP, APP, Islamists, HATEM-PMUC, RD, UDC); Democratic
Renewal or RD; Islamists (Centrist Reformists); Mauritanian Party
for Unity and Change or HATEM-PMUC; National Rally for Freedom,
Democracy and Equality or RNDLE; Popular Front or FP [Ch'bih Ould
CHEIKH MALAININE]; Popular Progressive Alliance or APP [Messoud Ould
BOULKHEIR]; Rally of Democratic Forces or RFD [Ahmed Ould DADDAH];
Rally for Democracy and Unity or RDU [Ahmed Ould SIDI BABA];
Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal or PRDR (formerly ruling
Democratic and Social Republican Party or PRDS) [Boullah Ould
MOGUEYA]; Union for Democracy and Progress or UDP [Naha Mint
MOUKNASS]; Union of Democratic Centre or UCD

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,
IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OIF, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Tijani Ould Mohamed EL 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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Charles H.
Twining
embassy: 288 Rue Abdallaye (between Presidency building and Spanish
Embassy), Nouakchott
mailing address: BP 222, Nouakchott
telephone: [222] 525-2660/525-2663
FAX: [222] 525-1592

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 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 which now stands at more than three times the level of annual
exports. 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. 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. In 2001,
exploratory oil wells in tracts 80 km offshore indicated potential
extraction at current world oil prices. Mauritania has an estimated
1 billion barrels of proved reserves. Substantial oil production and
exports began in early 2006 and averaged 75,000 barrels per day for
the year. Meantime the government emphasizes reduction of poverty,
improvement of health and education, and promoting privatization of
the economy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$8.397 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.641 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

19.4% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,600 (2006 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:

39 (2000)

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; cattle, sheep

Industries:
fish processing, mining of iron ore and gypsum

Industrial production growth rate:

2% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:
176.7 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 85.9% hydro: 14.1% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
164.3 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
 0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
75,000 bbl/day (2006 est.)

Oil - consumption:
24,200 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - proved reserves:

1 billion bbl (2005)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Exports:
$784 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
iron ore, fish and fish products, gold

Exports - partners:
Italy 14.8%, Japan 12.2%, France 11.9%, Belgium 8.5%, Germany 8.2%,
Cote d'Ivoire 7.1%, Spain 7.1%, Russia 5%, Netherlands 4.4% (2005)

Imports:
 $1.124 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods,
foodstuffs, consumer goods

Imports - partners:
France 18.2%, UK 7.1%, US 6.9%, China 6%, Spain 5%, Belgium 4.3%
(2005)

Debt - external:
$2.5 billion (2000)

Economic aid - recipient:

$305.7 million (2002)

Currency (code):
ouguiya (MRO)

Currency code:
MRO

Exchange rates:
ouguiyas per US dollar - NA (2005), NA (2004), 263.03 (2003),
271.74 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Mauritania

Telephones - main lines in use:

41,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

745,600 (2005)

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:
32 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2001)

Internet users:
14,000 (2005)

Transportation Mauritania

Airports:
25 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 8
 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 17 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 7

under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Railways: 717 km standard gauge: 717 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)

Roadways: total: 7,660 km paved: 866 km unpaved: 6,794 km (1999)

Ports and terminals:

Nouadhibou, Nouakchott

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 - two 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
females age 18-49: 607,955 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 370,513
females age 18-49: 384,269 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$19.32 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.4% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Mauritania

Disputes - international:
Mauritanian claims to Western Sahara remain dormant

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Mauritania is a source and destination country
for children trafficked for the purpose of forced labor, begging,
and domestic servitude; adults and children are subjected to
slavery-related practices rooted in ancestral master-slave
relationships in isolated parts of the country where a barter
economy exists
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Mauritania is placed on the Tier 2
Watch List for its failure to show evidence of increased efforts to
combat trafficking, particularly in the area of law enforcement

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Mauritius

Introduction Mauritius

Background:
Although known to Arab and Malay sailors as early as the 10th
century, Mauritius was first explored by the Portuguese in 1505; it
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: 49.02% permanent crops: 2.94% other: 48.04% (2005)

Irrigated land:
220 sq km (2003)

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: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, 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:
1,240,827 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 23.9% (male 149,486/female 147,621)
15-64 years: 69.5% (male 430,288/female 431,753)
65 years and over: 6.6% (male 31,939/female 49,740) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 30.8 years
male: 30 years
female: 31.8 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.82% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
15.43 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
6.86 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 14.59 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 17.23 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.63 years
male: 68.66 years
female: 76.66 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

 1.95 children born/woman (2006 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%, English (official;
spoken by less than 1% of the population), 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
 local long form: Republic of Mauritius
local short form: Mauritius

Government type:
parliamentary democracy

Capital:
name: Port Louis
geographic coordinates: 20 10 S, 57 30 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations

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 Navinchandra RAMGOOLAM (since 5
July 2005)
 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 (eligible for a second term); election
last held 25 February 2002 (next to be held in February 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 (70 seats; 62 elected by popular vote,
8 appointed by the election commission to give representation to
various ethnic minorities; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held on 3 July 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - AS
38, MSM/MMM 22, OPR 2; appointed seats - AS 4, MSM/MMM 2, OPR 2

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance Sociale or AS; 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] (the 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, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PCA, SADC,
UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO,
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, US 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):

$16.72 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$7.135 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.3% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$13,500 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5.1% industry: 25.2% services: 69.7%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 555,000 (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture and fishing 14%, construction and

industry 14%, transportation and communication 7%, trade, restaurants, hotels
36%, finance 3%, other services 7% (1995)

Unemployment rate:
9.4% (2006 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):

8.9% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

23.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.475 billion
expenditures: $1.854 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
57.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses; cattle, goats; fish

Industries:
food processing (largely sugar milling), textiles, clothing,
mining, chemicals, metal products, transport equipment,
nonelectrical machinery, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

8% (2000 est.)

Electricity - production:
2.107 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 90.8% hydro: 9.2% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
1.96 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
21,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-651 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$2.318 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses

Exports - partners:
UK 32%, France 17%, US 9.7%, UAE 8.6%, Madagascar 5.7%, Italy 5.7%
(2005)

Imports:
$3.391 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
manufactured goods, capital equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum
products, chemicals
Imports - partners:
China 9.8%, South Africa 8.6%, France 7.6%, India 6.9%, Bahrain
5.2%, Finland 4.8%, Germany 4.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.358 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$2.834 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$42 million (1997)

Currency (code):
Mauritian rupee (MUR)

Currency code:
MUR

Exchange rates:
Mauritian rupees per US dollar - 31.4607 (2006), 29.496 (2005),
27.499 (2004), 27.902 (2003), 29.962 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

Communications Mauritius

Telephones - main lines in use:

359,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

713,300 (2005)

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:
4,997 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:
180,000 (2005)

Transportation Mauritius

Airports: 6 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 3
 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 2,020 km
paved: 2,020 km (including 75 km of expressways) (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 6 ships (1000 GRT or over) 22,386 GRT/23,214 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, passenger/cargo 2, refrigerated cargo 2
foreign-owned: 4 (India 2, Switzerland 2) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Port Louis

Military Mauritius

Military branches:
no regular military forces; National Police Force, Special Mobile
Force, National Coast Guard

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 313,271 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$12.04 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.2% (2005 est.)

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; 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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
Natural hazards:
cyclones during rainy season

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:
part of Comoro Archipelago; 18 islands

People Mayotte

Population:
201,234 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 46% (male 46,512/female 46,067)
15-64 years: 52.3% (male 56,899/female 48,274)
65 years and over: 1.7% (male 1,756/female 1,726) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 17 years
male: 18 years
female: 16 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.77% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
40.95 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
7.7 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

4.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 60.76 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 66.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 54.58 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 61.76 years
male: 59.57 years
female: 64.02 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.79 children born/woman (2006 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:
departmental collectivity of France

Government type:
NA

Capital:
name: Mamoudzou
geographic coordinates: 12 47 S, 45 14 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)

Independence:
none (territorial overseas 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 8 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 the Interior; president of the General Council
elected by the members of the General Council for a six-year term;
next election to be held in 2010

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 in 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 in 2007); results - percent of
vote by party - UMP-RPR 55.08%, UDF 44.92%; seats by party - UMP-RPR
1

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Tribunal Superieur d'Appel

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Front or FD [Youssouf MOUSSA]; Mahoran Popular Movement
or MPM [Ahmed MADI]; Federation of Mahorans or RPR (UMP) [Mansour
KAMARDINE]; Force of the Rally and the Alliance for Democracy or
FRAP; 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 overseas collectivity of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)

Flag description:
unofficial, local flag with the coat of arms of Mayotte centered on
a white field, above which the name of the island appears in red
capital letters; the main elements of the coat of arms, flanked on
either side by a seahorse, appear above a scroll with the motto RA
HACHIRI (We are Vigilant); the only official flag is the national
flag of France

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 (official exchange rate):

NA

GDP - real growth rate:

NA%
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$2,600 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Labor force:
44,560 (2002)

Unemployment rate:
32.8% (2003)

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:
87.79 million kWh (2001)

Exports:
$4.85 million f.o.b. (2004)

Exports - commodities:
ylang-ylang (perfume essence), vanilla, copra, coconuts, coffee,
cinnamon

Exports - partners:
France 80%, Comoros 15%, Reunion (2004)

Imports:
$256.7 million f.o.b. (2004)

Imports - commodities:
food, machinery and equipment, transportation equipment, metals,
chemicals

Imports - partners:
France 66%, Africa 14%, Southeast Asia 11% (2004)

Debt - external:
$NA

Economic aid - recipient:

$208 million; note - extensive French financial assistance (2004)

Currency (code):
euro (EUR)

Currency code:
EUR

Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 0.79669 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004),
0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)

Fiscal year:
 calendar year

Communications Mayotte

Telephones - main lines in use:

10,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

48,100 (2004)

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

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 hosts:
1 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

NA

Internet users:
 NA

Transportation Mayotte

Airports: 1 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways: total: 93 km paved: 72 km unpaved: 21 km

Ports and terminals:

Dzaoudzi

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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: 12.66% permanent crops: 1.28% other: 86.06% (2005)

Irrigated land:
63,200 sq km (2003)

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:
107,449,525 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.6% (male 16,770,957/female 16,086,172)
15-64 years: 63.6% (male 33,071,809/female 35,316,281)
65 years and over: 5.8% (male 2,814,707/female 3,389,599) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 25.3 years
male: 24.3 years
female: 26.2 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.16% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
20.69 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
4.74 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-4.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 20.26 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 22.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.41 years
male: 72.63 years
female: 78.33 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.42 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Mexico (Distrito Federal)
geographic coordinates: 19 24 N, 99 09 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last
Sunday in October
note: Mexico is divided into four time zones

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 Felipe de Jesus CALDERON Hinojosa (since
1 December 2006); note - the president is both the chief of state
and head of government
head of government: President Felipe de Jesus CALDERON Hinojosa
(since 1 December 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president; note - appointment of
attorney general requires consent of the Senate
elections: president elected by popular vote for a single six-year
term; election last held 2 July 2006 (next to be held 1 July 2012)
election results: Felipe CALDERON elected president; percent of vote
- Felipe CALDERON (PAN) 35.89%, Andres Manuel Lopez OBRADOR
(PRD)
35.31%, Roberto MADRAZO (PRI) 22.26%, other 6.54%

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 2006 for all of the seats (next
to be held 1 July 2012); Chamber of Deputies - last held 2 July 2006
(next to be held 5 July 2009)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - PAN 52, PRI 33, PRD 29, PVEM 6, CD 5, PT 2, PNA 1; Chamber
of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - PAN
206, PRD 127, PRI 103, PVEM 18, CD 17, PT 16, other 13

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 [Luis MALDONADO Venegas];
Institutional Revolutionary Party or PRI [Mariano PALACIOS Alcocer];
Labor Party or PT [Alberto ANAYA Gutierrez]; Mexican Green
Ecological Party or PVEM [Jorge Emilio GONZALEZ Martinez]; National
Action Party (Partido Accion Nacional) or PAN [Manuel ESPINO
Barrientos]; New Alliance Party (Partido Nueva Alianza) or PNA
[Miguel Angel JIMENEZ Godinez]; Party of the Democratic Revolution
(Partido de la Revolucion Democratica) or PRD [Leonel COTA Montano];
Social Democratic and Peasant Alternative Party (Partido Alternativa
Socialdemocrata y Campesina) or Alternativa [Alberto BEGNE Guerra]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Broad Progressive Front or FAP; Businessman's Coordinating Council
or CCE; 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 Small Business Chamber or CANACOPE; National Syndicate of
Education Workers or SNTE; National Union of Workers or UNT; Popular
Assembly of the People of Oaxaca or APPO; Roman Catholic Church

International organization participation:

APEC, BCIE, BIS, CAN (observer), CDB, CE (observer), CSN
(observer), EBRD, FAO, G-3, G-6, G-15, G-24, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, NAFTA, NAM
(observer), NEA, OAS, OECD, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMOVIC, UNWTO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador 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, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York,
Nogales (Arizona), Omaha, Orlando, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Antonio,
San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Juan (Puerto Rico)
consulate(s): Albuquerque, Brownsville (Texas), Calexico
(California), Del Rio (Texas), Detroit, Douglas (Arizona), Eagle
Pass (Texas), Fresno (California), Indianapolis (Indiana), Kansas
City (Missouri), Laredo (Texas), Las Vegas, McAllen (Texas), Midland
(Texas), Oxnard (California), Philadelphia, Portland (Oregon),
Presidio (Texas), Raleigh, Saint Paul (Minnesota), Salt Lake City,
San Bernardino, Santa Ana (California), Seattle, Tucson, Yuma
(Arizona)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio O. GARZA, Jr.
embassy: Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, 06500 Mexico,
Distrito Federal
mailing address: P. O. Box 9000, Brownsville, TX 78520-9000
telephone: [52] (55) 5080-2000
FAX: [52] (55) 5511-9980
 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 new Felipe CALDERON administration that took office
in December 2006 faces many of the same challenges that former
President FOX tried to tackle, including the need to upgrade
infrastructure, modernize the tax system and labor laws, and allow
private investment in the energy sector. CALDERON has stated that
his top priorities include reducing poverty and creating jobs. The
success of his economic agenda will depend on his ability to garner
support from the opposition.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.134 trillion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$741.5 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.5% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$10,600 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.9% industry: 25.7% services: 70.5%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 38.09 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 18% industry: 24% services: 58%

(2003)

Unemployment rate:
3.2% plus underemployment of perhaps 25% (2006 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:

54.6 (2000)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.4% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

20% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $196.5 billion
expenditures: $196.2 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
20.7% of GDP (2006 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:

3.6% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
242.4 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 78.7% hydro: 14.2% nuclear:

4.2% other: 2.9% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
224.6 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
1.203 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
416 million kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
3.42 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
1.97 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
1.863 million bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports:
205,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves:

12.49 billion bbl (2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:
41.47 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

50.45 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

9.831 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

420.5 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-400.1 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$248.8 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
manufactured goods, oil and oil products, silver, fruits,
vegetables, coffee, cotton

Exports - partners:
US 85.7%, Canada 2%, Spain 1.4% (2005)

Imports:
$253.1 billion f.o.b. (2006 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 53.4%, China 8%, Japan 5.9% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

 $85.01 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$178.3 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$1.166 billion (1995)

Currency (code):
Mexican peso (MXN)

Currency code:
MXN

Exchange rates:
Mexican pesos per US dollar - 11.024 (2006), 10.898 (2005), 11.286
(2004), 10.789 (2003), 9.656 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Mexico

Telephones - main lines in use:

19.512 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

47.462 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: low telephone density with about 18 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), 1 Panamsat, 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 (2005)

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:
3,426,680 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

51 (2000)

Internet users:
18,622,500 (2005)

Transportation Mexico

Airports: 1,839 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 228
 over 3,047 m: 12
2,438 to 3,047 m: 28
1,524 to 2,437 m: 82
914 to 1,523 m: 77
under 914 m: 29 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1,611
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 68
914 to 1,523 m: 460
under 914 m: 1,081 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 22,705 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,875 km; oil 8,688 km;
oil/gas/water 228 km; refined products 6,520 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 17,562 km
standard gauge: 17,562 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 235,670 km
paved: 116,751 km (including 6,144 km of expressways)
unpaved: 118,919 km (2004)

Waterways:
2,900 km (navigable rivers and coastal canals) (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 56 ships (1000 GRT or over) 751,607 GRT/1,129,234 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 6, chemical tanker 6, liquefied gas
4, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 25, roll on/roll off 4
foreign-owned: 5 (Denmark 2, France 1, Norway 1, UAE 1)
registered in other countries: 15 (Belize 1, Honduras 1, Liberia 1,
Panama 5, Portugal 1, Spain 3, Venezuela 3) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Altamira, Manzanillo, Morro Redondo, Salina Cruz, Tampico,
Topolobampo, Veracruz

Military Mexico

Military branches:
Secretariat of National Defense (Secretaria de Defensa Nacional,
Sedena): Army (Ejercito), Mexican Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Mexicana,
FAM); Secretariat of the Navy (Secretaria de Marina, Semar): Mexican
Navy (Armada de Mexico, ARM, includes Naval Air Force (FAN) and
Marines) (2006)

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
females age 18-49: 26,128,046 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 19,058,337
females age 18-49: 21,966,796 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 1,063,233
females age 18-49: 1,043,816 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$6.07 billion (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.8% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Mexico

Disputes - international:
 Abundant rainfall in recent years along much of the Mexico-US
border region has ameliorated periodically strained water-sharing
arrangements; the US has intensified security measures to monitor
and control legal and illegal personnel, transport, and commodities
across its border with Mexico; Mexico must deal with thousands of
impoverished Guatemalans and other Central Americans who cross the
porous border looking for work in Mexico and the United States

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 10,000-12,000 (government's quashing of Zapatista uprising in
1994 in eastern Chiapas Region) (2006)

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Mexico is a source, transit, and destination
country for persons trafficked for sexual exploitation and labor;
while the vast majority of victims are Central Americans trafficked
along Mexico's southern border, other source regions include South
America, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia; women and
children are trafficked from rural regions to urban centers and
tourist areas for sexual exploitation, often through fraudulent
offers of employment or through threats of physical violence; the
Mexican trafficking problem is often conflated with alien smuggling,
and frequently the same criminal networks are involved; pervasive
corruption among state and local law enforcement often impedes
investigations
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Mexico remains on the Tier 2 Watch
List for the third consecutive year based on future commitments to
undertake additional efforts in prosecution, protection, and
prevention of trafficking in persons, and the failure of the
government to provide critical law enforcement data

Illicit drugs:
major drug-producing nation; cultivation of opium poppy in 2004
amounted to 3,500 hectares, but opium cultivation stayed within the
range - between 3,500 and 5,500 hectares - observed in nine of the
last 12 years; potential production of 9 metric tons of pure heroin,
or 23 metric tons of "black tar" heroin, the dominant form of
Mexican heroin in the western United States; marijuana cultivation
decreased 23% to 5,800 hectares in 2004 after decade-high
 cultivation peak in 2003; potential production of 10,400 metric tons
of marijuana in 2004; government conducts the largest independent
illicit-crop eradication program in the world; 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 90% 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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% (2005)

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:
108,004 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 36.6% (male 20,116/female 19,391)
15-64 years: 60.4% (male 32,620/female 32,659)
65 years and over: 3% (male 1,413/female 1,805) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 20.9 years
male: 20.5 years
 female: 21.4 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.11% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
24.68 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
4.75 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-21.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
NA

Infant mortality rate:

total: 29.16 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 32.17 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 26.01 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.05 years
male: 68.24 years
female: 71.95 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.16 children born/woman (2006 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%, other 3%

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
local long form: Federated States of Micronesia
local short form: none
former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Ponape, Truk, and
Yap Districts
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:
name: Palikir
geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 08 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
 Standard Time)

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)
cabinet: Cabinet includes the vice president and the heads of the
eight executive departments
elections: president and vice president elected by Congress from
among the four senators at large for a four-year term (eligible for
a second term); 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; 4 - 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, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC,
ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, 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, 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, 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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$277 million; note - supplemented by grant aid, averaging perhaps
$100 million annually (2002 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$232 million (2005)

GDP - real growth rate:

0.3% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,300 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 28.9% industry: 15.2% services:

55.9% (2004 est.)

Labor force:
37,410 (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:

note: 0.9% two-thirds are government employees, 34.4%, 64.7%

Unemployment rate:
22% (2000 est.)

Population below poverty line:

26.7%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.2% (2005)

Budget:
revenues: $127.3 million ($69 million less grants)
expenditures: $144.2 million; including capital expenditures of
$17.9 million (FY05 est.)
Agriculture - products:
black pepper, tropical fruits and vegetables, coconuts, cassava
(tapioca), betel nuts, sweet potatoes; pigs, chickens; fish

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)

Current account balance:

$-34.3 million (FY05 est.)

Exports:
$14 million (f.o.b.) (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
fish, garments, bananas, black pepper

Exports - partners:
Japan, US, Guam (2004)

Imports:
$132.7 million f.o.b. (2004)
Imports - commodities:
food, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, beverages

Imports - partners:
US, Japan, Hong Kong (2004)

Debt - external:
$60.8 million (FY05 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$86.3 million 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 (2004)

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:

12,400 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

14,100 (2005)

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 hosts:
550 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:
14,000 (2005)

Transportation Micronesia, Federated States of

Airports:
6 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)

Roadways:
 total: 240 km
paved: 42 km
unpaved: 198 km (1999)

Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,423 GRT/1,551 DWT
by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 1 (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Tomil Harbor

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)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 23,816 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 18,914 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 1,305 (2005 est.)

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues Micronesia, Federated States of

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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: 54.52% permanent crops: 8.81% other: 36.67% (2005)

Irrigated land:
3,000 sq km (2003)

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, Wetlands
 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:
4,466,706 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 20% (male 455,673/female 438,934)
15-64 years: 69.7% (male 1,498,078/female 1,613,489)
65 years and over: 10.3% (male 170,456/female 290,076) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 32.3 years
male: 30.3 years
female: 34.3 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.28% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
15.7 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
12.64 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 38.38 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 41.44 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 35.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 65.65 years
male: 61.61 years
female: 69.88 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.85 children born/woman (2006 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 78.2%, Ukrainian 8.4%, Russian 5.8%, Gagauz 4.4%,
Bulgarian 1.9%, other 1.3% (2004 census)
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: Moldova
former: Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic; Moldovan Soviet
Socialist Republic

Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Chisinau (Kishinev)
geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 28 50 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:
32 raions (raioane, singular - raionul), 3 municipalities
(municipiul), 1 autonomous territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala
autonoma), and 1 territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala)
raions: 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; 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 Zinaida GRECIANII (since 10
October 2005)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by president, subject to approval of
Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament for a four-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 4 April 2005 (next
to be held in 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 in 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:

Christian Democratic People's Party or PPCD [Iurie ROSCA];
Communist Party of the Republic of Moldova or PCRM [Vladimir
VORONIN, first chairman]; Democratic Party or PD [Dumitru DIACOV];
National Liberal Party or NLP [Vitalia PAVLICENKO]; Our Moldova
Alliance or AMN [Serafim URECHEAN]; Party for Social Democracy or
PSD [Dumitru BRAGHIS]; Social Liberal Party or PSL [Oleg SEREBRIAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT, BSEC, CE, CEI, CIS, EAEC (observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU,
GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO,
UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Nicolae CHIRTOACA
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 Michael D. KIRBY
embassy: 103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009
 mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [373] (22) 40-8300
FAX: [373] (22) 23-3044

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. Moldova's dependence on Russian energy
was underscored at the end of 2005, when a Russian-owned electrical
station in Moldova's separatist Transnistria region cut off power to
Moldova and Russia's Gazprom cut off natural gas to Moldova in
disputes over pricing. The economy achieved six percent or more GDP
growth every year from 2000-2005, though this was based largely on
consumption fueled by remittances received from Moldovans working
abroad. Russia's decision to ban Moldovan wine and agricultural
products, coupled with its decision to double the price Moldova paid
for Russian natural gas, slowed GDP growth in 2006 and greatly
exacerbated Moldova's economic troubles. Economic reforms have been
slow because of corruption and strong political forces backing
government controls; nevertheless, the government's primary goal of
EU integration has resulted in some market-oriented progress. The
economy remains vulnerable to higher fuel prices, poor agricultural
weather, and the skepticism of foreign investors. Also, the presence
of an illegal separatist regime in Moldova's Transnistria region
 continues to be a drag on the Moldovan economy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$8.971 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$2.588 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.6% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 21.5% industry: 22% services: 56.5%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 1.339 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 40% industry: 14% services: 46%

(1998)

Unemployment rate:
8%; note - 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:

36.2 (2001)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

12.8% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

 24.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.318 billion
expenditures: $1.335 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
84.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed,
tobacco; beef, milk

Industries:
sugar, vegetable oil, food processing, agricultural machinery;
foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines;
hosiery, shoes, textiles

Industrial production growth rate:

17% (2003 est.)

Electricity - production:
3.506 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 90.6% hydro: 9.4% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
6.731 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
130 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
3.6 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:
14,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

2.17 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

2.17 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-561 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$1.02 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
foodstuffs, textiles, machinery

Exports - partners:
Russia 32.9%, Italy 12.7%, Romania 10.6%, Ukraine 9.5%, Belarus
6.7%, Germany 4.5% (2005)

Imports:
$2.65 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
mineral products and fuel, machinery and equipment, chemicals,
textiles (2000)
Imports - partners:
Ukraine 20.9%, Russia 11.7%, Romania 11.2%, Germany 8.3%, Italy
6.6%, Turkey 4.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$680 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$2.142 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$100 million (2000)

Currency (code):
Moldovan leu (MDL)

Currency code:
MDL

Exchange rates:
lei per US dollar - 13.1571 (2006), 12.6 (2005), 12.33 (2004),
13.945 (2003), 13.571 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Moldova

Telephones - main lines in use:

929,400 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.09 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: inadequate, outmoded, poor service outside
Chisinau; some modernization is under way
domestic: depending on location, new subscribers may face long wait
for service; two private operators of GSM mobile cellular telephone
 service are operating; GPRS system is being introduced; license for
one CDMA mobile telephone network currently being tendered.
international: country code - 373; service through Romania and
Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - Intelsat, Eutelsat,
and Intersputnik

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 2, FM 29 (2004)

Radios:
3.22 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

40 (2004)

Televisions:
1.26 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.md

Internet hosts:
58,886 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (1999)

Internet users:
406,000 (2005)

Transportation Moldova

Airports: 12 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 6
 914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 606 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 1,138 km
broad gauge: 1,124 km 1.520-m gauge
standard gauge: 14 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 12,733 km
paved: 10,976 km
unpaved: 1,757 km (2004)

Waterways:
424 km (on Dniester River) (2005)

Merchant marine: total: 7 ships (1000 GRT or over) 13,831 GRT/15,003 DWT
by type: cargo 7 foreign-owned: 3 (Ukraine 3) (2006)

Military Moldova

Military branches:
National Army: Ground Forces, Rapid Reaction Forces, Air and Air
Defense Forces (2006)

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
females age 18-49: 1,117,070 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 693,913
females age 18-49: 911,568 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 43,729
females age 18-49: 42,354 (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 operate joint customs posts to monitor the
transit of people and commodities through Moldova's break-away
Transnistria region which remains under OSCE supervision

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Monaco

Introduction Monaco
Background:
The Genoese built a fortress on the site of present-day Monaco in
1215. The current ruling Grimaldi family secured control in the late
13th century, and a principality was established in 1338. 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) (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

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:
32,543 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.2% (male 2,539/female 2,417)
15-64 years: 62.1% (male 9,959/female 10,266)
65 years and over: 22.6% (male 3,015/female 4,347) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 45.4 years
male: 43.3 years
female: 47.3 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.4% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
9.19 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
12.91 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

7.68 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.35 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.46 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.69 years
male: 75.85 years
 female: 83.74 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.76 children born/woman (2006 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: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

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:
name: Monaco
geographic coordinates: 43 44 N, 7 25 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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:
18 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 [Guy MAGNAN]; Union for Monaco
or UPM (including National Union for the Future of Monaco or UNAM)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT, CE, FAO, IAEA, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IFRCS, IHO,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNITAR, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador to the US and UN Gilles NOGHES
chancery: 565 Fifth Avenue, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10017
telephone: (212) 286-0500
FAX: (212) 286-1574

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Ambassador to
France is accredited to Monaco; the US Consul General in Marseille
(France), under the authority of the US ambassador to France,
handles routine diplomatic and consular matters concerning 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.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$870 million
note: Monaco does not publish national income figures; the estimates
are extremely rough (2000 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

NA

GDP - real growth rate:

0.9% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$27,000 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0% industry: 4.9% services: 95.1%

(2005)

Labor force: 41,110 note: includes workers from all foreign countries (2004)
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: $719.2 million
expenditures: $864.1 million; including capital expenditures of
$283.1 million (2004 est.)

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:
$656.5 million
note: full customs integration with France, which collects and
rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market
system through customs union with France (2004)

Imports:
 $636.6 million
note: full customs integration with France, which collects and
rebates Monegasque trade duties; also participates in EU market
system through customs union with France (2004)

Debt - external:
$18 billion (2000 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$NA

Currency (code):
euro (EUR)

Currency code:
EUR

Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 0.7967 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004),
0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)

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:
12,720 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:
16,000 (2002)

Transportation Monaco

Heliports: 1 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 50 km
paved: 50 km (1999)

Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 77 (Bahamas 17, Barbados 1, Bermuda
2, France 1, Georgia 13, Isle of Man 3, Liberia 10, Malta 1,
Marshall Islands 8, Norway 4, Panama 9, Saint Kitts and Nevis 1,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 4, Switzerland 2, unknown 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Monaco
Military Monaco

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 6,256 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 4,971 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 148 (2005 est.)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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. The ex-Communist Mongolian
People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) won elections in 1990 and 1992,
but was defeated by the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC) in the 1996
parliamentary election. 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: 0.76% permanent crops: 0% other: 99.24% (2005)

Irrigated land:
840 sq km (2003)

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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
 landlocked; strategic location between China and Russia

People Mongolia

Population:
2,832,224 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.9% (male 402,448/female 387,059)
15-64 years: 68.4% (male 967,546/female 969,389)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 45,859/female 59,923) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 24.6 years
male: 24.3 years
female: 25 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.46% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
21.59 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
6.95 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 52.12 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 55.51 deaths/1,000 live births
 female: 48.57 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 64.89 years
male: 62.64 years
female: 67.25 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.25 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Ulaanbaatar
geographic coordinates: 47 55 N, 106 53 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Saturday in March; ends last
Saturday in September

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,
Govisumber, 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 Miegombyn ENKHBOLD (since 25
January 2006); Deputy Prime Minister Mendsaikhan ENKHSAIKHAN (since
28 January 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the prime minister in consultation
with the president and confirmed by the State Great Hural
(parliament)
elections: presidential candidates nominated by political parties
represented in State Great Hural and elected by popular vote for a
four-year term (eligible for a second term); 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%; Miegombyn ENKHBOLD elected prime
minister by the State Great Hural 56 to 10

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 MDC collapsed; note - seats by party as of 1 December 2005
- MPRP 38, DP 25, M-MNSDP 6, CWRP 2, MRP 1, PP 1, independents 3

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 [Tsakhiagiyn ELBEGDORJ]; Motherland-Mongolian New Socialist
Democratic Party or M-MNSDP [Badarchyn ERDENEBAT]; Mongolian
People's Revolutionary Party or MPRP [Miegombyn ENKHBOLD];
Mongolian
Republican Party or MRP [Bazarsadyn JARGALSAIKHAN]; People's Party
or PP [Lamjav GUNDALAI]
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, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, OSCE (partner), SCO (observer),
UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ravdan BOLD
chancery: 2833 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 333-7117
FAX: [1] (202) 298-9227

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mark C. MINTON
embassy: Big Ring Road, 11th Micro Region, Ulaanbaatar
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002; P.O. Box 1021,
 Ulaanbaatar-13
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 because of
reform-embracing, free-market economics and extensive privatization
of the formerly state-run economy. Severe winters and summer
droughts in 2000-2002 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 was 10.6% in 2004, 5.5% in 2005, and 7.5% in
2006, largely because of high copper prices and new gold production.
Mongolia's economy continues to be heavily influenced 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, but the former's actual size 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 are sizeable, and money
laundering is a growing concern. Mongolia settled its $11 billion
debt with Russia at the end of 2003 on 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):

$5.781 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.54 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.5% according to official estimate (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,000 (2006 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 42%,

manufacturing 6%, trade 4%, services 29%, public sector 6% (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):
9.5% (2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $702 million
expenditures: $651 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)

Agriculture - products:
wheat, barley, vegetables, forage crops; sheep, goats, cattle,
camels, horses

Industries:
construction and construction materials; mining (coal, copper,
molybdenum, fluorspar, tin, tungsten, 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:
3.24 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
3.37 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Electricity - exports:
18 million kWh (2005 est.)

Electricity - imports:
130 million kWh (2005 est.)

Oil - production:
548.8 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
 11,220 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - exports:
515 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - imports:
11,210 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$852 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
copper, apparel, livestock, animal products, cashmere, wool, hides,
fluorspar, other nonferrous metals

Exports - partners:
China 48.1%, US 14.2%, Canada 11.6%, UK 8.3%, South Korea 6.2%
(2005)

Imports:
$1.011 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 34.5%, China 27.4%, Japan 7.1%, South Korea 5.3% (2005)

Debt - external:
$1.36 billion (2004)

Economic aid - recipient:

$215 million (2003)
Currency (code):
togrog/tugrik (MNT)

Currency code:
MNT

Exchange rates:
togrogs/tugriks per US dollar - 1,187.17 (2005), 1,185.3 (2004),
1,146.5 (2003), 1,110.3 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Mongolia

Telephones - main lines in use:

156,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

557,200 (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: network is improving with international direct
dialing available in many areas
domestic: very low density of about 5.5 main lines per 100 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:
272 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2001)

Internet users:
268,300 (2005)

Transportation Mongolia
Airports: 44 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 12 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 32 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3

1,524 to 2,437 m: 24 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Heliports: 2 (2006)

Railways: total: 1,810 km broad gauge: 1,810 km 1.524-m gauge (2005)

Roadways: total: 49,250 km paved: 1,724 km unpaved: 47,526 km (2002)

Waterways:
580 km
note: only waterway in operation is Lake Hovsgol (135 km); Selenge
River (270 km) and Orhon 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: 61 ships (1000 GRT or over) 319,053 GRT/479,190 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 49, passenger/cargo 1, roll on/roll
off 3
foreign-owned: 49 (China 4, Japan 1, North Korea 3, Lebanon 1,
Malaysia 1, Russia 13, Singapore 10, Syria 1, Thailand 1, UAE 5,
Ukraine 1, Vietnam 8) (2006)

Military Mongolia

Military branches:
Mongolian People's Army (MPA), Mongolian People's Air Force (MPAF);
there is no navy (2005)

Military service age and obligation: 18-25 years of age for compulsory military
service; conscript service obligation - 12 months in land or air defense forces or
police; a small portion of Mongolian land forces (2.5 percent) is comprised of
contract soldiers; women cannot be deployed overseas for military operations
(2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 736,182
females age 18-49: 734,679 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 570,435
females age 18-49: 607,918 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 34,674
females age 18-49: 34,251 (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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Montenegro
Introduction Montenegro

Background:
The use of the name Montenegro began in the 15th century when the
Crnojevic dynasty began to rule the Serbian principality of Zeta;
over subsequent centuries Montenegro was able to maintain its
independence from the Ottoman Empire. From the 16th to 19th
centuries, Montenegro became a theocracy ruled by a series of bishop
princes; in 1852, it was transformed into a secular principality.
After World War I, Montenegro was absorbed by the Kingdom of Serbs,
Croats, and Slovenes, which became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in
1929; at the conclusion of World War II, it became a constituent
republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. When the
latter dissolved in 1992, Montenegro federated with Serbia, first as
the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and, after 2003, in a looser
union of Serbia and Montenegro. In May 2006, Montenegro invoked its
right under the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro to
hold a referendum on independence from the state union. The vote for
severing ties with Serbia exceeded 55% - the threshold set by the EU
- allowing Montenegro to formally declare its independence on 3 June
2006.

Geography Montenegro

Location:
Southeastern Europe, between the Adriatic Sea and Serbia

Geographic coordinates:
42 30 N, 19 18 E

Map references:
Europe

Area:
total: 14,026 sq km
land: 13,812 sq km
water: 214 sq km
Area - comparative:
slightly smaller than Connecticut

Land boundaries:
total: 625 km
border countries: Albania 172 km, Bosnia and Herzegovina 225 km,
Croatia 25 km, Serbia 203 km

Coastline:
293.5 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
continental shelf: defined by treaty

Climate:
Mediterranean climate, hot dry summers and autumns and relatively
cold winters with heavy snowfalls inland

Terrain:
highly indented coastline with narrow coastal plain backed by
rugged high limestone mountains and plateaus

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Bobotov Kuk 2,522 m

Natural resources:
bauxite, hydroelectricity

Land use:
arable land: 13.7%
permanent crops: 1%
other: 85.3%

Irrigated land:
NA

Natural hazards:
destructive earthquakes
Environment - current issues:
pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets, especially in
tourist-related areas such as Kotor

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping

Geography - note:
strategic location along the Adriatic coast

People Montenegro

Population:
630,548 (2004)

Population growth rate:

3.5% (2004)

Birth rate:
12.6 births/1,000 population (2004)

Death rate:
9.2 deaths/1,000 population (2004)

Nationality:
noun: Montenegrin(s)
adjective: Montenegrin

Ethnic groups:
Montenegrin 43%, Serbian 32%, Bosniak 8%, Albanian 5%, other
(Muslims, Croats, Roma) 12%

Religions:
Orthodox, Muslim, Roman Catholic

Languages:
Serbian (Ijekavian dialect - official), Bosnian, Albanian, Croatian

Government Montenegro
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Montenegro
conventional short form: Montenegro
local long form: Republika Crna Gora
local short form: Crna Gora
former: People's Republic of Montenegro, Socialist Republic of
Montenegro

Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Podgorica (administrative capital)
geographic coordinates: 42 26 N, 19 16 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1 hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
note: Cetinje (capital city)

Administrative divisions:
21 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina); Andrijevia, Bar,
Berane, Bijelo Polje, Budva, Cetinje, Danilovgrad, Herceg Novi,
Kolasin, Kotor, Mojkovac, Niksic, Plav, Pluzine, Pljevlja,
Podgornica, Rozaje, Savnik, Tivat, Ulcinj, Zabljak

Independence:
3 June 2006 (from Serbia and Montenegro)

National holiday:
National Day, 13 July

Constitution:
12 October 1992 (was approved by the Assembly); note - Montenegro
is currently writing a new constitution set to be presented to
Parliament in spring 2007

Legal system:
based on civil law system
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Filip VUJANOVIC (since 11 May 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister Zeljko STURANOVIC (since 13
November 2006)
cabinet: Ministries act as cabinet
elections: president elected by direct vote for five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 11 May 2003 (next
to be held in 2008); prime minister proposed by president, accepted
by Assembly
election results: Filip VUJANOVIC elected on the third round; Filip
VUJANOVIC 63.3%, Miodrag ZIVKOVIC 30.8%

Legislative branch:
unicameral Assembly (81 seats, elected by direct vote for four-year
terms; changed from 74 seats in 2006)
elections: last held 10 September 2006 (next to be held 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
Coalition for a European Montenegro 41, SNS 12, Coalition SPP/NS/DSS
11, PZP 11, Liberals and Bosniaks 3, Democratic League-Democratic
Prosperity 1, Democratic Union of Albanians 1, Albanian Alternative 1

Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court (five judges with nine-year terms); Supreme
Court (judges have life tenure)

Political parties and leaders:

Albanian Alternative or AA [Vesel SINISHTAJ]; Bosniak Party or BS
[Rafet HUSOVIC]; Democratic League-Party of Democratic Prosperity or
SPP [Mehmet BARHDI]; Democratic Party of Socialists or DPS [Milo
DJUKANOVIC]; Democratic Serbian Party of Montenegro or DSS [Ranko
KADIC]; Democratic Union of Albanians or DUA [Ferhat DINOSA];
Liberal Party of Montenegro or LP [Miodrag ZIVKOVIC]; Movement for
Changes or PZP [Nebojsa MEDOJEVIC]; Party of Serb Radicals or SSR
[Dusko SEKULIC]; People's Party of Montenegro or NS [Predrag
POPOVIC]; People's Socialist Party or NSS [Emilo LABUDOVIC]; Serbian
People's Party of Montenegro or SNS [Andrija MANDIC]; Social
 Democratic Party or SDP [Ranko KRIVOKAPIC]; Socialist People's Party
or SNP [Srdjan MILIC]

International organization participation:

CEI, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICCt, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOM,
IPU, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO,
WIPO,
WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Miodrag VLAHOVIC

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Arlene
FERRILL
embassy: Ljubljanska bb, 82000 Podgorica, Montenegro
mailing address: (use street address)
telephone: [381] 81 225 417
FAX: [381] 81 241 358

Flag description:
a red field bordered by a narrow golden-yellow stripe with the
Montenegrin coat of arms centered

Economy Montenegro

Economy - overview:
The 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. The dissolution of the loose political union between Serbia
and Montenegro in 2006 led to separate membership in several
international financial institutions, such as the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development. On January 18, 2007, Montenegro
joined the World Bank and IMF. Montenegro is pursuing its own
membership in the World Trade Organization as well as negotiating a
Stabilization and Association agreement with the European Union in
anticipation of eventual membership. Severe unemployment remains a
 key political and economic problem for this entire region.
Montenegro has privatized its large aluminum complex - the dominant
industry - as well as most of its financial sector, and has begun to
attract foreign direct investment in the tourism sector.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$3.394 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$4.744 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

NA

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,800 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Labor force: 259,100 (2004)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 2% industry: 30% services: 68% (2004

est.)

Unemployment rate:
27.7% (2005)

Population below poverty line:

12.2% (2003)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.4% (2004)

Investment (gross fixed):

% of GDP NA

Budget:
revenues: NA
expenditures: NA
Public debt:
% of GDP NA

Agriculture - products:
grains, tobacco, potatoes, citrus fruits, olives, grapes;
sheepherding; commercial fishing negligible

Industries:
steelmaking, agricultural processing, consumer goods, tourism

Electricity - production:
2.864 billion kWh 2.864 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Electricity - consumption:
18.6 million kWh

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day

Oil - consumption:
450 bbl/day

Natural gas - consumption:

NA

Current account balance:

NA

Exports:
$171.3 million (2003)

Exports - partners:
Switzerland 83.9%, Italy 6.1%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 1.3% (2003)

Imports:
$601.7 million (2003)

Imports - partners:
Greece 10.2%, Italy 10.2%, Germany 9.6%, Bosnia and Herzegovina
9.2% (2003)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
NA

Debt - external:
NA

Economic aid - recipient:

NA

Currency (code):
euro (EUR)

Exchange rates:
euros per US dollar - 0.79669 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8089 (2004),
0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Montenegro

Telephones - main lines in use:

177,663 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

543,220 (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: modern telecommunications system with access to
European satellites
domestic: GSM wireless service, available through two providers with
national coverage, is growing rapidly
international: country code - 382 (the old code of 381 used by
Serbia and Montenegro will also remain in use until Feb 2007); two
international switches connect the national system

Radio broadcast stations:

31 (2004)
Television broadcast stations:
13 (2004)

Internet country code:

.me

Internet users:
50,000 (2004)

Transportation Montenegro

Airports:
5 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Railways:
total: 250 km
standard gauge: 250 km 1.435-m gauge (electrified 169 km) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 7,353 km
paved: 4,274 km
unpaved: 3,079 km (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 4 ships (1000 GRT or over) 9,458 GRT/10,172 DWT
by type: cargo 4
registered in other countries: 4 (Bahamas 2, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 2) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Bar

Military Montenegro

Military service age and obligation:

compulsory national military service abolished August 2006

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$2.306 billion

Military - note:
Montenegrin plans call for the establishment of a fully
professional armed forces

Transnational Issues Montenegro

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Montserrat

Introduction Montserrat

Background:
English and Irish colonists from St. Kitts first settled on
Montserrat in 1632; the first African slaves arrived three decades
later. The British and French fought for possesion of the island for
 most of the 18th century, but it finally was confirmed as a British
possession in 1783. The island's sugar plantation economy was
converted to small farm landholdings in the mid 19th century. 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: lava dome in English's Crater (in the Soufriere Hills
volcanic complex) estimated at over 930 m (2006)

Natural resources:
NEGL

Land use:
arable land: 20%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 80% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

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 comprised of three
major volcanic centers of differing ages

People Montserrat

Population:
9,439
note: an estimated 8,000 refugees left the island following the
resumption of volcanic activity in July 1995; some have returned
(July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
 0-14 years: 23.3% (male 1,125/female 1,079)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 2,957/female 3,245)
65 years and over: 10.9% (male 532/female 501) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 28.9 years
male: 28.6 years
female: 29.2 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.05% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
17.59 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
7.1 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 1.06 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 7.19 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.85 years
male: 76.67 years
female: 81.14 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.77 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Plymouth
geographic coordinates: 16 44 N, 62 14 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Plymouth was 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 Lowell LEWIS (since 2 June 2006)
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 31 May 2006 (next to be held by 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - MCAP 36.1%, NPLM 29.4%,
MDP 24.4%, independents 10.1%; seats by party - MCAP 4, NPLM 3, MDP
1, independents 1
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:

Montserrat Democratic Party or MDP [Lowell LEWIS]; Movement for
Change and Prosperity or MCAP [Roselyn CASSELL-SEALY]; New People's
Liberation Movement or NPLM [John A. OSBORNE]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

Caricom, CDB, 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 volcanic activity 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 (official exchange rate):

NA

GDP - real growth rate:

-1% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,400 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.2% industry: 23.1% services: 75.7%

(1999 est.)

Labor force: 4,521 note: lowered by flight of people from volcanic activity
(2000 est.)

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:
2 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
1.86 million kWh (2003)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2003)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2003)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - consumption:
380 bbl/day (2003 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$700,000 (2001)

Exports - commodities:
electronic components, plastic bags, apparel; hot peppers, limes,
live plants; cattle

Exports - partners:
US, Antigua and Barbuda (2004)

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 (2004)

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 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7
(2003), 2.7 (2002), 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 hosts:
386 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

17 (2000)

Internet users:
NA

Transportation Montserrat

Airports: 2 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 227 km
note: volcanic eruptions that began in 1995 destroyed most of the
road system (2003)

Ports and terminals:

Plymouth

Military Montserrat

Military branches:
no regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Police Force (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,298 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,899 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 84 (2005 est.)
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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 erode; 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, which
first met in 1997. Lower house elections were last held held in
September 2002 and upper house elections were last held in September
2006.

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% permanent crops: 2% other: 79% (2005)

Irrigated land:
14,450 sq km (2003)

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:
33,241,259 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 31.6% (male 5,343,976/female 5,145,019)
15-64 years: 63.4% (male 10,505,018/female 10,580,599)
65 years and over: 5% (male 725,116/female 941,531) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 23.9 years
male: 23.4 years
female: 24.5 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.55% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
21.98 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
5.58 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.87 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 40.24 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 43.99 deaths/1,000 live births
 female: 36.3 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.94 years
male: 68.62 years
female: 73.37 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.68 children born/woman (2006 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) (2007)

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:
name: Rabat
geographic coordinates: 34 02 N, 6 51 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
15 regions; Grand Casablanca, Chaouia-Ouardigha, Doukkala-Abda,
Fes-Boulemane, Gharb-Chrarda-Beni Hssen, Guelmim-Es Smara,
Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra, 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 US Government;
portions of the regions Guelmim-Es Smara and Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia
El Hamra as claimed by Morocco lie within Western Sahara; Morocco
claims another region, Oued Eddahab-Lagouira, which falls entirely
within Western Sahara

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 in 2006); Chamber of Representatives - last held 27
September 2002 (next to be held in 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 El
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 Union or UMP [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), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA,
MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE
(partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR,
UNOCI,
UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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 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:
Moroccan economic policies brought macroeconomic stability to the
country in the early 1990s but have not spurred growth sufficient to
reduce unemployment that nears 20% in urban areas. Poverty has
increased due to the volatile nature of GDP, Morocco's continued
dependence on foreign energy, and its inability to promote the
growth of small and medium size enterprises. However, GDP growth
rebounded to 6.7% in 2006 due to high rainfall, which resulted in a
strong second harvest. 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 and
Morocco's financial sector is rudimentary. Moroccan authorities
understand that reducing poverty and providing jobs is key to
domestic security and development. In 2004, Moroccan authorities
instituted measures to boost foreign direct investment and trade by
signing a free trade agreement with the US, which entered into force
in January 2006, and sold government shares in the state
telecommunications company and in the largest state-owned bank.
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, which
the government hopes to achieve by increasing tourist arrivals and
boosting competitiveness in textiles.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$147 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$56.72 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.7% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$4,400 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13.3% industry: 31.2% services:

55.5% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 11.25 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 40% industry: 15% services: 45%

(2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:
7.7% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

19% (2005 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 30.9% (1998-99)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

40 (2005 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.8% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $15.85 billion
expenditures: $20.39 billion; including capital expenditures of
$2.19 billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
70.9% of GDP (2006 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:

4% (2004 est.)

Electricity - production:
18.48 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 95.4% hydro: 4.6% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
18.89 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
1.7 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
300 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
170,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2000 est.)

Oil - imports:
147,800 bbl/day (2000 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

100 million bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

50 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

50 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.218 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$389 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
 $11.72 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
clothing, fish, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude minerals,
fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products, fruits,
vegetables

Exports - partners:
France 30.3%, Spain 18%, UK 6.2%, Italy 5.2%, India 4.1% (2005)

Imports:
$21.22 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
crude petroleum, textile fabric, telecommunications equipment,
wheat, gas and electricity, transistors, plastics

Imports - partners:
France 18.2%, Spain 11%, Saudi Arabia 6.8%, Russia 6.8%, Italy
6.1%, China 5.2%, Germany 4.7% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$18.21 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$17.9 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $706 million (2004)

Currency (code):
Moroccan dirham (MAD)

Currency code:
MAD

Exchange rates:
Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 8.77508 (2006), 8.865 (2005),
8.868 (2004), 9.574 (2003), 11.021 (2002)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Morocco

Telephones - main lines in use:

1,341,200 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

12.393 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: modern system with all important capabilities;
however, density is low with only 4 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:
3,218 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

8 (2000)

Internet users:
4.6 million (2005)

Transportation Morocco

Airports: 60 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 26 over 3,047 m: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5

1,524 to 2,437 m: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 34 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m:

9 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 11 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 715 km; oil 285 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 1,907 km
standard gauge: 1,907 km 1.435-m gauge (1,003 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 57,493 km
paved: 32,716 km (including 507 km of expressways)
unpaved: 24,777 km (2004)

Merchant marine:
total: 41 ships (1000 GRT or over) 382,781 GRT/285,435 DWT
 by type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 6, container 9, passenger/cargo
13, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 2, roll on/roll off 5
foreign-owned: 5 (France 1, Germany 2, Switzerland 1, UK 1)
registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Agadir, Casablanca, Mohammedia, Nador, Safi, Tangier

Military Morocco

Military branches:
Royal Armed Forces (Forces Armees Royales, FAR): Royal Moroccan
Army (includes Air Defense), Navy (includes Marines), Royal Moroccan
Air Force (Force Aerienne Royale Marocaine) (2006)

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
females age 18-49: 7,882,879 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 6,484,787
females age 18-49: 6,675,729 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 353,377
females age 18-49: 341,677 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$2.31 billion (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

5% (2003 est.)

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 resource 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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:
Southeastern 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: 5.43% permanent crops: 0.29% other: 94.28% (2005)

Irrigated land:
1,180 sq km (2003)

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, Wetlands
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:
19,686,505
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 2006
est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.7% (male 4,229,802/female 4,177,235)
15-64 years: 54.5% (male 5,207,149/female 5,519,291)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 230,616/female 322,412) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 18.3 years
male: 17.8 years
female: 18.8 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

 1.38% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
35.18 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
21.35 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 129.24 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 134.31 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 124.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 39.82 years
male: 39.53 years
female: 40.13 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.62 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

Nationality:
noun: Mozambican(s)
adjective: Mozambican

Ethnic groups:
African 99.66% (Makhuwa, Tsonga, Lomwe, Sena, and others),
Europeans 0.06%, Euro-Africans 0.2%, Indians 0.08%

Religions:
Catholic 23.8%, Muslim 17.8%, Zionist Christian 17.5%, 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:
name: Maputo
geographic coordinates: 25 58 S, 32 35 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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
(eligible for a second 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, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory),
 ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC,
NAM, OIC, OIF (observer), OPCW, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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 2000-06. 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 work force. 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. In late 2005, and
after years of negotiations, the government signed an agreement to
gain Portugal's majority share of the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectricity
(HCB) company, a dam that was not transferred to Mozambique at
independence because of the ensuing civil war and unpaid debts. More
power is needed for additional investment projects in titanium
extraction and processing and garment manufacturing that could
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):

$29.32 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$6.431 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

9.8% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,500 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 21.1% industry: 30.9% services: 48%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 9.4 million (2006 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% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.391 billion
expenditures: $1.822 billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
23.2% of GDP (2006 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:
11.58 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 2.9% hydro: 97.1% nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
9.592 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
8.75 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
7.576 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
11,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

80 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

80 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:

 127.4 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-444.4 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$2.429 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
aluminum, prawns, cashews, cotton, sugar, citrus, timber; bulk
electricity

Exports - partners:
Netherlands 59.7%, South Africa 16.2%, Zimbabwe 2.9% (2005)

Imports:
$2.815 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, chemicals, metal products,
foodstuffs, textiles

Imports - partners:
South Africa 42.9%, Netherlands 11.5%, Portugal 3.6% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.353 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$2.392 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$632.8 million (2001)

Currency (code):
metical (MZM)

Currency code:
MZM
Exchange rates:
meticais per US dollar - 24.9245 (2006), 23,061 (2005), 22,581
(2004), 23,782 (2003), 23,678 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Mozambique

Telephones - main lines in use:

69,700 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.22 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: fair system but not available generally
(extremely low density with less than 1 main line per 100 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:
 6,985 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

11 (2002)

Internet users:
138,000 (2005)

Transportation Mozambique

Airports: 158 (2006)

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 (2006)

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 (2006)

Pipelines: gas 918 km; refined products 294 km (2006)

Railways: total: 3,123 km narrow gauge: 2,983 km 1.067-m gauge; 140 km

0.762-m gauge (2005)

Roadways: total: 30,400 km paved: 5,685 km unpaved: 24,715 km (1999)

Waterways:
460 km (Zambezi River navigable to Tete and along Cahora Bassa
Lake) (2002)

Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,964 GRT/5,324 DWT
by type: cargo 2
foreign-owned: 2 (Belgium 2) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Beira, Maputo, Nacala

Military Mozambique
Military branches:
Mozambique Armed Defense Forces (FADM): Mozambique Army,
Mozambique
Navy (Marinha Mocambique, MM), Mozambique Air Force (Forca Aerea de
Mocambique, FAM) (2006)

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.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 185,314 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$78.03 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.3% (2005 est.)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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: 0.01%
other: 99% (2005)

Irrigated land:
80 sq km (2003)

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:
2,044,147
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
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.2% (male 393,878/female 387,147)
15-64 years: 58.1% (male 596,557/female 591,350)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 34,245/female 40,970) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 20 years
male: 19.8 years
female: 20.1 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.59% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
24.32 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
18.86 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.47 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 48.1 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 51.99 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 44.09 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 43.39 years
male: 44.46 years
female: 42.29 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.06 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

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 includes 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
local long form: Republic of Namibia
local short form: Namibia
former: German Southwest Africa, South-West Africa
Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Windhoek
geographic coordinates: 22 34 S, 17 06 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in September; ends
first Sunday in April

Administrative divisions:
n13 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 21 March 2005)
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
(eligible for a second term); election last held 15 November 2004
(next to be held November 2009)
election results: Hifikepunye POHAMBA elected president; percent of
vote - Hifikepunye POHAMBA 76.4%, Den ULENGA 7.3%, Katuutire
KAURA
5.1%, Kuaima RIRUAKO 4.2%, Justus GAROEB 3.8%, other 3.2%

Legislative branch:
bicameral legislature consists of the National Council (26 seats; 2
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 29-30 November 2004
(next to be held November 2010); National Assembly - last held 15-16
November 2004 (next to be held November 2009)
election results: National Council - percent of vote by party -
SWAPO 89.7%, UDF 4.7%, NUDO 2.8%, DTA 1.9%; seats by party - SWAPO
24, UDF 1, DTA 1; National Assembly - percent of vote by party -
SWAPO 76.1%, COD 7.3%, DTA 5.1%, NUDO 4.2%, UDF 3.6%, RP 1.9%,
MAG
0.8%, other 1.0%; seats by party - SWAPO 55, COD 5, DTA 4, NUDO 3,
UDF 3, RP 1, MAG 1
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 [Jurie VILJOEN]; National Democratic Movement
for Change or NamDMC; National Unity Democratic Organization or NUDO
[Kuaima RIRUAKO]; Republican Party or RP [Henk MUDGE]; South West
Africa National Union or SWANU [Rihupisa KANDANDO]; 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, ICRM, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, ONUB, OPCW, SACU, SADC, UN,
UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO,
UPU, WCL,
WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Patrick NANDAGO
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 world's worst inequality of income distribution.
The Namibian economy is closely linked to South Africa with the
Namibian dollar pegged one-to-one to the South African rand.
Privatization of several enterprises in coming years may stimulate
long-run foreign investment. Increased fish production and mining of
zinc, copper, uranium, and silver spurred growth in 2003-06.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$15.04 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$5.304 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.1% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$7,400 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11.8% industry: 30.2% services:

58.1% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 653,000 (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 47% industry: 20% services: 33%

(1999 est.)

Unemployment rate: 5.3% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

the UNDP's 2005 Human Development Report indicated that 34.9% of
the population live on $1 per day and 55.8% live on $2 per day

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 0.5%
highest 10%: 64.5%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
70.7 (2003)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

25% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $2.233 billion
expenditures: $2.214 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
31.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
millet, sorghum, peanuts, grapes; livestock; fish

Industries:
meatpacking, fish processing, dairy products; mining (diamonds,
lead, zinc, tin, silver, tungsten, uranium, copper)

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:
1.397 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source:

NA

Electricity - consumption:
2.819 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
80 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
 1.6 billion kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
18,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
12,770 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

62.3 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$572 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$2.321 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle, processed
fish, karakul skins

Exports - partners:
South Africa 33.4%, US 4% (2004)

Imports:
 $2.456 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs; petroleum products and fuel, machinery and equipment,
chemicals

Imports - partners:
South Africa 85.2%, US (2004)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$480 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$887 million (2006 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 - 6.85 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597
(2004), 7.5648 (2003), 10.5407 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Namibia

Telephones - main lines in use:

127,900 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

495,000 (2005)
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:
3,527 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:
75,000 (2005)

Transportation Namibia

Airports: 137 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:
total: 21
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 116
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 72
under 914 m: 20 (2006)

Railways:
total: 2,382 km
narrow gauge: 2,382 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 42,237 km
paved: 5,406 km
unpaved: 36,831 km (2002)

Merchant marine:
total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 2,265 GRT/3,605 DWT
by type: cargo 1 (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Luderitz, Walvis Bay

Military Namibia

Military branches:
Namibian Defense Force: Army, Air Wing, Navy (2006)

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:

$149.5 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.3% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Namibia

Disputes - international:
concerns from international experts and local populations over the
Okavango Delta ecology in Botswana and human displacement scuttled
Namibian plans to construct a hydroelectric dam on Popa Falls along
the Angola-Namibia border; 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

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 11,900 (Angola) (2006)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Nauru
Introduction Nauru

Background:
The exact origins of the Nauruans are unclear, since their language
does not resemble any other in the Pacific. The island was annexed
by Germany in 1888 and its phosphate deposits began to be mined
early in the 20th century by a German-British consortium. Nauru was
occupied by Australian forces in World War I and subsequently became
a League of Nations mandate. After the Second World War - and a
brutal occupation by Japan - Nauru became a UN trust territory. It
achieved its independence in 1968 and joined the UN in 1999 as 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% (2005)

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, Whaling
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:
13,287 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 36.9% (male 2,507/female 2,391)
15-64 years: 61.2% (male 4,004/female 4,123)
65 years and over: 2% (male 139/female 123) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 20.6 years
male: 20 years
female: 21.2 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.81% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
24.76 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
6.7 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 1.13 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 9.78 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 12.29 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 63.08 years
male: 59.5 years
female: 66.84 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.11 children born/woman (2006 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
local long form: Republic of Nauru
local short form: Nauru
former: Pleasant Island

Government type:
republic

Capital:
no official capital; government offices in Yaren District
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:
20 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Ludwig SCOTTY (since 22 June 2004); note
- the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Ludwig SCOTTY (since 22 June 2004)
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 23 October 2004 (next to be held not later than
2007)
election results: percent of vote - NA; seats - Nauru First Party 3,
independents 15
note: the president dissolved parliament on 30 September 2004 and
set new elections for 23 October 2004

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

loose multiparty system; Democratic Party [Kennan ADEANG]; Nauru
Party (informal); Nauru First (Naoero Amo) Party

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: chief of mission: Ambassador Vinci Niel

CLODUMAR chancery: 800 2nd Avenue, Suite 400 D, New York, NY 10017
telephone: [1] (212) 937-0074 FAX: [1] (212) 937-0079 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, now significantly depleted. An Australian company in
2005 entered into an agreement intended to exploit remaining
supplies. 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 were 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 frozen wages and reduced overstaffed public service departments.
In 2005, the deterioration in housing, hospitals, and other capital
plant continued, and the cost to Australia of keeping the government
and economy afloat continued to climb. Few comprehensive statistics
on the Nauru economy exist, with estimates of Nauru's GDP varying
widely.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$60 million (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

NA
GDP - real growth rate:
NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$5,000 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Labor force - by occupation: note: 0.1% 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: $13.5 million
expenditures: $13.5 million (2005)

Agriculture - products:
coconuts

Industries:
phosphate mining, offshore banking, coconut products

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:
30 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
27.9 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$64,000 f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:
phosphates

Exports - partners:
South Africa 63.7%, South Korea 7.6%, Canada 6.6% (2005)

Imports:
 $20 million c.i.f. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
food, fuel, manufactures, building materials, machinery

Imports - partners:
South Korea 43.8%, Australia 36.2%, US 5.9%, Germany 4.3% (2005)

Debt - external:
$33.3 million (2002)

Economic aid - recipient:

$20 million mostly from Australia (2005)

Currency (code):
Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code:
AUD

Exchange rates:
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004),
1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002)

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 hosts:
52 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:
300 (2002)

Transportation Nauru

Airports: 1 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways: total: 30 km paved: 24 km unpaved: 6 km (1999 est.)

Ports and terminals:

Nauru

Military Nauru
Military branches:
no regular military forces; Nauru Police Force (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,874 (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

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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% (2005)

Natural hazards:
hurricanes

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 2006 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 occur within refuge
waters.

Transportation Navassa Island

Ports and terminals: 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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, gained traction and threatened 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. Citing
dissatisfaction with the government's lack of progress in addressing
the Maoist insurgency and corruption, the king in February 2005
dissolved the government, declared a state of emergency, imprisoned
party leaders, and assumed power. The king's government subsequently
released party leaders and officially ended the state of emergency
in May 2005, but the monarch retained absolute power until April
 2006. After nearly three weeks of mass protests organized by the
seven-party opposition and the Maoists, the king allowed parliament
to reconvene on 28 April 2006. In November 2006, the government and
Maoists signed the Comprehensive Peace Accord to end the ten-year
insurgency.

Geography Nepal

Location:
Southern Asia, between China and India

Geographic coordinates:
28 00 N, 84 00 E

Map references:
Asia

Area:
total: 147,181 sq km
land: 143,181 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: 16.07% permanent crops: 0.85% other: 83.08% (2005)

Irrigated land:
11,700 sq km (2003)

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 and
Kanchenjunga - the world's tallest and third tallest - on the
borders with China and India respectively
People Nepal

Population:
28,287,147 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.7% (male 5,648,959/female 5,291,447)
15-64 years: 57.6% (male 8,365,526/female 7,925,941)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 513,777/female 541,497) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 20.3 years
male: 20.1 years
female: 20.4 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.17% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
30.98 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
9.31 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 65.32 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 63.56 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 67.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 60.18 years
male: 60.43 years
female: 59.91 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.1 children born/woman (2006 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: 48.6%
 male: 62.7%
female: 34.9% (2000-2004 est.)

Government Nepal

Country name:
conventional long and short form: Nepal
local long and short form: Nepal

Government type:
parliamentary democracy

Capital:
name: Kathmandu
geographic coordinates: 27 43 N, 85 19 E
time difference: UTC+5.75 (10.75 hours ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time)

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:
note - in 2006 Parliament abolished the birthday of King GYANENDRA
(7 July) and Constitution Day (9 November) as national holidays

Constitution:
9 November 1990; the government began working on an interim
constitution in May 2006

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: Girija Prasad KOIRALA (since 30 April 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Girija Prasad KOIRALA (since 30
April 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers Khadga Prasad OLI (since 2 May
2006) and Amik SHERCHAN since June 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet historically appointed by the monarch on the
recommendation of the prime minister; note - the prime minister
selected the Cabinet in May 2006 in consultation with the political
parties
elections: following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or leader of a majority coalition historically has
been appointed prime minister by the monarch

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 in May 1999; note -
Parliament was dissolved in May 2002 but was finally reconvened in
April 2006 with most of the members that were elected in 1999
election results: House of Representatives (for 1999 parliament) -
percent of vote by party - NC 37.3%, CPN/UML 31.6%, NDP (RPP) 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; note - NC, NSP, and NDP have since each split into two parties

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) [Pashupati Shumsher
RANA, chairman]; Nepali Congress-Democratic [Sher Bahadur DEUBA,
president]; Nepali Congress or NC [Girija Prasad KOIRALA, party
president, Sushil KOIRALA, vice president]; Nepal Sadbhavana
(Goodwill) Party or NSP - Mandal [Bhadri Prasad MANDAL, party
president]; Nepal Sadbhavana Party - Ananda Devi [Ananda DEVI,
president]; Nepal Workers and Peasants Party or NWPP [Narayan Man
BIJUKCHHE, party chairman]; People's Front Nepal (Rastriya Jana
Morcha) [Amik SHERCHAN, chairman]; Rastriya Janashakti Party or RJP
[Surya Bahadur THAPA, chairman]; note - split from RPP in March
2005; Samyukta Janmorcha Nepal [leader NA]; note - merged with
People's Front Nepal or PFN in 2002

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Maoist guerrilla-based insurgency [Pushpa Kamal DAHAL, a.k.a.
PRACHANDA, chairman; Dr. Baburam BHATTARAI, deputy]; numerous
small,
left-leaning student groups in the capital; several small, radical
Nepalese antimonarchist groups

International organization participation:

AsDB, BIMSTEC, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IOM (observer), IPU,
ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM,
ONUB,
OPCW, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNMEE, UNMIL,
UNMIS, UNOCI, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)
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) 411-1179
FAX: [977] (1) 441-9963

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 almost one-third of its population living below the
poverty line. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, providing
a livelihood for three-fourths of the population and accounting for
38% of GDP. Industrial activity mainly involves the processing of
agricultural produce including jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and grain.
Security concerns relating to 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):

$41.92 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$7.154 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$1,500 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 38% industry: 21% services: 41%

(2005 est.)

Labor force: 10.4 million note: severe lack of skilled labor (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 76% industry: 6% services: 18%

Unemployment rate:
42% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

31% (2003-2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 39.1% (2003-2004)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

37.7 (FY04/05)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7.8% (October 2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.153 billion
expenditures: $1.789 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY05/06)

Agriculture - products:
rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops; milk, water buffalo meat

Industries:
tourism, carpet, textile; small rice, jute, sugar, and oilseed
mills; cigarettes, cement and brick production

Industrial production growth rate:

3.8% (FY04/05)
Electricity - production:
2.565 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 8.5% hydro: 91.5% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
1.85 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports:
111 million kWh (2005)

Electricity - imports:
241 million kWh (2005)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
11,980 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
11,760 bbl/day (2001 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$822 million f.o.b.; note - does not include unrecorded border
trade with India (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:
carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain
Exports - partners:
India 53.7%, US 17.4%, Germany 7.1% (2005)

Imports:
$2 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities:
gold, machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer

Imports - partners:
India 47.7%, UAE 11.2%, China 10.8%, Saudi Arabia 4.9%, Kuwait 4.2%
(2005)

Debt - external:
$3.34 billion (March 2005)

Economic aid - recipient:

$424 million (FY00/01)

Currency (code):
Nepalese rupee (NPR)

Currency code:
NPR

Exchange rates:
Nepalese rupees per US dollar - 71.368 (2005), 73.674 (2004),
76.141 (2003), 77.877 (2002)

Fiscal year:
16 July - 15 July

Communications Nepal

Telephones - main lines in use:

448,600 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

248,800 (2005)
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:
17,789 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6 (2000)

Internet users:
175,000 (2005)

Transportation Nepal

Airports: 48 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 10
 over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 38
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 29 (2006)

Railways:
total: 59 km
narrow gauge: 59 km 0.762-m gauge (2005)

Roadways: total: 17,380 km paved: 9,886 km unpaved: 7,494 km (2004)

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
females age 18-49: 5,744,989 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 4.193 million
females age 18-49: 3,853,102 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 308,031
females age 18-49: 286,604 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$104.9 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
1.5% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Nepal

Disputes - international:
joint border commission continues to work on contested sections of
boundary with India, including the 400 square kilometer dispute over
the source of the Kalapani River; India has instituted a stricter
border regime to restrict transit of Maoist insurgents and illegal
cross-border activities; approximately 103,000 Bhutanese Lhotshampas
(Hindus) have been confined in refugee camps in southeastern Nepal
since 1990

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 106,248 (Bhutan), 20,153 (Tibet/China)
IDPs: 100,000-200,000 (ongoing conflict between government forces
and Maoist rebels; displacement spread across the country) (2006)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Netherlands

Introduction Netherlands
Background:
The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence from Spain
in 1579; during the 17th century, they became a leading seafaring
and commercial power, with settlements and colonies around the
world. After a 20-year French occupation, a 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: 21.96% permanent crops: 0.77% other: 77.27% (2005)

Irrigated land:
5,650 sq km (2003)

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:
16,491,461 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 18% (male 1,515,123/female 1,445,390)
15-64 years: 67.8% (male 5,656,448/female 5,525,481)
65 years and over: 14.2% (male 994,723/female 1,354,296) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 39.4 years
male: 38.6 years
female: 40.2 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.49% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
10.9 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
8.68 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.72 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
 65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.96 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.52 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.38 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.96 years
male: 76.39 years
female: 81.67 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.66 children born/woman (2006 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%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

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:
name: Amsterdam
geographic coordinates: 52 23 N, 4 54 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
note: The Hague (seat of government)

Administrative divisions:
12 provinces (provincies, singular - provincie); Drenthe,
Flevoland, Friesland (Fryslan), Gelderland, Groningen, Limburg,
Noord-Brabant (North Brabant), Noord-Holland (North Holland),
Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland (South 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; on 26 July 1581
they formally declared their independence with an Act of Abjuration;
 however, it was not until 30 January 1648 and the Peace of
Westphalia that Spain recognized this 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, most recently in 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 November 2006 (next to be
held by early 2011)
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 26.5%, PvdA 21.2%, Socialist Party 16.6%, VVD 14.6%, Party for
Freedom 5.9%, Green Party 4.6%, Christian Union 4.0%; seats by party
- CDA 41, PvdA 33, Socialist Party 25, VVD 22, Party for Freedom 9,
Green Party 7, Christian Union 6, other 7

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Hoge Raad (justices are nominated for life by the
monarch)

Political parties and leaders:

Christian Democratic Appeal or CDA [Jan Peter BALKENENDE];
Christian Union Party [Andre ROUVOET]; Democrats 66 or D66
[Alexander PECHTOLD]; Green Left Party [Femke HALSEMA]; Labor Party
or PvdA [Wouter BOS]; List Pim Fortuyn [Olaf STUGER]; Party for
Freedom [Geert WILDERS]; People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
(Liberal) or VVD [Mark RUTTE]; Socialist Party [Jan MARIJNISSEN];
Party for Freedom or PVV [Geert WILDERS]; Party for the Animals or
PvdD [Marianne THIEME]; Reformed Political Party of SGP [Bas VAN DER
VLIES]; plus a few minor parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Netherlands Trade Union Federation or FNV (consisting of a merger
of Socialist and Catholic trade unions); Christian Trade Union
Federation or CNV; Trade Union Federation of Middle and High
Personnel or 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, Arctic Council (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, Benelux,
BIS, CBSS (observer), CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EMU, ESA, EU, FAO,
G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC,
 MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD,
OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNRWA, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
WEU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Christiaan Mark Johan KRONER
chancery: 4200 Linnean Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 244-5300
FAX: [1] (202) 362-3430
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York
consulate(s): Boston

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Roland E. ARNALL
embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague
mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715
telephone: [31] (70) 310-2209
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 2% 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
2001-06, 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):

$512 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$612.7 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.9% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$31,700 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.1% industry: 23.9% services: 73.9%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 7.6 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 2% industry: 19% services: 79% (2004

est.)

Unemployment rate:
5.5% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

10.5% (1999)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 22.9% (1999)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

 30.9 (2005)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.4% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $304.3 billion
expenditures: $306.5 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
50.8% of GDP (2006 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:

2.3% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
92.7 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 89.9% hydro: 0.1% nuclear: 4.3%
other: 5.7% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
102.4 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
5.2 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
 21.4 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
95,800 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
946,700 bbl/day (2004 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:

85.98 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

51.3 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

53.56 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

18.85 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.756 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$50.17 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$413.8 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs
Exports - partners:
Germany 24.9%, Belgium 13%, France 9.4%, UK 9.2%, Italy 5.7%, US
4.3%, Spain 4.1% (2005)

Imports:
$373.8 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs,
clothing

Imports - partners:
Germany 16.6%, Belgium 9.3%, China 8.8%, US 7.6%, UK 5.8%, France
4.7%, Russia 4.4% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$10.24 billion (August 2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$1.899 trillion (30 June 2006)

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 - 0.79669 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004),
0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Netherlands

Telephones - main lines in use:

7.6 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

15.834 million (2005)

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:
8,363,158 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

52 (2000)
Internet users:
10,806,328 (2004)

Transportation Netherlands

Airports: 27 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 20 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9

1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate 81 km; gas 7,229 km; oil 578 km; refined products 716 km
(2006)

Railways:
total: 2,808 km
standard gauge: 2,808 km 1.435-m gauge (2,061 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 134,000 km (including 3,270 km of expressways) (2004)

Waterways:
6,183 km (navigable for ships of 50 tons) (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 558 ships (1000 GRT or over) 5,042,775 GRT/5,016,265 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 29, cargo 345, chemical tanker 29, container
59, liquefied gas 12, passenger 14, passenger/cargo 14, petroleum
tanker 16, refrigerated cargo 19, roll on/roll off 18, specialized
tanker 3
foreign-owned: 157 (Australia 1, Belgium 2, Denmark 9, Finland 13,
 Germany 56, Ireland 10, Netherlands Antilles 1, Norway 7, Sweden 26,
UK 19, US 13)
registered in other countries: 222 (Antigua and Barbuda 14,
Australia 2, Austria 2, Bahamas 24, Canada 1, Cayman Islands 4,
Cyprus 18, Gibraltar 5, Isle of Man 1, Liberia 29, Luxembourg 2,
Malta 6, Marshall Islands 1, Netherlands Antilles 54, Norway 3,
Panama 21, Philippines 19, Portugal 1, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 5, Singapore 2, UK 3, US 4, unknown 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Amsterdam, Groningen, IJmuiden, Rotterdam, Terneuzen, Vlissingen,
Zaanstad

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 Military Police, Defense Interservice
Command (DICO) (2006)

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
females age 20-49: 3,470,377 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 20-49: 2,856,691
females age 20-49: 2,786,495 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 99,934
females age 20-49: 95,818 (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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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: 15 km
border countries: Guadeloupe (Saint-Martin) 15 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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

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:
221,736 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 23.9% (male 27,197/female 25,886)
15-64 years: 67.3% (male 71,622/female 77,710)
 65 years and over: 8.7% (male 7,925/female 11,396) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 32.8 years
male: 31.1 years
female: 34.4 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.79% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
14.78 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
6.45 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 9.76 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 10.54 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.03 years
male: 73.76 years
female: 78.41 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.99 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Willemstad (on Curacao)
geographic coordinates: 12 06 N, 68 56 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 Emily de JONGH-ELHAGE (since 26
March 2006)
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 27 January 2006 (next to be held
by 2007)
note: government coalition - PAR, PNP, 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 27 January 2006 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
PAR 5, MAN 3, FOL 2, Forsa Korsou 2, National Alliance 2, PNP 2, UPB
2, DP St. E 1, DP St. M 1, BDP 1, WIPM 1
note: the government of Prime Minister Emily de JONGH-ELHAGE is a
coalition of several parties

Judicial branch:
Joint High Court of Justice (judges appointed by the monarch)

Political parties and leaders:

Bonaire: Democratic Party of Bonaire or PDB [Jopi ABRAHAM];
Patriotic Union of Bonaire or UPB [Ramonsito BOOI]
Curacao: Ban Vota [Norbert GEORGE]; C-93 [Stanley BROWN]; Democratic
Party of Curacao or DP [Errol HERNANDEZ]; E Mayoria [Aurelio PEDRO];
Forsa Korsou [Nelson NAVARRO]; Liste Ni'un Paso Atras [Nelson
PIERRE]; Movemiento Patriotiko Korsou [Reginald LAK]; New Antilles
Movement or MAN [Charles COOPER]; Partido Akshon Pa Prosperidat I
Seguridat [Sonja BERKEMEYER]; Partido Laboral Krusada Popular or
PLKP [Errol COVA]; Party for the Restructured Antilles or PAR [Emily
de JONGH-ELHAGE]; People's National Party or PNP [Ersilia DE
LANNOOY]; Pidjin [Jasmin PINEDO]; Pueblo Soberano [Herman WIELS];
 Workers' Liberation Front or FOL [Anthony GODETT]
Saba: Saba Labor Party [Akilah LEVENSTONE]; Windward Islands
People's Movement or WIPM [Ray HASSELL]
Sint Eustatius: Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius or DP-St. E
[Julian WOODLEY]; Progressive Labor Party [Clyde VAN PUTTEN]; St.
Eustatius Alliance [Ingrid HOUTMAN-WHITFIELD]
Sint Maarten: Democratic Party of Sint Maarten or DP-St. M [Sarah
WESCOTT-WILLIAMS]; Freedom Slate of National Democratic Party
[Theophilus PRIEST]; National Alliance or NA [William MARLIN];
People's Progressive Alliance or PPA [Gracita ARRINDELL]; St.
Maarten People's Party [Johan LEONARD]; United People's Labor Party
[Bienvenido RICHARDSON]
note: political parties are indigenous to each island

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Unions (AVBO) and Employers Association (VBC)

International organization participation:

ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, UNESCO (associate), UNWTO (associate),
UPU, WCL, WCO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

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

$2.8 billion (2004 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

NA

GDP - real growth rate:

1% (2004 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$16,000 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 15% services: 84%

(2000 est.)

Labor force: 83,600 (2005)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 1% industry: 20% services: 79% (2005

est.)

Unemployment rate:
17% (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: $757.9 million
expenditures: $949.5 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2004)

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 (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
934.7 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:
70,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

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

Exports - commodities:
petroleum products

Exports - partners:
US 29.4%, Panama 14.4%, Mexico 8.8%, Haiti 5.6%, Venezuela 4.9%,
Bahamas, The 4.4% (2005)

Imports:
$4.383 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
crude petroleum, food, manufactures

Imports - partners:
Venezuela 50.7%, US 20.8%, Italy 4.8%, Netherlands 4.5% (2005)

Debt - external:
$2.68 billion (2004)

Economic aid - recipient:

$21.5 million IMF provided $61 million in 2000, and the Netherlands
continued its support with $40 million (2004)
Currency (code):
Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG)

Currency code:
ANG

Exchange rates:
Netherlands Antillean guilders per US dollar - 1.79 (2005), 1.79
(2004), 1.79 (2003), 1.79 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Netherlands Antilles

Telephones - main lines in use:

81,000 (2001)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

200,000 (2004)

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 four Venezuelan
channels) (2004)
Televisions:
69,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.an

Internet hosts:
19,204 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6

Internet users:
2,000 (2000)

Transportation Netherlands Antilles

Airports: 5 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 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: 1 (2006)

Merchant marine:
total: 152 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,289,462 GRT/1,671,649 DWT
by type: barge carrier 3, bulk carrier 13, cargo 68, chemical tanker
3, container 19, liquefied gas 4, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 3,
petroleum tanker 2, refrigerated cargo 28, roll on/roll off 4,
specialized tanker 3
foreign-owned: 143 (Belgium 4, Cuba 1, Denmark 1, Germany 60,
Netherlands 54, Norway 5, Sweden 5, Turkey 9, UK 3, US 1)
registered in other countries: 1 (Netherlands 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Bopec Terminal, Fuik Bay, Kralendijk, Willemstad

Military Netherlands Antilles

Military branches: no regular military forces; National Guard, Police Force
(2005)

Military service age and obligation:

16 years of age for National Guard recruitment; no conscription
(2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 54,200
females age 16-49: 56,868 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 45,273
females age 16-49: 47,166 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 1,720
females age 16-49: 1,657 (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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@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 ended in the 1998
Noumea Accord, which over a period of 15 to 20 years will transfer
an increasing amount of governing responsibility from France to New
Caledonia. The agreement also commits France to conduct as many as
three referenda between 2013 and 2018, to decide whether New
Caledonia should assume full sovereignty and independence.

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: 0.32% permanent crops: 0.22% other: 99.46% (2005)

Irrigated land:
100 sq km (2003)

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:
219,246 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 28.4% (male 31,818/female 30,503)
15-64 years: 64.9% (male 71,565/female 70,815)
65 years and over: 6.6% (male 6,773/female 7,772) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 27.8 years
male: 27.4 years
female: 28.2 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.24% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
18.11 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
5.69 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: there has been steady emigration from Wallis and Futuna to New
Caledonia (2006 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: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 7.57 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.27 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.27 years
male: 71.29 years
female: 77.39 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
2.28 children born/woman (2006 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:
territorial collectivity of France since 1998

Government type:
NA

Capital:
name: Noumea
geographic coordinates: 22 16 S, 166 27 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 Province des Iles, Province Nord, and Province
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 consists of eight members chosen
from leading figures on the island to advise the High Commissioner
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 for a
five-year term (no term limits); 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 du territoire (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; by
2010, New Caledonia will gain a second seat in the French Senate;
elections last held 24 September 2001 (next to be held not later
than September 2007); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats
by party - UMP 1; New Caledonia also elects 2 seats to the French
National Assembly; elections last held 9 and 16 June 2002 (next to
be held in 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]; Caledonian
Union or UC; 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:

ITUC, PIF (observer), SPC, 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 15%
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 (official exchange rate):

 NA

GDP - real growth rate:

NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$15,000 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 15% industry: 8.8% services: 76.2%

(2003)

Labor force: 78,990 (including 11,300 unemployed) (2004)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 20% industry: 20% services: 60%

(2002)

Unemployment rate:
17.1% (2004)

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: $856.3 million
expenditures: $836.5 million (2001 est.)

Agriculture - products:
vegetables; beef, deer, other livestock products; fish

Industries:
nickel mining and smelting

Industrial production growth rate:

 -0.6% (1996)

Electricity - production:
1.675 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 76.3% hydro: 23.7% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
1.558 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
10,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$999 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
ferronickels, nickel ore, fish
Exports - partners:
Japan 21.1%, France 17.2%, Taiwan 11.3%, South Korea 10%, Spain
8.9%, China 7.2%, Belgium 4.5%, South Africa 4.4% (2005)

Imports:
$1.636 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
France 39.3%, Singapore 17.5%, Australia 13.1%, NZ 5.3% (2005)

Debt - external:
$79 million (1998 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$525 million annual subsidy from France (2004)

Currency (code):
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique franc (XPF)

Currency code:
XPF

Exchange rates:
Comptoirs Francais du Pacifique francs (XPF) per US dollar - 95.01
(2006), 95.89 (2005), 96.04 (2004), 105.66 (2003), 126.71 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications New Caledonia

Telephones - main lines in use:

55,300 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

134,300 (2005)
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:
13,962 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:
76,000 (2005)

Transportation New Caledonia

Airports: 25 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 11 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under
914 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 6

(2006)
Heliports:
6 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 5,432 km (2000)

Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1000 GRT or over) 3,566 GRT/2,543 DWT
by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 1 (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Noumea

Military New Caledonia

Military branches:
no regular indigenous military forces; French Armed Forces
(includes Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie); Police Force

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 50,874 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 40,822 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 1,907 (2005 est.)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 contiguous zone: 24 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: 5.54% permanent crops: 6.92% other: 87.54% (2005)
Irrigated land:
2,850 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:
earthquakes are common, though usually not severe; volcanic activity

Environment - current issues:

deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna hard-hit by
invasive species

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:
4,076,140 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.1% (male 439,752/female 419,174)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 1,374,850/female 1,361,570)
65 years and over: 11.8% (male 210,365/female 270,429) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 33.9 years
male: 33.2 years
female: 34.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

 0.99% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
13.76 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
7.53 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

3.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.76 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.81 years
male: 75.82 years
female: 81.93 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.79 children born/woman (2006 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), Sign Language (official)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

Government New Zealand

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: New Zealand
abbreviation: NZ

Government type:
parliamentary democracy

Capital:
name: Wellington
geographic coordinates: 41 28 S, 174 51 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends
third Sunday in March
 note: New Zealand is divided into two time zones, including Chatham
Island

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); ANZAC Day (commemorated as the
anniversary of the 1915 landing of troops of the Australian and New
Zealand Army Corps during World War I at Gallipoli, Turkey), 25 April

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 Anand SATYANAND (since 23 August
2006)
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 seven 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];
Maori Party [Whatarangi WINIATA]; National Party or NP [John KEY];
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, EAS, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITU, ITUC, NAM (guest), NSG, OECD, OPCW, PCA, PIF, Sparteca, SPC,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNTSO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Roy N. FERGUSON
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 William P. McCORMICK
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

Government - note:
while not an official symbol, the Kiwi, a small native flightless
bird, represents New Zealand

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 eight consecutive years and was more than $25,500 in 2006 in
purchasing power parity terms. Consumer and government spending have
driven growth in recent years, and exports picked up in 2006 after
struggling for several years. Exports are equal to about 28% of GDP,
down from 33 percent of GDP in 2001. 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):

$106 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$98.77 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.9% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$26,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4.3% industry: 26.9% services: 68.8%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 2.18 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 10% industry: 25% services: 65%

(1995)

Unemployment rate:
8.3% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA (1991 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

36.2 (1997)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

3.8% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

22% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $41.51 billion
expenditures: $36.99 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
19.9% of GDP (2006 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:

1.2% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
41.1 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 31.6% hydro: 57.8% nuclear: 0%

other: 10.7% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
38.22 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
27,860 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
150,600 bbl/day (2004 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:

4.35 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

4.349 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

33.36 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-7.944 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
 $23.69 billion (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
dairy products, meat, wood and wood products, fish, machinery

Exports - partners:
Australia 21.4%, US 14.1%, Japan 10.6%, China 5.1%, UK 4.7% (2005)

Imports:
$25.23 billion (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, vehicles and aircraft, petroleum,
electronics, textiles, plastics

Imports - partners:
Australia 20.9%, US 11%, Japan 11%, China 10.9%, Germany 4.9% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$10 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$47 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $276 million

Currency (code):
New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Currency code:
NZD

Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.55677 (2006), 1.4203 (2005),
1.5087 (2004), 1.7221 (2003), 2.1622 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June
Communications New Zealand

Telephones - main lines in use:

1,800,500 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

3.53 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent domestic and international systems
domestic: NA
international: country code - 64; submarine cables to Australia and
Fiji; 8 satellite earth stations - 1 InMarSat (Pacific Ocean), 7
other

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:
1,050,197 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

36 (2000)

Internet users:
3.2 million (2005)
Transportation New Zealand

Airports: 118 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 45 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: 4 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 73 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m:

31 under 914 m: 40 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate 224 km; gas 1,693 km; liquid petroleum gas 45 km; oil
280 km; refined products 288 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 4,128 km
narrow gauge: 4,128 km 1.067-m gauge (506 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 92,931 km
paved: 59,783 km (including 171 km of expressways)
unpaved: 33,148 km (2003)

Merchant marine:
total: 13 ships (1000 GRT or over) 136,361 GRT/124,972 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 1, passenger/cargo 5, petroleum
tanker 2, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 4 (Australia 2, Germany 1, Isle of Man 1)
registered in other countries: 8 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Cook
Islands 1, Dominica 4, France 1, UK 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Auckland, Lyttelton, Tauranga, Wellington, Whangarei

Military New Zealand

Military branches:
New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF): New Zealand Army, Royal New
 Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force (2006)

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
females age 17-49: 965,170 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 17-49: 809,519
females age 17-49: 802,069 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 29,738
females age 17-49: 28,523 (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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@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 2001, saw the
Sandinistas defeated, but voting in 2006 announced the return of
former Sandinista President Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra. Nicaragua's
infrastructure and economy - hard hit by the earlier civil war and
by Hurricane Mitch in 1998 - are slowly being rebuilt.

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: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 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: 14.81% permanent crops: 1.82% other: 83.37% (2005)

Irrigated land:
610 sq km (2003)

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, Whaling
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:
5,570,129 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 36.4% (male 1,031,897/female 994,633)
15-64 years: 60.5% (male 1,677,633/female 1,691,353)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 76,758/female 97,855) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 20.9 years
male: 20.5 years
female: 21.4 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.89% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
24.51 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
4.45 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 28.11 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 31.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 24.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.63 years
male: 68.55 years
female: 72.81 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.75 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Managua
geographic coordinates: 12 09 N, 86 17 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)

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;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:
16 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 15 January
2007); Vice President Jaime MORALES Carazo (since 10 January 2007);
note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (since 15
January 2007); Vice President Jaime MORALES Carazo (since 10 January
2007)
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 (eligible for a second term so
long as it is not consecutive); election last held 5 November 2006
(next to be held by November 2011)
election results: Daniel ORTEGA Saavedra (FSLN) elected president -
38.07%, Eduardo MONTEALEGRE (ALN) 29%, Jose RIZO (PLC) 26.21%,
Edmundo JARQUIN (MRS) 6.44%

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (92 seats;
members are elected by proportional representation and party lists
to serve five-year terms; 1 seat for the previous president, 1 seat
for the runner-up in previous presidential election)
elections: last held 5 November 2006 (next to be held by November
2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
FSLN 38, PLC 25, ALN 23 (22 plus one for presidential candidate
Eduardo MONTEALEGRE, runner-up in the 2006 presidential election),
MRS 5, APRE 1 (outgoing President Enrique BOLANOS)

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]; Central
American Unionist Party or PUCA [Blanca ROJAS]; Christian
Alternative Party or AC [Orlando TARDENCILLA Espinoza]; Conservative
Party or PC [Azalia AVILES Salmeron]; Independent Liberal Party or
PLI [Anibal MARTINEZ Nunez, Pedro REYES Vallejos]; Independent
Liberal Party for National Unity or PLIUN [Carlos GUERRA Gallardo];
Liberal Constitutional Party or PLC [Jorge CASTILLO Quant]; Liberal
Salvation Movement or MSL [Eliseo NUNEZ Hernandez]; New Liberal
Party or PALI [Adolfo GARCIA Esquivel]; Nicaraguan Liberal Alliance
or ALN [Eduardo MONTEALEGRE]; 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
[Dora Maria TELLEZ]; Unity Alliance or AU

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, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM, OAS,
 OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNWTO, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: vacant
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 Paul A. TRIVELLI
embassy: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua
mailing address: P.O. Box 327
telephone: [505] 266-6010
FAX: [505] 266-3861

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, the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere,
has low per capita income and widespread underemployment.
Distribution of income is one of the most unequal on the globe.
While the country has progressed toward macroeconomic stability in
the past few years, GDP annual growth has been far too low to meet
 the country's needs, forcing the country to rely on international
economic assistance to meet fiscal and debt financing obligations.
Nicaragua qualified in early 2004 for some $4.5 billion in foreign
debt reduction under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC)
initiative and in November 2006 obtained over $800 million in debt
relief from the Inter-American Development Bank. In October 2005,
Nicaragua ratified the US-Central America Free Trade Agreement
(CAFTA), which will provide an opportunity for Nicaragua to attract
investment, create jobs, and deepen economic development. Energy
shortages, however, are a serious bottleneck to growth.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$16.83 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$4.816 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 17.3% industry: 25.8% services:

56.8% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 2.261 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 30.5% industry: 17.3% services: 52.2%

(2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:
3.8% plus underemployment of 46.5% (2006 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):

9.4% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

29.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $945.3 million
expenditures: $1.254 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
82.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco, sesame,
soya, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products; shrimp,
lobsters

Industries:
food processing, chemicals, machinery and metal products, textiles,
clothing, petroleum refining and distribution, beverages, footwear,
wood

Industrial production growth rate:

2.4% (2005 est.)

Electricity - production:
2.766 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 83.9% hydro: 7.7% nuclear: 0%

other: 8.4% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
2.573 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
 22 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
23 million kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
14,300 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
25,200 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - exports:
758.9 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports:
15,560 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-883 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$1.714 billion f.o.b.; note - includes free trade zones (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
coffee, beef, shrimp and lobster, tobacco, sugar, gold, peanuts

Exports - partners:
US 34.1%, El Salvador 14.3%, Honduras 7.9%, Costa Rica 6.1%,
Guatemala 5.2%, Mexico 5.1%, Spain 4.2% (2005)

Imports:
$3.202 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
 consumer goods, machinery and equipment, raw materials, petroleum
products

Imports - partners:
US 20.1%, Venezuela 11.9%, Costa Rica 8.9%, Mexico 8.3%, Guatemala
7%, El Salvador 5.1%, Japan 4.5%, Ecuador 4.2% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$723 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$3.763 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$419.5 million (2005 est.)

Currency (code):
gold cordoba (NIO)

Currency code:
NIO

Exchange rates:
gold cordobas per US dollar - 17.5815 (2006), 16.733 (2005), 15.937
(2004), 15.105 (2003), 14.251 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Nicaragua

Telephones - main lines in use:

220,900 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.119 million (2005)

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:
24,452 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2000)

Internet users:
140,000 (2005)

Transportation Nicaragua

Airports: 176 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 165 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m:
23 under 914 m: 141 (2006)
Pipelines: oil 54 km (2006)

Railways: total: 6 km narrow gauge: 6 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)

Roadways: total: 19,036 km paved: 2,299 km unpaved: 16,737 km (2005)

Waterways:
2,220 km (including lakes Managua and Nicaragua) (2005)
Ports and terminals:
Bluefields, Corinto, El Bluff

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
females age 17-49: 1,315,186 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 17-49: 1,051,425
females age 17-49: 1,129,649 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 65,170
females age 17-49: 63,133 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$32.27 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.7% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Nicaragua

Disputes - international:
Memorials and countermemorials were filed by the parties in
Nicaragua's 1999 and 2001 proceedings against Honduras and Colombia
at the ICJ over the maritime boundary and territorial claims in the
western Caribbean Sea, final public hearings are scheduled for 2007;
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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Niger

Introduction Niger

Background:
Niger became independent from France in 1960 and experienced
single-party and military rule until 1991, when Gen. Ali SAIBOU was
forced by public pressure to allow multiparty elections, which
resulted in a democratic government in 1993. Political infighting
brought the government to a standstill and in 1996 led to a coup by
Col. Ibrahim BARE. In 1999 BARE was killed in a coup by military
officers who promptly restored democratic rule and held elections
that brought Mamadou TANDJA to power in December of that year.
TANDJA was reelected in 2004. 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: 11.43% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 88.56% (2005)

Irrigated land:
730 sq km (2003)

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:
12,525,094 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.9% (male 2,994,022/female 2,882,273)
15-64 years: 50.7% (male 3,262,114/female 3,083,522)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 150,982/female 152,181) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 16.5 years
male: 16.5 years
female: 16.4 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.92% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
50.73 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
20.91 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.61 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.99 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 118.25 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 122.29 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 114.1 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 43.76 years
male: 43.8 years
female: 43.73 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

7.46 children born/woman (2006 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 note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has
been identified among birds in this country or surrounding region; it poses a
negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have
close contact with birds (2007)

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:
name: Niamey
geographic coordinates: 13 31 N, 2 07 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
8 regions (regions, singular - region) includes 1 capital district*
(communite 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 Mamadou TANDJA (since 22 December 1999);
note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Mamadou TANDJA (since 22 December
1999); Prime Minister Hama AMADOU (since 31 December 1999) was
appointed by the president and shares some executive
 responsibilities with the president
cabinet: 26-member Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); second round last held 4 December 2004
(next to be held December 2009)
election results: Mamadou TANDJA reelected president; percent of
vote - Mamadou TANDJA 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 25, RSD 7, RDP 6, ANDP 5, PSDN 1

Judicial branch:
State Court or Cour d'Etat; Court of Appeals or Cour d'Appel

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic and Social Convention-Rahama or CDS-Rahama [Mahamane
OUSMANE]; National Movement for a Developing Society-Nassara or
MNSD-Nassara [Hama AMADOU]; Niger Social Democratic Party or PSDN;
Nigerien Alliance for Democracy and Social Progress-Zaman Lahiya or
ANDP-Zaman Lahiya [Moumouni DJERMAKOYE]; Nigerien Party for
Autonomy
or PNA-Alouma'a [Sanousi JACKOU]; Nigerien Party for Democracy and
Socialism or PNDS-Tarrayya [Issifou MAHAMADOU]; Nigerien Progressive
Party or PPN-RDA [Abdoulaye DIORI]; Rally for Democracy and Progress
or RDP-jama'a [Hamid ALGABID]; Social and Democratic Rally or
RSD-Gaskiyya [Cheiffou AMADOU]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Coalition Against a High Cost of Living [Nouhou ARZIKA]

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF,
ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI,
UNWTO, UPU,
WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Aminata Maiga Djibrilla TOURE
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 Bernadette M. ALLEN
embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey
mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey
telephone: [227] 73 31 69
FAX: [227] 73 55 60

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, ranking last on
the United Nations Development Fund index of human development. It
is a landlocked, Sub-Saharan nation, whose economy centers on
subsistence crops, livestock, and some of the world's largest
uranium deposits. Drought cycles, desertification, and a 2.9%
population growth rate, 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. In December 2005, Niger
received 100% multilateral debt relief from the IMF, which
translates into the forgiveness of approximately $86 million USD in
debts to the IMF, excluding the remaining assistance under HIPC.
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. Uranium prices have
increased sharply in the last few years. A drought and locust
infestation in 2005 led to food shortages for as many as 2.5 million
Nigeriens.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$12.23 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$3.638 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 39%
industry: 17%
services: 44% (2001)

Labor force:
70,000 salaried workers, 60% of whom are employed in the public
sector (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 90%
industry: 6%
services: 4%
Unemployment rate:
NA%

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):

0.2% (2004 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:

5.1% (2003 est.)

Electricity - production:
232 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
415.8 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
200 million kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
5,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$222 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
uranium ore, livestock, cowpeas, onions

Exports - partners:
France 47.9%, Nigeria 21.4%, US 20.3% (2005)

Imports:
$588 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery, vehicles and parts, petroleum, cereals

Imports - partners:
 France 14.5%, US 10.7%, French Polynesia 7.6%, Nigeria 7.5%, Italy
6.8%, Cote d'Ivoire 5.1%, Belgium 4.6%, Germany 4.5%, China 4.5%
(2005)

Debt - external:
$2.1 billion (2003 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$453.3 million (2003)

Currency (code):
Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XOF); note - responsible
authority is the Central Bank of the West African States (BCEAO)

Currency code:
XOF

Exchange rates:
Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XOF) per US dollar - 527.47
(2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Niger

Telephones - main lines in use:

24,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

299,900 (2005)

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:
189 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:
24,000 (2005)

Transportation Niger

Airports:
28 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 19
 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 14,565 km
paved: 3,641 km
unpaved: 10,924 km (2004)

Waterways:
300 km (the Niger, the only major river, is navigable to Gaya
between September and March) (2005)

Ports and terminals:

none

Military Niger

Military branches:
Nigerien 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 - two years (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,367,828
females age 18-49: 2,217,568 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,349,863
females age 18-49: 1,256,569 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 129,045
females age 18-49: 121,230 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

 $44.78 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.4% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Niger

Disputes - international:
Libya claims about 25,000 sq km in a currently dormant dispute in
the Tommo region; much of Benin-Niger boundary, including tripoint
with Nigeria, remains undemarcated; only Nigeria and Cameroon have
heeded the Lake Chad Commission's admonition to ratify the
delimitation treaty which also includes the Chad-Niger and
Niger-Nigeria boundaries

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Nigeria

Introduction Nigeria

Background:
British influence and control over what would become Nigeria grew
through the 19th century. A series of constitutions after World War
II granted Nigeria greater autonomy; independence came in 1960.
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 reforming 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. Although the April 2003
elections were marred by some irregularities, Nigeria is currently
experiencing its longest period of civilian rule since independence.
The general elections set for April 2007 would mark the first
civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in the country'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: 33.02% permanent crops: 3.14% other: 63.84% (2005)

Irrigated land:
2,820 sq km (2003)

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:
131,859,731
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
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.3% (male 28,089,017/female 27,665,212)
15-64 years: 54.6% (male 36,644,885/female 35,405,915)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 1,930,007/female 2,124,695) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 18.7 years
male: 18.7 years
female: 18.6 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.38% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
40.43 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
16.94 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.27 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 97.14 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 104.05 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 90.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 47.08 years
male: 46.52 years
female: 47.66 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.49 children born/woman (2006 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
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified among birds
in this country or surrounding region; it poses a negligible risk with extremely
rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2007)

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:
name: Abuja
geographic coordinates: 9 12 N, 7 11 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations

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 a four-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 19 April 2003 (next
to be held 21 April 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 1 from Abuja, members elected by popular vote to
serve four-year terms) and House of Representatives (360 seats,
members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held 12 April 2003 (next to be held 21
April 2007); House of Representatives - last held 12 April 2003
(next to be held 21 April 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:

Action Congress or AC [Bise Akande]; Advanced Congress of Demorats
or ACD [Alex Anielo]; Alliance for Democracy or AD [Mojisoluwa
AKINFENWA]; All Nigeria Peoples' Party or ANPP [Edwin UME-EZEOKE];
All Progressives Grand Alliance or APGA [disputed leadership];
Democratic People's Party or DPP [Jerry Useni]; Fresh Democratic
Party [Chris OKOTIE]; Movement for the Restoration and Defense of
Democracy or MRDD [Mohammed Gambo JIMETA]; 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 [disputed leadership]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC,
NAM,
OAS (observer), OIC, ONUB, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOVIC,
UNOCI, UNWTO,
UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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, 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 a new reform-minded
administration. Nigeria's former military rulers failed to diversify
the economy away from its 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. In 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. In
November 2005, Abuja won Paris Club approval for a debt-relief deal
that eliminated $18 billion of debt in exchange for $12 billion in
payments-a total package worth $30 billion of Nigeria's total $37
billion external debt. The deal requires Nigeria to be subject to
stringent IMF reviews. GDP rose strongly in 2006, based largely on
increased oil exports and high global crude prices.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$188.5 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$83.36 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.3% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,400 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 17.3% industry: 53.2% services:

29.5% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 48.99 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 70% industry: 10% services: 20%

(1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:
5.8% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

60% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 40.8% (1996-97)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
50.6 (1996-97)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

10.5% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

26.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $17.86 billion
expenditures: $19.05 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
10.4% of GDP (2006 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:

-1.6% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
19.06 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 61.9% hydro: 38.1% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
17.71 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
 20 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
2.451 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
290,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - proved reserves:

36.25 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

21.8 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

9.21 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

12.59 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

4.984 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$12.59 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$59.01 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber

Exports - partners:
US 52.5%, Spain 8.2%, Brazil 6.1% (2005)

Imports:
$25.1 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery, chemicals, transport equipment, manufactured goods, food
and live animals

Imports - partners:
China 10.4%, US 7.3%, UK 6.7%, Netherlands 6%, France 5.9%, Brazil
4.3%, Germany 4.2% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$42.97 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$6.278 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$250 million

Currency (code):
naira (NGN)

Currency code:
NGN

Exchange rates:
nairas per US dollar - 127.573 (2006), 132.59 (2005), 132.89
(2004), 129.22 (2003), 120.58 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Nigeria
Telephones - main lines in use:
1,223,300 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

21,571,131 (2006)

Telephone system:
general assessment: expansion and modernization of the fixed-line
telephone network has been slow due to faltering efforts at
privatization
domestic: the addition of a second fixed-line provider in 2002
resulted in faster growth in this service; wireless telephony has
grown rapidly, in part responding to the shortcomings of the
fixed-line network; four wireless (GSM) service providers operate
nationally; the combined growth resulted in a sharp increase in
teledensity reported to be over 18% in March 2006
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:
1,549 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

 11 (2000)

Internet users:
5 million (2005)

Transportation Nigeria

Airports: 69 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 36 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12

1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 33 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m:

13 under 914 m: 18 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate 126 km; gas 2,812 km; liquid petroleum gas 125 km; oil
4,278 km; refined products 3,517 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 3,505 km
narrow gauge: 3,505 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 194,394 km
paved: 60,068 km
unpaved: 134,326 km (1999)

Waterways:
8,600 km (Niger and Benue rivers and smaller rivers and creeks)
(2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 52 ships (1000 GRT or over) 277,709 GRT/475,414 DWT
by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 5, combination ore/oil 1,
liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 36, specialized
 tanker 2
foreign-owned: 4 (Norway 1, Pakistan 1, Singapore 1, Spain 1)
registered in other countries: 28 (Bahamas 2, Bermuda 11, Cambodia
2, Comoros 2, Panama 7, Poland 1, Seychelles 1, unknown 2) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Bonny Inshore Terminal, Calabar, Lagos, Port Harcourt

Military Nigeria

Military branches:
Nigerian Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN): Army, Niger
Air Force (2006)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for voluntary military service (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 26,802,678
females age 18-49: 25,668,446 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 15,052,914
females age 18-49: 13,860,806 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 1,353,180
females age 18-49: 1,329,267 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$737.6 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.8% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Nigeria

Disputes - international:
 Joint Border Commission with Cameroon reviewed 2002 ICJ ruling on
the entire boundary and bilaterally resolved differences, including
June 2006 Greentree Agreement that immediately cedes sovereignty of
the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon with a phase-out of Nigerian
control within two years while resolving patriation issues; 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 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; only Nigeria and Cameroon have heeded the Lake Chad
Commission's admonition to ratify the delimitation treaty which also
includes the Chad-Niger and Niger-Nigeria boundaries

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 6,051 (Liberia)
IDPs: undetermined (communal violence between Christians and Muslims
since President OBASANJO's election in 1999, displacement is mostly
short-term) (2006)

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; Nigeria has improved some
anti-money-laundering controls, resulting in its removal from the
Financial Action Task Force's (FATF's) Noncooperative Countries and
Territories List in June 2006; Nigeria's anti-money-laundering
regime continues to be monitored by FATF

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@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 2,166 in 2006), 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: 11.54%
permanent crops: 15.38%
other: 73.08% (2005)

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 2006 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA (2006
est.)

Population growth rate:

0.01% (2006 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:
name: Alofi
 geographic coordinates: 19 01 S, 169 55 W
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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),
represented by Governor General of New Zealand Anand SATYANAND
(since 23 August 2006); 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; 6 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:

Alliance of Independents or AI; Niue People's Action Party or NPP
[Young VIVIAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, FAO, IFAD, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, 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
emigration to New Zealand. Efforts to increase GDP include the
promotion of tourism and a financial services industry, although the
International Banking Repeal Act of 2002 resulted in the termination
of all offshore banking licenses. Economic aid from New Zealand in
2002 was about US$2 million. Niue suffered a devastating typhoon 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 (official exchange rate):

$10.01 million (2003)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.2% (2003 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$5,800 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 23.5% industry: 26.9% services:

49.5% (2003)

Labor force: 663 (2001)

Labor force - by occupation: note: most work on family plantations; paid work
exists only in government service, small industry, and the Niue Development
Board

Unemployment rate:
12% (2001)
Population below poverty line:
NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4% (2005)

Budget:
revenues: $15.07 million
expenditures: $16.33 million; including capital expenditures of
$123,700 (FY0405)

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 (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
2.79 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
20 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$201,400 (2004)

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 (2004)

Imports:
$9.038 million (2004)

Imports - commodities:
food, live animals, manufactured goods, machinery, fuels,
lubricants, chemicals, drugs

Imports - partners:
New Zealand mainly, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Australia, US (2004)

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 - 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004),
1.7221 (2003), 2.1622 (2002)

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:
900 (2002)

Transportation Niue

Airports: 1 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways: total: 234 km paved: 86 km unpaved: 148 km (2001)

Ports and terminals: none; offshore anchorage only

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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% (2005)

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 2006 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 20.2% 15-64 years: 63.9% 65 years and over: 15.9%
(2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

 -0.01% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
NA

Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population

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,
Polynesian

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:
self governing territory of Australia; Canberra administers
Commonwealth responsibilities on Norfolk Island through the
Department of Transport and Regional Services

Government type:
NA

Capital:
name: Kingston
geographic coordinates: 29 03 S, 167 58 E
time difference: UTC+11.5 (16.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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, as amended in 2005

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);
represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator Grant TAMBLING (since 1 November
2003)
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: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed
by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and
Australia

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: 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

Labor force:
1,345

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 10%
industry and services: 90%
Unemployment rate:
0%

Budget:
revenues: $4.6 million
expenditures: $4.8 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

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. (FY91/92)

Exports - commodities:
postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and Kentia palm,
small quantities of avocados

Exports - partners:
Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe (2004)

Imports:
$17.9 million c.i.f. (FY91/92)
Imports - commodities:
NA

Imports - partners:
Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia, Europe (2004)

Debt - external:
$NA

Economic aid - recipient:

$NA

Currency (code):
Australian dollar (AUD)

Currency code:
AUD

Exchange rates:
Australian dollars per US dollar - 1.3095 (2005), 1.3598 (2004),
1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002)

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 hosts:
100 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:
700

Transportation Norfolk Island

Airports: 1 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways: total: 80 km paved: 53 km unpaved: 27 km (2002)

Ports and terminals: none; loading jetties at Kingston and Cascade

Military Norfolk Island

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of Australia

Transnational Issues Norfolk Island

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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, and came into force on 24 March 1976. 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% (2005)

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:
82,459 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.4% (male 8,350/female 7,623)
15-64 years: 79% (male 26,715/female 38,442)
65 years and over: 1.6% (male 679/female 650) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 29.5 years
male: 31.7 years
female: 28.5 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.54% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
19.43 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
2.29 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

8.26 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.7 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female
total population: 0.77 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 6.98 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.03 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.09 years
male: 73.5 years
female: 78.83 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.24 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

Nationality:
noun: NA (US citizens)
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
abbreviation: CNMI
former: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Mariana Islands
District

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:
name: Saipan
geographic coordinates: 15 12 N, 145 45 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
 Standard Time)

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 fully 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 Benigno R. FITIAL (since 9 January
2006); Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. VILLAGOMEZ (since 9 January
2006)
cabinet: the cabinet consists of the heads of the 10 principal
departments under the executive branch who are appointed by the
governor with the advice and consent of the Senate; other members
include Special Assistants to the governor and office heads
appointed by and reporting directly to the governor
elections: under the US Consitution, residents of unincorporated
 territories, such as the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, do not vote in elections for US president and vice
president; governor and lieutenant governor elected on the same
ticket by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second
term); election last held 5 November 2005 (next to be held November
2009)
election results: Benigno R. FITIAL elected governor in a four-way
race; percent of vote - Benigno R. FITIAL (Covenant Party) 28.07%,
Heinz HOFSCHNEIDER (Independent) 27.34%, Juan BABAUTA
(Republican)
26.6%, Froilan TENORIO (Democrat) 17.99%

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 5 November 2005 (next to be held
November 2009); House of Representatives - last held 5 November 2005
(next to be held November 2007)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - Covenant Party 3, Republican Party 3, Democratic Party 2,
independent 1; House of Representatives - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - Covenant Party 7, Republican Party 7,
Democratic Party 2, independent 2
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:

Covenant Party [Benigno R. FITIAL]; Democratic Party [Dr. Carlos S.
CAMACHO]; Republican Party [Juan S. REYES]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA
International organization participation:
Interpol (subbureau), SPC, UPU

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 the 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 (official exchange rate):

$633.4 million (2000)

GDP - real growth rate:

NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$12,500 (2000 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

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

Labor force:
44,470 total indigenous labor force; 2,699 unemployed; 28,717
foreign workers (2000)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Unemployment rate:
3.9% (2001)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

-0.8% (2000)

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 (2004)

Imports:
$214.4 million (2001)

Imports - commodities:
food, construction equipment and materials, petroleum products

Imports - partners:
US, Japan (2004)

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:

20,500 (2004)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: NA
international: country code - 1-670; satellite earth stations - 2
Intelsat (Pacific Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 1 (2006)

Radios:
NA

Television broadcast stations:

1 (Low Power TV on Saipan; in addition, two cable services on
Saipan provide varied programming from satellite networks) (2006)

Televisions:
NA

Internet country code:

.mp

Internet hosts:
20 (2005)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2001)
Internet users:
10,000 (2003)

Transportation Northern Mariana Islands

Airports:
5 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 536 km (2004)

Ports and terminals:

Saipan, Tinian

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 lasted 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: 323,802 sq km
land: 307,442 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: 2.7% permanent crops: 0% other: 97.3% (2005)

Irrigated land:
1,270 sq km (2003)

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 the world

People Norway

Population:
4,610,820 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.3% (male 455,122/female 434,009)
15-64 years: 65.9% (male 1,542,439/female 1,496,745)
65 years and over: 14.8% (male 288,509/female 393,996) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 38.4 years
male: 37.6 years
female: 39.3 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.38% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
11.46 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
9.4 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 3.67 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.03 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.54 years
male: 76.91 years
female: 82.31 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

 1.78 children born/woman (2006 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; note - Sami is official in
six municipalities

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:
name: Oslo
geographic coordinates: 59 55 N, 10 45 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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 - will be 165
seats next election; 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 in the Lagting and
three-forths of its membership in the Odelsting

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 [Siv JENSEN]; Red Electoral Alliance
[Torstein DAHLE]; Socialist Left Party [Kristin HALVORSEN]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:

AfDB, Arctic Council, AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, CBSS, CE, CERN,
EAPC, EBRD, EFTA, ESA, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICRM,
IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NC, NEA, NIB, NSG,
OAS
(observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMEE, UNMIS, UNRWA, 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, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Benson

K. WHITNEY embassy: Henrik Ibsens gate 48, 0244 Oslo; note - the embassy
will move to Huseby in the near future mailing address: PSC 69, Box 1000, APO
AE 09707 telephone: [47] (22) 44 85 50 FAX: [47] (22) 44 33 63, 56 27 51

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. Although Norwegian oil production peaked in 2000,
natural gas production is still rising. Norwegians realize that once
their gas production peaks they will eventually face declining oil
and gas revenues; accordingly, Norway has been saving its
oil-and-gas-boosted budget surpluses in a Government Petroleum Fund,
which is invested abroad and now is valued at more than $250
billion. After lackluster growth of less than 1% in 2002-03, GDP
growth picked up to 3-4% in 2004-06. Norway's economy remains
buoyant. Domestic economic activity is, and will continue to be, the
main driver of growth, supported by high consumer confidence and
strong investment spending in the offshore oil and gas sector.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$207.3 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$261.7 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$47,800 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.3% industry: 41.4% services: 56.3%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 2.42 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 4% industry: 22% services: 74%

(1995)

Unemployment rate:
3.5% (2006 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 (2000)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.3% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $195.8 billion
expenditures: $133.1 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
44.8% of GDP (2006 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:

1.8% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
108.9 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.4% hydro: 99.3% nuclear: 0%

other: 0.4% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
112.8 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
3.8 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
15.3 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
3.22 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
244,300 bbl/day (2004 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:

83.49 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

8.09 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

75.4 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

2.085 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

 $63.33 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$122.6 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and equipment, metals,
chemicals, ships, fish

Exports - partners:
UK 25.5%, Germany 12.6%, Netherlands 9.9%, France 9.1%, US 6.7%,
Sweden 6.5% (2005)

Imports:
$59.9 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
Sweden 14.6%, Germany 13.6%, Denmark 7.3%, UK 6.8%, China 5.5%, US
5%, France 4% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$49.62 billion (August 2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$350.3 billion; note - Norway is a net external creditor (30 June
2006)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $1.4 billion (1998)

Currency (code):
Norwegian krone (NOK)

Currency code:
NOK

Exchange rates:
 Norwegian kroner per US dollar - 6.41332 (2006), 6.4425 (2005),
6.7408 (2004), 7.0802 (2003), 7.9838 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Norway

Telephones - main lines in use:

2.129 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

4.755 million (2005)

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:
1,364,448 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

13 (2000)

Internet users:
3.14 million (2005)

Transportation Norway

Airports: 99 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 67 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12

1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 29 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 32 914 to 1,523 m: 6 under 914 m: 26

(2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate 508 km; gas 5,910 km; oil 2,557 km; oil/gas/water 746 km
(2006)

Railways:
total: 4,077 km
standard gauge: 4,077 km 1.435-m gauge (2,680 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 92,513 km
paved: 71,832 km (including 664 km of expressways)
unpaved: 20,681 km (2005)

Waterways:
1,577 km (2002)
Merchant marine:
total: 724 ships (1000 GRT or over) 14,472,103 GRT/20,245,353 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 67, cargo 153, chemical tanker 150, container
2, liquefied gas 79, passenger/cargo 121, petroleum tanker 75,
refrigerated cargo 9, roll on/roll off 19, specialized tanker 2,
vehicle carrier 47
foreign-owned: 168 (China 3, Cyprus 2, Denmark 32, Estonia 1,
Finland 4, Greece 1, Hong Kong 55, Iceland 4, Italy 4, Japan 1,
Lithuania 1, Monaco 4, Netherlands 3, Poland 2, Saudi Arabia 3,
Sweden 28, UAE 1, UK 6, US 13)
registered in other countries: 861 (Antigua and Barbuda 11,
Australia 1, Bahamas 259, Barbados 29, Belize 2, Bermuda 5, Brazil
2, Cambodia 1, Canada 1, Cayman Islands 2, China 1, Comoros 1, Cook
Islands 1, Cyprus 16, Denmark 3, Dominica 1, Ecuador 1, Estonia 2,
Faroe Islands 4, Finland 1, France 1, French Southern and Antarctic
Lands 12, Gibraltar 18, Hong Kong 26, Indonesia 1, Isle of Man 27,
Liberia 38, Libya 1, Malta 49, Marshall Islands 65, Mexico 1,
Netherlands 7, Netherlands Antilles 5, Nigeria 1, Panama 66,
Philippines 3, Portugal 4, Russia 1, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 16, Singapore 90, Spain 7, Sweden 7, Thailand 30, Tonga
1, UK 36, US 2, unknown 2) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Borg Havn, Bergen, Mo i Rana, Molde, Mongstad, Narvik, Oslo, Sture

Military Norway

Military branches:
Norwegian Army (Haeren), Royal Norwegian Navy (Kongelige Norske
Sjoeforsvaret, RNoN; includes Coastal Rangers and Coast Guard
(Kystvakt)), Royal Norwegian Air Force (Kongelige Norske
Luftforsvaret, RNoAF), Home Guard (Heimevernet, HV) (2006)

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
females age 18-49: 982,734 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 827,016
females age 18-49: 801,358 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 29,179
females age 18-49: 28,023 (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 dialogue, 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Oman
Introduction Oman

Background:
The inhabitants of the area of Oman have long prospered on Indian
Ocean trade. In the late 18th century, a newly established sultanate
in Muscat signed the first in a series of friendship treaties with
Britain. Over time, Oman's dependence on British political and
military advisors increased, but it never became a British colony.
In 1970, QABOOS bin Said al-Said overthrew the restrictive rule of
his father; he has ruled as sultan ever since. His extensive
modernization program has opened the country to the outside world
while preserving the longstanding close ties 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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
720 sq km (2003)

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:
3,102,229
note: includes 577,293 non-nationals (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.7% (male 675,423/female 648,963)
15-64 years: 54.7% (male 1,001,917/female 695,578)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 44,300/female 36,048) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 19 years
male: 21.7 years
female: 16.5 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.28% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
36.24 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
3.81 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.35 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.44 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.23 male(s)/female
 total population: 1.25 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 18.89 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 21.65 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.37 years
male: 71.14 years
female: 75.72 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.77 children born/woman (2006 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%

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:
name: Muscat
geographic coordinates: 23 37 N, 58 35 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
5 regions (manatiq, singular - mintaqat) and 4 governorates*
(muhafazat, singular - muhafazat) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al
Buraymi*, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat*, Musandam*,
Zufar (Dhofar)*

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
(sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July 1972);
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 (sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July
1972); 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 popular vote for four-year terms; body has some
limited power to propose legislation, but otherwise has only
advisory powers)
elections: last held 4 October 2003 (next to be held October 2007)
election results: NA

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
note: the nascent civil court system, administered by region, has
judges who practice secular and Shari'a 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,
UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Hunaina bint Sultan bin Ahmad
al-MUGHAIRI
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 Gary A. GRAPPO
embassy: Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat
mailing address: P. O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat 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.
Sustained high oil prices in recent years have helped build Oman's
budget and trade surpluses and foreign reserves. Oman joined the
World Trade Organization in November 2000 and continues to
liberalize its markets. To reduce unemployment and limit dependence
on foreign labor, the government is encouraging the replacement of
foreign expatriate workers with local workers. Oman actively seeks
private foreign investors, especially in the industrial, information
technology, tourism, and higher education fields. Industrial
development plans focus on gas resources, metal manufacturing,
petrochemicals, and international transshipment ports.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$43.88 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$27.23 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$14,100 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.6% industry: 38.8% services: 58.7%

(2006 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):

2% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

14.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $14.33 billion
expenditures: $12.81 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
4.5% of GDP (2006 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:

5.9% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:
14.33 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
13.33 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
769,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
60,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
721,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - proved reserves:

4.7 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

17.2 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

6.77 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

10.43 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

 0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

829.1 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$7.097 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$24.73 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles

Exports - partners:
China 21.6%, South Korea 19.3%, Japan 14.2%, Thailand 12.6%, UAE
7.1%, Taiwan 4.1% (2005)

Imports:
$10.29 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food,
livestock, lubricants

Imports - partners:
UAE 22.4%, Japan 15.7%, UK 7.7%, US 6.7%, Germany 5.8%, India 4.2%
(2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$4.908 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$4.259 billion (2006 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 (2006), 0.3845 (2005), 0.3845
(2004), 0.3845 (2003), 0.3845 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Oman

Telephones - main lines in use:

265,200 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.333 million (2005)

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:
3,555 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:
245,000 (2005)

Transportation Oman

Airports: 137 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 6 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914
to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 131 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 52 914 to 1,523 m: 35 under 914 m: 35 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 4,072 km; oil 3,405 km (2006)

Roadways:
total: 34,965 km
paved: 9,673 km (including 550 km of expressways)
unpaved: 25,292 km (2001)

Merchant marine:
total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 10,797 GRT/5,040 DWT
by type: passenger 1
registered in other countries: 2 (Kazakhstan 2) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

 Mina' Qabus, Salalah

Military Oman

Military branches:
Royal Omani Armed Forces: Royal Army of Oman, Royal Navy of Oman,
Royal Air Force of Oman (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Sultanat Oman,
RAFO) (2006)

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
females age 18-49: 508,621 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 581,444
females age 18-49: 435,107 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 26,391
females age 18-49: 25,466 (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 of the alignment have not been made public

Trafficking in persons:
 current situation: Oman is a destination country for men and women
primarily from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India who migrate
willingly, but may subsequently become victims of trafficking when
subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude as domestic workers
and laborers; there have been occasional reports that expatriate
children engaged in camel racing may transit or reside in Omani
territory
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Oman is placed on the Tier 2 Watch
List because of a lack of evidence of increasing efforts to combat
severe forms of trafficking in persons in 2005

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 terminals:

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 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 discussions and confidence-building measures
have led to decreased tensions since 2002.

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: 24.44% permanent crops: 0.84% other: 74.72% (2005)

Irrigated land:
182,300 sq km (2003)
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:
165,803,560 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 39% (male 33,293,428/female 31,434,314)
15-64 years: 56.9% (male 48,214,298/female 46,062,933)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 3,256,065/female 3,542,522) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 19.8 years
male: 19.7 years
female: 20 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.09% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
29.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
8.23 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 70.45 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 70.84 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 70.04 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 63.39 years
male: 62.4 years
female: 64.44 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4 children born/woman (2006 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
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified
among birds in this country or surrounding region; it poses a
negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens
who have close contact with birds (2007)

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
local long form: Jamhuryat Islami Pakistan
 local short form: Pakistan
former: West Pakistan

Government type:
federal republic

Capital:
name: Islamabad
geographic coordinates: 33 42 N, 73 10 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 consists of two administrative entities: Azad Kashmir
and 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 in stages in
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 an electoral college drawn
from the national parliament and provincial assemblies for a
five-year term; note - Musharraf was last sworn in as President in
November 2002; the prime minister is selected by the National
Assembly (next elections to be held in 2007)
election results: AZIZ elected by the National Assembly on 27 August
2004

Legislative branch:
bicameral Parliament or Majlis-e-Shoora consists of the Senate (100
seats; members indirectly elected by provincial assemblies and the
territories' representatives in the National Assembly to serve
six-year terms; half of the Senate's seats turn over every three
years) and the National Assembly (342 seats; 272 seats filled by
popular vote; 60 seats reserved for women; 10 seats reserved for
non-Muslims; members serve five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held in March 2006 (next to be held in
March 2009); National Assembly - last held 10 October 2002 (next to
be held in 2007)
election results: Senate results - percent of vote by party - NA;
seats by party - PML 39, MMA 18, PPPP 9, MQM 6, PML/N 4, PkMAP 3,
 PPP 3, ANP 2, BNP-Awami 1, BNP/M 1, JWP 1, PML/F 1, independents 12;
National Assembly results - percent of votes by party - NA; seats by
party - PML/Q 126, PPPP 81, MMA 63, PML/N 19, MQM 17, NA 16, PML/F
5, PML/J 3, PPP/S 2, BNP 1, JWP 1, MQM-H 1, PAT 1, PkMAP 1, PML/Z 1,
PTI 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 [Asfandyar Wali KHAN]; Balochistan
National Party/Hayee Group or BNP/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; 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]; Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal
or MMA [Qazi Hussain AHMED]; Muttahida Qaumi Movement, or MQM
[Altaf
HUSSAIN]; National Alliance or NA [Ghulam Mustapha JATOI] (merged
with PML); Pakhtun Khwa Milli Awami Party or PkMAP [Mahmood Khan
ACHAKZAI]; Pakistan Awami Tehrik or PAT [Tahir ul QADRI]; 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 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, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO,
MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC, ONUB, OPCW, PCA,
SAARC,
SACEP, SCO (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNITAR,
UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Mahmud Ali DURRANI
chancery: 3517 International Court, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 243-6500
FAX: [1] (202) 686-1544
consulate(s) general: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New
York, Sunnyvale (California)

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) 208-
0000 FAX: [92] (51) 2276427 consulate(s) general: Karachi consulate(s):
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
five years. The government has made substantial macroeconomic
reforms since 2000, most notably privatizing the banking sector.
Poverty levels have decreased by 10 percent since 2001, and
Islamabad has steadily raised development spending in recent years,
including a 52-percent real increase in the budget allocation for
development in fiscal year 2007, a necessary step toward reversing
the broad underdevelopment of its social sector. The fiscal deficit
- the result of chronically low tax collection and increased
spending, including reconstruction costs from the October 2005
earthquake - appears manageable for now. GDP growth, spurred by
gains in the industrial and service sectors, remained in the 6-8%
range in 2004-06. Inflation remains the biggest threat to the
economy, jumping to more than 9% in 2005 before easing to 7.9% in
2006. The central bank is pursuing tighter monetary policy - raising
interest rates in 2006 - while trying to preserve growth. Foreign
exchange reserves are bolstered by steady worker remittances, but a
growing current account deficit - driven by a widening trade gap as
import growth outstrips export expansion - could draw down reserves
and dampen GDP growth in the medium term.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$427.3 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$124 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,600 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 22%
industry: 26%
services: 52% (2006 est.)
Labor force:
48.29 million
note: extensive export of labor, mostly to the Middle East, and use
of child labor (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 42%
industry: 20%
services: 38% (2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:
6.5% plus substantial underemployment (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

24% (FY05/06 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):

7.9% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

15.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $20.55 billion
expenditures: $25.65 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
55% of GDP (2006 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:

6% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
80.24 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 68.8% hydro: 28.2% nuclear: 3%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
74.62 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
63,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
324,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves:

358.9 million bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

27.4 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
27.4 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

759.7 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-5.486 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$19.24 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
textiles (garments, bed linen, cotton cloth, yarn), rice, leather
goods, sports goods, chemicals, manufactures, carpets and rugs

Exports - partners:
US 24.8%, UAE 7.8%, Afghanistan 6.6%, UK 5.7%, Germany 4.5% (2005)

Imports:
$26.79 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
petroleum, petroleum products, machinery, plastics, transportation
equipment, edible oils, paper and paperboard, iron and steel, tea

Imports - partners:
Saudi Arabia 11.1%, UAE 10.3%, China 9.2%, Japan 6.4%, US 6%,
Kuwait 5%, Germany 4.5% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$13.29 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
 $42.38 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$2.4 billion (FY01/02)

Currency (code):
Pakistani rupee (PKR)

Currency code:
PKR

Exchange rates:
Pakistani rupees per US dollar - 60.5 (2006), 59.515 (2005), 58.258
(2004), 57.752 (2003), 59.724 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

Communications Pakistan

Telephones - main lines in use:

5,162,798 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

48,289,136 (2006)

Telephone system:
general assessment: the telecom infrastructure is improving
dramatically with foreign and domestic investments into fixed-line
and mobile networks; mobile cellular subscribership has skyrocketed,
approaching 50 million in late 2006, up from only about 300,000 in
2000; fiber systems are being constructed throughout the country to
aid in network growth; main line availability has risen only
marginally over the same period and there are still difficulties
getting main line service to rural areas.
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 (2006)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 27, FM 1, shortwave 21 (1998)

Radios:
13.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

30 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (2006)

Televisions:
3.1 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.pk

Internet hosts:
72,765 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

30 (2000)

Internet users:
10.5 million (2005)

Transportation Pakistan

Airports: 139 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 91 over 3,047 m: 14 2,438 to 3,047 m: 21

1,524 to 2,437 m: 33 914 to 1,523 m: 15 under 914 m: 8 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 48 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12

914 to 1,523 m: 12 under 914 m: 23 (2006)

Heliports:
18 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 10,257 km; oil 2,001 km (2006)

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)

Roadways:
total: 258,340 km
paved: 167,146 km (including 711 km of expressways)
unpaved: 91,194 km (2004)

Merchant marine:
total: 16 ships (1000 GRT or over) 397,740 GRT/657,656 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 10, container 1, petroleum tanker 4
registered in other countries: 11 (Comoros 2, North Korea 3, Malta
1, Nigeria 1, Panama 3, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Karachi, Port Muhammad Bin Qasim

Military Pakistan

Military branches:
Army (includes National Guard), Navy (includes Marines), Pakistan
Air Force (Pakistan Fiza'ya) (2006)

Military service age and obligation:

16 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be
deployed for combat until age of 18; the Pakistani Air Force and
Pakistani Navy have inducted their first female pilots and sailors
(2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 39,028,014
females age 16-49: 36,779,584 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

 males age 16-49: 29,428,747
females age 16-49: 28,391,887 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 1,969,055
females age 16-49: 1,849,254 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$4.26 billion (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3.9% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Pakistan

Disputes - international:
various talks and confidence-building measures cautiously have
begun to defuse tensions over Kashmir, particularly since the
October 2005 earthquake in the region; Kashmir nevertheless remains
the 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; India and Pakistan have maintained
their 2004 cease fire in Kashmir and initiated discussions on
defusing the armed stand-off in the Siachen glacier region; Pakistan
protests India's fencing the highly militarized Line of Control and
construction of the Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River in Jammu and
Kashmir, which is part of the larger dispute on water sharing of the
Indus River and its tributaries; to defuse tensions and prepare for
discussions on a maritime boundary, India and Pakistan seek
technical resolution of the disputed boundary in Sir Creek estuary
at the mouth of the Rann of Kutch in the Arabian Sea; Pakistani maps
continue to show the Junagadh claim in India's Gujarat State; by
2005, Pakistan, with UN assistance, repatriated 2.3 million Afghan
refugees leaving slightly less than a million, many of whom remain
 at their own choosing; Pakistan has proposed and Afghanistan
protests construction of a fence and laying of mines along portions
of their porous border; Pakistan has sent troops into remote tribal
areas to monitor and control the border with Afghanistan and stem
terrorist or other illegal activities

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 1,084,208 (Afghanistan)
IDPs: undetermined (government strikes on Islamic militants in South
Waziristan), 34,000 (October 2005 earthquake, most of those
displaced returned to their home villages in the spring of 2006)
(2006)

Illicit drugs:
opium poppy cultivation declined 58% to 3,147 hectares in 2005;
federal and provincial authorities continue to conduct anti-poppy
campaigns that force eradication - fines and arrests will take place
if the ban on poppy cultivation is not observed; 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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% (2005)

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,
Wetlands, Whaling
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:
20,579 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.3% (male 2,789/female 2,622)
15-64 years: 69.1% (male 7,664/female 6,549)
65 years and over: 4.6% (male 453/female 502) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 31.7 years
male: 32.7 years
female: 30.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.31% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
18.03 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
6.8 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.85 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.17 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.13 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 14.46 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 16.19 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 70.42 years
male: 67.26 years
female: 73.77 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.46 children born/woman (2006 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%,
Filipino 15.3%, Chinese 4.9%, other Asian 2.4%, white 1.9%,
Carolinian 1.4%, other Micronesian 1.1%, 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: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, Palau District

Government type:
constitutional government in free association with the US; the
Compact of Free Association entered into force 1 October 1994

Capital:
name: Melekeok
geographic coordinates: 7 29 N, 134 38 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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)
cabinet: NA
elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets
by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term);
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, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IMF, IOC,
IPU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Hersey KYOTA
chancery: 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC
20006
telephone: [1] (202) 452-6814
FAX: [1] (202) 452-6281
consulate(s) general: Honolulu
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):

$124.5 million; note - includes US subsidy (2004 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$145 million (2005)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.5% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$7,600 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6.2% industry: 12% services: 81.8%

Labor force: 9,777 (2005)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 20% industry: NA% services: NA%

(1990)

Unemployment rate:
4.2% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.7% (2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $72.07 million
expenditures: $72.43 million; including capital expenditures of
 $12.98 million (FY04/05 est.)

Agriculture - products:
coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; fish

Industries:
tourism, craft items (from shell, wood, pearls), construction,
garment making

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production by source:

NA

Current account balance:

$15.09 million (FY03/04)

Exports:
$5.882 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
shellfish, tuna, copra, garments

Exports - partners:
US, Japan, Singapore (2004)

Imports:
$107.3 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuels, metals; foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
US, Singapore, Japan, South Korea (2004)

Debt - external:
$0 (FY99/00)

Economic aid - recipient:

 $19.6 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 (2004)

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 hosts:
3 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Transportation Palau

Airports: 3 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 61 km
paved: 36 km
unpaved: 25 km

Ports and terminals:

Koror

Military Palau

Military branches:
no regular military forces; Palau National Police (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

 males age 18-49: 5,694 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 4,087 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 142 (2005 est.)

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, but it has not stationed any
military forces there (2005)

Transnational Issues Palau

Disputes - international:
maritime delineation negotiations continue with Philippines,
Indonesia
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Panama

Introduction Panama

Background:
Explored and settled by the Spanish in the 16th century, Panama
broke with Spain in 1821 and joined a union of Colombia, Venezuela,
and Ecuador - named the Republic of Gran Colombia. When the latter
dissolved in 1830, Panama remained part of Colombia. 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. In 1977, an agreement was
signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama
by the end of the century. Certain portions of the Zone and
increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the
subsequent decades. 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 transfered to Panama by
the end of 1999. In October 2006, Panamanians approved an ambitious
plan to expand the Canal. The project, which is to begin in 2007 and
could double the Canal's capacity, is expected to be completed in
2014-15.

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 or edge of continental margin

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: 7.26% permanent crops: 1.95% other: 90.79% (2005)

Irrigated land:
430 sq km (2003)

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:
3,191,319 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.3% (male 492,403/female 472,996)
15-64 years: 63.4% (male 1,025,898/female 998,926)
65 years and over: 6.3% (male 94,122/female 106,974) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 26.1 years
male: 25.8 years
female: 26.5 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.6% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
21.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
5.36 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 16.37 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 17.75 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.22 years
male: 72.68 years
female: 77.87 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.68 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Panama
 geographic coordinates: 8 58 N, 79 32 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)

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 (eligible for two more 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 41, PA 17, PS 9, MOLIRENA 4, CD 3, PLN 3, PP 1
note: as of January 2006, the composition of the legislature is as
follows: seats by party - PRD 42, PA 16, PS 9, MOLIRENA 4, CD 3, PLN
3, PP 1; note - legislators from outlying rural districts are chosen
on a plurality basis while districts located in more populous towns
and cities elect multiple legislators by means of a proportion-based
formula

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 [Hugo GUIRAUD]; Liberal Party or PL
[Joaquin F. Franco VASQUEZ]; Nationalist Republican Liberal Movement
or MOLIRENA [Gisela CHUNG]; Panamenista Party or PA (formerly the
Arnulfista Party) [Juan Carlos VARELA]; Patriotic Union Party or PUP
[Jose Raul MULINO and Anibal GALINDO]; Popular Party or PP (formerly
Christian Democratic Party or PDC) [Rene ORILLAC]

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:

CAN (observer), CSN (observer), FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM,
OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNWTO, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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 William A. EATON
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 three-fourths of GDP. Services
include operating the Panama Canal, banking, the Colon Free Zone,
insurance, container ports, flagship registry, and tourism. A slump
in the 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 2004-06 led by
export-oriented services and a construction boom stimulated by tax
incentives. The government has implemented tax reforms, as well as
social security reforms, and backs regional trade agreements and
development of tourism. Unemployment remains high. In October 2006,
voters passed a referendum to expand the Panama Canal to accommodate
ships that are now too large to cross the transoceanic crossway. Not
a CAFTA signatory, Panama in December 2006 independently negotiated
a free trade agreement with the United States, which, when
implemented, will help promote the country's economic growth.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$25.29 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$16.2 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.3% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$7,900 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 7.2%
industry: 16.4%
services: 76.4% (2006 est.)

Labor force:
1.441 million
note: shortage of skilled labor, but an oversupply of unskilled
labor (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture: 20.8%
industry: 18%
services: 61.2% (1995 est.)

Unemployment rate:
8.8% (2006 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:

56.4 (2000)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.6% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

17.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $4.157 billion
expenditures: $4.489 billion; including capital expenditures of $471
million (2006 est.)

Public debt:
61.3% of GDP (2006 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:
3% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
7.545 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 37% hydro: 61.3% nuclear: 0%

other: 1.7% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
6.888 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
207 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
78 million kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
79,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day; note - imports oil (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-467 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
 $8.087 billion f.o.b.; note - includes the Colon Free Zone (2006
est.)

Exports - commodities:
bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee, clothing

Exports - partners:
US 44.9%, Spain 8.9%, Sweden 5.6%, Netherlands 4.9%, Costa Rica 4%
(2005)

Imports:
$9.365 billion f.o.b. (includes the Colon Free Zone) (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods, chemicals

Imports - partners:
US 27.5%, Netherlands Antilles 11.4%, Costa Rica 4.7%, Japan 4.5%
(2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.236 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$9.993 billion (2006 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 (2006), 1 (2005), 1 (2004), 1 (2003), 1
(2002)

Fiscal year:
 calendar year

Communications Panama

Telephones - main lines in use:

440,100 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.352 million (2005)

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:
7,149 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6 (2000)
Internet users:
300,000 (2005)

Transportation Panama

Airports: 117 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 53 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 28 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 64 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m:

10 under 914 m: 53 (2006)

Railways:
total: 355 km
standard gauge: 77 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 278 km 0.914-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 11,643 km
paved: 4,028 km
unpaved: 7,615 km (2000)

Waterways:
800 km (includes 82 km Panama Canal) (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 5,473 ships (1000 GRT or over) 146,511,342 GRT/219,940,567
DWT
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 1,776, cargo 992, chemical
tanker 476, combination ore/oil 2, container 663, liquefied gas 193,
livestock carrier 7, passenger 49, passenger/cargo 77, petroleum
tanker 518, refrigerated cargo 299, roll on/roll off 123,
specialized tanker 23, vehicle carrier 274
foreign-owned: 4,922 (Anguilla 1, Argentina 9, Australia 3, Bahamas,
The 2, Belgium 11, Bermuda 1, Bulgaria 1, Canada 4, Chile 9, China
420, Colombia 5, Croatia 5, Cuba 11, Cyprus 14, Denmark 34, Egypt
16, Estonia 3, France 15, Gabon 1, Germany 35, Greece 524, Hong Kong
169, India 19, Indonesia 50, Iran 4, Ireland 2, Israel 6, Italy 15,
 Japan 2007, Jordan 13, South Korea ( ( (291, Kuwait 2, Latvia 3,
Lebanon 2, Lithuania 5, Malaysia 13, Maldives 1, Malta 3, Mexico 5,
Monaco 9, Morocco 1, Netherlands 21, Nigeria 7, Norway 66, Pakistan
3, Peru 15, Philippines 13, Poland 15, Portugal 10, Qatar 1, Romania
9, Russia 7, Saudi Arabia 8, Singapore 67, South Africa 3, Spain 53,
Sri Lanka 5, Sudan 1, Sweden 5, Switzerland 226, Syria 18, Taiwan
308, Thailand 9, Trinidad and Tobago 1, Turkey 42, UAE 105, UK 37,
Ukraine 8, US 94, Venezuela 14, Vietnam 4, Yemen 3)
registered in other countries: 1 (Venezuela 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Balboa, Colon, Cristobal

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: 751,065 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 591,604 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 29,724

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$150 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1% (2005 est.)

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 remote 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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: 0.49%
permanent crops: 1.4%
other: 98.11% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

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:
5,670,544 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.8% (male 1,090,879/female 1,054,743)
15-64 years: 58.3% (male 1,703,204/female 1,601,224)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 103,054/female 117,440) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 21.2 years
male: 21.4 years
female: 21.1 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.21% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
29.36 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
7.25 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

 total: 49.96 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 54.08 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 45.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 65.28 years
male: 63.08 years
female: 67.58 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.88 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

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: 820 indigenous languages spoken (over one-tenth of the world's
total)

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
local short form: Papuaniugini
former: Territory of Papua and New Guinea
abbreviation: PNG

Government type:
constitutional parliamentary democracy

Capital:
name: Port Moresby
geographic coordinates: 9 30 S, 147 10 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 Don Polye (since 5 July 2006)
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 - seats by party as of January 2006
- National Alliance 25, URP 10, PNGP 9, PPP 9, PANGU 6, PAP 12, PLP
4, others 34
note: association with political parties is fluid
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]; Melanesian Alliance
Party or MAP [Sir Moi AVEL]; National Alliance Party or NA [Michael
SOMARE]; National Party; Papua and Niugini Union Party or PANGU
[Rabbie NAMALIU]; Papua New Guinea First Party [Cecilking DORUBA];
Papua New Guinea Labor Party [Bob DANAYA]; Papua New Guinea Party or
PNGP (was People's Democratic Movement or PDM) [Sir Mekere
MORAUTA];
People's Action Party or PAP [Moses MALADINA]; People's Labor Party
or PLP [Ekis ROPENU]; People's National Congress or PNC [Peter
O'NEILL]; People's Progress Party or PPP [Byron CHAN]; Pipol First
Party [Luther WENGE]; United Party [Bire KIMASOPA]; United Resources
Party or URP [Tim NEVILLE] (2007)

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, APEC, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (observer), C, CP, FAO, G-77, IBRD,
ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OPCW,
PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, 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 Leslie V. ROWE
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 nearly two-thirds of export
earnings. The economy has improved over the past three years because
of high commodity prices following a prolonged period of
instability. The government of Prime Minister SOMARE has expended
much of its energy remaining in power and should be the first
government in decades to serve a full five-year term. The government
has also brought stability to the national budget thus far, largely
through expenditure control. Numerous challenges still face the
government including regaining investor confidence, restoring
integrity to state institutions, promoting economic efficiency by
privatizing moribund state institutions, and balancing relations
with Australia, the former colonial ruler. Other socio-cultural
challenges could upend the economy including a worsening HIV/Aids
epidemic and chronic law and order and land tenure issues. Australia
annually supplies $240 million in aid, which accounts for nearly 20%
of the national budget.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

 $15.13 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$4.148 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.2% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,700 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 35.7% industry: 37.1% services:

27.2% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 3.477 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 85% industry: NA% services: NA%

Unemployment rate:
2% up to 80% in urban areas (2004)

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):

2.5% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $2.155 billion
expenditures: $2.166 billion; including capital expenditures of $344
 million (2006 est.)

Public debt:
53.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
coffee, cocoa, copra, palm kernels, tea, sugar, rubber, sweet
potatoes, fruit, vegetables, vanilla; shell fish, poultry, pork

Industries:
copra crushing, palm oil processing, plywood production, wood chip
production; mining of gold, silver, and copper; crude oil
production, petroleum refining; construction, tourism

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:
3.358 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 54.1% hydro: 45.9% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
3.123 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
50,000 bbl/day (January 2006 est.)

Oil - consumption:
18,000 bbl/day (January 2006 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - proved reserves:

170 million bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

140 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

140 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:

345.5 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$661 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$4.096 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
oil, gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil, coffee, cocoa, crayfish,
prawns

Exports - partners:
Australia 28.8%, Japan 8.6%, China 5.4% (2005)

Imports:
$1.686 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, fuels,
chemicals
Imports - partners:
Australia 54.7%, Singapore 13.4%, Japan 4.3%, Malaysia 4.2% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.099 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$1.801 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$NA

Currency (code):
kina (PGK)

Currency code:
PGK

Exchange rates:
kina per US dollar - 3.08 (2006), 3.08 (2005), 3.2225 (2004),
3.5635 (2003), 3.8952 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Papua New Guinea

Telephones - main lines in use:

62,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

26,000 (2005)

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:
1,573 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2000)

Internet users:
170,000 (2005)

Transportation Papua New Guinea

Airports: 582 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 561 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523
m: 62 under 914 m: 488 (2006)

Heliports:
2 (2006)
Pipelines:
oil 264 km (2006)

Roadways: total: 19,600 km paved: 686 km unpaved: 18,914 km (1999)

Waterways:
10,940 km (2003)

Merchant marine:
total: 24 ships (1000 GRT or over) 55,532 GRT/72,240 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 18, passenger/cargo 2, petroleum
tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 6 (UK 6) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Kimbe, Lae, Rabaul

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
females age 18-49: 1,167,188 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 902,432
females age 18-49: 894,759 (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

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 9,991 (Indonesia) (2006)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
0 sq km

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

Airports: 1 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Ports and terminals:
small Chinese port facilities on Woody Island and Duncan Island
being expanded

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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: 3,995 km
border countries: Argentina 1,880 km, Bolivia 750 km, Brazil 1,365 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: 7.47% permanent crops: 0.24% other: 92.29% (2005)

Irrigated land:
670 sq km (2003)

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:
6,506,464 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.7% (male 1,245,149/female 1,204,970)
15-64 years: 57.5% (male 1,878,761/female 1,862,266)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 145,899/female 169,419) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 21.3 years
male: 21.1 years
female: 21.6 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.45% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
29.1 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
4.49 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 24.78 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 29.4 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.1 years
male: 72.56 years
female: 77.78 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.89 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Asuncion
geographic coordinates: 25 16 S, 57 40 W
 time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

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)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a single five-year term; 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
note: as of January 2006, changes in party affiliation has led to
the composition of the legislature as follows: Chamber of Senators -
seats by party - ANR 18, PLRA 12, UNACE 5, PQ 7, PPS 2, PEN 1;
Chamber of Deputies - seats by party - ANR 39, PLRA 21, UNACE 8, 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 [Jose A.
ALDERETE, 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 Kennedy]; Partido Liberal Radical Autentico or PLRA [Blas
LLANO]; 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; National Coordinating Board of
Campesino Organizations or MCNOC [Luis AGUAYO]; National Federation
of Campesinos or FNC [Odilon ESPINOLA]; National Workers Central or
CNT [Secretary General Juan TORRALES]; Paraguayan Workers
Confederation or CPT; Roman Catholic Church; Unitary Workers Central
or CUT [Jorge Guzman ALVARENGA Malgarejo]

International organization participation:

CAN (associate), CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA,
MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM (observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG,
UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO,
UPU, WCL,
WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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:

Ambassador James C. CASON
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 its 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 disease. 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 between 2003 and 2006, posting modest growth each year.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$30.64 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$7.696 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
3.2% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$4,700 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 22.4% industry: 18.4% services:

59.2% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 2.742 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 45% industry: NA% services: NA%

Unemployment rate:
9.4% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:

32% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 0.5%
highest 10%: 43.8% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

56.8 (1999)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

9% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.773 billion
expenditures: $1.733 billion; including capital expenditures of $700
million (2006 est.)

Public debt:
30.9% of GDP (2006 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:
51.77 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0% hydro: 99.9% nuclear: 0%

other: 0.1% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
3.133 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
45.01 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
27,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-300 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$1.69 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:
soybeans, feed, cotton, meat, edible oils, electricity, wood,
leather

Exports - partners:
Uruguay 28.4%, Brazil 19.3%, Argentina 6.4%, Russia 6%, China 4.1%
(2005)

Imports:
$4.5 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
road vehicles, consumer goods, tobacco, petroleum products,
electrical machinery

Imports - partners:
Brazil 27.2%, China 20.5%, Argentina 19.7%, US 5.3%, Switzerland
4.2% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.543 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$3.722 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$NA

Currency (code):
guarani (PYG)
Currency code:
PYG

Exchange rates:
guarani per US dollar - 5,680.71 (2006), 6,178 (2005), 5,974.6
(2004), 6,424.3 (2003), 5,716.3 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Paraguay

Telephones - main lines in use:

320,300 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.887 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: meager telephone service; principal switching
center is in 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:
13,178 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

4 (2000)

Internet users:
200,000 (2005)

Transportation Paraguay

Airports: 881 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 12
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 869
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 325
under 914 m: 518 (2006)

Railways:
total: 36 km
standard gauge: 36 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)

Roadways: total: 29,500 km paved: 14,986 km unpaved: 14,514 km (1999)

Waterways:
3,100 km (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 21 ships (1000 GRT or over) 34,749 GRT/39,280 DWT
by type: cargo 15, livestock carrier 1, passenger 1, passenger/cargo
1, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 3 (Argentina 3)
 registered in other countries: 1 (Ecuador 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Asuncion, Villeta, San Antonio, Encarnacion

Military Paraguay

Military branches:
Army, National Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Naval Aviation,
Marine Corps, General Naval Prefecture), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea
Paraguay, FAP) (2006)

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
females age 18-49: 1,342,725 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,109,166
females age 18-49: 1,135,046 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 63,058
females age 18-49: 62,217 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$53.1 million (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.9% (2003 est.)

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, and
Europe; corruption and some money-laundering activity, especially in
the Tri-Border Area; weak anti-money-laundering laws and enforcement

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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, which led to his ouster in 2000. A
 caretaker government oversaw new elections in the spring of 2001,
which ushered in Alejandro TOLEDO as the new head of government -
Peru's first democratically elected president of Native American
ethnicity. The presidential election of 2006 saw the return of Alan
GARCIA who, after a disappointing presidential term from 1985 to
1990, returned to the presidency with promises to improve social
conditions and maintain fiscal responsibility.

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: 7,461 km
border countries: Bolivia 1,075 km, Brazil 2,995 km, Chile 171 km,
Colombia 1,800 km, 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: 2.88% permanent crops: 0.47% other: 96.65% (2005)

Irrigated land:
12,000 sq km (2003)

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:
28,302,603 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.9% (male 4,456,195/female 4,300,233)
15-64 years: 63.7% (male 9,078,123/female 8,961,981)
65 years and over: 5.3% (male 709,763/female 796,308) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 25.3 years
male: 25 years
female: 25.5 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.32% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
20.48 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
6.23 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.01 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 30.94 deaths/1,000 live births
 male: 33.49 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 28.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 69.84 years
male: 68.05 years
female: 71.71 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.51 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Lima
geographic coordinates: 12 03 S, 77 03 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)

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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal and compulsory until the age of 70; note
- for the first time in recent elections, members of the military
and national police were eligible to vote in the 2006 elections

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Alan GARCIA Perez (since 28 July 2006);
First Vice President Luis GIAMPIETRI Rojas; Second Vice President
Lourdes MENDOZA del Solar (since 28 July 2006); note - the president
is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Alan GARCIA Perez (since 28 July
2006); First Vice President Luis GIAMPIETRI Rojas; Second Vice
President Lourdes MENDOZA del Solar (since 28 July 2006)
note: Prime Minister Jorge DEL CASTILLO Galvez (since 28 August
2006) 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
(eligible for a second term); presidential and congressional
elections held 9 April 2006, with runoff election held 4 June 2006;
next to be held April 2011
election results: Alan GARCIA elected president in runoff election;
percent of vote - Alan GARCIA 52.5%, Ollanta HUMALA Tasso 47.5%

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 9 April 2006 (next to be held April 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - UPP 21.2%, PAP 20.6%,
UN 15.3%, AF 13.1%, FC 7.1%, PP 4.1%, RN 4.0%; seats by party - UPP
45, PAP 36, UN 17, AF 13, FC 5, PP 2, RN 2

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:

Alliance For Progress (Alianza Para El Progreso) [Cesar ACUNA
 Peralta]; Alliance For The Future (Alianza Por El Futuro) or AF - a
coalition of pro-FUJIMORI parties including Cambio 90, Nueva
Mayoria, and Si Cumple [Martha CHAVEZ Cossio]; Centrist Front
(Frente Del Centro) or FC - a coalition of Accion Popular, Somos
Peru, and Coordinadora Nacional de Independientes [Drago KISIC];
Independent Moralizing Front (Frente Independiente Moralizador) or
FIM [Fernando OLIVERA Vega]; Nationalist Party Uniting Peru (Partido
Nacionalista Uniendo al Peru) or UPP - a coalition of Union for Peru
(UPP) and Peruvian Nationalist Party (PNP) [Ollanta HUMALA Tasso];
National Restoration (Restauracion Nacional) or RN [Humberto LAY
Sun]; National Unity (Unidad Nacional) or UN [Lourdes FLORES Nano];
Peru Possible (Peru Posible) or PP [David WAISMAN]; Peruvian Aprista
Party (Partido Aprista Peruano) or PAP - also referred to by its
original name Alianza Popular Revolucionaria Americana or APRA [Alan
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, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur
(associate), MIGA, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW,
PCA, RG,
UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNMEE,
UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Felipe ORTIZ de Zevallos
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) 618-2397

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 more
than 4 percent per year during the period 2002-2006, 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, underemployment and poverty have
stayed persistently high. Economic growth continues to be driven by
the Camisea natural gas megaproject and by exports of minerals,
textiles, and agricultural products. Upon taking office, President
 GARCIA announced the formation of Sierria Exportadora, a program
aimed at promoting economic growth in Southern Peru and the
highlands.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$181.8 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$76.09 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$6,400 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8.5% industry: 26.4% services: 53.1%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 9.21 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 9% industry: 18% services: 73%

(2001)

Unemployment rate:
7.2% in metropolitan Lima; widespread underemployment (2006 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):

2.1% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
20.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $25.5 billion
expenditures: $25.18 billion; including capital expenditures of $1.8
billion for general government, but excluding private enterprises
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
33.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
asparagus, coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, potatoes, corn,
plantains, grapes, oranges, coca; poultry, beef, dairy products;
fish, guinea pigs

Industries:
mining and refining of minerals; steel, metal fabrication;
petroleum extraction and refining, natural gas; fishing and fish
processing, textiles, clothing, food processing

Industrial production growth rate:

7% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
23.99 billion kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 14.5% hydro: 84.7% nuclear: 0%

other: 0.8% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
22.31 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
120,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
156,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
49,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - proved reserves:

370 million bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

860 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

860 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:

246.8 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$1.515 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$22.69 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
copper, gold, zinc, crude petroleum and petroleum products, coffee,
potatoes, asparagus, textiles, guinea pigs
Exports - partners:
US 31.1%, China 10.8%, Chile 6.6%, Canada 5.9%, Switzerland 4.6%
(2005)

Imports:
$15.38 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, plastics, machinery, vehicles,
iron and steel, wheat, paper

Imports - partners:
US 18.2%, China 8.5%, Brazil 8%, Ecuador 7.4%, Colombia 6.1%,
Argentina 5.1%, Chile 5.1%, Venezuela 4.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$17.04 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$27.93 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$491 million (2002)

Currency (code):
nuevo sol (PEN)

Currency code:
PEN

Exchange rates:
nuevo sol per US dollar - 3.28069 (2006), 3.2958 (2005), 3.4132
(2004), 3.4785 (2003), 3.5165 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Peru
Telephones - main lines in use:
2,250,500 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

5.583 million (2005)

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:
269,981 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

10 (2000)

Internet users:
4.6 million (2005)

Transportation Peru
Airports: 268 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 54 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 20

1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 214 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437
m: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 63 under 914 m: 124 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 983 km; gas/lpg 61 km; liquid natural gas 106 km; liquid
petroleum gas 517 km; oil 1,754 km; refined products 13 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 3,462 km
standard gauge: 2,962 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 500 km 0.914-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 78,829 km
paved: 11,351 km (including 276 km of expressways)
unpaved: 67,478 km (2004)

Waterways:
8,808 km
note: 8,600 km of navigable tributaries of Amazon system and 208 km
of Lago Titicaca (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 4 ships (1000 GRT or over) 38,954 GRT/62,255 DWT
by type: cargo 3, petroleum tanker 1
foreign-owned: 1 (US 1)
registered in other countries: 15 (Panama 15) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Callao, Iquitos, Matarani, Pucallpa, Yurimaguas; note - Iquitos,
Pucallpa, and Yurimaguas are on the upper reaches of the Amazon and
its tributaries
Military Peru

Military branches:
Peruvian Army (Ejercito Peruano), Peruvian Navy (Marina de Guerra
del Peru; includes naval air, naval infantry, and coast guard),
Peruvian 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
females age 18-49: 6,544,408 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 4,938,417
females age 18-49: 5,278,511 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 277,105
females age 18-49: 269,799 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$829.3 million (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.4% (2003 est.)

Transnational Issues Peru

Disputes - international:
Chile and Ecuador rejected Peru's November 2005 unilateral
legislation to shift the axis of their joint treaty-defined maritime
boundaries along the parallels of latitude to equidistance lines
which favor Peru; organized illegal narcotics operations in Colombia
have penetrated Peru's shared border; Peru rejects 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) (2005)

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Peru is primarily a source country for women and
children trafficked internally for the purposes of sexual
exploitation and forced domestic labor; most victims are girls and
young women moved internally from rural to urban areas, or from city
to city, and lured or coerced into prostitution in nightclubs, bars,
and brothels; Peruvians have also been trafficked for sexual
exploitation to Spain, Japan, the United States, and Venezuela; the
government acknowledges that sex tourism occurs, particularly in the
Amazon region of the country
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Peru is placed on the Tier 2 Watch
List for failure to show evidence of increasing efforts to eliminate
trafficking in 2005

Illicit drugs:
until 1996 the world's largest coca leaf producer; cultivation of
coca in Peru fell 15% 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@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 20-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 an armed Communist insurgency and from Muslim separatists in
the south, as well as from impeachment attempts by political elites
and civil groups unhappy with the current administration.

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: 19% permanent crops: 16.67% other: 64.33% (2005)
Irrigated land:
15,500 sq km (2003)

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:
89,468,677 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 35% (male 15,961,365/female 15,340,065)
15-64 years: 61% (male 27,173,919/female 27,362,736)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 1,576,089/female 2,054,503) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 22.5 years
male: 22 years
 female: 23 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.8% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
24.89 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
5.41 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 22.81 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 25.59 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 19.89 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.21 years
male: 67.32 years
female: 73.24 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.11 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

Nationality:
noun: Filipino(s)
adjective: Philippine

Ethnic groups:
Tagalog 28.1%, Cebuano 13.1%, Ilocano 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:
name: Manila
geographic coordinates: 14 35 N, 121 00 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
79 provinces and 117 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,
Taguig, 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); note - president is both chief of state and head of
government
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 a single six-year
term; 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 14 May
2007); House of Representatives - elections last held 10 May 2004
(next to be held 14 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; 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 (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:

Kabalikat Ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) [Ronaldo PUNO]; Laban Ng
Demokratikong Pilipino (Struggle of Filipino Democrats) or LDP
[Edgardo ANGARA]; Lakas Ng Edsa (National Union of Christian
Democrats) or Lakas [Jose DE VENECIA]; Liberal Party or LP [Franklin
DRILON/Eli QUINTO]; Nacionalista [Manuel VILLAR]; National People's
Coalition or NPC [Frisco SAN JUAN]; PDP-Laban [Aquilino PIMENTEL];
 People's Reform Party [Miriam Defensor SANTIAGO]; PROMDI [Emilio
OSMENA]; Pwersa Ng Masang Pilipino (Party of the Philippine Masses)
or PMP [Joseph ESTRADA]; Reporma [Renato DE VILLA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

AKBAYAN [Reps. Etta ROSALES, Mario AGUJA, and Risa
HONTIVEROS-BARAQUIEL]; ALAGAD [Rep. Rodante MARROLITA];
ALIF [Rep.
Acmad TOMAWIS]; An Waray [Rep. Horencio NOEL]; Anak Mindanao
[Mujiv
HATAMIN]; ANAKPAWIS [Reps. Crispin BELTRAN and Rafael
MARIANO]; APEC
[Reps. Ernesto PABLO, Edgar VALDEZ]; Association of Philippine
Electric Cooperatives (APEC) [Reps. Edgar VALDEZ, Ernesto PABLO, and
Sunny Rose MADAMBA]; AVE [Rep. Eulogio MAGSAYSAY]; 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]; COOP-NATCO [Rep.
Guillermo CUA]; GABRIELA [Rep. Liza MAZA]; Partido Ng Manggagawa
[Rep. Renato MAGTUBO]; Veterans Federation of the Philippines [Rep.
Ernesto GIDAYA] (2006)

International organization participation:

APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, CP, EAS, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO,
ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
MINUSTAH, NAM, OAS (observer), ONUB, OPCW, PIF (partner), UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNWTO,
UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Willy C. GAA
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: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney
embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita 1000, Manila
mailing address: PSC 500, FPO AP 96515-1000
telephone: [63] (2) 528-6300
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 its high level
of annual remittances 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 about 5% between 2002 and 2006 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 the alleviation of
poverty 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 this situation 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 have at times expressed concern about the
Philippines' ability to service the debt, though central bank
reserves appear adequate and large remittance inflows appear stable.
The implementation of the expanded Value Added Tax (VAT) in November
2005 boosted confidence in the government's fiscal capacity and
helped to strengthen the peso, making it East Asia's best performing
currency in 2005-06. Investors and credit rating institutions will
continue to look for effective implementation of the new VAT and
continued improvement in the government's overall fiscal capacity in
the coming year.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$443.1 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$98.48 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.3% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$5,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 14.3% industry: 32.1% services:

53.7% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 36.65 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 36% industry: 16% services: 48%

(2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:
8.4% (2006 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):

6.6% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

14.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $19.44 billion
expenditures: $21.38 billion; including capital expenditures of NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
69.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
sugarcane, coconuts, rice, corn, bananas, cassavas, pineapples,
mangoes; pork, eggs, beef; fish

Industries:
electronics assembly, garments, footwear, pharmaceuticals,
chemicals, wood products, food processing, petroleum refining,
fishing

Industrial production growth rate:

2% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
53.13 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 55.6% hydro: 17.5% nuclear: 0%

other: 26.9% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
49.41 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2006)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2006)

Oil - production:
25,320 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
342,000 bbl/day (2004 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:

2.9 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

2.9 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

106.8 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

 $5.355 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$44.2 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
electronic equipment, machinery and transport equipment, garments,
optical instruments, coconut products, fruits and nuts, copper
products, chemicals

Exports - partners:
US 18%, Japan 17.5%, China 9.9%, Netherlands 9.8%, Hong Kong 8.1%,
Singapore 6.6%, Malaysia 6%, Taiwan 4.6% (2005)

Imports:
$48.76 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
raw materials, machinery and equipment, fuels, vehicles and vehicle
parts, plastic, chemicals, grains

Imports - partners:
US 19.2%, Japan 17%, Singapore 7.9%, Taiwan 7.5%, China 6.3%, South
Korea 4.8%, Saudi Arabia 4.6%, Hong Kong 4.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$20.57 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$61.49 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA commitments, $2 billion (2004)

Currency (code):
Philippine peso (PHP)

Currency code:
PHP
Exchange rates:
Philippine pesos per US dollar - 51.5747 (2006), 55.086 (2005),
56.04 (2004), 54.203 (2003), 51.604 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Philippines

Telephones - main lines in use:

3,437,500 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

32.81 million (2005)

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; cellular
communications now dominate the industry with roughly 10 mobile
cellular subscribers for every fixed-line subscriber
international: country code - 63; 11 international gateways;
submarine cables to Hong Kong, Guam, Singapore, Taiwan, Japan,
Brunei, and Malaysia among others

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 375, FM 596, shortwave 4
note: each shortwave station operates on multiple frequencies in the
language of the target audience (2006)

Radios:
11.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

233; note - 1480 CATV networks (2006)

Televisions:
3.7 million (1997)
Internet country code:
.ph

Internet hosts:
111,262 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

33 (2000)

Internet users:
7.82 million (2005)

Transportation Philippines

Airports: 256 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 83 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7

1,524 to 2,437 m: 26 914 to 1,523 m: 36 under 914 m: 10 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 173 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m:
69 under 914 m: 99 (2006)

Heliports:
2 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 565 km; oil 135 km; refined products 105 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 897 km
narrow gauge: 897 km 1.067-m gauge (492 km are in operation) (2005)

Roadways: total: 200,037 km paved: 19,804 km unpaved: 180,233 km (2003)

Waterways:
3,219 km (limited to vessels with draft less than 1.5 m) (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 403 ships (1000 GRT or over) 4,661,285 GRT/6,426,183 DWT
 by type: bulk carrier 82, cargo 115, chemical tanker 13, container
6, liquefied gas 5, livestock carrier 17, passenger 9,
passenger/cargo 73, petroleum tanker 42, refrigerated cargo 15, roll
on/roll off 13, vehicle carrier 13
foreign-owned: 66 (Greece 5, Hong Kong 3, Japan 26, Malaysia 1,
Netherlands 19, Norway 3, UAE 1, US 8)
registered in other countries: 41 (Australia 1, Bahamas 1, Cambodia
1, Cayman Islands 1, Comoros 1, Cyprus 1, Hong Kong 16, Indonesia 1,
Panama 13, Singapore 5) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iligan, Iloilo, Manila, Surigao

Military Philippines

Military branches:
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): Army, Navy (includes Marine
Corps), Philippine Air Force (Hukbomg Himpapawid ng Pilipinas) (2006)

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
females age 18-49: 20,009,526 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 15,170,096
females age 18-49: 16,931,191 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 907,542
females age 18-49: 878,712 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$836.9 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.9% (2005 est.)
Transnational Issues Philippines

Disputes - international:
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; maritime delimitation negotiations continue
with Palau

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 60,000 (fighting between government troops and MILF and Abu
Sayyaf groups) (2006)

Illicit drugs:
domestic methamphetamine production has been a growing problem in
recent years; longstanding marijuana producer
This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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: 45 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA (2006
est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.01% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
NA

Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population

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:
name: Adamstown
geographic coordinates: 25 04 S, 130 05 W
time difference: UTC-9 (4 hours behind Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 George FERGUSSON (since April
2006); Commissioner (nonresident) Leslie JAQUES (since September
2003) serves as liaison between the governor and the Island Council
head of government: Governor George FERGUSSON (since April 2006);
Mayor and Chairman of the Island Council Jay WARREN (since 15
December 2004)
 cabinet: NA
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor 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 in 24 December 2005 (next to be held December
2006)
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:

SPC, 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 small 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

Labor force:
15 able-bodied men (2004)

Labor force - by occupation:

note: no business community in the usual sense; some public works;
subsistence farming and fishing

Budget:
revenues: $746,000
expenditures: $1.028 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY04/05)

Agriculture - products:
honey; wide variety of fruits and vegetables; goats, chickens

Industries:
postage stamps, handicrafts, beekeeping, honey

Electricity - production:
 NA kWh; note - electric power is provided by a small diesel-powered
generator

Exports:
$NA

Exports - commodities:
fruits, vegetables, curios, stamps

Imports:
$NA

Imports - commodities:
fuel oil, machinery, building materials, flour, sugar, other
foodstuffs

Economic aid - recipient:

$3.465 million (2004)

Currency (code):
New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Currency code:
NZD

Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004),
1.7221 (2003), 2.1622 (2002)

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 hosts:
8 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

NA

Internet users:
NA

Transportation Pitcairn Islands

Roadways:
total: 6 km
unpaved: 6 km (dirt roads)

Ports and terminals:

Adamstown (on Bounty Bay)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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
still faces the lingering challenges of high unemployment,
underdeveloped and dilapidated infrastructure, and a poor rural
underclass. 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. With its transformation to a democratic, market-oriented
country largely completed, Poland is an increasingly active member
of Euro-Atlantic organizations.

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: 3,056 km
border countries: Belarus 416 km, Czech Republic 790 km, Germany 467
km, Lithuania 103 km, Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast) 210 km, Slovakia
541 km, Ukraine 529 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: 40.25% permanent crops: 1% other: 58.75% (2005)

Irrigated land:
1,000 sq km (2003)

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 EU 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:
38,536,869 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.9% (male 3,142,811/female 2,976,363)
15-64 years: 70.8% (male 13,585,306/female 13,704,763)
65 years and over: 13.3% (male 1,961,326/female 3,166,300) (2006
est.)

Median age: total: 37 years male: 35.1 years female: 39 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.05% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
9.85 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
9.89 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 7.22 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.95 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.44 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.97 years
male: 70.95 years
female: 79.23 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.25 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Warsaw
geographic coordinates: 52 15 N, 21 00 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:
16 provinces (wojewodztwa, singular - wojewodztwo); Dolnoslaskie
wojewodztwo, Kujawsko-Pomorskie wojewodztwo, Lodzkie wojewodztwo,
Lubelskie wojewodztwo, Lubuskie wojewodztwo, Malopolskie
wojewodztwo, Mazowieckie wojewodztwo, Opolskie wojewodztwo,
Podkarpackie wojewodztwo, Podlaskie wojewodztwo, Pomorskie
wojewodztwo, Slaskie wojewodztwo, Swietokrzyskie wojewodztwo,
Warminsko-Mazurskie wojewodztwo, Wielkopolskie wojewodztwo,
Zachodniopomorskie wojewodztwo

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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Lech KACZYNSKI (since 23 December 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI (since 10 July
2006); Deputy Prime Ministers Ludwik DORN (since 23 November 2005),
Roman GIERTYCH (since 5 May 2006), Zyta GILOWSKA (since 22
September
2006), Andrzej LEPPER (since 16 October 2006)
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
(eligible for a second term); election last held 9 and 23 October
2005 (next to be held fall 2010); prime minister and deputy prime
ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the Sejm
election results: Lech KACZYNSKI elected president; percent of
popular vote - Lech KACZYNSKI 54%, Donald Tusk 46%

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 25 September 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 SKL
[Artur BALASZ]; Democratic Left Alliance or SLD [Wojciech
OLEJNICZAK]; Democratic Party or PD [Janusz ONYSZKIEWICZ]; Dom
Ojczysty (Fatherland Home); German Minority of Lower Silesia or MNSO
[Henryk KROLL]; Law and Justice or PiS [Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI]; League
of Polish Families or LPR [Roman GIERTYCH]; Peasant-Democratic Party
or PLD [Roman JAGIELINSKI]; Polish Accord or PP [Jan LOPUSZANSKI];
Polish Peasant Party or PSL [Waldemar PAWLAK]; Ruch Patriotyczny or
RP [Jan OLSZEWSKI]; 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 [Andrzej
SPYCHALSKI]

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), Arctic Council (observer), Australia Group, BIS,
BSEC (observer), CBSS, CE, CEI, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO,
MONUC,
NAM (guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIF (observer), OPCW,
OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL,
UNMEE,
UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU
(associate),
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Janusz

REITER chancery: 2640 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1]
(202) 234-3800 through 3802 FAX: [1] (202) 328-6271 consulate(s) general:
Chicago, Los Angeles, 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, 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
since 1990 and today stands out as a success story among transition
economies. Even so, much remains to be done, especially in bringing
down the unemployment rate - still the highest in the EU despite
recent improvement. 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 previous Socialist-led government introduced a
package of social and administrative spending cuts to reduce public
spending by about $17 billion through 2007, but full implementation
of the plan was trumped by election-year politics in 2005. The
right-wing Law and Justice party won parliamentary elections in
September, and Lech KACZYNSKI won the presidential election in
October 2005, running on a state-interventionist fiscal and monetary
platform. 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
benefited from nearly $23.2 billion in EU funds, which were
available through 2006. Farmers have already begun to reap the
rewards of membership via booming exports, higher food prices, and
EU agricultural subsidies.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$542.6 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$265.4 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.3% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$14,100 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4.8% industry: 31.2% services: 64%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 17.26 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 16.1% industry: 29% services: 54.9%

(2002)

Unemployment rate:
14.9% (November 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

17% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 26.7% (2002)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

34.1 (2002)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.3% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $62 billion
expenditures: $71.25 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
49% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
potatoes, fruits, vegetables, wheat; poultry, eggs, pork, dairy

Industries:
machine building, iron and steel, coal mining, chemicals,
shipbuilding, food processing, glass, beverages, textiles
Industrial production growth rate:
10.2% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
143.5 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 98.1% hydro: 1.5% nuclear: 0%

other: 0.4% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
124.1 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
14.6 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
5.3 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
35,880 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
445,700 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
53,000 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
413,700 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

142.4 million bbl (December 2004)

Natural gas - production:

5.957 billion cu m (2004)

Natural gas - consumption:

15.67 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

 46 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

9.963 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

164.8 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-4.548 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$110.7 billion f.o.b. (2006 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 28.2%, France 6.2%, Italy 6.1%, UK 5.6%, Czech Republic
4.6%, Russia 4.4%, Netherlands 4.2% (2005)

Imports:
$113.2 billion f.o.b. (2006 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 29.6%, Russia 8.7%, Italy 6.6%, Netherlands 5.9%, France
5.7% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$49.69 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$147.3 billion (30 June 2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$13.9 billion in available EU structural adjustment and cohesion
funds (2004-06)

Currency (code):
zloty (PLN)

Currency code:
PLN

Exchange rates:
zlotych per US dollar - 3.11 (2006), 3.2355 (2005), 3.6576 (2004),
3.8891 (2003), 4.08 (2002), note, zlotych is the plural form of zloty

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Poland

Telephones - main lines in use:

11.803 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

29,166,400 (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: modernization of the telecommunications network
has accelerated with market based competition finalized in 2003;
fixed-line service, dominated by the former state-owned company, is
dwarfed by the growth in wireless telephony
domestic: wireless service, available since 1993 (GSM service
available since 1996) and provided by three nation-wide networks,
has grown rapidly in response to the weak fixed-line coverage; third
generation UMTS service available in urban areas; cellular coverage
is generally good with more gaps in the east; fixed-line service is
growing slowly and still lags in rural areas
international: country code - 48; international direct dialing with
automated exchanges; satellite earth station - 1 (Intelsat,
Eutelsat, Inmarsat, and Intersputnik)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 14, FM 777, shortwave 1 (1998)

Radios:
20.2 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

40 (2006)

Televisions:
13.05 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.pl

Internet hosts:
358,476 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

19 (2000)

Internet users:
10.6 million (2005)

Transportation Poland

Airports: 122 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 83 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 29

1,524 to 2,437 m: 40 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 2 (2006)

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 (2006)

Heliports:
3 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 13,552 km; oil 1,384 km; refined products 777 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 23,072 km
broad gauge: 629 km 1.524-m gauge
standard gauge: 22,443 km 1.435-m gauge (20,555 km operational;
11,910 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 423,997 km
paved: 295,356 km (including 484 km of expressways)
unpaved: 128,641 km (2004)

Waterways:
3,997 km (navigable rivers and canals) (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 11 ships (1000 GRT or over) 55,701 GRT/45,082 DWT
by type: cargo 6, chemical tanker 2, passenger/cargo 1, roll on/roll
off 1, vehicle carrier 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Nigeria 1)
registered in other countries: 106 (Antigua and Barbuda 3, Bahamas
15, Belize 2, Cyprus 20, Liberia 14, Malta 27, Norway 2, Panama 15,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Slovakia 2, Vanuatu 5) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Gdansk, Gdynia, Swinoujscie, Szczecin

Military Poland

Military branches:
Polish Armed Forces: Land Forces (includes Navy (Marynarka Wojenna,
MW)), Polish Air Force (Sily Powietrzenje Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej,
SPRP) (2006)

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 noncommissioned
officers (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 17-49: 9,681,703
females age 17-49: 9,480,641 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 17-49: 7,739,472
females age 17-49: 7,859,165 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 275,446
females age 17-49: 265,164 (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 to restrict
illegal immigration and trade along its eastern borders with Belarus
and Ukraine

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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: 17.29%
permanent crops: 7.84%
other: 74.87% (2005)

Irrigated land:
6,500 sq km (2003)
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, Whaling
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:
10,605,870 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.5% (male 915,604/female 839,004)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 3,484,545/female 3,544,674)
65 years and over: 17.2% (male 751,899/female 1,070,144) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 38.5 years
male: 36.4 years
female: 40.6 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.36% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
10.72 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
10.5 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

3.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.98 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.45 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.7 years
male: 74.43 years
female: 81.2 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.47 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Lisbon
geographic coordinates: 38 43 N, 9 08 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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 (Day of Portugal), 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 Anibal CAVACO SILVA (since 9 March 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Jose SOCRATES Carvalho Pinto de
Sousa (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
(eligible for a second term); election last held 22 January 2006
(next to be held January 2011); 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: Anibal CAVACO SILVA elected president; percent of
vote - Anibal CAVACO SILVA 50.6%, Manuel ALEGRE 20.7%, Mario
Alberto
Nobre Lopes SOARES 14.3%, Jeronimo DE SOUSA 8.5%, Franciso LOUCA
5.3%

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)
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 Augusta Baiao de Brito
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 Manuel Goncalves Marques MENDES]; The
Left Bloc or BE [Franciso Anacleto LOUCA]; Unitarian Democratic
Coalition or CDU (includes PEV and PCP) [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, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI (observer), UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU,
WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Joao DE VALLERA
chancery: 2012 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 350-5400
FAX: [1] (202) 462-3726
consulate(s) general: Boston, New York, Newark (New Jersey), San
Francisco
consulate(s): New Bedford (Massachusetts), Providence (Rhode Island)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Alfred J. HOFFMAN Jr.
embassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600-081 Lisbon
mailing address: Apartado 43033, 1601-301 Lisboa; 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
two decades, 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 1990s, but fell back in 2001-06. GDP per capita stands at
roughly 70% of the EU-25 average. 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 budget deficit surged to an all-time high of 6% of
GDP in 2005 but was reduced to 4.6% in 2006. 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):

$203.1 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$176.6 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.2% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$19,100 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 6.6% industry: 28.6% services: 64.9%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 5.57 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 10% industry: 30% services: 60%

(1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:
7.5% (2006 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:

38.5 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
2.7% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

20.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $83.89 billion
expenditures: $93.09 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
65.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
grain, potatoes, tomatoes, olives, grapes; sheep, cattle, goats,
swine, poultry, dairy products; fish

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:

0.9% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
42.52 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 64.5% hydro: 31.3% nuclear: 0%

other: 4.1% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
46.05 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
2.1 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:
8.6 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
3,849 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
332,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
28,830 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
357,300 bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

3.737 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

3.76 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-16.75 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$46.77 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
clothing and footwear, machinery, chemicals, cork and paper
products, hides

Exports - partners:
Spain 25.9%, France 13.1%, Germany 11.9%, UK 8%, US 5.4%, Italy
4.3% (2005)
Imports:
$67.74 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum, textiles,
agricultural products

Imports - partners:
Spain 29%, Germany 13.4%, France 8.5%, Italy 5.2%, Netherlands
4.3%, UK 4.2% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$10.7 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$310.8 billion (30 June 2006 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 - 0.79669 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004),
0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Portugal
Telephones - main lines in use:
4.234 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

11.448 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: Portugal's telephone system has achieved a
state-of-the-art network with broadband, high-speed capabilities
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:
845,980 (2005)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

16 (2000)

Internet users:
7,782,700 (2006)
Transportation Portugal

Airports: 66 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 43 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9

1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 13 under 914 m: 11 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 22

(2006)

Pipelines:
gas 1,099 km; oil 8 km; refined products 174 km (2006)

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 (2005)

Roadways:
total: 78,470 km
paved: 67,484 km (including 2,002 km of expressways)
unpaved: 10,986 km (2004)

Waterways:
210 km (on Douro River from Porto) (2003)

Merchant marine:
total: 111 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,077,300 GRT/1,363,435 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 11, cargo 27, chemical tanker 15, container 7,
liquefied gas 11, passenger 9, passenger/cargo 10, petroleum tanker
8, roll on/roll off 4, vehicle carrier 9
foreign-owned: 82 (Australia 1, Belgium 8, Cyprus 1, Denmark 4,
Germany 17, Greece 4, Italy 12, Japan 9, Malta 1, Mexico 1,
Netherlands 1, Norway 4, Spain 15, Switzerland 3, US 1)
registered in other countries: 16 (Cyprus 2, Hong Kong 1, Malta 3,
Panama 10) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Leixoes, Lisbon, Setubal, Sines
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; women serve in the
armed forces, on naval ships since 1993, but are prohibited from serving in some
combatant specialties (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,435,042
females age 18-49: 2,405,816 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,952,819
females age 18-49: 1,977,264 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 67,189
females age 18-49: 60,626 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$3,497.8 million (2003)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.3% (2003)

Transnational Issues Portugal

Disputes - international:
Portugal does not recognize Spanish sovereignty over the territory
of Olivenza based on a difference of interpretation of the 1815
Congress of Vienna and the 1801 Treaty of Badajoz

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 not to alter the existing political 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: 13,790 sq km
land: 8,870 sq km
water: 4,921 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 1,339 m

Natural resources:
some copper and nickel; potential for onshore and offshore oil
Land use: arable land: 3.69% permanent crops: 5.59% other: 90.72% (2005)

Irrigated land:
400 sq km (2003)

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:
3,927,188 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 21.3% (male 428,610/female 409,484)
15-64 years: 65.8% (male 1,239,255/female 1,345,519)
65 years and over: 12.8% (male 218,045/female 286,275) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 34.7 years
male: 33 years
female: 36.4 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.4% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
12.77 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
7.65 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 9.14 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 10.32 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.4 years
male: 74.46 years
female: 82.54 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.75 children born/woman (2006 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:
unincorporated, organized territory of the US with commonwealth
status; policy relations between Puerto Rico and the US conducted
under the jurisdiction of the Office of the President

Government type:
commonwealth

Capital:
name: San Juan
geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 66 07 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status); 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 (territory of the US with commonwealth status)

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); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (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: under the US Consitution, residents of unincorporated
territories, such as Puerto Rico, do not vote in elections for US
president and vice president; governor elected by popular vote for a
four-year term (no term limits); 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); Luis FORTUNO
elected resident commissioner; results - percent of vote by party -
PNP 48.6%; seats by party - PNP 1

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 [Roberto PRATS]; 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:

Boricua Popular Army or EPB (a revolutionary group also known as
Los Macheteros); note - the following radical groups are considered
dormant by Federal law enforcement: Armed Forces for National
Liberation or FALN, Armed Forces of Popular Resistance, Volunteers
of the Puerto Rican Revolution

International organization participation:

Interpol (subbureau), IOC, ITUC, UNWTO (associate), UPU, WCL, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)

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 2004. Growth fell off in 2001-03, largely due to the
slowdown in the US economy, recovered in 2004-05, but declined again
in 2006.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$74.89 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

NA (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

0.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$19,100 (2006 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:
24.14 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.2% hydro: 0.8% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
22.45 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
721.8 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
234,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

680 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

680 million cu m (2004 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% (2004)

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% (2004)

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 July - 30 June

Communications Puerto Rico

Telephones - main lines in use:

1,111,900 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2.682 million (2004)

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 74, FM 53, shortwave 0 (2006)

Radios:
2.7 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

32 (2006)

Televisions:
1.021 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.pr
Internet hosts:
404 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

76 (2000)

Internet users:
1 million (2005)

Transportation Puerto Rico

Airports: 30 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2

under 914 m: 10 (2006)

Railways:
total: 96 km
narrow gauge: 96 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 25,735 km
paved: 24,353 km (including 427 km of expressways)
unpaved: 1,382 km (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1000 GRT or over) 77,177 GRT/50,138 DWT
by type: roll on/roll off 3
foreign-owned: 3 (US 3)
registered in other countries: 1 (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Las Mareas, Mayaguez, San Juan

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
130 sq km (2002)

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:
885,359 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 23.4% (male 105,546/female 101,371)
15-64 years: 73% (male 446,779/female 199,133)
 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 24,059/female 8,471) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 31.7 years
male: 37.1 years
female: 22.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.5% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
15.56 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
4.72 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

14.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 2.24 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.87 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 18.04 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 21.27 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.63 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.9 years
male: 71.37 years
female: 76.57 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.81 children born/woman (2006 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%, Indian 18%, Pakistani 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 emirate
Capital:
name: Doha
geographic coordinates: 25 17 N, 51 32 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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
amir 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; Shari'a 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, fourth 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); 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-ATIYAH (since 16 September 2003, also
Electricity and Water Minister since 1999 and Energy and Industry
Minister since 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 9 June 2005, 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; preparations are underway to conduct elections to
the Majlis al-Shura in early 2007

Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal
note: under a 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, ACC, AFESD, AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICRM, IDB, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ISO, ITU,
LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN,
UN
Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Nasir bin Hamad bin Mubarak al-KHALIFA
chancery: 2555 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037
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 4176

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 60% 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. Sustained high oil prices and
increased natural gas exports in recent years have helped build
Qatar's budget and trade surpluses and foreign reserves. Proved oil
reserves of more than 15 billion barrels should ensure continued
output at current levels for 23 years. Qatar's proved reserves of
natural gas exceed 25 trillion cubic meters, more than 5% of the
world total and third largest in the world. Qatar has permitted
substantial foreign investment in the development of its gas fields
during the last decade and is expected to become the world's top
liquefied natural gas (LNG) exporter in 2007. Qatar is also trying
 to attract foreign investment in the development of its non-energy
projects by further liberalizing the economy. Qatar has become one
of the world's fastest growing and highest per-capita income
countries.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$26.05 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$30.76 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.1% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$29,400 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.1% industry: 77.2% services: 22.6%

(2006 est.)

Labor force:
508,000 (2006 est.)

Unemployment rate:
3.2% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7.2% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

33.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
 revenues: $22.51 billion
expenditures: $16.89 billion; including capital expenditures of $2.2
billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
23.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

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:
12.4 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
11.53 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
790,500 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
80,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
 NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - proved reserves:

15.2 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

39.17 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

15.11 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

24.06 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

25.77 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$12.51 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$33.25 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, fertilizers, steel

Exports - partners:
Japan 36.9%, South Korea 19.4%, Singapore 8.2% (2005)

Imports:
$12.36 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, food, chemicals
Imports - partners:
France 11.4%, Japan 10.4%, US 10.3%, Germany 8.3%, Saudi Arabia
7.2%, UK 6.9%, Italy 6.4%, South Korea 5.5%, UAE 4.8% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$5.755 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$25.7 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$NA

Currency (code):
Qatari rial (QAR)

Currency code:
QAR

Exchange rates:
Qatari rials per US dollar - 3.64 (2006), 3.64 (2005), 3.64 (2004),
3.64 (2003), 3.64 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Qatar

Telephones - main lines in use:

205,400 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

854,900 (2006)

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:
301 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:
219,000 (2005)

Transportation Qatar

Airports: 5 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3
over 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate 319 km; condensate/gas 209 km; gas 1,024 km; liquid
petroleum gas 87 km; oil 844 km (2006)

Roadways:
total: 1,230 km
paved: 1,107 km
unpaved: 123 km (1999)

Merchant marine:
total: 23 ships (1000 GRT or over) 750,669 GRT/1,177,673 DWT
by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 3, container 8, liquefied gas 2,
petroleum tanker 7, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 8 (Kuwait 7, US 1)
registered in other countries: 4 (Honduras 1, Liberia 2, Panama 1)
(2006)

Ports and terminals:

Doha

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 forces enlisted personnel are largely unprofessional foreign
nationals (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 302,873
females age 18-49: 137,856 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 238,566
females age 18-49: 116,595 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 7,851
females age 18-49: 7,040 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$723 million (FY00)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

10% (FY00)

Transnational Issues Qatar

Disputes - international:
none

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Qatar is a destination country for men and women
from South and Southeast Asia who migrate willingly, but are
subsequently trafficked into involuntary servitude as domestic
workers and laborers; the problem of trafficking of foreign children
as camel jockeys was thoroughly addressed by government action in
2005, but independent confirmation of the problem's complete
elimination is not yet available
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Qatar has made noticeable progress
in rescuing and repatriating child camel jockeys, establishing a
shelter for abused domestic workers, and creating hotlines to
register complaints; however, Qatar is placed on the Tier 2 Watch
List for its failure to provide sufficient evidence of increasing
efforts to combat trafficking in persons in 2005, particularly with
regard to labor exploitation

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 - most notably Transylvania - following the
conflict. In 1940, Romania 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. Romania joined NATO in
2004 and the EU in 2007.

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 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: 39.49% permanent crops: 1.92% other: 58.59% (2005)

Irrigated land:
30,770 sq km (2003)

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:
22,303,552 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.7% (male 1,799,072/female 1,708,030)
15-64 years: 69.6% (male 7,724,368/female 7,797,065)
65 years and over: 14.7% (male 1,347,392/female 1,927,625) (2006
est.)

Median age: total: 36.6 years male: 35.3 years female: 37.9 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.12% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
10.7 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
11.77 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.13 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 25.5 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 28.64 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 22.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71.63 years
male: 68.14 years
female: 75.34 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.37 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Bucharest
geographic coordinates: 44 26 N, 26 06 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
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
(eligible for a second term); election last held 28 November 2004,
with runoff between the top two candidates held 12 December 2004
(next to be held November-December 2009); prime minister appointed
by the president with the consent of the Parliament
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 Camera 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 expected to be
held in November 2008); Chamber of Deputies - last held 28 November
2004 (next expected to be held 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 44, PNL 30, PD 20, PRM 20, PC 11, UDMR 10, independents 2;
Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by alliance/party - PSD-PUR
36.8%, PNL-PD 31.5%, PRM 13%, UDMR 6.2%; seats by party - PSD 111,
PNL 66, PD 45, PRM 34, ex-PRM (Ciontu Group) 12, UDMR 22, PC 20, PIN
(GUSA Group) 3, independent 1, ethnic minorities 18

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court of Justice (comprised of 11 judges appointed for
three-year terms by the president in consultation with the Superior
Council of Magistrates, which is comprised of the minister of
justice, the prosecutor general, two civil society representatives
appointed by the Senate, and 14 judges and prosecutors elected by
their peers); a separate body, the Constitutional Court, validates
elections and makes decisions regarding the constitutionality of
laws, treaties, ordinances, and internal rules of the Parliament; it
is comprised of nine members serving nine-year terms, with three
members each appointed by the president, the Senate, and the Chamber
of Deputies

Political parties and leaders:

Conservative Party or PC [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, ESA
(cooperating state), EU (new member), FAO, G- 9, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUC, NAM
(guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS, UNOCI,
UNOMIG,
UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO,
WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Daniela
GITMAN
chancery: 1607 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 332-4846, 4848, 4851, 4852
FAX: [1] (202) 232-4748
consulate(s) general: Chicago, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nicholas

F. TAUBMAN embassy: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest mailing address:
American Embassy Bucharest, US Department of State, 5260 Bucharest Place,
Washington, DC 20521-5260 (pouch) telephone: [40] (21) 200-3300 FAX: [40]
(21) 200-3442 information office: Cluj-Napoca

Flag description:
three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red;
the national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellow
band has been removed; now 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 GDP growth
above 4%. However, macroeconomic gains have only recently started to
spur creation of a middle class and address Romania's widespread
poverty, while corruption and red tape continue to handicap the
business environment. Romanian government confidence in continuing
disinflation was underscored by its currency revaluation in 2005,
making 10,000 "old" lei equal 1 "new" leu. The economy grew at 6.4%
in 2006, the strongest growth in the last decade. Romania joined the
European Union on 1 January 2007, and the IMF has praised the
country's recent reform efforts in preparation for EU accession.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$197.3 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$79.17 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.4% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$8,800 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 10.1% industry: 34.7% services:

55.2% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 9.33 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 31.6% industry: 30.7% services: 37.7%

(2004)

Unemployment rate:
6.1% (2006 est.)
Population below poverty line:
25% (2005 est.)

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):

6.8% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

25% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $36.89 billion
expenditures: $39.1 billion; including capital expenditures of $2.2
billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
21.4% of GDP (2006 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:

5.7% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
54.53 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 62.5% hydro: 27.6% nuclear:

9.9% other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
49.62 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
3.7 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
2.6 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
119,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
212,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
163,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves:

500 million bbl (yearend 2004)

Natural gas - production:

11.8 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

18 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

6.2 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

300 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)
Current account balance:
$-12.45 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$33 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
textiles and footwear, metals and metal products, machinery and
equipment, minerals and fuels, chemicals, agricultural products

Exports - partners:
Italy 19.4%, Germany 14%, Turkey 7.9%, France 7.4%, UK 5.5%,
Hungary 4.1%, US 4.1% (2005)

Imports:
$46.48 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuels and minerals, chemicals, textile and
products, basic metals, agricultural products

Imports - partners:
Italy 15.5%, Germany 14%, Russia 8.3%, France 6.8%, Turkey 4.9%,
China 4.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$27.88 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$42.76 billion (2006 est.)

Currency (code):
leu (ROL) is being phased out in 2006; "new" leu (RON) was
introduced in 2005 due to currency revaluation: 10,000 ROL = 1 RON

Currency code:
ROL

Exchange rates:
lei per US dollar - 2.84 (2006), 3 (2005), 3 (2004), 3 (2003), 3
 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Romania

Telephones - main lines in use:

4.391 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

13.354 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: rapidly improving domestic and international
service, especially in wireless telephony
domestic: 90% of telephone network is automatic; liberalization in
2003 is transforming telecommunications; there has been 20% growth
in fixed lines with a penetration rate of 58% of households;
nation-wide wireless service is growing even faster with four major
providers and a penetration rate of 32%
international: country code - 40; satellite earth station - 10
(Intelsat 4); digital, international, direct-dial exchanges operate
in Bucharest (2005)

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:
57,470 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

38 (2000)

Internet users:
4.94 million (2005)

Transportation Romania

Airports: 61 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 23 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 3,508 km; oil 2,427 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 11,385 km
standard gauge: 10,898 km 1.435-m gauge (3,888 km electrified)
broad gauge: 60 km 1.524-m gauge
narrow gauge: 427 km 0.760-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 198,817 km
 paved: 60,043 km (including 228 km of expressways)
unpaved: 138,774 km (2004)

Waterways:
1,731 km
note: includes 1,075 km on Danube River, 524 km on secondary
branches, and 132 km on canals (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 23 ships (1000 GRT or over) 198,767 GRT/246,732 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 15, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 2,
petroleum tanker 3, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Italy 1)
registered in other countries: 48 (Georgia 11, North Korea 11, Malta
9, Panama 9, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Syria 3, unknown 4)
(2006)

Ports and terminals:

Braila, Constanta, Galati, Tulcea

Military Romania

Military branches:
Land Forces, Naval Forces, Romanian Air Force (Fortele Aerienne
Romane, FAR), Special Operations (2006)

Military service age and obligation: all military inductees (including women) are
volunteers who contract for an initial five-year term of service; subsequent
voluntary service contracts are for successive three-year terms until the age of
36; minimum age for voluntary military service is 18 (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 20-49: 5,061,984
females age 20-49: 4,975,427 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 20-49: 3,932,579
females age 20-49: 4,076,288 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 172,093
females age 20-49: 165,547 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$985 million (2002)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.47% (2002)

Transnational Issues Romania

Disputes - international:
the ICJ gave Ukraine until December 2006 to reply and Romania until
June 2007 to issue a rejoinder in their dispute submitted in 2004
over Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy/Serpilor (Snake) Island and
Black Sea maritime boundary delimitation; Romania also opposes
Ukraine's reopening of a navigation canal from the Danube border
through Ukraine to the Black Sea
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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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.
Defeat in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 contributed to the
Revolution of 1905, which resulted in the formation of a parliament
and other reforms. 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 Iosif STALIN (1928-53)
 strengthened Communist rule and 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 Russia and 14 other independent
republics. Since then, Russia has struggled in its efforts to build
a democratic political system and market economy to replace the
social, political, and economic controls of the Communist period.
While some progress has been made on the economic front, and
Russia's management of its windfall oil wealth has improved its
financial standing, recent years have seen a recentralization of
power under Vladimir PUTIN and democratic institutions remain weak.
Russia has severely disabled the Chechen rebel movement, although
sporadic violence still occurs throughout the North Caucusus.

Geography Russia

Location:
Northern Asia (the area west of the Urals is considered part of
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: 20,096.5 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) 280.5 km, Mongolia
3,485 km, Norway 196 km, Poland (Kaliningrad Oblast) 232 km, Ukraine
1,576 km

Coastline:
37,653 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:
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: 7.17% permanent crops: 0.11% other: 92.72% (2005)
Irrigated land:
46,000 sq km (2003)

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:
142,893,540 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.2% (male 10,441,151/female 9,921,102)
15-64 years: 71.3% (male 49,271,698/female 52,679,463)
65 years and over: 14.4% (male 6,500,814/female 14,079,312) (2006
est.)

Median age: total: 38.4 years male: 35.2 years female: 41.3 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.37% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
9.95 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
14.65 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.03 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 15.13 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 17.43 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 67.08 years
male: 60.45 years
female: 74.1 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.28 children born/woman (2006 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 15-20%, Muslim 10-15%, other Christian 2% (2006
est.)
note: estimates are of practicing worshipers; Russia has large
populations of non-practicing believers and non-believers, a legacy
of over seven decades of Soviet rule

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:
name: Moscow
geographic coordinates: 55 45 N, 37 35 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
note: Russia is divided into eleven time zones

Administrative divisions:
48 oblasts (oblastey, singular - oblast), 21 republics (respublik,
singular - respublika), 7 autonomous okrugs (avtonomnykh okrugov,
singular - avtonomnyy okrug), 7 krays (krayev, singular - kray), 2
federal cities (goroda, 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, 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), North Ossetia (Vladikavkaz), Sakha [Yakutiya]
(Yakutsk), Tatarstan (Kazan'), Tyva (Kyzyl), Udmurtiya (Izhevsk)
autonomous okrugs: Aga Buryat (Aginskoye), Chukotka (Anadyr'),
Khanty-Mansi, Koryak (Palana), Nenets (Nar'yan-Mar), Ust'-Orda
Buryat (Ust'-Ordynskiy), Yamalo-Nenets (Salekhard)
krays: Altay (Barnaul), Khabarovsk, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk,
Permskiy, 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 31 December 1999-6 May 2000, president since 7 May 2000)
head of government: Premier Mikhail Yefimovich FRADKOV (since 5
March 2004); First Deputy Premier Dmitriy Anatolyevich MEDVEDEV
(since 14 November 2005), Deputy Premiers Aleksandr Dmitriyevich
ZHUKOV (since 9 March 2004) and Sergey Borisovich IVANOV (since 14
November 2005)
cabinet: Ministries of the Government or "Government" composed of
the premier and his deputies, ministers, and selected other
individuals; all are appointed by the president
 note: there is also a Presidential Administration (PA) that provides
staff and policy support to the president, drafts presidential
decrees, and coordinates policy among government agencies; a
Security Council also reports directly to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term
(eligible for a second 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 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 88 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 elected by
proportional representation from party lists winning at least 7% of
the vote; members are elected by direct, popular vote to serve
four-year terms)
elections: State Duma - last held 7 December 2003 (next to be held
in 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; note - seats by
party as of 1 July 2006 - United Russia 309, CPRF 45, LDPR 35,
Motherland 29, People's Party 12, independents 18, vacant 2

Judicial branch:
 Constitutional Court; Supreme Court; Supreme Arbitration Court;
judges for all courts are appointed for life by the Federation
Council on the recommendation of the president

Political parties and leaders:

A Just Russia or JR [Sergey MIRONOV] (formed from the merger of
three small political parties: Rodina (Motherland), Pensioners
Party, and Party of Life); Communist Party of the Russian Federation
or CPRF [Gennadiy Andreyevich ZYUGANOV]; Liberal Democratic Party of
Russia or LDPR [Vladimir Volfovich ZHIRINOVSKIY]; People's Party
[Gennadiy GUDKOV]; Union of Right Forces or SPS [Nikita BELYKH];
United Russia or UR [Boris Vyacheslavovich GRYZLOV]; Yabloko Party
[Grigoriy Alekseyevich YAVLINSKIY]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS, BSEC,
CBSS, CE, CERN (observer), CIS, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, G- 8, GCTU, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA
(observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUC, NAM (guest), NSG, OAS
(observer),
OIC (observer), ONUB, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, SCO, UN, UN
Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR,
UNMEE,
UNMIL, UNMIS, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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, Seattle

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador William J.

BURNS embassy: Bolshoy Deviatinskiy Pereulok No. 8, 121099 Moscow
mailing address: PSC-77, APO AE 09721 telephone: [7] (495) 728-5000 FAX:
[7] (495) 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 2006 with its eighth straight year of growth,
averaging 6.7% 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%. During this time, poverty has declined steadily and the
middle class has continued to expand. Russia has also improved its
international financial position since the 1998 financial crisis.
Over the past several years, Russia has used its stabilization fund
based on oil taxes to prepay all Soviet-era sovereign debt to Paris
Club creditors and the IMF. Foreign debt has decreased to 39% of
GDP, mainly due to decreasing state debt, while commercial debt to
foreigners has risen strongly. Oil export earnings have allowed
Russia to increase its foreign reserves from $12 billion in 1999 to
some $315 billion at yearend 2006, the third largest reserves in the
world. These achievements, along with a renewed government effort to
advance structural reforms and fiscal restraint, have raised
business and investor confidence in Russia's economic prospects.
Russia's economy grew 6.6% in 2006 and inflation growth was below
10% for the first time in the past 10 years. Russia shows signs of
increasing its ties to the global economy, having signed a bilateral
market access agreement with the US as a prelude to possible WTO
entry. Nevertheless, serious problems persist. Oil, natural gas,
metals, and timber account for more than 80% of exports, leaving the
country vulnerable to swings in world commodity prices. Russia's
manufacturing base is dilapidated and must be replaced or modernized
if the country is to achieve broad-based economic growth. The
banking system, while growing at a high rate and increasing consumer
 lending, is still small relative to the banking sectors of Russia's
emerging market peers. Domestic and foreign investor sentiment is
tempered by political uncertainties ahead of elections, corruption,
and widespread lack of trust in institutions. President PUTIN
continues to grant more influence to forces within his government
that desire to reassert state control over the economy. Government
spending has increased and risks becoming populist, most notably in
the form of the four "national projects" of agriculture, education,
housing, and medicine. Russia has made little progress in building
the rule of law, the bedrock of a modern market economy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.723 trillion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$733 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.6% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$12,100 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5.3% industry: 36.6% services: 58.2%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 73.88 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 10.8% industry: 29.1% services: 60.1%

(2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:
6.6% plus considerable underemployment (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

17.8% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%: 38.7% (1998)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
40.5 (2005)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

9.8% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

18.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $222.2 billion
expenditures: $157.3 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
8% of GDP (2006 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:

4.8% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
952.4 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 66.3% hydro: 17.2% nuclear:

16.4% other: 0.1% (2003)
Electricity - consumption:
940 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports:
22.3 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - imports:
9.9 billion kWh (2005)

Oil - production:
9.4 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
2.5 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - exports:
7 million bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:
100,000 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

74.4 billion bbl (2005 est.)

Natural gas - production:

641 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

445.1 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

216.8 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

36.6 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

47.57 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

 $105.3 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$317.6 billion (2006 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 10.3%, Germany 8.3%, Italy 7.9%, China 5.5%, Ukraine
5.2%, Turkey 4.5%, Switzerland 4.4% (2005)

Imports:
$171.5 billion (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, consumer goods, medicines, meat, sugar,
semifinished metal products

Imports - partners:
Germany 13.6%, Ukraine 8%, China 7.4%, Japan 6%, Belarus 4.7%, US
4.7%, Italy 4.6%, South Korea 4.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$314.5 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$287.4 billion (30 June 2006 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 - 27.5 (2006), 28.284 (2005), 28.814
(2004), 30.692 (2003), 31.349 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Russia

Telephones - main lines in use:

40.1 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

120 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: the telephone system is experiencing
significant changes; 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;
the estimated number of mobile subscribers jumped from fewer than 1
million in 1998 to 120 million in 2005; a large demand for main line
service remains unsatisfied, but fixed-line operators continue to
grow their services
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 323, FM 1,500 est., shortwave 62 (2004)

Radios:
61.5 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

7,306 (1998)

Televisions:
60.5 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.ru; note - 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:
1,979,924 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

300 (June 2000)

Internet users:
23.7 million (2005)

Transportation Russia

Airports: 1,623 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 616
over 3,047 m: 51
2,438 to 3,047 m: 198
1,524 to 2,437 m: 130
914 to 1,523 m: 100
under 914 m: 137 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 1,007
over 3,047 m: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 16
1,524 to 2,437 m: 75
914 to 1,523 m: 127
under 914 m: 780 (2006)

Heliports:
52 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate 122 km; gas 156,285 km; oil 72,283 km; refined products
13,658 km (2006)

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 (2005)

Roadways:
total: 871,000 km
paved: 738,000 km (including 29,000 km of expressways)
unpaved: 133,000 km
note: includes public and departmental roads (2004)

Waterways:
102,000 km (including 33,000 km with guaranteed depth)
note: 72,000 km system in European Russia links Baltic Sea, White
Sea, Caspian Sea, Sea of Azov, and Black Sea (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 1,178 ships (1000 GRT or over) 5,080,341 GRT/6,287,784 DWT
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 46, cargo 743, chemical
tanker 25, combination ore/oil 38, container 13, passenger 12,
passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 219, refrigerated cargo 54, roll
on/roll off 15, specialized tanker 5
 foreign-owned: 100 (Belgium 4, Canada 1, Cyprus 2, Estonia 1,
Germany 2, Greece 1, Latvia 2, Malta 4, Norway 1, Switzerland 7,
Turkey 63, Ukraine 11, US 1)
registered in other countries: 465 (Antigua and Barbuda 6, Bahamas
6, Belize 36, Bulgaria 1, Cambodia 105, Comoros 4, Cyprus 53,
Dominica 2, Finland 1, Georgia 28, North Korea 1, Liberia 77, Malta
70, Marshall Islands 1, Mongolia 13, Panama 7, Saint Kitts and Nevis
5, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 29, Sierra Leone 1, Tuvalu 2,
Ukraine 1, Vanuatu 1, Venezuela 1, unknown 14) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Anapa, Kaliningrad, Murmansk, Nakhodka, Novorossiysk,
Rostov-na-Donu, Saint Petersburg, Taganrog, Vanino, Vostochnyy

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: Russia has adopted a mixed conscript-
contract force; 18-27 years of age; males are registered for the draft at 17 years
of age; length of compulsory military service is two years; plans call for
reduction in mandatory service to 18 months in 2007 and to one year by 2008;
30% of Russian army personnel were contract servicemen at the end of 2005;
planning calls for volunteer servicemen to compose 70% of armed forces by
2010, with the remaining servicemen consisting of conscripts; as of November
2006, the Armed Forces had more than 60 units manned with contract personnel
totalling over 78,000 contract privates and sergeants; 88 Ministry of Defense
units have been designated as permanent readiness units and are expected to
become all-volunteer by end 2007; these include most air force, naval, and
nuclear arms units, as well as all airborne and naval infantry units, most
motorized rifle brigades, and all special forces detachments (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 35,247,049
 females age 18-49: 35,986,426 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 21,049,651
females age 18-49: 29,056,021 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 1,286,069
females age 18-49: 1,244,264 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Transnational Issues Russia

Disputes - international:
China and Russia have demarcated the once disputed islands at the
Amur and Ussuri confluence and in the Argun River in accordance with
the 2004 Agreement, ending their centuries-long border disputes; 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 all but small, strategic segments of the land boundary
and the maritime boundary; OSCE observers monitor volatile areas
such as the Pankisi Gorge in the Akhmeti region and the Kodori Gorge
in Abkhazia; Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Russia signed equidistance
boundaries in the Caspian seabed but the littoral states have no
consensus on dividing the water column; 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
(Kareliya) and other areas ceded to the Soviet Union following the
Second World War but the Finnish Government asserts no territorial
 demands; in May 2005, Russia recalled its signatures to the 1996
border agreements with Estonia (1996) and Latvia (1997), when the
two Baltic states announced issuance of unilateral declarations
referencing Soviet occupation and ensuing territorial losses; Russia
demands better treatment of ethnic Russians in Estonia and Latvia;
Estonian citizen groups continue to press for realignment of the
boundary based on the 1920 Tartu Peace Treaty that would bring the
now divided ethnic Setu people and parts of the Narva region within
Estonia; Lithuania and Russia committed to demarcating their
boundary in 2006 in accordance with the land and maritime treaty
ratified by Russia in May 2003 and by Lithuania in 1999; Lithuania
operates a simplified transit regime for Russian nationals traveling
from the Kaliningrad coastal exclave into Russia, while still
conforming, as an EU member state with an EU external border, where
strict Schengen border rules apply; preparations for the demarcation
delimitation of land boundary with Ukraine have commenced; the
dispute over the boundary between Russia and Ukraine through the
Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov remains unresolved despite a December
2003 framework agreement and on-going expert-level discussions;
Kazakhstan and Russia boundary delimitation was ratified on November
2005 and field demarcation should commence in 2007; Russian Duma has
not yet ratified 1990 Bering Sea Maritime Boundary Agreement with
the US

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 25,000-180,000 (displacement from Chechnya and North Ossetia)
(2006)

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Russia is a source, transit, and destination
country for men, women, and children trafficked for various
purposes; it remains a significant source of women trafficked to
over 50 countries for commercial sexual exploitation; Russia is also
a transit and destination country for men and women trafficked from
Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and North Korea to Central and Western
Europe and the Middle East for purposes of forced labor and sexual
exploitation; internal trafficking remains a problem in Russia with
women trafficked from rural areas to urban centers for commercial
sexual exploitation, and men are trafficked internally and from
 Central Asia for forced labor in the construction and agricultural
industries; debt bondage is common among trafficking victims, and
child sex tourism remains a concern
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Russia is placed on the Tier 2
Watch List for a third consecutive year for its continued failure to
show evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking,
particularly in the area of victim protection and assistance

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 several thousand remain in
neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo and 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 - 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: 45.56%
permanent crops: 10.25%
other: 44.19% (2005)

Irrigated land:
90 sq km (2003)

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, Wetlands
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:
8,648,248
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
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.9% (male 1,817,998/female 1,802,134)
15-64 years: 55.6% (male 2,392,778/female 2,417,467)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 87,325/female 130,546) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 18.6 years
male: 18.4 years
female: 18.8 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.43% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
 40.37 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
16.09 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 89.61 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 94.71 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 84.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 47.3 years
male: 46.26 years
female: 48.38 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.43 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

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, German East Africa

Government type:
republic; presidential, multiparty system
Capital:
name: Kigali
geographic coordinates: 1 57 S, 30 04 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
5 provinces (in French - provinces, singular - province; in
Kinyarwanda - prefigintara for singular and plural); East, Kigali,
North, South, West

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: President elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second term); elections last held 25 August 2003
(next to be held in 2010)
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:
bicameral Parliament consists of Senate (26 seats; 12 members
elected local councils, 8 appointed by the president, 4 by the
Political Organizations Forum, 2 represent institutions of higher
learning, to serve eight-year terms) and Chamber of Deputies (80
seats; 53 members elected by popular vote, 24 women elected by local
bodies, 3 selected by youth and disability organizations, to serve
five-year terms)
elections: Senate - last held NA, members appointed as part of the
transitional government (next to be held in 2011); Chamber of
Deputies - last held 29 September 2003 (next to be held in 2008)
election results: seats by party under the 2003 Constitution - RPF
40, PSD 7, PL 6, additional 27 members indirectly elected

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 [Celestin KABANDA] (officially banned);
Islamic Democratic Party or PDI [Andre BUMAYA]; Liberal Party or PL
[Prosper HIGIRO]; Party for Democratic Renewal (officially banned);
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, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO,
ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

 chief of mission: Ambassador Zac NSENGA
chancery: 1714 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
telephone: [1] (202) 232-2882
FAX: [1] (202) 232-4544

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Michael ARIETTI
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 and is 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. 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 obtained IMF-World Bank Heavily Indebted Poor Country
(HIPC) initiative debt relief in 2005. Kigali's high defense
expenditures have caused tension between the government and
international donors and lending agencies. Rwanda obtained debt
relief from the IMF and World Bank in 2006. Rwanda also received
 Millennium Challenge Account Threshold status in 2006. Energy
shortages, instability in neighboring states, and lack of adequate
transportation linkages to other countries continue to handicap
growth.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$13.54 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.968 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.8% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,600 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 39.4% industry: 23.3% services:

37.3% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 4.6 million (2000)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 90%
industry and services: 10%

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):

 6.7% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $560.9 million
expenditures: $654 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 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:
93 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 2.3% hydro: 97.7% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
196.5 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
10 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
120 million kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
 5,400 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

56.63 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-104.1 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$135.4 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
coffee, tea, hides, tin ore

Exports - partners:
Germany 11%, China 6.5%, Belgium 4.5% (2005)

Imports:
$390.4 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, steel, petroleum products,
cement and construction material

Imports - partners:
 Kenya 21.5%, Uganda 6.4%, Belgium 5.7%, Germany 5.5%, Israel 4.1%
(2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$422.8 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$1.4 billion (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$425 million (2003)

Currency (code):
Rwandan franc (RWF)

Currency code:
RWF

Exchange rates:
Rwandan francs per US dollar - 560 (2006), 610 (2005), 574.62
(2004), 537.66 (2003), 476.33 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Rwanda

Telephones - main lines in use:

23,000 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

290,000
note: Rwanda has mobile cellular service between Kigali and several
provincial capitals (2005)

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:
1,590 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2002)

Internet users:
38,000 (2005)

Transportation Rwanda

Airports: 9 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under
914 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 14,008 km
paved: 2,662 km
unpaved: 11,346 km (2004)

Waterways:
Lac Kivu navigable by shallow-draft barges and native craft (2005)

Ports and terminals:

Cyangugu, Gisenyi, Kibuye

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
females age 16-49: 1,990,935 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 1,103,823
females age 16-49: 1,096,644 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$53.66 million (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:
2.9% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Rwanda

Disputes - international:
fighting among ethnic groups - loosely associated political rebels,
armed gangs, and various government forces in Great Lakes region
transcending the boundaries of Burundi, Democratic Republic of the
Congo, Rwanda, and Uganda - abated substantially from a decade ago
due largely to UN peacekeeping, international mediation, and efforts
by local governments to create civil societies; nonetheless, 57,000
Rwandan refugees still reside in 21 African states, including
Zambia, Gabon, and 20,000 who fled to Burundi in 2005 and 2006 to
escape drought and recriminations from traditional courts
investigating the 1994 massacres; the 2005 DROC and Rwanda border
verification mechanism to stem rebel actions on both sides of the
border remains in place

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 41,403 (Democratic Republic of the
Congo), 4,400 (Burundi) (2006)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Saint Helena

Introduction Saint Helena

Background:
Saint Helena is a British Overseas Territory consisting of Saint
Helena and Ascension Islands, and the island group of Tristan da
Cunha.
Saint Helena: Uninhabited when first discovered by the Portuguese in
1502, Saint Helena was garrisoned by the British during the 17th
century. It acquired fame as the place of Napoleon BONAPARTE's
exile, from 1815 until his death in 1821, but its importance as a
port of call declined after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869.
During the Anglo-Boer War in South Africa, several thousand Boer
prisoners were confined on the island between 1900 and 1903.
Ascension Island: This barren and uninhabited island was discovered
and named by the Portuguese in 1503. The British garrisoned the
island in 1815 to prevent a rescue of Napoleon from Saint Helena and
it served as a provisioning station for the Royal Navy's West Africa
Squadron on anti-slavery patrol. The island remained under Admiralty
control until 1922, when it became a dependency of Saint Helena.
During World War II, the UK permitted the US to construct an
airfield on Ascension in support of trans-Atlantic flights to Africa
and anti-submarine operations in the South Atlantic. In the 1960s
the island became an important space tracking station for the US. In
1982, Ascension was an essential staging area for British forces
during the Falklands War, and it remains a critical refueling point
in the air-bridge from the UK to the South Atlantic.
Tristan da Cunha: The island group consists of the islands of
Tristan da Cunha, Nightingale, Inaccessible, and Gough. Tristan da
Cunha is named after its Portuguese discoverer (1506); it was
garrisoned by the British in 1816 to prevent any attempt to rescue
Napoleon from Saint Helena. Gough and Inaccessible Islands have been
designated World Heritage Sites. South Africa leases the site for a
meteorological station on Gough Island.

Geography Saint Helena

Location:
islands in the South Atlantic Ocean, about midway between South
America and Africa; Ascension Island lies 700 nm northwest of Saint
Helena; Tristan da Cunha lies 2300 nm southwest of Saint Helena
Geographic coordinates:
Saint Helena: 15 57 S, 5 42 W
Ascension Island: 7 57 S, 14 22 W
Tristan da Cunha island group: 37 15 S, 12 30 W

Map references:
Africa

Area:
total: 413 sq km
land: Saint Helena Island 122 sq km; Ascension Island 90 sq km;
Tristan da Cunha island group 201 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
0 km

Coastline:
Saint Helena: 60 km
Ascension Island: NA
Tristan da Cunha: 40 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm

Climate:
Saint Helena: tropical marine; mild, tempered by trade winds
Ascension Island: tropical marine; mild, semi-arid
Tristan da Cunha: temperate marine; mild, tempered by trade winds
(tends to be cooler than Saint Helena)

Terrain:
the islands of this group result from volcanic activity associated
with the Atlantic Mid-Ocean Ridge
Saint Helena: rugged, volcanic; small scattered plateaus and plains
Ascension: surface covered by lava flows and cinder cones of 44
 dormant volcanoes; ground rises to the east
Tristan da Cunha: sheer cliffs line the coastline of the nearly
circular island; the flanks of the central volcanic peak are deeply
dissected; narrow coastal plain lies between The Peak and the
coastal cliffs

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha 2,062 m; Green
Mountain on Ascension Island 859 m; Mount Actaeon on Saint Helena
Island 818 m
Natural resources:
fish, lobster

Land use:
arable land: 12.9%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 87.1% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

Natural hazards:
active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha, last eruption in 1961

Environment - current issues:

NA

Geography - note:
Saint Helena harbors at least 40 species of plants unknown anywhere
else in the world; Ascension is a breeding ground for sea turtles
and sooty terns; Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha is the
highest island mountain in the South Atlantic and a prominent
landmark on the sea lanes around southern Africa

People Saint Helena

Population:
7,502
note: only Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha islands are
inhabited (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 18.8% (male 717/female 692)
15-64 years: 71.2% (male 2,751/female 2,593)
65 years and over: 10% (male 342/female 407) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 36 years
 male: 36.2 years
female: 35.8 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.56% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
12.13 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
6.53 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 18.34 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 21.96 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 14.53 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.93 years
male: 75.02 years
female: 80.98 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.55 children born/woman (2006 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
note: referred to locally as "Saints"

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:
name: Jamestown
geographic coordinates: 15 56 S, 5 44 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
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:
British common law and statutes, supplemented by local statutes

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, three
ex-officio officers, and five 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 31 August 2005 (next to be held NA 2009)
election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - independents 12

Judicial branch:
Magistrate's Court; Supreme Court; Court of Appeal

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 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 (official exchange rate):

NA

GDP - real growth rate:

NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP):

 $2,500 (1998 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Labor force: 2,486 note: 1,200 work offshore (1998 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 6% industry: 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:
coffee, corn, potatoes, vegetables; timber; fish, lobster (on
Tristan da Cunha)

Industries:
construction, crafts (furniture, lacework, fancy woodwork),
fishing, philatelic sales

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:
7 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
6.51 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
100 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$19 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
fish (frozen, canned, and salt-dried skipjack, tuna), coffee,
handicrafts

Exports - partners:
Tanzania 37.7%, US 17.4%, Japan 15.2%, UK 8.4%, Nigeria 4.8%, Spain
4.5% (2005)
Imports:
$45 million c.i.f. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
food, beverages, tobacco, fuel oils, animal feed, building
materials, motor vehicles and parts, machinery and parts

Imports - partners:
UK 53.5%, South Africa 14.3%, Spain 10.3%, Tanzania 8.5%, US 4.6%
(2005)

Debt - external:
$NA

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 - 0.55 (2005), 0.5462 (2004),
0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002), 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:

NA
Telephone system:
general assessment: can communicate worldwide
domestic: automatic digital network
international: country code - 290; international direct dialing;
satellite voice and data communications; satellite earth stations -
5 (Ascension Island - 4, Saint Helena - 1)

Radio broadcast stations:

Saint Helena: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
Ascension: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (2005)

Radios:
3,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

0
note: three television channels are received in Saint Helena via
satellite and distributed by UHF (2005)

Televisions:
2,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.sh; note - the IANA has assigned .ac as the ccTLD for Ascension
Island

Internet hosts:
329 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:
1,000 note - includes Ascension Island (2003)

Communications - note:
South Africa maintains a meteorological station on Gough Island

Transportation Saint Helena

Airports:
1
note: Wideawake Field on Ascension Island (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways:
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) (2002)

Ports and terminals:

Saint Helena: Jamestown
Ascension Island: Georgetown
Tristan da Cunha: Calshot Harbor

Transportation - note:
there is no air connection to Saint Helena or Tristan da Cunha; an
international airport for Saint Helena is in development for 2010

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 continues in its efforts to try and separate
from 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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

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, Marine Dumping, 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:
39,129 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.5% (male 5,515/female 5,263)
15-64 years: 64.3% (male 12,605/female 12,572)
65 years and over: 8.1% (male 1,313/female 1,861) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 27.8 years
male: 27.1 years
female: 28.6 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.5% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
18.02 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
8.33 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-4.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 14.12 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 15.85 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.28 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.4 years
male: 69.56 years
female: 75.42 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.31 children born/woman (2006 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: 97.8%
male: NA%
female: NA% (2003 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:
parliamentary democracy

Capital:
name: Basseterre
geographic coordinates: 17 18 N, 62 43 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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
[Lindsay 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, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, MIGA, NAM, 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. The government closed the sugar industry following the
2005 harvest after decades of losses at the state-run sugar company.
To compensate, the government has embarked on a program to diversify
the agricultural sector and to stimulate other sectors of the
economy. 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; about 341,800 tourists visited Nevis in 2005. Additional
tourist facilities, including a second cruise ship pier, hotels, and
golf courses are under construction.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$339 million (2002 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$453 million (2005)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.9% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$8,200 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.5% industry: 25.8% services: 70.7%

(2001)

Labor force:
18,170 (June 1995)

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):

8.7% (2005 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:
125 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
116.3 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
800 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
 $70 million (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
machinery, food, electronics, beverages, tobacco

Exports - partners:
US 61.3%, Canada 8.1%, UK 5.6% (2005)

Imports:
$405 million (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery, manufactures, food, fuels

Imports - partners:
US 46.9%, Trinidad and Tobago 13.7%, UK 5.4%, France 4.5%, Japan
4.2% (2005)

Debt - external:
$314 million (2004)

Economic aid - recipient:

$-110,000 (2004)

Currency (code):
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Currency code:
XCD

Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7
(2003), 2.7 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Saint Kitts and Nevis

Telephones - main lines in use:
25,000 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

10,000 (2004)

Telephone system:
general assessment: good inter-island 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:
50 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

16 (2000)

Internet users:
10,000 (2002)

Transportation Saint Kitts and Nevis

Airports:
2 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Railways:
total: 50 km
narrow gauge: 50 km 0.762-m gauge on Saint Kitts to serve sugarcane
plantations during harvest season and for tourists (2005)

Roadways:
total: 320 km
paved: 138 km
unpaved: 182 km (1999 est)

Merchant marine:
total: 50 ships (1000 GRT or over) 261,556 GRT/381,593 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 36, chemical tanker 5,
passenger/cargo 2, petroleum tanker 5, refrigerated cargo 1
foreign-owned: 41 (Greece 1, Monaco 1, Russia 5, Spain 2, Syria 3,
Tanzania 1, Turkey 6, UAE 19, Ukraine 3) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Basseterre, Charlestown

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)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 9,196
 females age 18-49: 9,236 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 7,119
females age 18-49: 7,645 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 357
females age 18-49: 347 (2005 est.)

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 eastern 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@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. Even after the abolition of slavery on its
plantations in 1834, Saint Lucia remained an agricultural island,
dedicated to producing tropical commodity crops. 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 58 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 January to
April, rainy season 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: 6.45% permanent crops: 22.58% other: 70.97% (2005)

Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2003)

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, Wetlands, 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:
168,458 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 29.8% (male 25,941/female 24,319)
15-64 years: 65% (male 53,916/female 55,582)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 3,186/female 5,514) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 25.2 years
male: 24.4 years
female: 26.1 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.29% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
19.68 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
5.08 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-1.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

 total: 13.17 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 14.29 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.84 years
male: 70.29 years
female: 77.65 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.18 children born/woman (2006 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:
parliamentary democracy

Capital:
name: Castries
geographic coordinates: 14 01 N, 61 00 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 Sir John COMPTON (since 15
December 2006) and Deputy Prime Minister Leonard MONTOUTE (since 15
December 2006)
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; 6 members
appointed on the advice of the prime minister, 3 on the advice of
the leader of the opposition, and 2 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 11 December 2006 (next to
be held in December 2011)
election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - UWP
50%, SLP 46.9%; seats by party - UWP 11, SLP 6

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 [Sir John COMPTON]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

 ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW,
UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, 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, 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. Tourism
is the main source of foreign exchange, with more than 700,000
arrivals in 2005. 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 (official exchange rate):

$825 million (2005)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.1% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$4,800 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5% industry: 15% services: 80%

(2005 est.)

Labor force: 43,800 (2001 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 21.7% industry: 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):

2.9% (2005 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:
290 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
269.7 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
2,800 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$82 million (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil
Exports - partners:
France 31.4%, US 18.7%, China 18.2%, UK 14% (2005)

Imports:
$410 million (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
food 23%, manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation
equipment 19%, chemicals, fuels

Imports - partners:
US 22.5%, Trinidad and Tobago 14.5%, Netherlands 13.6%, Argentina
6.6%, Venezuela 5.2%, UK 5.2%, France 4.5% (2005)

Debt - external:
$257 million (2004)

Economic aid - recipient:

$-21.5 million (2004)

Currency (code):
East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Currency code:
XCD

Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7
(2003), 2.7 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Saint Lucia

Telephones - main lines in use:

51,100 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

 93,000 (2004)

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:
21 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

15 (2000)

Internet users:
55,000 (2005)

Transportation Saint Lucia

Airports:
2 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 910 km
paved: 48 km
unpaved: 862 km (2000)

Ports and terminals:

Castries, Cul-de-Sac, Vieux-Fort

Military Saint Lucia

Military branches:
no regular military forces; Royal Saint Lucia Police Force
(includes Special Service Unit, Coast Guard) (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 42,742 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 33,539 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 1,651 (2005 est.)

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 eastern Caribbean Sea

Illicit drugs:
transit point for South American drugs destined for the US and
Europe

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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: 12.5%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 87.5% (2005)
Irrigated land:
NA

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:
7,026 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 23.5% (male 843/female 807)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 2,342/female 2,272)
65 years and over: 10.8% (male 348/female 414) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 34.1 years
male: 33.7 years
female: 34.5 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.17% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
13.52 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
6.83 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

 -4.98 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 7.38 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.46 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.24 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.61 years
male: 76.27 years
female: 81.06 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.01 children born/woman (2006 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 overseas collectivity of France

Government type:
NA

Capital:
name: Saint-Pierre
geographic coordinates: 46 46 N, 56 11 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends
first Sunday in November

Administrative divisions:
none (territorial overseas 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 Yves FAUQUEUR (since 28 August 2006)
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, 21 April 2002 (first round) and 5 May 2002
(second round) (next to be held in 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
in 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 26 September 2004 (next to be held in September
 2013); results - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - UMP
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; Rassemblement pour la Republique or RPR
(now UMP); Socialist Party or PS; Union pour la Democratie Francaise
or UDF

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

UPU, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (territorial overseas 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
note: supplemented by annual payments from France of about $60
million (2003 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

NA

GDP - real growth rate:

NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$7,000 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Labor force: 3,261 (1999)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 18% industry: 41% services: 41%

(1996 est.)

Unemployment rate:
10.3% (1999)

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:
50 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
46.5 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
 500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$5.5 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:
fish and fish products, soybeans, animal feed, mollusks and
crustaceans, fox and mink pelts

Exports - partners:
Spain 33.6%, Belgium 21.8%, India 18.3%, France 9.4%, US 7.5% (2005)

Imports:
$68.2 million f.o.b. (2005 est.)

Imports - commodities:
meat, clothing, fuel, electrical equipment, machinery, building
materials
Imports - partners:
France 51.3%, Canada 31.8%, Belgium 4.1% (2005)

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 - 0.79669 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004),
0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Telephones - main lines in use:

4,800 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

NA

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 hosts:
0 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:
NA

Transportation Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Airports:
2 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Saint-Pierre

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Introduction Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Background:
Resistance by native Caribs prevented colonization on St. Vincent
until 1719. Disputed between France and the United Kingdom for most
of the 18th century, the island was ceded to the latter in 1783.
Between 1960 and 1962, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was a
separate administrative unit of the Federation of the West Indies.
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: La Soufriere 1,234 m

Natural resources:
hydropower, cropland

Land use:
arable land: 17.95%
permanent crops: 17.95%
 other: 64.1% (2005)

Irrigated land:
10 sq km (2003)

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:
117,848 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.7% (male 16,007/female 15,426)
15-64 years: 66.9% (male 40,676/female 38,155)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 3,315/female 4,269) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 26.9 years
male: 26.7 years
 female: 27.1 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.26% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
16.18 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
5.98 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-7.59 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 14.4 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 15.67 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.08 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.85 years
male: 71.99 years
female: 75.77 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.83 children born/woman (2006 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

Capital:
name: Kingstown
geographic coordinates: 13 09 N, 61 14 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 7 December 2005 (next to be held 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - ULP 55.26%, NDP 44.68%;
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:

New Democratic Party or NDP [Arnhim EUSTACE]; 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, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, NAM, 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 suffered low
arrivals in the immediate aftermath of 11 September 2001. The
islands had more than 160,000 tourist arrivals in 2005, mostly to
the Grenadines. Saint Vincent is home to a small offshore banking
sector and has moved to adopt international regulatory standards.
Saint Vincent is also a 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 (official exchange rate):

$428 million (2005)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.9% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,600 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 10% industry: 26% services: 64%

(2001 est.)

Labor force: 41,680 (1991 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):
1% (2005 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:
114 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 69.3% hydro: 30.7% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
106 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
1,400 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
 NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$37 million (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
bananas 39%, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch; tennis
racquets

Exports - partners:
UK 26.7%, Barbados 12.7%, Trinidad and Tobago 12.3%, Saint Lucia
10.9%, US 9.2%, Dominica 7.2%, Grenada 6.8%, Antigua and Barbuda
6.2% (2005)

Imports:
$225 million (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers,
minerals and fuels

Imports - partners:
US 33.3%, Trinidad and Tobago 23.6%, UK 9.4%, Japan 4.2% (2005)

Debt - external:
$223 million (2004)

Economic aid - recipient:

$10.5 million (1995); note - EU $34.5 million (2004)

Currency (code):
 East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Currency code:
XCD

Exchange rates:
East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7
(2003), 2.7 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Telephones - main lines in use:

22,500 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

70,600 (2005)

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:
94 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

15 (2000)

Internet users:
8,000 (2005)

Transportation Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Airports: 6 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 829 km
paved: 580 km
unpaved: 249 km (2003)

Merchant marine:
total: 589 ships (1000 GRT or over) 5,449,699 GRT/8,051,250 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 106, cargo 351, chemical tanker 5, container
20, liquefied gas 7, livestock carrier 1, passenger 5,
passenger/cargo 15, petroleum tanker 18, refrigerated cargo 38, roll
on/roll off 20, specialized tanker 3
foreign-owned: 529 (Bangladesh 1, Barbados 1, Belgium 3, Bulgaria
17, Canada 6, China 103, Croatia 9, Cyprus 1, Czech Republic
registered in other countries: 1 (Comoros 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Kingstown

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 (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 31,489 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 25,787 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 1,204 (2005 est.)

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 eastern 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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
contiguous zone: 24 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: 21.13%
permanent crops: 24.3%
other: 54.57% (2005)

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, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
occupies an almost central position within Polynesia

People Samoa

Population:
176,908 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 26.1% (male 23,492/female 22,653)
15-64 years: 67.3% (male 74,202/female 44,894)
65 years and over: 6.6% (male 5,299/female 6,368) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 25.2 years
male: 28.1 years
female: 22 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.2% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
16.43 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
6.62 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-11.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.65 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
 total population: 1.39 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 26.85 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 31.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 21.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 71 years
male: 68.2 years
female: 73.94 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.94 children born/woman (2006 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
local long form: Malo Sa'oloto Tuto'atasi o Samoa
local short form: Samoa
former: Western Samoa

Government type:
mix of parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy

Capital:
name: Apia
geographic coordinates: 13 50 S, 171 45W
time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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, however it is observed in June

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: Malietoa TANUMAFILI II (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 Malietoa TANUMAFILI II, a new chief of
state will be elected by the Legislative Assembly to serve a
five-year term (no term limits); 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 31 March 2006 (next election to be
held not later than March 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
HRPP 35, SDUP 10, independents 4

Judicial branch:
 Court of Appeal; Supreme Court; District Court; Land and Titles
Court

Political parties and leaders:

Human Rights Protection Party or HRPP [Sailele Malielegaoi
TUILA'EPA]; Samoa Christian Party or TCP [Tuala Tiresa MALIETOA];
Samoa Democratic United Party or SDUP [LE MAMEA Ropati]; Samoa Party
or SP [Su'a Rimoni Ah CHONG]; Samoa Progressive Political Party or
SPPP [Toeolesulusulu SIUEVA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, IPU, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OPCW, PIF,
Sparteca, SPC, 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,
Beach Road, Apia
mailing address: P. O. Box 3430, Apia, 0815
telephone: [685] 21436/21452/21631/22696
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
fish catch declined during the El Nino of 2002-03, but returned to
normal by mid-2005. The manufacturing sector mainly processes
agricultural products. One factory in the Foreign Trade Zone employs
3,000 people to make automobile electrical harnesses for an assembly
plant in Australia. Tourism is an expanding sector, accounting for
25% of GDP; about 100,000 tourists visited the islands in 2005. The
Samoan Government has called for deregulation of the financial
sector, encouragement of investment, and continued fiscal
discipline, while at the same time 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 (official exchange rate):

$399 million (2005)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.5% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,100 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11.4% industry: 58.4% services:

30.2% (2004 est.)

Labor force: 90,000 (2000 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: 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):

3.3% (2005)

Budget:
revenues: $171.3 million
expenditures: $78.1 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY04/05 est.)

Agriculture - products:
coconuts, bananas, taro, yams, coffee, cocoa

Industries:
food processing, building materials, auto parts

Industrial production growth rate:

2.8% (2000)

Electricity - production:
108 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 58% hydro: 42% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
100.5 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
1,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-2.428 million (FY03/04)

Exports:
$94 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
fish, coconut oil and cream, copra, taro, automotive parts,
garments, beer

Exports - partners:
Australia 75.9%, American Samoa 13.6%, US 6.5% (2005)

Imports:
$285 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, industrial supplies, foodstuffs
Imports - partners:
NZ 31%, Australia 22.6%, US 13.5%, Japan 7.5%, Fiji 6%, China 4.6%
(2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$70.15 million (FY03/04)

Debt - external:
$177 million (2004)

Economic aid - recipient:

$30.8 million (2004)

Currency (code):
tala (SAT)

Currency code:
SAT (former WST code is still in wide use)

Exchange rates:
tala per US dollar - 2.7103 (2005), 2.7807 (2004), 2.9732 (2003),
3.3763 (2002)

Fiscal year:
June 1 - May 31

Communications Samoa

Telephones - main lines in use:

13,300 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

24,000 (2005)

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:
10,680 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:
6,000 (2004)

Transportation Samoa

Airports:
4 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways:
 total: 2,337 km
paved: 332 km
unpaved: 2,005 km (2004)

Merchant marine:
total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 7,091 GRT/8,127 DWT
by type: cargo 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Germany 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Apia

Military Samoa

Military branches:
no regular military forces; Samoa Police Force (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 58,722 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 45,294 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 2,306 (2005 est.)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@San Marino

Introduction San Marino

Background:
The third smallest state in Europe (after the Holy See and Monaco),
San Marino also claims to be the world's oldest republic. According
to tradition, it was founded by a Christian stonemason named Marino
in A.D. 301. 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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

Natural hazards:
NA
Environment - current issues:
NA

Environment - international agreements:

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Whaling
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:
29,251 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.8% (male 2,534/female 2,372)
15-64 years: 66.2% (male 9,316/female 10,055)
65 years and over: 17% (male 2,149/female 2,825) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 40.6 years
male: 40.3 years
female: 41 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.26% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
10.02 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
8.17 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

10.7 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.63 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.06 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.17 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 81.71 years
male: 78.23 years
female: 85.5 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.34 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: San Marino
geographic coordinates: 43 56 N, 12 25 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:
9 municipalities (castelli, singular - castello); Acquaviva, Borgo
Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano, Fiorentino,
Montegiardino, San Marino Citta, Serravalle

Independence:
3 September AD 301

National holiday:
Founding of the Republic, 3 September (AD 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 Antonio CARATTONI
and Captain Regent Roberto GIORGETTI (for the period 1 October
2006-31 March 2007)
head of government: Secretary of State for Foreign and Political
Affairs Fiorenzo STOLFI (since 27 July 2006)
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 in
September 2006 (next to be held March 2007); secretary of state for
foreign and political affairs elected by the Great and General
Council for a five-year term; election last held 27 July 2006 (next
to be held NA)
election results: Antonio CARATTONI and Roberto GIORGETTI elected
captains regent; percent of legislative vote - NA; Fiorenzo STOLFI
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
(co-chiefs 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
prime ministerial roles

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 4 June 2006 (next to be held by June 2011)
 election results: percent of vote by party - PDCS 32.9%, Party of
Socialists and Democrats 31.9%, APDS 11.9%, United Left 8.7%, New
Socialist Party 5.4%; seats by party - PDCS 21, Party of Socialists
and Democrats 20, APDS 7, United Left 5, New Socialist Party 3,
other 4

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 [Glauco SANSOVINI]; New
Socialist Party [Augusto CASALI]; Party of Socialists and Democrats
[Claudio FELICI]; San Marino Christian Democratic Party or PDCS
[Pier Marino MENICUCCI]; 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]; United Left

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

CE, FAO, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, OSCE, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO,
UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

San Marino does not have an embassy in the US
honorary consulate(s) general: New York, Washington, DC
honorary consulate(s): Detroit, Honolulu

Diplomatic representation from the US:

the US does not have an embassy in San Marino, but the ambassador
to 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 2006 more than
2.1 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 (official exchange rate):

$880 million (2002)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.3% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$34,600 (2001 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Labor force: 19,970 (2003)

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):

-1.7% (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 - 0.79669 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004),
0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)

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:
3,140 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:
14,300 (2002)

Transportation San Marino

Roadways: total: 104 km paved: 104 km (2003)

Military San Marino

Military branches:
no regular military forces; Voluntary Military Force (Corpi
Militari Voluntar) performs ceremonial duties and limited police
functions (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 6,331 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 5,107 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 135 (2005 est.)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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: 8.33% permanent crops: 48.96% other: 42.71% (2005)
Irrigated land:
100 sq km (2003)

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, Wetlands
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:
193,413 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 47.5% (male 46,478/female 45,302)
15-64 years: 48.8% (male 45,631/female 48,661)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 3,368/female 3,973) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 16.2 years
male: 15.6 years
female: 16.8 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.15% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
40.25 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
6.47 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-2.32 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 41.83 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 43.74 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 39.86 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 67.31 years
male: 65.73 years
female: 68.95 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.62 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)
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:
name: Sao Tome
geographic coordinates: 0 12 N, 6 39 E
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
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 Tome Soares da VERA CRUZ (since
21 April 2006)
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
(eligible for a second term); election last held 30 July 2006 (next
to be held July 2011); prime minister chosen by the National
Assembly and approved by the president
election results: Fradique DE MENEZES elected president; percent of
vote - Fradique DE MENEZES 60%, Patrice TROVOADA 38.5%
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 26 March 2006 (next to be held March 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - MDFM-PCD 37.2%, MLSTP
28.9%, ADI 20.0%, NR 4.7%, other 9.2%; seats by party - MDFM-PCD 23,
MLSTP 19, ADI 12, NR 1

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 or MDFM; 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; other small parties

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU,
ITU, ITUC, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO,
UPU,
WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: First Secretary Domingos

Augusto FERREIRA chancery: 400 Park Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY
10022 telephone: [1] (212) 317-0580 FAX: [1] (212) 935-7348 consulate(s):
Atlanta

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, which helped
bring down the country's $300 million debt burden. In August 2005,
Sao Tome signed on to a new 3-year IMF Poverty Reduction and Growth
Facility (PRGF) program worth $4.3 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, which are being
jointly developed in a 60-40 split with Nigeria. The first
production licenses were sold in 2004, though a dispute over
licensing with Nigeria delayed Sao Tome's receipt of more than $20
million in signing bonuses for almost a year. Real GDP growth
exceeded 4% in 2006, as a result of increases in public expenditures
and oil-related capital investment.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$214 million (2003 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

 $71.38 million (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.4% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,200 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 16.6% industry: 15.3% services:

68.1% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 35,050 (1991)

Labor force - by occupation:

note: population mainly engaged in subsistence agriculture and
fishing; 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):

15% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

35.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $102.1 million
expenditures: $61.43 million; including capital expenditures of $54
million (2006 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:
18 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 41.2% hydro: 58.8% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
16.74 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
660 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)
Current account balance:
$-24.4 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$9.773 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
cocoa 80%, copra, coffee, palm oil

Exports - partners:
Netherlands 61.9%, Belgium 9.3%, Turkey 5.6%, South Korea 4.1%
(2005)

Imports:
$48.87 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and electrical equipment, food products, petroleum
products

Imports - partners:
Portugal 47.5%, US 17.3%, Malaysia 6.2%, Belgium 5.3% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$25.47 million (2006 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 - 12,134 (2006), 9,900.4 (2005), NA (2004),
 9,347.6 (2003), 9,088.3 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Sao Tome and Principe

Telephones - main lines in use:

7,000 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

12,000 (2005)

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:
735 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)
Internet users:
20,000 (2005)

Transportation Sao Tome and Principe

Airports:
2 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 320 km
paved: 218 km
unpaved: 102 km (1999)

Merchant marine:
total: 8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 21,527 GRT/29,823 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 7
foreign-owned: 3 (Egypt 1, Greece 1, Lebanon 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Sao Tome

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
females age 18-49: 35,279 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 25,950
females age 18-49: 28,660 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$581,729 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.8% (2005 est.)

Military - note:
Sao Tome and Principe's army is a tiny force with almost no
resources 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 initial steps towards the
improvement of the army and its focus on realistic security
concerns; command is exercised 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Saudi Arabia
Introduction Saudi Arabia

Background:
Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to Islam's two
holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina, and the king's official title
is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The modern Saudi state was
founded in 1932 by ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman AL SAUD (Ibn Saud)
after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the Arabian Peninsula. A
male descendent of Ibn Saud, his son ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz, rules
the country today as required by the country's 1992 Basic Law.
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 the liberation of Kuwait became a source of tension
between the royal family and the public until all operational US
troops left the country in 2003. Major terrorist attacks in May and
November 2003 spurred a strong on-going campaign against domestic
terrorism and extremism. King ABDALLAH has continued the cautious
reform program begun when he was crown prince. To promote increased
political participation, the government held elections nationwide
from February through April 2005 - for half the members of 179
municipal councils. In December 2005, King ABDALLAH completed the
process by appointing the remaining members of the advisory
municipal councils. The country remains a leading producer of oil
and natural gas and holds approximately 25% of the world's proven
oil reserves. The government continues to pursue economic reform and
diversification, particularly since Saudi Arabia's accession to the
WTO in December 2005, and promotes foreign investment in the
kingdom. 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: 2,149,690 sq km
land: 2,149,690 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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
16,200 sq km (2003)

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, Marine Dumping, 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:
27,019,731
note: includes 5,576,076 non-nationals (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 38.2% (male 5,261,530/female 5,059,041)
15-64 years: 59.4% (male 9,159,519/female 6,895,616)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 342,020/female 302,005) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 21.4 years
male: 22.9 years
 female: 19.4 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.18% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
29.34 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
2.58 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-4.94 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.33 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/female
total population: 1.2 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 12.81 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 14.71 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.67 years
male: 73.66 years
female: 77.78 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Riyadh
geographic coordinates: 24 38 N, 46 43 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
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 law; the Basic Law that articulates
the government's rights and responsibilities was introduced in 1993

Legal system:
based on Shari'a 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 held nationwide from 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)
cabinet: Council of Ministers is appointed by the monarch every four
years and includes many royal family members
 elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; note - a new Allegiance
Commission created by royal decree in October 2006 established a
committee of Saudi princes that will play a role in selecting future
Saudi kings, but the new system will not take effect until after
Crown Prince Sultan becomes king

Legislative branch:
Consultative Council or Majlis al-Shura (120 members and a chairman
appointed by the monarch for four-year terms); 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
held nationwide from February through April 2005

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,
IPU, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OAS (observer), OIC, OPCW,
OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant);

Ambassador Designate Adil al-Ahmed al-JUBAYR chancery: 601 New
Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037 telephone: [1] (202) 342-3800
FAX: [1] (202) 944-3113 consulate(s) general: Houston, Los Angeles, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador James C.

OBERWETTER embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
mailing address: American Embassy, 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 5.5 million foreign workers play an important role in the
Saudi economy, particularly in the oil and service sectors. The
government is encouraging private sector growth to lessen the
kingdom's dependence on oil and increase employment opportunities
for the swelling Saudi population. The government is promoting
private sector and foreign participation in the power generation,
telecom, natural gas, and petrochemical industries. As part of its
effort to attract foreign investment and diversify the economy,
Saudi Arabia acceded to the WTO in December 2005 after many years of
negotiations. With high oil revenues enabling the government to post
large budget surpluses, Riyadh has been able to substantially boost
spending on job training and education, infrastructure development,
and government salaries.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$374 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$286.2 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.9% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$13,800 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector:

agriculture: 3.3%
industry: 67%
services: 29.8% (2006 est.)

Labor force:
7.125 million
note: more than 35% of the population in the 15-64 age group is
non-national (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 12%
industry: 25%
services: 63% (1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:
13% among Saudi males only (local bank estimate; some estimates
range as high as 25%) (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.9% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

16.2% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $189.2 billion
expenditures: $107.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
32.5% of GDP (2006 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,
fertilizer, plastics; metals, commercial ship repair, commercial
aircraft repair, construction

Industrial production growth rate:

1.9% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
155.2 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
144.4 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
9.475 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
 1.845 million bbl/day (2004)

Oil - exports:
7.92 million bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - proved reserves:

262.7 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

65.68 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

65.68 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

6.654 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$103.8 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$204.5 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products 90%

Exports - partners:
US 16.8%, Japan 16.5%, South Korea 9.3%, China 7.1%, Singapore
5.2%, Taiwan 4.3% (2005)

Imports:
 $64.16 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, motor vehicles,
textiles

Imports - partners:
US 14.8%, Japan 9%, Germany 8.2%, China 7.4%, UK 4.7% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$31.63 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$47.39 billion (2006 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 $230 million to development in
Afghanistan; pledged $1 billion in export guarantees and soft loans
to Iraq; pledged $133 million in direct grant aid, $187 million in
concessional loans, and $153 million in export credits for Pakistan
earthquake relief

Currency (code):
Saudi riyal (SAR)

Currency code:
SAR

Exchange rates:
Saudi riyals per US dollar - 3.745 (2006), 3.747 (2005), 3.75
(2004), 3.75 (2003), 3.75 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 March - 28 February

Communications Saudi Arabia

Telephones - main lines in use:
4.5 million (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

13.3 million (2005)

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:
10,931 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

22 (2003)

Internet users:
3.2 million (2006)
Transportation Saudi Arabia

Airports: 208 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 73
over 3,047 m: 32
2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 135
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 75
914 to 1,523 m: 40
under 914 m: 12 (2006)

Heliports:
6 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate 212 km; gas 1,880 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,183 km; oil
4,531 km; refined products 1,150 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 1,392 km
standard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (with branch lines and
sidings) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 152,044 km
paved: 45,461 km
unpaved: 106,583 km (2000)

Merchant marine:
total: 60 ships (1000 GRT or over) 837,272 GRT/1,064,377 DWT
 by type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 15, container 4, passenger/cargo
8, petroleum tanker 18, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 9
foreign-owned: 9 (Egypt 2, Kuwait 5, Sudan 1, UAE 1)
registered in other countries: 55 (Bahamas 12, Comoros 3, Dominica
3, French Southern and Antarctic Lands 1, Liberia 24, Marshall
Islands 1, Norway 3, Panama 8) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Ad Dammam, Al Jubayl, Jiddah, Yanbu' al Sinaiyah

Military Saudi Arabia

Military branches:
Land Forces (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
females age 18-49: 5,417,922 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 6,592,709
females age 18-49: 4,659,347 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 247,334
females age 18-49: 234,500 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$18 billion (2002)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

10% (2002)

Transnational Issues Saudi Arabia

Disputes - international:
Saudi Arabia has reinforced its concrete-filled security barrier
along sections of the now fully demarcated border with Yemen to stem
illegal cross-border activities; Kuwait and Saudi Arabia continue
discussions on a maritime boundary with Iran

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 240,015 (Palestinian Territories)
(2006)

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Saudi Arabia is a destination country for
workers from South and Southeast Asia who are subjected to
conditions that constitute involuntary servitude including being
subjected to physical and sexual abuse, non-payment of wages,
confinement, and withholding of passports as a restriction on their
movement; domestic workers are particularly vulnerable because some
are confined to the house in which they work, unable to seek help;
Saudi Arabia is also a destination country for Nigerian, Yemeni,
Pakistani, Afghan, Somali, Malian, and Sudanese children trafficked
for forced begging and involuntary servitude as street vendors; some
Nigerian women were reportedly trafficked into Saudi Arabia for
commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 3 - Saudi Arabia does not fully comply with the
minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not
making significant efforts to do so

Illicit drugs:
death penalty for traffickers; increasing consumption of heroin,
cocaine, and hashish; improving anti-money-laundering legislation
and enforcement

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@Senegal

Introduction Senegal

Background:
Independent from France in 1960, Senegal was ruled by the Socialist
Party for forty years until current President Abdoulaye WADE was
elected in 2000. Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the nominal
confederation of Senegambia in 1982, but the envisaged integration
of the two countries was never carried out, and the union was
dissolved in 1989. A southern separatist group sporadically has
clashed with government forces since 1982, but Senegal remains one
of the most stable democracies in Africa. 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: 12.51% permanent crops: 0.24% other: 87.25% (2005)

Irrigated land:
1,200 sq km (2003)

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:
11,987,121 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 40.8% (male 2,467,021/female 2,422,385)
15-64 years: 56.1% (male 3,346,756/female 3,378,518)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 174,399/female 198,042) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 19.1 years
male: 18.9 years
female: 19.3 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.34% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
32.78 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
9.42 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 52.94 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 56.49 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 49.29 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 59.25 years
male: 57.7 years
female: 60.85 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.38 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

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%, Christian 5% (mostly Roman Catholic), indigenous
beliefs 1%

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
former: Senegambia (along with The Gambia); Mali Federation

Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Dakar
geographic coordinates: 14 40 N, 17 26 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations

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
(eligible for a second term) under new constitution; election last
held under prior constitution (seven-year terms) 27 February and 19
March 2000 (next to be held 25 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) 58.5%, Abdou
DIOUF (PS) 41.5%

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 had 120 seats, but deputies in
late 2006 voted to expand the number of seats to 140
elections: last held 29 April 2001 (next to be held 25 February
2007) note - the National Assembly in December 2005 voted to
postpone legislative elections originally scheduled for 2006, they
will now coincide with presidential elections in 2007
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

Political parties and leaders:

African Party of Independence [Majhemout DIOP]; And-Jef/African
Party for Democracy and Socialism (also known as AJ/PADS) [Landing
SAVANE, secretary general]; 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 Bamba DIEYE];
Gainde Centrist Bloc or BGC [Jean-Paul DIAS]; Independence and Labor
Party or PIT [Amath DANSOKHO]; Jef-Jel [Talla SYLLA]; National
Democratic Rally or RND [Madior DIOUF]; People's Labor Party or PTP
[Elhadji DIOUF]; Reform Party or PR [Abdourahim AGNE]; Rewmi
[Idrissa SECK]; Senegalese Democratic Party or PDS [Abdoulaye WADE];
Socialist Party or PS [Ousmane Tanor DIENG]; SOPI Coalition
[Abdoulaye WADE] (a coalition led by the PDS); Union for Democratic
Renewal or URD [Djibo Leyti KA]

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, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO,
UNMIL, UNMOVIC, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU,
WCL, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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: Houston, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Janice L. JACOBS
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 over 5% annually during
1995-2006. 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. High
unemployment, however, continues to prompt illegal migrants to flee
Senegal in search of better job opportunities in Europe. Senegal was
also beset by an energy crisis that caused widespread blackouts in
2006. Senegal still relies heavily upon outside donor assistance.
Under the IMF's Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief
program, Senegal will benefit from eradication of two-thirds of its
 bilateral, multilateral, and private-sector debt.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$22.01 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$8.562 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.9% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,800 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 18.3% industry: 19.2% services:

62.5% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 4.749 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 77% industry and services: 23% (1990
est.)

Unemployment rate:
48%; note - 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):

2% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

41% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.023 billion
expenditures: $2.377 billion; including capital expenditures of $357
million (2006 est.)

Public debt:
17.8% of GDP (2006 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:

3.2% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
1.453 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
1.351 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
31,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Natural gas - production:

50 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

50 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-895.2 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$1.478 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
fish, groundnuts (peanuts), petroleum products, phosphates, cotton

Exports - partners:
Mali 16.9%, India 13.1%, France 9.5%, Spain 6.1%, Italy 5.5%,
Gambia, The 4.6% (2005)

Imports:
$2.98 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
food and beverages, capital goods, fuels

Imports - partners:
France 22.8%, Nigeria 11.4%, Brazil 4.5%, Thailand 4.3%, US 4.2%,
UK 4% (2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$1.18 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$1.628 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$449.6 million (2003 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 -
522.592 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99
(2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Senegal

Telephones - main lines in use:

266,600 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.73 million (2005)

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:
412 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2002)

Internet users:
540,000 (2005)

Transportation Senegal

Airports: 20 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 9
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 43 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 906 km
narrow gauge: 906 km 1.000 meter gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 13,576 km
paved: 3,972 km (including 7 km of expressways)
unpaved: 9,604 km (2003)

Waterways:
1,000 km (primarily on Senegal, Saloum, and Casamance rivers) (2005)

Ports and terminals:

Dakar

Military Senegal

Military branches:
Army, Senegalese Navy (Marine Senegalaise), Senegalese Air Force
(Armee de l'Air du Senegal) (2006)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
conscript service obligation - two years (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,443,840
females age 18-49: 2,461,939 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,558,175
females age 18-49: 1,642,533 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 129,331
females age 18-49: 129,398 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$117.3 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.4% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Senegal

Disputes - international:
The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau attempt to stem separatist violence,
cross border raids, and arms smuggling into their countries from
Senegal's Casamance region, and in 2006, respectively accepted 6,000
and 10,000 Casamance residents fleeing the conflict; 2,500
Guinea-Bissau residents have fled into Senegal in 2006 to escape
armed confrontations along the border

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 19,712 (Mauritania)
IDPs: 22,400 (approximately 65 percent of the IDP population
returned in 2005 but new displacement is occurring due to clashes
between government troops and separatists in Casamance region) (2006)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Serbia
Introduction Serbia

Background:
The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was formed in 1918; its
name was changed to Yugoslavia in 1929. Various paramilitary bands
resisted Nazi Germany's occupation and division of Yugoslavia from
1941 to 1945, but fought each other and ethnic opponents as much as
the invaders. The military and political movement headed by Josip
TITO (Partisans) took full control of Yugoslavia when German and
Croatian separatist forces were defeated in 1945. Although
Communist, Tito's new government and his 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 1989,
Slobodan MILOSEVIC became president of the Serbian Republic and his
ultranationalist calls for Serbian domination led to the violent
breakup of Yugoslavia along ethnic lines. In 1991, Croatia,
Slovenia, and Macedonia declared independence, followed by Bosnia in
1992. The remaining republics of Serbia and Montenegro declared a
new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) in April 1992 and under
MILOSEVIC's leadership, Serbia led various military campaigns to
unite ethnic Serbs in neighboring republics into a "Greater Serbia."
These actions led to Yugoslavia being ousted from the UN in 1992,
but Serbia continued its - ultimately unsuccesful - campaign until
signing the Dayton Peace Accords in 1995. MILOSEVIC kept tight
control over Serbia and eventually became president of the FRY in
1997. In 1998, a small-scale ethnic Albanian insurgency in the
formerly autonomous Serbian province of Kosovo provoked a Serbian
counterinsurgency campaign that resulted in massacres and massive
expulsions of ethnic Albanians living in Kosovo by FRY forces and
Serb paramilitaries. The MILOSEVIC government's rejection of a
proposed international settlement led to NATO's bombing of Serbia in
the spring of 1999 and to the eventual withdrawal of Serbian
military and police forces from Kosovo in June 1999. UNSC Resolution
1244 in June 1999 authorized the stationing of a NATO-led force
(KFOR) in Kosovo to provide a safe and secure environment for the
region's ethnic communities, created a UN Administration Mission in
Kosovo (UNMIK) to foster self-governing institutions, and reserved
the issue of Kosovo's final status for an unspecified date in the
 future. In 2001, UNMIK promulgated a constitutional framework that
allowed Kosovo to establish institutions of self-government and led
to Kosovo's first parliamentary election. FRY elections in September
2000 led to the ouster of MILOSEVIC and installed Vojislav KOSTUNICA
as president. A broad coalition of democratic reformist parties
known as DOS (the Democratic Opposition of Serbia) was subsequently
elected to parliament in December 2000 and took control of the
government. The arrest of MILOSEVIC by DOS 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. (MILOSEVIC died at The Hague in March 2006 before the
completion of his trial.) In 2001, the country's suspension from the
UN was lifted, and it was once more accepted into UN organizations.
In 2003, the FRY became Serbia and Montenegro, a loose federation of
the two republics with a federal level parliament. Violent rioting
in Kosovo in 2004 caused the international community to open
negotiations on the future status of Kosovo in January 2006. In May
2006, Montenegro invoked its right under the Constitutional Charter
of Serbia and Montenegro to hold a referendum on independence from
the state union. The referendum was successful and Montenegro
declared itself an independent nation on 3 June 2006. Two days
later, Serbia declared that it was the successor state to the union
of Serbia and Montenegro. In October 2006, the Serbian parliament
unanimously approved - and a referendum confirmed - a new
constitution for the country.

Geography Serbia

Location:
Southeastern Europe, between Macedonia and Hungary

Geographic coordinates:
44 00 N, 21 00 E

Map references:
Europe

Area:
 total: 88,361 sq km
land: 88,361 sq km
water: 0 sq km

Area - comparative:
slightly larger than South Carolina

Land boundaries:
total: 2,027 km
border countries: Albania 115 km, Bosnia and Herzegovina 302 km,
Bulgaria 318 km, Croatia 241 km, Hungary 151 km, Macedonia 221 km,
Montenegro 203 km, Romania 476 km

Coastline:
0 km (landlocked)

Maritime claims:
none (landlocked)

Climate:
in the north, continental climate (cold winters and hot, humid
summers with well distributed rainfall); in other parts, continental
and Mediterranean climate (hot, dry summers and autumns and
relatively cold winters with heavy snowfall)
Terrain:
extremely varied; to the north, rich fertile plains; to the east,
limestone ranges and basins; to the southeast, ancient mountains and
hills

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: NA
highest point: Daravica 2,656 m

Natural resources:
oil, gas, coal, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, antimony, chromite,
nickel, gold, silver, magnesium, pyrite, limestone, marble, salt,
arable land

Land use:
arable land: NA
permanent crops: NA
other: NA

Irrigated land:
NA

Natural hazards:
destructive earthquakes

Environment - current issues:

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
People Serbia

Population: 9,396,411 (2002 census)

Median age:
total: 40.4 years
male: 39.1 years
female: 41.7 years

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74 years
male: 71 years
female: 76 years

Total fertility rate:

1.78 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Serb(s)
adjective: Serbian

Ethnic groups:
Serb 66%, Albanian 17%, Hungarian 3.5%, other 13.5% (1991)

Religions:
Serbian Orthodox, Muslim, Roman Catholic, Protestant

Languages:
Serbian (official nationwide); Romanian, Hungarian, Slovak,
Ukrainian, and Croatian (all official in Vojvodina); Albanian
(official in Kosovo)

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.4%
male: 98.9%
female: 94.1% (2002 est.)

Government Serbia
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Serbia
conventional short form: Serbia
local long form: Republika Srbija
local short form: Srbija
former: People's Republic of Serbia, Socialist Republic of Serbia

Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Belgrade
geographic coordinates: 44 50 N, 20 30 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:
190 municipalites (opcinas, singular - opcina)
Serbia Proper: Beograd: Barajevo, Cukavica, Grocka, Lazarevac,
Mladnovac, Novi Beograd, Obrenovac, Palilula, Rakovica, Savski
Venac, Sopot, Stari Grad, Surcin, Vozdovac, Vracar, Zemun, Zrezdara
Borski Okrug: Bor, Kladovo, Majdanpek, Negotin; Branicevski Okrug:
Golubac, Kucevo, Malo Crnice, Petrovac, Pozarevac, Veliko Gradiste,
Zabari, Zagubica Jablanicki Okrug: Bojnik, Crna Trava, Lebane,
Leskovac, Medvedja, Vlasotince; Kolubarski Okrug: Lajkovac, Ljig,
Mionica, Osecina, Ub, Valjevo; Macvanski Okrug: Bogotic, Koceljeva,
Krupanj, Ljubovija, Loznica, Malizvornik, Sabac, Vladimirci;
Moravicki Okrug: Cacak, Gornkji Milanovac, Ivanjica, Lucani;
Nisavski Okrug: Aleksinac, Doljevac, Gadzin Han, Merosina, Nis,
Razanj, Svrljig; Pcinjski Okrug: Bosilegrad, Bujanovac, Presevo,
Surdulica, Trgoviste, Vladcin Han, Vranje; Pirotski Okrug:
Babusnica, Bela Palanka, Dimitrovgrad, Pirot; Podunavski Okrug:
Smederevo, Smederevskia Palanka, Velika Plana; Pomoravaki Okrug:
Cuprija, Despotovac, Jagodina, Paracin, Rckovac, Svilajnac; Rasinski
Okrug: Aleksandrovac, Brus, Cicevac, Krusevac, Trstenik, Varvarin;
Raski Okrug: Kraljevo, Novi Pazar, Raska, Tutin, Vrnjacka Banja;
Sumadijski Okrug: Arandjelovac, Batocina, Knic, Kragujevac, Lapovo,
 Raca, Topola; Toplicki Okrug: Blace, Kursumlija, Prokuplje,
Zitoradja; Zajocarski Okrug: Boljevac, Knjazevac, Sokobanja,
Zalecar; Zlatiborski Okrug: Arilje, Bajina Basta, Cejetina,
Kosjevic, Nova Varos, Pozega, Priboj, Prijepolje, Sjenica, Uzice;
Vojvodina Autonomous Province: Juzno-Backi Okrug: Backi Petrovac,
Beocin, Novi Sad, Sremski Karlovci, Temerin, Titel, Zabalj; Juzno
Banatski Okrug: Alibunar, Bela Crkva, Kovacica, Kovin, Opovo,
Pancevo, Plandiste, Vrsac; Severno-Backi Okrug: Bacha Topola, Mali
Idjos, Subotica; Severno-Banatski Okrug: Ada, Coka, Kanjiza,
Kikinda, Novi Knezevac, Senta Srednjo-Banatski Okrug: Nova Crnja,
Novi Becej, Secanj, Zitiste, Zrenjanin; Sremski Okrug: Indjija,
Irig, Pecinci, Ruma, Sid, Sremska Mitrovica, Stara Pazova;
Zapadno-Backi Okrug: Apatin, Kula, Odzaci, Sombor
Kosovo and Metojia Autonomous Province: Kosovaki Okrug: Glogovac,
Kacanik, Kosovo Polje, Lipljan, Obilic, Podujevo, Pristina, Stimlje,
Strpce, Urosevac; Kosovsko-Mitrovacki Okrug: Kosovska Mitrovica,
Leposavic, Srbica, Vucitrn, Zubin Potok, Zvecan; Kosovsko-Pomoravski
Okrug: Gnjilane, Kosovska Kamenica, Novo Brdo, Vitina; Pecki Okrug:
Decani, Djakovica, Istok, Klina, Pec; Prizrenski Okrug: Gora i
Opolje, Orahovac, Prizren, Suva Reka

Independence:
5 June 2006 (from Serbia and Montenegro)

National holiday:
National Day, 15 February

Constitution:
10 November 2006

Legal system:
based on civil law system

Suffrage:
18 universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Boris TADIC (since 11 July 2004); Kosovo
- President Fatmir SEJDIU (since 10 February 2006)
 head of government: Prime Minister Vojislav KOSTUNICA (since 3 March
2004) - in an acting capacity pending formation of new government
following January 2007 elections; Kosovo - Prime Minister Agim CEKU
(since 10 March 2006)
cabinet: Federal Ministries act as cabinet; Kosovo - ministry heads
act as cabinet; some ministry functions are controlled by the UNMIK
elections: president elected by direct vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 27 June 2004 (next
to be held in 2007 due to constitutional changes); prime minister
elected by the Assembly; Kosovo - president is elected by the
Assembly for a three-year term; prime minister and proposed cabinet
are elected by the Assembly
election results: Boris TADIC elected president in the second round
of voting; Boris TADIC received 53% of the vote

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (250 deputies elected by direct vote
for a four-year term); Kosovo - unicameral Assembly (120 deputies -
100 deputies elected by direct vote and 20 deputies from minority
community members; elected for a three-year term)
elections: last held 21 January 2007 (next to be held 2017); Kosovo
- last held 23 October 2004 (next to be held in 2007)
election results: SRS 81, DSS 64, DSS-NS 47, G17 Plus 19, SPS 16,
LDP Coaliton 15, SVM 3, KZS 2, URS 1, KAPD 1, RP 1; Kosovo - LDK 46,
PDK 30, AAK 9, SLKM 8, Ora 7, Bosniak Vakat coalition 4, KDTP 3,
other 13

Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court, Supreme Court (to become court of cassation
under new constitution), appellate courts, district courts,
municipal courts; Kosovo: Supreme Court, district courts, municipal
courts, minor offense courts; note - Ministry of Justice was created
on 20 December 2004; UNMIK appoints all judges and prosecutors;
UNMIK is working on transferring competencies

Political parties and leaders:

Coalition of Albanians of the Presevo Valley or KAPD [Riza HALIMI];
Coalition for Sandzak or KZS [Sulejman UGLJANIN]; Democratic Party
of Serbia or DSS [Vojislav KOSTUNICA]; Democratic Party or DS [Boris
 TADIC]; G17 Plus [Mladjan DINKIC]; League of Vojvodina Hungarians or
SVM [Jozsef KASZA]; Liberal Democratic Party or LDP [Cedomir
JOVANOVIC]; New Serbia or NS [Velimir ILIC]; Roma Party or RP
[Srdjan SAJN]; Serbian Radical Party or SRS [Vojislav SESELJ
(currently on trial at The Hague), but Tomislav NIKOLIC is acting
leader]; Socialist Party of Serbia or SPS [Ivica DACIC]; Union of
Roma of Serbia or URS [Rajko DJURIC]; Kosovo Albanian Christian
Democatic Party or PShDK [Mark KRASNIQI]; Alliance for the Future of
Kosovo or AAK [Rmuch HARADINAJ]; Citizens' Initiative of Gora or GIG
[Rustem IBISI]; Democratic Ashkali Party of Kosovo or PDAK [Sabit
RRAHMANI]; Democratic League of Kosovo or LDK [Fatmir SEJDIU];
Democratic Party of Kosovo or PDK [Hashim THACI]; Justice Party or
PD [Sylejman CERKEZI]; Kosovo Democratic Turkish Party of KDTP
[Mahir YAGCILAR]; Liberal Party of Kosovo or PLK [Gjergi DEDAJ]; New
Democratic Initiative of Kosovo or IRDK [Xhevdet NEZIRAJ]; Ora
Citizens' List or Ora [Veton SURROI]; Party of Democratic Action or
SDA [Numan BALIC]; Popular Movement of Kosovo or LPK [Emrush
XHEMAJLI]; Serb List for Kosovo and Metohija or SLKM [Oliver
IVANOVIC]; Serb Democratic Party or SDS KiM [Slavisa PETKOVIC];
United Roma Partty of Kosovo or PREBK [Zylfi MERXHA]

International organization participation:

ABEDA, BIS, BSEC, CE, CEI, EBRD, FAO, G-9, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD (suspended), IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM
(observer), OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, PFP,
SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI,
UNWTO, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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, New York

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 note: there is a branch office in Pristina at 30 Nazim
Hikmet 38000 Prstina, Kososvo; telephone: [381] (38) 549-516; FAX:[381] (38)
549-890

Flag description:
three equal horizontal stripes of red (top), blue, and white;
charged with the coat of arms of Serbia shifted slightly to the
hoist side

Economy Serbia

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 a 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. In November
2001, the Paris Club agreed to reschedule the country's $4.5 billion
public debt and wrote off 66% of the debt. In July 2004, the London
Club of private creditors forgave $1.7 billion of debt, just over
half the total owed. Belgrade has made only minimal progress in
restructuring and privatizing its holdings in major sectors of the
economy, including energy and telecommunications. It has made
halting progress towards EU membership and is currently pursuing a
Stabilization and Association Agreement with Brussels. Serbia is
also pursuing membership in the World Trade Organization.
Unemployment remains an ongoing political and economic problem. The
Republic of Montenegro severed its economy from Serbia during the
MILOSEVIC era; therefore, the formal separation of Serbia and
Montenegro in June 2006 had little real impact on either economy.
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
Serbian dinar are both accepted currencies in Kosovo. While
maintaining ultimate oversight, UNMIK continues to work with the EU
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 Kosovo's political and legal relationships has created
uncertainty over property rights and hindered the privatization of
state-owned assets in Kosovo. Most of Kosovo's population lives in
rural towns outside of the largest city, Pristina. Inefficient,
near-subsistence farming is common.
note: economic data for Serbia currently reflects information for
the former Serbia and Montenegro, unless otherwise noted; data for
Serbia alone will be added when available

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$44.83 billion for Serbia (including Kosovo) (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$19.19 billion for Serbia alone (excluding Kosovo) (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.9% for Serbia alone (excluding Kosovo) (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$4,400 for Serbia (including Kosovo) (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 16.6% industry: 25.5% services:

57.9% (2005 est.)

Labor force: 2.961 million for Serbia (including Kosovo) (2002 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 30% industry: 46% services: 24% note:
excluding Kosovo and Montenegro (2002)

Unemployment rate:
31.6%
note: unemployment is approximately 50% in Kosovo (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
30%
note: data covers the former Serbia and Montenegro (1999 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

15.5% (2005 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

14.2% of GDP (2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $11.45 billion
expenditures: $11.12 billion; including capital expenditures $NA;
note - figures are for Serbia and Montenegro; Serbian Statistical
Office indicates that for 2006 budget, Serbia will have revenues of
$7.08 billion (2005 est.)

Public debt:
53.1% of GDP (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products:
wheat, maize, sugar beets, sunflower, beef, pork, milk

Industries:
sugar, agricultural machinery, electrical and communication
equipment, paper and pulp, lead, transportation equipment

Industrial production growth rate:

1.4% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
33.87 billion kWh (excluding Kosovo and Montenegro) (2004)

Electricity - consumption:
NA

Electricity - exports:
12.05 billion kWh (excluding Kosovo; exported to Montenegro) (2004)

Electricity - imports:
 11.23 billion kWh (excluding Kosovo; imports from Montenegro) (2004)

Oil - production:
14,660 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - consumption:
85,000 bbl/day (2003 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

38.75 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

650 million cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

2.55 billion cu m (2003 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

2.1 billion cu m
note: includes Montenegro (2004)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

48.14 billion cu m (1 January 2005)

Current account balance:

$-2.451 billion (2005 est.)

Exports:
$4.553 billion (excluding Kosovo and Montenegro) (2005 est.)

Exports - commodities:
manufactured goods, food and live animals, machinery and transport
equipment

Imports:
$10.58 billion (excluding Kosovo and Montenegro) (2005 est.)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$5.35 billion (2005 est.)

Debt - external:
$15.43 billion (including Montenegro) (2005 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$2 billion pledged in 2001 to Serbia and Montenegro (disbursements
to follow over several years; aid pledged by EU and US has been
placed on hold because of lack of cooperation by Serbia in handing
over General Ratko MLADIC to the criminal court in The Hague)

Currency (code):
Serbian Dinar (RSD)

Exchange rates:
Serbian dinars per US dollar - 58.6925

Communications Serbia

Telephones - main lines in use:

2,685,400 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

5.229 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: modernization of the telecommunications network
has been slow as a result of damage stemming from the 1999 war and
transition to a competitive market-based system; network was only
65% digitalized in 2005
domestic: teledensity remains below the average for neighboring
states; GSM wireless service, available through two providers with
national coverage, is growing very rapidly; best telecommunications
service limited to urban centers
international: country code - 381

Radio broadcast stations:

153 (2001)
Internet country code:
.rs; note - former ccTLD .yu will remain in service until the end
of 2006

Internet hosts:
NA

Internet users:
1.4 million (2006)

Transportation Serbia

Airports: 39 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 16 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4

1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 23 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 9

under 914 m: 12 (2006)

Heliports:
4 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 3,177 km; oil 393 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 4,135 km
standard guage: 4,135 km 1.435-m guage (electrified 1,195 km) (2005)

Roadways: total: 37,887 km paved: 23,937 km unpaved: 13,950 km (2002)

Waterways:
587 km - primarily on Danube and Sava rivers (2005)

Merchant marine:
note: see entry for Montenegro

Military Serbia
Military branches:
Serbian Armed Forces (Vojska Srbije, VS): Serbian Land Forces
(Kopnene Vojska, KoV), Air Force and Air Defense Force
(Vozduhoplostvo i Protivozduhoplovna Odbrana, ViPO), naval force to
be determined (2006)

Military service age and obligation: peacetime service obligation begins at age
17 and lasts until age 60 for men and 50 for women; under a state of war or
impending war, the obligation can begin at age 16 and be extended beyond 60
(2006)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $14.85 million

Transnational Issues Serbia

Disputes - international:
as the final status of the Serbian province of Kosovo approaches
resolution through the six-nation contact group, the several
thousand peacekeepers from the UN Interim Administration Mission in
Kosovo (UNMIK) since 1999, continue to keep the peace between
Kosovar Albanians overwhelmingly supporting Kosovo independence and
the Serb minority in Kosovo and Serbian officials in Belgrade, who
oppose independence for the province; ethnic Albanians in Kosovo
oppose demarcation of the boundary with Macedonia based on the 2000
Macedonia-Serbia and Montenegro delimitation agreement; Serbia and
Montenegro delimited about half of the boundary with Bosnia and
Herzegovina, but sections with Serbia along the Drina River remain
in dispute

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 100,651 (Croatia), 46,951 (Bosnia and
Herzegovina)
IDPs: 228,000 (mostly ethnic Serbs and Roma who fled Kosovo in 1999)
(2006)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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. President France-Albert
RENE, who had served since 1977, was re-elected in 2001, but stepped
down in 2004. Vice President James MICHEL took over the presidency
and in July 2006 was elected to a new five-year term.

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: 2.17%
permanent crops: 13.04%
other: 84.79% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

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,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geography - note:
41 granitic and about 75 coralline islands

People Seychelles

Population:
81,541 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 25.9% (male 10,667/female 10,440)
15-64 years: 68% (male 27,060/female 28,366)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 1,607/female 3,401) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 28.1 years
male: 27 years
female: 29.1 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.43% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
16.03 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
6.29 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-5.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.47 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 15.14 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 19.16 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.08 years
male: 66.69 years
female: 77.63 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.74 children born/woman (2006 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
local long form: Republic of Seychelles
local short form: Seychelles

Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Victoria
geographic coordinates: 4 38 S, 55 27 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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
(eligible for two more terms); election last held 28-30 July 2006
(next to be held in 2011)
election results: President James MICHEL elected president; percent
of vote - James MICHEL (SPPF) 53.73%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN (SNP)
45.71%,
Philippe BOULLE 0.56%; note - this was the first election in which
President James MICHEL participated; he was originally sworn in as
president after former president France Albert RENE stepped down in
April 2004

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 in December
 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - SPPF 54.3%, SNP 42.6%,
DP 3.1%; seats by party - SPPF 23, SNP 11

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, Paul CHOW]; Seychelles
National Party or SNP [Wavel RAMKALAWAN] (formerly the United
Opposition or UO); 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, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, InOC, Interpol,
IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO
(observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jeremie BONNELAME
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 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.
Sharp drops 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. Growth turned negative again in
2005-06. 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 (official exchange rate):

$712 million (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

-1% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$7,800 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.2% industry: 30.1% services: 66.7%

(2006 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):

0.7% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

44.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $371.1 million
expenditures: $376 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
166.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava (tapioca),
bananas; poultry; tuna

Industries:
fishing, tourism, processing of coconuts and vanilla, coir (coconut
fiber) rope, boat building, printing, furniture; beverages

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:
208 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
193.4 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
5,600 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-78.59 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$365.1 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
canned tuna, frozen fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum products
(reexports)
Exports - partners:
UK 23%, Spain 19.8%, France 11.4%, Japan 9.7%, Italy 7.4%, Germany
5.8%, Netherlands 5.4% (2005)

Imports:
$570.6 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals

Imports - partners:
Saudi Arabia 15.2%, South Africa 13.9%, Spain 13.6%, France 7.2%,
Singapore 6.9%, Italy 5.7% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$44.78 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$616.7 million (2006 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 (2006), 5.5 (2005), 5.5
(2004), 5.4007 (2003), 5.48 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Seychelles

Telephones - main lines in use:

 21,400 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

57,000 (2005)

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:
72 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:
20,000 (2005)

Transportation Seychelles
Airports: 15 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 458 km
paved: 440 km
unpaved: 18 km (2003)

Merchant marine:
total: 5 ships (1000 GRT or over) 69,777 GRT/113,501 DWT
by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 4
foreign-owned: 1 (Nigeria 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Victoria

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
females age 18-49: 22,459 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 16,122
females age 18-49: 18,777 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$14.85 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.1% (2005 est.)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Sierra Leone

Introduction Sierra Leone

Background:
The government is slowly reestablishing its authority after the
1991 to 2002 civil war that resulted in tens of thousands of deaths
and the displacement of more than 2 million people (about one-third
of the population). The last UN peacekeepers withdrew in December
2005, leaving full responsibility for security with domestic forces,
but a new civilian UN office remains to support the government.
Mounting tensions related to planned 2007 elections, deteriorating
political and economic conditions in Guinea, and the tenuous
security situation in neighboring Liberia may present challenges to
continuing progress in 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: 7.95% permanent crops: 1.05% other: 91% (2005)

Irrigated land:
300 sq km (2003)

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:
6,005,250 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.8% (male 1,321,563/female 1,370,721)
15-64 years: 52% (male 1,494,502/female 1,625,733)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 90,958/female 101,773) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 17.4 years
male: 17.1 years
female: 17.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.3% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
45.76 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
23.03 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: refugees currently in surrounding countries are slowly
returning (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 160.39 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 177.47 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 142.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 40.22 years
male: 38.05 years
female: 42.46 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
6.08 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

Nationality:
noun: Sierra Leonean(s)
adjective: Sierra Leonean

Ethnic groups:
20 African ethnic groups 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
local long form: Republic of Sierra Leone
local short form: Sierra Leone

Government type:
constitutional democracy

Capital:
name: Freetown
geographic coordinates: 8 30 N, 13 15 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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
(eligible for a second term); election last held 14 May 2002 (next
to be held 28 July 2007)
election results: Ahmad Tejan KABBAH reelected president; percent of
vote - Ahmad Tejan KABBAH (SLPP) 70.6%, Ernest Bai 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 28 July 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 [Ernest Bai KOROMA]; Peace and
Liberation Party or PLP [Darlington MORRISON, interim chairman];
People's Movement for Democratic Change or PMDC [Charles MARGAI];
 Sierra Leone People's Party or SLPP [Solomon BEREWA]; 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, ICRM,
IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU,
ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO,
UNWTO, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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) 515 000 or [232] (76) 515 000
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. Alluvial diamond
mining remains the major source of hard currency earnings,
accounting for nearly half of Sierra Leone's exports. 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. The IMF has completed a Poverty Reduction and Growth
Facility program that helped stabilize economic growth and reduce
inflation. A recent increase in political stability has led to a
revival of economic activity, such as the rehabilitation of bauxite
and rutile mining.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$5.38 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.233 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.8% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$900 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 49% industry: 31% 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:
diamond mining; small-scale manufacturing (beverages, textiles,
cigarettes, footwear); petroleum refining, small commercial ship
repair

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:
244 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
226.9 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
3.993 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:
6,600 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$185 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish

Exports - partners:
Belgium 66%, Germany 13.4%, US 4.6% (2005)

Imports:
$531 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, fuels and lubricants, chemicals

Imports - partners:
Germany 18.7%, Cote d'Ivoire 11.1%, UK 8.4%, US 6.8%, China 5.5%,
Netherlands 5.3% (2005)

Debt - external:
$1.61 billion (2003 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$297.4 million (2003 est.)
Currency (code):
leone (SLL)

Currency code:
SLL

Exchange rates:
leones per US dollar - 2,985.4 (2006), 2,889.6 (2005), 2,701.3
(2004), 2,347.9 (2003), 2,099 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Sierra Leone

Telephones - main lines in use:

24,000 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

113,200 (2003)

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:
20 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2001)

Internet users:
10,000 (2005)

Transportation Sierra Leone

Airports: 10 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Heliports:
2 (2006)

Roadways: total: 11,300 km paved: 904 km unpaved: 10,396 km (2002)

Waterways:
800 km (600 km year round) (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 54 ships (1000 GRT or over) 185,037 GRT/249,996 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 2, cargo 36, chemical tanker 3, combination
ore/oil 3, liquefied gas 1, livestock carrier 1, passenger 1,
passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 2, roll on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 14 (China 2, Cyprus 1, Egypt 1, Russia 1, Syria 1,
 UAE 3, Ukraine 4, US 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Freetown, Pepel, Sherbro Islands

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: 1,086,091 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 539,697 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$14.25 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.7% (2005 est.)

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 considers excessive Guinea's definition of
the flood plain limits to define the left bank boundary of the
Makona and Moa rivers and protests Guinea's continued occupation of
these lands, including the hamlet of Yenga occupied since 1998
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 59,952 (Liberia) (2006)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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. Singapore 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 (December to March) and Southwestern monsoon
(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: 1.47%
permanent crops: 1.47%
other: 97.06% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

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:
4,492,150 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 15.6% (male 362,329/female 337,964)
15-64 years: 76.1% (male 1,666,709/female 1,750,736)
65 years and over: 8.3% (male 165,823/female 208,589) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 37.3 years
male: 36.9 years
female: 37.6 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.42% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
9.34 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
4.28 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

9.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 2.29 deaths/1,000 live births
 male: 2.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.07 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 81.71 years
male: 79.13 years
female: 84.49 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.06 children born/woman (2006 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
local long form: Republic of Singapore
local short form: Singapore

Government type:
parliamentary republic

Capital:
name: Singapore
geographic coordinates: 1 17 N, 103 51 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 S. R. NATHAN (since 1 September 1999)
note: uses S. R. NATHAN but his full name and the one used in formal
communications is Sellapan RAMANATHAN
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
Minister Shunmugan JAYAKUMAR (since 12 August 2004); Deputy Prime
Minister WONG Kan Seng (since 1 September 2005)
cabinet: appointed by president, responsible to parliament
elections: president elected by popular vote for six-year term; last
appointed 17 August 2005 - see note (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; scheduled election not held

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; up to three losing opposition candidates who came
closest to winning seats may be appointed as "nonconstituency"
members
elections: last held 6 May 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - PAP 66.6%, WP 16.3%,
SDA 13%, SDP 4.1%; seats by party - PAP 82, WP 1, SDA 1

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (chief justice is appointed by the president with the
advice of the prime minister, other judges are appointed by the
president with the advice of the chief justice); Court of Appeals

Political parties and leaders:

People's Action Party or PAP [LEE Hsien Loong]; Singapore
Democratic Alliance or SDA [CHIAM See Tong]; Singapore Democratic
Party or SDP [CHEE Soon Juan]; Workers' Party or WP [Sylvia LIM Swee
Lian]
 note: SDA includes National Solidarity Party or NSP, Singapore
Justice Party or SJP, Singapore National Malay Organization or PKMS,
Singapore People's Party or SPP

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIS, C, CP, EAS, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, 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 Patricia

L. HERBOLD 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 four largest West
European countries. The economy depends heavily on exports,
particularly in consumer electronics and information technology
products. 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 (SARS) in 2003, which curbed tourism and
consumer spending. Fiscal stimulus, low interest rates, a surge in
exports, and internal flexibility led to vigorous growth in 2004-06,
with real GDP growth averaging 7% annually. The government hopes to
establish a new growth path that will be less vulnerable to the
global demand cycle for information technology products - it has
attracted major investments in pharmaceuticals and medical
technology production - and will continue efforts to establish
Singapore as Southeast Asia's financial and high-tech hub.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$138.6 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$121.5 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.4% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$30,900 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0% industry: 33.8% services: 66.2%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 2.4 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: manufacturing 18%, construction 18%,

transportation and communication 11%, financial, business, and other services
6%, other 26% (2003)

Unemployment rate:
3.1% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
42.5 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $19.71 billion
expenditures: $19.85 billion; including capital expenditures of $5.1
billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
100.6% of GDP (2006 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:

12.6% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
32.64 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
30.35 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
 0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
9,701 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
800,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

6.61 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

6.61 billion cu m
note: from Indonesia and Malaysia (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$35.58 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$283.6 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
machinery and equipment (including electronics), consumer goods,
chemicals, mineral fuels
Exports - partners:
Malaysia 14.7%, US 11.5%, Indonesia 10.7%, Hong Kong 10.4%, China
9.5%, Japan 6%, Thailand 4.5%, Australia 4.1% (2005)

Imports:
$246.1 billion (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, mineral fuels, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
Malaysia 14.4%, US 12.4%, China 10.8%, Japan 10.1%, Indonesia 5.5%,
Saudi Arabia 4.7%, South Korea 4.5% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$134.6 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$24.3 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$NA

Currency (code):
Singapore dollar (SGD)

Currency code:
SGD

Exchange rates:
Singapore dollars per US dollar - 1.595 (2006), 1.6644 (2005),
1.6902 (2004), 1.7422 (2003), 1.7906 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Singapore

Telephones - main lines in use:

 1.848 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

4.385 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: excellent service
domestic: excellent domestic facilities; launched 3G wireless
service in February 2005
international: country code - 65; 9 submarine cables provide direct
connection to more than 100 countries; 4 satellite earth stations,
supplemented by VSAT coverage

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 17, shortwave 2 (2003)

Radios:
2.6 million (2000)

Television broadcast stations:

1 (broadcasting on six channels); additional reception of numerous
UHF and VHF signals originating in Malaysia and Indonesia; note -
digital TV for reception in public spaces and transportation is
transmitted from 10 sites (2006)

Televisions:
1.33 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.sg

Internet hosts:
898,762 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

9 (2000)

Internet users:
2,421,800 (2005)
Transportation Singapore

Airports: 9 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 9 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1

1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Pipelines: gas 139 km; refined products 8 km (2006)

Roadways:
total: 3,234 km
paved: 3,234 km (including 150 km of expressways) (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 1,063 ships (1000 GRT or over) 31,033,735 GRT/49,715,650 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 155, cargo 87, chemical tanker 136, container
214, liquefied gas 53, livestock carrier 1, passenger/cargo 1,
petroleum tanker 353, refrigerated cargo 10, roll on/roll off 2,
specialized tanker 11, vehicle carrier 40
foreign-owned: 592 (Australia 7, Bangladesh 1, Belgium 12, China 23,
Denmark 52, Germany 9, Greece 9, Hong Kong 50, India 5, Indonesia
56, Italy 2, Japan 100, South Korea 17, Malaysia 35, Netherlands 2,
Norway 90, Philippines 5, Slovenia 1, Sweden 12, Taiwan 59, Thailand
22, UAE 7, UK 9, US 7)
registered in other countries: 285 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Bahamas
12, Belize 6, Bolivia 3, Cambodia 4, Cayman Islands 10, Cyprus 1,
Dominica 9, France 2, Honduras 11, Hong Kong 24, Indonesia 17, Isle
of Man 7, North Korea 1, Liberia 28, Malaysia 44, Marshall Islands
6, Mongolia 10, Nigeria 1, Panama 67, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 5, Thailand 6, Tuvalu 6, US 2, unknown 2) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Singapore

Military Singapore

Military branches:
Singapore Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Republic of Singapore Air Force
 (includes Air Defense) (2006)

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 (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 in the Johor and Singapore
Straits; in November 2007 the ICJ will hold public hearings as a
consequence of the Memorials and Countermemorials filed by the
parties in 2003 and 2005 over sovereignty of Pedra Branca
Island/Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge; Indonesia and
Singapore continue to work on finalization of their 1973 maritime
boundary agreement by defining unresolved areas north of Indonesia's
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, as a venue for
money laundering

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Slovakia

Introduction Slovakia

Background:
The dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the close of
World War I allowed the Slovaks to join 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: 29.23% permanent crops: 2.67% other: 68.1% (2005)

Irrigated land:
1,830 sq km (2003)

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, Whaling
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:
5,439,448 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.7% (male 465,304/female 443,967)
15-64 years: 71.3% (male 1,929,448/female 1,947,735)
65 years and over: 12% (male 244,609/female 408,385) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 35.8 years
male: 34.2 years
female: 37.6 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.15% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
10.65 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
9.45 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.3 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 7.26 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.48 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.73 years
male: 70.76 years
female: 78.89 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.33 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Bratislava
geographic coordinates: 48 09 N, 17 07 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:
8 regions (kraje, singular - kraj); Banskobystricky kraj,
Bratislavsky kraj, Kosicky kraj, Nitriansky kraj, Presovsky kraj,
Trenciansky kraj, Trnavsky kraj, Zilinsky kraj

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; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations; 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 Robert FICO (since 4 July 2006);
Deputy Prime Ministers Dusan CAPLOVIC, Robert KALINAK, Stefan
HARABIN, Jan MIKOLAJ (since 4 July 2006)
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 (eligible for a second 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%

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 17 June 2006 (next to be held 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - Smer 29.1%, SDKU 18.4%,
 SNS 11.7%, SMK 11.7%, LS-HZDS 8.8%, KDH 8.3%; seats by party - Smer
50, SDKU 31, SNS 19, SMK 20, LS-HZDS 16, KDH 14

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); Special Court (judges
elected by a council of judges and appointed by president)

Political parties and leaders:

Parties in the Parliament: Christian Democratic Movement or KDH
[Pavol HRUSOVSKY]; Direction-Social Democracy or Smer-SD [Robert
FICO]; Party of the Hungarian Coalition or SMK [Bela BUGAR];
People's Party - Movement for a Democratic Slovakia or LS-HZDS
[Vladimir MECIAR]; Slovak Democratic and Christian Union or SDKU-DS
[Mikulas DZURINDA]; Slovak National Party or SNS [Jan SLOTA];
Parties outside the Parliament: Agrarian Party of the Provinces or
ASV [Jozef VASKEBA]; Civic Conservative Party or OKS [Peter TATAR];
Free Forum [Zuzana MARTINAKOVA]; Hope or NADEJ [Alexandra
NOVOTNA];
Left-wing Bloc or LB [Jozef KALMAN]; Mission 21 - New Christian
Democracy or MISIA 21 [Ivan SIMKO]; Movement for Democracy or HZD
[Jozef GRAPA]; New Citizens Alliance or ANO [Pavol RUSKO]; Party of
the Democratic Left or SDL [Ladislav KOZMON]; Prosperita Slovenska
or PS [Frantisek A. ZVRSKOVEC]; Slovak Communist Party or KSS
[Vladimir DADO]; Slovak National Coalition or SLNKO [Vitazoslav
MORIC]; Slovak People's Party or SLS [Jozef SASIK]; Union of the
Workers of Slovakia or ZRS [Jan LUPTAK]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Federation of Employers' Associations of the Slovak Republic;
Association of Towns and Villages or ZMOS; Confederation of Trade
Unions or KOZ; National Union of Employers or RUZ; Slovak Chamber of
Commerce and Industry or SOPK; Entrepreneurs Association of Slovakia
or ZPS; The Business Alliance of Slovakia or PAS

International organization participation:

ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CE, CEI,
CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, EU, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM,
 IDA, IEA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM (guest), NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer),
OECD,
OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UN Security Council
(temporary), UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNIDO, UNTSO,
UNWTO,
UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU (associate partner), WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
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, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Rodolphe "Skip" M. VALLEE
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 coat of arms of Slovakia (consisting of a red
shield bordered in white and bearing a white Cross of Lorraine
surmounting three blue hills); the coat of arms is centered
vertically and offset slightly to the hoist side

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. Foreign investment in the automotive sector has
been strong. Slovakia's economic growth exceeded expectations in
2001-06, despite the general European slowdown. Unemployment, at an
unacceptable 18% in 2003-04, dropped to 10.2% in 2006, but remains
the economy's Achilles heel. Slovakia joined the EU on 1 May 2004.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$96.35 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$46.9 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.4% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$17,700 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.8% industry: 31.4% services: 64.8%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 2.629 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 5.8%, industry 5.8%, construction 9%,

services 29.3% (2003)

Unemployment rate:
10.2% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

21% (2002)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 20.9% (1996)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

25.8 (1996)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
4.4% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

27.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $24.57 billion
expenditures: $26.14 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
36.1% of GDP (2006 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:

7.8% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
28.81 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 30.3% hydro: 16% nuclear: 53.6%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
24.2 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
10.4 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
 7.8 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
11,480 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
74,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
2,160 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports:
59,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves:

9 million bbl (1 January 2006)

Natural gas - production:

165 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

6.719 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

1 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

6.948 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

15.01 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-3.781 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$39.64 billion f.o.b. (2006 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)

Exports - partners:
Germany 26.2%, Czech Republic 14.1%, Austria 7.1%, Italy 6.7%,
Poland 6.3%, Hungary 5.7% (2005)

Imports:
$41.84 billion f.o.b. (2006 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 25.1%, Czech Republic 19.3%, Russia 10.5%, Austria 6.1%,
Poland 4.7%, Hungary 4.6%, Italy 4.5% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$15.75 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$31.5 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$12.67 billion in available EU structural adjustment and cohesion
funds (2007-13)

Currency (code):
Slovak koruna (SKK)

Currency code:
SKK

Exchange rates:
koruny per US dollar - 29.9315 (2006), 31.018 (2005), 32.257
(2004), 36.773 (2003), 45.327 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Slovakia

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.197 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

4.54 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: Slovakia has a modern telecommunications system
that has expanded dramatically in recent years with the growth in
cellular services
domestic: analog system is now receiving digital equipment and is
being enlarged with fiber-optic cable, especially in the larger
cities; three companies provide nationwide cellular services
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:
210,758 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
6 (2000)

Internet users:
2.5 million (2005)

Transportation Slovakia

Airports: 36 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 18 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: 8 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 18 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 9

under 914 m: 8 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 6,769 km; oil 416 km (2006)

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) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 42,993 km
paved: 37,533 km (including 316 km of expressways)
unpaved: 5,460 km (2004)

Waterways:
172 km (on Danube River) (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 43 ships (1000 GRT or over) 217,819 GRT/309,049 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 36, chemical tanker 1
 foreign-owned: 40 (Bulgaria 7, Estonia 1, Greece 4, Israel 7, Poland
2, Syria 2, Turkey 8, UK 1, Ukraine 8)
registered in other countries: 2 (Cyprus 1, Georgia 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Bratislava, Komarno

Military Slovakia

Military branches:
Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Ozbrojene Sily Slovenskej
Republiky): Land Forces (Pozemne Sily), Air Forces (Vzdusne Sily),
Training and Support Forces (Vycviku a Podpory Sily) (2005)

Military service age and obligation: complete transition to an all-volunteer

professional force went into effect at the beginning of 2006 after 140 years of
mandatory army service; volunteers include women, with minimum age of 17
years (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,351,848
females age 18-49: 1,322,647 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,089,645
females age 18-49: 1,093,077 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 41,544
females age 18-49: 40,183 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$406 million (2002)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.87% FY05 (2005)

Transnational Issues Slovakia

Disputes - international:
bilateral government, legal, technical and economic working group
negotiations continued in 2006 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Slovenia

Introduction Slovenia

Background:
The Slovene lands were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until
the latter's dissolution at the end of World War I. In 1918, the
Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new multinational
state, which was named 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: 1,382 km
border countries: Austria 330 km, Croatia 670 km, Hungary 102 km,
Italy 280 km

Coastline:
46.6 km

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm

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: 8.53% permanent crops: 1.43% other: 90.04% (2005)

Irrigated land:
30 sq km (2003)

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, Whaling
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:
2,010,347 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 13.8% (male 143,079/female 135,050)
15-64 years: 70.5% (male 714,393/female 702,950)
65 years and over: 15.7% (male 121,280/female 193,595) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 40.6 years
male: 39 years
female: 42.2 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.05% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
8.98 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
10.31 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.88 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.4 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.99 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.33 years
male: 72.63 years
 female: 80.29 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.25 children born/woman (2006 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%

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 republic

Capital:
name: Ljubljana
geographic coordinates: 46 03 N, 14 31 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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

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
(eligible for a second 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 number of directly elected and
proportionally elected seats varies with each election; the
constitution mandates one seat each for Slovenia's Hungarian and
Italian minorities; members are elected by popular vote to serve
four-year terms) and the National Council or Drzavni Svet (40 seats;
this is primarily an advisory body with limited legislative powers;
it may propose laws, ask to review any National Assembly decisions,
and call national referenda; members - representing social,
economic, professional, and local interests - 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:

Liberal Democratic Party or LDS [Jelko KACIN]; New Slovenia or NSi
[Andrej BAJUK]; Slovenian Democratic Party or SDS [Janez JANSA];
Slovenian Democratic Pensioners' Party or DeSUS [Karl ERJAVEC];
Slovene National Party or SNS [Zmago JELINCIC]; Slovene People's
 Party or SLS [Janez PODOBNIK]; Slovene Youth Party or SMS [Darko
KRANJC]; Social Democrats or SD [Borut PAHOR]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT (observer), Australia Group, BIS, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, EIB,
EMU, EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA,
NAM (guest), NATO, NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE,
PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNTSO, UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WEU
(associate partner), WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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:
Cleveland, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas

B. ROBERTSON embassy: Presernova 31, 1000 Ljubljana mailing address:
American Embassy Ljubljana, US 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:
With a GDP per capita substantially greater than the other
transitioning economies of Central Europe, Slovenia is a model of
economic success and stability for its neighbors in the former
Yugoslavia. The country, which joined the EU in 2004 and joined the
eurozone on 1 January 2007, has excellent infrastructure, a
well-educated work force, and an excellent central location.
Privatization of the economy proceeded at an accelerated pace in
2002-05. Despite lackluster performance in Europe in 2001-05,
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. In March 2004, Slovenia became the first transition
country to graduate from borrower status to donor partner at the
World Bank. Despite its economic success, Slovenia faces growing
challenges. Much of the economy remains in state hands and foreign
direct investment (FDI) in Slovenia is one of the lowest in the EU
on a per capita basis. Taxes are relatively high, the labor market
is often seen as inflexible, and legacy industries are losing sales
to more competitive firms in China, India, and elsewhere. The
current center-right government, elected in October 2004, has
pledged to accelerate privatization of a number of large state
holdings and is interested in increasing FDI in Slovenia. In late
2005, the government's new Committee for Economic Reforms was
elevated to cabinet-level status. The Committee's program includes
plans for lowering the tax burden, privatizing state-controlled
firms, improving the flexibility of the labor market, and increasing
the government's efficiency.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$46.08 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$37.64 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.4% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

 $22,900 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.3% industry: 34.7% services: 62.9%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 914,000 (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 4.8% industry: 39.1% services: 56.1%

(2004)

Unemployment rate:
9.6% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

10%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 21.4% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

28.4 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.4% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

25% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $15.9 billion
expenditures: $16.35 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
29% of GDP (2006 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:

6% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
14.46 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 35.2% hydro: 27.3% nuclear:

36.8% other: 0.7% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
12.67 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
7.094 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
6.314 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
7.83 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
53,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

1.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-789.2 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$21.85 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals,
food

Exports - partners:
Germany 19.8%, Italy 12.7%, Croatia 9.3%, France 8.1%, Austria 8.1%
(2005)

Imports:
$23.59 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, chemicals,
fuels and lubricants, food

Imports - partners:
Germany 19.5%, Italy 18.6%, Austria 12%, France 7.1%, Croatia 4.2%
(2005)
Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
$8.761 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$27.63 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

ODA, $484 million (2004-06)

Currency (code):
euro (EUR)
note: on 1 January 2007, Slovenia's currency became the euro; both
the tolar and the euro were in circulation from 1 January until 15
January

Currency code:
SIT

Exchange rates:
tolars per US dollar - 190.465 (2006), 192.71 (2005), 192.38
(2004), 207.11 (2003), 240.25 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Slovenia

Telephones - main lines in use:

816,400 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.759 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: 100% digital (2000)
international: country code - 386
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 10, FM 230, shortwave 0 (2006)

Radios:
805,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

31 (2006)

Televisions:
710,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.si

Internet hosts:
61,735 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

11 (2000)

Internet users:
1.09 million (2005)

Transportation Slovenia

Airports: 14 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 2,526 km; oil 11 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 1,229 km
standard gauge: 1,229 km 1.435-m gauge (504 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 38,451 km
paved: 38,451 km (including 483 km of expressways) (2004)

Merchant marine:
registered in other countries: 26 (Antigua and Barbuda 6, Bahamas
1, Cyprus 4, Georgia 1, Liberia 2, Malta 3, Marshall Islands 3,
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 5, Singapore 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Koper

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
females age 17-49: 483,959 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 17-49: 405,593
females age 17-49: 397,167 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 12,816
females age 17-49: 12,178 (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;
Slovenia also protests Croatia's 2003 claim to an exclusive economic
zone in the Adriatic; 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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
this archipelago. 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: 0.62%
permanent crops: 2.04%
other: 97.34% (2005)

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:
552,438 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 41.3% (male 116,370/female 111,834)
15-64 years: 55.4% (male 154,793/female 151,308)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 8,696/female 9,437) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 18.9 years
male: 18.7 years
female: 19 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.61% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
30.01 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
3.92 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 20.63 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 23.54 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.91 years
male: 70.4 years
 female: 75.55 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.91 children born/woman (2006 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
local long form: none
local short form: Solomon Islands
former: British Solomon Islands

Government type:
parliamentary democracy

Capital:
name: Honiara
geographic coordinates: 9 26 S, 159 57 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 Manasseh SOGAVARE (since 4 May
2006); note - Prime Minister Snyder RINI, elected on 18 April 2006
and sworn in on 20 April 2006, resigned on 26 April prior to no
 confidence vote in parliament; SOGAVARE elected on 4 May
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 (eligible for a second term); 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 April 2006 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - National Party 6.9%,
SIPRA 6.3%, Democratic 4.9%, PAP 6.3%, LAFARI 2.8%, Liberal 5%,
SOCRED 4.3%, independents 60.3%; seats by party - National Party 4,
SIPRA 4, Democratic 3, PAP 3, LAFARI 2, Liberal 2, SOCRED 2,
independents 30

Judicial branch:
Court of Appeal

Political parties and leaders:

Association of Independent Members or AIM [Thomas CHAN]; Christian
Alliance Solomon Islands or CASI [Edward RONIA]; LAFARI Party [John
GARO]; National Party [Francis HILLY]; People's Alliance Party or
PAP [Sir Allan KEMAKEZA]; Social Credit Party or SOCRED [Manasseh
Damukana SOGAVARE]; Solomon First Party [David QUAN]; Solomon
Islands Democratic Party [Gabriel SURI]; Solomon Islands Labor Party
or SILP [Joses TUHANUKU]; Solomon Islands Liberal Party [Bartholomew
ULUFA'ALU]; Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement or SIPRA
[Job D. TAUSINGA]; United Party [Sir Peter KENILOREA]
note: in general, Solomon Islands politics is characterized by fluid
coalitions
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Isatabu Freedom Movement (IFM); Malaita Eagle Force (MEF); note -
these rival armed ethnic factions crippled the Solomon Islands in a
wave of violence from 1999 to 2003

International organization participation:

ACP, AsDB, C, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, MIGA, OPCW, PIF,
Sparteca, SPC, 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, NZ,
Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga arrived 24 July 2003; by 2006, the
Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) had been
scaled back to 259 police officers and 20 military, in addition to
civilian technical advisers; in response to rioting that broke out
in mid-April 2006, Australia dispatched an addtional 220 troops and
70 police officers to help restore order

Economy Solomon Islands

Economy - overview:
The bulk of the population depends on agriculture, fishing, and
forestry for at least part of its 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's efforts to restore law and order and economic
stability have led to modest growth as the economy rebuilds.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$800 million (2002 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$286 million (2005)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.4% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$600 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 42% industry: 11% services: 47%

(2000 est.)

Labor force: 249,200 (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):
6.6% (2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $49.7 million
expenditures: $75.1 million; including capital expenditures of NA
(2003)

Agriculture - products:
cocoa beans, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, potatoes, vegetables,
fruit; timber; cattle, pigs; fish

Industries:
fish (tuna), mining, timber

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:
55 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
51.15 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
1,280 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
 NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$171 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
timber, fish, copra, palm oil, cocoa

Exports - partners:
China 41.6%, South Korea 13.5%, Thailand 7%, Japan 6.4%,
Philippines 4.6%, Italy 4.2% (2005)

Imports:
$159 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
food, plant and equipment, manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners:
Australia 26.2%, Singapore 25.7%, NZ 4.7%, Fiji 4.2%, Papua New
Guinea 4.1% (2005)

Debt - external:
$166 million (2004)

Economic aid - recipient:

$122 million annually, mainly from Australia (2004 est.)

Currency (code):
Solomon Islands dollar (SBD)
Currency code:
SBD

Exchange rates:
Solomon Islands dollars per US dollar - 7.5299 (2005), 7.4847
(2004), 7.5059 (2003), 6.7488 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Solomon Islands

Telephones - main lines in use:

7,400 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

6,000 (2005)

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:
2,658 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)

Internet users:
8,400 (2005)

Transportation Solomon Islands

Airports:
35 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 33 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 9

under 914 m: 23 (2006)

Roadways: total: 1,360 km paved: 34 km unpaved: 1,326 km (1999)

Ports and terminals:

Honiara, Malloco Bay, Shortland Harbor, Viru Harbor, Yandina

Military Solomon Islands

Military branches:
no regular military forces; Royal Solomon Islands Police (RSIP)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 114,253 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 92,796 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 6,033 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

 NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Transnational Issues Solomon Islands

Disputes - international:
since 2003, Australian Defense Force leads the Regional Assistance
Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) to maintain civil and
political order and reinforce regional security

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Somalia

Introduction Somalia

Background: Britain withdrew from British Somaliland in 1960 in order to allow

its protectorate to join with Italian Somaliland and form the new nation of
Somalia. In 1969, a coup headed by Mohamed SIAD Barre ushered in an
authoritarian socialist rule that managed to impose a degree of stability in the
country for a couple of decades. After the regime's overthrow early in 1991,
Somalia descended into turmoil, factional fighting, and anarchy. 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, 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 toward 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. A two-year peace process, led by the Government of Kenya
under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD),
concluded in October 2004 with the election of Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed as
President of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and the formation
of a transitional government, known as the Somalia Transitional Federal
Institutions (TFIs). The Somalia TFIs include a 275-member parliamentary body,
known as the Transitional Federal Assembly (TFA), a transitional Prime
Minister, Ali Mohamed GEDI, and a 90-member cabinet. The Transitional
Federal Government (TFG) has been deeply divided since just after its creation
and until late December 2006 controlled only the town of Baidoa. In June 2006,
a loose coalition of clerics, business leaders, and Islamic court militias ? known
as the Supreme Council of Islamic Courts (SCIC) ? defeated powerful
Mogadishu warlords and took control of the capital. The Courts continued to
expand, spreading their influence throughout much of southern Somalia and
threatening to overthrow the TFG in Baidoa. Ethiopian and TFG forces ?
concerned over suspected links between some SCIC factions and al-Qa?ida ? in
late December 2006 drove the SCIC from power, but the joint forces continue to
fight remnants of SCIC militia in the southwestern corner of Somalia near the
Kenyan border. The TFG, backed by Ethiopian forces, in late December 2006
moved into Mogadishu, but continues to struggle to exert control over the capital
and to prevent the reemergence of warlord rule that typified Mogadishu before
the rise of the SCIC.

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; northeast monsoon (December to February),
moderate temperatures in north and very hot in south; southwest
monsoon (May to October), 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: 1.64% permanent crops: 0.04% other: 98.32% (2005)

Irrigated land:
2,000 sq km (2003)

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: Biodiversity, 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:
8,863,338
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 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 44.4% (male 1,973,294/female 1,961,083)
15-64 years: 53% (male 2,355,861/female 2,342,988)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 97,307/female 132,805) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 17.6 years
 male: 17.5 years
female: 17.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.85% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
45.13 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
16.63 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 114.89 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 124.18 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 105.32 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 48.47 years
male: 46.71 years
female: 50.28 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.76 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

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
local long form: Jamhuuriyada Demuqraadiga Soomaaliyeed
local short form: Soomaaliya
former: Somali Republic; Somali Democratic Republic
Government type:
no permanent national government; transitional, parliamentary
federal government

Capital:
name: Mogadishu
geographic coordinates: 2 04 N, 45 22 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 (Islamic) and secular courts based on
Somali customary law (xeer) are present in some localities; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
 chief of state: Transitional Federal President Abdullahi YUSUF
Ahmed (since 14 October 2004); note - a transitional governing
entity with a five-year mandate, known as the Transitional Federal
Institutions (TFIs), was established in October 2004; the TFI
relocated to Somalia in June 2004, but its members remain divided
over clan and regional interests and the government continues to
struggle to establish effective governance in the country
head of government: Prime Minister Ali Mohamed GEDI (since 24
December 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by the
Transitional Federal Assembly
election results: Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed, the former leader of the
semi-autonomous 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 Somali customary law, or Shari'a (Islamic) law with a
provision for appeal of all sentences

Political parties and leaders:

none

Political pressure groups and leaders:

numerous clan and sub-clan factions are currently vying for power;
Supreme Council of Islamic Courts (SCIC)

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), IPU, 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 TFG 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, 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 regional
and local governing bodies continue to exist and control various
cities and regions of the country, including the self-declared
Republic of Somaliland in northwestern Somalia, the semi-autonomous
State of Puntland in northeastern Somalia, 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 ban on Somali livestock, due to
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. The SCIC has
opened Mogadishu's main port and airport - closed for 15 years - and
now controls most of the ports and airfields in southern Somalia.
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. Somalia's arrears to the IMF
continued to grow in 2006. Statistics on Somalia's GDP, growth, per
capita income, and inflation should be viewed skeptically. In late
December 2004, a major tsunami caused an estimated 150 deaths and
resulted in destruction of property in coastal areas.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$5.023 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$2.483 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.6% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$600 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 65% industry: 10% services: 25%

(2000 est.)
Labor force: 3.7 million (very few skilled laborers)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 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):

NA%; note - businesses print their own money, so inflation rates
cannot be easily determined

Budget:
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA

Agriculture - products:
bananas, sorghum, corn, coconuts, rice, sugarcane, mangoes, sesame
seeds, beans; cattle, sheep, goats; fish

Industries:
a few light industries, including sugar refining, textiles,
wireless communication

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:
269 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
250.2 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
5,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

5.663 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Exports:
$241 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
livestock, bananas, hides, fish, charcoal, scrap metal

Exports - partners:
 UAE 48.5%, Yemen 20.9%, Oman 5.8% (2005)

Imports:
$576 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
manufactures, petroleum products, foodstuffs, construction
materials, qat

Imports - partners:
Djibouti 29.7%, Kenya 14.4%, India 7.9%, Brazil 7.4%, Oman 5.2%,
UAE 4.9%, Yemen 4.8% (2005)

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 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
500,000 (2005)

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:
3 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (one each in Boosaaso, Hargeisa, and Mogadishu) (2000)

Internet users:
90,000 (2005)

Transportation Somalia
Airports: 65 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 7 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2

1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 58 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3

1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 29 under 914 m: 6 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 22,100 km
paved: 2,608 km
unpaved: 19,492 km (1999)

Merchant marine:
total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 2,659 GRT/2,540 DWT
by type: cargo 1
foreign-owned: 1 (UAE 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Boosaaso, Berbera, Kismaayo, Merca, Mogadishu

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
females age 18-49: 1,714,792 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,022,360
females age 18-49: 1,038,697 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$22.34 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.9% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Somalia

Disputes - international:
Ethiopian forces invade southern Somalia and rout Islamist courts
from Moghadishu in January 2007; "Somaliland" secessionists provide
port facilities in Berbera to landlocked Ethiopia and have
established commercial ties with other regional states; "Puntland"
and "Somaliland" "governments" seek international support in their
secessionist aspirations and overlapping border claims; the
undemarcated former British administrative line has little meaning
as a political separation to rival clans within Ethiopia's Ogaden
and southern Somalia's Oromo region; Kenya works hard to prevent the
clan and militia fighting in Somalia from spreading south across the
border, which has long been open to nomadic pastoralists

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 400,000 (civil war since 1988, clan-based competition for
resources) (2006)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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: 12.1%
permanent crops: 0.79%
other: 87.11% (2005)

Irrigated land:
14,980 sq km (2003)

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:
44,187,637
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
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 29.7% (male 6,603,220/female 6,525,810)
15-64 years: 65% (male 13,955,950/female 14,766,843)
65 years and over: 5.3% (male 905,870/female 1,429,944) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 24.1 years
male: 23.3 years
female: 25 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.4% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
18.2 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
22 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.16 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa
and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 60.66 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 64.31 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 56.92 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 42.73 years
male: 43.25 years
female: 42.19 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.2 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Pretoria (administrative capital)
geographic coordinates: 29 12 S, 28 10 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Cape Town (legislative capital); Johannesburg(judicial capital)
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

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 (eligible for a second 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)

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 [Anthony LEON, president];
Freedom Front Plus or FF+ [Pieter MULDER, president]; Inkatha
Freedom Party or IFP [Mangosuthu BUTHELEZI, president];
Pan-Africanist Congress or PAC [Motsoko PHEKO, 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, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, NSG, ONUB,
OPCW,
PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR,
UNMEE,
UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Eric BOST
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):

$576.4 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$200.5 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$13,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.6% industry: 30.3% services: 67.1%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 16.09 million economically active (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 30% industry: 25% services: 45%

(1999 est.)

Unemployment rate:
25.5% (2006 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 (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

17.1% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $72.15 billion
expenditures: $75.93 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
32.9% of GDP (2006 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, textiles, iron and
steel, chemicals, fertilizer, foodstuffs, commercial ship repair

Industrial production growth rate:

7.1% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
227.2 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 93.5% hydro: 1.1% nuclear: 5.5%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
207 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
12.4 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
8.026 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
229,900 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
 502,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
398,000 bbl/day (2006)

Oil - proved reserves:

7.84 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

2.23 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

2.23 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

28.32 million cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-12.69 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$59.15 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
gold, diamonds, platinum, other metals and minerals, machinery and
equipment

Exports - partners:
Japan 9.9%, UK 9.7%, US 9.5%, Germany 6.5%, Netherlands 4.6% (2005)

Imports:
 $61.53 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, petroleum products, scientific
instruments, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
Germany 14.2%, China 9.1%, US 7.9%, Japan 6.8%, Canada 6.3%, UK
5.6%, France 4.5%, Iran 4.2% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$23.74 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$55.47 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$487.5 million (2000)

Currency (code):
rand (ZAR)

Currency code:
ZAR

Exchange rates:
rand per US dollar - 6.85 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597 (2004),
7.5648 (2003), 10.5407 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications South Africa

Telephones - main lines in use:

4.729 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

33.96 million (2005)
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:
645,179 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

150 (2001)

Internet users:
5.1 million (2005)

Transportation South Africa

Airports: 731 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 146 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: 13 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 585 1,524 to 2,437 m: 34 914 to 1,523
m: 302 under 914 m: 249 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate 100 km; gas 1,062 km; oil 966 km; refined products 1,354
km (2006)

Railways:
total: 20,872 km
narrow gauge: 20,436 km 1.065-m gauge (8,868 km electrified); 436 km
0.610-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 362,099 km
paved: 73,506 km (including 239 km of expressways)
unpaved: 288,593 km (2002)

Merchant marine:
total: 3 ships (1000 GRT or over) 32,815 GRT/39,295 DWT
by type: container 1, petroleum tanker 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Denmark 1)
registered in other countries: 8 (Panama 3, UK 5) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Cape Town, Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay,
Saldanha Bay

Military South Africa

Military branches:
South African National Defense Force (SANDF): South African Army,
South African Navy (SAN), South African Air Force (SAAF), Joint
Operations Command, Joint Support Command, Military Intelligence,
Military Health Service (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

 18 years of age for voluntary military service; women have a long
history of military service in noncombat roles, dating back to World
War I (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 10,354,769
females age 18-49: 10,626,550 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 4,927,757
females age 18-49: 4,609,071 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 512,407
females age 18-49: 506,078 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$3.55 billion (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.5% (2005 est.)

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 apprehend the
thousands of Zimbabweans fleeing economic dysfunction and political
persecution; as of January 2007, South Africa also supports large
numbers of refugees and asylum seekers from the Democratic Republic
of the Congo (33,000), Somalia (20,000), Burundi (6,500) and other
states in Africa (26,000); managed dispute with Namibia over the
location of the boundary in the Orange River
Refugees and internally displaced persons:
refugees (country of origin): 10,609 (Democratic Republic of
Congo), 7,548 (Somalia), 5,764 (Angola) (2006)

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: South Africa is a source, transit, and
destination country for men, women, and children trafficked for
forced labor and sexual exploitation; women and girls are trafficked
internally - and occasionally to European and Asian countries - for
sexual exploitation; women from other African countries are
trafficked to South Africa and, less frequently, onward to Europe
for sexual exploitation; men and boys are trafficked from
neighboring countries for forced agricultural labor; Asian and
Eastern European women are trafficked to South Africa for
debt-bonded sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - South Africa is placed on the Tier
2 Watch List for its failure to show increasing efforts to address
trafficking in 2005

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Southern Ocean
Background:
A large body of recent oceanographic research has shown that the
Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), an ocean current that flows
from west to east around Antarctica, plays a crucial role in global
ocean circulation. The region where the cold waters of the ACC meet
and mingle with the warmer waters of the north defines a distinct
border - the Antarctic Convergence - which fluctuates with the
seasons, but which encompasses a discrete body of water and a unique
ecologic region. The Convergence concentrates nutrients, which
promotes marine plant life, and which in turn allows for a greater
abundance of animal life. In the spring of 2000, the International
Hydrographic Organization decided to delimit the waters within the
Convergence as a fifth world ocean - the Southern Ocean - by
combining 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 and which approximates the extent of the
Antarctic Convergence. As such, 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).
It should be noted that inclusion of the Southern Ocean does not
imply recognition of this feature as one of the world's primary
oceans by the US Government.

Geography Southern Ocean

Location:
body of water between 60 degrees south latitude and Antarctica

Geographic coordinates:
60 00 S, 90 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 2003-04 landed 136,262 metric tons, of which 87%
(118,166 tons) was krill and 8% (11,182 tons) Patagonian toothfish,
compared to 142,555 tons in 2002-03 of which 83% (117,728 tons) was
krill and 12% (16,479 tons) Patagonian toothfish (estimated fishing
from the area covered by the Convention of the Conservation of
Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), which extends slightly
beyond the Southern Ocean area). 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 2004-05
Antarctic summer 28,202 tourists, most of them seaborne
(approximately 97%), visited the Southern Ocean and Antarctica,
compared to 14,762 in 1999-2000.

Transportation Southern Ocean

Ports and terminals:
McMurdo, Palmer, and offshore anchorages in Antarctica
note: few ports or harbors exist on southern side of Southern Ocean;
ice conditions limit use of most 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); The
Hydrographic Committee on Antarctica (HCA), a special hydrographic
commission of International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), is
responsible for hydrographic surveying and nautical charting matters
in Antarctic Treaty area; it coordinates and facilitates provision
of accurate and appropriate charts and other aids to navigation in
support of safety of navigation in region; membership of HCA is open
to any IHO Member State whose government has acceded to the
Antarctic Treaty and which contributes resources and/or data to IHO
Chart coverage of the area; members of HCA are Argentina, Australia,
Chile, China, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, NZ, Norway,
Russia, South Africa, Spain, and the UK (2005)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@South Georgia and the South Sandwich

Introduction South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Background:
The islands, which have large bird and seal populations, 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. 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 eleven 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) (2005)

Irrigated land:
0 sq km

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 2006
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
abbreviation: SGSSI

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

Internet hosts:
271 (2006)

Transportation South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

Ports and terminals:

Grytviken

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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). A peaceful
transition to democracy following the death of dictator Francisco
FRANCO in 1975, and rapid economic modernization (Spain joined the
EU in 1986), have given Spain one of the most dynamic economies in
Europe and made it a global champion of freedom. Continuing
challenges include Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) terrorism and
relatively high 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 2 autonomous cities - Ceuta and Melilla - and 17
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: 27.18%
permanent crops: 9.85%
other: 62.97% (2005)

Irrigated land:
37,800 sq km (2003)

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:
40,397,842 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.4% (male 3,000,686/female 2,821,325)
15-64 years: 67.8% (male 13,751,963/female 13,653,426)
65 years and over: 17.7% (male 2,993,496/female 4,176,946) (2006
est.)

Median age: total: 39.9 years male: 38.6 years female: 41.3 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.13% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
10.06 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
9.72 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.99 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.37 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.76 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.65 years
male: 76.32 years
female: 83.2 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.28 children born/woman (2006 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 long form: Reino de Espana
 local short form: Espana

Government type:
parliamentary monarchy

Capital:
name: Madrid
geographic coordinates: 40 24 N, 3 41 W
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
note: Spain is divided into two time zones, including the Canary
Islands

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 along 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 Muslim occupation that began in the early 8th
century AD 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; accepts compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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 (Prime Minister
equivalent) 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
37.98%, Entesa Catalona de Progress 5.7%, CiU 1.99%, PNV 2.8%, CC
2.4%; 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
5, CC 3, other 5

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court or Tribunal Supremo

Political parties and leaders:

Aragonese Party or CHA [Bizen FUSTER]; Basque Nationalist Party or
PNV [Josu Jon IMAZ]; Basque Solidarity or EA [Begona ERRAZTI];
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 i LLEIDA]); Entesa Catalonia de Progress (a Senate
coalition grouping four Catalan parties - PSC, ERC, ICV, EUA);
Galician Nationalist Bloc or BNG [Anxo Manuel QUINTANA Gonzalez];
Initiative for Catalonia Greens or ICV [Joan SAURA i Laporta];
Navarra yes or Na Bai (a coalition of four Navarran parties) [Uxue
BARKOS Berruezo]; Popular Party or PP [Mariano RAJOY Brey];
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 Trigo]

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.

International organization participation:

AfDB, AsDB, Australia Group, BCIE, BIS, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB,
EMU, ESA, EU, FAO, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA,
IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NATO,
NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, SECI
(observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNMEE,
UNRWA,
UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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, San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Eduardo AGUIRRE, Jr.
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 5% 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 8.7%. Growth averaging 3% annually during
2003-06 was satisfactory given the background of a faltering
European economy. The Socialist president, RODRIGUEZ ZAPATERO, has
made mixed progress in carrying out key structural reforms, which
need to be accelerated and deepened to sustain Spain's strong
economic growth. Despite the economy's relative solid footing
significant downside risks remain, including Spain's continued loss
of competitiveness, the potential for a housing market collapse, the
country's changing demographic profile and a decline in EU
structural funds.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$1.07 trillion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.081 trillion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.6% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$27,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.9% industry: 29.4% services: 66.7%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 21.77 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 5.3% industry: 30.1% services: 64.6%
(2004 est.)

Unemployment rate:
8.7% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

19.8%

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):

3.5% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

29.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $488.2 billion
expenditures: $475.3 billion; including capital expenditures of
$12.8 billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
39.9% of GDP (2006 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:
0.6% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
263.3 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 50.4% hydro: 18.2% nuclear:

27.2% other: 4.1% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
241.8 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
11.4 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
8.3 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
31,250 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
1.573 million bbl/day (2004 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:

339 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

27.01 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

 0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

26.95 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

2.549 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-98.6 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$222.1 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
machinery, motor vehicles; foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals, medicines,
other consumer goods

Exports - partners:
France 19.3%, Germany 11.4%, Portugal 9.6%, UK 8.4%, Italy 8.4%, US
4.1% (2005)

Imports:
$324.4 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, fuels, chemicals, semifinished goods,
foodstuffs, consumer goods, measuring and medical control instruments

Imports - partners:
Germany 15.3%, France 14.7%, Italy 8.6%, UK 5.8%, Netherlands 5%,
China 4.2% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$17 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$1.591 trillion (30 June 2006 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 - 0.79669 (2006), 0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004),
0.886 (2003), 1.0626 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Spain

Telephones - main lines in use:

18.322 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

41.328 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: generally adequate, modern facilities;
teledensity is 45 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:
2,520,711 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

56 (2000)

Internet users:
19,204,771 (2006)

Transportation Spain

Airports: 157 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 96 over 3,047 m: 16 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10

1,524 to 2,437 m: 20 914 to 1,523 m: 24 under 914 m: 26 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 61 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m:

15 under 914 m: 44 (2006)

Heliports:
8 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 7,962 km; oil 622 km; refined products 3,447 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 14,873 km
 broad gauge: 11,919 km 1.668-m gauge (6,950 km electrified)
standard gauge: 998 km 1.435-m gauge (998 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,928 km 1.000-m gauge (815 km electrified); 28 km
0.914-m gauge (28 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 666,292 km
paved: 659,629 km (including 12,009 km of expressways)
unpaved: 6,663 km (2003)

Waterways:
1,000 km (2003)

Merchant marine:
total: 169 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,902,839 GRT/1,874,161 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 9, cargo 13, chemical tanker 14, container 27,
liquefied gas 9, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 49, petroleum tanker
15, refrigerated cargo 5, roll on/roll off 20, specialized tanker 2,
vehicle carrier 5
foreign-owned: 36 (Cuba 1, Denmark 1, Germany 12, Italy 2, Mexico 3,
Norway 7, UK 1, Uruguay 2, US 7)
registered in other countries: 112 (Bahamas 12, Belize 3, Brazil 4,
Cambodia 1, Cape Verde 1, Cuba 1, Cyprus 7, Italy 1, Malta 6,
Marshall Islands 3, Nigeria 1, Panama 53, Portugal 15, Saint Kitts
and Nevis 2, UK 1, Venezuela 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Algeciras, Barcelona, Cartagena, Gijon, Huelva, La Coruna,
Tarragona, Valencia

Military Spain

Military branches:
Spanish Armed Forces: Army (Ejercito de Tierra), Spanish Navy
(Armada Espanola, AE; includes Marine Corps), Spanish Air Force
(Ejercito del Aire Espanola, EdA) (2006)

Military service age and obligation:

20 years of age (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 20-49: 9,366,588
females age 20-49: 9,155,057 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 20-49: 7,623,356
females age 20-49: 7,434,465 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 233,384
females age 20-49: 221,805 (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; Portugal does not recognize Spanish
sovereignty over the territory of Olivenza based on a difference of
interpretation of the 1815 Congress of Vienna and the 1801 Treaty of
Badajoz

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 Colombian narcotics trafficking
 organizations and organized crime

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
0 sq km
Natural hazards:
typhoons; numerous reefs and shoals pose a serious maritime hazard

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

Airports: 3 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Ports and terminals:

none; offshore anchorage only

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 Spratly Islands

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@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 the ethnic conflict that
continues to fester. After two decades of fighting, the government
and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) formalized a cease-fire
in February 2002, with Norway brokering peace negotiations. Violence
between the LTTE and government forces intensified in 2006, but
neither side has formally withdrawn from the cease-fire.

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: 13.96%
permanent crops: 15.24%
other: 70.8% (2005)

Irrigated land:
7,430 sq km (2003)
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:
20,222,240
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 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 24.1% (male 2,488,689/female 2,379,233)
15-64 years: 68.6% (male 6,727,399/female 7,140,751)
65 years and over: 7.3% (male 687,842/female 798,326) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 29.8 years
male: 28.7 years
female: 30.9 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.78% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
15.51 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
6.52 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.23 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 13.97 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 15.18 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.41 years
male: 70.83 years
female: 76.12 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.84 children born/woman (2006 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
local long form: Shri Lamka Prajatantrika Samajaya di
Janarajaya/Ilankai Jananayaka Choshalichak Kutiyarachu
local short form: Shri Lamka/Ilankai
former: Serendib, Ceylon

Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Colombo
geographic coordinates: 6 56 N, 79 51 E
time difference: UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital)

Administrative divisions:
8 provinces; Central, North Central, North Eastern, North Western,
Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western
 note: in 1998 the Government of Sri Lanka proposed a merger of the
former Northern and Eastern provinces; while this merger was never
ratified, the Government treats North Eastern Province as a de facto
singular administrative unit

Independence:
4 February 1948 (from UK)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 4 February (1948)

Constitution:
adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978

Legal system:
a highly complex mixture of English common law, Roman-Dutch,
Muslim, Sinhalese, and customary law; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Mahinda RAJAPAKSE (since 19 November
2005); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government; Ratnasiri WICKREMANAYAKE (since 21 November 2005)
holds
the ceremonial title of prime minister
head of government: President Mahinda RAJAPAKSE (since 19 November
2005)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the
prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 17 November 2005
(next to be held 2011)
election results: Mahinda RAJAPAKSE elected president; percent of
vote - Mahinda RAJAPAKSE 50.3%, Ranil WICKREMESINGHE 48.4%,
other
1.3%
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 (no longer in formal UPFA alliance) 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 - UNP 68, SLFP 57, JVP 39, UNP dissident 1,
TNA 22, CWC 8, JHU 7, JHU dissidents 2, SLMC 6, SLMC dissidents 4,
Communist Party 2, LSSP 2, MEP 2, NUA 2, UPF 2, 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
[Somawansa AMARASINGHE]; Lanka Sama Samaja Party or LSSP;
Mahajana
Eksath Peramuna (People's United Front) or MEP [D. GUNAWARDENE];
National Heritage Party or JHU [Tilak KARUNARATNE]; National Unity
Alliance or NUA [Ferial ASHRAFF]; People's Liberation Organization
of Tamil Eelam or PLOTE [D. SIDHARTHAN]; Sihala Urumaya or SU; 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, BIMSTEC, C, CP, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH, MONUC, NAM,
OAS
(observer), OPCW, PCA, SAARC, SACEP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO,
UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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 Robert O. BLAKE, Jr.
embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3
mailing address: P. O. Box 106, Colombo
telephone: [94] (11) 249-8500
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 more market-oriented policies,
 export-oriented trade, and encouragement of foreign investment.
Recent changes in government have brought some policy reversals,
however. Currently, the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party has a more
statist economic approach which seeks to reduce poverty by steering
investment to disadvantaged areas, developing small and medium
enterprises, promoting agriculture, and expanding the already
enormous civil service. The government has halted most
privatizations. Although suffering a brutal civil war that began in
1983, Sri Lanka saw GDP growth average 4.5% in the last ten years,
with a brief interruption during the global downturn in 2001. 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. Growth, partly spurred by
reconstruction, reached 5% in 2005 and more than 6% in 2006. Sri
Lanka's most dynamic sectors now are food processing, textiles and
apparel, food and beverages, port contstruction, telecommunications,
and insurance and banking. In 2005, plantation crops made up only
about 15% of exports (compared with more than 90% in 1970), while
textiles and garments accounted for more than 60%. 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.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$93.33 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$23.52 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.3% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$4,600 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 17.3% industry: 27.3% services:

55.3% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 8.214 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 38% industry: 17% services: 45%

(1998 est.)

Unemployment rate:
7.6% (2006 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):

12.1% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

28.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $4.762 billion
expenditures: $7.095 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
90.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, tea, rubber,
coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, beef; fish

Industries:
processing of rubber, tea, coconuts, tobacco and other agricultural
commodities; telecommunications, insurance, banking; clothing,
textiles; cement, petroleum refining
Industrial production growth rate:
7.1% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
7.714 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 51.7% hydro: 48.3% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
7.174 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
80,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-1.118 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
 $7.076 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
textiles and apparel, tea and spices; diamonds, emeralds, rubies;
coconut products, rubber manufactures, fish

Exports - partners:
US 31.1%, UK 12.2%, India 8.9%, Germany 4.3% (2005)

Imports:
$9.655 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
textile fabrics, mineral products, petroleum, foodstuffs, machinery
and transportation equipment

Imports - partners:
India 20.7%, Singapore 8.3%, Hong Kong 7.3%, China 7.1%, Iran 5.9%,
Malaysia 4.4%, Japan 4.3% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.81 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$12.23 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$577 million (1998)

Currency (code):
Sri Lankan rupee (LKR)

Currency code:
LKR

Exchange rates:
Sri Lankan rupees per US dollar - 102.987 (2006), 100.498 (2005),
101.194 (2004), 96.521 (2003), 95.662 (2002)

Fiscal year:
 calendar year

Communications Sri Lanka

Telephones - main lines in use:

1,509,913 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

4,284,256 (2006)

Telephone system:
general assessment: telephone services have improved significantly
and are available in most parts of the country.
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 and mobile cellular
subscribership is increasing; telephone density remains low (2006)
international: country code - 94; submarine cables to Indonesia,
Djibouti, India and Maldives; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat
(Indian Ocean)

Radio broadcast stations:

AM, FM, Shortwave combined 34 (2006)

Radios:
3.85 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

14 (2006)

Televisions:
1.53 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.lk

Internet hosts:
6,526 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
5 (2000)

Internet users:
280,000 (2005)

Transportation Sri Lanka

Airports: 16 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 14 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914
to 1,523 m: 7 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Railways:
total: 1,449 km
broad gauge: 1,449 km 1.676-m gauge (2005)

Roadways: total: 97,287 km paved: 78,802 km unpaved: 18,485 km (2003)

Waterways:
160 km (primarily on rivers in southwest) (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 22 ships (1000 GRT or over) 144,066 GRT/196,418 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 17, container 2, petroleum tanker 2
foreign-owned: 7 (Germany 5, UAE 2)
registered in other countries: 5 (Panama 5) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Colombo, Galle

Military Sri Lanka

Military branches:
 Sri Lankan Army, Sri Lankan Navy, Sri Lankan Air Force (2006)

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
females age 18-49: 5,153,597 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 3,789,627
females age 18-49: 4,281,043 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 174,049
females age 18-49: 167,201 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$606.2 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.6% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Sri Lanka

Disputes - international:
none

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

IDPs: 500,000-600,000 (both Tamils and non-Tamils displaced due to
long-term Tamil conflict renewed in 2006) (2006)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@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 largely
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 4 million people displaced and,
according to rebel estimates, more than 2 million deaths 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 has resulted in at least 200,000 deaths and nearly 2 million
displaced; as of late 2005, peacekeeping troops were struggling to
stabilize the situation. Sudan also has faced large refugee influxes
from neighboring countries, primarily Ethiopia and Chad, and armed
conflict, poor transport infrastructure, and lack of government
support have chronically obstructed the provision of humanitarian
assistance to affected populations.

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: 6.78% permanent crops: 0.17% other: 93.05% (2005)
Irrigated land:
18,630 sq km (2003)

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,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands 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:
41,236,378 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.7% (male 8,993,483/female 8,614,022)
15-64 years: 54.9% (male 11,327,679/female 11,297,798)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 536,754/female 466,642) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 18.3 years
male: 18.1 years
female: 18.5 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.55% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
34.53 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
8.97 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.02 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 1.15 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 61.05 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 61.88 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 60.18 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 58.92 years
male: 57.69 years
female: 60.21 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.72 children born/woman (2006 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 note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian
influenza has been identified among birds in this country or surrounding region;
it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens
who have close contact with birds (2007)

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:
Government of National Unity (GNU) - the National Congress Party
(NCP) and Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) formed a
power-sharing government under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace
 Agreement (CPA); the NCP, which came to power by military coup in
1989, is the majority partner; the agreement stipulates national
elections for the 2008 - 2009 timeframe.

Capital:
name: Khartoum
geographic coordinates: 15 36 N, 32 32 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
25 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), 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; under the CPA,
Interim National Constitution ratified 5 July 2005; Constitution of
Southern Sudan signed December 2005

Legal system:
 based on English common law and Shari'a law; as of 20 January 1991,
the now defunct Revolutionary Command Council imposed Shari'a law in
the northern states; Shari'a law applies to all residents of the
northern states regardless of their religion; some separate
religious courts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations; the southern legal system is still developing under
the CPA following the civil war; Shari'a law will not apply to the
southern states

Suffrage:
17 years of age; universal, but noncompulsory

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16
October 1993); First Vice President Salva KIIR (since 4 August
2005), 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 Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16
October 1993); First Vice President Salva KIIR (since 4 August
2005), 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: election last held 13-23 December 2000; next to be held
no later than July 2009 under terms of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace
Agreement
election results: 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:
bi-cameral body comprising the National Assembly and Council of
States (replaced unicameral National Assembly of 360 seats); pending
elections and National Election Law, the Presidency appointed 450
members to the National Assembly according to the provisions of the
2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement: 52% NCP; 28% SPLM; 14% other
Northerners; 6% other Southerners; 2 representatives from every
state constitute the Council of States; terms in each chamber are
five years following the first elections
elections: last held 13-22 December 2000 (next to be held 2008-2009
timeframe)
election results: NCP 355, others 5; note - replaced by appointments
under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement

Judicial branch:
Constitutional Court of nine justices; National Supreme Court;
National Courts of Appeal; other national courts; National Judicial
Service Commission will undertake overall management of the National
Judiciary

Political parties and leaders:

political parties in the Government of National Unity include:
National Congress Party or NCP [Ibrahim Ahmed OMAR]; Sudan People's
Liberation Movement or SPLM [Salva Mayardit KIIR]; and elements of
the National Democratic Alliance or NDA including factions of the
Democratic Union Party [Muhammad Uthman al-MIRGHANI] and Umma
Party
[SADIQ Siddiq al-Mahdi]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Umma Party [Sadiq al-MAHDI]; Popular Congress Party or PCP [Hassan
al-TURABI]

International organization participation:

ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AFESD, AMF, AU, CAEU, COMESA, FAO, G-77,
IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IGAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA,
NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNWTO, UPU,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires, Ad
Interim Khidir HAROUN (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 Cameron
HUME
embassy: Sharia Ali Abdul Latif Avenue, Khartoum
mailing address: P. O. Box 699, Khartoum; APO AE 09829
telephone: [249] (183) 774701
FAX: [249] (183) 774137
note: US Consul in Cairo is providing backup service for Khartoum;
consular services are being established in Juba (southern Sudan)

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 10% in 2006.
Agricultural production remains Sudan's most important sector,
employing 80% of the work force, contributing 35% of GDP, and
 accounting for most of GDP growth, but most farms remain rain-fed
and susceptible to drought. Chronic instability - resulting from 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):

$96.01 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$25.5 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

9.6% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,300 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 35.5% industry: 24.8% services:

39.7% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 7.415 million (1996 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 80% industry: 7% services: 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% (2006 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
25.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $7.943 billion
expenditures: $10.1 billion; including capital expenditures of $304
million (2006 est.)

Public debt:
59.6% of GDP (2006 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:
3.845 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 52.1% hydro: 47.9% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
3.576 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
 344,700 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
66,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
275,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves:

1.6 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

84.95 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-4.51 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$7.505 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
oil and petroleum products; cotton, sesame, livestock, groundnuts,
gum arabic, sugar

Exports - partners:
China 71.1%, Japan 12%, Saudi Arabia 2.8% (2005)

Imports:
$8.693 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
 foodstuffs, manufactured goods, refinery and transport equipment,
medicines and chemicals, textiles, wheat

Imports - partners:
China 20.7%, Saudi Arabia 9.4%, UAE 5.9%, Egypt 5.5%, Japan 5.1%,
India 4.8% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$3.552 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$29.69 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$172 million (2001)

Currency (code):
Sudanese dinar (SDD)

Currency code:
SDD

Exchange rates:
Sudanese dinars per US dollar - 217.402 (2006), 243.61 (2005),
257.91 (2004), 260.98 (2003), 263.31 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Sudan

Telephones - main lines in use:

670,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.828 million (2005)

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:
16 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2002)

Internet users:
2.8 million (2005)

Transportation Sudan

Airports: 88 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 15 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9

1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 73 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 37 under 914 m: 17 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 156 km; oil 3,930 km; refined products 1,613 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 5,978 km
narrow gauge: 4,578 km 1.067-m gauge; 1,400 km 0.600-m gauge for
cotton plantations (2005)

Roadways:
total: 11,900 km
paved: 4,320 km
unpaved: 7,580 km (1999)

Waterways:
4,068 km (1,723 km open year round on White and Blue Nile rivers)
(2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1000 GRT or over) 11,326 GRT/14,068 DWT
by type: cargo 1, livestock carrier 1
registered in other countries: 2 (Panama 1, Saudi Arabia 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Port Sudan

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 - three years (August 2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 8,291,695
females age 18-49: 8,135,683 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 5,427,474
females age 18-49: 5,649,566 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 442,915
females age 18-49: 426,320 (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 the
neighboring states; as of 2006, Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Central
African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda
provided shelter for over half a million Sudanese refugees, which
includes 240,000 Darfur residents driven from their homes by
Janjawid armed militia and the Sudanese military forces; Sudan, in
turn, hosted 20,000 Chadians, 122,000 Eritreans, 14,810 Ethiopians,
7,900 Ugandans and 5,000 Congolese as refugees; in February 2006,
Sudan and DROC signed an agreement to repatriate 13,300 Sudanese and
6,800 Congolese; Sudan accuses Eritrea of supporting Sudanese rebel
groups; efforts to demarcate the porous boundary with Ethiopia
proceed slowly due to civil and ethnic fighting in eastern Sudan;
the boundary that separates Kenya and Sudan's sovereignty is unclear
in the "Ilemi Triangle," which Kenya has administered since colonial
times; while Sudan claims to administer the Hala'ib Triangle north
 of the 1899 Treaty boundary along the 22nd Parallel, both states
withdrew their military presence in the 1990s and Egypt has invested
in and effectively administers the area; 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): 116,746 (Eritrea), 20,000 (Chad),
14,633 (Ethiopia), 7,901 (Uganda)
IDPs: 5,300,000 - 6,200,000 (internal conflict since 1980s; ongoing
genocide in Darfur region, IDP registration for return to South
Sudan started in 2005) (2006)

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Sudan is a source country for men, women, and
children trafficked for the purposes of forced labor and sexual
exploitation; Sudan may also be a transit and destination country
for Ethiopian women trafficked for domestic servitude; boys are
trafficked to the Middle East, particularly Qatar and the United
Arab Emirates, for use as camel jockeys; small numbers of girls are
reportedly trafficked within Sudan for domestic servitude, as well
as for commercial sexual exploitation in small brothels in
internally displaced persons (IDP) camps; the terrorist rebel
organization "Lord's Resistance Army" (LRA) continues to abduct and
forcibly conscript small numbers of children in Southern Sudan for
use as cooks, porters, and combatants in its ongoing war against
Uganda; some of these children are then trafficked across borders
into Uganda or possibly the Democratic Republic of the Congo;
children are utilized by rebel groups and the Sudanese Armed Forces
and associated militias in the ongoing conflict in Darfur; during
the decades of civil war, thousands of Dinka women and children were
enslaved by members of Baggara tribes and subjected to various forms
of forced labor without remuneration, as well as physical and sexual
abuse; with the cessation of the North-South conflict and the
ongoing peace process, there were no known new abductions of Dinka
by Baggara tribes during 2005; however, inter-tribal abductions of a
different nature continue in Southern Sudan and warrant further
investigation
 tier rating: Tier 3 - Sudan does not fully comply with the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making
significant efforts to do so

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Suriname

Introduction Suriname

Background:
First explored by the Spaniards in the 16th century and then
settled by the English in the mid-17th century, Suriname became a
Dutch colony in 1667. With the abolition of slavery in 1863, workers
were brought in from India and Java. 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 exert control through a
succession of nominally civilian administrations until 1987, when
international pressure finally forced a democratic election. In
1990, the military overthrew the civilian leadership, but a
democratically elected government - a four-party New Front coalition
- returned to power in 1991 and has ruled since, expanding to eight
parties in 2005.

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: 1,703 km
border countries: Brazil 593 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: 0.36% permanent crops: 0.06% other: 99.58% (2005)

Irrigated land:
510 sq km (2003)

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, Whaling
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:
439,117 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 29% (male 65,412/female 62,069)
15-64 years: 64.7% (male 145,913/female 138,076)
65 years and over: 6.3% (male 12,223/female 15,424) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 26.5 years
male: 26 years
female: 26.9 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.2% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
18.02 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
7.27 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-8.76 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 23.02 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 26.89 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.95 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 69.01 years
male: 66.66 years
female: 71.47 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.32 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Paramaribo
geographic coordinates: 5 50 N, 55 10 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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;
accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN (since 12 August
2000); Vice President Ram SARDJOE (since 3 August 2005); 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 Ram SARDJOE (since 3 August 2005); note
- the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly or, if no presidential or vice presidential candidate
receives a two-thirds constitutional majority in the National
Assembly after two votes, by a simple majority in the larger United
People's Assembly (893 representatives from the national, local, and
 regional councils), for five-year terms (no term limits); election
last held 25 May 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN reelected president;
percent of vote - Runaldo Ronald VENETIAAN 62.9%, Rabin PARMESSAR
35.4%, other 1.7%; note - after two votes in the parliament failed
to secure a two-thirds majority for a candidate, the vote then went
to a special session of the United People's Assembly on 3 August 2005

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 in 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NF 39.73%, NDP 22.2%,
VVV 13.79%, A-Com 7.21%, A-1 5.86%, other 7.42%; seats by party - NF
23, NDP 15, VVV 5, A-Com 5, A-1 3

Judicial branch:
Cantonal Courts and a Court of Justice as an appellate court
(justices are nominated for life)

Political parties and leaders:

Alternative-1 or A-1 (a coalition of Amazone Party of Suriname or
APS [Kenneth VAN GENDEREN], 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]); General Interior Development Party or ABOP
[Ronnie BRUNSWIJK]; National Democratic Party or NDP [Desire
BOUTERSE]; New Front for Democracy and Development or NF (a
coalition which includes A-Combination or A-Com [leader NA],
Democratic Alternative 1991 or DA-91 which split from the A-1 before
the elections of May 2005 and are an independent, business-oriented
party [Winston JESSURUN], 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 Perseverance or PPRS [Renee KAIMAN], Pendawalima or PL
[Raymond SAPOEN]); Progressive Laborers and Farmers Union or PALU
[Jim HOK]; Progressive Political Party or PPP [Surinder MUNGRA];
Seeka [Paul ABENA]; 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, ICRM, IDB, IFAD,
IFRCS, IHO (suspended), ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITU,
ITUC, 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 Lisa Bobbie SCHREIBER HUGHES
embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo
mailing address: US Department of State, 3390 Paramaribo Place,
Washington, DC, 20521-3390
telephone: [597] 472-900
FAX: [597] 425-690

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 mining industry, which accounts for
more than a third of GDP and subjects government revenues to mineral
price volatility. 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. 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, in his first term, implemented
an austerity program, raised taxes, and attempted to control
spending. Economic policies are likely to remain the same during
VENETIAAN's second term. 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, Mearsk, and Occidental.
Bidding on these new offshore blocks was completed in July 2006.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$3.098 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$1.398 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$7,100 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 13% industry: 22% services: 65%

(2001 est.)

Labor force: 156,700 (2004)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 8% industry: 14% services: 78%

Unemployment rate:
9.5% (2004)
Population below poverty line:
70% (2002 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

9.5% (2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $392.6 million
expenditures: $425.9 million (2004)

Agriculture - products:
paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains, peanuts;
beef, chickens; shrimp; forest products

Industries:
bauxite and gold mining, alumina production; oil, lumbering, food
processing, fishing

Industrial production growth rate:

6.5% (1994 est.)

Electricity - production:
1.509 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 25.2% hydro: 74.8% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
1.403 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)
Oil - production:
9,462 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
11,200 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
1,370 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports:
1,644 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - proved reserves:

150 million bbl (2005)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

0 cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Exports:
$881 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
alumina, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas

Exports - partners:
Norway 23.6%, US 16.5%, Canada 16.1%, Belgium 9.7%, France 7.9%,
UAE 7.3% (2005)

Imports:
$750 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs, cotton, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
US 29.3%, Netherlands 17.5%, Trinidad and Tobago 12.7%, China 6.5%,
Japan 5.2%, Brazil 4.3% (2005)

Debt - external:
$504.3 million (2005 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$46 million Netherlands provided $37 million for project and
program assistance, European Development Fund $4 million, Belgium $2
million (2003)

Currency (code):
Surinam dollar (SRD)

Currency code:
SRG

Exchange rates:
Surinamese dollars per US dollar - 2.7317 (2005), Surinamese
guilders per US dollar - 2.7336 (2004), 2.6013 (2003), 2.3468
(2002), 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:

81,100 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

232,800 (2005)
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:
126 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:
30,000 (2005)

Transportation Suriname

Airports: 47 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 4 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 42 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5

under 914 m: 36 (2006)
Pipelines: oil 51 km (2006)

Roadways: total: 4,304 km paved: 1,130 km unpaved: 3,174 km (2003)

Waterways:
1,200 km (most navigable by ships with drafts up to 7 m) (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 1 ship (1000 GRT or over) 1,078 GRT/1,214 DWT
by type: cargo 1 (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Paramaribo

Military Suriname

Military branches:
National Army, Naval Element, Air Wing (2006)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.); no conscription

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 111,582
females age 18-49: 103,769 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 77,793
females age 18-49: 72,943 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$7.5 million (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.7% (2003 est.)

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 United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (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 via the Netherlands and Brazil; transshipment point for
arms-for-drugs dealing

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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: 61,020 sq km
land: 61,020 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) (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

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; site
of future seed repository under construction by the Global Crop
Diversity Trust and the Norwegian Government

People Svalbard

Population: 2,701 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA (2006
est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.02% (2006 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:

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:
name: Longyearbyen
geographic coordinates: 78 13 N, 15 33 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Independence:
none (territory of Norway)

Legal system:
NA

Executive branch:
chief of state: King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January 1991)
head of government: Governor Per SEFLAND (since 1 October 2005) and
Assistant Governor Rune Baard HANSEN (since 2003)
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: $25.07 million
expenditures: $NA

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 - 6.4133 (2006), 6.4425 (2005),
6.7408 (2004), 7.0802 (2003), 7.9838 (2002)

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

Airports:
4 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Barentsburg, Longyearbyen, Ny-Alesund, Pyramiden

Military Svalbard

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$5.501 billion

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 King Mswati III,
the world's last absolute monarch, to grudgingly allow political
reform and greater democracy, although he has backslid on these
promises in recent years. 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: 10.25% permanent crops: 0.81% other: 88.94% (2005)
Irrigated land:
500 sq km (2003)

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, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Geography - note:
landlocked; almost completely surrounded by South Africa

People Swaziland

Population:
1,136,334
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
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 40.7% (male 233,169/female 229,103)
15-64 years: 55.8% (male 303,260/female 330,460)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 16,071/female 24,271) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 18.5 years
male: 17.8 years
female: 19.2 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
-0.23% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
27.41 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
29.74 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 71.85 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 75.25 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 68.34 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 32.62 years
male: 32.1 years
female: 33.17 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.53 children born/woman (2006 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 40% (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral
worship), 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
local long form: Umbuso weSwatini
local short form: eSwatini

Government type:
monarchy

Capital:
name: Mbabane
geographic coordinates: 26 18 S, 31 06 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Lobamba (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:
the first constitution was signed into law in July 2005 and is
scheduled to be implemented in January 2006

Legal system:
based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts and
Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; accepts
compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

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:

The status of political parties, previously banned, is unclear
under the new (2006)Constitution and currently being debated - the
following are considered political associations; Imbokodvo National
Movement or INM; 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, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD,
IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UNWTO,
UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ephraim Mandla HLOPHE
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, Mahlokahla 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 more than nine-tenths of its imports
and to which it sends 60% 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 2004-05 because of
drought, and nearly two-fifths of the adult population has been
infected by HIV/AIDS.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$5.91 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$2.212 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$5,200 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11.8% industry: 51.4% services:

36.8% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 155,700 (2003)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Unemployment rate:
40% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:

69% (2005)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 50.2% (1995)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

5.1% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

15.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $921.8 million
expenditures: $1.019 billion; including capital expenditures of $147
million (2006 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:
458 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 58% hydro: 42% nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
1.123 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
697 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
3,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2004)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-23.13 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$2.201 billion f.o.b. (2006 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:
$2.274 billion f.o.b. (2006 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:

$228.5 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$357 million (2003 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$104 million (2001)

Currency (code):
lilangeni (SZL)

Currency code:
SZL

Exchange rates:
emalangeni per US dollar - 6.6 (2006), 6.3593 (2005), 6.4597
(2004), 7.5648 (2003), 10.5407 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March

Communications Swaziland

Telephones - main lines in use:

35,000 (2005)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
200,000 (2005)

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:

12 (includes 7 relay stations) (2004)

Televisions:
23,000 (2000)

Internet country code:

.sz

Internet hosts:
2,472 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2002)

Internet users:
36,000 (2005)

Transportation Swaziland

Airports: 18 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 17 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 10
(2006)

Railways: total: 301 km narrow gauge: 301 km 1.067-m gauge (2005)

Roadways: total: 3,594 km paved: 1,078 km unpaved: 2,516 km (2002)

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:

18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; both sexes are
eligible for military service (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 227,617 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 89,609 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$41.6 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.4% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Swaziland

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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. Sweden joined the EU in 1995, but the public rejected the
introduction of the euro in a 2003 referendum.

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: 5.93% permanent crops: 0.01% other: 94.06% (2005)

Irrigated land:
1,150 sq km (2003)

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:
9,016,596 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.7% (male 775,433/female 732,773)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 3,001,928/female 2,918,242)
65 years and over: 17.6% (male 689,756/female 898,464) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 40.9 years
male: 39.8 years
female: 42 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.16% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
 10.27 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
10.31 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

1.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 2.76 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 2.92 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 2.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 80.51 years
male: 78.29 years
female: 82.87 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.66 children born/woman (2006 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 with 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%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

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:
name: Stockholm
geographic coordinates: 59 20 N, 18 03 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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:
National 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 Fredrik REINFELDT (since 5
October 2006)
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 17 September 2006 (next to be held in September 2010)
election results: Fredrik REINFELDT elected prime minister with 175
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 17 September 2006 (next to be held September
2010)
 election results: percent of vote by party - Social Democrats 37.2%,
Moderates 27.8%, Center Party 8.3%, People's Party 8.0%, Christian
Democrats 6.9%, Left Party 6.3%, Greens 5.4%; seats by party -
Social Democrats 130, Moderates 97, Center Party 29, People's Party
28, Christian Democrats 24, Left Party 22, Greens 19

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]; Environment Party the Greens [no formal leader but party
spokespersons are Maria WETTERSTRAND and Peter ERIKSSON]; Left
Party
or V (formerly Communist) [Lars OHLY]; Moderate Party (conservative)
[Fredrik REINFELDT]; People's Party [Lars LEIJONBORG]; Social
Democratic Party [Goran PERSSON]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

AfDB, Arctic Council, 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, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF,
IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM
(guest), NC, NEA, NIB, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris
Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE,
UNMIL,
UNMIS, UNMOGIP, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNTSO, UPU, WCO, WEU
(observer),
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Gunnar

LUND chancery: 902 30th Street NW, Washington, DC 20007 telephone: [1]
(202) 467-2600 FAX: [1] (202) 467-2699 consulate(s) general: Los Angeles,
New York
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Michael
M. WOOD embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Vag 31, SE-11589 Stockholm mailing
address: American Embassy Stockholm, US 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 of the 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 1% of GDP and
2% of employment. 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 during
2004-06. Presumably because of generous sick-leave benefits, Swedish
workers report in sick more often than other Europeans. In September
2003, Swedish voters turned down entry into the euro system,
concerned about the impact on the economy and sovereignty.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$285.1 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

 $371.5 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.2% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$31,600 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.1% industry: 28.1% services: 70.9%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 4.59 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 2% industry: 24% services: 74% (2000

est.)

Unemployment rate:
5.6% (2006 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 (2000)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1.4% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

17.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $222 billion
expenditures: $210.5 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)
Public debt:
46.4% of GDP (2006 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:

4.3% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
150.5 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 4% hydro: 50.8% nuclear: 43%

other: 2.3% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
137.8 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
17.8 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
15.6 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
3,208 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
362,400 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
203,700 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
553,100 bbl/day (2001)
Natural gas - production:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

979 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

979 million cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$28.61 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$173.9 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
machinery 35%, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood, iron
and steel products, chemicals

Exports - partners:
US 10.6%, Germany 10.2%, Norway 8.7%, UK 7.3%, Denmark 6.5%,
Finland 5.7%, France 4.9%, Netherlands 4.5%, Belgium 4.3% (2005)

Imports:
$151.8 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, motor
vehicles, iron and steel; foodstuffs, clothing

Imports - partners:
Germany 17.6%, Denmark 8.9%, Norway 7.8%, UK 6.6%, Netherlands
6.2%, Finland 5.8%, France 5% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$22.26 billion (August 2006 est.)
Debt - external:
$598.2 billion (30 June 2006)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $1.7 billion (1997)

Currency (code):
Swedish krona (SEK)

Currency code:
SEK

Exchange rates:
Swedish kronor per US dollar - 7.43321 (2006), 7.4731 (2005),
7.3489 (2004), 8.0863 (2003), 9.7371 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Sweden

Telephones - main lines in use:

6.447 million (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

8.436 million (2005)

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:
2,958,435 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

29 (2000)

Internet users:
6.8 million (2005)

Transportation Sweden

Airports: 255 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 155 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 80 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 36 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 100 914 to 1,523 m: 9 under 914 m: 91
(2006)

Heliports:
2 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 798 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 11,481 km
standard gauge: 11,481 km 1.435-m gauge (9,400 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 424,947 km
paved: 129,651 km (including 1,591 km of expressways)
unpaved: 295,296 km (2004)

Waterways:
2,052 km (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 198 ships (1000 GRT or over) 3,703,834 GRT/2,382,754 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 28, chemical tanker 47, container 5,
passenger 3, passenger/cargo 36, petroleum tanker 15, roll on/roll
off 31, specialized tanker 4, vehicle carrier 21
foreign-owned: 37 (Belgium 2, Denmark 4, Finland 11, Germany 3,
Italy 7, Japan 2, Norway 7, US 1)
registered in other countries: 161 (Bahamas 6, Bermuda 14, Cayman
Islands 9, Cook Islands 3, Cyprus 3, Denmark 1, France 2, French
Southern and Antarctic Lands 9, Gibraltar 5, Isle of Man 1, Liberia
8, Malta 3, Netherlands 26, Netherlands Antilles 5, Norway 28,
Panama 5, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, Singapore 12, UK 15,
US 5) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Goteborg, Helsingborg, Karlshamn, Lulea, Malmo, Oxelosund,
Stenungsund, Stockholm, Trelleborg

Military Sweden

Military branches:
Swedish Armed Forces (Forsvarsmakten): Army (Armen), Royal Swedish
Navy (Marinen), Swedish Air Force (Svenska Flygvapnet) (2006)

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 age of
47 (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 19-49: 1,838,427
females age 19-49: 1,774,659 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 19-49: 1,493,668
females age 19-49: 1,441,257 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 58,724
females age 19-49: 55,954 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$5.51 billion (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.5% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Sweden

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 sovereignty 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: 9.91% permanent crops: 0.58% other: 89.51% (2005)

Irrigated land:
250 sq km (2003)

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:
7,523,934 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 16.3% (male 637,585/female 591,297)
15-64 years: 68.1% (male 2,585,062/female 2,539,345)
65 years and over: 15.6% (male 480,198/female 690,447) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 40.1 years
male: 39 years
female: 41.1 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.43% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
9.71 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
8.49 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

3.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 4.34 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 4.84 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 3.81 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 80.51 years
male: 77.69 years
female: 83.48 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.43 children born/woman (2006 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%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

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:
name: Bern
geographic coordinates: 46 57 N, 7 26 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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 Micheline CALMY-REY (since 1 January
 2007); Vice President Pascal COUCHEPIN (since 1 January 2007); note
- the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Micheline CALMY-REY (since 1 January
2007); Vice President Pascal COUCHEPIN (since 1 January 2007)
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 a
one-year term (they may not serve consecutive terms); election last
held 13 December 2006 (next to be held December 2007)
election results: Micheline CALMY-REY elected president; percent of
Federal Assembly vote - 76.5%; Pascal COUCHEPIN elected vice
president; percent of Federal Assembly vote - 86.5%

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
- consists of two representatives from each canton and one from each
half canton; 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 (Gruene 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) [Christophe DARBELLAY,
president]; Radical Free Democratic Party (Freisinnig-Demokratische
Partei der Schweiz or FDP, Parti Radical-Democratique Suisse or PRD,
Partitio Liberal-Radicale Svizzero or PLR) [Fulvio PELLI,
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, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU,
ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUC, NAM (guest), NEA, NSG, OAS
(observer), OECD, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, Paris Club, PCA, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNITAR, UNMEE, UNOMIG, UNRWA,
UNTSO, UNWTO,
UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Urs ZISWILER
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, San Francisco
consulate(s): Boston

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Peter R. CONEWAY
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 safehaven 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 stagnated during
the 2001-03 period, improved during 2004-05 to 1.8% annually and to
2.9% in 2006. Even so, unemployment has remained at less than half
the EU average.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$252.9 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$386.8 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.9% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$33,600 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.5% industry: 34% services: 64.5%

(2003 est.)

Labor force: 3.81 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 4.6% industry: 26.3% services: 69.1%

(1998)

Unemployment rate:
3.3% (2006 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):

1.2% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

21.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $141 billion
expenditures: $139.1 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
51% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs
Industries:
machinery, chemicals, watches, textiles, precision instruments

Industrial production growth rate:

6.5% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
61.97 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 1.3% hydro: 59.5% nuclear:

37.1% other: 2% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
56.93 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
27.8 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
27.1 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
2,241 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
268,100 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
10,420 bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
289,500 bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

3.311 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

 0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

3.311 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$50.44 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$166.3 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural products

Exports - partners:
Germany 19.4%, US 10.9%, Italy 9.1%, France 8.7%, UK 5.4%, Spain
4.1% (2005)

Imports:
$162.3 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery, chemicals, vehicles, metals; agricultural products,
textiles

Imports - partners:
Germany 31.6%, Italy 10.5%, France 10%, US 5.6%, Netherlands 4.8%,
Austria 4.6%, UK 4.4% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$38.29 billion (August 2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$1.077 trillion (30 June 2006)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $1.1 billion (1995)

Currency (code):
Swiss franc (CHF)
Currency code:
CHF

Exchange rates:
Swiss francs per US dollar - 1.2508 (2006), 1.2452 (2005), 1.2435
(2004), 1.3467 (2003), 1.5586 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Switzerland

Telephones - main lines in use:

5.123 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

6.847 million (2005)

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:
2,442,659 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

44 (Switzerland and Liechtenstein) (2000)

Internet users:
5,097,822 (2005)

Transportation Switzerland

Airports: 65 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 42 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4

1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 16 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 23 under 914 m: 23 (2006)

Heliports:
2 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 1,831 km; oil 94 km; refined products 7 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 4,583 km
standard gauge: 3,234 km 1.435-m gauge (3,223 km electrified)
narrow gauge: 1,339 km 1.000-m gauge (1,338 km electrified); 10 km
0.800-m gauge (10 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 71,297 km
paved: 71,297 km (including 1,728 of expressways) (2004)

Waterways:
65 km (Rhine River between Basel-Rheinfelden and
Schaffhausen-Bodensee) (2003)

Merchant marine:
 total: 27 ships (1000 GRT or over) 492,434 GRT/810,559 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 9, cargo 10, chemical tanker 3, container 4,
specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 2 (Monaco 2)
registered in other countries: 320 (Antigua and Barbuda 4, Bahamas
2, Belize 1, Bermuda 2, Cyprus 4, France 2, French Southern and
Antarctic Lands 1, Germany 1, Indonesia 3, Liberia 7, Malta 21,
Marshall Islands 13, Mauritius 2, Morocco 1, Panama 226, Portugal 3,
Russia 7, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 13, Tonga 1, Turkey 1, UK
3, Vanuatu 2) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Basel

Military Switzerland

Military branches:
Swiss Armed Forces: Land Forces, Swiss Air Force (Schweizer
Luftwaffe); Switzerland has no navy, but maintains a fleet of
military patrol boats to patrol Swiss borders (2006)

Military service age and obligation: the Swiss Constitution states that "every
Swiss male is obliged 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
females age 19-49: 1,662,099 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 19-49: 1,375,889
females age 19-49: 1,342,945 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 46,319
 females age 19-49: 43,829 (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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Syria

Introduction Syria

Background:
Following the breakup of the Ottoman Empire during World War I,
 France administered Syria until its independence in 1946. The
country lacked political stability, however, and experienced a
series of military coups during its first decades. Syria united with
Egypt in February 1958 to form the United Arab Republic, but in
September 1961 the two entities separated and the Syrian Arab
Republic was reestablished. In November 1970, Hafiz al-ASAD, a
member of the Socialist Ba'th Party and the minority Alawite sect,
seized power in a bloodless coup and brought political stability to
the country. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the Golan
Heights to Israel, and during the 1990s Syria and Israel held
occasional peace talks over its return. Following the death of
President al-ASAD, his son, Bashar al-ASAD, was approved as
president by popular referendum in July 2000. Syrian troops -
stationed in Lebanon since 1976 in an ostensible peacekeeping role -
were withdrawn in April 2005. During the July-August 2006 conflict
between Israel and Hizballah, Syria placed its military forces on
alert but did not intervene directly on behalf of its ally Hizballah.

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: 24 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: 24.8% permanent crops: 4.47% other: 70.73% (2005)

Irrigated land:
13,330 sq km (2003)

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 (August 2005 est.)

People Syria

Population:
18,881,361
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 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 37% (male 3,592,915/female 3,384,722)
15-64 years: 59.7% (male 5,779,257/female 5,500,887)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 296,070/female 327,510) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 20.7 years
male: 20.6 years
female: 20.9 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.3% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
27.76 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
4.81 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 28.61 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 28.85 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 28.36 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.32 years
male: 69.01 years
female: 71.7 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.4 children born/woman (2006 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 an authoritarian, military-dominated regime

Capital:
name: Damascus
geographic coordinates: 33 30 N, 36 18 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins 1 April; ends 30 September

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 a combination of French and Ottoman civil law; religious
law is used in the family court system; 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
President Farouk al-SHARA (since 11 February 2006) oversees foreign
policy; Vice President Najah al-ATTAR (since 23 March 2006) oversees
cultural policy
head of government: Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-UTRI (since 10
September 2003); Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdallah
al-DARDARI (since 14 June 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president approved by popular referendum for a seven-year
term (no term limits); referendum last held 10 July 2000 after the
death of President Hafiz al-ASAD (next to be held July 2007); the
president appoints the vice presidents, prime minister and deputy
prime ministers
election results: Bashar al-ASAD approved as president; percent of
vote - Bashar al-ASAD 97.29%
note: Hafiz al-ASAD died on 10 June 2000; on 20 June, the Ba'th
Party nominated Bashar al-ASAD for president and presented his name
to the People's Council on 25 June; he was approved by a popular
referendum on 10 July

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 March 2007)
election results: percent of vote by party - NPF 67%, independents
33%; seats by party - NPF 167, independents 83; note - the
constitution reserves half the seats for workers and peasants and
declares the Ba'th Party the leading party of the state and it holds
135 seats

Judicial branch:
Supreme Judicial Council (appoints and dismisses judges; headed by
the President); national level - Supreme Constitutional Court
(adjudicates electoral disputes and rules on constitutionality of
laws and decrees; justices appointed for four-year terms by the
President); Court of Cassation; Appeals Courts (Appeals Courts
represent an intermediate level between the Court of Cassation and
local level courts); local level - Magistrate Courts; Courts of
First Instance; Juvenile Courts; Customs Courts; specialized courts
- Economic Security Courts (hear cases related to economic crimes);
Supreme State Security Court (hear cases related to national
security); Personal Status Courts (religious; hear cases related to
marriage and divorce)

Political parties and leaders:

note - legal parties include: National Progressive Front or NPF
[President Bashar al-ASAD, Dr. Suleiman QADDAH, deputy] (includes
Arab Socialist Renaissance (Ba'th) Party [President Bashar al-ASAD,
secretary; Muhammad BAKHITAN, assistant secretary general]; Arab
Socialist Renaissance (Ba'th) Party [President Bashar al-ASAD,
secretary general; Muhammad BAKHITAN, assistant secretary general];
Socialist Unionist Democratic Party [Fadlallah Nasr Al-DIN]; Syrian
Arab Socialist Union or ASU [Safwan QUDSI]; Syrian Communist Party
(two branches) [Wissal Farha BAKDASH, Yusuf Rashid FAYSAL]; Syrian
Social National Party [Jubran URAYJI]; Unionist Socialist Party
[Fayez ISMAIL]); illegal parties include: Kurdish Azadi Party [Khayr
al-Din MURAD]; Kurdish Democratic Alliance (includes four parties)
[Abd al-Hamid DARWISH, secretary general]; Kurdish Democratic Front
(includes three parties but no designated leader); Kurdish
Democratic Union Party or PYD [Ali MUHAMMAD]; Kurdish Future
 Movement; Kurdish Yekiti Party [Hasan SALEH]; National Democratic
Front [Hassan Abd al-AZEM];

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Damascus Declaration [Riyad SEIF, secretary general] (a broad
alliance of opposition groups including: Committee for Revival of
Civil Society [Michel KILO, Riyad SEIF]; Kurdish Democratic
Alliance; Kurdish Democratic Front; National Democratic Front;
Syrian Human Rights Society or HRAS [Fawed FAWUZ]); National
Salvation Front (alliance between former Vice President Abd al-Halim
KHADDAM, the SMB, and other small opposition groups); Syrian Muslim
Brotherhood or SMB [Sadr al-Din al-BAYANUNI]; (operates in exile in
London; endorsed the Damascus Declaration but is not an official
member)

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, IPU, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAPEC, OIC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO

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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Michael
CORBIN
embassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansour Street, No. 2, Damascus
mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus
telephone: [963] (11) 333-1342
FAX: [963] (11) 224-7938

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:
The Syrian economy grew by an estimated 2.9% in real terms in 2006,
led by the petroleum and agricultural sectors, which together
account for about one-half of GDP. Higher crude oil prices countered
declining oil production and exports and led to higher budgetary and
export receipts. Total foreign assets of the Central Bank and
domestic banking system rose to about $20 billion in 2006, and the
government strengthened the private sector foreign exchange rate by
about 7 percent from the start of the year. The Government of Syria
has implemented modest economic reforms in the past 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, weak
investment, and increasing pressure on water supplies caused by
heavy use in agriculture, rapid population growth, industrial
expansion, and water pollution.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$75.1 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$27.23 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.9% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):
$4,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 25.5% industry: 22.1% services:

52.4% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 5.505 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 26% industry: 14% services: 60%

(2003 est.)

Unemployment rate:
8% (2005 est.)

Population below poverty line:

11% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

22.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $8.471 billion
expenditures: $9.42 billion; including capital expenditures of $3.82
billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
38% of GDP (2006 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:

1.5% (2005)

Electricity - production:
29.64 billion kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 57.6% hydro: 42.4% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
27.57 billion kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - exports:
0.2 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
420,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
265,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
285,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - proved reserves:

2.5 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

7.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

 7.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

240.7 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-1.065 billion (2005 est.)

Exports:
$6.923 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
crude oil, petroleum products, fruits and vegetables, cotton fiber,
clothing, meat and live animals, wheat

Exports - partners:
Iraq 26.3%, Italy 9.9%, Germany 9.9%, Lebanon 9.1%, Egypt 5.1%,
France 4.9%, Saudi Arabia 4.6% (2005)

Imports:
$6.634 billion f.o.b. (2006 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:
Saudi Arabia 11.6%, China 6.1%, Egypt 5.9%, Italy 5.8%, UAE 5.7%,
Ukraine 4.6%, Germany 4.5%, Iran 4.2% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$5.5 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:
$8.355 billion; note - excludes military debt and debt to Russia
(2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$180 million (2002 est.)

Currency (code):
Syrian pound (SYP)

Currency code:
SYP

Exchange rates:
Syrian pounds per US dollar - (public sector rate): 50 (2006), 50
(2005), 48.5 (2004), (parallel market rate in 'Amman and Beirut): NA
(2005), NA (2004), 52.8 (2003), 52.4 (2002), 50.4 (2001), (official
rate for repaying loans): 11.25 (2004-06)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Syria

Telephones - main lines in use:

2.903 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

3,128,470 (2005)

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:
66 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:
1.1 million (2005)

Transportation Syria

Airports: 92 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 26 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 15

914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 66 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m:

11 under 914 m: 54 (2006)

Heliports:
7 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 2,764 km; oil 2,000 km (2006)
Railways:
total: 2,711 km
standard gauge: 2,460 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 251 km 1.050-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 94,890 km
paved: 19,073 km
unpaved: 75,817 km (2004)

Waterways:
900 km (not economically significant) (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 108 ships (1000 GRT or over) 386,603 GRT/563,506 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 8, cargo 93, container 1, livestock carrier 4,
petroleum tanker 1, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 11 (Lebanon 7, Romania 3, UAE 1)
registered in other countries: 130 (Cambodia 20, Comoros 4, Cyprus
3, Dominica 1, Georgia 43, Hong Kong 1, North Korea 14, Lebanon 1,
Malta 7, Mongolia 1, Panama 18, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 6, Sierra Leone 1, Slovakia 2, unknown 5)
(2006)

Ports and terminals:

Baniyas, Latakia

Military Syria

Military branches:
Syrian Armed Forces: Syrian Arab Army (includes Syrian Arab Navy),
Syrian Arab Air and Air Defense Force (includes Air Defense Command)
(2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service
obligation - 30 months (18 months in the Syrian Arab Navy); women
are not conscripted but may volunteer to serve (2004)
Manpower available for military service:
males age 18-49: 4,356,413
females age 18-49: 4,123,339 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 3,453,888
females age 18-49: 3,421,558 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 225,113
females age 18-49: 211,829 (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; lacking a treaty or other documentation describing the
boundary, portions of the Lebanon-Syria boundary are unclear with
several sections in dispute; since 2000, Lebanon has claimed Shaba'a
farms in the Golan Heights; 2004 Agreement and pending demarcation
settles border dispute with Jordan; approximately two million Iraqis
have fled the conflict in Iraq, with the majority taking refuge in
Syria and Jordan

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 600,000 (Iraq), 434,896 (Palestinian
Refugees (UNRWA))
IDPs: 305,000 (most displaced from Golan Heights during 1967
Arab-Israeli War) (2006)

Trafficking in persons:
 current situation: Syria is a destination country for women from
South and Southeast Asia and Africa for domestic servitude and from
Eastern Europe and Iraq for sexual exploitation; women are recruited
for work in Syria as domestic servants, but some face conditions of
exploitation and involuntary servitude including long hours,
non-payment of wages, withholding of passports and other
restrictions on movement, and physical and sexual abuse; Eastern
European women recruited for work in Syria as cabaret dancers are
not permitted to leave their work premises without permission and
have their passports withheld; some displaced Iraqi women and
children are reportedly forced into sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 3 - Syria does not fully comply with the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not making
significant efforts to do so

Illicit drugs:
a transit point for opiates and hashish bound for regional and
Western markets; weak anti-money-laundering controls and bank
privatization may leave it vulnerable to money-laundering

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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
local 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

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:
23,036,087 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 19.4% (male 2,330,951/female 2,140,965)
15-64 years: 70.8% (male 8,269,421/female 8,040,169)
65 years and over: 9.8% (male 1,123,429/female 1,131,152) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 34.6 years
male: 34.1 years
female: 35 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.61% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
12.56 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
6.48 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.99 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

 total: 6.29 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 6.97 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.55 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.43 years
male: 74.67 years
female: 80.47 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.57 children born/woman (2006 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%
male: NA%
 female: NA% (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 democracy

Capital:
name: Taipei
geographic coordinates: 25 03 N, 121 30 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
includes main island of Taiwan plus smaller islands nearby and 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)
note: Taiwan uses a variety of romanization systems; while the
Wade-Giles system still dominates, city of Taipei has adopted
standard Pinyin romanization for street and place names within its
boundaries; other local authorities use different romanization
systems; names for administrative divisions that follow are in
Wade-Giles system with Pinyin equivalents in parentheses
counties: Chang-hua (Changhua), Chia-i (Chiayi) [county], Hsin-chu
(Hsinchu), Hua-lien (Hualien), I-lan (Yilan), Kao-hsiung (Kaohsiung)
[county], Kin-men (Kinmen), Lien-chiang (Lienchiang, also Matsu),
Miao-li (Miaoli), Nan-t'ou (Nantou), P'eng-hu (Penghu), P'ing-tung
(Pingtung), T'ai-chung (Taichung), T'ai-nan (Tainan), T'ai-pei
(Taipei) [county], T'ai-tung (Taitung), T'ao-yuan (Taoyuan), and
Yun-lin (Yunlin)
municipalities: Chia-i (Chiayi) [city], Chi-lung (Keelung), Hsin-chu
(Hsinchu), T'ai-chung (Taichung), T'ai-nan (Tainan)
special municipalities: Kao-hsiung (Kaohsiung) [city], T'ai-pei
 (Taipei) [city]

National holiday:
Republic Day (Anniversary of the Chinese Revolution), 10 October
(1911)

Constitution:
25 December 1947; amended in 1992, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2005
note: constitution adopted on 25 December 1946; went into effect on
25 December 1947

Legal system:
based on civil law system

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) SU
Tseng-chang (since 25 January 2006) and Vice Premier (Vice President
of the Executive Yuan) TSAI Ing-wen (since 25 January 2006)
cabinet: Executive Yuan - (ministers appointed by president on
recommendation of premier)
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term);
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:
Legislative Yuan (225 seats - 168 elected by popular vote, 41
elected on basis of proportion of islandwide votes received by
participating political parties, eight elected from overseas Chinese
constituencies on basis of proportion of island-wide votes received
by participating political parties, eight elected by popular vote
 among aboriginal populations; members serve three-year terms)
note: as a result of constitutional amendments approved by the now
defunct National Assembly in June 2005, number of seats in
legislature will be reduced from 225 to 113 beginning with election
in 2007; amendments also eliminated National Assembly thus giving
Taiwan a unicameral legislature
elections: Legislative Yuan - last held 11 December 2004 (next to be
held in December 2007)
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

Judicial branch:
Judicial Yuan (justices appointed by the president with consent of
the Legislative Yuan)

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Progressive Party or DPP [YU Shyi-kun]; Kuomintang or
KMT (Nationalist Party) [MA Ying-jeou]; People First Party or PFP
[CHANG Chao-hsiung (acting)]; Taiwan Solidarity Union or TSU [HUANG
Kun-hui]; other minor parties including the Chinese New Party or NP

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 the island
currently enjoys sovereign independence and - whatever the ultimate
outcome regarding reunification or independence - that Taiwan's
people must have the deciding voice; public opinion polls
consistently show a substantial majority of Taiwan people supports
maintaining Taiwan's status quo for the foreseeable future;
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, ICC, ICRM, IFRCS, IOC, ITUC, WCL, WHO (observer), 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), which
has its headquarters in Taipei and in the US in Washington, DC;
there are also branch offices called Taipei Economic and Cultural
Office (TECO) in 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, Kaohsiung, 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 island runs a trade
surplus, and foreign reserves are the world's third largest. Despite
restrictions cross-strait links, China has overtaken the US to
become Taiwan's largest export market and, in 2006, its
second-largest source of imports after Japan. China is also the
island's number one destination for foreign direct investment.
Strong trade performance in 2006 pushed Taiwan's GDP growth rate
above 4%, and unemployment is below 4%. Consumer spending recovered
following a slowdown early in 2006, when banks tightened lending to
address a sharp increase in delinquent consumer debt.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$668.3 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$353.9 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.4% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$29,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1.5% industry: 25.2% services: 73.3%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 10.46 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 5.5% industry: 36% services: 58.5%

(2005 est.)

Unemployment rate:
3.9% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

0.9% (2006 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 6.7%
 highest 10%: 41.1% (2002 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

1% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

18.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $67.33 billion
expenditures: $77.93 billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
34.6% of GDP (2006 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:

6.5% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
189.7 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 71.4% hydro: 6% nuclear: 22.6%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
175.3 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2005)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production:
7,755 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
965,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - imports:
0 bbl/day (2005)

Oil - proved reserves:

3 million bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

1.1 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

10.7 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2005)

Natural gas - imports:

9.6 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

76.46 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$9.7 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$215 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
computer products and electrical equipment, metals, textiles,
plastics and rubber products, chemicals (2002)
Exports - partners:
China 22.5%, Hong Kong 15.7%, US 15%, Japan 7.3% (2006 est.)

Imports:
$205.3 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and electrical equipment 44.5%, minerals, precision
instruments (2002)

Imports - partners:
Japan 23%, China 11.9%, US 10.9%, South Korea 7.2%, Saudi Arabia
4.9% (2006 est.)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$280.6 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:
$93.06 billion (2006 est.)

Currency (code):
new Taiwan dollar (TWD)

Currency code:
TWD

Exchange rates:
new Taiwan dollars per US dollar - 32.19 (2006), 31.71 (2005),
34.418 (2004), 34.575 (2003), 33.8 (2002)

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:

13.615 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

22.17 million (2005)

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:
4,320,310 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

8 (2000)

Internet users:
13.21 million (2005)

Transportation Taiwan

Airports: 42 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 38 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 9

1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Heliports:
3 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate 25 km; gas 661 km (2006)

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 carry
products and limited numbers of passengers (2005)

Roadways:
total: 37,299 km
paved: 35,621 km (including 789 km of expressways)
unpaved: 1,678 km (2002)

Merchant marine:
total: 112 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,798,992 GRT/4,652,921 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 35, cargo 22, chemical tanker 2, container 25,
passenger/cargo 3, petroleum tanker 16, refrigerated cargo 7, roll
on/roll off 2
foreign-owned: 3 (Hong Kong 3)
registered in other countries: 463 (Bolivia 1, Cambodia 2, Honduras
2, Hong Kong 6, Italy 10, Liberia 69, Malta 2, Panama 308, Singapore
59, UK 1, US 1, unknown 2) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Chi-lung (Keelung), Hua-lien, Kao-hsiung, Su-ao, T'ai-chung

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:

19-35 years of age for military service; service obligation 16
months (to be shortened to 12 months in 2008); women in Air Force
service are restricted to noncombat roles (2005)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 19-49: 5,883,828
females age 19-49: 5,680,773 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 19-49: 4,749,537
females age 19-49: 4,644,607 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 174,173
females age 19-49: 163,683 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$7.93 billion (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.4% (2005 est.)

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

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Taiwan is primarily a destination for men,
women, and children trafficked for forced labor and sexual
exploitation; women from China and Southeast Asian countries are
trafficked for sexual exploitation and forced labor; women and
children, primarily from Vietnam, are trafficked through the use of
fraudulent marriages, deceptive employment offers, and illegal
smuggling for commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor; a
significant share of foreign workers - primarily from Vietnam,
Thailand, and the Philippines - are recruited legally for
low-skilled jobs, and are subjected to forced labor or involuntary
 servitude by labor agencies or employers upon arrival in Taiwan; to
a much lesser extent, there is internal trafficking of children for
sexual exploitation and trafficking of a small and declining number
of Taiwanese women to Japan for commercial sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Taiwan is placed on the Tier 2
Watch List for its failure to show evidence of increasing efforts
over the past year to address trafficking, despite ample resources
to do so, particularly the serious level of forced labor and sexual
servitude among legally migrating Southeast Asian contract workers
and brides

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 it is now in the
process of strengthening its democracy and transitioning to a free
market economy after its 1992-1997 civil war. There have been no
 major security incidents in recent years, although the country
remains the poorest in the former Soviet sphere. 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: 6.52% permanent crops: 0.89% other: 92.59% (2005)

Irrigated land:
7,220 sq km (2003)

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:
7,320,815 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.9% (male 1,396,349/female 1,375,168)
15-64 years: 57.4% (male 2,091,476/female 2,108,889)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 154,162/female 194,771) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 20 years
male: 19.7 years
female: 20.4 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.19% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
32.65 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
8.25 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-2.48 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 106.49 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 117.83 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 94.59 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 64.94 years
male: 62.03 years
 female: 68 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Dushanbe
geographic coordinates: 38 35 N, 68 48 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
2 provinces (viloyatho, singular - viloyat) and 1 autonomous
province* (viloyati mukhtor); Viloyati Khatlon (Qurghonteppa),
Viloyati Mukhtori Kuhistoni Badakhshon* [Gorno-Badakhshan]
(Khorugh), 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
(eligible for a second term); election last held 6 November 2006
(next to be held November 2013); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: Emomali RAHMONOV reelected president; percent of
vote - Emomali RAHMONOV 76.4%, Olimzon BOBOYEV 7.2%, other 16.4%

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 (34
seats; members are indirectly elected, 25 selected by local
deputies, 8 appointed by the president; 1 seat reserved for the
former president; all serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 27 February and 13 March 2005 for the Assembly
of Representatives (next to be held February 2010) and 25 March 2005
for the National Assembly (next to be held February 2010)
election results: Assembly of Representatives - percent of vote by
party - PDPT 74.9%, CPT 13.6%, Islamic Revival Party 8.9%, other
2.5%; seats by party - PDPT 51, CPT 5, Islamic Revival Party 2,
independents 5; National Assembly - percent of vote by party - NA%;
seats by party - PDPT 29, CPT 2, independents 3

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (judges are appointed by the president)

Political parties and leaders:

Agrarian Party of Tajikistan or APT [Amir KARAKULOV]; Democratic
Party or DPT [Mahmadruzi ISKANDAROV (imprisoned October 2005)];
Islamic Revival Party [Muhiddin KABIRI]; Party of Economic Reform or
PER [Olimjon BOBOYEV]; People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan or
PDPT [Emomali RAHMONOV]; Social Democratic Party or SDPT
[Rahmatullo
ZOYIROV]; Socialist Party or SPT [Abdualim GHAFFOROV]; Tajik
Communist Party or CPT [Shodi SHABDOLOV]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
unregistered political parties: Agrarian Party [Hikmatullo
NASREDDINOV]; Party of Justice [Abdurahim KARIMOV]; People's Unity
Party [Abdumalik ABDULLOJONOV]; Progressive Party [Sulton
QUVVATOV];
Socialist Party [Mirhuseyn NAZRIYEV]; note - this is the SPT that
was disbanded, another pro-government SPT (listed above under
political parties) replaced it; Unity Party [Hikmatullo SAIDOV]

International organization participation:

AsDB, CIS, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, 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 (vacant)
chancery: 1005 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20037
telephone: [1] (202) 223-6090
FAX: [1] (202) 223-6091

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Tracey Ann JACOBSON
embassy: 109-A Ismoili Somoni Ave., Dushanbe 734003
mailing address: 7090 Dushanbe Place, Dulles, VA 20189
telephone: [992] (37) 229-20-00
FAX: [992] (37) 229-20-50

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 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. While Tajikistan has
experienced steady economic growth since 1997, nearly two-thirds of
the population continue to live in abject poverty. Economic growth
reached 10.6% in 2004, but dropped to 8% in 2005, and to 7% in 2006.
Tajikistan's economic situation, however, remains fragile due to
uneven implementation of structural reforms, weak governance,
widespread unemployment, and the external debt burden. Continued
privatization of medium and large state-owned enterprises could
increase productivity. A debt restructuring agreement was reached
with Russia in December 2002, including a $250 million write-off of
Tajikistan's $300 million debt to Russia. Tajikistan ranks third in
the world in terms of water resources per head. A proposed
investment to finish the hydropower dams Rogun and Sangtuda I and II
would substantially add to electricity production, which could be
exported for profit. If finished, Rogun will be the world's tallest
dam. In 2006, Tajikistan was the recipient of substantial Shanghai
Cooperation Organization infrastructure development credits to
improve its roads and electricity transmission network.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$9.405 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$2.066 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,300 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 22.7% industry: 28.5% services:

48.8% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 3.7 million (2003)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 67.2% industry: 7.5% services: 25.3%

(2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:
12% (2004 est.)

Population below poverty line:

64% (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):

7.5% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.9% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $527.5 million
expenditures: $622 million; including capital expenditures of $86
million (2006 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:
 16.5 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 1.9% hydro: 98.1% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
15.7 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
4.459 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
4.81 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
252.8 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
28,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

39 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

1.389 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

1.35 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-73.95 million (2006 est.)
Exports:
$1.16 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
aluminum, electricity, cotton, fruits, vegetable oil, textiles

Exports - partners:
Netherlands 46.6%, Turkey 15.8%, Russia 9.1%, Uzbekistan 7.3%,
Latvia 4.9%, Iran 4% (2005)

Imports:
$1.513 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
electricity, petroleum products, aluminum oxide, machinery and
equipment, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
Russia 19.3%, Kazakhstan 12.7%, Uzbekistan 11.5%, Azerbaijan 8.6%,
China 7%, Ukraine 6.2%, Romania 4.6%, Turkmenistan 4% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$209.2 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$829 million (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$67 million from US (2005)

Currency (code):
somoni

Currency code:
TJS

Exchange rates:
Tajikistani somoni per US dollar - 3.2475 (2006), 3.1166 (2005),
2.9705 (2004), 3.0614 (2003), 2.7641 (2002)
Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Tajikistan

Telephones - main lines in use:

245,200 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

265,000 (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: poorly developed and not well maintained; many
towns are not linked to the national network
domestic: the domestic telecommunications network has historically
been under-funded and poorly maintained; main line availability has
not changed significantly since 1998; cellular telephony is rare and
coverage remains limited.
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:

6 (2006)

Televisions:
820,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.tj
Internet hosts:
98 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

4 (2002)

Internet users:
5,000 (2005)

Transportation Tajikistan

Airports: 40 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 22

(2006)

Pipelines: gas 549 km; oil 38 km (2006)

Railways: total: 482 km broad gauge: 482 km 1.520-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 27,767 km (2000)

Waterways:
200 km (along Vakhsh River) (2006)

Military Tajikistan

Military branches:
Ground Troops, Air and Air Defense Troops, Mobile Troops (2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service
obligation - two years (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

 males age 18-49: 1,556,415
females age 18-49: 1,568,780 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,244,941
females age 18-49: 1,297,891 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 87,846
females age 18-49: 85,869 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$35.4 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

3.9% (FY01)

Transnational Issues Tajikistan

Disputes - international:
in 2006, China and Tajikistan pledged to commence demarcation of
the revised boundary agreed to in the delimitation of 2002; 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% 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@Tanzania

Introduction Tanzania

Background:
Shortly after achieving independence from Britain in the early
1960s, 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: 4.23% permanent crops: 1.16% other: 94.61% (2005)

Irrigated land:
1,840 sq km (2003)

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:
37,445,392
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
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 43.7% (male 8,204,593/female 8,176,489)
15-64 years: 53.6% (male 9,906,446/female 10,178,066)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 422,674/female 557,124) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 17.7 years
male: 17.5 years
female: 18 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.83% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
37.71 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
16.39 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-3.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 96.48 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 105.64 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 87.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 45.64 years
male: 44.93 years
female: 46.37 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.97 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)
Nationality:
noun: Tanzanian(s)
adjective: Tanzanian

Ethnic groups:
mainland - African 99% (of which 95% are Bantu consisting of more
than 130 tribes), other 1% (consisting of Asian, European, and
Arab); Zanzibar - Arab, African, mixed Arab and 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
local long form: Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania
local short form: Tanzania
 former: United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar

Government type:
republic

Capital:
name: Dar es Salaam
geographic coordinates: 6 48 S, 39 17 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: legislative offices have been transferred to Dodoma, which is
planned as the new national capital; the National Assembly now meets
there on a 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 Jakaya KIKWETE (since 21 December 2005);
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 Jakaya KIKWETE (since 21 December
2005); 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 reelected to
that office on 30 October 2005
cabinet: Cabinet 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 (eligible for a second term);
election last held 14 December 2005(next to be held in December
2010); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Jakaya KIKWETE elected president; percent of vote
- Jakaya KIKWETE 80.3%, Ibrahim LIPUMBA 11.7%, Freeman MBOWE
5.9%

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Bunge (274 seats - 232 elected by
popular vote, 37 allocated to women nominated by the president, 5 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 14 December 2005 (next to be held in December
2010)
election results: National Assembly - percent of vote by party -
NA%; seats by party - CCM 206, CUF 19, CHADEMA 5, other 2, women
appointed by the president 37, Zanzibar representatives 5; Zanzibar
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by
party - CCM 30, CUF 19; 1 seat was nullified with a rerun to take
 place soon

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) [Jakaya Mrisho KIKWETE]; Civic United Front or
CUF [Ibrahim LIPUMBA]; Democratic Party [Christopher MTIKLA]
(unregistered); 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, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, SADC, UN, UN Security
Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE,
UNMIS,
UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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 Michael L. RETZER
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. Long-term growth through
2005 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 2006.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$29.25 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$13.13 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.8% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$800 (2006 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 43.3% industry: 17.7% services: 39%
(2006 est.)

Labor force: 19.35 million (2006 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):

5.9% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $2.431 billion
expenditures: $3.001 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
30.5% of GDP (2006 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, salt, soda ash; cement, oil
refining, shoes, apparel, wood products, fertilizer

Industrial production growth rate:

8.4% (1999 est.)

Electricity - production:
2.562 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 18.9% hydro: 81.1% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
2.383 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
23,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

0 bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

22.65 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-906 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$1.831 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
gold, coffee, cashew nuts, manufactures, cotton

Exports - partners:
China 10.2%, Canada 8.7%, India 7.3%, Netherlands 5.2%, Japan 4.5%,
Kenya 4.4%, Germany 4.3% (2005)

Imports:
$3.18 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
consumer goods, machinery and transportation equipment, industrial
raw materials, crude oil

Imports - partners:
South Africa 13.1%, China 9.5%, India 7%, UAE 6%, Kenya 5.1%, UK
4.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.375 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$4.61 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$1.2 billion (2001)

Currency (code):
 Tanzanian shilling (TZS)

Currency code:
TZS

Exchange rates:
Tanzanian shillings per US dollar - 1,259.54 (2006), 1,128.93
(2005), 1,089.33 (2004), 1,038.42 (2003), 966.58 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

Communications Tanzania

Telephones - main lines in use:

148,400 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.942 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: fair system operating below capacity and being
modernized for better service; very small aperture terminal (VSAT)
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:
8,609 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6 (2000)

Internet users:
333,000 (2005)

Transportation Tanzania

Airports: 124 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 113 1,524 to 2,437 m: 18 914 to 1,523
m: 62 under 914 m: 33 (2006)

Pipelines: gas 254 km; oil 872 km (2006)

Railways: total: 3,690 km narrow gauge: 969 km 1.067-m gauge; 2,721 km

1.000-m gauge (2005)

Roadways: total: 78,891 km paved: 6,808 km unpaved: 72,083 km (2003)

Waterways:
Lake Tanganyika, Lake Victoria, and Lake Nyasa principal avenues of
commerce with neighboring countries; rivers not navigable (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 9 ships (1000 GRT or over) 24,801 GRT/31,507 DWT
by type: cargo 1, passenger/cargo 4, petroleum tanker 4
 registered in other countries: 2 (Honduras 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis
1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Dar es Salaam, Mtwara, Zanzibar City

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 - two 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:

$21.2 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.2% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Tanzania

Disputes - international:
Tanzania still hosts more than a half-million refugees, more than
any other African country, mainly from Burundi and the Democratic
Republic of the Congo, despite the international community's efforts
at repatriation; 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): 393,611 (Burundi), 150,112
(Democratic Republic of the Congo) (2006)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 separatist
violence in its southern ethnic Malay-Muslim 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: 27.54% permanent crops: 6.93% other: 65.53% (2005)

Irrigated land:
49,860 sq km (2003)

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:
64,631,595
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
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 22% (male 7,284,068/female 6,958,632)
15-64 years: 70% (male 22,331,312/female 22,880,588)
65 years and over: 8% (male 2,355,190/female 2,821,805) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 31.9 years
male: 31.1 years
female: 32.8 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.68% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
13.87 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
7.04 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 19.49 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 20.77 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.25 years
male: 69.95 years
female: 74.68 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.64 children born/woman (2006 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
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified
among birds in this country or surrounding region; it poses a
negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens
who have close contact with birds (2007)

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
local long form: Ratcha Anachak Thai
local short form: Prathet Thai
former: Siam

Government type:
constitutional monarchy

Capital:
name: Bangkok
geographic coordinates: 13 45 N, 100 31 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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:
constitution signed by King PHUMIPHON on 11 October 1997; abrogated
on 19 September 2006 after coup; interim constitution promulgated on
1 October 2006; coup leaders have promised new constitution by mid
2007

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: Interim Prime Minister SURAYUT Chulanon (since 1
October 2006); Interim Deputy Prime Ministers KHOSIT Panpiemras
(since 9 October 2006); PRIDIYATHORN Devakula (since 9 October 2006)
note: Prime Minister THAKSIN Chinnawat was overthrown on 19
September 2006 in a coup led by General SONTHI Boonyaratglin
cabinet: Council of Ministers
note: there is also a Privy Council
elections: none; monarch is hereditary; according to 1997
constitution, prime minister was designated from among members of
House of Representatives; following national elections for House of
Representatives, leader of party that could organize a majority
coalition usually was appointed prime minister by king

Legislative branch:
bicameral National Assembly or Rathasapha consisted 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); after coup in September 2006, coup leaders
appointed an interim National Assembly with 250 members to act as
Senate and House of Representatives
elections: Senate - last held 19 April 2006; House of
Representatives - last valid election held 6 February 2005;
elections held on 2 April 2006 invalidated by court ruling; coup
leaders scheduled next general election by about October 2007
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - NA; House of Representatives - (2005 election) 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 [CHATURON Chaisang]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, BIS, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,
IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC,
MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIC (observer), ONUB, OPCW, OSCE
(partner), PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS,
UNWTO, UPU,
WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador VIRASAK Futrakul
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, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph L. BOYCE
embassy: 120-122 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330
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:
With a well-developed infrastructure, a free-enterprise economy,
and pro-investment policies, Thailand appears to have fully
recovered from the 1997-98 Asian Financial Crisis. The country was
one of East Asia's best performers in 2002-04. Boosted by increased
consumption and strong export growth, the Thai economy grew 6.9% in
2003 and 6.1% in 2004 despite a sluggish global economy. Bangkok has
pursued preferential trade agreements with a variety of partners in
an effort to boost exports and to maintain high growth. 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. In 2006, investment stagnated as
investors, spooked by the Thaksin administration's political
problems, stayed on the sidelines. The military coup in September
brought in a new economic team, led by the former central bank
governor. In December, the Thai Board of Investment reported the
value of investment applications from January to November had
declined by 27% year-on-year. On the positive side, exports have
performed at record levels, rising nearly 17% in 2006.
Export-oriented manufacturing - in particular automobile production
- and farm output are driving these gains.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$585.9 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$196.6 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.4% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$9,100 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 10% industry: 44.9% services: 45.2%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 36.41 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 49% industry: 14% services: 37%

(2000 est.)

Unemployment rate:
2.1% (2006 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):

5.1% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

28.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $40.31 billion
expenditures: $40.34 billion; including capital expenditures of $5
billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
43.5% of GDP (2006 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 and electric
 appliances, computers and parts, integrated circuits, furniture,
plastics, automobiles and automotive parts; world's second-largest
tungsten producer and third-largest tin producer

Industrial production growth rate:

6% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
121.7 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 91.3% hydro: 6.4% nuclear: 0%

other: 2.4% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
116.2 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
372 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
3.388 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
230,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
900,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

583 million bbl (November 2003)

Natural gas - production:

22.36 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
29.86 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

7.5 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

377.7 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-899.4 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$123.5 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
textiles and footwear, fishery products, rice, rubber, jewelry,
automobiles, computers and electrical appliances

Exports - partners:
US 15.4%, Japan 13.6%, China 8.3%, Singapore 6.9%, Hong Kong 5.6%,
Malaysia 5.2% (2005)

Imports:
$119.3 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
capital goods, intermediate goods and raw materials, consumer
goods, fuels

Imports - partners:
Japan 22%, China 9.4%, US 7.4%, Malaysia 6.8%, UAE 4.8%, Singapore
4.6% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$59.06 billion (2006 est.)
Debt - external:
$57.83 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$72 million (2002)

Currency (code):
baht (THB)

Currency code:
THB

Exchange rates:
baht per US dollar - 38.2472 (2006), 40.22 (2005), 40.222 (2004),
41.485 (2003), 42.96 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September

Communications Thailand

Telephones - main lines in use:

7.035 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

27.379 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:

111 (2006)

Televisions:
15.19 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.th

Internet hosts:
938,784 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

15 (2000)

Internet users:
8.42 million (2005)

Transportation Thailand

Airports: 108 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 66 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11

1,524 to 2,437 m: 22 914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 5 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 42 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m:

15 under 914 m: 26 (2006)

Heliports:
3 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 3,760 km; refined products 379 km (2006)

Railways:
 total: 4,071 km
narrow gauge: 4,071 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)

Roadways: total: 57,403 km paved: 56,542 km unpaved: 861 km (2000)

Waterways:
4,000 km
note: 3,701 km navigable by boats with drafts up to 0.9 m (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 400 ships (1000 GRT or over) 2,808,509 GRT/4,317,320 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 60, cargo 145, chemical tanker 14, container
21, liquefied gas 29, passenger 1, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum
tanker 91, refrigerated cargo 32, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 45 (China 1, Egypt 1, Indonesia 1, Japan 4, Norway
30, Singapore 6, UK 2)
registered in other countries: 34 (Bahamas 1, Mongolia 1, Panama 9,
Singapore 22, Tuvalu 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Prachuap Port, Si Racha

Military Thailand

Military branches:
Royal Thai Army (RTA), Royal Thai Navy (RTN, includes Royal Thai
Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force (Knogtap Agard Thai, RTAF) (2006)

Military service age and obligation: 21 years of age for compulsory military
service; males are registered at 18 years of age; conscript service obligation -
two years; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 21-49: 14,903,855
females age 21-49: 15,265,854 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 21-49: 10,396,032
females age 21-49: 11,487,690 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:
males age 18-49: 526,276
females age 21-49: 514,396 (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; talks continue on
completion of demarcation with Laos but disputes remain over several
islands in the Mekong River; despite continuing border committee
talks, Thailand must deal with Karen and other ethnic rebels,
refugees, and illegal cross-border activities, and as of 2006,
130,000 Karen, Hmong and other refugees and 15,000 asylum seekers
from Burma; Cambodia and Thailand dispute sections of historic
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; Thailand is studying the feasibility of jointly constructing
the Hatgyi Dam on the Salween river near the border with Burma; in
2004, international environmentalist pressure prompted China to halt
construction of 13 dams on the Salween River which flows through
China, Burma and Thailand

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 116,499 (Burma) (2006)

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
methamphetamine production for regional consumption; major consumer
of methamphetamine since the 1990s

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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
has 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 EU initiated a partial
resumption of cooperation and development aid to Togo in late 2004
based upon commitments by Togo to expand opportunities for political
opposition and liberalize portions of the economy. 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 in April 2005 held elections
that legitimized his succession. Legislative elections are scheduled
for June 2007.

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: 44.2% permanent crops: 2.11% other: 53.69% (2005)

Irrigated land:
70 sq km (2003)

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, Whaling
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:
5,548,702
 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
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.3% (male 1,177,141/female 1,169,321)
15-64 years: 55.1% (male 1,485,621/female 1,570,117)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 59,870/female 86,632) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 18.3 years
male: 17.8 years
female: 18.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.72% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
37.01 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
9.83 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 60.63 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 68.17 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 52.87 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 57.42 years
male: 55.41 years
female: 59.49 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.96 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

Nationality:
noun: Togolese (singular and plural)
adjective: Togolese

Ethnic groups:
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:
name: Lome
geographic coordinates: 6 08 N, 1 13 E
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
5 regions (regions, singular - region); Centrale, Kara, Maritime,
Plateaux, Savanes

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; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction,
with reservations

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 Yawovi AGBOYIBO (since 16
September 2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and the
prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(no term limits); 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%, Harry OLYMPIO 0.5%

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 24 June 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:

Action Committee for Renewal or CAR [Yawovi AGBOYIBO]; Democratic
Convention of African Peoples or CDPA; Democratic Party for Renewal
or PDR; Juvento [Monsilia DJATO]; Movement of the Believers of Peace
 and Equality or MOCEP; Pan-African Patriotic Convergence or CPP;
Rally for the Support for Development and Democracy or RSDD [Harry
OLYMPIO]; Rally of the Togolese People or RPT [Faure GNASSINGBE];
Socialist Pact for Renewal or PSR; Union for Democracy and Social
Progress or UDPS [Gagou KOKOU]; Union of Forces for a Change or UFC
[Gilchrist OLYMPIO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ABEDA, ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, Entente, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD,
ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
MONUC, NAM, OIC, OIF, ONUB, OPCW, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO,
UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WADB (regional), WAEMU, WCL, WCO,
WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: [vacant]
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 David B. DUNN
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. 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 follow-through on privatization, increased
openness in government financial operations, progress toward
legislative elections, and continued support from foreign donors.
Togo is working with donors to write a PRGF that could eventually
lead to a debt reduction plan.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$9.248 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$2.109 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,700 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 39.5% industry: 20.4% services:

40.1% (2003 est.)

Labor force: 1.302 million (1998)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 65% industry: 5% services: 30% (1998

est.)

Unemployment rate:
 NA%

Population below poverty line:

32% (1989 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.8% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

22.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $260.2 million
expenditures: $311 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 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:
286.2 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 98.7% hydro: 1.3% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
929.2 million kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
663 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by Ghana (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
14,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-261.9 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$868.4 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
reexports, cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa

Exports - partners:
Ghana 21.1%, Burkina Faso 18.2%, Benin 11.5%, Mali 7.3%, India
5.8%, Nigeria 4% (2005)

Imports:
$1.208 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products

Imports - partners:
France 17.8%, China 13.3%, Cote d'Ivoire 6.5%, Italy 4.5%, Spain
4.3% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$333.9 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$2 billion (2005)

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 -
525.817 (2006), 527.47 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99
(2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Togo

Telephones - main lines in use:

58,600 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

443,600 (2005)
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
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:
520 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

3 (2001)

Internet users:
300,000 (2005)

Transportation Togo

Airports: 9 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 2
 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Railways:
total: 568 km
narrow gauge: 568 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)

Roadways: total: 7,520 km paved: 2,376 km unpaved: 5,144 km (1999)

Waterways:
50 km (seasonally on Mono River depending on rainfall) (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 2 ships (1000 GRT or over) 3,918 GRT/3,852 DWT
by type: cargo 1, refrigerated cargo 1 (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Kpeme, Lome

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: 1,102,661
females age 18-49: 1,124,463 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 696,933
females age 18-49: 707,821 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure:
$29.98 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.6% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Togo

Disputes - international:
in 2001 Benin claimed Togo moved boundary monuments - joint
commission continues to resurvey the boundary; in 2006 14,000
Togolese refugees remain in Benin and Ghana out of the 40,000 who
fled there in 2005

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 8,000 (Ghana)
IDPs: 1,500 (2006)

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Togo is a source, transit, and destination
country for children, women, and men trafficked for forced labor and
sexual exploitation; the majority of victims are children, and
trafficking within the country is more prevalent than international
trafficking; children are trafficked to work as domestic servants,
produce porters, roadside sellers, agricultural laborers, and for
sexual exploitation; Togolese women may be trafficked to Europe for
forced labor and sexual exploitation
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - Togo is placed on the Tier 2 Watch
List for failure to show evidence of increased efforts to combat
trafficking over the past year, particularly in the areas of
prosecution and protection

Illicit drugs:
transit hub for Nigerian heroin and cocaine traffickers; money
laundering not a significant problem

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

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: 1,392 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: 42% 15-64 years: 53% 65 years and over: 5% (2006
est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.01% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
NA

Death rate:
NA deaths/1,000 population

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: 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 - Tokelau and New
Zealand have agreed to a draft constitution as Tokelau moves toward
free association with New Zealand; a UN sponsored referendum on
self-governance, in February 2006, did not produce the two thirds
majority vote necessary for changing the current political status

Government type:
NA

Capital:
none; each atoll has its own administrative center
 time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 Anand SATYANAND
(since 23 August 2006); New Zealand is represented by Administrator
David PAYTON (since 17 October 2006)
head of government: Kolouei O'BRIEN (2006); 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 2005 (next to be held January 2008)

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:

PIF (observer), SPC, 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 (official exchange rate):

NA

GDP - real growth rate:

NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,000 (1993 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Labor force:
440 (2001)

Unemployment rate:
NA%

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

NA%

Budget:
revenues: $430,800
expenditures: $2.8 million; including capital expenditures of NA
(1987 est.)

Agriculture - products:
coconuts, copra, breadfruit, papayas, bananas; pigs, poultry,
goats; fish

Industries:
small-scale enterprises for copra production, woodworking, plaited
craft goods; stamps, coins; fishing

Electricity - production:
 NA kWh

Electricity - production by source:

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

Electricity - consumption:
NA kWh

Exports:
$0 f.o.b. (2002)

Exports - commodities:
stamps, copra, handicrafts

Exports - partners:
New Zealand (2004)

Imports:
$969,200 c.i.f. (2002)

Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, building materials, fuel

Imports - partners:
New Zealand (2004)

Debt - external:
$0

Economic aid - recipient:

about $4 million annually from New Zealand

Currency (code):
New Zealand dollar (NZD)

Currency code:
NZD
Exchange rates:
New Zealand dollars per US dollar - 1.4203 (2005), 1.5087 (2004),
1.7221 (2003), 2.1622 (2002)

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

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 hosts:
298 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:
 NA

Transportation Tokelau

Ports and terminals: none; offshore anchorage only

Military Tokelau

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$66.72 million

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of New Zealand

Transnational Issues Tokelau

Disputes - international:
Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island (Olohega) in its
2006 draft constitution

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Tonga

Introduction Tonga

Background:
Tonga - unique among Pacific nations - never completely lost its
 indigenous governance. The archipelagos of "The Friendly Islands"
were united into a Polynesian kingdom in 1845. Tonga became a
constitutional monarchy in 1875 and a British protectorate in 1900;
it withdrew from the protectorate and joined the Commonwealth of
Nations in 1970. Tonga 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: 20%
permanent crops: 14.67%
other: 65.33% (2005)

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:
114,689 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 35.3% (male 20,679/female 19,843)
15-64 years: 60.5% (male 34,399/female 34,964)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 2,059/female 2,745) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 20.7 years
male: 20.1 years
female: 21.3 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.01% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
25.37 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
5.28 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 12.3 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.63 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.91 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 69.82 years
male: 67.32 years
female: 72.45 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3 children born/woman (2006 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

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% (1999 est.)

Government Tonga

Country name:
 conventional long form: Kingdom of Tonga
conventional short form: Tonga
local long form: Pule'anga Tonga
local short form: Tonga
former: Friendly Islands

Government type:
constitutional monarchy

Capital:
name: Nuku'alofa
geographic coordinates: 21 08 S, 175 12 W
time difference: UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 George TUPOU V (since 11 September 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Feleti SEVELE (since 11
February 2006); Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Viliami TANGI (since 16
May 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet currently consists of 14 members, 10 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 by the monarch

Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Assembly or Fale Alea (32 seats - 14
reserved for cabinet ministers sitting ex officio, 9 for nobles
selected by the country's 33 nobles, and 9 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 (Chief Justice and high court justices from overseas chosen
and approved by Privy Council)

Political parties and leaders:

People's Democratic Party [Tesina FUKO]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Human Rights and Democracy Movement Tonga or HRDMT [Rev. Simote
VEA, chairman]; Public Servant's Association [Finau TUTONE]

International organization participation:

ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, ITUC, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, 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. The country remains
dependent on external aid and remittances from Tongan communities
overseas to offset its trade deficit. Tourism is the second-largest
source of hard currency earnings following remittances. 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,
pressures for democratic reform, and rising civil service
expenditures are major issues facing the government.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$178.5 million (2004 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$244 million (2005 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.4% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,200 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 23% industry: 27% services: 50%

(FY03/04 est.)

Labor force: 33,910 (2003)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 65% industry and services: 35% (1997
est.)

Unemployment rate:
13% (FY03/04 est.)

Population below poverty line:

24% (FY03/04)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

11.1% (2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $56.97 million
expenditures: $83.88 million; including capital expenditures of $1.9
million (FY04/05)

Agriculture - products:
squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa, coffee,
ginger, black pepper; fish

Industries:
tourism, fishing

Industrial production growth rate:

1% (2003 est.)

Electricity - production:
41 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
38.13 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
900 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-4.321 million (FY04/05)

Exports:
$34 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops

Exports - partners:
Japan 41.8%, US 33.4%, NZ 6.3% (2005)

Imports:
 $122 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment, fuels, chemicals

Imports - partners:
NZ 33.4%, Fiji 26.6%, Australia 10.5%, US 8.4% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$40.83 million (yearend)

Debt - external:
$80.7 million (2004)

Economic aid - recipient:

$19.3 million Australia $5.5 million, New Zealand $2.3 million
(FY01/02) (2004)

Currency (code):
pa'anga (TOP)
Currency code:
TOP

Exchange rates:
pa'anga per US dollar - 1.96 (2005), 1.9716 (2004), 2.142 (2003),
2.1952 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

Communications Tonga

Telephones - main lines in use:

11,200 (2002)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

16,400 (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:
18,775 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:
3,000 (2004)

Transportation Tonga

Airports: 6 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 680 km
paved: 184 km
unpaved: 496 km (1999)

Merchant marine:
total: 16 ships (1000 GRT or over) 62,185 GRT/72,960 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 10, liquefied gas 1, livestock
carrier 1, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo
1
foreign-owned: 4 (Australia 1, Norway 1, Switzerland 1, UK 1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
Nuku'alofa

Military Tonga

Military branches:
Tonga Defense Services: Land Force (Royal Guard), Naval Force
(includes Royal Marines, Air Wing) (2006)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (est.) (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 25,420
females ag3 18-49: 24,827 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 19,840
females age 18-49: 21,342 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males ag3 18-49: 1,586
females age 18-49: 1,538 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

NA

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

NA

Transnational Issues Tonga

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Trinidad and Tobago

Introduction Trinidad and Tobago

Background:
First colonized by the Spanish, the islands came under British
control in the early 19th century. The islands' sugar industry was
hurt by the emancipation of the slaves in 1834. Manpower was
replaced with the importation of contract laborers from India
between 1845 and 1917, which boosted sugar production as well as the
cocoa industry. The discovery of oil on Trinidad in 1910 added
another important export. Independence was attained 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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
40 sq km (2003)

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 Dumping, 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:
1,065,842 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.1% (male 109,936/female 104,076)
15-64 years: 71.3% (male 398,657/female 361,093)
65 years and over: 8.6% (male 41,162/female 50,918) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 31.2 years
male: 30.8 years
female: 31.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.87% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
12.9 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
10.57 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

 -11.07 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 25.05 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 26.86 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 23.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 66.76 years
male: 65.71 years
female: 67.86 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.74 children born/woman (2006 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%, other Christian 5.8%, Muslim 5.8%, Seventh Day
Adventist 4%, 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:
name: Port-of-Spain
geographic coordinates: 10 39 N, 61 31 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
9 regional corporations, 2 city corporations, 3 borough
corporations, 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, Chaguanas, Point Fortin
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 (eligible for a second term); election last held 14
February 2003 (next to be held in by January 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; last election held January 2005; seats by
party - PNM 11, DAC 1

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; Caribbean Court of Appeals member; Court of Appeals; the
highest court of appeal is the Privy Council in London

Political parties and leaders:

Congress of the People [Winston Dookeran]; Democratic National
Alliance or DNA (coalition of NAR, DDPT, MND) [Gerald YETMING];
Movement for National Development or MND [Garvin NICHOLAS]; National
Alliance for Reconstruction or NAR [Dr. Carson CHARLES]; People's
National Movement or PNM [Patrick MANNING]; United National Congress
or UNC [Basdeo PANDAY]; Democratic Action Congress 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,
ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO,
ITU, ITUC, 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, 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) 622-6371 through 6376
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 a growing trade surplus. Economic growth in
2006 reached 12.6% as prices for oil, petrochemicals, and liquefied
natural gas remained high, and foreign direct investment continued
to grow to support expanded capacity in the energy sector. The
government is coping with a rise in violent crime.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$20.99 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$14.99 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

12.6% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$19,700 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.7% industry: 57.7% services: 41.5%

(2006 est.)
Labor force: 618,000 (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 9.5%, manufacturing, mining, and

quarrying 9.5%, construction and utilities 12.4%, services 14% (1997 est.)

Unemployment rate:
7% (2006 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):

8% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $6.591 billion
expenditures: $5.649 billion; including capital expenditures of
$117.3 million (2006 est.)

Public debt:
36.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
cocoa, rice, citrus, coffee, vegetables; poultry

Industries:
petroleum, chemicals, tourism, food processing, cement, beverage,
cotton textiles

Industrial production growth rate:

17% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
 6.049 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.8% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0.2% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
5.626 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
150,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
34,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

990 million bbl (1 January 2004)

Natural gas - production:

28.09 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

14.15 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

13.94 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:
733 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$3.259 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$12.5 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, steel products,
fertilizer, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus, flowers

Exports - partners:
US 68.6%, Jamaica 5.4%, Barbados 2.9% (2005)

Imports:
$8.798 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery, transportation equipment, manufactured goods, food, live
animals

Imports - partners:
US 27.2%, Venezuela 13.1%, Brazil 13.1%, Japan 5.4%, Canada 4.1%
(2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$6.888 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$2.838 billion (2006 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 - 6.2944 (2006), 6.2842
(2005), 6.299 (2004), 6.2951 (2003), 6.2487 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September

Communications Trinidad and Tobago

Telephones - main lines in use:

323,500 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

800,000 (2005)

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:

6 (2005)

Televisions:
425,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.tt
Internet hosts:
30,732 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

17 (2000)

Internet users:
160,000 (2005)

Transportation Trinidad and Tobago

Airports: 6 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate 253 km; gas 1,278 km; oil 571 km (2006)

Roadways:
total: 8,320 km
paved: 4,252 km
unpaved: 4,068 km (1999)

Merchant marine:
total: 8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 16,760 GRT/7,941 DWT
by type: liquefied gas 1, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 3, petroleum
tanker 2
foreign-owned: 1 (US 1)
registered in other countries: 1 (Panama 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Pointe-a-Pierre, Point Lisas, Port-of-Spain
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: 290,715
females age 18-49: 258,410 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 202,958
females age 18-49: 173,797 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$66.72 million (2003 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

0.6% (2003 est.)

Transnational Issues Trinidad and Tobago

Disputes - international:
In April 2006, the Permanent Court of Arbitration issues a decision
that delimits a maritime boundary with Trinidad and Tobago and
compels Barbados to enter a fishing agreement that limits Barbadian
fishermen's catches of flying fish in Trinidad and Tobago's
exclusive economic zone; in 2005, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago
agreed to compulsory international arbitration under UNCLOS
challenging whether the northern limit of Trinidad and Tobago's and
Venezuela's maritime boundary extends into Barbadian waters; Guyana
has also expressed its intention to include itself in the
arbitration as the Trinidad and Tobago-Venezuela maritime boundary
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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Tunisia

Introduction Tunisia

Background:
Rivalry between French and Italian interests in Tunisia culminated
in a French invasion in 1881 and the creation of a protectorate.
Agitation for independence in the decades following World War I was
finally successful in getting the French to recognize Tunisia as an
independent state in 1956. The country's first 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.
Tunisia has long 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: 17.05%
permanent crops: 13.08%
other: 69.87% (2005)

Irrigated land:
3,940 sq km (2003)

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:
10,175,014 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 24.6% (male 1,293,235/female 1,212,994)
15-64 years: 68.6% (male 3,504,283/female 3,478,268)
65 years and over: 6.7% (male 327,521/female 358,713) (2006 est.)

Median age:
 total: 27.8 years
male: 27.3 years
female: 28.3 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.99% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
15.52 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
5.13 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 23.84 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 26.7 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 20.77 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.12 years
male: 73.4 years
female: 76.96 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.74 children born/woman (2006 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) (2007)

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:
name: Tunis
geographic coordinates: 36 48 N, 10 11 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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 Shari'a law; some judicial
review of legislative acts in the Supreme Court in joint session

Suffrage:
20 years of age; universal except for active duty military

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
(no term limits); 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:
bicameral system consists of the Chamber of Deputies or Majlis
al-Nuwaab (189 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms) and the Chamber of Advisors (126 seats; 85 members
elected by municipal counselors, deputies, mayors, and professional
associations and trade unions; 41 members are presidential
appointees; members serve six-year terms)
elections: Chamber of Deputies - last held 24 October 2004 (next to
be held October 2009); Chamber of Advisors - last held 3 July 2005
(next to be held July 2011)
election results: Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party -
NA; seats by party - RCD 152, MDS 14, PUP 11, UDU 7, Al-Tajdid 3,
PSL 2; Chamber of Advisors - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - RCD 71 (14 trade union seats vacant (boycotted))

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)]; Green Party for
Progress or PVP [Mongi KHAMASSI]; 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 [Ahmed INOUBLI]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

18 October Group [collective leadership]; Democratic Forum for
 Labor and Liberties or FDTL [Mustapha Ben JAFAAR]; Tunisian League
for Human Rights or LTDH [Mokhtar TRIFI]; note - 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, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, MONUC,
NAM, OAPEC (suspended), OAS (observer), OIC, OIF, ONUB, OPCW, OSCE
(partner), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNWTO,
UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador 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 designate Robert F. GODEC
embassy: Zone Nord-Est des Berges du Lac Nord de Tunis 1053
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [216] 71 107-000
FAX: [216] 71 107-090

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.
Increased rain helped to push GDP growth to an average rate of 5% in
2003-06. However, a recession in agriculture, weak expansion in the
tourism and textile sectors, and increasing import costs due to
rising world energy prices cut growth to 4% in 2006. Tunisia is
gradually removing barriers to trade with the EU. 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):

$87.88 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$32.95 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

4% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$8,600 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 12.8% industry: 31% services: 56.2%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 3.502 million note: shortage of skilled labor (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 55% industry: 23% services: 22%

(1995 est.)

Unemployment rate:
13.9% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

7.4% (2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

 lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 31.8% (1995)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

40 (2005 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

4.6% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

22.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $7.728 billion
expenditures: $8.734 billion; including capital expenditures of $1.6
billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
57.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
olives, olive oil, grain, tomatoes, citrus fruit, sugar beets,
dates, almonds; beef, dairy products

Industries:
petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore), tourism,
textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages

Industrial production growth rate:

4.7% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
11.81 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.5% hydro: 0.5% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
10.97 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
15 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
5 million kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
81,530 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
89,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

1.7 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

2.4 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

3.7 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

1.3 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

77.87 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-760 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
 $11.61 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
clothing, semi-finished goods and textiles, agricultural products,
mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, hydrocarbons

Exports - partners:
France 30.8%, Italy 21%, Germany 9.3%, Spain 5.5%, Libya 4.4% (2005)

Imports:
$13.89 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals,
foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
France 25.8%, Italy 23.1%, Germany 9.6%, Spain 5.6% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$6.646 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$18.37 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$328 million (2004)

Currency (code):
Tunisian dinar (TND)

Currency code:
TND

Exchange rates:
Tunisian dinars per US dollar - 1.31281 (2006), 1.2974 (2005),
1.2455 (2004), 1.2885 (2003), 1.4217 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Tunisia

Telephones - main lines in use:

1,257,500 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

5.681 million (2005)

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:
428 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)
Internet users:
953,800 (2005)

Transportation Tunisia

Airports: 30 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 16 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7

under 914 m: 7 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 2,945 km; oil 1,227 km; refined products 351 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 2,153 km
standard gauge: 471 km 1.435-m gauge
narrow gauge: 1,674 km 1.000-m gauge (65 km electrified)
dual gauge: 8 km 1.435 m and 1.000-m gauges (three rails) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 19,232 km
paved: 12,655 km (including 262 km of expressways)
unpaved: 6,577 km (2004)

Merchant marine:
total: 9 ships (1000 GRT or over) 146,759 GRT/115,118 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 1, cargo 1, chemical tanker 3, passenger/cargo
4 (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Bizerte, Gabes, La Goulette, Skhira

Military Tunisia

Military branches:
 Army, Navy, Republic of Tunisia Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya
al-Jamahiriyah At'tunisia) (2006)

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
females age 20-49: 2,406,362 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 20-49: 2,035,431
females age 20-49: 2,000,757 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 108,817
females age 20-49: 103,087 (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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@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.
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: 29.81% permanent crops: 3.39% other: 66.8% (2005)

Irrigated land:
52,150 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:
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:
 70,413,958 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 25.5% (male 9,133,226/female 8,800,070)
15-64 years: 67.7% (male 24,218,277/female 23,456,761)
65 years and over: 6.8% (male 2,198,073/female 2,607,551) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 28.1 years
male: 27.9 years
female: 28.3 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.06% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
16.62 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
5.97 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 39.69 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 43.27 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 35.93 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 72.62 years
male: 70.18 years
female: 75.18 years (2006 est.)
Total fertility rate:
1.92 children born/woman (2006 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, Dimli (or Zaza), Azeri, Kabardian
note: there is also a substantial Gagauz population in the Europe
part of Turkey

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:
name: Ankara
geographic coordinates: 39 56 N, 32 52 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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, Icel (Mersin), Igdir,
Isparta, Istanbul, Izmir, Kahramanmaras, Karabuk, Karaman, Kars,
Kastamonu, Kayseri, Kilis, Kirikkale, Kirklareli, Kirsehir, Kocaeli,
Konya, Kutahya, Malatya, Manisa, Mardin, 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; 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 single
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 is scheduled to be held 4
November 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%, GP 7.3%, Anavatan 5.1%, DSP 1.1%, and other;
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 2006 - AKP 354, CHP 154, Anavatan
21, DYP 4, SHP 1, HYP 1, GP 1, independents 9, vacant 5

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:

Anavatan Partisi (Motherland Party) or Anavatan [Erkan MUMCU];
Democratic Left Party or DSP [Mehmet Zeki SEZER]; Democratic Society
Party or DTP [Ahmet TURK]; Felicity Party (sometimes translated as
Contentment Party) or SP [Recai KUTAN]; Justice and Development
Party or AKP [Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN]; Nationalist Action Party or MHP
(sometimes translated as Nationalist Movement Party) [Devlet
BAHCELI]; People's Rise Party (Halkin Yukselisi Partisi) or HYP
[Yasar Nuri OZTURK]; Republican People's Party or CHP [Deniz
BAYKAL]; Social Democratic People's Party or SHP [Murat KARAYALCIN];
True Path Party (sometimes translated as Correct Way Party) or DYP
[Mehmet AGAR]; Young Party or GP [Cem Cengiz UZAN]
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 [Ismail Hakki
TOMBUL]; 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 Confederation of Employers' Unions or
TISK [Tugurl KUDATGOBILIK]; Turkish Confederation of Labor or
Turk-Is [Salih KILIC]; Turkish Confederation of Tradesmen and
Craftsmen or TESK [Dervis GUNDAY]; Turkish Industrialists' and
Businessmen's Association or TUSIAD [Omer SABANCI]; 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, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OIC,
OPCW, OSCE, PCA, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO,
UNMIS,
 UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WEU (associate),
WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Nabi

SENSOY 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, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Ross

WILSON 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 still
accounts 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.
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. The economy is turning around with the
implementation of economic reforms, and 2004 GDP growth reached 9%,
followed by roughly 5% annual growth in 2005-06. Inflation fell to
 7.7% in 2005 - a 30-year low, but climbed back to 9.8% in 2006.
Despite the strong economic gains in 2002-06, which were largely due
to renewed investor interest in emerging markets, IMF backing, and
tighter fiscal policy, the economy is still burdened by a high
current account deficit and high debt. The public sector fiscal
deficit exceeds 6% of GDP - due in large part to high interest
payments, which accounted for about 37% of central government
spending in 2004. Prior to 2005, foreign direct investment (FDI) in
Turkey averaged less than $1 billion annually, but further economic
and judicial reforms and prospective EU membership are expected to
boost FDI. Privatization sales are currently approaching $21
billion. Oil began to flow through the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan pipeline
in May 2006, marking a major milestone that will bring up to 1
billion barrels per day from the Caspian to market.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$627.2 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$358.2 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5.2% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$8,900 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 11.2% industry: 29.4% services:

59.4% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 24.8 million note: about 1.2 million Turks work abroad (2006 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 35.9% industry: 22.8% services: 41.2%
(3rd quarter)

Unemployment rate:
10.2% plus underemployment of 4% (2006 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):

9.8% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

20.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $112.3 billion
expenditures: $121.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
64.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
tobacco, cotton, grain, olives, sugar beets, pulse, citrus;
livestock

Industries:
textiles, food processing, autos, electronics, mining (coal,
chromite, copper, boron), steel, petroleum, construction, lumber,
paper
Industrial production growth rate:
5.5% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
143.3 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 79.3% hydro: 20.4% nuclear: 0%

other: 0.3% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
140.3 billion kWh (2005)

Electricity - exports:
1.1 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
500 million kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
50,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
715,100 bbl/day (2005 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:

688 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

22.6 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

 0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

21.73 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

8.495 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-25.99 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$85.21 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
apparel, foodstuffs, textiles, metal manufactures, transport
equipment

Exports - partners:
Germany 12.9%, UK 8.1%, Italy 7.6%, US 6.7%, France 5.2%, Spain
4.1% (2005)

Imports:
$120.9 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery, chemicals, semi-finished goods, fuels, transport
equipment

Imports - partners:
Germany 11.7%, Russia 11%, Italy 6.5%, China 5.9%, France 5%, US
4.6%, UK 4% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$53.42 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$193.6 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

 ODA, $635.8 million (2002)

Currency (code):
Turkish lira (YTL); old Turkish lira (TRL) before 1 January 2005

Currency code:
TRL, YTL

Exchange rates:
Turkish liras per US dollar - 1.44514 (2006), 1.3436 (2005), 1.4255
(2004), 1.5009 (2003), 1.5072 (2002), 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:

18.978 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

43.609 million (2005)

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:
1,313,135 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

50 (2001)

Internet users:
16 million (2005)

Transportation Turkey

Airports: 117 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 89 over 3,047 m: 15 2,438 to 3,047 m: 33

1,524 to 2,437 m: 19 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 4 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 28 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2

914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 17 (2006)

Heliports:
18 (2006)

Pipelines:
 gas 4,621 km; oil 3,543 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 8,697 km
standard gauge: 8,697 km 1.435-m gauge (2,122 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 426,906 km
paved: 177,550 km (including 1,892 km of expressways)
unpaved: 249,356 km (2004)

Waterways:
1,200 km (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 545 ships (1000 GRT or over) 4,772,864 GRT/7,313,070 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 109, cargo 239, chemical tanker 50, container
24, liquefied gas 6, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 50, petroleum
tanker 36, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 24, specialized
tanker 2
foreign-owned: 7 (Cyprus 2, Germany 1, Italy 3, Switzerland 1)
registered in other countries: 411 (Albania 1, Antigua and Barbuda
8, Bahamas 8, Belize 11, Cambodia 26, Comoros 11, Dominica 3,
Georgia 30, Isle of Man 3, North Korea 4, Liberia 1, Libya 2, Malta
123, Marshall Islands 20, Netherlands Antilles 9, Panama 42, Russia
63, Saint Kitts and Nevis 6, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 25,
Slovakia 8, Tuvalu 2, UK 2, unknown 3) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Aliaga, Ambarli, Eregli, Haydarpasa, Istanbul, Izmir, Kocaeli
(Izmit), Toros

Military Turkey

Military branches:
Turkish Armed Forces (TSK): Land Forces, Turkish Naval Forces (Turk
Deniz Kuvvetleri, TDK; includes naval air and naval infantry),
Turkish Air Force (Turk Hava Kuvvetleri, THK) (2006)
Military service age and obligation:
20 years of age (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 20-49: 16,756,323
females age 20-49: 16,051,706 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 20-49: 13,905,901
females age 20-49: 13,335,812 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 679,734
females age 20-49: 659,090 (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 mobile 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: 1-1.2 million (fighting 1984-99 between Kurdish PKK and
Turkish military; most IDPs in southeastern provinces) (2006)

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
and near Istanbul; government maintains strict controls over areas
of legal opium poppy cultivation and output of poppy straw
concentrate; lax enforcement of money-laundering controls

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 Saparmurat 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: 4.51% permanent crops: 0.14% other: 95.35% (2005)

Irrigated land:
18,000 sq km (2003)

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:
5,042,920 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 35.2% (male 913,988/female 863,503)
15-64 years: 60.7% (male 1,501,486/female 1,557,155)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 79,227/female 127,561) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 21.8 years
male: 20.9 years
female: 22.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.83% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
27.61 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
8.6 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 72.56 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 76.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 68 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 61.83 years
male: 58.43 years
female: 65.41 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

 3.37 children born/woman (2006 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% (1999 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:
name: Ashgabat (Ashkhabad)
geographic coordinates: 37 57 N, 58 23 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 (Acting) and Chairman of the Cabinet of
Ministers Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMMEDOV; note - President Saparmurat
NIYAZOV died in office 21 December 2006 and Gurbanguly
BERDIMUHAMMEDOV was named his temporary replacement; the president
is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President (Acting) and Chairman of the Cabinet
 of Ministers Gurbanguly BERDIMUHAMMEDOV
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
election last held 21 June 1992; 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); membership is scheduled to
be increased to 65 seats
elections: People's Council - last held in April 2003 (next to be
held December 2008); Mejlis - last held 19 December 2004 (next to be
held December 2008)
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 National
Democratic Movement of Turkmenistan (NDMT) and the United Democratic
Party of Turkmenistan (UDPT); NDMT 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; UDPT is led by former Foreign Minister Abdy KULIEV and is
based out of Moscow

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFC,
IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO
(correspondent), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Murad 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 (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Jennifer
L. BRUSH
embassy: No. 9 1984 Street (formerly Pushkin Street), Ashgabat,
Turkmenistan 774000
mailing address: 7070 Ashgabat Place, Washington, DC 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 tribal guls (designs used in producing carpets)
stacked above two crossed olive branches similar to the olive
 branches on the UN flag; a white crescent moon representing Islam
with five white stars representing the regions or velayats of
Turkmenistan appear in the upper corner of the field just to the fly
side of the red stripe

Economy Turkmenistan

Economy - overview:
Turkmenistan is a 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 an
almost 50% 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 1998-2005,
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 an
average of 15% per year in 2003-06, largely because of higher
international oil and gas prices. In 2006, Ashgabat raised its
natural gas export prices to its main customer, Russia, from $66 per
thousand cubic meters (tcm) to $100 per tcm. Overall prospects in
the near future are discouraging because of widespread internal
poverty, a poor educational system, government misuse of oil and gas
revenues, and Ashgabat's 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):

$45.11 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$16.16 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

 IMF estimate: 13%
note: official government statistics show 21.4% growth, but these
estimates are widely regarded as unreliable (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$8,900 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 24.4% industry: 33.9% services:

41.7% (2006 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):

11% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

28.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.803 billion
expenditures: $2.063 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
 cotton, grain; livestock

Industries:
natural gas, oil, petroleum products, textiles, food processing

Industrial production growth rate:

22% (2003 est.)

Electricity - production:
10.79 billion kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 99.9% hydro: 0.1% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
9.03 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
1 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
213,700 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
95,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

273 million bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

58.57 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
16.57 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

42 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

2.01 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$321.2 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$5.421 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
gas, crude oil, petrochemicals, cotton fiber, textiles

Exports - partners:
Ukraine 42.8%, Iran 14.8%, Hungary 5.3% (2005)

Imports:
$3.936 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, chemicals, foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
UAE 12.7%, Azerbaijan 11.1%, US 9.6%, Russia 9.1%, Ukraine 7.6%,
Turkey 7.3%, Iran 6.2%, Germany 5.4% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$3.518 billion (2006 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:
11,100 (2006), in recent years the unofficial rate has hovered
around 24,000 to 25,000 Turkmen manats to the dollar; the official
rate has consistently been 5,200 manat to the dollar

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Turkmenistan

Telephones - main lines in use:

495,000 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

52,000 (2004)

Telephone system:
general assessment: poorly developed
domestic: Turkmenistan's telecommunications network remains woefully
underdeveloped; Turkmentelekom, in cooperation with foreign
investors, is planning to upgrade the country's telephone exchanges
and install a new digital switching system
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:
585 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1

Internet users:
36,000 (2005)

Transportation Turkmenistan

Airports: 29 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 22 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11

1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 4 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)
Pipelines:
gas 6,441 km; oil 1,361 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 2,440 km
broad gauge: 2,440 km 1.520-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 24,000 km
paved: 19,488 km
unpaved: 4,512 km (1999)

Waterways:
1,300 km (Amu Darya and Kara Kum canal important inland waterways)
(2006)

Merchant marine:
total: 8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 22,870 GRT/25,801 DWT
by type: cargo 4, combination ore/oil 1, petroleum tanker 2,
refrigerated cargo 1 (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Turkmenbasy

Military Turkmenistan

Military branches:
Ground Forces, Artillery and Rocket Forces, Navy, Air and Air
Defense Forces (2006)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service
obligation - two years (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,132,833
females age 18-49: 1,162,569 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

 males age 18-49: 759,978
females age 18-49: 940,179 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 56,532
females age 18-49: 55,413 (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; field
demarcation of the boundaries with Kazakhstan commenced in 2005 but
Caspian seabed delimitation remains stalled with Azerbaijan, Iran
and Kazakhstan due to Turkmenistan's indecision over how to allocate
the sea's waters and seabed

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 11,173 (Tajikistan) (2006)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

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:
21,152 (July 2006 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 31.9% (male 3,432/female 3,312)
15-64 years: 64.4% (male 7,155/female 6,457)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 362/female 434) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 27.5 years
male: 28.3 years
female: 26.8 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

2.82% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
21.84 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
4.21 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

10.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 15.18 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 17.55 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 12.7 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.73 years
male: 72.48 years
female: 77.08 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

 3.05 children born/woman (2006 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%, Anglican 18%, Methodist 16%, 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, The Bahamas, and US

Government Turks and Caicos Islands

Country name:
conventional long form: none
 conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands
abbreviation: TCI

Dependency status:
overseas territory of the UK

Government type:
NA

Capital:
name: Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)
geographic coordinates: 21 28 N, 71 08 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last
Sunday in October

Administrative divisions:
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Independence:
none (overseas territory of the UK)

National holiday:
Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)

Constitution:
Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution Order 2006 (effective 9
August 2006)

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 1952),
represented by Governor Richard TAUWHARE (since 11 July 2005)
 head of government: Premier Michael Eugene MISICK (since 15 August
2003); note - the office of premier was created in the new
constitution
cabinet: Cabinet consists of the governor, the premier, six
ministers appointed by the governor from among the members of the
Legislative Council, and the attorney general
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by
the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party is appointed premier by the governor

Legislative branch:
unicameral Legislative Council (21 seats of which 15 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; Court of Appeal

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, offshore
financial services, and fishing. Most capital goods and food for
domestic consumption are imported. The US is the leading source of
tourists, accounting for more than three-quarters of the 175,000
visitors that arrived in 2004. Major sources of government revenue
also include fees from offshore financial activities and customs
receipts.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$216 million (2002 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

NA

GDP - real growth rate:

4.9% (2000 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$11,500 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Labor force: 4,848 (1990 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: note: 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:
7 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
6.51 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
 80 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$169.2 million (2000)

Exports - commodities:
lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells

Exports - partners:
US, UK (2004)

Imports:
$175.6 million (2000)

Imports - commodities:
food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction
materials

Imports - partners:
US, UK (2004)

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; GSM wireless service
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 hosts:
2,735 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

14 (2000)

Internet users:
NA

Transportation Turks and Caicos Islands

Airports: 8 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 121 km
paved: 24 km
unpaved: 97 km (2003)

Ports and terminals:

Grand Turk, Providenciales

Military Turks and Caicos Islands

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$192.8 million

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 a 12-year period.

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: 66.67%
other: 33.33% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

Natural hazards:
severe tropical storms are usually rare, but, in 1997, there were
three cyclones; low level of islands make them 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
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, Whaling
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:
11,810 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 30.2% (male 1,819/female 1,752)
15-64 years: 64.7% (male 3,715/female 3,923)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 228/female 373) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 24.6 years
male: 23.6 years
female: 26 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.51% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
22.18 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
7.11 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 19.47 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 22.27 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 68.32 years
male: 66.08 years
female: 70.66 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.98 children born/woman (2006 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:
NA

Government Tuvalu

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Tuvalu
 local long form: none
local 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

Capital:
name: Funafuti
geographic coordinates: 8 30 S, 179 12 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
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 Apisai IELEMIA (since 14 August
2006)
 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 14 August 2006 (next to be held
following parliamentary elections in 2010)
election results: Apisai IELEMIA elected Prime Minister in a
Parliamentary election on 14 August 2006

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 3 August 2006 (next to be held in 2010)
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,
SPC, 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, NY 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 remittances from seamen on merchant
ships abroad. About 1,000 Tuvaluans are being repatriated from
Nauru, with the decline of phosphate resources there. 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%. Tuvalu derives around $1.5 million per year from
the lease of its ".tv" Internet domain name. 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):

$14.94 million (2002 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

 $14.94 million (2002)

GDP - real growth rate:

1.2% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,600 (2002 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 16.6% industry: 27.2% services:

56.2%

Labor force: 3,615 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: note: 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):

3.9% (2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $22.78 million
expenditures: $14.23 million; including capital expenditures of $4.2
million (2002)

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

Current account balance:

$2.323 million (1998)

Exports:
$1 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
copra, fish

Exports - partners:
Germany 60.5%, Italy 20.1%, Fiji 6.9% (2005)

Imports:
$9.186 million c.i.f. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
food, animals, mineral fuels, machinery, manufactured goods

Imports - partners:
Fiji 46.1%, Japan 18.9%, China 18.2%, Australia 7.7%, NZ 4.1% (2005)

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 - 1.3095
(2005), 1.3598 (2004), 1.5419 (2003), 1.8406 (2002)

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

Airports:
1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

 total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways:
total: 8 km
paved: 8 km (2002)

Merchant marine:
total: 52 ships (1000 GRT or over) 196,790 GRT/256,436 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 3, cargo 37, chemical tanker 1, container 2,
passenger 3, passenger/cargo 1, petroleum tanker 4, specialized
tanker 1
foreign-owned: 43 (China 23, Hong Kong 8, Kenya 1, Russia 2,
Singapore 6, Thailand 1, Turkey 2) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Funafuti

Military Tuvalu

Military branches:
no regular military forces; 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Uganda

Introduction Uganda

Background:
The colonial boundaries created by Britain to delimit Uganda
grouped together a wide range of ethnic groups with different
political systems and cultures. These differences prevented the
establishment of a working political community after independence
was achieved 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. The rule of Yoweri MUSEVENI since 1986
has brought relative stability and economic growth to Uganda. 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: 21.57% permanent crops: 8.92% other: 69.51% (2005)

Irrigated land:
90 sq km (2003)

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:
28,195,754
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
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 50% (male 7,091,763/female 6,996,385)
15-64 years: 47.8% (male 6,762,071/female 6,727,230)
65 years and over: 2.2% (male 266,931/female 351,374) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 15 years
male: 14.9 years
female: 15.1 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.37% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
47.35 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
12.24 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.4 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 66.15 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 69.51 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 62.69 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 52.67 years
male: 51.68 years
female: 53.69 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.71 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)
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:
name: Kampala
 geographic coordinates: 0 19 N, 32 25 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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
note: as of a July 2005, 13 new districts were reportedly added
bringing the total up to 69; the new districts are Amolatar, Amuria,
Budaka, Butaleja, Ibanda, Kaabong, Kabingo, Kaliro, Kiruhura,
Koboko, Manafwa, Mityana, Nakaseke; a total of ten more districts
are in the process of being added

Independence:
9 October 1962 (from UK)

National holiday:
Independence Day, 9 October (1962)

Constitution:
8 October 1995; in 2005 the constitution was amended removing
presidential term limits and legalizing a multiparty political system

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 23 February 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI elected president;
percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta MUSEVENI 59.3%, Kizza
BESIGYE 37.4%, other 3.3%

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (332 members - 215 directly elected by
popular vote, 104 nominated by legally established special interest
groups [women 79, army 10, disabled 5, youth 5, labor 5], 13 ex
officio members; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 23 February 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
NRM 191, FDC 37, UPC 9, DP 8, CD 1, JEEMA 1, Independents 36, other
49

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:

Conservative Party or CP [Ken LUKYAMUZI]; Democratic Party or DP
[Kizito SSEBAANA]; Forum for Democratic Change or FDC [Kizza
BESIGYE]; Justice Forum or JEEMA [Muhammad Kibirige MAYANJA];
National Democrats Forum [Chapaa KARUHANGA]; National Resistance
Movement or NRM [Yoweri MUSEVENI]; Ugandan People's Congress or
UPC
[Miria OBOTE]
note: a national referendum in July 2005 opened the way for Uganda's
transition to a multi-party political system
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Popular Resistance Against a Life President or PRALP

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, EADB, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt,
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IGAD, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC,
IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, PCA,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCO,
WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Perezi Karukubiro KAMUNANWIRE
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 Steven BROWNING
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. 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.
Growth in 2003-06 reflected an upturn in Uganda's export markets.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$51.89 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$8.502 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

5% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,800 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 29.4% industry: 22.1% services:

48.5% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 13.76 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 82% industry: 5% services: 13% (1999

est.)

Unemployment rate:
NA%
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:

43 (1999)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

23.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.943 billion
expenditures: $1.994 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
29.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), potatoes, corn,
millet, pulses, cut flowers; beef, goat meat, milk, poultry

Industries:
sugar, brewing, tobacco, cotton textiles; cement, steel production

Industrial production growth rate:

5.2% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
1.894 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.9% hydro: 99.1% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)
Electricity - consumption:
1.596 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
165 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
10,890 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-423 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$961.7 million f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
coffee, fish and fish products, tea, cotton, flowers, horticultural
products; gold

Exports - partners:
Kenya 15.1%, Belgium 9.9%, Netherlands 9.6%, France 7.1%, Germany
5.1% (2005)
Imports:
$1.945 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
capital equipment, vehicles, petroleum, medical supplies; cereals

Imports - partners:
Kenya 32.6%, UAE 8.8%, South Africa 5.8%, India 5.8%, China 5.3%,
UK 4.5%, US 4.2%, Japan 4.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.4 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$1.456 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$959 million (2003)

Currency (code):
Ugandan shilling (UGX)

Currency code:
UGX

Exchange rates:
Ugandan shillings per US dollar - 1,855.59 (2006), 1,780.7 (2005),
1,810.3 (2004), 1,963.7 (2003), 1,797.6 (2002)

Fiscal year:
1 July - 30 June

Communications Uganda

Telephones - main lines in use:

100,800 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.525 million (2005)
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:
1,365 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

2 (2000)

Internet users:
500,000 (2005)

Transportation Uganda

Airports: 31 (2006)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 5 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914
to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 26 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m:

6 914 to 1,523 m: 11 under 914 m: 8 (2006)

Railways: total: 1,244 km narrow gauge: 1,244 km 1.000-m gauge (2005)

Roadways: total: 70,746 km paved: 16,272 km unpaved: 54,474 km (2003)

Waterways:
on Lake Victoria, 200 km on Lake Albert, Lake Kyoga, and parts of
Albert Nile (2005)

Ports and terminals:

Entebbe, Jinja, Port Bell

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
females age 18-49: 4,855,858 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,889,808
females age 18-49: 2,780,135 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$192.8 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

 2.2% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Uganda

Disputes - international:
Uganda is subject to armed fighting among hostile ethnic groups,
rebels, armed gangs, militias, and various government forces that
extend across its borders; Uganda hosts 209,860 Sudanese, 27,560
Congolese, and 19,710 Rwandan refugees, while Ugandan refugees as
well as members of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) seek shelter in
southern Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Garamba
National Park; LRA forces have also attacked Kenyan villages across
the border

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 212,857 (Sudan), 20,564 (Democratic
Republic of Congo), 20,213 (Rwanda)
IDPs: 1.2-1.7 million (350,000 IDPs returned in 2006 following
ongoing peace talks between the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and
Government of Uganda) (2006)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Ukraine

Introduction Ukraine

Background:
Ukraine was the center of the first eastern Slavic state, Kyivan
 Rus, which during the 10th and 11th centuries was the largest and
most powerful state in Europe. Weakened by internecine quarrels and
Mongol invasions, Kyivan Rus was incorporated into the Grand Duchy
of Lithuania and eventually into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
The cultural and religious legacy of Kyivan 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. Subsequent internal
squabbles in the YUSHCHENKO camp allowed his rival Viktor
YANUKOVYCH
to stage a comeback in parliamentary elections and become prime
minister in August of 2006.

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: 53.8%
permanent crops: 1.5%
other: 44.7% (2005)

Irrigated land:
22,080 sq km (2003)

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:
 46,710,816 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 14.1% (male 3,377,868/female 3,203,738)
15-64 years: 69.3% (male 15,559,998/female 16,831,486)
65 years and over: 16.6% (male 2,635,651/female 5,102,075) (2006
est.)

Median age: total: 39.2 years male: 35.9 years female: 42.2 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.6% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
8.82 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
14.39 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.43 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female
total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 9.9 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 11.48 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 8.22 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 69.98 years
male: 64.71 years
female: 75.59 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

 1.17 children born/woman (2006 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 - Kyiv 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.)

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:
name: Kyiv (Kiev)
geographic coordinates: 50 26 N, 30 31 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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, Kyiv**, Kyiv, 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); 22 January (1918), the day
Ukraine first declared its independence (from Soviet Russia) and the
day the short-lived Western and Central Ukrainian republics united
(1919), 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 Viktor YANUKOVYCH (since 4 August
2006); First Deputy Prime Minister - Mykola AZAROV (since 5 August
2006)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers selected by the prime minister; the
only exceptions are the foreign and defense ministers, who are
chosen by the president
note: there is also a National Security and Defense Council or NSDC
originally created in 1992 as the National Security Council; the
NSDC staff is tasked with developing national security policy on
domestic and international matters and advising the president; a
Presidential Secretariat helps draft presidential edicts and
provides policy support to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second 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; under constitutional reforms that went into effect 1
January 2006, the majority in parliament takes the lead in naming
the prime minister
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; allocated
on a proportional basis to those parties that gain 3% or more of the
 national electoral vote; members serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 26 March 2006 (next to be held March 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party/bloc in 2002 - Party of
Regions 32.1%, Yuliya Tymoshenko Bloc 22.3%, Our Ukraine 13.9%, SPU
5.7%, CPU 3.7%; seats by party/bloc - Party of Regions 186, Yuliya
Tymoshenko Bloc 129, Our Ukraine 81, SPU 33, CPU 21

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; Constitutional Court

Political parties and leaders:

Communist Party of Ukraine or CPU [Petro SYMONENKO]; Fatherland
Party (Batkivshchyna) [Yuliya TYMOSHENKO]; People's Party Our
Ukraine [Viktor YUSHCHENKO]; Party of Industrialists and
Entrepreneurs [Anatoliy KINAKH]; People's Movement of Ukraine (Rukh)
[Borys TARASYUK]; People's Party [Volodymyr LYTVYN]; PORA! (It's
Time!) party [Vladyslav KASKIV]; Progressive Socialist Party
[Natalya VITRENKO]; Reforms and Order Party [Viktor PYNZENYK]; Party
of Regions [Viktor YANUKOVYCH]; Republican Party [Yuriy BOYKO];
Social Democratic Party (United) or SDPU(o) [Viktor MEDVEDCHUK];
Socialist Party of Ukraine or SPU [Oleksandr MOROZ, chairman];
Ukrainian People's Party [Yuriy KOSTENKO]; Viche [Inna BOHUSLOVSKA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Committee of Voters of Ukraine [Ihor POPOV]; Peoples' Self-Defense
[Yuriy LUTSENKO]; Ne Tak [Leonid KRAVCHUK]

International organization participation:

Australia Group, BSEC, CBSS (observer), CE, CEI, CIS, EAEC
(observer), EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC,
ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAIA (observer), MIGA, MONUC, NAM
(observer), NSG, OAS (observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PCA,
PFP, SECI (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL,
UNMIS, UNMOVIC, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO,
WTO (observer), ZC
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Oleh V. SHAMSHUR
chancery: 3350 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20007
telephone: [1] (202) 333-0606
FAX: [1] (202) 333-0817
consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador William B. TAYLOR
embassy: 10 Yurii Kotsiubynsky Street, 04053 Kyiv
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 grain fields 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 was
ratified 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. A dispute with Russia over pricing in late 2005 and early 2006
led to a temporary gas cut-off; Ukraine concluded a deal with Russia in January
2006 that almost doubled the price Ukraine pays for Russian gas, and could cost
the Ukrainian economy $1.4-2.2 billion. Ukrainian Government officials
eliminated most tax and customs privileges in a March 2005 budget law,
bringing more economic activity out of Ukraine's large shadow economy, but
more improvements are needed, including fighting corruption, developing
capital markets, and improving the legislative framework for businesses.
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 growth was
6% in 2006, up from 2.4% in 2005 mainly because of high steel prices
worldwide and strong demand for Ukrainian goods. The privatization of the
Kryvoryzhstal steelworks in late 2005 produced $4.8 billion in windfall revenue
for the government. Some of the proceeds were used to finance the budget
deficit, some to recapitalize two state banks, some to retire public debt, and the
rest may be used to finance future deficits. Although the economy is likely to
expand in 2007, long-term growth could be threatened by the government's plans
to reinstate tax, trade, and customs privileges and to maintain restrictive grain
export quotas.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$355.8 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$81.53 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$7,600 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 17.5% industry: 42.7% services:

39.8% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 21.69 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 24% industry: 32% services: 44%

(1996)
Unemployment rate:
2.9% officially registered; large number of unregistered or
underemployed workers; the International Labor Organization
calculates that Ukraine's real unemployment level is around 9-10%
(2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

29% (2003 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 24.8% (2005)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

29 (1999)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

8.5% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

22.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $33.41 billion
expenditures: $35.6 billion; note - this is the consolidated budget
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
17.3% of GDP (2006 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:

6.3% (2006 est.)
Electricity - production:
177.3 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 48.6% hydro: 7.9% nuclear:

43.5% other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
158.9 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
12 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
6 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
85,090 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
370,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - exports:
8,891 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports:
444,600 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves:

395 million bbl (9 November 2004)

Natural gas - production:

19.2 billion cu m (2004)

Natural gas - consumption:

86.4 billion cu m (2004)

Natural gas - exports:

3.9 billion cu m (2004)

Natural gas - imports:

 67.2 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.121 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-1.933 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$39.12 billion (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
ferrous and nonferrous metals, fuel and petroleum products,
chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, food products

Exports - partners:
Russia 22.1%, Turkey 6%, Italy 5.6% (2005)

Imports:
$44.81 billion (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
energy, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports - partners:
Russia 35.5%, Germany 9.4%, Turkmenistan 7.4%, China 5% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$20.69 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$41.57 billion (30 June 2006 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 - 5.05 (2006), 5.1247 (2005), 5.3192 (2004),
5.3327 (2003), 5.3266 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Ukraine

Telephones - main lines in use:

12.142 million (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

17.214 million (2005)

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 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, FM, shortwave combined 524 (2006)
Radios:
45.05 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

at least 647 (2006)

Televisions:
18.05 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.ua

Internet hosts:
229,110 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

260 (2001)

Internet users:
5,278,100 (2005)

Transportation Ukraine

Airports: 499 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 193 over 3,047 m: 13 2,438 to 3,047 m: 55
1,524 to 2,437 m: 27 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 93 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 306 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437
m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 274 (2006)

Heliports:
10 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 19,951 km; oil 4,514 km; refined products 4,211 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 22,473 km
 broad gauge: 22,473 km 1.524-m gauge (9,250 km electrified) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 169,477 km
paved: 164,732 km (including 15 km of expressways)
unpaved: 4,745 km (2004)

Waterways:
2,253 km (most on Dnieper River) (2006)

Merchant marine:
total: 202 ships (1000 GRT or over) 782,456 GRT/911,201 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 151, container 4, passenger 6,
passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 11, roll
on/roll off 7, specialized tanker 2
foreign-owned: 1 (Russia 1)
registered in other countries: 160 (Belize 7, Cambodia 17, Comoros
14, Cyprus 4, Dominica 2, Georgia 22, Liberia 16, Malta 24, Moldova
3, Mongolia 1, Panama 8, Russia 11, Saint Kitts and Nevis 3, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 12, Sierra Leone 4, Slovakia 8, unknown
4) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Feodosiya, Kerch, Kherson, Mariupol', Mykolayiv, Odesa, Reni,
Yuzhnyy

Military Ukraine

Military branches:
Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air Forces (Viyskovo-Povitryani Syly),
Air Defense Forces (2002)

Military service age and obligation: 18-25 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: 11,020,222
females age 18-49: 11,370,687 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 7,376,050
females age 18-49: 9,313,385 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 382,751
females age 18-49: 365,599 (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 delimitation 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 with preparations for demarcation underway; the dispute
over the boundary between Russia and Ukraine through the Kerch
Strait and Sea of Azov remains unresolved despite a December 2003
framework agreement and ongoing expert-level discussions; Moldova
and Ukraine operate joint customs posts to monitor transit of people
and commodities through Moldova's break-away Transnistria Region,
which remains under OSCE supervision; the ICJ gave Ukraine until
December 2006 to reply and Romania until June 2007 to rejoin in
their dispute submitted in 2004 over Ukrainian-administered
Zmiyinyy/Serpilor (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary;
Romania opposes Ukraine's reopening of a navigation canal from the
Danube border through 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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: 83,600 sq km
land: 83,600 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: 0.77% permanent crops: 2.27% other: 96.96% (2005)
Irrigated land:
760 sq km (2003)

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:
2,602,713 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 24.9% (male 331,012/female 317,643)
15-64 years: 71.2% (male 1,125,286/female 726,689)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 74,700/female 27,383)
note: 73.9% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
(2006 est.)

Median age: total: 28.1 years male: 34.8 years female: 23.3 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.52% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
18.96 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
4.4 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0.66 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.55 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.73 male(s)/female
total population: 1.43 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 14.09 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 16.57 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.48 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 75.44 years
male: 72.92 years
female: 78.08 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.88 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Abu Dhabi
geographic coordinates: 24 28 N, 54 22 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 (Quwayn)

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 judicial 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 KHALIFA bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan (since 3
November 2004), ruler of Abu Zaby (Abu Dhabi) (since 4 November
2004); Vice President and Prime Minister MUHAMMAD bin Rashid
al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister and Vice President MUHAMMAD bin
Rashid al-Maktum (since 5 January 2006); Deputy Prime Ministers
SULTAN bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan (since 20 November 1990) and 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 FSC for
five-year terms (no term limits); 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: KHALIFA bin Zayid al-Nuhayyan elected president by
a unanimous vote of the FSC; MUHAMMAD 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: elections for one half of the FNC (the other half remains
appointed) are scheduled for December 2006; a new electoral college
- a body of 6,689 Emiratis (including 1,189 women) appointed by the
rulers of the seven emirates - are the only eligible voters and
candidates; a total of 456 FNC electoral college members including
65 women are running for FNC seats
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, IPU, 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 Saqr Ghobash Said GHOBASH
chancery: 3522 International Court NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC
20008
telephone: [1] (202) 243-2400
FAX: [1] (202) 243-2432
consulate(s): New York, Houston

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Michele J. 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) 414-2603
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. 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. Higher oil revenue, strong liquidity, and cheap credit
in 2005-06 led to a surge in asset prices (shares and real estate)
and consumer inflation. Rising prices are increasing the operating
costs for businesses in the UAE and degrading the UAE's allure to
foreign investors. Dependence on a large expatriate workforce and
oil are significant long-term challenges to the UAE's economy.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$129.4 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$110.6 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

 10.2% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$49,700 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 2.3% industry: 61.9% services: 35.8%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 2.968 million (2006 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):

10% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

24.3% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $57.85 billion
expenditures: $36.89 billion; including capital expenditures of $3.4
billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
17.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
dates, vegetables, watermelons; poultry, eggs, dairy products; fish
Industries:
petroleum and petrochemicals; fishing, aluminum, cement,
fertilizers, commercial ship repair, construction materials, some
boat building, handicrafts, textiles

Industrial production growth rate:

4% (2000)

Electricity - production:
49.52 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
46.05 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
2.396 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
400,000 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 (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

46.29 billion cu m (2004 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
40.31 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

7.18 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

1.2 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

6.006 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$26.89 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$137.1 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
crude oil 45%, natural gas, reexports, dried fish, dates

Exports - partners:
Japan 24.4%, South Korea 9.7%, Thailand 5.5%, India 4.3% (2005)

Imports:
$88.89 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food

Imports - partners:
UK 10%, China 9.7%, US 9.4%, India 9.2%, Germany 5.9%, Japan 5.4%,
France 4.7%, Singapore 4.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$25.51 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$39.1 billion (2006 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 - 3.673 (2006), 3.6725 (2005), 3.6725
(2004), 3.6725 (2003), 3.6725 (2002), note, officially pegged to the
US dollar since February 2002

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications United Arab Emirates

Telephones - main lines in use:

1.237 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

4.535 million (2005)

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:
337,092 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:
1,397,200 (2005)

Transportation United Arab Emirates

Airports: 37 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 23
over 3,047 m: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 14
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: 4 (2006)

Heliports:
4 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate 520 km; gas 2,580 km; liquid petroleum gas 300 km; oil
2,950 km; oil/gas/water 5 km; refined products 156 km (2006)

Roadways:
total: 1,088 km
paved: 1,088 km (including 253 km of expressways) (1999)

Merchant marine:
total: 58 ships (1000 GRT or over) 656,003 GRT/891,837 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 6, cargo 7, chemical tanker 5, container 6,
liquefied gas 1, passenger/cargo 6, petroleum tanker 20, roll
on/roll off 6, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 10 (Greece 2, Kuwait 8)
registered in other countries: 259 (Bahamas 16, Barbados 1, Belize
5, Cambodia 1, Comoros 6, Cyprus 11, Dominica 2, Georgia 1, Hong
Kong 2, India 6, Iran 1, Jordan 11, Kiribati 1, North Korea 6,
Liberia 18, Malta 5, Marshall Islands 3, Mexico 1, Mongolia 5,
Norway 1, Panama 105, Philippines 1, Saint Kitts and Nevis 19, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 11, Saudi Arabia 1, Sierra Leone 3,
Singapore 7, Somalia 1, Sri Lanka 2, Syria 1, unknown 5) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

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

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
females age 18-49: 497,394 (includes non-nationals; 2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 526,671
females age 18-49: 419,975 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males: 30,706
females age 18-49: 29,617 (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:
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 detailed maps showing
the alignment have not been published; Iran and UAE dispute Tunb
Islands and Abu Musa Island, which Iran occupies

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: the United Arab Emirates is a destination
country for men, women, and children trafficked from South and East
Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East for involuntary
servitude and for sexual exploitation; an estimated 10,000 women
from sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe, South and East Asia, Iraq,
Iran, and Morocco may be victims of sex trafficking in the UAE;
women also migrate from Africa, and South and Southeast Asia to work
as domestic servants, but may have their passports confiscated, be
denied permission to leave the place of employment in the home, or
face sexual or physical abuse by their employers; men from South
Asia come to the UAE to work in the construction industry, but may
 be subjected to conditions of involuntary servitude as they are
coerced to pay off recruitment and travel costs, sometimes having
their wages denied for months at a time; victims of child camel
jockey trafficking may still remain in the UAE, despite a July 2005
law banning the practice; while all identified victims were
repatriated at the government's expense to their home countries,
questions persist as to the effectiveness of the ban and the true
number of victims
tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List - UAE is placed on the Tier 2 Watch
List for its failure to show increased efforts to combat trafficking
in 2005, particularly in its efforts to address the large-scale
trafficking of foreign girls and women for commercial sexual
exploitation

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, but informal
banking remains unregulated

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@United Kingdom

Introduction United Kingdom

Background:
As the dominant industrial and maritime power of the 19th century,
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 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
and the Irish republic withdraw from the union. 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 wrangling 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: 23.23%
permanent crops: 0.2%
other: 76.57% (2005)

Irrigated land:
1,700 sq km (2003)

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 toward 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 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:
60,609,153 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 17.5% (male 5,417,663/female 5,161,714)
15-64 years: 66.8% (male 20,476,571/female 19,988,959)
65 years and over: 15.8% (male 4,087,020/female 5,477,226) (2006
est.)

Median age: total: 39.3 years male: 38.2 years female: 40.4 years (2006 est.)
Population growth rate:
0.28% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
10.71 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
10.13 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

2.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 5.08 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 5.67 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 4.47 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 78.54 years
male: 76.09 years
female: 81.13 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.66 children born/woman (2006 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 (of which 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%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 est.)

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:
name: London
 geographic coordinates: 51 30 N, 0 10 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

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 (or unitary authorities): 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, North Yorkshire,
Northamptonshire, Northumberland, 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 (historic)
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, Londonderry (Derry)
counties (historic): County Antrim, County Armagh, County Down,
County Fermanagh, County Londonderry, and County Tyrone are still
referred to in common parlance, but do not constitute a level of
administration
Scotland: 32 council areas: Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus,
Argyll and Bute, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee
City, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East
Renfrewshire, City of Edinburgh, Eilean Siar (Western Isles),
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, The Scottish Borders, West Dunbartonshire,
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: Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Denbighshire, Flintshire,
Isle of Anglesey, 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, 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 nonbinding 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; 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 10 February 2006 party by seat in the House
of Commons: Labor 353, Conservative 196, Liberal Democrat 63,
Scottish National Party/Plaid Cymru 9, Democratic Unionist 9, Sinn
Fein 5 (but refuse to vote), other 11
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 [David CAMERON]; Democratic
Unionist Party (Northern Ireland) [Rev. Ian PAISLEY]; Labor Party
[Anthony (Tony) BLAIR]; Liberal Democrats [Sir Menzies CAMPBELL];
Party of Wales (Plaid Cymru) [Ieuan Wyn JONES]; 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, Arctic Council (observer), AsDB, Australia Group, BIS, C,
CBSS (observer), CDB, CE, CERN, EAPC, EBRD, EIB, ESA, EU, FAO, G- 5,
G- 7, G- 8, G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IEA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO,
ITU, MIGA, MONUC, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW,
OSCE,
Paris Club, PCA, PIF (partner), SECI (observer), UN, UN Security
Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFICYP, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIL,
UNMIS,
UNMOVIC, UNOMIG, UNRWA, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WEU, WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO, ZC

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador David G. MANNING; note - will be
replaced the Sir Nigel E. SHEINWALD in the autumn of 2007
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, San Francisco
consulate(s): Dallas, Denver, Miami, Orlando

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert Holmes TUTTLE
embassy: 24 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, and British
overseas territories

Economy United Kingdom

Economy - overview:
The UK, a leading trading power and financial center, is one of the
quintet 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, then slowed to 1.7% in 2005 and 2.6% in 2006. 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 public opinion polls show a majority of Britons are 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 and a widening public deficit.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$1.903 trillion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$2.341 trillion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

2.7% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$31,400 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 25.6% services: 73.4%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 30.4 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 1.5% industry: 19.1% services: 79.5%

(2004)

Unemployment rate:
5.4% (2006 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):

2.3% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

17.2% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
 revenues: $973 billion
expenditures: $1.04 trillion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
42.2% of GDP (2006 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, other consumer goods

Industrial production growth rate:

0% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
363.2 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 73.8% hydro: 0.9% nuclear:

23.7% other: 1.6% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
345.2 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
2.3 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
9.8 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
2.075 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
1.827 million bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:
1.498 million bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
1.084 million bbl/day (2003)

Oil - proved reserves:

4.5 billion bbl (31 December 2004)

Natural gas - production:

95.97 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

98.47 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

9.8 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

12.3 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

589 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-57.68 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$468.8 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals; food, beverages, tobacco

Exports - partners:
US 15.1%, Germany 10.5%, France 8.9%, Ireland 7.3%, Netherlands
5.5%, Belgium 5%, Spain 4.4% (2005)

Imports:
$603 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)
Imports - commodities:
manufactured goods, machinery, fuels; foodstuffs

Imports - partners:
Germany 12.8%, US 8.7%, France 7.1%, Netherlands 6.6%, China 5%,
Norway 4.7%, Belgium 4.6%, Italy 4% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$38.83 billion (August 2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$8.28 trillion (30 June 2006)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $7.9 billion (2004)

Currency (code):
British pound (GBP)

Currency code:
GBP

Exchange rates:
British pounds per US dollar - 0.54413 (2006), 0.55 (2005), 0.5462
(2004), 0.6125 (2003), 0.6672 (2002)

Fiscal year:
6 April - 5 April

Communications United Kingdom

Telephones - main lines in use:

32.943 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

61.091 million (2004)

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:
6,064,860 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

more than 400 (2000)

Internet users:
37.6 million (2005)

Transportation United Kingdom

Airports: 471 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 334 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 33
1,524 to 2,437 m: 149 914 to 1,523 m: 86 under 914 m: 58 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 137 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437
m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 112 (2006)

Heliports:
11 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate 565 km; condensate/gas 6 km; gas 21,575 km; liquid
petroleum gas 59 km; oil 5,094 km; oil/gas/water 161 km; refined
products 4,444 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 17,156 km
standard gauge: 16,814 km 1.435-m gauge (5,384 km electrified)
broad gauge: 342 km 1.600-m gauge (in Northern Ireland) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 388,008 km
paved: 388,008 km (including 3,520 km of expressways) (2005)

Waterways:
3,200 km (620 km used for commerce) (2003)

Merchant marine:
total: 449 ships (1000 GRT or over) 11,049,317 GRT/11,731,680 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 24, cargo 54, chemical tanker 50, container
146, liquefied gas 17, passenger 9, passenger/cargo 65, petroleum
tanker 33, refrigerated cargo 17, roll on/roll off 26, vehicle
carrier 8
foreign-owned: 215 (Australia 3, Denmark 46, Finland 1, France 4,
Germany 76, Greece 7, Ireland 1, Italy 4, Netherlands 3, Norway 36,
NZ 1, South Africa 5, Spain 1, Sweden 15, Switzerland 3, Taiwan 1,
Turkey 2, US 6)
registered in other countries: 368 (Algeria 13, Antigua and Barbuda
7, Argentina 4, Australia 2, Bahamas 69, Barbados 5, Belgium 2,
Bermuda 9, Brazil 1, Brunei 8, Cape Verde 1, Cayman Islands 10,
Cyprus 6, Denmark 1, Finland 1, French Southern and Antarctic Lands
1, Georgia 4, Gibraltar 4, Greece 9, Hong Kong 43, India 1,
Indonesia 2, Italy 3, South Korea 2, Liberia 41, Malta 8, Marshall
 Islands 12, Morocco 1, Netherlands 19, Netherlands Antilles 3,
Norway 6, Panama 37, Papua New Guinea 6, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines 13, Singapore 9, Slovakia 1, Spain 1, Thailand 2, Tonga
1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Hound Point, Immingham, Milford Haven, Liverpool, London,
Southampton, Sullom Voe, Teesport

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; women serve in military services, but are excluded from ground combat
positions and some naval postings (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 16-49: 14,607,724
females age 16-49: 14,028,738 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 16-49: 12,046,268
females age 16-49: 11,555,893 (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 2002, Gibraltar residents voted overwhelmingly by referendum to
reject any "shared sovereignty" arrangement between the UK and
Spain; the Government of Gibraltar insists on equal participation in
 talks between the two countries; 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 Chagossians reside in
Mauritius, and in 2001 were granted UK citizenship, where some have
since resettled; in May 2006, the High Court of London reversed the
UK Government's 2004 orders of council that banned habitation on the
islands; 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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: 9,826,630 sq km
land: 9,161,923 sq km
water: 664,707 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 28 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: 18.01%
permanent crops: 0.21%
other: 81.78% (2005)

Irrigated land:
223,850 sq km (2003)

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:
298,444,215 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 20.4% (male 31,095,847/female 29,715,872)
15-64 years: 67.2% (male 100,022,845/female 100,413,484)
65 years and over: 12.5% (male 15,542,288/female 21,653,879) (2006
 est.)

Median age: total: 36.5 years male: 35.1 years female: 37.8 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.91% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
14.14 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
8.26 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

3.18 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 6.43 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 7.09 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 5.74 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 77.85 years
male: 75.02 years
female: 80.82 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.09 children born/woman (2006 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)
note: Hawaiian is an official language in the state of Hawaii

Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 99%
male: 99%
female: 99% (2003 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:
name: Washington, DC (capital)
geographic coordinates: 38 53 N, 77 02 W
time difference: UTC-5 (during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends
first Sunday in November
note: the United States is divided into six time zones

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

Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President George W. BUSH (since 20 January 2001);
Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001); note - the
president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President George W. BUSH (since 20 January
2001); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January 2001)
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 (eligible
for a second term); election last held 2 November 2004 (next to be
held 4 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; 2 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 7 November 2006 (next to be held on
 November 2008); House of Representatives - last held 7 November 2006
(next to be held on November 2008)
election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - Democratic Party 49, Republican Party 49, independent 2;
House of Representatives - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by
party - Democratic Party 233, Republican Party 202

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court (nine justices; nominated by the president and
confirmed with the advice and consent of the Senate; appointed to
serve for life); United States Courts of Appeal; United States
District Courts; State and County Courts

Political parties and leaders:

Democratic Party [Howard DEAN]; Green Party; Libertarian Party
[Steve DAMERELL]; Republican Party [Ken MEHLMAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

AfDB, ANZUS, APEC, Arctic Council, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue
partner), Australia Group, BIS, BSEC (observer), CBSS (observer), CE
(observer), CERN (observer), CP, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, G-5, G-7, G- 8,
G-10, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IEA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA,
MINUSTAH, NAFTA, NATO, NEA, NSG, OAS, OECD, OPCW, OSCE, Paris
Club,
PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC (observer), SECI (observer), SPC, UN, UN
Security Council, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNITAR, UNMEE,
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 $43,500. 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 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 enter their rivals' home markets than
foreign firms face entering 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 2004-06 was undergirded by substantial
gains in labor productivity. Hurricane Katrina caused extensive
damage in the Gulf Coast region in August 2005, but had a small
impact on overall GDP growth for the year. Soaring oil prices in
2005 and 2006 threatened inflation and unemployment, yet the economy
continued to grow through year-end 2006. Imported oil accounts for
about two-thirds of US consumption. 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):

$12.98 trillion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$13.22 trillion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.2% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$43,500 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 0.9% industry: 20.4% services: 78.6%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 151.4 million (includes unemployed) (2006)

Labor force - by occupation: farming, forestry, and fishing 0.7%, manufacturing,

extraction, transportation, and crafts 22.9%, managerial, professional, and
technical 34.9%, sales and office 25%, other services 16.5% note: figures
exclude the unemployed (2006)

Unemployment rate:
4.6% (2006)

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% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

16.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $2.409 trillion
expenditures: $2.66 trillion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
64.7% of GDP (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products:
wheat, corn, other grains, fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef, pork,
poultry, dairy products; fish; forest products

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:

4.2% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
3.979 trillion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 71.4% hydro: 5.6% nuclear:

20.7% other: 2.3% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
3.717 trillion kWh (2004)
Electricity - exports:
22.9 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
34.21 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
7.61 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
20.73 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
1.048 million bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports:
13.15 million bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves:

22.45 billion bbl (1 January 2002)

Natural gas - production:

531.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

635.1 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

24.18 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

120.6 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

5.451 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$-862.3 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
 $1.024 trillion f.o.b. (2006 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 23.4%, Mexico 13.3%, Japan 6.1%, China 4.6%, UK 4.3% (2005)

Imports:
$1.869 trillion f.o.b. (2006 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 16.9%, China 15%, Mexico 10%, Japan 8.2%, Germany 5% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$69.19 billion (August 2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$10.04 trillion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - donor:

ODA, $6.9 billion (1997)

Currency (code):
US dollar (USD)

Currency code:
USD
Exchange rates:
British pounds per US dollar - 0.5500 (2005), 0.5462 (2004), 0.6125
(2003), 0.6672 (2002), 0.6947 (2001); Canadian dollars per US dollar
- 1.2118 (2005), 1.3010 (2004), 1.4011 (2003), 1.5693 (2002), 1.5488
(2001); Japanese yen per US dollar - 110.22 (2005), 108.19 (2004),
115.93 (2003), 125.39 (2002), 121.53 (2001); euros per US dollar -
0.8041 (2005), 0.8054 (2004), 0.8866 (2003), 1.0626 (2002), 1.1175
(2001); Chinese yuan per US dollar - 8.1943 (2005), 8.2768 (2004),
8.2770 (2003), 8.2770 (2002), 8.2271 (2001)

Fiscal year:
1 October - 30 September

Communications United States

Telephones - main lines in use:

268 million (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

219.4 million (2005)

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 4,789, FM 8,961, shortwave 19 (2006)

Radios:
575 million (1997)
Television broadcast stations:
2,218 (2006)

Televisions:
219 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.us

Internet hosts:
195,138,696 (2005)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

7,000 (2002 est.)

Internet users:
205,326,680 (2005)

Transportation United States

Airports: 14,858 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 5,119
over 3,047 m: 189
2,438 to 3,047 m: 221
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1,426
914 to 1,523 m: 2,337
under 914 m: 946 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 9,739
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 157
914 to 1,523 m: 1,728
under 914 m: 7,847 (2006)

Heliports:
 149 (2006)

Pipelines:
petroleum products 244,620 km; natural gas 548,665 km (2003)

Railways:
total: 226,605 km
standard gauge: 226,605 km 1.435-m gauge (2004)

Roadways:
total: 6,430,366 km
paved: 4,165,110 km (including 75,009 km of expressways)
unpaved: 2,265,256 km (2005)

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)

Merchant marine:
total: 465 ships (1000 GRT or over) 10,590,325 GRT/13,273,133 DWT
by type: barge carrier 7, bulk carrier 67, cargo 91, chemical tanker
20, container 76, passenger 19, passenger/cargo 58, petroleum tanker
76, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 27, specialized tanker 1,
vehicle carrier 20
foreign-owned: 51 (Australia 2, Canada 4, Denmark 24, Germany 2,
Greece 1, Malaysia 4, Netherlands 4, Norway 2, Singapore 2, Sweden
5, Taiwan 1)
registered in other countries: 700 (Antigua and Barbuda 7, Australia
3, Bahamas 121, Belize 5, Bermuda 27, Cambodia 8, Canada 2, Cayman
Islands 41, Comoros 2, Cyprus 7, Greece 1, Honduras 1, Hong Kong 21,
Ireland 2, Isle of Man 3, Italy 15, North Korea 3, South Korea 7,
Liberia 93, Luxembourg 3, Malta 3, Marshall Islands 143, Netherlands
13, Netherlands Antilles 1, Norway 13, Panama 94, Peru 1,
Philippines 8, Portugal 1, Puerto Rico 3, Qatar 1, Russia 1, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines 21, Sierra Leone 1, Singapore 7, Spain 7,
Sweden 1, Trinidad and Tobago 1, UK 6, Vanuatu 1, Wallis and Futuna
1) (2006)
Ports and terminals:
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

Military United States

Military branches:
Army, Navy and Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard; note -
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; 17 years of age with written parental consent
(2006)

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 age 18-49: 2,143,873
females age 18-49: 2,036,201 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$518.1 billion (FY04 est.) (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

4.06% (FY03 est.) (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues United States

Disputes - international:
 the U.S. has intensified domestic security measures and is
collaborating closely with its neighbors, Canada and Mexico, to
monitor and control legal and illegal personnel, transport, and
commodities across the international borders; abundant rainfall in
recent years along much of the Mexico-US border region has
ameliorated periodically strained water-sharing arrangements; 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; 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 states; Marshall Islands claims
Wake Island; Tokelau included American Samoa's Swains Island among
the islands listed in its 2006 draft constitution

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): the US admitted 62,643 refugees
during FY04/05 including, 10,586 (Somalia), 8,549 (Laos), 6,666
(Russia), 6,479 (Cuba), 3,100 (Haiti), 2,136 (Iran) (2006)

Illicit drugs:
world's largest 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges

Introduction United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges

Background:
The following US Pacific island territories constitute the Pacific
Remote Islands National Wildlife Refuge Complex and as such are
managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of
Interior. These remote refuges are the most widespread collection of
marine- and terrestrial-life protected areas on the planet under a
single country's jurisdiction. They protect many endemic species
including corals, fish, shellfish, marine mammals, seabirds, water
birds, land birds, insects, and vegetation not found elsewhere.
Baker Island: The US took possession of the island in 1857, and its
guano deposits were mined by US and British companies during the
second half of the 19th century. In 1935, a short-lived attempt at
colonization began on this island but was disrupted by World War II
and thereafter abandoned. The island was established as a National
Wildlife Refuge in 1974.
Howland Island: Discovered by the US early in the 19th century, the
island was officially claimed by the US in 1857. Both US and British
companies mined for guano until about 1890. In 1935, a short-lived
attempt at colonization began on this island, similar to the effort
on nearby Baker Island, but was disrupted by World War II and
thereafter abandoned. The famed American aviatrix Amelia EARHART
disappeared while seeking out Howland Island as a refueling stop
during her 1937 round-the-world flight; Earhart Light, a day beacon
near the middle of the west coast, was named in her memory. The
island was established as a National Wildlife Refuge in 1974.
Jarvis Island: First discovered by the British in 1821, the
uninhabited island was annexed by the US in 1858, but abandoned in
1879 after tons of guano had been removed. The UK annexed the island
in 1889, but never carried out plans for further exploitation. The
US occupied and reclaimed the island in 1935 until it was abandoned
in 1942 during World War II. The island was established as a
National Wildlife Refuge in 1974.
Johnston Atoll: Both the US and the Kingdom of Hawaii annexed
Johnston Atoll in 1858, but it was the US that mined the guano
 deposits until the late 1880s. 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 by May
2005. The Fish and Wildlife Service and the US Air Force are
currently discussing future management options; in the interim,
Johnston Atoll and the three-mile Naval Defensive Sea around it
remain under the jurisdiction and administrative control of the US
Air Force.
Kingman Reef: The US annexed the reef in 1922. Its sheltered lagoon
served as a way station for flying boats on Hawaii-to-American Samoa
flights during the late 1930s. There are no terrestrial plants on
the reef, which is frequently awash, but it does support abundant
and diverse marine fauna and flora. In 2001, the waters surrounding
the reef out to 12 nm were designated a US National Wildlife Refuge.
Midway Islands: The US took formal possession of the islands in
1867. The laying of the trans-Pacific cable, which passed through
the islands, brought the first residents in 1903. Between 1935 and
1947, Midway was used as a refueling stop for trans-Pacific flights.
The US naval victory over a Japanese fleet off Midway in 1942 was
one of the turning points of World War II. The islands continued to
serve as a naval station until closed in 1993. Today the islands are
a National Wildlife Refuge and are the site of the world's largest
Laysan albatross colony.
Palmyra Atoll: The Kingdom of Hawaii claimed the atoll in 1862, and
the US included it among the Hawaiian Islands when it annexed the
archipelago in 1898. The Hawaii Statehood Act of 1959 did not
include Palmyra Atoll, which is now partly privately owned by the
Nature Conservancy with the rest owned by the Federal government and
managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. These organizations are
managing the atoll as a wildlife refuge. The lagoons and surrounding
waters within the 12 nm US territorial seas were transferred to the
US Fish and Wildlife Service and designated as a National Wildlife
Refuge in January 2001.

Geography United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges

Location:
Oceania
Baker Island: atoll in the North Pacific Ocean 1,830 nm (3,389 km)
southwest of Honolulu, about half way between Hawaii and Australia
Howland Island: island in the North Pacific Ocean 1,815 nm (3,361
km) southwest of Honolulu, about half way between Hawaii and
Australia
Jarvis Island: island in the South Pacific Ocean 1,305 nm (2,417 km)
south of Honolulu, about half way between Hawaii and the Cook Islands
Johnston Atoll: atoll in the North Pacific Ocean 717 nm (1,328 km)
southwest of Honolulu, about one-third of the way from Hawaii to the
Marshall Islands
Kingman Reef: reef in the North Pacific Ocean 930 nm (1,722 km)
south of Honolulu, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa
Midway Islands: atoll in the North Pacific Ocean 1,260 nm (2,334 km)
northwest of Honolulu near the end of the Hawaiian Archipelago,
about one-third of the way from Honolulu to Tokyo
Palmyra Atoll: atoll in the North Pacific Ocean 960 nm (1,778 km)
south of Honolulu, about half way between Hawaii and American Samoa

Geographic coordinates:
Baker Island: 0 13 N, 176 28 W
Howland Island: 0 48 N, 176 38 W
Jarvis Island: 0 23 S, 160 01 W
Johnston Atoll: 16 45 N, 169 31 W
Kingman Reef: 6 23 N, 162 25 W
Midway Islands: 28 12 N, 177 22 W
Palmyra Atoll: 5 53 N, 162 05 W

Map references:
Oceania

Area:
total - 6,959.41 sq km; emergent land - 22.41 sq km; submerged -
6,937 sq km
Baker Island: total - 129 sq km; emergent land - 2.1 sq km;
submerged - 127 sq km
Howland Island: total - 139 sq km; emergent land - 2.6 sq km;
submerged - 136 sq km
 Jarvis Island: total - 152 sq km; emergent land - 5 sq km; submerged
- 147 sq km
Johnston Atoll: total - 276.6 sq km; emergent land - 2.6 sq km;
submerged - 274 sq km
Kingman Reef: total - 1,958.01 sq km; emergent land - 0.01 sq km;
submerged - 1,958 sq km
Midway Islands: total - 2,355.2 sq km; emergent land - 6.2 sq km;
submerged - 2,349 sq km
Palmyra Atoll: total - 1,949.9 sq km; emergent land - 3.9 sq km;
submerged - 1,946 sq km

Area - comparative:
Baker Island: about two and a half times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Howland Island: about three times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Jarvis Island: about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Johnston Atoll: about four and a half times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Kingman Reef: a little more than one and a half times the size of
The Mall in Washington, DC
Midway Islands: about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Palmyra Atoll: about 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Land boundaries:
none

Coastline:
Baker Island: 4.8 km
Howland Island: 6.4 km
Jarvis Island: 8 km
Johnston Atoll: 34 km
Kingman Reef: 3 km
Midway Islands: 15 km
Palmyra Atoll: 14.5 km

Maritime claims:
 territorial sea: 12 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm

Climate:
Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands: equatorial; scant rainfall,
constant wind, burning sun
Johnston Atoll and Kingman Reef: tropical, but generally dry;
consistent northeast trade winds with little seasonal temperature
variation
Midway Islands: subtropical with cool, moist winters (December to
February) and warm, dry summers (May to October); moderated by
prevailing easterly winds; most of the 1,067 mm (42 in) of annual
rainfall occurs during the winter
Palmyra Atoll: equatorial, hot; located within the low pressure area
of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) where the northeast and
southeast trade winds meet, it is extremely wet with between
4,000-5,000 mm (160-200 in) of rainfall each year

Terrain:
low and nearly level sandy coral islands with narrow fringing reefs
that have developed at the top of submerged volcanic mountains,
which in most cases rise steeply from the ocean floor

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Baker Island, unnamed location - 8 m; Howland Island,
unnamed location - 3 m; Jarvis Island, unnamed location - 7 m;
Johnston Atoll, Sand Island - 10 m; Kingman Reef, unnamed location -
less than 1 m; Midway Islands, unnamed location - 13 m; Palmyra
Atoll, unnamed location - 2 m

Natural resources:
terrestrial and aquatic wildlife

Land use:
arable land: 0%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 100% (2005)
Natural hazards:
Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands: the narrow fringing reef
surrounding the island can be a maritime hazard
Kingman Reef: wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of
less than 1 m makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard
Midway Islands, Johnston, and Palmyra Atolls: NA

Environment - current issues:

Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands, and Johnston Atoll: no natural
fresh water resources
Kingman Reef: none
Midway Islands and Palmyra Atoll: NA

Geography - note:
Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands: scattered vegetation consisting
of grasses, prostrate vines, and low growing shrubs; primarily a
nesting, roosting, and foraging habitat for seabirds, shorebirds,
and marine wildlife
Johnston Atoll: 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
Kingman Reef: barren coral atoll with deep interior lagoon; closed
to the public
Midway Islands: 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
Palmyra Atoll: the high rainfall and resulting lush vegetation make
the environment of this atoll unique among the US Pacific Island
territories; it supports one of the largest remaining undisturbed
stands of Pisonia beach forest in the Pacific

People United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges

Population:
no indigenous inhabitants
note: 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
Johnston Atoll: in previous years, an average of 1,100 US military
and civilian contractor personnel were present; as of May 2005 all
US government personnel had left the island
Midway Islands: approximately 40 people make up the staff of US Fish
and Wildlife Service and their services contractor living at the
atoll
Palmyra Atoll: four to 20 Nature Conservancy and US Fish and
Wildlife staff

Government United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges

Country name:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Baker Island; Howland Island; Jarvis
Island; Johnston Atoll; Kingman Reef; Midway Islands; Palmyra Atoll

Dependency status:
unincorporated territories 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
note on Palmyra Atoll: incorporated Territory of the US; partly
privately owned and partly federally owned; 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 United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges

Economy - overview: no economic activity

Transportation United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges

Airports:
Baker Island: one abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m covered
with vegetation and unusable
Howland Island: airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling
stop on the round-the-world flight of Amelia EARHART and Fred
NOONAN; the aviators left Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island but
were never seen again; the airstrip is no longer serviceable
Johnston Atoll: 1 - closed and not maintained
Kingman Reef: lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii
and American Samoa by Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937
and 1938
Midway Islands: 3 - one operational (2,409 m paved); no fuel for
sale except emergencies
Palmyra Atoll: 1 - 1,846 m unpaved runway; privately owned (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Baker, Howland, and Jarvis Islands, and Kingman Reef: none;
offshore anchorage only
Johnston Atoll: Johnston Island
Midway Islands: Sand Island
Palmyra Atoll: West Lagoon

Military United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges

Military - note: defense is the responsibility of the US

Transnational Issues United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges

Disputes - international: none

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Uruguay

Introduction Uruguay

Background:
Montevideo, founded by the Spanish in 1726 as a military
stronghold, soon took advantage of its natural harbor to become an
important commercial center. Claimed by Argentina but annexed by
Brazil in 1821, Uruguay declared its independence four years later
and secured its freedom in 1828 after a three-year struggle. The
administrations of President Jose BATLLE in the early 20th century
established widespread political, social, and economic reforms that
established a statist tradition. A violent Marxist urban guerrilla
movement named the Tupamaros, launched in the late 1960s, led
Uruguay's president to cede control of the government to the
military in 1973. By yearend, the rebels had been crushed, but the
military continued to expand its hold over the government. Civilian
rule was not restored until 1985. In 2004, the left-of-center Frente
Amplio Coalition won national elections that effectively ended 170
years of political control previously held by the Colorado and
Blanco parties. 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: 1,648 km
border countries: Argentina 580 km, Brazil 1,068 km

Coastline:
660 km

Maritime claims: territorial sea: 12 nm contiguous zone: 24 nm exclusive

economic zone: 200 nm continental shelf: 200 nm or edge of continental margin

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: 7.77% permanent crops: 0.24% other: 91.99% (2005)

Irrigated land:
2,100 sq km (2003)

Natural hazards:
seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and occasional
 violent wind that 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:
3,431,932 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.9% (male 399,409/female 386,136)
15-64 years: 63.9% (male 1,087,180/female 1,104,465)
65 years and over: 13.3% (male 185,251/female 269,491) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 32.7 years
male: 31.3 years
female: 34.2 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

0.46% (2006 est.)
Birth rate:
13.91 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
9.05 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.25 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 11.61 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 12.9 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 10.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 76.33 years
male: 73.12 years
female: 79.65 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.89 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Montevideo
geographic coordinates: 34 53 S, 56 11 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in October; ends
 second Sunday in March

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 Rosas (since 1 March 2005)
and Vice President Rodolfo NIN NOVOA (since 1 March 2005); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Tabare VAZQUEZ Rosas (since 1 March
2005) and Vice President Rodolfo NIN NOVOA (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 (may not serve consecutive
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%; other 4.1%

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; vice president has one vote
in the Senate) 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:

Broad Front Coalition (Frente Amplio) - formerly known as the
Progressive Encounter/Broad Front Coalition or EP-FA [Jorge
BROVETTO]; Colorado Party [Julio Maria SANGUINETTI]; Independent
Party (Partido Independiente) [Pablo MIERES]; Movement of Popular
Participation or MPP [Jose MUJICA]; National Party or Blanco [Jorge
LARRANAGA]; New Sector/Space Coalition (Nuevo Espacio) [Rafael
MICHELINI]; Broad Front Coalition (Frente Amplio) - formerly known
as the Progressive Encounter/Broad Front Coalition or EP-FA [Jorge
BROVETTO]; Uruguayan Assembly or Asamblea Uruguay [Danilo ASTORI]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Architect's Society of Uruguay (professional organization);
Catholic Church; Chamber of Uruguayan Industries (manufacturer's
 association); Chemist and Pharmaceutical Association (professional
organization); PIT-CNT (powerful federation of Uruguayan unions);
Rural Association of Uruguay (rancher's association); students;
Uruguayan Construction League

International organization participation:

CAN (associate), CSN, FAO, G-77, IADB, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt,
ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU,
ISO, ITU, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, MINURSO, MINUSTAH,
MONUC, NAM
(observer), OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNFICYP,
UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMOGIP, UNOCI, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Carlos Alberto 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, New York
consulate(s): San Juan (Puerto Rico)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Frank BAXTER
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 with
16 rays that alternate between triangular and wavy

Economy Uruguay
Economy - overview:
Uruguay's well-to-do economy is characterized by an export-oriented
agricultural sector, a well-educated work force, 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 Argentina made massive withdrawals of dollars deposited in
Uruguayan banks, which led to a plunge in the Uruguayan 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 banking crisis.
The unemployment rate rose to nearly 20% in 2002, inflation surged,
and the burden of external debt doubled. Cooperation with the IMF
helped stem the damage. A debt swap with private-sector creditors in
2003 extended the maturity dates on nearly half of Uruguay's then
$11.3 billion of public debt and helped restore public confidence.
The economy grew about 12% in 2004 as a result of high commodity
prices for Uruguayan exports, a competitive peso, growth in the
region, and low international interest rates, and it continued to
grow nearly 7% annually in 2005 and 2006.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$36.56 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$14.3 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$10,700 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 9.3% industry: 33.7% services: 57%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 1.27 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 14% industry: 16% services: 70%

Unemployment rate:
10.5% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

22% of households (2004)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 3.7%
highest 10%: 25.8% (1997)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

44.6 (2000)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

6.5% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

13.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $5.203 billion
expenditures: $5.449 billion; including capital expenditures of $193
million (2006 est.)

Public debt:
70.6% of GDP (2006 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:

12.6% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
8.183 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.7% hydro: 99.1% nuclear: 0%
other: 0.3% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
9.939 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
19 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
2.348 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
513.5 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
38,100 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

120 million cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

120 million cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-600 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
 $3.993 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
meat, rice, leather products, wool, fish, dairy products

Exports - partners:
US 23.2%, Brazil 13.5%, Argentina 7.8%, Germany 4.2%, Mexico 4.1%
(2005)

Imports:
$4.532 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery, chemicals, road vehicles, crude petroleum

Imports - partners:
Brazil 21.3%, Argentina 20.3%, Russia 8%, US 6.7%, Venezuela 6.3%,
China 6.2%, Nigeria 5.9% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$3.594 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$10.37 billion (30 June 2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$NA

Currency (code):
Uruguayan peso (UYU)

Currency code:
UYU

Exchange rates:
Uruguayan pesos per US dollar - 23.9911 (2006), 24.479 (2005),
28.704 (2004), 28.209 (2003), 21.257 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year
Communications Uruguay

Telephones - main lines in use:

1 million (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

600,000 (2004)

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 93, FM 191, shortwave 7 (2005)

Radios:
1.97 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

62 (2005)

Televisions:
782,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

.uy

Internet hosts:
145,774 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

14 (2001)

Internet users:
680,000 (2005)
Transportation Uruguay

Airports: 64 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 914
to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 56 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m:

22 under 914 m: 31 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 257 km; oil 160 km (2006)

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 (2005)

Roadways: total: 77,732 km paved: 7,743 km unpaved: 69,989 km (2004)

Waterways:
1,600 km (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 13 ships (1000 GRT or over) 34,259 GRT/19,725 DWT
by type: cargo 2, chemical tanker 1, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum
tanker 2, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 4 (Argentina 3, Greece 1)
registered in other countries: 8 (Argentina 1, Bahamas 2, Liberia 3,
Spain 2) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Montevideo, Nueva Palmira, Fray Bentos, Colonia, Juan Lacaze

Military Uruguay

Military branches:
 Army, Navy (includes naval air arm, Marines, Maritime Prefecture in
wartime), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Uruguaya, FAU) (2006)

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
females age 18-49: 760,341 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 637,445
females age 18-49: 631,046 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$371.2 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2.1% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Uruguay

Disputes - international:
in Jan 2007, ICJ provisionally ruled Uruguay may begin construction
of two paper mills on the Uruguay River, which forms the border with
Argentina, while the court examines further whether Argentina has
the legal right to stop such construction with potential
environmental implications to both countries; 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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@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: 10.51% permanent crops: 0.76% other: 88.73% (2005)

Irrigated land:
42,810 sq km (2003)

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:
27,307,134 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 32.9% (male 4,572,721/female 4,403,405)
15-64 years: 62.3% (male 8,420,174/female 8,594,478)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 539,336/female 777,020) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 22.7 years
male: 22 years
female: 23.3 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.7% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
26.36 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
7.84 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
-1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 69.99 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 74.14 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 65.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 64.58 years
male: 61.19 years
female: 68.14 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.91 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Tashkent (Toshkent)
geographic coordinates: 41 20 N, 69 18 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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),
Qoraqalpog'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
(eligible for a second term; previously was a five-year term,
extended by constitutional amendment in 2002); election last held 9
January 2000 (next to be held in 2007); prime minister, ministers,
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 TASHMUHAMMEDOVA,
chief]; Democratic National Rebirth Party (Milly Tiklanish) or MTP
[Hurshid DOSMUHAMMEDOV, chief]; Fidokorlar National Democratic Party
(Self-Sacrificers) [Ahtam TURSUNOV, chief]; Liberal Democratic Party
of Uzbekistan or LDPU [Adham SHADMANOV, chief]; People's Democratic
Party or NDP (formerly Communist Party) [Asliddin RUSTAMOV, first
secretary]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Agrarian and Entrepreneurs' Party [Marat ZAHIDOV]; Birlik (Unity)
Movement [Abdurakhim POLAT, chairman]; Committee for the Protection
of Human Rights [Marat ZAHIDOV]; Erk (Freedom) Democratic Party
[Muhammad SOLIH, chairman] was banned 9 December 1992; Ezgulik
Human
Rights Society [Vasila INOYATOVA]; Free Farmers' Party or Ozod
Dehqonlar [Nigora KHIDOYATOVA]; Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan
[Talib YAKUBOV, chairman]; Independent Human Rights Organization of
Uzbekistan [Mikhail ARDZINOV, chairman]; Mazlum; Sunshine Coalition
[Sanjar UMAROV, chairman]

International organization participation:

AsDB, CIS, EAEC, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GCTU, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC,
IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD,
 UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO,
WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Abdulaziz KAMILOV
chancery: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: [1] (202) 887-5300
FAX: [1] (202) 293-6804
consulate(s) general: New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Jon PURNELL
embassy: 3 Moyqo'rq'on, 5th Block, Yunusobod District, Tashkent
100093
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 and fifth largest
producer; it relies heavily on cotton production as the major source
of export earnings. Other major export earners include gold, natural
gas, and oil. Following independence in September 1991, the
government sought to prop up its Soviet-style command economy with
subsidies and tight controls on production and prices. While aware
of the need to improve the investment climate, the government still
sponsors measures that often increase, not decrease, its 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. The Central Bank often delays or
restricts convertibility, especially for consumer goods. Potential
investment by Russia and China in Uzbekistan's gas and oil industry
would increase economic growth prospects. In November 2005, Russian
President Vladimir PUTIN and Uzbekistan President KARIMOV signed an
"alliance" treaty, which included provisions for economic and
business cooperation. Russian businesses have shown increased
interest in Uzbekistan, especially in mining, telecom, and oil and
gas. In December 2005, the Russians opened a "Trade House" to
support and develop Russian-Uzbek business and economic ties.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$54.81 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$10.78 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.8% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 31.1% industry: 25.7% services:

43.2% (2006 est.)
Labor force: 14.44 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 44% industry: 20% services: 36%

(1995)

Unemployment rate:
0.8% officially, plus another 20% underemployed (2006 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:

26.8 (2000)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

7.6% (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $3.145 billion
expenditures: $3.108 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
29.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock

Industries:
textiles, food processing, machine building, metallurgy, gold,
petroleum, natural gas, chemicals

Industrial production growth rate:

7.7% (2005 est.)
Electricity - production:
46.45 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 88.2% hydro: 11.8% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
48.2 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
6.8 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
11.8 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
142,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - consumption:
148,000 bbl/day (2004)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2004)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2004)

Oil - proved reserves:

600 million bbl (1 January 2005)

Natural gas - production:

59.86 billion cu m (2004)

Natural gas - consumption:

50.2 billion cu m (2004)

Natural gas - exports:

9.7 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

 0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

1.875 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$1.41 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$5.51 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
cotton 41.5%, gold 9.6%, energy products 9.6%, mineral fertilizers,
ferrous metals, textiles, food products, automobiles (1998)

Exports - partners:
Russia 23.8%, China 11.9%, Kazakhstan 6.9%, Turkey 6.9%, Ukraine
5.4%, Bangladesh 4.7%, Poland 4.2%, Tajikistan 4% (2005)

Imports:
$3.99 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment 49.8%, foodstuffs 16.4%, chemicals, metals
(1998)

Imports - partners:
Russia 26.6%, South Korea 15.3%, Germany 8.8%, Kazakhstan 7.1%,
China 7.1%, Turkey 4.7%, Ukraine 4.7% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$2.986 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$4.713 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$91.6 million from the US (2005)

Currency (code):
 Uzbekistani soum (UZS)

Currency code:
UZS

Exchange rates:
Uzbekistani soum per US dollar - 1,219.58 (2006), 1,020 (2005),
971.265 (2004), 771.029 (2003), 423.832 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Uzbekistan

Telephones - main lines in use:

1,717,100 (2003)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.1 million (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: antiquated and inadequate; in serious need of
modernization
domestic: the main line telecommunications system is dilapidated;
the state owned telecom company, Uzbektelecom, is using a US$110
million loan from the Japanese government to improve main line
services; mobile services are growing swiftly, with the subscriber
base doubling in 2005 to 1.1 million; there are six main cellular
providers currently in operation
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 4, FM 6, shortwave 3 (2006)

Radios:
10.8 million (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

8 1 cable rebroadcaster in Tashkent; approximately 20 stations in
regional capitals (2003)

Televisions:
6.4 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.uz

Internet hosts:
9,058 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

42 (2000)

Internet users:
880,000 (2005)

Transportation Uzbekistan

Airports: 61 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 34 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13

1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 5 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 27 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 under 914 m: 25

(2006)

Pipelines: gas 9,594 km; oil 868 km (2006)

Railways: total: 3,950 km broad gauge: 3,950 km 1.520-m gauge (620 km

electrified) (2005)

Roadways: total: 81,600 km paved: 71,237 km unpaved: 10,363 km (1999)

Waterways:
1,100 km (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Termiz (Amu Darya)

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
females age 18-49: 6,432,072 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 4,609,621
females age 18-49: 5,383,233 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 324,722
females age 18-49: 317,062 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$200 million (FY97)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

2% (FY97)

Transnational Issues Uzbekistan

Disputes - international:
prolonged drought and cotton monoculture in Uzbekistan and
Turkmenistan creates water-sharing difficulties for Amu Darya river
 states; field demarcation of the boundaries with Kazakhstan
commenced in 2004; border delimitation of 130 km of border with
Kyrgyzstan is hampered by serious disputes around enclaves and other
areas

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 39,202 (Tajikistan)
IDPs: 3,400 (forced population transfers by government from villages
near Tajikistan border) (2006)

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Uzbekistan is a source and, to a lesser extent,
a transit country for women trafficked to Asia and the Middle East
for the purpose of sexual exploitation; women from other Central
Asian countries and China are trafficked through Uzbekistan; men are
trafficked for purposes of forced labor in the construction and
agricultural industries to Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, and
Kyrgyzstan; men and women are also trafficked within the country
tier rating: Tier 3 - Uzbekistan is placed on Tier 3 because it
failed to fulfill commitments by the country to take additional
steps during 2005, including the adoption of comprehensive
anti-trafficking legislation, criminal code amendments to raise
trafficking penalties, support to the country's first trafficking
shelter, and approval of a national action plan

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Vanuatu

Introduction Vanuatu

Background:
Multiple waves of colonizers, each speaking a distinct language,
migrated to the New Hebrides in the millennia preceeding European
exploration in the 18th century. This settlement pattern accounts
for the complex linguistic diversity found on the archipelago to
this day. 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, when the
new name of Vanuatu was adopted.

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: 1.64%
permanent crops: 6.97%
other: 91.39% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

Natural hazards:
tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanic eruption
on Aoba (Ambae) island began 27 November 2005, volcanism also 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:
208,869 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 32.6% (male 34,804/female 33,331)
15-64 years: 63.7% (male 67,919/female 65,138)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 4,027/female 3,650) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 23 years
male: 23 years
female: 23 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.49% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
22.72 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
7.82 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 1.1 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 53.8 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 56.35 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 51.13 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 62.85 years
male: 61.34 years
female: 64.44 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.7 children born/woman (2006 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

Government Vanuatu

Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Vanuatu
conventional short form: Vanuatu
local long form: Ripablik blong Vanuatu
local short form: Vanuatu
former: New Hebrides

Government type:
parliamentary republic

Capital:
name: Port-Vila (on Efate)
geographic coordinates: 17 44 S, 168 19 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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)
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 -
NUP 10, UMP 8, VP 8, 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 [Hem LINI]; Union of
Moderate Parties or UMP [Serge VOHOR]; Vanua'aku Pati (Our Land
Party) or VP [Edward NATAPEI]; Vanuatu Greens Party or VGP [Moana
CARCASSES]; Vanuatu Republican Party or VRP [Maxime Carlot KORMAN]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACCT, ACP, AsDB, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS,
ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca,
SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOCI, 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 more than
60,000 visitors in 2005, 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 through improved air connections, resort development,
and cruise ship facilities. 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):

$276.3 million (2003 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$341 million (2005)

GDP - real growth rate:

6.8% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,900 (2003 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 26% industry: 12% services: 62%

(2000 est.)

Labor force: 76,410 (1999)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 65% industry: 5% services: 30% (2000

est.)

Unemployment rate:
1.7% (1999)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

-1.6% (2005 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $78.7 million
expenditures: $72.23 million (2005 est.)

Agriculture - products:
copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, fruits, vegetables;
beef; fish

Industries:
food and fish freezing, wood processing, meat canning

Industrial production growth rate:

1% (1997 est.)

Electricity - production:
43 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
39.99 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)
Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
620 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-28.35 million (2003)

Exports:
$34.11 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee

Exports - partners:
Thailand 46.5%, India 14.1%, Poland 7.9%, Turkey 7.7%, Japan 6.9%
(2005)

Imports:
$117.1 million c.i.f. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, fuels
Imports - partners:
Australia 18.4%, Japan 16.7%, Singapore 14.7%, Poland 8.5%, NZ
7.2%, Fiji 6.3% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$40.54 million (2003)

Debt - external:
$81.2 million (2004)

Economic aid - recipient:

$37.8 million (2004)

Currency (code):
vatu (VUV)

Currency code:
VUV

Exchange rates:
vatu per US dollar - NA (2005), 111.79 (2004), 122.19 (2003), 139.2
(2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Vanuatu

Telephones - main lines in use:

6,800 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

12,700 (2005)

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:
413 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:
7,500 (2004)

Transportation Vanuatu

Airports:
31 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 28
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 18 (2006)
Roadways:
total: 1,070 km
paved: 256 km
unpaved: 814 km (1999)

Merchant marine:
total: 51 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,340,132 GRT/1,908,687 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 29, cargo 8, container 1, liquefied gas 2,
petroleum tanker 1, refrigerated cargo 3, roll on/roll off 2,
vehicle carrier 5
foreign-owned: 51 (Australia 2, Canada 5, Denmark 6, Estonia 1,
Japan 28, Poland 5, Russia 1, Switzerland 2, US 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Forari, Port-Vila, Santo (Espiritu Santo)

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)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 50,221 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 33,837 (2005 est.)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Venezuela

Introduction Venezuela

Background:
Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse
of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and New Granada,
which became Colombia). 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. Hugo CHAVEZ, president since 1999, has promoted a
controversial policy of "democratic socialism," which purports to
alleviate social ills while at the same time attacking globalization
and undermining regional stability. Current concerns include: a
weakening of democratic institutions, political polarization, 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: 2.85% permanent crops: 0.88% other: 96.27% (2005)

Irrigated land:
5,750 sq km (2003)

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:
25,730,435 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 29.1% (male 3,860,116/female 3,620,440)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 8,494,944/female 8,410,874)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 609,101/female 734,960) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 26 years
male: 25.4 years
female: 26.6 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.38% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
18.71 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
4.92 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 21.54 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 24.58 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 18.27 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 74.54 years
male: 71.49 years
female: 77.81 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.23 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Caracas
 geographic coordinates: 10 30 N, 66 56 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
23 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 capital district*
(distrito capital), 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 Jorge RODRIGUEZ Gomez (since 3 January 2007);
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 Jorge RODRIGUEZ Gomez (since 3 January 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 3 December 2006
(next to be held December 2012)
 note: in 1999, a National Constituent Assembly drafted a new
constitution that increased the presidential term to six years; an
election was subsequently held on 30 July 2000 under the terms of
this new constitution
election results: Hugo CHAVEZ Frias reelected president; percent of
vote - Hugo CHAVEZ Frias 62.9%, Manuel ROSALES 36.9%

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly or Asamblea Nacional (167 seats;
members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms; three
seats reserved for the indigenous peoples of Venezuela)
elections: last held 4 December 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
pro-government 167 (MVR 114, PODEMOS 15, PPT 11, indigenous 2, other
25), opposition 0

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:

A New Time or UNT [Manuel ROSALES]; Christian Democrats or COPEI
[Cesar PEREZ Vivas]; Democratic Action or AD [Henry RAMOS Allup];
Fatherland for All or PPT [Jose ALBORNOZ]; Fifth Republic Movement
or MVR [Hugo CHAVEZ]; Justice First [Julio BORGES]; Movement Toward
Socialism or MAS [Hector MUJICA]; Venezuela Project or PV [Henrique
SALAS Romer]; We Can or PODEMOS [Ismael GARCIA]

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, ICRM, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, LAES, LAIA, Mercosur, MIGA, NAM,
OAS,
 OPANAL, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, RG, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO,
UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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, 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
eight white five-pointed stars centered in the blue band

Economy Venezuela

Economy - overview:
Venezuela remains highly dependent on oil revenues, which account
for roughly 90% of export earnings, more than 50% of the federal
budget revenues, and around 30% of GDP. Tax collection-Venezuela's
primary source of non-oil revenue-is expected to surpass $23 billion
in 2006, exceeding the yearend collection goal by more than 20%. A
nationwide strike between December 2002 and February 2003 had
far-reaching economic consequences - real GDP declined by around 9%
in 2002 and 8% in 2003 - but economic output since then has
recovered strongly. Fueled by higher oil prices, record government
spending helped to boost GDP growth in 2004 and 2005 to
 approximately 18% and 11%, respectively. Economic growth in 2006
reached around 9%. This spending, combined with recent minimum wage
hikes and improved access to domestic credit, has fueled a
consumption boom - car sales in 2006 increased by around 70% - but
has come at the cost of higher inflation. Despite government
attempts to withdraw liquidity from the economy, Venezuela's money
supply set a record in June 2006, approximately 70% higher than the
previous year. Imports have also jumped significantly.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$176.4 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$147.9 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

8.8% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$6,900 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 3.7% industry: 41% services: 55.3%

(2006 est.)

Labor force: 12.5 million (November 2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 13% industry: 23% services: 64%

(1997 est.)

Unemployment rate:
8.9% (October 2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

37.9% (End 2005 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 36.5% (1998)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

 49.1 (1998)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

15.8% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

19.8% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $52.24 billion
expenditures: $52.9 billion; including capital expenditures of $2.6
billion (2006 est.)

Public debt:
28.4% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables, coffee; beef,
pork, milk, eggs; fish

Industries:
petroleum, construction materials, food processing, textiles; iron
ore mining, steel, aluminum; motor vehicle assembly

Industrial production growth rate:

7% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
93.03 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 31.7% hydro: 68.3% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
86.52 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
 0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
3.081 million bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
560,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
2.1 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

75.27 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

27.2 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

27.2 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

4.276 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$31.82 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$69.23 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals, agricultural
 products, basic manufactures

Exports - partners:
US 50.9%, Netherlands Antilles 7.2%, Canada 2.4% (2005)

Imports:
$28.81 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
raw materials, machinery and equipment, transport equipment,
construction materials

Imports - partners:
US 31.6%, Colombia 11%, Brazil 9.1%, Mexico 6.9% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$35.95 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$35.63 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$74 million (2000)

Currency (code):
bolivar (VEB)

Currency code:
VEB

Exchange rates:
bolivares per US dollar - 2,147 (2006), 2,089.8 (2005), 1,891.3
(2004), 1,607 (2003), 1,161 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Venezuela
Telephones - main lines in use:
3,605,500 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

12.496 million (2005)

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:
51,968 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

16 (2000)

Internet users:
 3.04 million (2005)

Transportation Venezuela

Airports: 375 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 129 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 34 914 to 1,523 m: 60 under 914 m: 19 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 246 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m:
90 under 914 m: 147 (2006)

Heliports:
1 (2006)

Pipelines:
extra heavy crude 992 km; gas 5,369 km; oil 7,607 km; refined
products 1,681 km; unknown (oil/water) 141 km (2006)

Railways:
total: 682 km
standard gauge: 682 km 1.435-m gauge (2005)

Roadways:
total: 96,155 km
paved: 32,308 km
unpaved: 63,847 km (1999)

Waterways:
7,100 km
note: Orinoco River and Lake de Maracaibo navigable by oceangoing
vessels, Orinoco for 400 km (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 56 ships (1000 GRT or over) 824,941 GRT/1,327,924 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 7, cargo 10, chemical tanker 2, container 1,
liquefied gas 6, passenger/cargo 12, petroleum tanker 18
foreign-owned: 13 (Denmark 3, Greece 3, India 1, Mexico 3, Panama 1,
Russia 1, Spain 1)
 registered in other countries: 15 (Bahamas 1, Panama 14) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Amuay, La Guaira, Maracaibo, Puerto Cabello, Punta Cardon

Military Venezuela

Military branches:
National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales or 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
females age 18-49: 6,137,622 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 4,907,947
females age 18-49: 5,151,843 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 252,396
females age 18-49: 237,300 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$1.61 billion (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

1.2% (2005 est.)

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
the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) that
Trinidad and Tobago's maritime boundary with Venezuela extends into
their waters; dispute with Colombia over maritime boundary and
Venezuelan-administered Los Monjes islands near the Gulf of
Venezuela; Colombian-organized illegal narcotics and paramilitary
activities penetrate Venezuela's shared border region; in 2006, an
estimated 139,000 Colombians seek protection in 150 communities
along the border in Venezuela; US, France, and the Netherlands
recognize Venezuela's granting full effect to Aves Island, thereby
claiming a Venezuelan EEZ/continental shelf extending over a large
portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea; Dominica, Saint Kitts and
Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines protest
Venezuela's full effect claim

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Venezuela is a source, transit, and destination
country for women and children trafficked for the purposes of sexual
exploitation and forced labor; women and children from Colombia,
China, Peru, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic are trafficked to
and through Venezuela and subjected to commercial sexual
exploitation or forced labor; Venezuelans are trafficked internally
and to Western Europe, particularly Spain and the Netherlands, and
to countries in the Caribbean region for commercial sexual
exploitation; Venezuela is a transit country for illegal migrants
from other countries in the region and for Asian nationals, some are
believed to be trafficking victims
tier rating: Tier 3 - Venezuela does not fully comply with the
minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not
making significant efforts to do so

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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. Vietnam
declared independence after World War II, but France continued to
rule until its 1954 defeat by Communist forces under Ho Chi MINH.
Under the Geneva Accords of 1954, Vietnam was divided into the
Communist North and anti-Communist South. 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 reuniting the country under Communist rule.
Despite the return of peace, for over a decade the country
experienced little economic growth because of conservative
leadership policies. However, since the enactment of Vietnam's "doi
moi" (renovation) policy in 1986, Vietnamese authorities have
committed to increased 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 various groups - such as the Protestant
Montagnard ethnic minority population of the Central Highlands and
the Hoa Hao Buddhists in southern Vietnam over religious
persecution. Montagnard grievances also include the loss of land to
Vietnamese settlers.

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: 24 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 (May
to September) and warm, dry season (October to 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: 20.14% permanent crops: 6.93% other: 72.93% (2005)

Irrigated land:
30,000 sq km (2003)

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:
84,402,966 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 27% (male 11,826,457/female 10,983,069)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 28,055,941/female 28,614,553)
65 years and over: 5.8% (male 1,924,562/female 2,998,384) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 25.9 years
male: 24.8 years
female: 27.1 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.02% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
16.86 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
6.22 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-0.42 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.07 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

 total: 25.14 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 25.54 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 24.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 70.85 years
male: 68.05 years
female: 73.85 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

1.91 children born/woman (2006 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
note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified
among birds in this country or surrounding region; it poses a
negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens
who have close contact with birds (2007)

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:
name: Hanoi
geographic coordinates: 21 02 N, 105 51 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Administrative divisions:
59 provinces (tinh, singular and plural) and 5 municipalities
(thanh pho, 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, Ha Nam, Ha Tay, Ha Tinh, Hai Duong,
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, Ha Noi, 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 Nguyen Minh TRIET (since 27 June 2006);
Vice President Truong My HOA (since 25 July 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Nguyen Tan DUNG (since 27 June
2006); Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh HUNG (since 28 June 2006),
Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia KHIEM (since 28 June 2006), and
Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh TRONG (since 28 June 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president based on proposal of prime
minister and confirmed by National Assembly
elections: president elected by the National Assembly from among its
members for five-year term; election last held 27 June 2006; prime
minister appointed by the president from among the members of the
National Assembly; deputy prime ministers appointed by the prime
minister; appointment of prime minister and deputy prime ministers
confirmed by National Assembly
election results: Nguyen Minh TRIET elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote - 94%; Nguyen Tan DUNG elected prime
minister; percent of National Assembly vote - 92%

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 on 20 May 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:

Communist Party of Vietnam or CPV [Nong Duc MANH]; other parties
proscribed

Political pressure groups and leaders:

8406 Bloc; Democratic Party of Vietnam or DPV; People's Democratic
Party Vietnam or PDP-VN; Alliance for Democracy; groups advocate for
democracy, are not recognized by government (2006)

International organization participation:

ACCT (observer), APEC, APT, ARF, AsDB, ASEAN, CP, EAS, FAO, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), IPU, ISO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIF, OPCW,
UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

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 Street, 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 toward a
market-oriented economy. GDP growth averaged 6.8% per year from 1997
to 2004 even against the background of the Asian financial crisis
and a global recession, and growth hit 8% in 2005 and 7.8% in 2006.
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. Vietnam's membership in the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA)
and entry into force of the US-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement 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 joined the World Trade Organization in
January 2007. This should provide an important boost to the economy
and should help to ensure the continuation of liberalizing reforms.
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. Agriculture's share of economic output has continued
to shrink, from about 25% in 2000 to 20% in 2006. Deep poverty,
defined as a percent of the population living under $1 per day, has
declined significantly and is now smaller than that of China, India,
and the Philippines. Vietnam is working to promote job creation to
keep up with the country's high population growth rate. However,
high levels of inflation have prompted Vietnamese authorities to
tighten monetary and fiscal policies. Hanoi is targeting an economic
growth rate between 7.5 and 8% over the next five years.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$258.6 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$48.26 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

7.8% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,100 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 20.1% industry: 41.8% services:

38.1% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 44.58 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 56.8% industry: 37% services: 6.2%

(July 2005)

Unemployment rate:
2% (2006 est.)

Population below poverty line:

19.5% (2004 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):

7.5% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

32.6% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $15.42 billion
expenditures: $16.63 billion; including capital expenditures of $1.8
billion (2006 est.)
Public debt:
47.5% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
paddy rice, coffee, rubber, cotton, tea, pepper, soybeans, cashews,
sugar cane, peanuts, bananas; poultry; fish, seafood

Industries:
food processing, garments, shoes, machine-building; mining, coal,
steel; cement, chemical fertilizer, glass, tires, oil, paper

Industrial production growth rate:

11.3% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
40.11 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 43.7% hydro: 56.3% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
37.3 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh

Oil - production:
400,000 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
230,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
2.5 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

6.342 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

6.342 billion cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2005 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m

Natural gas - proved reserves:

192.6 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$1.029 billion (2006 est.)

Exports:
$39.92 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
crude oil, marine products, rice, coffee, rubber, tea, garments,
shoes

Exports - partners:
US 18.3%, Japan 13.6%, China 9%, Australia 7.9%, Singapore 5.6%
(2005)

Imports:
$39.16 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and equipment, petroleum products, fertilizer, steel
products, raw cotton, grain, cement, motorcycles

Imports - partners:
 China 15.6%, Singapore 12.4%, Taiwan 11.7%, Japan 11.1%, South
Korea 9.7%, Thailand 6.5% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$11.92 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$21.86 billion (2006 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 - 16,037 (2006), 15,746 (2005), (2004), 15,510
(2003), 15,280 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Vietnam

Telephones - main lines in use:

15.845 million (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

9.593 million (2005)

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:

6 (plus 61 provincial TV stations) (2006)

Televisions:
3.57 million (1997)

Internet country code:

.vn

Internet hosts:
12,114 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2000)

Internet users:
13.1 million (2006)

Transportation Vietnam

Airports: 32 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 26 over 3,047 m: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5

1,524 to 2,437 m: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 6
 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Pipelines:
condensate/gas 432 km; gas 163 km; oil 50 km; refined products 206
km (2006)

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 (2005)

Roadways: total: 222,179 km paved: 42,167 km unpaved: 180,012 km (2004)

Waterways:
17,702 km (5,000 km navigable by vessels up to 1.8 m draft) (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 267 ships (1000 GRT or over) 1,423,936 GRT/2,191,858 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 23, cargo 202, chemical tanker 4, container 5,
liquefied gas 5, petroleum tanker 24, refrigerated cargo 2, roll
on/roll off 1, specialized tanker 1
foreign-owned: 1 (Denmark 1)
registered in other countries: 17 (Antigua and Barbuda 1, Honduras
1, Mongolia 8, Panama 4, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1, unknown
2) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City

Military Vietnam

Military branches:
People's Armed Forces: People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) (includes
People's Navy Command (with naval infantry, coast guard), Air and
Air Defense Force (Kon Quan Nhan Dan), Border Defense Command),
 People's Public Security Forces, Militia Force, Self-Defense Forces
(2005)

Military service age and obligation:

18 years of age (male) for compulsory military service; females may
volunteer for active duty military service; conscript service
obligation - 2 years (3-4 years in the navy); 18-45 years of age
(male) or 18-40 years of age (female) for Militia Force or Self
Defense Forces (2006)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 21,341,813
females age 18-49: 21,430,808 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 16,032,358
females age 18-49: 17,921,241 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 915,572
females age 18-49: 864,161 (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; after years of
Cambodia claiming Vietnam had moved or destroyed boundary markers,
in 2005, after much domestic debate, Cambodia ratified an agreement
with Vietnam that settled all but a small portion of the land
boundary; establishment of a maritime boundary with Cambodia is
hampered by unresolved dispute over offshore islands; 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; government continues to face domestic
opium/heroin/methamphetamine addiction problems despite longstanding
crackdowns

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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: 1,910 sq km
land: 346 sq km
water: 1,564 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 475 m

Natural resources:
sun, sand, sea, surf

Land use:
arable land: 5.71%
permanent crops: 2.86%
other: 91.43% (2005)

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:
108,605 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 22.4% (male 12,261/female 12,056)
15-64 years: 66.4% (male 34,174/female 37,949)
65 years and over: 11.2% (male 5,385/female 6,780) (2006 est.)
Median age:
total: 37.1 years
male: 36.2 years
female: 38 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

-0.12% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
13.96 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
6.43 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

-8.73 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 7.86 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 8.93 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 6.72 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 79.05 years
male: 75.24 years
female: 83.09 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.17 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

Nationality:
noun: Virgin Islander(s) (US citizens)
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: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 90-95% est.
male: NA%
female: NA% (2005 est.)

Government Virgin Islands

Country name:
conventional long form: United States Virgin Islands
conventional short form: Virgin Islands
former: Danish West Indies
abbreviation: USVI

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:
name: Charlotte Amalie
geographic coordinates: 18 21 N, 64 56 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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; 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); Vice President Richard B. CHENEY (since 20 January
2001)
head of government: Governor John DeJONGH (since 1 January 2007)
cabinet: NA
elections: under the US Consitution, residents of unincorporated
territories, such as the Virgin Islands, do not vote in elections
for US president and vice president; governor and lieutenant
governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year
terms (eligible for a second term); election last held 7 and 21
November 2006 (next to be held November 2010)
election results: John DeJONGH elected governor; percent of vote -
 John DeJONGH 57.3%, Kenneth MAPP 42.7%

Legislative branch:
unicameral Senate (15 seats; members are elected by popular vote to
serve two-year terms)
elections: last held 7 November 2006 (next to be held November 2008)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party -
Democratic Party 8, ICM 4, independent 3
note: the Virgin Islands elects one non-voting representative to the
US House of Representatives; election last held 7 November 2006
(next to be held November 2008); results - Donna M. CHRISTENSEN
(Democrat) reelected

Judicial branch:
US District Court of the Virgin Islands (under Third Circuit
jurisdiction); Superior Court of the Virgin Islands (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:

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 hosted 2.6 million visitors in 2005. The
manufacturing sector consists of petroleum refining, textiles,
electronics, pharmaceuticals, and watch assembly. One of the world's
largest petroleum refineries is at Saint Croix. The agricultural
sector is small, with most food being imported. International
business and financial services are small but growing components of
the economy. The islands are vulnerable 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):

$1.577 billion (2004 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

NA

GDP - real growth rate:

2% (2002 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$14,500 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 1% industry: 19% services: 80%

(2003 est.)

Labor force: 43,980 (2004 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 1% industry: 19% services: 80% (2003

est.)

Unemployment rate:
6.2% (2004)

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: $NA
expenditures: $NA

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:
980 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
911.4 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
17,110 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:
115,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$4.234 billion (2001)

Exports - commodities:
refined petroleum products

Exports - partners:
US, Puerto Rico (2004)

Imports:
$4.609 billion (2001)

Imports - commodities:
crude oil, foodstuffs, consumer goods, building materials

Imports - partners:
US, Puerto Rico (2004)

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:

70,900 (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

64,200 (2004)

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 16, shortwave 0 (2006)

Radios:
107,000 (1997)

Television broadcast stations:

5 (2006)

Televisions:
68,000 (1997)

Internet country code:

 .vi

Internet hosts:
3,855 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

50 (2000)

Internet users:
30,000 (2002)

Transportation Virgin Islands

Airports: 2 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

(2006)

Roadways:
total: 1,257 km (2004)

Ports and terminals:

Charlotte Amalie, Limetree Bay

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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, as well as for emergency landings. All
operations on the island were suspended and all personnel evacuated
in August 2006 with the approach of super typhoon IOKE (category 5),
which struck the island with sustained winds of 250 kph and a 6 m
storm surge inflicting major damage. A US Air Force assessment and
repair team returned to the island in September and restored limited
function to the airfield and facilities. The future status of
activities on the island will be determined upon completion of the
survey and assessment.

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 39 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 low coral islands, Peale, Wake, and Wilkes, 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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
0 sq km

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: since super typhoon IOKE, a small military contingent along
with 75 contractor personnel have returned to the island to conduct
clean-up and restore basic operations on the island (July 2006 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 military
personnel and contractors located on the island. All food and
 manufactured goods must be imported.

Electricity - production:
NA kWh

Communications Wake Island

Telephone system:
general assessment: satellite communications; 2 DSN circuits off
the Overseas Telephone System (OTS)
domestic: NA
international: NA

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 0
note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio service
provided by satellite (2005)

Television broadcast stations:

0
note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio service
provided by satellite (2005)

Transportation Wake Island

Airports: 1 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways: total: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Ports and terminals:

none; two offshore anchorages for large ships

Transportation - note:
there are no commercial or civilian flights to and from Wake
Island, except in direct support of island missions; emergency
landing is available

Military Wake Island

Military - note:
defense is the responsibility of the US; the US Air Force is
responsible for overall administration and operation of the island;
the launch support facility is administered by the US Missile
Defense Agency (MDA)

Transnational Issues Wake Island

Disputes - international: claimed by Marshall Islands

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Wallis and Futuna

Introduction Wallis and Futuna

Background:
The Futuna island group was discovered by the Dutch in 1616 and
Wallis by the British in 1767, but 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: 7.14%
permanent crops: 35.71%
other: 57.15% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

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 2006 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA (2006
est.)

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 (2006 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:
name: Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)
geographic coordinates: 13 57 S, 171 56 W
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 Richard DIDIER (since 19
July 2006)
head of government: President of the Territorial Assembly Patalione
KANIMOA (since 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 in 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); Mouvement des Radicaux de Gauche or
MRG; Rally for the Republic or RPR (UMP) [Clovis LOGOLOGOFOLAU];
Socialist Party or PS; Taumu'a Lelei [Soane Muni UHILA]; Union
Populaire Locale or UPL [Falakiko GATA]; Union Pour la Democratie
Francaise or UDF

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

SPC, UPU

Diplomatic representation in the US:

none (overseas territory of France)

Diplomatic representation from the US:

none (overseas territory of France)

Flag description:
unofficial, local flag has a red field with four white isosceles
triangles in the middle, representing the three native kings of the
islands and the French administrator; the apexes of the triangles
are oriented inward and at right angles to each other; the flag of
France, outlined in white on two sides, is in the upper hoist
quadrant; the flag of France is the only official flag

Economy Wallis and Futuna

Economy - overview:
The economy is limited to traditional subsistence agriculture, with
about 80% of 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 (official exchange rate):

NA

GDP - real growth rate:

NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$3,800 (2004 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Labor force: 3,104 (2003)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 80% industry: 4% services: 16% (2001

est.)

Unemployment rate:
15.2% (2003)

Population below poverty line:

NA%

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.8% (2005)

Budget:
revenues: $29,730
expenditures: $31,330 (2004)

Public debt:
5.6% of GDP (2004 est.)

Agriculture - products:
 breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats; fish

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:
$47,450 f.o.b. (2004)

Exports - commodities:
copra, chemicals, construction materials

Exports - partners:
Italy 40%, Croatia 15%, US 14%, Denmark 13% (2004)

Imports:
$61.17 million f.o.b. (2004)

Imports - commodities:
chemicals, machinery, passenger ships, consumer goods
Imports - partners:
France 97%, Australia 2%, NZ 1% (2004)

Debt - external:
$3.67 million (2004)

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 - 95.01
(2006), 95.89 (2005), 96.04 (2004), 105.66 (2003), 126.71 (2002)

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 hosts:
1 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

1 (2000)

Internet users:
900 (2002)

Transportation Wallis and Futuna

Airports: 2 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Merchant marine:
total: 8 ships (1000 GRT or over) 110,428 GRT/56,830 DWT
by type: chemical tanker 1, passenger 7
foreign-owned: 8 (France 5, French Polynesia 2, US 1) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Leava, Mata-Utu
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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@West Bank

Background:
The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government
Arrangements (the DOP), signed in Washington in September 1993,
provided for a transitional period of Palestinian interim
self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. A transfer of
authority to the Palestinian Authority (PA) 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. Direct negotiations to determine the permanent status of
Gaza and the West Bank began in September 1999 after a three-year
hiatus, but were derailed by a second intifadah that broke out a
 year later. In April 2003, the Quartet (US, EU, UN, and Russia)
presented a roadmap to a final settlement of the conflict by 2005
based on reciprocal steps by the two parties leading to two states,
Israel and a democratic Palestine. The proposed date for a permanent
status agreement has been postponed indefinitely due to violence and
accusations that both sides have not followed through on their
commitments. Following Palestinian leader Yasir ARAFAT's death in
late 2004, Mahmud ABBAS was elected PA president in January 2005. A
month later, Israel and the PA agreed to the Sharm el-Sheikh
Commitments in an effort to move the peace process forward. In
September 2005, Israel withdrew all its settlers and soldiers and
dismantled its military facilities in the Gaza Strip and four
northern West Bank settlements. Nonetheless, Israel controls
maritime, airspace, and most access to the Gaza Strip. A November
2005 PA-Israeli agreement authorized the reopening of the Rafah
border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt under joint PA and
Egyptian control. In January 2006, the Islamic Resistance Movement,
HAMAS, won control of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). The
international community has refused to accept the HAMAS-led
government because it does not recognize Israel, will not renounce
violence, and refuses to honor previous peace agreements between
Israel and the PA. Since March 2006, President Abbas has had little
success negotiating with HAMAS to present a political platform
acceptable to the international community so as to lift the economic
siege on Palestinians. The PLC was unable to convene in late 2006 as
a result of Israel's detention of many HAMAS PLC members and
Israeli-imposed travel restrictions on other PLC members.

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:
 150 sq km; note - includes Gaza Strip (2003)

Natural hazards:
droughts

Environment - current issues:

adequacy of fresh water supply; sewage treatment

Geography - note:
landlocked; highlands are main recharge area for Israel's coastal
aquifers; there are 242 West Bank settlements and 29 East Jerusalem
settlements in addition to at least 20 occupied outposts (August
2005 est.)

People West Bank

Population:
2,460,492
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: 42.9% (male 541,110/female 515,202)
15-64 years: 53.7% (male 676,427/female 644,347)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 35,440/female 47,966) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 18.3 years
male: 18.2 years
female: 18.5 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.06% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
31.67 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
3.92 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Net migration rate:
2.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 19.15 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 21.12 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 17.05 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 73.27 years
male: 71.5 years
female: 75.15 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

4.28 children born/woman (2006 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 Palestinian
Authority (PA) - has experienced a general decline in economic
conditions since the second intifadah began in September 2000. The
downturn has been largely the result of Israeli closure policies -
the imposition of border closures in response to security incidents
in Israel - which disrupted labor and trading relationships. In
2001, and even more severely in 2002, Israeli military measures in
PA areas resulted in the destruction of capital, the disruption of
administrative structures, and widespread business closures.
International aid of at least $1.14 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.
In 2005, high unemployment and limited trade opportunities - due to
continued closures both within the West Bank and externally -
stymied growth. Israel's and the international community's financial
embargo of the PA since HAMAS took office in March 2006 has
interrupted the provision of PA social services and the payment of
PA salaries.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$5.327 billion (2005 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$3.45 billion (2003)

GDP - real growth rate:

4.9% (2005 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,500 (2005 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 8% industry: 18.2% services: 73.9%

note: includes Gaza Strip (2005 est.)

Labor force: 568,000 (2005)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 16% industry: 29% services: 55%

(2005)

Unemployment rate:
20.3% (includes Gaza Strip) (2005)

Population below poverty line:

45.7% including Gaza Strip (2005)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

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

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

2.9% (includes Gaza Strip) (2005)

Budget:
revenues: $1.23 billion
expenditures: $1.64 billion; including capital expenditures of $44
million ; note - these budget data include Gaza Strip (2005)

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:

2.4%

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:
$313 million f.o.b.; note - includes Gaza Strip (2004)

Exports - commodities:
olives, fruit, vegetables, limestone

Exports - partners:
Israel, Jordan, Gaza Strip (2004)
Imports:
$2.37 billion c.i.f.; note - includes Gaza Strip (2004)

Imports - commodities:
food, consumer goods, construction materials

Imports - partners:
Israel, Jordan, Gaza Strip (2004)

Debt - external:
NA

Economic aid - recipient:

$1.14 billion; note - includes Gaza Strip (2004)

Currency (code):
new Israeli shekel (ILS); Jordanian dinar (JOD)

Currency code:
ILS; JOD

Exchange rates:
new Israeli shekels per US dollar - 4.4877 (2005), 4.482 (2004),
4.5541 (2003), 4.7378 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications West Bank

Telephones - main lines in use:

357,300 (includes Gaza Strip) (2004)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

1.095 million (includes Gaza Strip) (2005)

Telephone system:
general assessment: NA
domestic: Israeli company BEZEK and the Palestinian company PALTEL
 are responsible for fixed line services in the Gaza Strip; the
Palestinian JAWAL company provides cellular services
international: country code - 970

Radio broadcast stations:

AM 1, FM 20, shortwave 0 (2005)

Radios:
NA; note - most Palestinian households have radios (1999)

Television broadcast stations:

8 (2005)

Televisions:
NA; note - many Palestinian households have televisions (1999)

Internet country code:

.ps

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

8 (1999)

Internet users:
243,000 (includes Gaza Strip) (2005)

Transportation West Bank

Airports:
3 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Roadways: total: 4,996 km paved: 4,996 km note: includes Gaza Strip (2004)

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 withdrew
from four settlements in the northern West Bank in August 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): 705,207 (Palestinian Refugees
(UNRWA)) (2006)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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% (2005)

Irrigated land:
NA

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 2006 est.)

Age structure: 0-14 years: NA 15-64 years: NA 65 years and over: NA (2006
est.)

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) (2007)

Nationality:
noun: Sahrawi(s), Sahraoui(s)
adjective: Sahrawi, Sahrawian, Sahraouian

Ethnic groups:
Arab, Berber

Religions:
Muslim

Languages:
Hassaniya Arabic, Moroccan Arabic

Literacy:
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 Organization of
 African Unity (OAU) member in 1984; guerrilla activities continued
sporadically, until a UN-monitored cease-fire was implemented 6
September 1991

Capital:
none
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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. Incomes in Western Sahara are substantially below the
Moroccan level. The Moroccan Government controls all trade and other
 economic activities in Western Sahara. Morocco and the European
Union signed a four-year agreement in July 2006 allowing European
vessels to fish off the coast of Morocco, including the disputed
waters off the coast of Western Sahara. Moroccan energy interests in
2001 signed contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Western
Sahara, which has angered the Polisario. However, in 2006, the
Polisario awarded similar exploration licenses in the disputed
territory, which would come into force if Morocco and the Polisario
resolve their dispute over Western Sahara.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$NA

GDP (official exchange rate):

NA

GDP - real growth rate:

NA%

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$NA

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: 40%

Labor force: 12,000

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 50%
industry and services: 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

Agriculture - products:
fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases); camels, sheep,
goats (kept by nomads); fish

Industries:
phosphate mining, handicrafts

Industrial production growth rate:

NA%

Electricity - production:
85 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
79.05 million kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
1,800 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Exports:
$NA

Exports - commodities:
phosphates 62%

Exports - partners:
Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so trade partners
are included in overall Moroccan accounts (2006)

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 (2006)

Debt - external:
$NA

Economic aid - recipient:

$NA

Currency (code):
Moroccan dirham (MAD)

Currency code:
MAD
Exchange rates:
Moroccan dirhams per US dollar - 8.865 (2005), 8.868 (2004), 9.5744
(2003), 11.0206 (2002)

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

Airports: 11 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Ad Dakhla, Cabo Bojador, Laayoune (El Aaiun)

Military Western Sahara

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $992.2 million

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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 250,708 km (not counting
shared boundaries twice); two nations, China and Russia, each border
14 other countries
note: 44 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, Serbia, 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, Isle of Man,
Jamaica, Jan Mayen, Japan, Jarvis Island, Jersey, Johnston Atoll,
Juan de Nova Island, Kingman Reef, Kiribati, Madagascar, Maldives,
Malta, 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 200nm

Climate:
a wide equatorial band of hot and humid tropical climates -
bordered north and south by subtropical temperate zones - that
separate two large areas of cold and dry polar 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: 13.31% permanent crops: 4.71% other: 81.98% (2005)

Irrigated land:
2,770,980 sq km (2003)

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:
6,525,170,264 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 27.4% (male 919,219,446/female 870,242,271)
15-64 years: 65.2% (male 2,152,066,888/female 2,100,334,722)
65 years and over: 7.4% (male 213,160,216/female 270,146,721)
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 (2006 est.)

Median age: total: 27.6 years male: 27 years female: 28.2 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

1.14% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
20.05 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Death rate:
8.67 deaths/1,000 population (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 48.87 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 50.98 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 46.65 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 64.77 years
male: 63.16 years
female: 66.47 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

2.59 children born/woman (2006 est.)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:

NA

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:

NA

HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA

Religions:
Christians 33.03% (of which Roman Catholics 17.33%, Protestants
5.8%, Orthodox 3.42%, Anglicans 1.23%), Muslims 20.12%, Hindus
13.34%, Buddhists 5.89%, Sikhs 0.39%, Jews 0.23%, other religions
12.61%, non-religious 12.03%, atheists 2.36% (2004 est.)

Languages:
Mandarin Chinese 13.69%, Spanish 5.05%, English 4.84%, Hindi 2.82%,
 Portuguese 2.77%, Bengali 2.68%, Russian 2.27%, Japanese 1.99%,
Standard German 1.49%, Wu Chinese 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:
268 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 4.4% in 2005, led by China (9.3%), India
(7.6%), and Russia (5.9%). 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 no gain for Italy to a strong
gain by the United States (3.5%). 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 EU. In Western Europe,
governments face the difficult political problem of channeling
resources away from welfare programs in order to increase investment
and strengthen incentives to seek employment. The addition of 80
million people each year to an already overcrowded globe is
exacerbating the problems of pollution, desertification,
underemployment, epidemics, and famine. Because of their own
internal problems and priorities, the industrialized countries
devote insufficient resources to deal effectively with the poorer
areas of the world, which, at least from 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 accentuated 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 through 2006.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

GWP (gross world product): $65 trillion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$46.66 trillion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

 5.1% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$10,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 4% industry: 32% services: 64%

(2004 est.)

Labor force: 3.001 billion (2005 est.)

Labor force - by occupation:

agriculture: 41%
industry: 20.7%
services: 38.4% (2002 est.)

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%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 29.9% (2002 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

developed countries 1% to 4% typically; developing countries 5% to
20% typically; national inflation rates vary widely in individual
cases, from declining prices in Japan to hyperinflation in one Third
World countries (Zimbabwe); inflation rates have declined for most
countries for the last several years, held in check by increasing
international competition from several low wage countries (2005 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:
17.15 trillion kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: NA hydro: NA nuclear: NA other:

NA

Electricity - consumption:
16.18 trillion kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - exports:
562.2 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
568.5 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
83 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
82.59 million bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - proved reserves:

1.326 trillion bbl (1 January 2002 est.)

Natural gas - production:

2.824 trillion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

2.82 trillion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

810.9 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

828 billion cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

 172.2 trillion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Exports:
$12.45 trillion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Exports - commodities:
the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and services

Exports - partners:
US 15.6%, Germany 7.4%, China 5.7%, France 4.9%, UK 4.7%, Japan
4.5% (2005)

Imports:
$12.08 trillion f.o.b. (2004 est.)

Imports - commodities:
the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and services

Imports - partners:
China 9.3%, Germany 9%, US 9%, Japan 6.1%, France 4.2% (2005)

Debt - external:
$44.62 trillion
note: this figure is the sum total of all countries' external debt,
both public and private (2004 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

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

Communications World

Telephones - main lines in use:

1,263,367,600 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2,168,433,600 (2005)

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:
1,018,057,389 (2005)

Transportation World

Airports:
49,024 (2006)

Heliports:
2,021 (2006)

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

Roadways: total: 32,345,165 km paved: 19,403,061 km unpaved: 12,942,104 km

(2002)

Waterways:
 671,886 km (2004)

Merchant marine:
total: 33,222 ships (1000 GRT or over) (2006)

Military World

Military expenditures - dollar figure: aggregate real expenditure on arms

worldwide has increased in the beginning of the 21st century, with the largest
increase in the US; a rough estimate for 2005 is $1.2 trillion (at puchasing power
parity) (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: roughly 2% of gross world product

(2005 est.)

Transnational Issues World

Disputes - international:
stretching over 250,000 km, the world's 329 international land
boundaries separate the 193 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 and cultural
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 today prevails not so much
between the armed forces of independent states as between stateless
armed entities that detract from the sustenance and welfare of local
populations, leaving the community of nations to cope with resultant
refugees, hunger, disease, impoverishment, and environmental
degradation

Refugees and internally displaced persons: the United Nations High

Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated that in December 2005 there
was a global population of 8.4 million registered refugees, the lowest number in
26 years, and as many as 23.7 million IDPs in more than 50 countries; the actual
global population of refugees is probably closer to 10 million given the
estimated 1.5 million Iraqi refugees displaced throughout the Middle East (2006)

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: about 600,000 to 800,000 people, mostly women
and children, are trafficked annually across national borders, not
including millions trafficked within their own countries; at least
80% of the victims are female; 75% of all victims are trafficked
into commercial sexual exploitation; roughly two-thirds of the
global victims are trafficked intra-regionally within East Asia and
the Pacific (260,000 to 280,000 people) and Europe and Eurasia
(170,000 to 210,000 people)

Illicit drugs:
cocaine: worldwide coca cultivation in 2004 amounted to 166,200
hectares; Colombia produced slightly more than two-thirds of the
worldwide crop, followed by Peru and Bolivia; potential pure cocaine
production of 645 metric tons in 2004 marked the lowest level of
Andean cocaine production in the past 10 years; Colombia conducts
aggressive coca eradication campaign, but both Peruvian and Bolivian
Governments are hesitant to eradicate coca in key growing areas; 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: worldwide illicit opium poppy cultivation reached 258,630
hectares in 2004; potential opium production of 5,444 metric tons
was highest total recorded since estimates began in mid-1980s;
Afghanistan is world's primary opium producer, accounting for 91% of
the global supply; Southeast Asia - responsible for 7% of global
opium - continued to diminish in importance in the world opium
market; Latin America produced 2% of global opium, but most refined
into heroin destined for United States; if all opium processed into
pure heroin, the potential global production would be 632 metric
tons of heroin in 2004

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@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: 2.91% permanent crops: 0.25% other: 96.84% (2005)

Irrigated land:
5,500 sq km (2003)

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:
21,456,188 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.4% (male 5,067,762/female 4,881,333)
15-64 years: 51% (male 5,568,078/female 5,375,263)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 275,878/female 287,874) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 16.6 years
male: 16.6 years
female: 16.6 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

3.46% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
42.89 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
8.3 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 59.88 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 64.55 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 54.98 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 62.12 years
male: 60.23 years
female: 64.11 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

6.58 children born/woman (2006 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:
name: Sanaa
geographic coordinates: 15 21 N, 44 12 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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; Deputy
Prime Ministers Rashid Muhammad al-ALIMI, Alawi Salah al-SALAMI,
Ahmad Muhammad Abdallah al-SUFAN
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
advice of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
election last held 20 September 2006 (next to be held September
2013); 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 77.2%, Faysal BIN SHAMLAN 21.8%

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 in 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 [Abdal Malik
al-MAKHLAFI]; National Arab Socialist Ba'th Party [Dr. Qasim SALAM];
Yemeni Socialist Party or YSP [Ali Salih MUQBIL]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

AFESD, AMF, CAEU, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory),
ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, LAS, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer),
OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMIS,
UNOCI,
UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Abd al-Wahab Abdallah al-HAJRI
chancery: 2319 Wyoming Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 965-4760
FAX: [1] (202) 337-2017

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas C. KRAJESKI
embassy: Sa'awan Street, Sanaa
mailing address: P. O. Box 22347, Sanaa
telephone: [967] (1) 755-2000 ext. 2153 or 2266
FAX: [967] (1) 303-182

Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black;
similar to the flag of Syria, which has two green stars, and of
Iraq, which has three green stars (plus an Arabic inscription), in a
horizontal line centered in the white band; also similar to the flag
of Egypt, which has a heraldic eagle centered in the white band

Economy Yemen

Economy - overview:
 Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the Arab world, reported
average annual growth of 3.5% from 2000 through 2006. Its economic
fortunes depend mostly on oil. Oil revenues probably increased in
2006 as a result of higher prices. Yemen was on an IMF-supported
structural adjustment program designed to modernize and streamline
the economy, which led to substantial foreign debt relief and
restructuring. However, government dedication to the program waned
in 2001 for political reasons. Yemen is struggling to control
excessive spending and rampant corruption. Yemen is dependent on
foreign aid to finance its budget deficits and development projects.
In November, Yemen secured $4.7 billion in assistance from Arabian
Gulf and Western donors.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$20.38 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$15.16 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

3.2% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$900 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 12.5% industry: 43.8% services:

43.7% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 5.759 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: note: 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):

14.8% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

15.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $7.314 billion
expenditures: $6.984 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
30% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
grain, fruits, vegetables, pulses, qat, 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:
4.077 billion kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100% hydro: 0% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
 3.792 billion kWh (2004 est.)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
0 kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
387,500 bbl/day (2005 est.)

Oil - consumption:
85,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
370,300 bbl/day (2003)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - proved reserves:

3.72 billion bbl (2006 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - exports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - imports:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves:

478.6 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

Current account balance:

$1.69 billion (2006 est.)
Exports:
$8.214 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
crude oil, coffee, dried and salted fish

Exports - partners:
China 35.3%, India 16.2%, Thailand 11.9%, Japan 6.3%, South Korea
6.3%, Switzerland 5.5% (2005)

Imports:
$5.042 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
food and live animals, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Imports - partners:
UAE 18.9%, Saudi Arabia 8.9%, Switzerland 8.6%, Kuwait 6.7%, China
6.1%, US 4.5% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$6.735 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$5.469 billion (2006 est.)

Economic aid - recipient:

$2.3 billion (2003-07 disbursements)

Currency (code):
Yemeni rial (YER)

Currency code:
YER

Exchange rates:
Yemeni rials per US dollar - 197.467 (2006), 192.67 (2005), 184.78
(2004), 183.45 (2003), 175.63 (2002)

Fiscal year:
 calendar year

Communications Yemen

Telephones - main lines in use:

900,000 (2006)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

2,074,846 (2006)

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:
171 (2006)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):
1 (2000)

Internet users:
220,000 (2005)

Transportation Yemen

Airports: 46 (2006)

Airports - with paved runways:

total: 16
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 30
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 4 (2006)

Pipelines:
gas 71 km; liquid petroleum gas 22 km; oil 1,284 km (2006)

Roadways:
total: 71,300 km
paved: 6,200 km
unpaved: 65,100 km (2005)

Merchant marine:
total: 4 ships (1000 GRT or over) 15,400 GRT/18,072 DWT
by type: cargo 1, chemical tanker 1, petroleum tanker 1, roll
on/roll off 1
registered in other countries: 9 (Bolivia 1, Cambodia 3, North Korea
2, Panama 3) (2006)

Ports and terminals:

Aden, Nishtun

Military Yemen

Military branches:
Army (includes Special Forces), Navy (includes Marines), Unified
Yemen Air Force (includes Air Defense Force) (2006)

Military service age and obligation: in May 2001, Yemen's National Defense
Council abolished compulsory military service and authorized a voluntary
program for military service (2004)

Manpower available for military service:

males age 18-49: 4,058,223
 females age 18-49: 3,868,112 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 2,790,705
females age 18-49: 2,792,406 (2005 est.)

Manpower reaching military service age annually:

males age 18-49: 236,517
females age 18-49: 230,641 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$992.2 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

6.4% (2005 est.)

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; Saudi Arabia still maintains the
concrete-filled pipe as a security barrier along sections of the
border with Yemen in 2004 to stem illegal cross-border activities;
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): 78,582 (Somalia) (2006)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Zambia

Introduction Zambia

Background:
The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the
[British] 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 an anticorruption task
force in 2002, but the government has yet to make a prosecution. The
Zambian leader was reelected in 2006 in an election that was deemed
free and fair.

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: 6.99% permanent crops: 0.04% other: 92.97% (2005)

Irrigated land:
1,560 sq km (2003)

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:
11,502,010
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
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 46.3% (male 2,673,891/female 2,656,268)
15-64 years: 51.3% (male 2,925,910/female 2,969,324)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 117,877/female 158,740) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 16.5 years
male: 16.3 years
female: 16.7 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

 2.11% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
41 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
19.93 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 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: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 86.84 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 94.08 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 79.37 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 40.03 years
male: 39.76 years
female: 40.31 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

5.39 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

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:
 name: Lusaka
geographic coordinates: 15 25 S, 28 17 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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; amended in 1996 to establish presidential term
limits

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 Rupiah BANDA (since 9 October 2006); 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 Rupiah BANDA (since 9 October 2006); 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
(eligible for a second term); election last held 28 September 2006
(next to be held 2011); vice president appointed by the president
election results: Levy MWANAWASA reelected president; percent of
 vote - Levy MWANAWASA 43.0%, Michael SATA 29.4%, Hakainde
HICHILEMA
25.3%, Godfrey MIYANDA 1.6%, Winright NGONDO 0.8%

Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly (158 seats; 150 members are elected by
popular vote, eight members are appointed by the president, to serve
five-year terms)
elections: last held 28 September 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party -
MMD 72, PF 44, UDA 27, ULP 2, NDF 1, independents 2; 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]; 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]; Zambian Republican Party or ZRP
[Benjamin
MWILA]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, COMESA, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM,
IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO
(correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, MONUC, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SADC,
UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNMIS,
UNWTO, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, 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 Carmen M. MARTINEZ
embassy: corner of Independence and United Nations Avenues, Lusaka
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 in 2005-06 remained somewhat below the 6%-7% per
year 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 has increased steadily since 2004,
due to higher copper prices and the opening of new mines. The maize
harvest was again good in 2005, 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 of 2004. A tighter monetary policy will help
 cut inflation, but Zambia still has a serious problem with high
public debt.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$11.51 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$5.806 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

6% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$1,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 19.9% industry: 28.9% services:

51.2% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 4.903 million (2006 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):

8.8% (2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

26.5% of GDP (2006 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $2.674 billion
expenditures: $2.99 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
65.7% of GDP (2006 est.)

Agriculture - products:
corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seed, vegetables, flowers,
tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca), coffee; cattle,
goats, pigs, poultry, milk, eggs, hides

Industries:
copper mining and processing, construction, foodstuffs, beverages,
chemicals, textiles, fertilizer, horticulture

Industrial production growth rate:

10.1% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
9.962 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 0.5% hydro: 99.5% nuclear: 0%

other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
6.692 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
2.975 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
403 million kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
140 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
13,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Oil - imports:
NA bbl/day (2001)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-165.4 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$3.928 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
copper/cobalt 64%, cobalt, electricity; tobacco, flowers, cotton

Exports - partners:
Switzerland 28.7%, South Africa 18.6%, UK 14.4%, Democratic
Republic of the Congo 5.4%, Tanzania 5.1%, Zimbabwe 4.1% (2005)

Imports:
$3.092 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery, transportation equipment, petroleum products,
electricity, fertilizer; foodstuffs, clothing

Imports - partners:
South Africa 47.6%, UK 12.6%, Zimbabwe 4.3% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$1.05 billion (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$4.397 billion (2006 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$640.6 million (2002)

Currency (code):
Zambian kwacha (ZMK)

Currency code:
ZMK

Exchange rates:
Zambian kwacha per US dollar - 3,371.98 (2006), 4,463.5 (2005),
4,778.9 (2004), 4,733.3 (2003), 4,398.6 (2002)

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Zambia

Telephones - main lines in use:

94,700 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

946,600 (2005)

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:
3,227 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

5 (2001)

Internet users:
231,000 (2005)

Transportation Zambia

Airports: 111 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways:

total: 101
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 64
under 914 m: 32 (2006)

Pipelines:
oil 771 km (2006)
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) (2005)

Roadways:
total: 91,440 km
paved: 20,117 km
unpaved: 71,323 km (2001)

Waterways:
2,250 km (includes Lake Tanganyika and the Zambezi and Luapula
rivers) (2005)

Ports and terminals:

Mpulungu

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
females age 18-49: 2,159,688 (2005 est.)

Manpower fit for military service:

males age 18-49: 1,043,702
females age 18-49: 953,328 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$121.7 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

 1.8% (2005 est.)

Transnational Issues Zambia

Disputes - international:
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:

refugees (country of origin): 75,468 (Angola), 61,243 (Democratic
Republic of the Congo), 5,669 (Rwanda) (2006)

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@Zimbabwe

Introduction Zimbabwe

Background:
The UK annexed Southern Rhodesia from the [British] 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, which began 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 strikes in 2003 were unsuccessful
in pressuring MUGABE to retire early; security forces continued
their brutal repression of regime opponents. The ruling ZANU-PF
party used fraud and intimidation to win a two-thirds majority in
the March 2005 parliamentary election, allowing it to amend the
constitution at will and recreate the Senate, which had been
abolished in the late 1980s. In April 2005, Harare embarked on
Operation Restore Order, ostensibly an urban rationalization
program, which resulted in the destruction of the homes or
businesses of 700,000 mostly poor supporters of the opposition,
according to UN estimates. ZANU-PF announced in December 2006 that
they would combine presidential and parliamentary elections in 2010
to ensure MUGABE remains in office.

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: 8.24% permanent crops: 0.33% other: 91.43% (2005)

Irrigated land:
1,740 sq km (2003)

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:
12,236,805
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
2006 est.)

Age structure:
0-14 years: 37.4% (male 2,307,170/female 2,265,298)
15-64 years: 59.1% (male 3,616,528/female 3,621,190)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 199,468/female 227,151) (2006 est.)

Median age:
total: 19.9 years
male: 19.7 years
female: 20 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate:

 0.62% (2006 est.)

Birth rate:
28.01 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate:
21.84 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate:

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population
note: there is an increasing flow of Zimbabweans into South Africa
and Botswana in search of better economic opportunities (2006 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 (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate:

total: 51.71 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 54.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 48.83 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth:

total population: 39.29 years
male: 40.39 years
female: 38.16 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate:

3.13 children born/woman (2006 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 (2007)

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:
name: Harare
geographic coordinates: 17 50 S, 31 03 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

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 Joseph MSIKA (since December 1999)
and 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 Joseph MSIKA (since December 1999)
and 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 six-year term (no term
limits); 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:
bicameral Parliament consists of a 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 eight occupied by provincial governors appointed by the
president) and a Senate (66 seats - 50 elected by popular vote for a
five-year term, six nominated by the president, 10 nominated by the
Council of Chiefs)
elections: House of Assembly last held 31 March 2005 (next to be
held in 2010), Senate last held 26 November 2005 (next to be held in
2010)
election results: House of Assembly - 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; Senate - percent of vote by party - ZANU-PF
73.7%, MDC 20.3%, other 4.4%, independents 1.6%; seats by party -
ZANU-PF 43, MDC 7

Judicial branch:
Supreme Court; High Court

Political parties and leaders:

African National Party or ANP; Movement for Democratic Change or
MDC [Morgan TSVANGIRAI]; Peace Action is Freedom for All or PAFA;
United Parties [Abel MUZOREWA]; United People's Party [Daniel
SHUMBA]; 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]; Zimbabwe Youth in Alliance or ZIYA

Political pressure groups and leaders:

Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition [Wellington CHIBEBE]; National
 Constitutional Assembly or NCA [Lovemore MADHUKU]; Zimbabwe
Congress
of Trade Unions or ZCTU [Lovemore MATOMBO]

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, COMESA, FAO, G-15, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt
(signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SADC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIS, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU,
WHO, WIPO,
WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Machivenyika T. MAPURANGA
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 Christopher W. DELL
embassy: 172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue, Harare
mailing address: P. O. Box 3340, Harare
telephone: [263] (4) 250-593 and 250-594
FAX: [263] (4) 796-488

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 drained hundreds of millions of dollars from
the economy. 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, turning Zimbabwe into a net importer of
food products. Badly needed support from the IMF has been suspended
because of the government's arrears on past loans, which it began
repaying in 2005. The official annual inflation rate rose from 32%
in 1998, to 133% in 2004, 585% in 2005, and approached 1000% in
2006, although private sector estimates put the figure much higher.
Meanwhile, the official exchange rate fell from approximately 1
(revalued) Zimbabwean dollar per US dollar in 2003 to 250 per US
dollar in August 2006.

GDP (purchasing power parity):

$25.05 billion (2006 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate):

$3.146 billion (2006 est.)

GDP - real growth rate:

-4.4% (2006 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP):

$2,000 (2006 est.)

GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 17.7% industry: 22.9% services:

59.4% (2006 est.)

Labor force: 3.958 million (2006 est.)

Labor force - by occupation: agriculture: 66% industry: 10% services: 24%

(1996)

Unemployment rate:
80% (2005 est.)
Population below poverty line:
80% (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 40.4% (1995)

Distribution of family income - Gini index:

56.8 (2003)

Inflation rate (consumer prices):

976.4% official data; private sector estimates are much higher
(2006 est.)

Investment (gross fixed):

16.1% of GDP (2006 est.)

Budget:
revenues: $1.411 billion
expenditures: $1.924 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Public debt:
108.4% of GDP (2006 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:

-1.8% (2006 est.)

Electricity - production:
9.412 billion kWh (2004)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 47% hydro: 53% nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)

Electricity - consumption:
11 billion kWh (2004)

Electricity - exports:
0 kWh (2004)

Electricity - imports:
2.25 billion kWh (2004)

Oil - production:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - consumption:
22,500 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - exports:
0 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Oil - imports:
23,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)

Natural gas - production:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Natural gas - consumption:

0 cu m (2004 est.)

Current account balance:

$-264.6 million (2006 est.)

Exports:
$1.766 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Exports - commodities:
cotton, tobacco, gold, ferroalloys, textiles/clothing

Exports - partners:
 South Africa 27%, China 7.9%, Japan 6.8%, Zambia 5.6%, Netherlands
5.4%, US 4.9%, Italy 4.5%, Germany 4.4% (2005)

Imports:
$2.055 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.)

Imports - commodities:
machinery and transport equipment, other manufactures, chemicals,
fuels

Imports - partners:
South Africa 52.5%, China 5.7%, Botswana 4.1% (2005)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:

$140 million (2006 est.)

Debt - external:
$5.26 billion (2006 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 - 195.107 (2006), 77.965 (2005),
5.729 (2004), 0.824 (2003), 0.055 (2002), note, these are official
exchange rates; non-official rates vary significantly

Fiscal year:
calendar year

Communications Zimbabwe
Telephones - main lines in use:
328,000 (2005)

Telephones - mobile cellular:

699,000 (2005)

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:
7,954 (2006)

Internet Service Providers (ISPs):

6 (2000)
Internet users:
1 million (2005)

Transportation Zimbabwe

Airports: 403 (2006)

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 (2006)

Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 386 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m:
187 under 914 m: 194 (2006)

Pipelines: refined products 261 km (2006)

Railways: total: 3,077 km narrow gauge: 3,077 km 1.067-m gauge (313 km

electrified) (2005)

Roadways: total: 97,440 km paved: 18,514 km unpaved: 78,926 km (2002)

Waterways:
on Lake Kariba, length small (2005)

Ports and terminals:

Binga, Kariba

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: 2,778,404
females age 18-49: 2,681,531 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:
males age 18-49: 1,304,424
females age 18-49: 1,115,096 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure:

$124.7 million (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

4% (2005 est.)

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:

refugees (country of origin): 6,536 (Democratic Republic of Congo)
IDPs: 569,685 (MUGABE-led political violence, human rights
violations, land reform, and economic collapse) (2006)

Trafficking in persons:
current situation: Zimbabwe is a source, transit, and destination
country for women and children trafficked for forced labor and
sexual exploitation; children may be trafficked internally for
forced agricultural labor, domestic servitude, and sexual
exploitation; women and girls are lured out of the country to South
Africa, China, Egypt, and Zambia with false job or scholarship
promises that result in domestic servitude or commercial sexual
exploitation; there are reports of South African employers demanding
sex from undocumented Zimbabwean workers under threat of
deportation; women and children from Malawi, Zambia, and the
Democratic Republic of the Congo transit Zimbabwe en route to South
Africa; small numbers of South African girls are trafficked to
 Zimbabwe for domestic labor
tier rating: Tier 3 - Zimbabwe does not fully comply with the
minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and is not
making significant efforts to do so

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 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2001 GDP (purchasing power parity)

Afghanistan
$21.5 billion (2004 est.)

Albania
$20.21 billion
note: Albania has a large gray economy that may be as large as 50%
of official GDP (2006 est.)

Algeria
$253.4 billion (2006 est.)

American Samoa
$510.1 million (2003 est.)

Andorra
$1.84 billion (2004)
Angola
$51.95 billion (2006 est.)

Anguilla
$108.9 million (2004 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda

$750 million (2002 est.)

Argentina
$599.1 billion (2006 est.)

Armenia
$15.99 billion (2006 est.)

Aruba
$2.258 billion (2005 est.)

Australia
$666.3 billion (2006 est.)

Austria
$279.5 billion (2006 est.)

Azerbaijan
$58.1 billion (2006 est.)

Bahamas, The
$6.476 billion (2006 est.)

Bahrain
$17.7 billion (2006 est.)

Bangladesh
$330.8 billion (2006 est.)

Barbados
$5.108 billion (2006 est.)

Belarus
 $80.74 billion (2006 est.)

Belgium
$330.4 billion (2006 est.)

Belize
$2.307 billion (2006 est.)

Benin
$8.931 billion (2006 est.)

Bermuda
$4.5 billion (2004 est.)

Bhutan
$2.9 billion (2003 est.)

Bolivia
$27.21 billion (2006 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

$24.8 billion
note: Bosnia has a large informal sector that could also be as much
as 50% of official GDP (2006 est.)

Botswana
$18.72 billion (2006 est.)

Brazil
$1.616 trillion (2006 est.)

British Virgin Islands

$853.4 million (2004 est.)

Brunei
$6.842 billion (2003 est.)

Bulgaria
$77.13 billion (2006 est.)
Burkina Faso
$17.87 billion (2006 est.)

Burma
$83.84 billion (2006 est.)

Burundi
$5.744 billion (2006 est.)

Cambodia
$36.78 billion (2006 est.)

Cameroon
$42.2 billion (2006 est.)

Canada
$1.165 trillion (2006 est.)

Cape Verde
$3.129 billion (2006 est.)

Cayman Islands
$1.939 billion (2004 est.)

Central African Republic

$4.913 billion (2006 est.)

Chad
$15.26 billion (2006 est.)

Chile
$203 billion (2006 est.)

China
$10 trillion (2006 est.)

Christmas Island
$NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

 $NA

Colombia
$366.7 billion (2006 est.)

Comoros
$441 million (2002 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

$44.6 billion (2006 est.)

Congo, Republic of the

$4.958 billion (2006 est.)

Cook Islands
$183.2 million (2005 est.)

Costa Rica
$48.77 billion (2006 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
$28.47 billion (2006 est.)

Croatia
$59.41 billion (2006 est.)

Cuba
$44.54 billion (2006 est.)

Cyprus
Republic of Cyprus: $17.79 billion; north Cyprus: $4.54
billion (2006 est.)

Czech Republic
$221.4 billion (2006 est.)

Denmark
$198.5 billion (2006 est.)

Djibouti
 $619 million (2002 est.)

Dominica
$384 million (2003 est.)

Dominican Republic
$73.74 billion (2006 est.)

East Timor
$370 million (2004 est.)

Ecuador
$60.48 billion (2006 est.)

Egypt
$328.1 billion (2006 est.)

El Salvador
$33.2 billion (2006 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
$25.69 billion (2005 est.)

Eritrea
$4.471 billion (2005 est.)

Estonia
$26 billion (2006 est.)

Ethiopia
$71.63 billion (2006 est.)

European Union
$12.82 trillion (2006 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

$75 million (2002 est.)

Faroe Islands
$1 billion (2001 est.)
Fiji
$5.504 billion (2006 est.)

Finland
$171.7 billion (2006 est.)

France
$1.871 trillion (2006 est.)

French Polynesia
$4.58 billion (2003 est.)

Gabon
$10.21 billion (2006 est.)

Gambia, The
$3.25 billion (2006 est.)

Gaza Strip
$5.327 billion (2005 est.)

Georgia
$17.79 billion (2006 est.)

Germany
$2.585 trillion (2006 est.)

Ghana
$59.15 billion (2006 est.)

Gibraltar
$769 million (2000 est.)

Greece
$251.7 billion (2006 est.)

Greenland
$1.1 billion (2001 est.)

Grenada
 $440 million (2002 est.)

Guam
$2.5 billion (2005 est.)

Guatemala
$60.57 billion (2006 est.)

Guernsey
$2.742 billion (2005)

Guinea
$19.4 billion (2006 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
$1.244 billion (2006 est.)

Guyana
$3.62 billion (2006 est.)

Haiti
$14.56 billion (2006 est.)

Holy See (Vatican City)

$NA

Honduras
$22.13 billion (2006 est.)

Hong Kong
$253.1 billion (2006 est.)

Hungary
$172.7 billion (2006 est.)

Iceland
$11.4 billion (2006 est.)

India
$4.042 trillion (2006 est.)
Indonesia
$935 billion (2006 est.)

Iran
$610.4 billion (2006 est.)

Iraq
$94.1 billion (2005 est.)

Ireland
$177.2 billion (2006 est.)

Isle of Man
$2.113 billion (2003 est.)

Israel
$166.3 billion (2006 est.)

Italy
$1.727 trillion (2006 est.)

Jamaica
$12.71 billion (2006 est.)

Japan
$4.22 trillion (2006 est.)

Jersey
$3.6 billion (2003 est.)

Jordan
$28.89 billion (2006 est.)

Kazakhstan
$138.7 billion (2006 est.)

Kenya
$40.77 billion (2006 est.)

Kiribati
 $206.4 million (2004 est.)

Korea, North
$40 billion
note: North Korea does not publish any reliable National Income
Accounts data; the datum shown here is derived from purchasing power
parity (PPP) GDP estimates for North Korea that were made by Angus
Maddison in a study conducted for the OECD; his figure for 1999 was
extrapolated to 2005 using estimated real growth rates for North
Korea's GDP and an inflation factor based on the US GDP deflator;
the result was rounded to the nearest $10 billion (2006 est.)

Korea, South
$1.18 trillion (2006 est.)

Kuwait
$52.17 billion (2006 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
$10.49 billion (2006 est.)

Laos
$13.43 billion (2006 est.)

Latvia
$35.08 billion (2006 est.)

Lebanon
$21.45 billion (2006 est.)

Lesotho
$5.195 billion (2006 est.)

Liberia
$2.911 billion (2006 est.)

Libya
$74.97 billion (2006 est.)

Liechtenstein
 $1.786 billion (2001 est.)

Lithuania
$54.03 billion (2006 est.)

Luxembourg
$32.6 billion (2006 est.)

Macau
$10 billion (2004)

Macedonia
$16.91 billion
note: Macedonia has a large informal sector (2006 est.)

Madagascar
$17.27 billion (2006 est.)

Malawi
$8.038 billion (2006 est.)

Malaysia
$308.8 billion (2006 est.)

Maldives
$1.25 billion (2002 est.)

Mali
$14.59 billion (2006 est.)

Malta
$8.122 billion (2006 est.)

Marshall Islands
$115 million (2001 est.)

Mauritania
$8.397 billion (2006 est.)

Mauritius
 $16.72 billion (2006 est.)

Mayotte
$466.8 million (2003 est.)

Mexico
$1.134 trillion (2006 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of

$277 million; note - supplemented by
grant aid, averaging perhaps $100 million annually (2002 est.)

Moldova
$8.971 billion (2006 est.)

Monaco
$870 million
note: Monaco does not publish national income figures; the estimates
are extremely rough (2000 est.)

Mongolia
$5.781 billion (2006 est.)

Montenegro
$3.394 billion (2006 est.)

Montserrat
$29 million (2002 est.)

Morocco
$147 billion (2006 est.)

Mozambique
$29.32 billion (2006 est.)

Namibia
$15.04 billion (2006 est.)

Nauru
$60 million (2005 est.)
Nepal
$41.92 billion (2006 est.)

Netherlands
$512 billion (2006 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
$2.8 billion (2004 est.)

New Caledonia
$3.158 billion (2003 est.)

New Zealand
$106 billion (2006 est.)

Nicaragua
$16.83 billion (2006 est.)

Niger
$12.23 billion (2006 est.)

Nigeria
$188.5 billion (2006 est.)

Niue
$7.6 million (2000 est.)
Norfolk Island
$NA

Northern Mariana Islands

$900 million
note: GDP estimate includes US subsidy (2000 est.)

Norway
$207.3 billion (2006 est.)

Oman
$43.88 billion (2006 est.)

Pakistan
$427.3 billion (2006 est.)

Palau
$124.5 million; note - includes US subsidy (2004 est.)

Panama
$25.29 billion (2006 est.)

Papua New Guinea

$15.13 billion (2006 est.)

Paraguay
$30.64 billion (2006 est.)

Peru
$181.8 billion (2006 est.)

Philippines
$443.1 billion (2006 est.)

Pitcairn Islands
$NA

Poland
$542.6 billion (2006 est.)
Portugal
$203.1 billion (2006 est.)

Puerto Rico
$74.89 billion (2006 est.)

Qatar
$26.05 billion (2006 est.)

Romania
$197.3 billion (2006 est.)

Russia
$1.723 trillion (2006 est.)

Rwanda
$13.54 billion (2006 est.)

Saint Helena
$18 million (1998 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis

$339 million (2002 est.)

Saint Lucia
$866 million (2002 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

$48.3 million
note: supplemented by annual payments from France of about $60
million (2003 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

$342 million (2002 est.)

Samoa
$1 billion (2002 est.)

San Marino
$940 million (2001 est.)
Sao Tome and Principe
$214 million (2003 est.)

Saudi Arabia
$374 billion (2006 est.)

Senegal
$22.01 billion (2006 est.)

Serbia
$44.83 billion for Serbia (including Kosovo) (2006 est.)

Seychelles
$626 million (2002 est.)

Sierra Leone
$5.38 billion (2006 est.)

Singapore
$138.6 billion (2006 est.)

Slovakia
$96.35 billion (2006 est.)

Slovenia
$46.08 billion (2006 est.)

Solomon Islands
$800 million (2002 est.)

Somalia
$5.023 billion (2006 est.)

South Africa
$576.4 billion (2006 est.)

Spain
$1.07 trillion (2006 est.)

Sri Lanka
 $93.33 billion (2006 est.)

Sudan
$96.01 billion (2006 est.)

Suriname
$3.098 billion (2006 est.)

Svalbard
$NA

Swaziland
$5.91 billion (2006 est.)

Sweden
$285.1 billion (2006 est.)

Switzerland
$252.9 billion (2006 est.)

Syria
$75.1 billion (2006 est.)

Taiwan
$668.3 billion (2006 est.)

Tajikistan
$9.405 billion (2006 est.)

Tanzania
$29.25 billion (2006 est.)

Thailand
$585.9 billion (2006 est.)

Togo
$9.248 billion (2006 est.)

Tokelau
$1.5 million (1993 est.)
Tonga
$178.5 million (2004 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago

$20.99 billion (2006 est.)

Tunisia
$87.88 billion (2006 est.)

Turkey
$627.2 billion (2006 est.)

Turkmenistan
$45.11 billion (2006 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands

$216 million (2002 est.)

Tuvalu
$14.94 million (2002 est.)

Uganda
$51.89 billion (2006 est.)

Ukraine
$355.8 billion (2006 est.)

United Arab Emirates

$129.4 billion (2006 est.)

United Kingdom
$1.903 trillion (2006 est.)

United States
$12.98 trillion (2006 est.)

Uruguay
$36.56 billion (2006 est.)

Uzbekistan
 $54.81 billion (2006 est.)

Vanuatu
$276.3 million (2003 est.)

Venezuela
$176.4 billion (2006 est.)

Vietnam
$258.6 billion (2006 est.)

Virgin Islands
$1.577 billion (2004 est.)

Wallis and Futuna

$60 million (2004 est.)

West Bank
$5.327 billion (2005 est.)

Western Sahara
$NA

World
GWP (gross world product): $65 trillion (2006 est.)

Yemen
$20.38 billion (2006 est.)

Zambia
$11.51 billion (2006 est.)

Zimbabwe
$25.05 billion (2006 est.)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@2002 Population growth rate (%)

Afghanistan
2.67% (2006 est.)

Albania
0.52% (2006 est.)

Algeria
1.22% (2006 est.)

American Samoa
-0.19% (2006 est.)

Andorra
0.89% (2006 est.)

Angola
2.45% (2006 est.)

Anguilla
1.57% (2006 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda

0.55% (2006 est.)

Argentina
0.96% (2006 est.)

Armenia
-0.19% (2006 est.)

Aruba
0.44% (2006 est.)

Australia
0.85% (2006 est.)

Austria
 0.09% (2006 est.)

Azerbaijan
0.66% (2006 est.)

Bahamas, The
0.64% (2006 est.)

Bahrain
1.45% (2006 est.)

Bangladesh
2.09% (2006 est.)

Barbados
0.37% (2006 est.)

Belarus
-0.06% (2006 est.)

Belgium
0.13% (2006 est.)

Belize
2.31% (2006 est.)

Benin
2.73% (2006 est.)

Bermuda
0.61% (2006 est.)

Bhutan
2.1% (2006 est.)

Bolivia
1.45% (2006 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

1.35% (2006 est.)
Botswana
-0.04% (2006 est.)

Brazil
1.04% (2006 est.)

British Virgin Islands

1.97% (2006 est.)

Brunei
1.87% (2006 est.)

Bulgaria
-0.86% (2006 est.)

Burkina Faso
3% (2006 est.)

Burma
0.81% (2006 est.)

Burundi
3.7% (2006 est.)

Cambodia
1.78% (2006 est.)

Cameroon
2.04% (2006 est.)

Canada
0.88% (2006 est.)

Cape Verde
0.64% (2006 est.)

Cayman Islands
2.56% (2006 est.)

Central African Republic

 1.53% (2006 est.)

Chad
2.93% (2006 est.)

Chile
0.94% (2006 est.)

China
0.59% (2006 est.)

Christmas Island
0% (2006 est.)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

0% (2006 est.)

Colombia
1.46% (2006 est.)

Comoros
2.87% (2006 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

3.07% (2006 est.)

Congo, Republic of the

2.6% (2006 est.)

Cook Islands
-1.2% between 1996-2001 (2001 census)

Costa Rica
1.45% (2006 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
2.03% (2006 est.)

Croatia
-0.03% (2006 est.)
Cuba
0.31% (2006 est.)

Cyprus
0.53% (2006 est.)

Czech Republic
-0.06% (2006 est.)

Denmark
0.33% (2006 est.)

Djibouti
2.02% (2006 est.)

Dominica
-0.08% (2006 est.)

Dominican Republic
1.47% (2006 est.)

East Timor
2.08% (2006 est.)

Ecuador
1.5% (2006 est.)

Egypt
1.75% (2006 est.)

El Salvador
1.72% (2006 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
2.05% (2006 est.)

Eritrea
2.47% (2006 est.)

Estonia
 -0.64% (2006 est.)

Ethiopia
2.31% (2006 est.)

European Union
0.15% (2006 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

2.44% (2006 est.)

Faroe Islands
0.58% (2006 est.)

Fiji
1.4% (2006 est.)

Finland
0.14% (2006 est.)

France
0.35% (2006 est.)

French Polynesia
1.48% (2006 est.)

Gabon
2.13% (2006 est.)

Gambia, The
2.84% (2006 est.)

Gaza Strip
3.71% (2006 est.)

Georgia
-0.34% (2006 est.)

Germany
-0.02% (2006 est.)
Ghana
2.07% (2006 est.)

Gibraltar
0.14% (2006 est.)

Greece
0.18% (2006 est.)

Greenland
-0.03% (2006 est.)

Grenada
0.26% (2006 est.)

Guam
1.43% (2006 est.)

Guatemala
2.27% (2006 est.)

Guernsey
0.26% (2006 est.)

Guinea
2.63% (2006 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
2.07% (2006 est.)

Guyana
0.25% (2006 est.)

Haiti
2.3% (2006 est.)

Holy See (Vatican City)

0.01% (2006 est.)

Honduras
 2.16% (2006 est.)

Hong Kong
0.59% (2006 est.)

Hungary
-0.25% (2006 est.)

Iceland
0.87% (2006 est.)

India
1.38% (2006 est.)

Indonesia
1.41% (2006 est.)

Iran
1.1% (2006 est.)

Iraq
2.66% (2006 est.)

Ireland
1.15% (2006 est.)

Isle of Man
0.52% (2006 est.)

Israel
1.18% (2006 est.)

Italy
0.04% (2006 est.)

Jamaica
0.8% (2006 est.)

Japan
0.02% (2006 est.)
Jersey
0.28% (2006 est.)

Jordan
2.49% (2006 est.)

Kazakhstan
0.33% (2006 est.)

Kenya
2.57% (2006 est.)

Kiribati
2.24% (2006 est.)

Korea, North
0.84% (2006 est.)

Korea, South
0.42% (2006 est.)

Kuwait
3.52%
note: this rate reflects a return to pre-Gulf crisis immigration of
expatriates (2006 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
1.32% (2006 est.)

Laos
2.39% (2006 est.)

Latvia
-0.67% (2006 est.)

Lebanon
1.23% (2006 est.)

Lesotho
-0.46% (2006 est.)
Liberia
4.91% (2006 est.)

Libya
2.3% (2006 est.)

Liechtenstein
0.78% (2006 est.)

Lithuania
-0.3% (2006 est.)

Luxembourg
1.23% (2006 est.)

Macau
0.86% (2006 est.)

Macedonia
0.26% (2006 est.)

Madagascar
3.03% (2006 est.)

Malawi
2.38% (2006 est.)

Malaysia
1.78% (2006 est.)

Maldives
2.78% (2006 est.)

Mali
2.63% (2006 est.)

Malta
0.42% (2006 est.)

Marshall Islands
 2.25% (2006 est.)

Mauritania
2.88% (2006 est.)

Mauritius
0.82% (2006 est.)

Mayotte
3.77% (2006 est.)

Mexico
1.16% (2006 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of

-0.11% (2006 est.)

Moldova
0.28% (2006 est.)

Monaco
0.4% (2006 est.)

Mongolia
1.46% (2006 est.)

Montenegro
3.5% (2004)

Montserrat
1.05% (2006 est.)

Morocco
1.55% (2006 est.)

Mozambique
1.38% (2006 est.)

Namibia
0.59% (2006 est.)
Nauru
1.81% (2006 est.)

Nepal
2.17% (2006 est.)

Netherlands
0.49% (2006 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
0.79% (2006 est.)

New Caledonia
1.24% (2006 est.)

New Zealand
0.99% (2006 est.)

Nicaragua
1.89% (2006 est.)

Niger
2.92% (2006 est.)

Nigeria
2.38% (2006 est.)

Niue
0.01% (2006 est.)

Norfolk Island
-0.01% (2006 est.)

Northern Mariana Islands

2.54% (2006 est.)

Norway
0.38% (2006 est.)

Oman
 3.28% (2006 est.)

Pakistan
2.09% (2006 est.)

Palau
1.31% (2006 est.)

Panama
1.6% (2006 est.)

Papua New Guinea

2.21% (2006 est.)

Paraguay
2.45% (2006 est.)

Peru
1.32% (2006 est.)

Philippines
1.8% (2006 est.)

Pitcairn Islands
-0.01% (2006 est.)

Poland
-0.05% (2006 est.)

Portugal
0.36% (2006 est.)

Puerto Rico
0.4% (2006 est.)

Qatar
2.5% (2006 est.)

Romania
-0.12% (2006 est.)
Russia
-0.37% (2006 est.)

Rwanda
2.43% (2006 est.)

Saint Helena
0.56% (2006 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis

0.5% (2006 est.)

Saint Lucia
1.29% (2006 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

0.17% (2006 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

0.26% (2006 est.)

Samoa
-0.2% (2006 est.)

San Marino
1.26% (2006 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe

3.15% (2006 est.)

Saudi Arabia
2.18% (2006 est.)

Senegal
2.34% (2006 est.)

Seychelles
0.43% (2006 est.)

Sierra Leone
 2.3% (2006 est.)

Singapore
1.42% (2006 est.)

Slovakia
0.15% (2006 est.)

Slovenia
-0.05% (2006 est.)

Solomon Islands
2.61% (2006 est.)

Somalia
2.85% (2006 est.)

South Africa
-0.4% (2006 est.)

Spain
0.13% (2006 est.)

Sri Lanka
0.78% (2006 est.)

Sudan
2.55% (2006 est.)

Suriname
0.2% (2006 est.)

Svalbard
-0.02% (2006 est.)

Swaziland
-0.23% (2006 est.)

Sweden
0.16% (2006 est.)
Switzerland
0.43% (2006 est.)

Syria
2.3% (2006 est.)

Taiwan
0.61% (2006 est.)

Tajikistan
2.19% (2006 est.)

Tanzania
1.83% (2006 est.)

Thailand
0.68% (2006 est.)

Togo
2.72% (2006 est.)

Tokelau
-0.01% (2006 est.)

Tonga
2.01% (2006 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago

-0.87% (2006 est.)

Tunisia
0.99% (2006 est.)

Turkey
1.06% (2006 est.)

Turkmenistan
1.83% (2006 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands

 2.82% (2006 est.)

Tuvalu
1.51% (2006 est.)

Uganda
3.37% (2006 est.)

Ukraine
-0.6% (2006 est.)

United Arab Emirates

1.52% (2006 est.)

United Kingdom
0.28% (2006 est.)

United States
0.91% (2006 est.)

Uruguay
0.46% (2006 est.)

Uzbekistan
1.7% (2006 est.)

Vanuatu
1.49% (2006 est.)

Venezuela
1.38% (2006 est.)

Vietnam
1.02% (2006 est.)

Virgin Islands
-0.12% (2006 est.)

Wallis and Futuna

NA
West Bank
3.06% (2006 est.)

Western Sahara
NA

World
1.14% (2006 est.)

Yemen
3.46% (2006 est.)

Zambia
2.11% (2006 est.)

Zimbabwe
0.62% (2006 est.)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2003 GDP - real growth rate (%)

Afghanistan
8.4% (2006 est.)

Albania
5% (2006 est.)

Algeria
5.6% (2006 est.)

American Samoa
3% (2003)
Andorra
4% (2004 est.)

Angola
14% (2006 est.)

Anguilla
10.2% (2004 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda

3.8% (2005 est.)

Argentina
8.5% (2006 est.)

Armenia
10.5% (2006 est.)

Aruba
2.4% (2005 est.)

Australia
2.8% (2006 est.)

Austria
3.3% (2006 est.)

Azerbaijan
32.5% (2006 est.)

Bahamas, The
4% (2006 est.)

Bahrain
7.6% (2006 est.)

Bangladesh
6.1% (2006 est.)

Barbados
 4% (2006 est.)

Belarus
8.3% (2006 est.)

Belgium
2.5% (2006 est.)

Belize
3.5% (2005 est.)

Benin
4% (2006 est.)

Bermuda
4.6% (2004 est.)

Bhutan
5.9% (2005 est.)

Bolivia
3.3% (2006 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

5.3% (2006 est.)

Botswana
4.7% (2006 est.)

Brazil
3.1% (2006 est.)

British Virgin Islands

1% (2002 est.)

Brunei
1.7% (2004 est.)

Bulgaria
5.5% (2006 est.)
Burkina Faso
5.2% (2006 est.)

Burma
2.6% (2006 est.)

Burundi
5% (2006 est.)

Cambodia
5.8% (2006 est.)

Cameroon
4.1% (2006 est.)

Canada
2.8% (2006 est.)

Cape Verde
5.5% (2005 est.)

Cayman Islands
0.9% (2004 est.)

Central African Republic

3% (2006 est.)

Chad
7% (2006 est.)

Chile
4.8% (2006 est.)

China
10.5% (official data) (2006 est.)

Colombia
5.4% (2006 est.)

Comoros
 3% (2005 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

7.5% (2006 est.)

Congo, Republic of the

6% (2006 est.)

Cook Islands
0.1% (2005 est.)

Costa Rica
4.7% (2006 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
1.2% (2006 est.)

Croatia
4.4% (2006 est.)

Cuba
7.5% (2006 est.)

Cyprus
Republic of Cyprus: 3.7%; north Cyprus: 10.6% (2006 est.)

Czech Republic
6.2% (2006 est.)

Denmark
3% (2006 est.)

Djibouti
3.2% (2005 est.)

Dominica
3.1% (2005 est.)

Dominican Republic
7.2% (2006 est.)
East Timor
1.8% (2005 est.)

Ecuador
3.6% (2006 est.)

Egypt
5.7% (2006 est.)

El Salvador
4% (2006 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
18.6% (2005 est.)

Eritrea
2% (2005 est.)

Estonia
9.2% (2006 est.)

Ethiopia
8.5% (2006 est.)

European Union
2.8% (2006 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

NA%

Faroe Islands
10% (2001 est.)

Fiji
2.7% (2006 est.)

Finland
4.9% (2006 est.)

France
 2.3% (2006 est.)

French Polynesia
NA% (2001 est.)

Gabon
2.8% (2006 est.)

Gambia, The
5% (2006 est.)

Gaza Strip
4.9% (2005 est.)

Georgia
8.8% (2006 est.)

Germany
2.2% (2006 est.)

Ghana
5.7% (2006 est.)

Gibraltar
NA%

Greece
3.6% (2006 est.)

Greenland
1.8% (2001 est.)

Grenada
0.9% (2005 est.)

Guam
NA%

Guatemala
3.9% (2006 est.)
Guernsey
3% (2005 est.)

Guinea
2% (2006 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
2.9% (2006 est.)

Guyana
3.2% (2006 est.)

Haiti
1.8% (2006 est.)

Honduras
5.2% (2006 est.)

Hong Kong
5.9% (2006 est.)

Hungary
3.8% (2006 est.)

Iceland
3.7% (2006 est.)

India
8.5% (2006 est.)

Indonesia
5.4% (2006 est.)

Iran
5% (2006 est.)

Iraq
3.1% (2006 est.)

Ireland
 5.2% (2006 est.)

Isle of Man
6.3% (2003)

Israel
4.8% (2006 est.)

Italy
1.6% (2006 est.)

Jamaica
2.7% (2006 est.)

Japan
2.8% (2006 est.)

Jersey
NA%

Jordan
4.6% (2006 est.)

Kazakhstan
8.5% (2006 est.)

Kenya
5.5% (2006 est.)

Kiribati
0.3% (2005)

Korea, North
1% (2006 est.)

Korea, South
5.1% (2006 est.)

Kuwait
8% (2006 est.)
Kyrgyzstan
2% (2006 est.)

Laos
7.2% (2006 est.)

Latvia
9.3% (2006 est.)

Lebanon
-5% (2006 est.)

Lesotho
1.7% (2006 est.)

Liberia
6.7% (2006 est.)

Libya
8.1% (2006 est.)

Liechtenstein
11% (1999 est.)

Lithuania
7.2% (2006 est.)

Luxembourg
5.7% (2006 est.)

Macau
6.7% (2005)

Macedonia
4% (2006 est.)

Madagascar
5.5% (2006 est.)

Malawi
 7% (2006 est.)

Malaysia
5.5% (2006 est.)

Maldives
-3.6% (2005 est.)

Mali
5.1% (2006 est.)

Malta
1.3% (2006 est.)

Marshall Islands
3.5% (2005 est.)

Mauritania
19.4% (2006 est.)

Mauritius
4.3% (2006 est.)

Mayotte
NA%

Mexico
4.5% (2006 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of

0.3% (2005 est.)

Moldova
4.6% (2006 est.)

Monaco
0.9% (2000 est.)

Mongolia
7.5% according to official estimate (2006 est.)
Montenegro
NA

Montserrat
-1% (2002 est.)

Morocco
6.7% (2006 est.)

Mozambique
9.8% (2006 est.)

Namibia
4.1% (2006 est.)

Nauru
NA%

Nepal
5% (2006 est.)

Netherlands
2.9% (2006 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
1% (2004 est.)

New Caledonia
NA%

New Zealand
1.9% (2006 est.)

Nicaragua
2.5% (2006 est.)

Niger
3.5% (2006 est.)

Nigeria
 5.3% (2006 est.)

Niue
6.2% (2003 est.)

Northern Mariana Islands

NA%

Norway
3% (2006 est.)

Oman
6.5% (2006 est.)

Pakistan
6.5% (2006 est.)

Palau
5.5% (2005 est.)

Panama
6.3% (2006 est.)

Papua New Guinea

3.2% (2006 est.)

Paraguay
3.2% (2006 est.)

Peru
6.5% (2006 est.)

Philippines
5.3% (2006 est.)

Poland
5.3% (2006 est.)

Portugal
1.2% (2006 est.)
Puerto Rico
0.5% (2006 est.)

Qatar
7.1% (2006 est.)

Romania
6.4% (2006 est.)

Russia
6.6% (2006 est.)

Rwanda
5.8% (2006 est.)

Saint Helena
NA%

Saint Kitts and Nevis

4.9% (2005 est.)

Saint Lucia
5.1% (2005 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

NA%

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

4.9% (2005 est.)

Samoa
5.5% (2005 est.)

San Marino
2.3% (2002 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe

4.4% (2006 est.)

Saudi Arabia
 5.9% (2006 est.)

Senegal
4.9% (2006 est.)

Serbia
5.9% for Serbia alone (excluding Kosovo) (2005 est.)

Seychelles
-1% (2006 est.)

Sierra Leone
6.8% (2006 est.)

Singapore
7.4% (2006 est.)

Slovakia
6.4% (2006 est.)

Slovenia
4.4% (2006 est.)

Solomon Islands
4.4% (2005 est.)

Somalia
2.6% (2006 est.)

South Africa
4.5% (2006 est.)

Spain
3.6% (2006 est.)

Sri Lanka
6.3% (2006 est.)

Sudan
9.6% (2006 est.)
Suriname
5% (2006 est.)

Svalbard
NA%

Swaziland
2% (2006 est.)

Sweden
4.2% (2006 est.)

Switzerland
2.9% (2006 est.)

Syria
2.9% (2006 est.)

Taiwan
4.4% (2006 est.)

Tajikistan
7% (2006 est.)

Tanzania
5.8% (2006 est.)

Thailand
4.4% (2006 est.)

Togo
3% (2006 est.)

Tokelau
NA%

Tonga
2.4% (2005 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago

 12.6% (2006 est.)

Tunisia
4% (2006 est.)

Turkey
5.2% (2006 est.)

Turkmenistan
IMF estimate: 13%
note: official government statistics show 21.4% growth, but these
estimates are widely regarded as unreliable (2006 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands

4.9% (2000 est.)

Tuvalu
1.2% (2002 est.)

Uganda
5% (2006 est.)

Ukraine
6% (2006 est.)

United Arab Emirates

10.2% (2006 est.)

United Kingdom
2.7% (2006 est.)

United States
3.2% (2006 est.)

Uruguay
7% (2006 est.)

Uzbekistan
6.8% (2006 est.)
Vanuatu
6.8% (2005 est.)

Venezuela
8.8% (2006 est.)

Vietnam
7.8% (2006 est.)

Virgin Islands
2% (2002 est.)

Wallis and Futuna

NA%

West Bank
4.9% (2005 est.)

Western Sahara
NA%

World
5.1% (2006 est.)

Yemen
3.2% (2006 est.)

Zambia
6% (2006 est.)

Zimbabwe
-4.4% (2006 est.)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@2004 GDP - per capita (PPP)

Afghanistan
$800 (2004 est.)

Albania
$5,600 (2006 est.)

Algeria
$7,700 (2006 est.)

American Samoa
$5,800 (2005 est.)

Andorra
$24,000 (2004)

Angola
$4,300 (2006 est.)

Anguilla
$8,800 (2004 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda

$10,900 (2005 est.)

Argentina
$15,000 (2006 est.)

Armenia
$5,400 (2006 est.)

Aruba
$21,800 (2004 est.)

Australia
$32,900 (2006 est.)

Austria
 $34,100 (2006 est.)

Azerbaijan
$7,300 (2006 est.)

Bahamas, The
$21,300 (2006 est.)

Bahrain
$25,300 (2006 est.)

Bangladesh
$2,200 (2006 est.)

Barbados
$18,200 (2006 est.)

Belarus
$7,800 (2006 est.)

Belgium
$31,800 (2006 est.)

Belize
$8,400 (2006 est.)

Benin
$1,100 (2006 est.)

Bermuda
$69,900 (2004 est.)

Bhutan
$1,400 (2003 est.)

Bolivia
$3,000 (2006 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

$5,500 (2006 est.)
Botswana
$11,400 (2006 est.)

Brazil
$8,600 (2006 est.)

British Virgin Islands

$38,500 (2004 est.)

Brunei
$23,600 (2003 est.)

Bulgaria
$10,400 (2006 est.)

Burkina Faso
$1,300 (2006 est.)

Burma
$1,800 (2006 est.)

Burundi
$700 (2006 est.)

Cambodia
$2,600 (2006 est.)

Cameroon
$2,400 (2006 est.)

Canada
$35,200 (2006 est.)

Cape Verde
$6,000 (2006 est.)

Cayman Islands
$43,800 (2004 est.)

Central African Republic

 $1,100 (2006 est.)

Chad
$1,500 (2006 est.)

Chile
$12,600 (2006 est.)

China
$7,600 (2006 est.)

Colombia
$8,400 (2006 est.)

Comoros
$600 (2005 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

$700 (2006 est.)

Congo, Republic of the

$1,300 (2006 est.)

Cook Islands
$9,100 (2005 est.)

Costa Rica
$12,000 (2006 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
$1,600 (2006 est.)

Croatia
$13,200 (2006 est.)

Cuba
$3,900 (2006 est.)

Cyprus
Republic of Cyprus: $22,700 (2005 est.); north Cyprus: $7,135
 (2004 est.) (2006 est.)

Czech Republic
$21,600 (2006 est.)

Denmark
$37,000 (2006 est.)

Djibouti
$1,000 (2005 est.)

Dominica
$3,800 (2005 est.)

Dominican Republic
$8,000 (2006 est.)

East Timor
$800 (2005 est.)

Ecuador
$4,500 (2006 est.)

Egypt
$4,200 (2006 est.)

El Salvador
$4,900 (2006 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
$50,200 (2005 est.)

Eritrea
$1,000 (2005 est.)

Estonia
$19,600 (2006 est.)

Ethiopia
$1,000 (2006 est.)
European Union
$29,300 (2006 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

$25,000 (2002 est.)

Faroe Islands
$31,000 (2001 est.)

Fiji
$6,100 (2006 est.)

Finland
$32,800 (2006 est.)

France
$30,100 (2006 est.)

French Polynesia
$17,500 (2003 est.)

Gabon
$7,200 (2006 est.)

Gambia, The
$2,000 (2006 est.)

Gaza Strip
$1,500 (2003 est.)

Georgia
$3,800 (2006 est.)

Germany
$31,400 (2006 est.)

Ghana
$2,600 (2006 est.)

Gibraltar
 $27,900 (2000 est.)

Greece
$23,500 (2006 est.)

Greenland
$20,000 (2001 est.)

Grenada
$3,900 (2005 est.)

Guam
$15,000 (2005 est.)

Guatemala
$4,900 (2006 est.)

Guernsey
$44,600 (2005)

Guinea
$2,000 (2006 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
$900 (2006 est.)

Guyana
$4,700 (2006 est.)

Haiti
$1,800 (2006 est.)

Honduras
$3,000 (2006 est.)

Hong Kong
$36,500 (2006 est.)

Hungary
$17,300 (2006 est.)
Iceland
$38,100 (2006 est.)

India
$3,700 (2006 est.)

Indonesia
$3,800 (2006 est.)

Iran
$8,900 (2006 est.)

Iraq
$1,900 (2006 est.)

Ireland
$43,600 (2006 est.)

Isle of Man
$27,800 (2003 est.)

Israel
$26,200 (2006 est.)

Italy
$29,700 (2006 est.)

Jamaica
$4,600 (2006 est.)

Japan
$33,100 (2006 est.)

Jersey
$40,000 (2003 est.)

Jordan
$4,900 (2006 est.)

Kazakhstan
 $9,100 (2006 est.)

Kenya
$1,200 (2006 est.)

Kiribati
$2,700 (2004 est.)

Korea, North
$1,800 (2006 est.)

Korea, South
$24,200 (2006 est.)

Kuwait
$21,600 (2006 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
$2,000 (2006 est.)

Laos
$2,100 (2006 est.)

Latvia
$15,400 (2006 est.)

Lebanon
$5,500 (2006 est.)

Lesotho
$2,600 (2006 est.)

Liberia
$1,000 (2006 est.)

Libya
$12,700 (2006 est.)

Liechtenstein
$25,000 (1999 est.)
Lithuania
$15,100 (2006 est.)

Luxembourg
$68,800 (2006 est.)

Macau
$24,300 (2005)

Macedonia
$8,200 (2006 est.)

Madagascar
$900 (2006 est.)

Malawi
$600 (2006 est.)

Malaysia
$12,700 (2006 est.)

Maldives
$3,900 (2002 est.)

Mali
$1,200 (2006 est.)

Malta
$20,300 (2006 est.)

Marshall Islands
$2,900 (2005 est.)

Mauritania
$2,600 (2006 est.)

Mauritius
$13,500 (2006 est.)

Mayotte
 $2,600 (2003 est.)

Mexico
$10,600 (2006 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of

$2,300 (2005 est.)

Moldova
$2,000 (2006 est.)

Monaco
$27,000 (2000 est.)

Mongolia
$2,000 (2006 est.)

Montenegro
$3,800 (2005 est.)

Montserrat
$3,400 (2002 est.)

Morocco
$4,400 (2006 est.)

Mozambique
$1,500 (2006 est.)

Namibia
$7,400 (2006 est.)

Nauru
$5,000 (2005 est.)

Nepal
$1,500 (2006 est.)

Netherlands
$31,700 (2006 est.)
Netherlands Antilles
$16,000 (2004 est.)

New Caledonia
$15,000 (2003 est.)

New Zealand
$26,000 (2006 est.)

Nicaragua
$3,000 (2006 est.)

Niger
$1,000 (2006 est.)

Nigeria
$1,400 (2006 est.)

Niue
$5,800 (2003 est.)

Northern Mariana Islands

$12,500 (2000 est.)

Norway
$47,800 (2006 est.)

Oman
$14,100 (2006 est.)

Pakistan
$2,600 (2006 est.)

Palau
$7,600 (2005 est.)

Panama
$7,900 (2006 est.)

Papua New Guinea

 $2,700 (2006 est.)

Paraguay
$4,700 (2006 est.)

Peru
$6,400 (2006 est.)

Philippines
$5,000 (2006 est.)

Poland
$14,100 (2006 est.)

Portugal
$19,100 (2006 est.)

Puerto Rico
$19,100 (2006 est.)

Qatar
$29,400 (2006 est.)

Romania
$8,800 (2006 est.)

Russia
$12,100 (2006 est.)

Rwanda
$1,600 (2006 est.)

Saint Helena
$2,500 (1998 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis

$8,200 (2005 est.)

Saint Lucia
$4,800 (2005 est.)
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
$7,000 (2001 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

$3,600 (2005 est.)

Samoa
$2,100 (2005 est.)

San Marino
$34,600 (2001 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe

$1,200 (2003 est.)

Saudi Arabia
$13,800 (2006 est.)

Senegal
$1,800 (2006 est.)

Serbia
$4,400 for Serbia (including Kosovo) (2005 est.)

Seychelles
$7,800 (2002 est.)

Sierra Leone
$900 (2006 est.)

Singapore
$30,900 (2006 est.)

Slovakia
$17,700 (2006 est.)

Slovenia
$22,900 (2006 est.)

Solomon Islands
 $600 (2005 est.)

Somalia
$600 (2006 est.)

South Africa
$13,000 (2006 est.)

Spain
$27,000 (2006 est.)

Sri Lanka
$4,600 (2006 est.)

Sudan
$2,300 (2006 est.)

Suriname
$7,100 (2006 est.)

Swaziland
$5,200 (2006 est.)

Sweden
$31,600 (2006 est.)

Switzerland
$33,600 (2006 est.)

Syria
$4,000 (2006 est.)

Taiwan
$29,000 (2006 est.)

Tajikistan
$1,300 (2006 est.)

Tanzania
$800 (2006 est.)
Thailand
$9,100 (2006 est.)

Togo
$1,700 (2006 est.)

Tokelau
$1,000 (1993 est.)

Tonga
$2,200 (2005 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago

$19,700 (2006 est.)

Tunisia
$8,600 (2006 est.)

Turkey
$8,900 (2006 est.)

Turkmenistan
$8,900 (2006 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands

$11,500 (2002 est.)

Tuvalu
$1,600 (2002 est.)

Uganda
$1,800 (2006 est.)

Ukraine
$7,600 (2006 est.)

United Arab Emirates

$49,700 (2006 est.)

United Kingdom
 $31,400 (2006 est.)

United States
$43,500 (2006 est.)

Uruguay
$10,700 (2006 est.)

Uzbekistan
$2,000 (2006 est.)

Vanuatu
$2,900 (2003 est.)

Venezuela
$6,900 (2006 est.)

Vietnam
$3,100 (2006 est.)

Virgin Islands
$14,500 (2004 est.)

Wallis and Futuna

$3,800 (2004 est.)

West Bank
$1,500 (2005 est.)

Western Sahara
$NA

World
$10,000 (2006 est.)

Yemen
$900 (2006 est.)

Zambia
$1,000 (2006 est.)
Zimbabwe
$2,000 (2006 est.)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2006 Dependency status

Akrotiri
overseas territory of UK; administered by an administrator
who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus
American Samoa
unincorporated and unorganized territory of the US;
administered by the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the
Interior

Anguilla
overseas territory of the UK

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

Ashmore and Cartier Islands

territory of Australia; administered by
the Australian Department of Transport and Regional Services

Baker Island
unincorporated territory of the US; administered from
Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US
Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge
system

Bassas da India
possession of France; administered by the
Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Bermuda
overseas territory of the UK

Bouvet Island
territory of Norway; administered by the Polar
Department of the Ministry of Justice and Police from Oslo

British Indian Ocean Territory

overseas territory of the UK;
administered by a commissioner, resident in the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office in London
British Virgin Islands
overseas territory of the UK; internal
self-governing

Cayman Islands
overseas territory of the UK

Christmas Island
non-self governing territory of Australia;
administered by the Australian Department of Transport and Regional
Services

Clipperton Island
possession of France; administered by France from
French Polynesia by a high commissioner of the Republic

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

non-self governing territory of Australia;
administered from Canberra by the Australian Department of Transport
and Regional Services

Cook Islands
self-governing in free association with New Zealand;
Cook Islands is fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand
retains responsibility for external affairs and defense, in
consultation with the Cook Islands

Coral Sea Islands

territory of Australia; administered from Canberra
by the Department of the Transport and Regional Services

Dhekelia
overseas territory of UK; administered by an administrator
who is also the Commander, British Forces Cyprus

Europa Island
possession of France; administered by the
Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

 overseas territory of the UK; also
claimed by Argentina

Faroe Islands
part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing
overseas administrative division of Denmark since 1948

French Polynesia
overseas lands of France; overseas territory of
France from 1946-2004

French Southern and Antarctic Lands

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)

Gibraltar
overseas territory of the UK

Glorioso Islands
possession of France; administered by the
Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Greenland
part of the Kingdom of Denmark; self-governing overseas
administrative division of Denmark since 1979

Guam
organized, unincorporated territory of the US with policy
relations between Guam and the US under the jurisdiction of the
Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the Interior

Guernsey
British crown dependency

Heard Island and McDonald Islands territory of Australia; administered from

Canberra by the Australian Antarctic Division of the Department of the
Environment and Heritage
Hong Kong
special administrative region of China

Howland Island
unincorporated territory of the US; administered from
Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US
Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge
system

Iles Eparses
possessions of France; administered by the Senior
Administrator of the Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic
Lands (TAAF), resident in Reunion

Isle of Man
British crown dependency

Jan Mayen
territory of Norway; since August 1994, administered from
Oslo through the county governor (fylkesmann) of Nordland; however,
authority has been delegated to a station commander of the Norwegian
Defense Communication Service

Jarvis Island
unincorporated territory of the US; administered from
Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service of the US
Department of the Interior as part of the National Wildlife Refuge
system

Jersey
British crown dependency

Johnston Atoll
unincorporated territory of the US; administered from
Honolulu, HI, by Pacific Air Forces, Hickam Air Force Base, and the
Fish and Wildlife Service of the US Department of the Interior as
part of the National Wildlife Refuge system

Juan de Nova Island

possession of France; administered by the
 Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Kingman Reef
unincorporated territory of the US; administered from
Washington, DC, by the US Fish and Wildlife Service of the
Department of the Interior
note: on 1 September 2000, the Department of the Interior accepted
restoration of its administrative jurisdiction over Kingman Reef
from the Department of the Navy; Executive Order 3223 signed 18
January 2001 established Kingman Reef National Wildlife Refuge to be
administered by the Director, US Fish and Wildlife Service; this
refuge is managed to protect the terrestrial and aquatic wildlife of
Kingman Reef out to the 12-nautical-mile territorial sea limit

Macau
special administrative region of China

Mayotte
departmental collectivity of France

Midway Islands
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

Montserrat
overseas territory of the UK

Navassa Island
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
Netherlands Antilles
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

New Caledonia
territorial collectivity of France since 1998

Niue
self-governing in free association with New Zealand since 1974;
Niue fully responsible for internal affairs; New Zealand retains
responsibility for external affairs and defense; however, these
responsibilities confer no rights of control and are only exercised
at the request of the Government of Niue

Norfolk Island
self governing territory of Australia; Canberra
administers Commonwealth responsibilities on Norfolk Island through
the Department of Transport and Regional Services

Northern Mariana Islands

commonwealth in political union with the
US; federal funds to the Commonwealth administered by the US
Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs

Palmyra Atoll
incorporated territory of the US; privately owned, but
administered from Washington, DC, by the Fish and Wildlife Service
of the US Department of the Interior; the Office of Insular Affairs
of the US Department of the Interior continues to administer nine
excluded areas comprising certain tidal and submerged lands within
the 12 nm territorial sea or within the lagoon

Pitcairn Islands
overseas territory of the UK

Puerto Rico
unincorporated, organized territory of the US with
commonwealth status; policy relations between Puerto Rico and the US
conducted under the jurisdiction of the Office of the President
Saint Helena
overseas territory of the UK

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

self-governing territorial overseas
collectivity of France

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

overseas territory of
the UK, also claimed by Argentina; administered from the Falkland
Islands by a commissioner, who is concurrently governor of the
Falkland Islands, representing Queen ELIZABETH II; Grytviken -
formerly a whaling station on South Georgia - is a scientific base

Svalbard
territory of Norway; administered by the Polar Department
of the Ministry of Justice, through a governor (sysselmann) residing
in Longyearbyen, Spitsbergen; by treaty (9 February 1920)
sovereignty was awarded to Norway

Tokelau
self-administering territory of New Zealand; note - Tokelau
and New Zealand have agreed to a draft constitution as Tokelau moves
toward free association with New Zealand; a UN sponsored referendum
on self-governance, in February 2006, did not produce the two thirds
majority vote necessary for changing the current political status

Tromelin Island
possession of France; administered by the
Administrateur Superieur of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Turks and Caicos Islands

overseas territory of the UK

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges

unincorporated
territories 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
note on Palmyra Atoll: incorporated Territory of the US; partly
 privately owned and partly federally owned; 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

Virgin Islands
organized, unincorporated territory of the US with
policy relations between the Virgin Islands and the US under the
jurisdiction of the Office of Insular Affairs, US Department of the
Interior

Wake Island
unincorporated territory of the US; administered from
Washington, DC, by the Department of the Interior; activities on the
island are conducted by the US Air Force

Wallis and Futuna

overseas territory of France

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2007 Diplomatic representation from the US

Afghanistan
chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald E. NEUMANN
embassy: The Great Masood Road, Kabul
mailing address: U.S. Embassy Kabul, APO, AE 09806
telephone: [00 93] (20) 230-0436
FAX: [00 93] (20) 230-1364
Akrotiri
none (overseas territory of the UK)

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

Algeria
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert S. FORD
embassy: 04 Chemin Cheikh Bachir Ibrahimi El-Biar 16030, Algiers
mailing address: B. P. 408, Alger-Gare, 16030 Algiers
telephone: [213] (021) 69-12-55
FAX: [213] (021) 69-39-79

American Samoa
none (territory of the US)

Andorra
the US does not have an embassy in Andorra; the US
Ambassador to Spain is accredited to Andorra; US interests in
Andorra are represented by the Consulate General's office in
Barcelona (Spain); mailing address: Paseo Reina Elisenda de
Montcada, 23, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; telephone: [34] (3) 280-2227;
FAX: [34] (3) 205-5206

Angola
chief of mission: Ambassador Cynthia EFIRD
embassy: number 32 Rua Houari Boumedienne (in the Miramar area of
Luanda), Luanda
mailing address: international mail: Caixa Postal 6468, Luanda;
pouch: US Embassy Luanda,US Department of State, 2550 Luanda Place,
Washington, DC 20521-2550
telephone: [244] (222) 64-1000
FAX: [244] (222) 64-1232
Anguilla
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Antigua and Barbuda

the US does not have an embassy in Antigua and
Barbuda; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Antigua and
Barbuda

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

Armenia
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires
Anthony F. GODFREY
embassy: 1 American Ave., Yerevan 375082
mailing address: American Embassy Yerevan, US Department of State,
7020 Yerevan Place, Washington, DC 20521-7020
telephone: [374](10) 464-700
FAX: [374](10) 464-742

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

Ashmore and Cartier Islands

none (territory of Australia)

Australia
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert D. McCALLUM, Jr.
embassy: Moonah Place, Yarralumla, Canberra, Australian Capital
Territory 2600
mailing address: APO AP 96549
telephone: [61] (02) 6214-5600
FAX: [61] (02) 6214-5970
 consulate(s) general: Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Austria
chief of mission: Ambassador Susan R. McCAW
embassy: Boltzmanngasse 16, A-1090, Vienna
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [43] (1) 31339-0
FAX: [43] (1) 3100682

Azerbaijan
chief of mission: Ambassador Anne E. DERSE
embassy: 83 Azadliyg Prospecti, Baku AZ1007
mailing address: American Embassy Baku, US Department of State, 7050
Baku Place, Washington, DC 20521-7050
telephone: [994] (12) 4980-335 through 337
FAX: [994] (12) 4656-671

Bahamas, The
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; US Department of State, 3370 Nassau Place, Washington, DC
20521-3370
telephone: [1] (242) 322-1181, 328-2206 (after hours)
FAX: [1] (242) 356-0222

Bahrain
chief of mission: Ambassador 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] 1727-0547

Bangladesh
chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia A. BUTENIS
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

Barbados
chief of mission: Ambassador Mary M. OURISMAN
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

Belarus
chief of mission: Ambassador Karen B. STEWART
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

Belgium
chief of mission: Ambassador Tom C. KOROLOGOS; note -
Ambassador-designate Sam FOX may take his place in early 2007; must
face Senate confirmation hearing
embassy: Regentlaan 27 Boulevard du Regent, B-1000 Brussels
mailing address: PSC 82, Box 002, APO AE 09710
telephone: [32] (2) 508-2111
FAX: [32] (2) 511-2725

Belize
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert J. DIETER
embassy: Floral Park Road, Belmopan City, Cayo District
mailing address: 3050 Belize Place, Washington DC 20521-3050
telephone: [501] 227-7161 through 7163
FAX: [501] 223-0802

Benin
chief of mission: Ambassador Gayleatha B. BROWN
embassy: Rue Caporal Bernard Anani, Cotonou
mailing address: 01 B. P. 2012, Cotonou
telephone: [229] 30-06-50
 FAX: [229] 30-06-70

Bermuda
chief of mission: Consul General Gregory W. SLAYTON
consulate(s) general: Crown Hill, 16 Middle Road, Devonshire DVO3
mailing address: P. O. Box HM325, Hamilton HMBX; American Consulate
General Hamilton, US Department of State, 5300 Hamilton Place,
Washington, DC 20520-5300
telephone: [1] (441) 295-1342
FAX: [1] (441) 295-1592, [1] (441) 296-9233

Bhutan
the US and Bhutan have no formal diplomatic relations,
although informal contact is maintained between the Bhutanese and US
Embassy in New Delhi (India)

Bolivia
chief of mission: Ambassador Philip S. GOLDBERG
embassy: Avenida Arce 2780, La Paz
mailing address: P. O. Box 425, La Paz; APO AA 34032
telephone: [591] (2) 216-8000
FAX: [591] (2) 216-8111

Bosnia and Herzegovina

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

Botswana
chief of mission: Ambassador Katherine H. CANAVAN
embassy: address NA, Gaborone
mailing address: Embassy Enclave, P. O. Box 90, Gaborone
telephone: [267] 353982
FAX: [267] 312782
Brazil
chief of mission: Ambassador Clifford M. SOBEL
embassy: Avenida das Nacoes, Quadra 801, Lote 3, Distrito Federal
Cep 70403-900, Brasilia
mailing address: Unit 3500, APO AA 34030
telephone: [55] (61) 3312-7000
FAX: [55] (61) 3225-9136
consulate(s) general: Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo
consulate(s): Recife

British Indian Ocean Territory

none (overseas territory of the UK)

British Virgin Islands

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Brunei
chief of mission: Ambassador Emil SKODON
embassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri
Begawan, BS8811
mailing address: PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96507; P.O. Box 2991, Bandar
Seri Begawan BS8675, Negara Brunei Darussalam
telephone: [673] 222-0384
FAX: [673] 222-5293

Bulgaria
chief of mission: Ambassador John Ross BEYRLE
embassy: 16 Kozyak Street, Sofia 1407
mailing address: American Embassy Sofia, US Department of State,
5740 Sofia Place, Washington, DC 20521-5740
telephone: [359] (2) 937-5100
FAX: [359] (2) 937-5320

Burkina Faso
chief of mission: Ambassador Jeanine E. JACKSON
embassy: 602 Avenue Raoul Follereau, Koulouba, Secteur 4
mailing address: 01 B. P. 35, Ouagadougou 01; pouch mail - US
Department of State, 2440 Ouagadougou Place, Washington, DC
20521-2440
 telephone: [226] 50-30-67-23
FAX: [226] 50-30-38-90, 50-31-23-68

Burma
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Shari
VILLAROSA
embassy: 581 Merchant Street, Rangoon (GPO 521)
mailing address: Box B, APO AP 96546
telephone: [95] (1) 379-880, 379-881
FAX: [95] (1) 256-018

Burundi
chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia Newton MOLLER
embassy: Avenue des Etats-Unis, Bujumbura
mailing address: B. P. 1720, Bujumbura
telephone: [257] 223454
FAX: [257] 222926

Cambodia
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph A. MUSSOMELI
embassy: #1, Street 96, Sangkat Wat Phnom, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh
mailing address: Box P, APO AP 96546
telephone: [855] (23) 728-000
FAX: [855] (23) 728-600

Cameroon
chief of mission: Ambassador Niels MARQUARDT
embassy: Rue Nachtigal, Yaounde
mailing address: P. O. Box 817, Yaounde; pouch: American Embassy, US
Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520
telephone: [237] 220 15 00; Consular: [237] 220 16 03
FAX: [237] 220 16 20; Consular FAX: [237] 220 17 52
branch office(s): Douala

Canada
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

Cape Verde
chief of mission: Ambassador Roger D. PIERCE
embassy: Rua Abilio Macedo n6, Praia
mailing address: C. P. 201, Praia
telephone: [238] 2-60-89-00
FAX: [238] 2-61-13-55

Cayman Islands
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Central African Republic

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant);
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

Chad
chief of mission: Ambassador Marc M. WALL
embassy: Avenue Felix Eboue, N'Djamena
mailing address: B. P. 413, N'Djamena
telephone: [235] 516-211
FAX: [235] 515-654

Chile
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

China
chief of mission: Ambassador Clark T. RANDT, Jr.
 embassy: Xiu Shui Bei Jie 3, 100600 Beijing
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 50, FPO AP 96521-0002
telephone: [86] (10) 6532-3831
FAX: [86] (10) 6532-3178
consulate(s) general: Chengdu, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Macau,
Shanghai, Shenyang

Christmas Island
none (territory of Australia)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

none (territory of Australia)

Colombia
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

Comoros
the US does not have an embassy in Comoros; the ambassador
to Madagascar is accredited to Comoros

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

chief of mission: Ambassador Roger
MEECE
embassy: 310 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa
mailing address: Unit 31550, APO AE 09828
telephone: [243] (88) 43608
FAX: [243] (88) 43467

Congo, Republic of the

chief of mission: Ambassador Robert WEISBERG
embassy: NA
mailing address: NA
telephone: [243] (88) 43608
note: the embassy is temporarily collocated with the US Embassy in
the Democratic Republic of the Congo (US Embassy Kinshasa, 310
 Avenue des Aviateurs, Kinshasa)

Cook Islands
none (self-governing in free association with New
Zealand)

Coral Sea Islands

none (territory of Australia)

Costa Rica
chief of mission: Ambassador Mark LANGDALE
embassy: Calle 120 Avenida O, Pavas, San Jose
mailing address: APO AA 34020
telephone: [506] 519-2000
FAX: [506] 519-2305

Cote d'Ivoire
chief of mission: Ambassador Aubrey HOOKS
embassy: Riviera Golf 01, Abidjan
mailing address: B. P. 1866, Abidjan 01
telephone: [225] 20 21 09 79
FAX: [225] 20 22 32 59

Croatia
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert A. BRADTKE
embassy: 2 Thomas Jefferson Street, 10010 Zagreb
mailing address: use street address
telephone: [385] (1) 661-2200
FAX: [385] (1) 661-2373

Cuba
none; note - the US has an Interests Section in the Swiss
Embassy, headed by Principal Officer Michael E. PARMLY; 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

Cyprus
chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald L. SCHLICHER
 embassy: corner of Metochiou and Ploutarchou Streets, 2407 Engomi,
Nicosia
mailing address: P. O. Box 24536, 1385 Nicosia
telephone: [357] (22) 393939
FAX: [357] (22) 780944

Czech Republic
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard W. GRABER
embassy: Trziste 15, 11801 Prague 1
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [420] 257 022 000
FAX: [420] 257 022 809

Denmark
chief of mission: Ambassador James P. CAIN
embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Alle 24, 2100 Copenhagen
mailing address: PSC 73, APO AE 09716
telephone: [45] 33 41 71 00
FAX: [45] 35 43 02 23

Dhekelia
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Djibouti
chief of mission: Ambassador W. Stuart SYMINGTON
embassy: Plateau du Serpent, Boulevard Marechal Joffre, Djibouti
mailing address: B. P. 185, Djibouti
telephone: [253] 35 39 95
FAX: [253] 35 39 40

Dominica
the US does not have an embassy in Dominica; the US
Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Dominica

Dominican Republic
chief of mission: Ambassador Hans H. HERTELL
embassy: corner of Calle Cesar Nicolas Penson and Calle Leopoldo
Navarro, Santo Domingo
mailing address: Unit 5500, APO AA 34041-5500
 telephone: [1] (809) 221-2171
FAX: [1] (809) 686-7437

East Timor
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires
William Gary GRAY
embassy: Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Conqueiros, Dili
mailing address: US Department of State, 8250 Dili Place,
Washington, DC 20521-8250
telephone: (670) 332-4684
FAX: (670) 331-3206

Ecuador
chief of mission: Ambassador Linda L. JEWELL
embassy: Avenida 12 de Octubre y Avenida Patria, Quito
mailing address: APO AA 34039
telephone: [593] (2) 256-2890
FAX: [593] (2) 250-2052
consulate(s) general: Guayaquil

Egypt
chief of mission: Ambassador 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

El Salvador
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] 2278-4444
FAX: [503] 2278-5522

Equatorial Guinea
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald C. JOHNSON
embassy: adjacent to the golf course at the base of Mont Febe; note
- relocated embassy is opened for limited functions; inquiries
 should continue to be directed to the US Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon
mailing address: B.P. 817, Yaounde, Cameroon; US Embassy Yaounde, US
Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520
telephone: [237] 220 15 00
FAX: [237] 220 16 20

Eritrea
chief of mission: Ambassador Scott H. DELISI
embassy: 179 Alaa Street, Asmara
mailing address: P. O. Box 211, Asmara
telephone: [291] (1) 120004
FAX: [291] (1) 127584

Estonia
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires
Jeffrey GOLDSTEIN
embassy: Kentmanni 20, 15099 Tallinn
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [372] 668-8100
FAX: [372] 668-8134

Ethiopia
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald Y. YAMAMOTO
embassy: Entoto Street, Addis Ababa
mailing address: P. O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa
telephone: [251] (1) 517-4000
FAX: [251] (1) 517-4888

European Union
chief of mission: Ambassador C. Boyden GRAY
embassy: 13 Zinnerstraat/Rue Zinner, B-1000 Brussels
mailing address: same as above
telephone: [32] (2) 508-2222
FAX: [32] (2) 512-5720

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

none (overseas territory of the
UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Faroe Islands
none (self-governing overseas administrative division
of Denmark)

Fiji
chief of mission: Ambassador Larry Miles DINGER
embassy: 31 Loftus Street, Suva
mailing address: P. O. Box 218, Suva
telephone: [679] 331-4466
FAX: [679] 330-0081

Finland
chief of mission: Ambassador Marilyn WARE
embassy: Itainen Puistotie 14B, 00140 Helsinki
mailing address: APO AE 09723
telephone: [358] (9) 616250
FAX: [358] (9) 6162 5800

France
chief of mission: Ambassador Craig R. STAPLETON
embassy: 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08
mailing address: PSC 116, APO AE 09777
telephone: [33] (1) 43-12-22-22
FAX: [33] (1) 42 66 97 83
consulate(s) general: Marseille, Strasbourg

French Polynesia
none (overseas lands of France)

French Southern and Antarctic Lands

none (overseas territory of
France)

Gabon
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
Gambia, The
chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph D. STAFFORD, III
embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, Banjul
mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul
telephone: [220] 439-2856, 437-6169, 437-6170
FAX: [220] 439-2475

Georgia
chief of mission: Ambassador John F. TEFFT
embassy: 11 George Balanchine St., T'bilisi 0131
mailing address: 7060 T'bilisi Place, Washington, DC 20521-7060
telephone: [995] (32) 27-70-00
FAX: [995] (32) 53-23-10

Germany
chief of mission: Ambassador William R. TIMKEN, Jr.
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

Ghana
chief of mission: Ambassador Pamela BRIDGEWATER
embassy: 6th and 10th Lanes, 798/1 Osu, Accra
mailing address: P. O. Box 194, Accra
telephone: [233] (21) 775-347, 775-348
FAX: [233] (21) 701-813

Gibraltar
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Greece
chief of mission: Ambassador Charles P. RIES
embassy: 91 Vasilisis 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

Greenland
none (self-governing overseas administrative division of
Denmark)

Grenada
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
telephone: [1] (473) 444-1173 through 1176
FAX: [1] (473) 444-4820

Guam
none (territory of the US)

Guatemala
chief of mission: Ambassador James M. DERHAM
embassy: 7-01 Avenida Reforma, Zone 10, Guatemala City
mailing address: APO AA 34024
telephone: [502] 2326-4000
FAX: [502] 2326-4654

Guernsey
none (British crown dependency)

Guinea
chief of mission: Ambassador Jackson C. MCDONALD
embassy: Koloma, Conakry, east of Hamdallaye Circle
mailing address: B. P. 603, Transversale No. 2, Centre Administratif
de Koloma, Commune de Ratoma, Conakry
telephone: [224] 30-42-08-61
FAX: [224] 30-42-08-73

Guinea-Bissau
the US Embassy suspended operations on 14 June 1998 in
the midst of violent conflict between forces loyal to then President
 VIEIRA and military-led junta; the US Ambassador to Senegal is
accredited to Guinea-Bissau

Guyana
chief of mission: Ambassador David M. ROBINSON
embassy: 100 Young and Duke Streets, Kingston, Georgetown
mailing address: P. O. Box 10507, Georgetown; US Embassy, 3170
Georgetown Place, Washington DC 20521-3170
telephone: [592] 225-4900 through 4909
FAX: [592] 225-8497

Haiti
chief of mission: Ambassador Janet A. SANDERSON
embassy: 5 Harry S Truman Boulevard, Bicentenaire-Port-au-Prince
mailing address: P. O. Box 1761, Port-au-Prince
telephone: [509] 222-0200
FAX: [509] 223-9038

Heard Island and McDonald Islands

none (territory of Australia)

Holy See (Vatican City)

chief of mission: Ambassador Francis ROONEY
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

Honduras
chief of mission: Ambassador Charles A. FORD
embassy: Avenida La Paz, Apartado Postal No. 3453, Tegucigalpa
mailing address: American Embassy, APO AA 34022, Tegucigalpa
telephone: [504] 236-9320, 238-5114
FAX: [504] 236-9037

Hong Kong
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] 2845-1598

Hungary
chief of mission: Ambassador April H. FOLEY
embassy: Szabadsag ter 12, H-1054 Budapest
mailing address: pouch: American Embassy Budapest, 5270 Budapest
Place, US Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-5270
telephone: [36] (1) 475-4400
FAX: [36] (1) 475-4764

Iceland
chief of mission: Ambassador Carol VAN VOORST
embassy: Laufasvegur 21, 101 Reykjavik
mailing address: US Department of State, 5640 Reykjavik Place,
Washington, D.C. 20521-5640
telephone: [354] 562-9100
FAX: [354] 562-9118

India
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)

Indonesia
chief of mission: Ambassador B. Lynn PASCOE
embassy: Jalan 1 Medan Merdeka Selatan 4-5, Jakarta 10110
mailing address: Unit 8129, Box 1, FPO AP 96520
telephone: [62] (21) 3435-9000
FAX: [62] (21) 3435-9922
consulate(s) general: Surabaya
consulate(s): Medan; Denpasar (consular agency)

Iran
none; note - protecting power in Iran is Switzerland
Iraq
chief of mission: Ambassador Zalmay KHALILZAD
embassy: Baghdad
mailing address: APO AE 09316
telephone: 00-1-240-553-0584 ext. 5340 or 5635; note - Consular
Section
FAX: NA

Ireland
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas C. FOLEY
embassy: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [353] (1) 668-8777
FAX: [353] (1) 668-9946

Isle of Man
none (British crown dependency)

Israel
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard H. JONES
embassy: 71 Hayarkon Street, Tel Aviv 63903
mailing address: PSC 98, Box 29, APO AE 09830
telephone: [972] (3) 519-7575
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

Italy
chief of mission: Ambassador Ronald P. SPOGLI
embassy: Via Vittorio Veneto 121, 00187-Rome
mailing address: PSC 59, Box 100, APO AE 09624
telephone: [39] (06) 46741
FAX: [39] (06) 488-2672, 4674-2356
consulate(s) general: Florence, Milan, Naples

Jamaica
chief of mission: Ambassador Brenda LaGrange JOHNSON
embassy: Mutual Life Building, 2 Oxford Road, 3rd floor, Kingston 5
 mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [1] (876) 929-4850 through 4859
FAX: [1] (876) 935-6001

Japan
chief of mission: Ambassador J. Thomas SCHIEFFER
embassy: 1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8420
mailing address: Unit 45004, Box 258, APO AP 96337-5004
telephone: [81] (03) 3224-5000
FAX: [81] (03) 3505-1862
consulate(s) general: Naha (Okinawa), Osaka-Kobe, Sapporo
consulate(s): Fukuoka, Nagoya

Jersey
none (British crown dependency)

Jordan
chief of mission: Ambassador 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) 590-6000
FAX: [962] (6) 592-0121

Kazakhstan
chief of mission: Ambassador John M. ORDWAY
embassy: Ak Bulak 4, Str. 23-22, Building #3, Astana 010010
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [7] (3172) 70-21-00
FAX: [7] (3172) 34-08-90

Kenya
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael RANNEBERGER
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
Kiribati
the US does not have an embassy in Kiribati; the ambassador
to Fiji is accredited to Kiribati

Korea, North
none; note - Swedish Embassy in Pyongyang represents
the US as consular protecting power

Korea, South
chief of mission: Ambassador Alexander VERSHBOW
embassy: 32 Sejong-no, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-710
mailing address: US Embassy Seoul, Unit 15550, APO AP 96205-5550
telephone: [82] (2) 397-4114
FAX: [82] (2) 738-8845

Kuwait
chief of mission: Ambassador Richard LEBARON
embassy: Bayan 36302, 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] 259-1001
FAX: [965] 538-0282

Kyrgyzstan
chief of mission: Ambassador Marie L. YOVANOVITCH
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

Laos
chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia M. HASLACH
embassy: 19 Rue Bartholonie, That Dam Road, Vientiane
mailing address: American Embassy Vientiane, Box V, APO AP 96546
telephone: [856] 21-26 7000
FAX: [856] 21-26 7074

Latvia
 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

Lebanon
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Ambassador Designate
Antoine CHEDID
embassy: Awkar, Lebanon; (Akwar facing the Municipality)
mailing address: P. O. Box 70-840, Antelias, Lebanon; PSC 815, Box
2, FPO AE 09836-0002; from US: US Embassy Beirut, 6070 Beirut Place,
Washington, DC 20521-6070
telephone: [961] (4) 542600, 543600
FAX: [961] (4) 544136

Lesotho
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

Liberia
chief of mission: Ambassador Donald E. BOOTH
embassy: 111 United Nations Drive, P. O. Box 10-0098, Mamba Point,
1000 Monrovia, 10
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [231] 226-370 through 226-380
FAX: [231] 226-148

Libya
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires ad
Interim Charles O. CECIL
embassy: Corinthia Bab Africa Hotel, Souq At-Tlat Al-Qadim, Tripoli
mailing address: US Embassy, 8850 Tripoli Place, Washington, DC
20521-8850
telephone: [218] 21-335-1848
Liechtenstein
the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein, but
the US Ambassador to Switzerland is also accredited to Liechtenstein

Lithuania
chief of mission: Ambassador John A. CLOUD
embassy: Akmenu Gatve 6, Vilnius, LT-03106
mailing address: American Embassy, Akmenu Gatve 6, Vilnius LT-03106
telephone: [370] (5) 266 5500
FAX: [370] (5) 266 5510

Luxembourg
chief of mission: Ambassador Ann WAGNER
embassy: 22 Boulevard Emmanuel Servais, L-2535 Luxembourg City
mailing address: American Embassy Luxembourg, Unit 1410, APO AE
09126-1410 (official mail); American Embassy Luxembourg, PSC 9, Box
9500, APO AE 09123 (personal mail)
telephone: [352] 46 01 23
FAX: [352] 46 14 01

Macau
the US has no offices in Macau; US interests are monitored by
the US Consulate General in Hong Kong

Macedonia
chief of mission: Ambassador Gillian A. MILOVANOVIC
embassy: Bul. Ilindenska bb, 1000 Skopje
mailing address: American Embassy Skopje, US Department of State,
7120 Skopje Place, Washington, DC 20521-7120 (pouch)
telephone: [389] 2 311-6180
FAX: [389] 2 311-7103

Madagascar
chief of mission: Ambassador James D. MCGEE
embassy: 14-16 Rue Rainitovo, Antsahavola, Antananarivo 101
mailing address: B. P. 620, Antsahavola, Antananarivo
telephone: [261] (20) 22-212-57, 22-212-73, 22-209-56
FAX: [261] (20) 22-345-39
Malawi
chief of mission: Ambassador (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

Malaysia
chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher J. LAFLEUR
embassy: 376 Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur 50440
mailing address: US Embassy Kuala Lumpur, APO AP 96535-8152
telephone: [60] (3) 2168-5000
FAX: [60] (3) 2142-2207

Maldives
the US does not have an embassy in Maldives; the US
Ambassador to Sri Lanka is accredited to Maldives and makes periodic
visits there

Mali
chief of mission: Ambassador Terrence P. MCCULLEY
embassy: Rue Rochester NY and Rue Mohamed V, Bamako
mailing address: B. P. 34, Bamako
telephone: [223] 222-5470
FAX: [223] 222-3712

Malta
chief of mission: Ambassador Molly BORDONARO
embassy: 3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana,
VLT 01
mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta, CMR01
telephone: [356] 2561 4000
FAX: [356] 21 243229

Marshall Islands
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

Mauritania
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires
Charles H. Twining
embassy: 288 Rue Abdallaye (between Presidency building and Spanish
Embassy), Nouakchott
mailing address: BP 222, Nouakchott
telephone: [222] 525-2660/525-2663
FAX: [222] 525-1592

Mauritius
chief of mission: Ambassador John PRICE
embassy: 4th Floor, Rogers House, John Kennedy Street, Port Louis
mailing address: international mail: P. O. Box 544, Port Louis; US
mail: American Embassy, Port Louis, US Department of State,
Washington, DC 20521-2450
telephone: [230] 202-4400
FAX: [230] 208-9534

Mayotte
none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)

Mexico
chief of mission: Ambassador Antonio O. GARZA, Jr.
embassy: Paseo de la Reforma 305, Colonia Cuauhtemoc, 06500 Mexico,
Distrito Federal
mailing address: P. O. Box 9000, Brownsville, TX 78520-9000
telephone: [52] (55) 5080-2000
FAX: [52] (55) 5511-9980
consulate(s) general: Ciudad Juarez, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuana
consulate(s): Hermosillo, Matamoros, Merida, Nogales, Nuevo Laredo

Micronesia, Federated States of

chief of mission: Ambassador Suzanne
K. HALE
embassy: 101 Upper Pics Road, Kolonia
 mailing address: P. O. Box 1286, Kolonia, Pohnpei, 96941
telephone: [691] 320-2187
FAX: [691] 320-2186

Moldova
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael D. KIRBY
embassy: 103 Mateevici Street, Chisinau MD-2009
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [373] (22) 40-8300
FAX: [373] (22) 23-3044

Monaco
the US does not have an embassy in Monaco; the US Ambassador
to France is accredited to Monaco; the US Consul General in
Marseille (France), under the authority of the US ambassador to
France, handles routine diplomatic and consular matters concerning
Monaco

Mongolia
chief of mission: Ambassador Mark C. MINTON
embassy: Big Ring Road, 11th Micro Region, Ulaanbaatar
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 300, FPO AP 96521-0002; P.O. Box 1021,
Ulaanbaatar-13
telephone: [976] (11) 329095
FAX: [976] (11) 320776

Montenegro
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires
Arlene FERRILL
embassy: Ljubljanska bb, 82000 Podgorica, Montenegro
mailing address: (use street address)
telephone: [381] 81 225 417
FAX: [381] 81 241 358

Montserrat
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Morocco
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

Mozambique
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

Namibia
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

Nauru
the US does not have an embassy in Nauru; the US Ambassador to
Fiji is accredited to Nauru

Nepal
chief of mission: Ambassador James F. MORIARTY
embassy: Panipokhari, Kathmandu
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [977] (1) 411-1179
FAX: [977] (1) 441-9963

Netherlands
chief of mission: Ambassador Roland E. ARNALL
embassy: Lange Voorhout 102, 2514 EJ, The Hague
mailing address: PSC 71, Box 1000, APO AE 09715
telephone: [31] (70) 310-2209
FAX: [31] (70) 361-4688
consulate(s) general: Amsterdam
Netherlands Antilles
chief of mission: Consul General Robert E.
SORENSON
consulate(s) general: J. B. Gorsiraweg #1, Willemstad, Curacao
mailing address: P. O. Box 158, Willemstad, Curacao
telephone: [599] (9) 4613066
FAX: [599] (9) 4616489

New Caledonia
none (overseas territory of France)

New Zealand
chief of mission: Ambassador William P. McCORMICK
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

Nicaragua
chief of mission: Ambassador Paul A. TRIVELLI
embassy: Kilometer 4.5 Carretera Sur, Managua
mailing address: P.O. Box 327
telephone: [505] 266-6010
FAX: [505] 266-3861

Niger
chief of mission: Ambassador Bernadette M. ALLEN
embassy: Rue Des Ambassades, Niamey
mailing address: B. P. 11201, Niamey
telephone: [227] 73 31 69
FAX: [227] 73 55 60

Nigeria
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

Niue
none (self-governing territory in free association with New
Zealand)

Norfolk Island
none (territory of Australia)

Norway
chief of mission: Ambassador Benson K. WHITNEY
embassy: Henrik Ibsens gate 48, 0244 Oslo; note - the embassy will
move to Huseby in the near future
mailing address: PSC 69, Box 1000, APO AE 09707
telephone: [47] (22) 44 85 50
FAX: [47] (22) 44 33 63, 56 27 51

Oman
chief of mission: Ambassador Gary A. GRAPPO
embassy: Jameat A'Duwal Al Arabiya Street, Al Khuwair area, Muscat
mailing address: P. O. Box 202, P.C. 115, Madinat Sultan Qaboos,
Muscat
telephone: [968] 24-698989
FAX: [968] 24-699771

Pakistan
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) 208-0000
FAX: [92] (51) 2276427
consulate(s) general: Karachi
consulate(s): Lahore, Peshawar

Palau
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

Panama
chief of mission: Ambassador William A. EATON
embassy: Avenida Balboa and Calle 37, Apartado Postal 0816-02561,
Zona 5, Panama City 5
mailing address: American Embassy Panama, Unit 0945, APO AA 34002
telephone: [507] 207-7000
FAX: [507] 227-1964

Papua New Guinea

chief of mission: Ambassador Leslie V. ROWE
embassy: Douglas Street, Port Moresby
mailing address: 4240 Port Moresby PI, US Department of State,
Washington DC 20521-4240
telephone: [675] 321-1455
FAX: [675] 321-3423

Paraguay
Ambassador James C. CASON
embassy: 1776 Avenida Mariscal Lopez, Casilla Postal 402, Asuncion
mailing address: Unit 4711, APO AA 34036-0001
telephone: [595] (21) 213-715
FAX: [595] (21) 213-728

Peru
chief of mission: Ambassador 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) 618-2397

Philippines
chief of mission: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney
embassy: 1201 Roxas Boulevard, Ermita 1000, Manila
mailing address: PSC 500, FPO AP 96515-1000
telephone: [63] (2) 528-6300
 FAX: [63] (2) 522-4361

Pitcairn Islands
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Poland
chief of mission: Ambassador Victor ASHE
embassy: Aleje Ujazdowskie 29/31 00-540 Warsaw
mailing address: American Embassy Warsaw, US Department of State,
Washington, DC 20521-5010 (pouch)
telephone: [48] (22) 504-2000
FAX: [48] (22) 504-2688
consulate(s) general: Krakow

Portugal
chief of mission: Ambassador Alfred J. HOFFMAN Jr.
embassy: Avenida das Forcas Armadas, 1600-081 Lisbon
mailing address: Apartado 43033, 1601-301 Lisboa; PSC 83, APO AE
09726
telephone: [351] (21) 727-3300
FAX: [351] (21) 726-9109
consulate(s): Ponta Delgada (Azores)

Puerto Rico
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status)

Qatar
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 4176

Romania
chief of mission: Ambassador Nicholas F. TAUBMAN
embassy: Strada Tudor Arghezi 7-9, Bucharest
mailing address: American Embassy Bucharest, US Department of State,
5260 Bucharest Place, Washington, DC 20521-5260 (pouch)
telephone: [40] (21) 200-3300
 FAX: [40] (21) 200-3442
information office: Cluj-Napoca

Russia
chief of mission: Ambassador William J. BURNS
embassy: Bolshoy Deviatinskiy Pereulok No. 8, 121099 Moscow
mailing address: PSC-77, APO AE 09721
telephone: [7] (495) 728-5000
FAX: [7] (495) 728-5090
consulate(s) general: Saint Petersburg, Vladivostok, Yekaterinburg

Rwanda
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael ARIETTI
embassy: 337 Boulevard de la Revolution, Kigali
mailing address: B. P. 28, Kigali
telephone: [250] 50 56 01 through 03
FAX: [250] 57 2128

Saint Helena
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Saint Kitts and Nevis

the US does not have an embassy in Saint Kitts
and Nevis; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint
Kitts and Nevis

Saint Lucia
the US does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the US
Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Lucia

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

none (territorial overseas collectivity of
France)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

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

Samoa
 chief of mission: US Ambassador to New Zealand is accredited
to Samoa
embassy: Accident Compensation Board (ACB) Building, 5th Floor,
Beach Road, Apia
mailing address: P. O. Box 3430, Apia, 0815
telephone: [685] 21436/21452/21631/22696
FAX: [685] 22030

San Marino
the US does not have an embassy in San Marino, but the
ambassador to Italy is accredited to San Marino

Sao Tome and Principe

the US does not have an embassy in Sao Tome
and Principe; the Ambassador to Gabon is accredited to Sao Tome and
Principe on a nonresident basis and makes periodic visits to the
islands

Saudi Arabia
chief of mission: Ambassador James C. OBERWETTER
embassy: Collector Road M, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh
mailing address: American Embassy, 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)

Senegal
chief of mission: Ambassador Janice L. JACOBS
embassy: Avenue Jean XXIII at the corner of Rue Kleber, Dakar
mailing address: B. P. 49, Dakar
telephone: [221] 823-4296
FAX: [221] 822-2991

Serbia
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
note: there is a branch office in Pristina at 30 Nazim Hikmet 38000
Prstina, Kososvo; telephone: [381] (38) 549-516; FAX:[381] (38)
549-890

Seychelles
the US does not have an embassy in Seychelles; the
ambassador to Mauritius is accredited to Seychelles

Sierra Leone
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) 515 000 or [232] (76) 515 000
FAX: [232] (22) 225471

Singapore
chief of mission: Ambassador Patricia L. HERBOLD
embassy: 27 Napier Road, Singapore 258508
mailing address: FPO AP 96507-0001
telephone: [65] 6476-9100
FAX: [65] 6476-9340

Slovakia
chief of mission: Ambassador Rodolphe "Skip" M. VALLEE
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

Slovenia
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas B. ROBERTSON
embassy: Presernova 31, 1000 Ljubljana
mailing address: American Embassy Ljubljana, US Department of State,
7140 Ljubljana Place, Washington, DC 20521-7140
telephone: [386] (1) 200-5500
FAX: [386] (1) 200-5555

Solomon Islands
 the US does not have an embassy in Solomon Islands
(embassy closed July 1993); the ambassador to Papua New Guinea is
accredited to the Solomon Islands

Somalia
the US does not have an embassy in Somalia; US interests are
represented by the US Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya at United Nations
Avenue, Nairobi; mailing address: Unit 64100, Nairobi; APO AE 09831;
telephone: [254] (20) 363-6000; FAX [254] (20) 363-6157

South Africa
chief of mission: Ambassador Eric BOST
embassy: 877 Pretorius Street, Pretoria
mailing address: P. O. Box 9536, Pretoria 0001
telephone: [27] (12) 342-1048
FAX: [27] (12) 342-2244
consulate(s) general: Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

none (overseas
territory of the UK, also claimed by Argentina)

Spain
chief of mission: Ambassador Eduardo AGUIRRE, Jr.
embassy: Serrano 75, 28006 Madrid
mailing address: PSC 61, APO AE 09642
telephone: [34] (91) 587-2200
FAX: [34] (91) 587-2303
consulate(s) general: Barcelona

Sri Lanka
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert O. BLAKE, Jr.
embassy: 210 Galle Road, Colombo 3
mailing address: P. O. Box 106, Colombo
telephone: [94] (11) 249-8500
FAX: [94] (11) 243-7345

Sudan
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires
 Cameron HUME
embassy: Sharia Ali Abdul Latif Avenue, Khartoum
mailing address: P. O. Box 699, Khartoum; APO AE 09829
telephone: [249] (183) 774701
FAX: [249] (183) 774137
note: US Consul in Cairo is providing backup service for Khartoum;
consular services are being established in Juba (southern Sudan)

Suriname
chief of mission: Ambassador Lisa Bobbie SCHREIBER HUGHES
embassy: Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat 129, Paramaribo
mailing address: US Department of State, 3390 Paramaribo Place,
Washington, DC, 20521-3390
telephone: [597] 472-900
FAX: [597] 425-690

Swaziland
chief of mission: Ambassador Lewis LUCKE
embassy: Central Bank Building, Mahlokahla Street, Mbabane
mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane
telephone: [268] 404-6441 through 404-6445
FAX: [268] 404-5959

Sweden
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael M. WOOD
embassy: Dag Hammarskjolds Vag 31, SE-11589 Stockholm
mailing address: American Embassy Stockholm, US Department of State,
5750 Stockholm Place, Washington, DC 20521-5750 (pouch)
telephone: [46] (08) 783 53 00
FAX: [46] (08) 661 19 64
Switzerland
chief of mission: Ambassador Peter R. CONEWAY
embassy: Jubilaumsstrasse 93, CH-3005 Bern
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [41] (031) 357 70 11
FAX: [41] (031) 357 73 44

Syria
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires
Michael CORBIN
embassy: Abou Roumaneh, Al-Mansour Street, No. 2, Damascus
mailing address: P. O. Box 29, Damascus
telephone: [963] (11) 333-1342
FAX: [963] (11) 224-7938

Taiwan
none; unofficial commercial and cultural relations with the
people on Taiwan are maintained through an unofficial
instrumentality - the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) - which has
offices in the US and Taiwan; US office 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, Kaohsiung,
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

Tajikistan
chief of mission: Ambassador Tracey Ann JACOBSON
embassy: 109-A Ismoili Somoni Ave., Dushanbe 734003
mailing address: 7090 Dushanbe Place, Dulles, VA 20189
telephone: [992] (37) 229-20-00
FAX: [992] (37) 229-20-50

Tanzania
 chief of mission: Ambassador Michael L. RETZER
embassy: 140 Msese Road, Kinondoni District, Dar es Salaam
mailing address: P. O. Box 9123, Dar es Salaam
telephone: [255] (22) 2666-010 through 2666-015
FAX: [255] (22) 2666-701, 2668-501

Thailand
chief of mission: Ambassador Ralph L. BOYCE
embassy: 120-122 Wireless Road, Bangkok 10330
mailing address: APO AP 96546
telephone: [66] (2) 205-4000
FAX: [66] (2) 254-2990, 205-4131
consulate(s) general: Chiang Mai

Togo
chief of mission: Ambassador David B. DUNN
embassy: Angle Rue Kouenou and Rue 15 Beniglato, Lome
mailing address: B. P. 852, Lome
telephone: [228] 221 29 91 through 221 29 94
FAX: [228] 221 79 52

Tokelau
none (territory of New Zealand)

Tonga
the US does not have an embassy in Tonga; the ambassador to
Fiji is accredited to Tonga

Trinidad and Tobago

chief of mission: Ambassador Roy L. AUSTIN
embassy: 15 Queen's Park West, Port-of-Spain
mailing address: P. O. Box 752, Port-of-Spain
telephone: [1] (868) 622-6371 through 6376
FAX: [1] (868) 628-5462

Tunisia
chief of mission: Ambassador designate Robert F. GODEC
embassy: Zone Nord-Est des Berges du Lac Nord de Tunis 1053
mailing address: use embassy street address
 telephone: [216] 71 107-000
FAX: [216] 71 107-090

Turkey
chief of mission: Ambassador Ross WILSON
embassy: 110 Ataturk Boulevard, Kavaklidere, 06100 Ankara
mailing address: PSC 93, Box 5000, APO AE 09823
telephone: [90] (312) 455-5555
FAX: [90] (312) 467-0019
consulate(s) general: Istanbul
consulate(s): Adana; note - there is a Consular Agent in Izmir

Turkmenistan
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge
d'Affaires Jennifer L. BRUSH
embassy: No. 9 1984 Street (formerly Pushkin Street), Ashgabat,
Turkmenistan 774000
mailing address: 7070 Ashgabat Place, Washington, DC 20521-7070
telephone: [9] (9312) 35-00-45
FAX: [9] (9312) 39-26-14

Turks and Caicos Islands

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Tuvalu
the US does not have an embassy in Tuvalu; the US ambassador
to Fiji is accredited to Tuvalu

Uganda
chief of mission: Ambassador Steven BROWNING
embassy: 1577 Ggaba Rd., Kampala
mailing address: P. O. Box 7007, Kampala
telephone: [256] (41) 234-142
FAX: [256] (41) 258-451

Ukraine
chief of mission: Ambassador William B. TAYLOR
embassy: 10 Yurii Kotsiubynsky Street, 04053 Kyiv
mailing address: 5850 Kiev Place, Washington, DC 20521-5850
 telephone: [380] (44) 490-4000
FAX: [380] (44) 490-4085

United Arab Emirates

chief of mission: Ambassador Michele J. 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) 414-2603
consulate(s) general: Dubai

United Kingdom
chief of mission: Ambassador Robert Holmes TUTTLE
embassy: 24 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

Uruguay
chief of mission: Ambassador Frank BAXTER
embassy: Lauro Muller 1776, Montevideo 11200
mailing address: APO AA 34035
telephone: [598] (2) 418-7777
FAX: [598] (2) 418-8611

Uzbekistan
chief of mission: Ambassador Jon PURNELL
embassy: 3 Moyqo'rq'on, 5th Block, Yunusobod District, Tashkent
100093
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [998] (71) 120-5450
FAX: [998] (71) 120-6335

Vanuatu
the US does not have an embassy in Vanuatu; the ambassador
to Papua New Guinea is accredited to Vanuatu
Venezuela
chief of mission: Ambassador 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

Vietnam
chief of mission: Ambassador Michael W. MARINE
embassy: 7 Lang Ha Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
mailing address: PSC 461, Box 400, FPO AP 96521-0002
telephone: [84] (4) 772-1500
FAX: [84] (4) 772-1510
consulate(s) general: Ho Chi Minh City

Virgin Islands
none (territory of the US)

Wallis and Futuna

none (overseas territory of France)

Western Sahara
none

Yemen
chief of mission: Ambassador Thomas C. KRAJESKI
embassy: Sa'awan Street, Sanaa
mailing address: P. O. Box 22347, Sanaa
telephone: [967] (1) 755-2000 ext. 2153 or 2266
FAX: [967] (1) 303-182

Zambia
chief of mission: Ambassador Carmen M. MARTINEZ
embassy: corner of Independence and United Nations Avenues, Lusaka
mailing address: P. O. Box 31617, Lusaka
telephone: [260] (1) 250-955
FAX: [260] (1) 252-225

Zimbabwe
 chief of mission: Ambassador Christopher W. DELL
embassy: 172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue, Harare
mailing address: P. O. Box 3340, Harare
telephone: [263] (4) 250-593 and 250-594
FAX: [263] (4) 796-488

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2008 Transportation - note

Arctic Ocean
sparse network of air, ocean, river, and land routes;
the Northwest Passage (North America) and Northern Sea Route
(Eurasia) are important seasonal waterways

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

Baker Island
there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast

Georgia
transportation network is in poor condition resulting from
ethnic conflict, criminal activities, and fuel shortages; network
lacks maintenance and repair

Howland Island
Earhart Light is a day beacon near the middle of the
west coast that was partially destroyed during World War II, but has
 since been rebuilt; named in memory of famed aviatrix Amelia EARHART

Iles Eparses
aids to navigation - lighthouses: Europa Island 18m;
Juan de Nova Island (W side) 37m; Tromelin Island (NW point) 11m

Jarvis Island
there is a day beacon near the middle of the west coast

Midway Islands
airfield serves as an emergency landing site for
commercial aircraft crossing the Pacific Ocean

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

Saint Helena
there is no air connection to Saint Helena or Tristan
da Cunha; an international airport for Saint Helena is in
development for 2010

Southern Ocean
Drake Passage offers alternative to transit through
the Panama Canal

Wake Island
there are no commercial or civilian flights to and from
Wake Island, except in direct support of island missions; emergency
landing is available

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2010 Age structure (%)

Afghanistan
0-14 years: 44.6% (male 7,095,117/female 6,763,759)
15-64 years: 53% (male 8,436,716/female 8,008,463)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 366,642/female 386,300) (2006 est.)

Albania
0-14 years: 24.8% (male 464,954/female 423,003)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 1,214,942/female 1,158,562)
65 years and over: 8.9% (male 148,028/female 172,166) (2006 est.)

Algeria
0-14 years: 28.1% (male 4,722,076/female 4,539,713)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 11,133,802/female 10,964,502)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 735,444/female 834,554) (2006 est.)

American Samoa
0-14 years: 34.7% (male 10,388/female 9,654)
15-64 years: 62.4% (male 18,698/female 17,350)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 633/female 1,071) (2006 est.)

Andorra
0-14 years: 14.7% (male 5,456/female 4,994)
15-64 years: 71.4% (male 26,632/female 24,172)
65 years and over: 14% (male 4,918/female 5,029) (2006 est.)

Angola
0-14 years: 43.7% (male 2,678,185/female 2,625,933)
15-64 years: 53.5% (male 3,291,954/female 3,195,688)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 148,944/female 186,367) (2006 est.)

Anguilla
0-14 years: 22.8% (male 1,557/female 1,510)
15-64 years: 70.4% (male 4,878/female 4,608)
65 years and over: 6.9% (male 412/female 512) (2006 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda

0-14 years: 27.6% (male 9,716/female 9,375)
15-64 years: 68.5% (male 23,801/female 23,524)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 1,020/female 1,672) (2006 est.)
Argentina
0-14 years: 25.2% (male 5,153,164/female 4,921,625)
15-64 years: 64.1% (male 12,804,376/female 12,798,731)
65 years and over: 10.6% (male 1,740,118/female 2,503,819) (2006
est.)

Armenia
0-14 years: 20.5% (male 322,189/female 286,944)
15-64 years: 68.4% (male 949,975/female 1,085,484)
65 years and over: 11.1% (male 133,411/female 198,369) (2006 est.)

Aruba
0-14 years: 19.5% (male 7,175/female 6,849)
15-64 years: 68.2% (male 23,894/female 25,140)
65 years and over: 12.3% (male 3,616/female 5,217) (2006 est.)

Australia
0-14 years: 19.6% (male 2,031,313/female 1,936,802)
15-64 years: 67.3% (male 6,881,863/female 6,764,709)
65 years and over: 13.1% (male 1,170,589/female 1,478,806) (2006
est.)

Austria
0-14 years: 15.4% (male 645,337/female 614,602)
15-64 years: 67.5% (male 2,782,712/female 2,749,620)
65 years and over: 17.1% (male 567,752/female 832,857) (2006 est.)

Azerbaijan
0-14 years: 25.8% (male 1,046,501/female 1,011,492)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 2,573,134/female 2,706,275)
65 years and over: 7.8% (male 246,556/female 377,661) (2006 est.)

Bahamas, The
0-14 years: 27.5% (male 41,799/female 41,733)
15-64 years: 66.1% (male 98,847/female 102,074)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 7,891/female 11,426) (2006 est.)

Bahrain
0-14 years: 27.4% (male 96,567/female 94,650)
15-64 years: 69.1% (male 280,272/female 202,451)
 65 years and over: 3.5% (male 12,753/female 11,892) (2006 est.)

Bangladesh
0-14 years: 32.9% (male 24,957,997/female 23,533,894)
15-64 years: 63.6% (male 47,862,774/female 45,917,674)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 2,731,578/female 2,361,435) (2006 est.)

Barbados
0-14 years: 20.1% (male 28,160/female 28,039)
15-64 years: 71.1% (male 97,755/female 101,223)
65 years and over: 8.8% (male 9,508/female 15,227) (2006 est.)

Belarus
0-14 years: 15.7% (male 825,823/female 791,741)
15-64 years: 69.7% (male 3,490,442/female 3,682,950)
65 years and over: 14.6% (male 498,976/female 1,003,079) (2006 est.)

Belgium
0-14 years: 16.7% (male 883,254/female 846,099)
15-64 years: 65.9% (male 3,450,879/female 3,389,565)
65 years and over: 17.4% (male 746,569/female 1,062,701) (2006 est.)

Belize
0-14 years: 39.5% (male 57,923/female 55,678)
15-64 years: 57% (male 82,960/female 81,046)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 4,888/female 5,235) (2006 est.)

Benin
0-14 years: 44.1% (male 1,751,709/female 1,719,138)
15-64 years: 53.5% (male 2,067,248/female 2,138,957)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 75,694/female 110,198) (2006 est.)

Bermuda
0-14 years: 18.6% (male 6,146/female 6,098)
15-64 years: 69.2% (male 22,562/female 22,954)
65 years and over: 12.2% (male 3,479/female 4,534) (2006 est.)

Bhutan
0-14 years: 38.9% (male 458,801/female 426,947)
15-64 years: 57.1% (male 671,057/female 631,078)
 65 years and over: 4% (male 46,217/female 45,623) (2006 est.)

Bolivia
0-14 years: 35% (male 1,603,982/female 1,542,319)
15-64 years: 60.4% (male 2,660,806/female 2,771,807)
65 years and over: 4.6% (male 182,412/female 227,720) (2006 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

0-14 years: 15.5% (male 359,739/female
336,978)
15-64 years: 70.1% (male 1,590,923/female 1,564,665)
65 years and over: 14.4% (male 265,637/female 381,034) (2006 est.)

Botswana
0-14 years: 38.3% (male 319,531/female 309,074)
15-64 years: 57.9% (male 460,692/female 488,577)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 23,374/female 38,585) (2006 est.)

Brazil
0-14 years: 25.8% (male 24,687,656/female 23,742,998)
15-64 years: 68.1% (male 63,548,331/female 64,617,539)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 4,712,675/female 6,769,028) (2006 est.)

British Virgin Islands

0-14 years: 20.5% (male 2,403/female 2,331)
15-64 years: 74.3% (male 8,811/female 8,340)
65 years and over: 5.3% (male 636/female 577) (2006 est.)

Brunei
0-14 years: 28.1% (male 54,411/female 52,134)
15-64 years: 68.8% (male 138,129/female 123,017)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 5,584/female 6,169) (2006 est.)

Bulgaria
0-14 years: 13.9% (male 527,881/female 502,334)
15-64 years: 68.7% (male 2,496,054/female 2,579,680)
65 years and over: 17.3% (male 527,027/female 752,391) (2006 est.)

Burkina Faso
0-14 years: 46.8% (male 3,267,202/female 3,235,190)
 15-64 years: 50.7% (male 3,513,559/female 3,538,623)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 140,083/female 208,315) (2006 est.)

Burma
0-14 years: 26.4% (male 6,335,236/female 6,181,216)
15-64 years: 68.5% (male 16,011,723/female 16,449,626)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 1,035,853/female 1,368,979) (2006 est.)

Burundi
0-14 years: 46.3% (male 1,884,825/female 1,863,200)
15-64 years: 51.1% (male 2,051,451/female 2,082,017)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 83,432/female 125,143) (2006 est.)

Cambodia
0-14 years: 35.6% (male 2,497,595/female 2,447,754)
15-64 years: 61% (male 4,094,946/female 4,370,159)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 180,432/female 290,541) (2006 est.)

Cameroon
0-14 years: 41.2% (male 3,614,430/female 3,531,047)
15-64 years: 55.5% (male 4,835,453/female 4,796,276)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 260,342/female 303,154) (2006 est.)

Canada
0-14 years: 17.6% (male 2,992,811/female 2,848,388)
15-64 years: 69% (male 11,482,452/female 11,368,286)
65 years and over: 13.3% (male 1,883,008/female 2,523,987) (2006
est.)

Cape Verde
0-14 years: 37.9% (male 80,594/female 79,126)
15-64 years: 55.3% (male 113,450/female 119,423)
65 years and over: 6.7% (male 10,542/female 17,844) (2006 est.)

Cayman Islands
0-14 years: 20.7% (male 4,708/female 4,700)
15-64 years: 70.9% (male 15,707/female 16,504)
65 years and over: 8.4% (male 1,793/female 2,024) (2006 est.)

Central African Republic

 0-14 years: 41.9% (male 907,629/female
897,153)
15-64 years: 53.9% (male 1,146,346/female 1,173,268)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 71,312/female 107,648) (2006 est.)

Chad
0-14 years: 47.9% (male 2,396,393/female 2,369,261)
15-64 years: 49.3% (male 2,355,940/female 2,550,535)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 107,665/female 164,407) (2006 est.)

Chile
0-14 years: 24.7% (male 2,035,278/female 1,944,754)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 5,403,525/female 5,420,497)
65 years and over: 8.2% (male 555,075/female 775,090) (2006 est.)

China
0-14 years: 20.8% (male 145,461,833/female 128,445,739)
15-64 years: 71.4% (male 482,439,115/female 455,960,489)
65 years and over: 7.7% (male 48,562,635/female 53,103,902) (2006
est.)

Christmas Island
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA (2006 est.)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA (2006 est.)

Colombia
0-14 years: 30.3% (male 6,683,079/female 6,528,563)
15-64 years: 64.5% (male 13,689,384/female 14,416,439)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 996,022/female 1,279,548) (2006 est.)

Comoros
0-14 years: 42.7% (male 148,009/female 147,038)
15-64 years: 54.3% (male 185,107/female 190,139)
65 years and over: 3% (male 9,672/female 10,983) (2006 est.)
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
0-14 years: 47.4% (male
14,906,488/female 14,798,210)
15-64 years: 50.1% (male 15,597,353/female 15,793,350)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 632,143/female 933,007) (2006 est.)

Congo, Republic of the

0-14 years: 46.4% (male 864,407/female
853,728)
15-64 years: 50.7% (male 930,390/female 945,545)
65 years and over: 2.9% (male 44,430/female 63,814) (2006 est.)

Cook Islands
0-14 years: 34.1% (male 2,718/female 2,388)
15-64 years: 59.5% (male 4,531/female 4,395)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 489/female 469) (2001 census)

Costa Rica
0-14 years: 28.3% (male 590,261/female 563,196)
15-64 years: 66% (male 1,359,750/female 1,329,346)
65 years and over: 5.7% (male 108,041/female 124,667) (2006 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
0-14 years: 40.8% (male 3,546,674/female 3,653,990)
15-64 years: 56.4% (male 5,024,575/female 4,939,677)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 238,793/female 251,134) (2006 est.)

Croatia
0-14 years: 16.2% (male 373,638/female 354,261)
15-64 years: 67% (male 1,497,958/female 1,515,314)
65 years and over: 16.8% (male 288,480/female 465,098) (2006 est.)

Cuba
0-14 years: 19.1% (male 1,117,677/female 1,058,512)
15-64 years: 70.3% (male 4,001,161/female 3,999,303)
65 years and over: 10.6% (male 554,148/female 652,019) (2006 est.)

Cyprus
0-14 years: 20.4% (male 81,776/female 78,272)
15-64 years: 68% (male 270,254/female 263,354)
 65 years and over: 11.6% (male 39,536/female 51,109) (2006 est.)

Czech Republic
0-14 years: 14.4% (male 755,098/female 714,703)
15-64 years: 71.2% (male 3,656,021/female 3,629,036)
65 years and over: 14.5% (male 576,264/female 904,333) (2006 est.)

Denmark
0-14 years: 18.7% (male 523,257/female 496,697)
15-64 years: 66.1% (male 1,815,240/female 1,787,406)
65 years and over: 15.2% (male 355,656/female 472,405) (2006 est.)

Djibouti
0-14 years: 43.3% (male 105,760/female 105,068)
15-64 years: 53.3% (male 135,119/female 124,367)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 8,183/female 8,033) (2006 est.)

Dominica
0-14 years: 26.1% (male 9,084/female 8,885)
15-64 years: 66% (male 23,419/female 22,079)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 2,186/female 3,257) (2006 est.)

Dominican Republic
0-14 years: 32.6% (male 1,531,145/female
1,464,076)
15-64 years: 61.9% (male 2,902,098/female 2,782,608)
65 years and over: 5.5% (male 235,016/female 269,041) (2006 est.)

East Timor
0-14 years: 36.3% (male 196,293/female 189,956)
15-64 years: 60.6% (male 328,111/female 315,401)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 16,072/female 16,944) (2006 est.)

Ecuador
0-14 years: 33% (male 2,281,499/female 2,195,551)
15-64 years: 61.9% (male 4,178,653/female 4,210,766)
65 years and over: 5% (male 319,719/female 361,322) (2006 est.)

Egypt
0-14 years: 32.6% (male 13,172,641/female 12,548,346)
 15-64 years: 62.9% (male 25,102,754/female 24,519,698)
65 years and over: 4.5% (male 1,510,280/female 2,033,288) (2006 est.)

El Salvador
0-14 years: 36.3% (male 1,265,080/female 1,212,216)
15-64 years: 58.5% (male 1,900,372/female 2,092,251)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 156,292/female 196,167) (2006 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
0-14 years: 41.7% (male 113,083/female 111,989)
15-64 years: 54.5% (male 141,914/female 152,645)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 8,886/female 11,592) (2006 est.)

Eritrea
0-14 years: 44% (male 1,059,458/female 1,046,955)
15-64 years: 52.5% (male 1,244,153/female 1,268,189)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 82,112/female 86,127) (2006 est.)

Estonia
0-14 years: 15.2% (male 103,367/female 97,587)
15-64 years: 67.6% (male 427,043/female 468,671)
65 years and over: 17.2% (male 75,347/female 152,318) (2006 est.)

Ethiopia
0-14 years: 43.7% (male 16,373,718/female 16,280,766)
15-64 years: 53.6% (male 19,999,482/female 20,077,014)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 929,349/female 1,117,652) (2006 est.)

European Union
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) (2006
est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA (2006 est.)

Faroe Islands
 0-14 years: 20.9% (male 4,940/female 4,952)
15-64 years: 65.1% (male 16,247/female 14,522)
65 years and over: 13.9% (male 2,976/female 3,609) (2006 est.)

Fiji
0-14 years: 31.1% (male 143,847/female 138,061)
15-64 years: 64.6% (male 293,072/female 292,312)
65 years and over: 4.3% (male 17,583/female 21,074) (2006 est.)

Finland
0-14 years: 17.1% (male 455,420/female 438,719)
15-64 years: 66.7% (male 1,766,674/female 1,724,858)
65 years and over: 16.2% (male 337,257/female 508,444) (2006 est.)

France
0-14 years: 18.3% (male 5,704,152/female 5,427,213)
15-64 years: 65.3% (male 19,886,228/female 19,860,506)
65 years and over: 16.4% (male 4,103,883/female 5,894,154) (2006
est.)

French Polynesia
0-14 years: 26.1% (male 36,541/female 34,999)
15-64 years: 67.9% (male 96,769/female 89,593)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 8,428/female 8,248) (2006 est.)

Gabon
0-14 years: 42.1% (male 300,914/female 299,141)
15-64 years: 53.9% (male 383,137/female 384,876)
65 years and over: 4% (male 23,576/female 33,262) (2006 est.)

Gambia, The
0-14 years: 44.3% (male 365,157/female 361,821)
15-64 years: 53% (male 431,627/female 438,159)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 22,889/female 21,911) (2006 est.)

Gaza Strip
0-14 years: 48.1% (male 351,642/female 335,060)
15-64 years: 49.4% (male 360,147/female 345,318)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 15,231/female 21,359) (2006 est.)
Georgia
0-14 years: 17.3% (male 428,056/female 380,193)
15-64 years: 66.2% (male 1,482,908/female 1,602,064)
65 years and over: 16.5% (male 308,905/female 459,347) (2006 est.)

Germany
0-14 years: 14.1% (male 5,973,437/female 5,665,971)
15-64 years: 66.4% (male 27,889,936/female 26,874,858)
65 years and over: 19.4% (male 6,602,478/female 9,415,619) (2006
est.)

Ghana
0-14 years: 38.8% (male 4,395,744/female 4,288,720)
15-64 years: 57.7% (male 6,450,828/female 6,483,781)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 371,428/female 419,071) (2006 est.)

Gibraltar
0-14 years: 17.5% (male 2,499/female 2,388)
15-64 years: 66% (male 9,443/female 8,999)
65 years and over: 16.5% (male 2,059/female 2,540) (2006 est.)

Greece
0-14 years: 14.3% (male 790,291/female 742,902)
15-64 years: 66.7% (male 3,562,251/female 3,566,097)
65 years and over: 19% (male 891,620/female 1,134,897) (2006 est.)

Greenland
0-14 years: 24.5% (male 7,072/female 6,740)
15-64 years: 68.9% (male 20,904/female 17,919)
65 years and over: 6.6% (male 1,768/female 1,958) (2006 est.)

Grenada
0-14 years: 33.4% (male 15,097/female 14,820)
15-64 years: 63.4% (male 30,106/female 26,764)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 1,394/female 1,522) (2006 est.)

Guam
0-14 years: 29% (male 25,703/female 23,903)
15-64 years: 64.3% (male 56,020/female 53,894)
65 years and over: 6.7% (male 5,391/female 6,108) (2006 est.)
Guatemala
0-14 years: 41.1% (male 2,573,359/female 2,479,098)
15-64 years: 55.5% (male 3,353,630/female 3,468,184)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 194,784/female 224,490) (2006 est.)

Guernsey
0-14 years: 15% (male 4,998/female 4,842)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 21,752/female 22,170)
65 years and over: 17.8% (male 4,926/female 6,721) (2006 est.)

Guinea
0-14 years: 44.4% (male 2,171,733/female 2,128,027)
15-64 years: 52.5% (male 2,541,140/female 2,542,847)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 134,239/female 172,236) (2006 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
0-14 years: 41.4% (male 297,623/female 298,942)
15-64 years: 55.6% (male 384,559/female 417,811)
65 years and over: 3% (male 18,048/female 25,046) (2006 est.)

Guyana
0-14 years: 26.2% (male 102,551/female 98,772)
15-64 years: 68.6% (male 265,193/female 260,892)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 17,043/female 22,794) (2006 est.)

Haiti
0-14 years: 42.4% (male 1,770,523/female 1,749,853)
15-64 years: 54.2% (male 2,201,957/female 2,301,886)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 125,298/female 158,987) (2006 est.)

Honduras
0-14 years: 39.9% (male 1,491,170/female 1,429,816)
15-64 years: 56.7% (male 2,076,727/female 2,077,975)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 113,747/female 137,061) (2006 est.)

Hong Kong
0-14 years: 13.5% (male 488,607/female 445,593)
15-64 years: 73.7% (male 2,495,679/female 2,620,336)
65 years and over: 12.8% (male 413,031/female 477,186) (2006 est.)
Hungary
0-14 years: 15.6% (male 799,163/female 755,389)
15-64 years: 69.2% (male 3,403,375/female 3,505,640)
65 years and over: 15.2% (male 550,297/female 967,470) (2006 est.)

Iceland
0-14 years: 21.7% (male 33,021/female 32,021)
15-64 years: 66.5% (male 100,944/female 98,239)
65 years and over: 11.7% (male 15,876/female 19,287) (2006 est.)

India
0-14 years: 30.8% (male 173,478,760/female 163,852,827)
15-64 years: 64.3% (male 363,876,219/female 340,181,764)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 27,258,020/female 26,704,405) (2006
est.)

Indonesia
0-14 years: 28.8% (male 35,995,919/female 34,749,582)
15-64 years: 65.8% (male 80,796,794/female 80,754,238)
65 years and over: 5.4% (male 5,737,473/female 7,418,733) (2006 est.)

Iran
0-14 years: 26.1% (male 9,204,785/female 8,731,429)
15-64 years: 69% (male 24,133,919/female 23,245,255)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 1,653,827/female 1,719,218) (2006 est.)

Iraq
0-14 years: 39.7% (male 5,398,645/female 5,231,760)
15-64 years: 57.3% (male 7,776,257/female 7,576,726)
65 years and over: 3% (male 376,700/female 423,295) (2006 est.)

Ireland
0-14 years: 20.9% (male 437,903/female 409,774)
15-64 years: 67.6% (male 1,373,771/female 1,370,452)
65 years and over: 11.6% (male 207,859/female 262,476) (2006 est.)

Isle of Man
0-14 years: 17.3% (male 6,669/female 6,350)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 24,884/female 24,678)
65 years and over: 17% (male 5,197/female 7,663) (2006 est.)
Israel
0-14 years: 26.3% (male 855,054/female 815,619)
15-64 years: 63.9% (male 2,044,135/female 2,016,647)
65 years and over: 9.8% (male 266,671/female 353,991) (2006 est.)

Italy
0-14 years: 13.8% (male 4,147,149/female 3,899,980)
15-64 years: 66.5% (male 19,530,512/female 19,105,841)
65 years and over: 19.7% (male 4,771,858/female 6,678,169) (2006
est.)

Jamaica
0-14 years: 33.1% (male 464,297/female 449,181)
15-64 years: 59.6% (male 808,718/female 835,394)
65 years and over: 7.3% (male 90,100/female 110,434) (2006 est.)

Japan
0-14 years: 14.2% (male 9,309,524/female 8,849,476)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 42,158,122/female 41,611,754)
65 years and over: 20% (male 10,762,585/female 14,772,150) (2006
est.)

Jersey
0-14 years: 17.2% (male 8,139/female 7,552)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 30,407/female 30,691)
65 years and over: 15.7% (male 6,299/female 7,996) (2006 est.)

Jordan
0-14 years: 33.8% (male 1,018,070/female 976,442)
15-64 years: 62.4% (male 1,966,794/female 1,716,255)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 111,636/female 117,563) (2006 est.)

Kazakhstan
0-14 years: 23% (male 1,792,685/female 1,717,294)
15-64 years: 68.8% (male 5,122,027/female 5,357,819)
65 years and over: 8.2% (male 438,541/female 804,878) (2006 est.)

Kenya
0-14 years: 42.6% (male 7,454,765/female 7,322,130)
15-64 years: 55.1% (male 9,631,488/female 9,508,068)
 65 years and over: 2.3% (male 359,354/female 432,012) (2006 est.)

Kiribati
0-14 years: 38.6% (male 20,608/female 20,060)
15-64 years: 58.1% (male 30,216/female 31,004)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 1,517/female 2,027) (2006 est.)

Korea, North
0-14 years: 23.8% (male 2,788,944/female 2,708,331)
15-64 years: 68% (male 7,762,442/female 7,955,522)
65 years and over: 8.2% (male 667,792/female 1,229,988) (2006 est.)

Korea, South
0-14 years: 18.9% (male 4,844,083/female 4,368,139)
15-64 years: 71.9% (male 17,886,148/female 17,250,862)
65 years and over: 9.2% (male 1,818,677/female 2,678,914) (2006 est.)

Kuwait
0-14 years: 26.9% (male 331,768/female 319,895)
15-64 years: 70.3% (male 1,085,721/female 613,746)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 42,460/female 24,803) (2006 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
0-14 years: 30.9% (male 821,976/female 789,687)
15-64 years: 62.9% (male 1,607,396/female 1,669,612)
65 years and over: 6.2% (male 126,847/female 198,380) (2006 est.)

Laos
0-14 years: 41.4% (male 1,324,207/female 1,313,454)
15-64 years: 55.4% (male 1,744,206/female 1,786,139)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 89,451/female 111,024) (2006 est.)

Latvia
0-14 years: 14% (male 162,562/female 155,091)
15-64 years: 69.6% (male 769,004/female 815,042)
65 years and over: 16.4% (male 121,646/female 251,390) (2006 est.)

Lebanon
0-14 years: 26.5% (male 523,220/female 502,372)
15-64 years: 66.6% (male 1,235,915/female 1,342,540)
 65 years and over: 7% (male 122,155/female 147,848) (2006 est.)

Lesotho
0-14 years: 36.8% (male 374,102/female 369,527)
15-64 years: 58.3% (male 572,957/female 606,846)
65 years and over: 4.9% (male 39,461/female 59,438) (2006 est.)

Liberia
0-14 years: 43.1% (male 656,016/female 653,734)
15-64 years: 54.2% (male 816,443/female 832,152)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 40,591/female 43,068) (2006 est.)

Libya
0-14 years: 33.6% (male 1,012,748/female 969,978)
15-64 years: 62.2% (male 1,891,643/female 1,778,621)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 121,566/female 126,198) (2006 est.)

Liechtenstein
0-14 years: 17.4% (male 2,922/female 2,988)
15-64 years: 70.2% (male 11,842/female 12,022)
65 years and over: 12.4% (male 1,773/female 2,440) (2006 est.)

Lithuania
0-14 years: 15.5% (male 284,888/female 270,458)
15-64 years: 69.1% (male 1,210,557/female 1,265,542)
65 years and over: 15.5% (male 190,496/female 363,965) (2006 est.)

Luxembourg
0-14 years: 18.9% (male 46,118/female 43,356)
15-64 years: 66.5% (male 159,498/female 156,075)
65 years and over: 14.6% (male 28,027/female 41,339) (2006 est.)

Macau
0-14 years: 16.2% (male 37,934/female 35,412)
15-64 years: 75.9% (male 163,975/female 179,830)
65 years and over: 7.9% (male 15,099/female 20,875) (2006 est.)

Macedonia
0-14 years: 20.1% (male 213,486/female 199,127)
15-64 years: 68.9% (male 711,853/female 701,042)
 65 years and over: 11% (male 98,618/female 126,428) (2006 est.)

Madagascar
0-14 years: 44.8% (male 4,171,821/female 4,158,288)
15-64 years: 52.2% (male 4,809,173/female 4,900,675)
65 years and over: 3% (male 249,414/female 306,098) (2006 est.)

Malawi
0-14 years: 46.5% (male 3,056,522/female 3,000,493)
15-64 years: 50.8% (male 3,277,573/female 3,332,907)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 139,953/female 206,478) (2006 est.)

Malaysia
0-14 years: 32.6% (male 4,093,859/female 3,862,730)
15-64 years: 62.6% (male 7,660,680/female 7,613,537)
65 years and over: 4.7% (male 509,260/female 645,792) (2006 est.)

Maldives
0-14 years: 43.4% (male 80,113/female 75,763)
15-64 years: 53.5% (male 98,040/female 94,029)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 5,477/female 5,586) (2006 est.)

Mali
0-14 years: 48.2% (male 2,857,670/female 2,787,506)
15-64 years: 48.8% (male 2,804,344/female 2,910,097)
65 years and over: 3% (male 146,458/female 210,754) (2006 est.)

Malta
0-14 years: 17.1% (male 35,264/female 33,368)
15-64 years: 69.1% (male 139,890/female 136,767)
65 years and over: 13.7% (male 23,554/female 31,371) (2006 est.)

Marshall Islands
0-14 years: 38.1% (male 11,720/female 11,295)
15-64 years: 59.2% (male 18,305/female 17,445)
65 years and over: 2.7% (male 801/female 856) (2006 est.)

Mauritania
0-14 years: 45.6% (male 726,376/female 723,013)
15-64 years: 52.2% (male 818,408/female 839,832)
 65 years and over: 2.2% (male 28,042/female 41,717) (2006 est.)

Mauritius
0-14 years: 23.9% (male 149,486/female 147,621)
15-64 years: 69.5% (male 430,288/female 431,753)
65 years and over: 6.6% (male 31,939/female 49,740) (2006 est.)

Mayotte
0-14 years: 46% (male 46,512/female 46,067)
15-64 years: 52.3% (male 56,899/female 48,274)
65 years and over: 1.7% (male 1,756/female 1,726) (2006 est.)

Mexico
0-14 years: 30.6% (male 16,770,957/female 16,086,172)
15-64 years: 63.6% (male 33,071,809/female 35,316,281)
65 years and over: 5.8% (male 2,814,707/female 3,389,599) (2006 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of

0-14 years: 36.6% (male
20,116/female 19,391)
15-64 years: 60.4% (male 32,620/female 32,659)
65 years and over: 3% (male 1,413/female 1,805) (2006 est.)

Moldova
0-14 years: 20% (male 455,673/female 438,934)
15-64 years: 69.7% (male 1,498,078/female 1,613,489)
65 years and over: 10.3% (male 170,456/female 290,076) (2006 est.)

Monaco
0-14 years: 15.2% (male 2,539/female 2,417)
15-64 years: 62.1% (male 9,959/female 10,266)
65 years and over: 22.6% (male 3,015/female 4,347) (2006 est.)

Mongolia
0-14 years: 27.9% (male 402,448/female 387,059)
15-64 years: 68.4% (male 967,546/female 969,389)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 45,859/female 59,923) (2006 est.)

Montserrat
0-14 years: 23.3% (male 1,125/female 1,079)
 15-64 years: 65.7% (male 2,957/female 3,245)
65 years and over: 10.9% (male 532/female 501) (2006 est.)

Morocco
0-14 years: 31.6% (male 5,343,976/female 5,145,019)
15-64 years: 63.4% (male 10,505,018/female 10,580,599)
65 years and over: 5% (male 725,116/female 941,531) (2006 est.)

Mozambique
0-14 years: 42.7% (male 4,229,802/female 4,177,235)
15-64 years: 54.5% (male 5,207,149/female 5,519,291)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 230,616/female 322,412) (2006 est.)

Namibia
0-14 years: 38.2% (male 393,878/female 387,147)
15-64 years: 58.1% (male 596,557/female 591,350)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 34,245/female 40,970) (2006 est.)

Nauru
0-14 years: 36.9% (male 2,507/female 2,391)
15-64 years: 61.2% (male 4,004/female 4,123)
65 years and over: 2% (male 139/female 123) (2006 est.)

Nepal
0-14 years: 38.7% (male 5,648,959/female 5,291,447)
15-64 years: 57.6% (male 8,365,526/female 7,925,941)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 513,777/female 541,497) (2006 est.)

Netherlands
0-14 years: 18% (male 1,515,123/female 1,445,390)
15-64 years: 67.8% (male 5,656,448/female 5,525,481)
65 years and over: 14.2% (male 994,723/female 1,354,296) (2006 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
0-14 years: 23.9% (male 27,197/female 25,886)
15-64 years: 67.3% (male 71,622/female 77,710)
65 years and over: 8.7% (male 7,925/female 11,396) (2006 est.)

New Caledonia
0-14 years: 28.4% (male 31,818/female 30,503)
 15-64 years: 64.9% (male 71,565/female 70,815)
65 years and over: 6.6% (male 6,773/female 7,772) (2006 est.)

New Zealand
0-14 years: 21.1% (male 439,752/female 419,174)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 1,374,850/female 1,361,570)
65 years and over: 11.8% (male 210,365/female 270,429) (2006 est.)

Nicaragua
0-14 years: 36.4% (male 1,031,897/female 994,633)
15-64 years: 60.5% (male 1,677,633/female 1,691,353)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 76,758/female 97,855) (2006 est.)

Niger
0-14 years: 46.9% (male 2,994,022/female 2,882,273)
15-64 years: 50.7% (male 3,262,114/female 3,083,522)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 150,982/female 152,181) (2006 est.)

Nigeria
0-14 years: 42.3% (male 28,089,017/female 27,665,212)
15-64 years: 54.6% (male 36,644,885/female 35,405,915)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 1,930,007/female 2,124,695) (2006 est.)

Niue
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA (2006 est.)

Norfolk Island
0-14 years: 20.2%
15-64 years: 63.9%
65 years and over: 15.9% (2006 est.)

Northern Mariana Islands

0-14 years: 19.4% (male 8,350/female 7,623)
15-64 years: 79% (male 26,715/female 38,442)
65 years and over: 1.6% (male 679/female 650) (2006 est.)

Norway
0-14 years: 19.3% (male 455,122/female 434,009)
 15-64 years: 65.9% (male 1,542,439/female 1,496,745)
65 years and over: 14.8% (male 288,509/female 393,996) (2006 est.)

Oman
0-14 years: 42.7% (male 675,423/female 648,963)
15-64 years: 54.7% (male 1,001,917/female 695,578)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 44,300/female 36,048) (2006 est.)

Pakistan
0-14 years: 39% (male 33,293,428/female 31,434,314)
15-64 years: 56.9% (male 48,214,298/female 46,062,933)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 3,256,065/female 3,542,522) (2006 est.)

Palau
0-14 years: 26.3% (male 2,789/female 2,622)
15-64 years: 69.1% (male 7,664/female 6,549)
65 years and over: 4.6% (male 453/female 502) (2006 est.)

Panama
0-14 years: 30.3% (male 492,403/female 472,996)
15-64 years: 63.4% (male 1,025,898/female 998,926)
65 years and over: 6.3% (male 94,122/female 106,974) (2006 est.)

Papua New Guinea

0-14 years: 37.8% (male 1,090,879/female 1,054,743)
15-64 years: 58.3% (male 1,703,204/female 1,601,224)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 103,054/female 117,440) (2006 est.)

Paraguay
0-14 years: 37.7% (male 1,245,149/female 1,204,970)
15-64 years: 57.5% (male 1,878,761/female 1,862,266)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 145,899/female 169,419) (2006 est.)

Peru
0-14 years: 30.9% (male 4,456,195/female 4,300,233)
15-64 years: 63.7% (male 9,078,123/female 8,961,981)
65 years and over: 5.3% (male 709,763/female 796,308) (2006 est.)

Philippines
0-14 years: 35% (male 15,961,365/female 15,340,065)
 15-64 years: 61% (male 27,173,919/female 27,362,736)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 1,576,089/female 2,054,503) (2006 est.)

Pitcairn Islands
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA (2006 est.)

Poland
0-14 years: 15.9% (male 3,142,811/female 2,976,363)
15-64 years: 70.8% (male 13,585,306/female 13,704,763)
65 years and over: 13.3% (male 1,961,326/female 3,166,300) (2006
est.)

Portugal
0-14 years: 16.5% (male 915,604/female 839,004)
15-64 years: 66.3% (male 3,484,545/female 3,544,674)
65 years and over: 17.2% (male 751,899/female 1,070,144) (2006 est.)

Puerto Rico
0-14 years: 21.3% (male 428,610/female 409,484)
15-64 years: 65.8% (male 1,239,255/female 1,345,519)
65 years and over: 12.8% (male 218,045/female 286,275) (2006 est.)

Qatar
0-14 years: 23.4% (male 105,546/female 101,371)
15-64 years: 73% (male 446,779/female 199,133)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 24,059/female 8,471) (2006 est.)

Romania
0-14 years: 15.7% (male 1,799,072/female 1,708,030)
15-64 years: 69.6% (male 7,724,368/female 7,797,065)
65 years and over: 14.7% (male 1,347,392/female 1,927,625) (2006
est.)

Russia
0-14 years: 14.2% (male 10,441,151/female 9,921,102)
15-64 years: 71.3% (male 49,271,698/female 52,679,463)
65 years and over: 14.4% (male 6,500,814/female 14,079,312) (2006
est.)
Rwanda
0-14 years: 41.9% (male 1,817,998/female 1,802,134)
15-64 years: 55.6% (male 2,392,778/female 2,417,467)
65 years and over: 2.5% (male 87,325/female 130,546) (2006 est.)

Saint Helena
0-14 years: 18.8% (male 717/female 692)
15-64 years: 71.2% (male 2,751/female 2,593)
65 years and over: 10% (male 342/female 407) (2006 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis

0-14 years: 27.5% (male 5,515/female 5,263)
15-64 years: 64.3% (male 12,605/female 12,572)
65 years and over: 8.1% (male 1,313/female 1,861) (2006 est.)

Saint Lucia
0-14 years: 29.8% (male 25,941/female 24,319)
15-64 years: 65% (male 53,916/female 55,582)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 3,186/female 5,514) (2006 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

0-14 years: 23.5% (male 843/female 807)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 2,342/female 2,272)
65 years and over: 10.8% (male 348/female 414) (2006 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

0-14 years: 26.7% (male
16,007/female 15,426)
15-64 years: 66.9% (male 40,676/female 38,155)
65 years and over: 6.4% (male 3,315/female 4,269) (2006 est.)

Samoa
0-14 years: 26.1% (male 23,492/female 22,653)
15-64 years: 67.3% (male 74,202/female 44,894)
65 years and over: 6.6% (male 5,299/female 6,368) (2006 est.)

San Marino
0-14 years: 16.8% (male 2,534/female 2,372)
15-64 years: 66.2% (male 9,316/female 10,055)
65 years and over: 17% (male 2,149/female 2,825) (2006 est.)
Sao Tome and Principe
0-14 years: 47.5% (male 46,478/female 45,302)
15-64 years: 48.8% (male 45,631/female 48,661)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 3,368/female 3,973) (2006 est.)

Saudi Arabia
0-14 years: 38.2% (male 5,261,530/female 5,059,041)
15-64 years: 59.4% (male 9,159,519/female 6,895,616)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 342,020/female 302,005) (2006 est.)

Senegal
0-14 years: 40.8% (male 2,467,021/female 2,422,385)
15-64 years: 56.1% (male 3,346,756/female 3,378,518)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 174,399/female 198,042) (2006 est.)

Seychelles
0-14 years: 25.9% (male 10,667/female 10,440)
15-64 years: 68% (male 27,060/female 28,366)
65 years and over: 6.1% (male 1,607/female 3,401) (2006 est.)

Sierra Leone
0-14 years: 44.8% (male 1,321,563/female 1,370,721)
15-64 years: 52% (male 1,494,502/female 1,625,733)
65 years and over: 3.2% (male 90,958/female 101,773) (2006 est.)

Singapore
0-14 years: 15.6% (male 362,329/female 337,964)
15-64 years: 76.1% (male 1,666,709/female 1,750,736)
65 years and over: 8.3% (male 165,823/female 208,589) (2006 est.)

Slovakia
0-14 years: 16.7% (male 465,304/female 443,967)
15-64 years: 71.3% (male 1,929,448/female 1,947,735)
65 years and over: 12% (male 244,609/female 408,385) (2006 est.)

Slovenia
0-14 years: 13.8% (male 143,079/female 135,050)
15-64 years: 70.5% (male 714,393/female 702,950)
65 years and over: 15.7% (male 121,280/female 193,595) (2006 est.)
Solomon Islands
0-14 years: 41.3% (male 116,370/female 111,834)
15-64 years: 55.4% (male 154,793/female 151,308)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 8,696/female 9,437) (2006 est.)

Somalia
0-14 years: 44.4% (male 1,973,294/female 1,961,083)
15-64 years: 53% (male 2,355,861/female 2,342,988)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 97,307/female 132,805) (2006 est.)

South Africa
0-14 years: 29.7% (male 6,603,220/female 6,525,810)
15-64 years: 65% (male 13,955,950/female 14,766,843)
65 years and over: 5.3% (male 905,870/female 1,429,944) (2006 est.)

Spain
0-14 years: 14.4% (male 3,000,686/female 2,821,325)
15-64 years: 67.8% (male 13,751,963/female 13,653,426)
65 years and over: 17.7% (male 2,993,496/female 4,176,946) (2006
est.)

Sri Lanka
0-14 years: 24.1% (male 2,488,689/female 2,379,233)
15-64 years: 68.6% (male 6,727,399/female 7,140,751)
65 years and over: 7.3% (male 687,842/female 798,326) (2006 est.)

Sudan
0-14 years: 42.7% (male 8,993,483/female 8,614,022)
15-64 years: 54.9% (male 11,327,679/female 11,297,798)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 536,754/female 466,642) (2006 est.)

Suriname
0-14 years: 29% (male 65,412/female 62,069)
15-64 years: 64.7% (male 145,913/female 138,076)
65 years and over: 6.3% (male 12,223/female 15,424) (2006 est.)

Svalbard
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA (2006 est.)
Swaziland
0-14 years: 40.7% (male 233,169/female 229,103)
15-64 years: 55.8% (male 303,260/female 330,460)
65 years and over: 3.6% (male 16,071/female 24,271) (2006 est.)

Sweden
0-14 years: 16.7% (male 775,433/female 732,773)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 3,001,928/female 2,918,242)
65 years and over: 17.6% (male 689,756/female 898,464) (2006 est.)

Switzerland
0-14 years: 16.3% (male 637,585/female 591,297)
15-64 years: 68.1% (male 2,585,062/female 2,539,345)
65 years and over: 15.6% (male 480,198/female 690,447) (2006 est.)

Syria
0-14 years: 37% (male 3,592,915/female 3,384,722)
15-64 years: 59.7% (male 5,779,257/female 5,500,887)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 296,070/female 327,510) (2006 est.)

Taiwan
0-14 years: 19.4% (male 2,330,951/female 2,140,965)
15-64 years: 70.8% (male 8,269,421/female 8,040,169)
65 years and over: 9.8% (male 1,123,429/female 1,131,152) (2006 est.)

Tajikistan
0-14 years: 37.9% (male 1,396,349/female 1,375,168)
15-64 years: 57.4% (male 2,091,476/female 2,108,889)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 154,162/female 194,771) (2006 est.)

Tanzania
0-14 years: 43.7% (male 8,204,593/female 8,176,489)
15-64 years: 53.6% (male 9,906,446/female 10,178,066)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 422,674/female 557,124) (2006 est.)

Thailand
0-14 years: 22% (male 7,284,068/female 6,958,632)
15-64 years: 70% (male 22,331,312/female 22,880,588)
65 years and over: 8% (male 2,355,190/female 2,821,805) (2006 est.)
Togo
0-14 years: 42.3% (male 1,177,141/female 1,169,321)
15-64 years: 55.1% (male 1,485,621/female 1,570,117)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 59,870/female 86,632) (2006 est.)

Tokelau
0-14 years: 42%
15-64 years: 53%
65 years and over: 5% (2006 est.)

Tonga
0-14 years: 35.3% (male 20,679/female 19,843)
15-64 years: 60.5% (male 34,399/female 34,964)
65 years and over: 4.2% (male 2,059/female 2,745) (2006 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago

0-14 years: 20.1% (male 109,936/female 104,076)
15-64 years: 71.3% (male 398,657/female 361,093)
65 years and over: 8.6% (male 41,162/female 50,918) (2006 est.)

Tunisia
0-14 years: 24.6% (male 1,293,235/female 1,212,994)
15-64 years: 68.6% (male 3,504,283/female 3,478,268)
65 years and over: 6.7% (male 327,521/female 358,713) (2006 est.)

Turkey
0-14 years: 25.5% (male 9,133,226/female 8,800,070)
15-64 years: 67.7% (male 24,218,277/female 23,456,761)
65 years and over: 6.8% (male 2,198,073/female 2,607,551) (2006 est.)

Turkmenistan
0-14 years: 35.2% (male 913,988/female 863,503)
15-64 years: 60.7% (male 1,501,486/female 1,557,155)
65 years and over: 4.1% (male 79,227/female 127,561) (2006 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands

0-14 years: 31.9% (male 3,432/female 3,312)
15-64 years: 64.4% (male 7,155/female 6,457)
65 years and over: 3.8% (male 362/female 434) (2006 est.)
Tuvalu
0-14 years: 30.2% (male 1,819/female 1,752)
15-64 years: 64.7% (male 3,715/female 3,923)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 228/female 373) (2006 est.)

Uganda
0-14 years: 50% (male 7,091,763/female 6,996,385)
15-64 years: 47.8% (male 6,762,071/female 6,727,230)
65 years and over: 2.2% (male 266,931/female 351,374) (2006 est.)

Ukraine
0-14 years: 14.1% (male 3,377,868/female 3,203,738)
15-64 years: 69.3% (male 15,559,998/female 16,831,486)
65 years and over: 16.6% (male 2,635,651/female 5,102,075) (2006
est.)

United Arab Emirates

0-14 years: 24.9% (male 331,012/female 317,643)
15-64 years: 71.2% (male 1,125,286/female 726,689)
65 years and over: 3.9% (male 74,700/female 27,383)
note: 73.9% of the population in the 15-64 age group is non-national
(2006 est.)

United Kingdom
0-14 years: 17.5% (male 5,417,663/female 5,161,714)
15-64 years: 66.8% (male 20,476,571/female 19,988,959)
65 years and over: 15.8% (male 4,087,020/female 5,477,226) (2006
est.)

United States
0-14 years: 20.4% (male 31,095,847/female 29,715,872)
15-64 years: 67.2% (male 100,022,845/female 100,413,484)
65 years and over: 12.5% (male 15,542,288/female 21,653,879) (2006
est.)

Uruguay
0-14 years: 22.9% (male 399,409/female 386,136)
15-64 years: 63.9% (male 1,087,180/female 1,104,465)
65 years and over: 13.3% (male 185,251/female 269,491) (2006 est.)
Uzbekistan
0-14 years: 32.9% (male 4,572,721/female 4,403,405)
15-64 years: 62.3% (male 8,420,174/female 8,594,478)
65 years and over: 4.8% (male 539,336/female 777,020) (2006 est.)

Vanuatu
0-14 years: 32.6% (male 34,804/female 33,331)
15-64 years: 63.7% (male 67,919/female 65,138)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 4,027/female 3,650) (2006 est.)

Venezuela
0-14 years: 29.1% (male 3,860,116/female 3,620,440)
15-64 years: 65.7% (male 8,494,944/female 8,410,874)
65 years and over: 5.2% (male 609,101/female 734,960) (2006 est.)

Vietnam
0-14 years: 27% (male 11,826,457/female 10,983,069)
15-64 years: 67.1% (male 28,055,941/female 28,614,553)
65 years and over: 5.8% (male 1,924,562/female 2,998,384) (2006 est.)

Virgin Islands
0-14 years: 22.4% (male 12,261/female 12,056)
15-64 years: 66.4% (male 34,174/female 37,949)
65 years and over: 11.2% (male 5,385/female 6,780) (2006 est.)

Wallis and Futuna

0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA (2006 est.)

West Bank
0-14 years: 42.9% (male 541,110/female 515,202)
15-64 years: 53.7% (male 676,427/female 644,347)
65 years and over: 3.4% (male 35,440/female 47,966) (2006 est.)

Western Sahara
0-14 years: NA
15-64 years: NA
65 years and over: NA (2006 est.)
World
0-14 years: 27.4% (male 919,219,446/female 870,242,271)
15-64 years: 65.2% (male 2,152,066,888/female 2,100,334,722)
65 years and over: 7.4% (male 213,160,216/female 270,146,721)
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 (2006 est.)

Yemen
0-14 years: 46.4% (male 5,067,762/female 4,881,333)
15-64 years: 51% (male 5,568,078/female 5,375,263)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 275,878/female 287,874) (2006 est.)

Zambia
0-14 years: 46.3% (male 2,673,891/female 2,656,268)
15-64 years: 51.3% (male 2,925,910/female 2,969,324)
65 years and over: 2.4% (male 117,877/female 158,740) (2006 est.)

Zimbabwe
0-14 years: 37.4% (male 2,307,170/female 2,265,298)
15-64 years: 59.1% (male 3,616,528/female 3,621,190)
65 years and over: 3.5% (male 199,468/female 227,151) (2006 est.)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2011 Geographic coordinates

Afghanistan
33 00 N, 65 00 E

Akrotiri
34 37 N, 32 58 E
Albania
41 00 N, 20 00 E

Algeria
28 00 N, 3 00 E

American Samoa
14 20 S, 170 00 W

Andorra
42 30 N, 1 30 E

Angola
12 30 S, 18 30 E

Anguilla
18 15 N, 63 10 W

Antarctica
90 00 S, 0 00 E

Antigua and Barbuda

17 03 N, 61 48 W

Arctic Ocean
90 00 N, 0 00 E

Argentina
34 00 S, 64 00 W

Armenia
40 00 N, 45 00 E

Aruba
12 30 N, 69 58 W

Ashmore and Cartier Islands

12 14 S, 123 05 E

Atlantic Ocean
 0 00 N, 25 00 W

Australia
27 00 S, 133 00 E

Austria
47 20 N, 13 20 E

Azerbaijan
40 30 N, 47 30 E

Bahamas, The
24 15 N, 76 00 W

Bahrain
26 00 N, 50 33 E

Baker Island
0 13 N, 176 28 W

Bangladesh
24 00 N, 90 00 E

Barbados
13 10 N, 59 32 W

Bassas da India
21 30 S, 39 50 E

Belarus
53 00 N, 28 00 E

Belgium
50 50 N, 4 00 E

Belize
17 15 N, 88 45 W

Benin
9 30 N, 2 15 E
Bermuda
32 20 N, 64 45 W

Bhutan
27 30 N, 90 30 E

Bolivia
17 00 S, 65 00 W

Bosnia and Herzegovina

44 00 N, 18 00 E

Botswana
22 00 S, 24 00 E

Bouvet Island
54 26 S, 3 24 E

Brazil
10 00 S, 55 00 W

British Indian Ocean Territory

6 00 S, 71 30 E; note - Diego Garcia
7 20 S, 72 25 E

British Virgin Islands

18 30 N, 64 30 W

Brunei
4 30 N, 114 40 E

Bulgaria
43 00 N, 25 00 E

Burkina Faso
13 00 N, 2 00 W

Burma
22 00 N, 98 00 E
Burundi
3 30 S, 30 00 E

Cambodia
13 00 N, 105 00 E

Cameroon
6 00 N, 12 00 E

Canada
60 00 N, 95 00 W

Cape Verde
16 00 N, 24 00 W

Cayman Islands
19 30 N, 80 30 W

Central African Republic

7 00 N, 21 00 E

Chad
15 00 N, 19 00 E

Chile
30 00 S, 71 00 W

China
35 00 N, 105 00 E

Christmas Island
10 30 S, 105 40 E

Clipperton Island
10 17 N, 109 13 W

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

12 30 S, 96 50 E

Colombia
 4 00 N, 72 00 W

Comoros
12 10 S, 44 15 E

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

0 00 N, 25 00 E

Congo, Republic of the

1 00 S, 15 00 E
Cook Islands
21 14 S, 159 46 W

Coral Sea Islands

18 00 S, 152 00 E

Costa Rica
10 00 N, 84 00 W

Cote d'Ivoire
8 00 N, 5 00 W

Croatia
45 10 N, 15 30 E

Cuba
21 30 N, 80 00 W

Cyprus
35 00 N, 33 00 E

Czech Republic
49 45 N, 15 30 E

Denmark
56 00 N, 10 00 E

Dhekelia
34 59 N, 33 45 E

Djibouti
11 30 N, 43 00 E

Dominica
15 25 N, 61 20 W

Dominican Republic
19 00 N, 70 40 W
East Timor
8 50 S, 125 55 E

Ecuador
2 00 S, 77 30 W

Egypt
27 00 N, 30 00 E

El Salvador
13 50 N, 88 55 W

Equatorial Guinea
2 00 N, 10 00 E

Eritrea
15 00 N, 39 00 E

Estonia
59 00 N, 26 00 E

Ethiopia
8 00 N, 38 00 E

Europa Island
22 20 S, 40 22 E

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

51 45 S, 59 00 W

Faroe Islands
62 00 N, 7 00 W

Fiji
18 00 S, 175 00 E

Finland
64 00 N, 26 00 E

France
 46 00 N, 2 00 E
French Guiana: 4 00 N, 53 00 W
Guadeloupe: 16 15 N, 61 35 W
Martinique: 14 40 N, 61 00 W
Reunion: 21 06 S, 55 36 E

French Polynesia
15 00 S, 140 00 W

French Southern and Antarctic Lands

43 00 S, 67 00 E

Gabon
1 00 S, 11 45 E

Gambia, The
13 28 N, 16 34 W

Gaza Strip
31 25 N, 34 20 E

Georgia
42 00 N, 43 30 E

Germany
51 00 N, 9 00 E

Ghana
8 00 N, 2 00 W

Gibraltar
36 8 N, 5 21 W

Glorioso Islands
11 30 S, 47 20 E

Greece
39 00 N, 22 00 E

Greenland
 72 00 N, 40 00 W

Grenada
12 07 N, 61 40 W

Guam
13 28 N, 144 47 E

Guatemala
15 30 N, 90 15 W

Guernsey
49 28 N, 2 35 W

Guinea
11 00 N, 10 00 W

Guinea-Bissau
12 00 N, 15 00 W

Guyana
5 00 N, 59 00 W

Haiti
19 00 N, 72 25 W

Heard Island and McDonald Islands

53 06 S, 72 31 E

Holy See (Vatican City)

41 54 N, 12 27 E

Honduras
15 00 N, 86 30 W

Hong Kong
22 15 N, 114 10 E

Howland Island
0 48 N, 176 38 W
Hungary
47 00 N, 20 00 E

Iceland
65 00 N, 18 00 W

Iles Eparses
Bassas da India: 21 30 S, 39 50 E
Europa Island: 22 20 S, 40 22 E
Glorioso Islands: 11 30 S, 47 20 E
Juan de Nova Island: 17 03 S, 42 45 E
Tromelin Island: 15 52 S, 54 25 E

India
20 00 N, 77 00 E

Indian Ocean
20 00 S, 80 00 E

Indonesia
5 00 S, 120 00 E

Iran
32 00 N, 53 00 E

Iraq
33 00 N, 44 00 E

Ireland
53 00 N, 8 00 W

Isle of Man
54 15 N, 4 30 W

Israel
31 30 N, 34 45 E

Italy
42 50 N, 12 50 E
Jamaica
18 15 N, 77 30 W

Jan Mayen
71 00 N, 8 00 W

Japan
36 00 N, 138 00 E

Jarvis Island
0 22 S, 160 01 W

Jersey
49 15 N, 2 10 W

Johnston Atoll
16 45 N, 169 31 W

Jordan
31 00 N, 36 00 E

Juan de Nova Island

17 03 S, 42 45 E

Kazakhstan
48 00 N, 68 00 E

Kenya
1 00 N, 38 00 E

Kingman Reef
6 24 N, 162 22 W

Kiribati
1 25 N, 173 00 E

Korea, North
40 00 N, 127 00 E

Korea, South
 37 00 N, 127 30 E

Kuwait
29 30 N, 45 45 E

Kyrgyzstan
41 00 N, 75 00 E

Laos
18 00 N, 105 00 E

Latvia
57 00 N, 25 00 E

Lebanon
33 50 N, 35 50 E

Lesotho
29 30 S, 28 30 E

Liberia
6 30 N, 9 30 W

Libya
25 00 N, 17 00 E

Liechtenstein
47 16 N, 9 32 E

Lithuania
56 00 N, 24 00 E

Luxembourg
49 45 N, 6 10 E

Macau
22 10 N, 113 33 E

Macedonia
41 50 N, 22 00 E
Madagascar
20 00 S, 47 00 E

Malawi
13 30 S, 34 00 E

Malaysia
2 30 N, 112 30 E

Maldives
3 15 N, 73 00 E

Mali
17 00 N, 4 00 W

Malta
35 50 N, 14 35 E

Marshall Islands
9 00 N, 168 00 E

Mauritania
20 00 N, 12 00 W

Mauritius
20 17 S, 57 33 E

Mayotte
12 50 S, 45 10 E

Mexico
23 00 N, 102 00 W

Micronesia, Federated States of

6 55 N, 158 15 E

Midway Islands
28 12 N, 177 22 W

Moldova
 47 00 N, 29 00 E

Monaco
43 44 N, 7 24 E

Mongolia
46 00 N, 105 00 E

Montenegro
42 30 N, 19 18 E

Montserrat
16 45 N, 62 12 W

Morocco
32 00 N, 5 00 W

Mozambique
18 15 S, 35 00 E

Namibia
22 00 S, 17 00 E

Nauru
0 32 S, 166 55 E

Navassa Island
18 25 N, 75 02 W

Nepal
28 00 N, 84 00 E

Netherlands
52 30 N, 5 45 E

Netherlands Antilles
12 15 N, 68 45 W

New Caledonia
21 30 S, 165 30 E
New Zealand
41 00 S, 174 00 E

Nicaragua
13 00 N, 85 00 W

Niger
16 00 N, 8 00 E

Nigeria
10 00 N, 8 00 E

Niue
19 02 S, 169 52 W

Norfolk Island
29 02 S, 167 57 E

Northern Mariana Islands

15 12 N, 145 45 E

Norway
62 00 N, 10 00 E

Oman
21 00 N, 57 00 E

Pacific Ocean
0 00 N, 160 00 W

Pakistan
30 00 N, 70 00 E

Palau
7 30 N, 134 30 E

Palmyra Atoll
5 52 N, 162 04 W

Panama
 9 00 N, 80 00 W

Papua New Guinea

6 00 S, 147 00 E

Paracel Islands
16 30 N, 112 00 E

Paraguay
23 00 S, 58 00 W

Peru
10 00 S, 76 00 W

Philippines
13 00 N, 122 00 E

Pitcairn Islands
25 04 S, 130 06 W

Poland
52 00 N, 20 00 E

Portugal
39 30 N, 8 00 W

Puerto Rico
18 15 N, 66 30 W

Qatar
25 30 N, 51 15 E

Romania
46 00 N, 25 00 E

Russia
60 00 N, 100 00 E

Rwanda
2 00 S, 30 00 E
Saint Helena
Saint Helena: 15 57 S, 5 42 W
Ascension Island: 7 57 S, 14 22 W
Tristan da Cunha island group: 37 15 S, 12 30 W

Saint Kitts and Nevis

17 20 N, 62 45 W

Saint Lucia
13 53 N, 60 58 W

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

46 50 N, 56 20 W

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

13 15 N, 61 12 W

Samoa
13 35 S, 172 20 W

San Marino
43 46 N, 12 25 E

Sao Tome and Principe

1 00 N, 7 00 E

Saudi Arabia
25 00 N, 45 00 E

Senegal
14 00 N, 14 00 W

Serbia
44 00 N, 21 00 E

Seychelles
4 35 S, 55 40 E

Sierra Leone
8 30 N, 11 30 W
Singapore
1 22 N, 103 48 E

Slovakia
48 40 N, 19 30 E

Slovenia
46 07 N, 14 49 E

Solomon Islands
8 00 S, 159 00 E

Somalia
10 00 N, 49 00 E

South Africa
29 00 S, 24 00 E

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

54 30 S, 37 00 W

Southern Ocean
60 00 S, 90 00 E (nominally), but the Southern Ocean
has the unique distinction of being a large circumpolar body of
water totally encircling the continent of Antarctica; this ring of
water lies between 60 degrees south latitude and the coast of
Antarctica and encompasses 360 degrees of longitude

Spain
40 00 N, 4 00 W

Spratly Islands
8 38 N, 111 55 E

Sri Lanka
7 00 N, 81 00 E

Sudan
15 00 N, 30 00 E
Suriname
4 00 N, 56 00 W

Svalbard
78 00 N, 20 00 E

Swaziland
26 30 S, 31 30 E

Sweden
62 00 N, 15 00 E

Switzerland
47 00 N, 8 00 E

Syria
35 00 N, 38 00 E

Taiwan
23 30 N, 121 00 E

Tajikistan
39 00 N, 71 00 E

Tanzania
6 00 S, 35 00 E

Thailand
15 00 N, 100 00 E

Togo
8 00 N, 1 10 E

Tokelau
9 00 S, 172 00 W

Tonga
20 00 S, 175 00 W

Trinidad and Tobago

 11 00 N, 61 00 W

Tromelin Island
15 52 S, 54 25 E

Tunisia
34 00 N, 9 00 E

Turkey
39 00 N, 35 00 E

Turkmenistan
40 00 N, 60 00 E

Turks and Caicos Islands

21 45 N, 71 35 W

Tuvalu
8 00 S, 178 00 E

Uganda
1 00 N, 32 00 E

Ukraine
49 00 N, 32 00 E

United Arab Emirates

24 00 N, 54 00 E

United Kingdom
54 00 N, 2 00 W

United States
38 00 N, 97 00 W

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges

Baker Island: 0 13 N,
176 28 W
Howland Island: 0 48 N, 176 38 W
Jarvis Island: 0 23 S, 160 01 W
 Johnston Atoll: 16 45 N, 169 31 W
Kingman Reef: 6 23 N, 162 25 W
Midway Islands: 28 12 N, 177 22 W
Palmyra Atoll: 5 53 N, 162 05 W

Uruguay
33 00 S, 56 00 W

Uzbekistan
41 00 N, 64 00 E

Vanuatu
16 00 S, 167 00 E

Venezuela
8 00 N, 66 00 W

Vietnam
16 00 N, 106 00 E

Virgin Islands
18 20 N, 64 50 W

Wake Island
19 17 N, 166 39 E

Wallis and Futuna

13 18 S, 176 12 W

West Bank
32 00 N, 35 15 E

Western Sahara
24 30 N, 13 00 W

Yemen
15 00 N, 48 00 E

Zambia
15 00 S, 30 00 E
Zimbabwe
20 00 S, 30 00 E

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2012 GDP - composition by sector (%)

Afghanistan agriculture: 38% industry: 24% services: 38% note: data exclude
opium production (2005 est.)

Albania
agriculture: 23.3%
industry: 18.8%
services: 57.9% (2006 est.)

Algeria
agriculture: 9.4%
industry: 58.1%
services: 32.5% (2006 est.)

American Samoa
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

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

Angola
agriculture: 9.6%
industry: 65.8%
 services: 24.6% (2005 est.)

Anguilla
agriculture: 4%
industry: 18%
services: 78% (2002 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda

agriculture: 3.8%
industry: 22%
services: 74.3% (2002 est.)

Argentina
agriculture: 9.5%
industry: 35.8%
services: 54.7% (2005 est.)

Armenia
agriculture: 23.9%
industry: 32.8%
services: 43.3% (2006 est.)

Aruba
agriculture: 0.4%
industry: 33.3%
services: 66.3%

Australia
agriculture: 3.8%
industry: 26.2%
services: 70% (2005 est.)

Austria
agriculture: 1.8%
industry: 30.4%
services: 67.8% (2005 est.)

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

Bahamas, The
agriculture: 3%
industry: 7%
services: 90% (2001 est.)

Bahrain
agriculture: 0.5%
industry: 38.7%
services: 60.8% (2005 est.)

Bangladesh
agriculture: 19.9%
industry: 20.6%
services: 59.5% (2006 est.)

Barbados
agriculture: 6%
industry: 16%
services: 78% (2000 est.)

Belarus
agriculture: 9.3%
industry: 31.6%
services: 59.1% (2005 est.)

Belgium
agriculture: 1%
industry: 24%
services: 74.9% (2005 est.)

Belize
agriculture: 22.5%
industry: 14.8%
services: 62.6% (2006 est.)

Benin
agriculture: 32.8%
industry: 13.7%
 services: 53.5% (2006 est.)

Bermuda
agriculture: 1%
industry: 10%
services: 89% (2002 est.)

Bhutan
agriculture: 25.8%
industry: 37.9%
services: 36.3% (2004 est.)

Bolivia
agriculture: 12.8%
industry: 36.1%
services: 51.2% (2006 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

agriculture: 14.2%
industry: 30.8%
services: 55% (2002)

Botswana
agriculture: 2.4%
industry: 46.9% (including 36% mining)
services: 50.7% (2003 est.)

Brazil
agriculture: 8%
industry: 38%
services: 54% (2006 est.)

British Virgin Islands

agriculture: 1.8%
industry: 6.2%
services: 92% (1996 est.)

Brunei
agriculture: 3.6%
industry: 56.1%
 services: 40.3% (2004 est.)

Bulgaria
agriculture: 8.9%
industry: 30.1%
services: 61% (2006 est.)

Burkina Faso
agriculture: 32.6%
industry: 19.7%
services: 47.7% (2006 est.)

Burma
agriculture: 54.7%
industry: 10.6%
services: 34.7% (2006 est.)

Burundi
agriculture: 44.9%
industry: 20.9%
services: 34.1% (2006 est.)

Cambodia
agriculture: 35%
industry: 30%
services: 35% (2004)

Cameroon
agriculture: 45.2%
industry: 16.1%
services: 38.7% (2006 est.)

Canada
agriculture: 2.3%
industry: 29.2%
services: 68.5% (2006 est.)

Cape Verde
agriculture: 12.1%
industry: 21.9%
 services: 66% (2004 est.)

Cayman Islands
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 3.2%
services: 95.4% (1994 est.)

Central African Republic

agriculture: 55%
industry: 20%
services: 25% (2001 est.)

Chad
agriculture: 32.5%
industry: 26.6%
services: 40.8% (2006 est.)

Chile
agriculture: 5.9%
industry: 49.3%
services: 44.7% (2006 est.)

China
agriculture: 11.9%
industry: 48.1%
services: 40%
note: industry includes construction (2006 est.)

Colombia
agriculture: 12%
industry: 35.2%
services: 52.7% (2006 est.)

Comoros
agriculture: 40%
industry: 4%
services: 56% (2001 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

agriculture: 55%
 industry: 11%
services: 34% (2000 est.)

Congo, Republic of the

agriculture: 6.2%
industry: 55.3%
services: 38.5% (2006 est.)

Cook Islands
agriculture: 15.1%
industry: 9.6%
services: 75.3% (2004)

Costa Rica
agriculture: 8.6%
industry: 31%
services: 60.4% (2006 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
agriculture: 27%
industry: 18.5%
services: 54.5% (2006 est.)

Croatia
agriculture: 6.8%
industry: 30.9%
services: 62.3% (2006 est.)

Cuba
agriculture: 5.1%
industry: 27.2%
services: 67.6% (2006 est.)

Cyprus
Republic of Cyprus: agriculture 3.7%; industry 19.6%;
services 76.8% (2005 est.)
north Cyprus: agriculture 10.6%; industry 20.5%; services 68.9%
(2003 est.)

Czech Republic
 agriculture: 2.8%
industry: 37.8%
services: 59.4% (2006 est.)

Denmark
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 24.6%
services: 74% (2006 est.)

Djibouti
agriculture: 17.9%
industry: 22.5%
services: 59.6% (2003 est.)

Dominica
agriculture: 17.7%
industry: 32.8%
services: 49.5% (2004 est.)

Dominican Republic
agriculture: 11.2%
industry: 30.6%
services: 58.2% (2005 est.)

East Timor
agriculture: 8.5%
industry: 23.1%
services: 68.4% (2004)

Ecuador
agriculture: 6.3%
industry: 33.5%
services: 60.2% (2006 est.)

Egypt
agriculture: 14.7%
industry: 35.5%
services: 49.8% (2006 est.)

El Salvador
 agriculture: 9.7%
industry: 29.6%
services: 60.7% (2006 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
agriculture: 2.8%
industry: 92.6%
services: 4.5% (2006 est.)

Eritrea
agriculture: 9.9%
industry: 25.4%
services: 64.6% (2006 est.)

Estonia
agriculture: 3.4%
industry: 28%
services: 68.6% (2006 est.)

Ethiopia
agriculture: 49.2%
industry: 9.1%
services: 41.7% (2006 est.)

European Union
agriculture: 2.1%
industry: 27.3%
services: 70.5% (2006 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

agriculture: 95%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Faroe Islands
agriculture: 27%
industry: 11%
services: 62% (1999)

Fiji
 agriculture: 8.9%
industry: 13.5%
services: 77.6% (2004 est.)

Finland
agriculture: 2.7%
industry: 30.3%
services: 67% (2006 est.)

France
agriculture: 2.2%
industry: 20.6%
services: 77.2% (2006 est.)

French Polynesia
agriculture: 3.1%
industry: 19%
services: 76.9% (2005)

Gabon
agriculture: 5.9%
industry: 59.7%
services: 34.4% (2006 est.)

Gambia, The
agriculture: 30.5%
industry: 13.9%
services: 55.6% (2006 est.)

Gaza Strip
agriculture: 8%
industry: 18.2%
services: 73.9% (includes West Bank) (2005 est.)

Georgia
agriculture: 17.7%
industry: 27.5%
services: 54.8% (2006 est.)

Germany
 agriculture: 0.9%
industry: 29.1%
services: 70% (2006 est.)

Ghana
agriculture: 37.3%
industry: 25.3%
services: 37.5% (2006 est.)

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

Greece
agriculture: 5.1%
industry: 20.6%
services: 74.4% (2006 est.)

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

Grenada
agriculture: 5.4%
industry: 18%
services: 76.6% (2003)

Guam
agriculture: NA
industry: NA
services: NA

Guatemala
agriculture: 22.5%
industry: 18.8%
services: 58.7% (2006 est.)

Guernsey
 agriculture: 3%
industry: 10%
services: 87% (2000)

Guinea
agriculture: 23.7%
industry: 36.1%
services: 40.2% (2006 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
agriculture: 62%
industry: 12%
services: 26% (1999 est.)

Guyana
agriculture: 35.5%
industry: 19.3%
services: 45.2% (2006 est.)

Haiti
agriculture: 28%
industry: 20%
services: 52% (2004 est.)

Honduras
agriculture: 13.6%
industry: 31.4%
services: 55% (2006 est.)

Hong Kong
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 9%
services: 90.9% (2006 est.)

Hungary
agriculture: 3.1%
industry: 32.1%
services: 64.8% (2006 est.)

Iceland
 agriculture: 8.4%
industry: 15.6%
services: 76% (2006 est.)

India
agriculture: 19.9%
industry: 19.3%
services: 60.7% (2005 est.)

Indonesia
agriculture: 13.1%
industry: 46%
services: 41% (2006 est.)

Iran
agriculture: 11.2%
industry: 41.7%
services: 47.1% (2006 est.)

Iraq
agriculture: 7.3%
industry: 66.6%
services: 26.1% (2004 est.)

Ireland
agriculture: 5%
industry: 46%
services: 49% (2002 est.)

Isle of Man
agriculture: 1%
industry: 13%
services: 86% (2000 est.)

Israel
agriculture: 2.6%
industry: 30.8%
services: 66.6% (2006 est.)

Italy
 agriculture: 2%
industry: 29.1%
services: 69% (2006 est.)

Jamaica
agriculture: 5.3%
industry: 33.9%
services: 60.8% (2006 est.)

Japan
agriculture: 1.6%
industry: 25.3%
services: 73.1% (2006 est.)

Jersey
agriculture: 5%
industry: 2%
services: 93% (1996)

Jordan
agriculture: 3.6%
industry: 30.5%
services: 65.9% (2006 est.)

Kazakhstan
agriculture: 6.3%
industry: 41.1%
services: 52.7% (2006 est.)

Kenya
agriculture: 16.3%
industry: 18.8%
services: 65% (2004 est.)

Kiribati
agriculture: 8.9%
industry: 24.2%
services: 66.8% (2004)

Korea, North
 agriculture: 30%
industry: 34%
services: 36% (2002 est.)

Korea, South
agriculture: 3.3%
industry: 40.7%
services: 56% (2006 est.)

Kuwait
agriculture: 0.4%
industry: 48.3%
services: 51.3% (2006 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
agriculture: 34.5%
industry: 19.5%
services: 46.1% (2006 est.)

Laos
agriculture: 43.4%
industry: 30.6%
services: 26% (2006 est.)

Latvia
agriculture: 3.7%
industry: 26.3%
services: 70% (2006 est.)

Lebanon
agriculture: 7%
industry: 21%
services: 72% (2005)

Lesotho
agriculture: 16.1%
industry: 43%
services: 40.9% (2006 est.)

Liberia
 agriculture: 76.9%
industry: 5.4%
services: 17.7% (2002 est.)

Libya
agriculture: 7.3%
industry: 51.3%
services: 41.4% (2006 est.)

Liechtenstein
agriculture: 6%
industry: 39%
services: 55% (2001)

Lithuania
agriculture: 5.5%
industry: 33.3%
services: 61.2% (2006 est.)

Luxembourg
agriculture: 1%
industry: 13%
services: 86% (2005 est.)

Macau
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 7.2%
services: 92.7% (2002 est.)

Macedonia
agriculture: 13%
industry: 27.7%
services: 59.3% (2006 est.)

Madagascar
agriculture: 26.9%
industry: 16.5%
services: 56.6% (2006 est.)

Malawi
 agriculture: 35.4%
industry: 17.6%
services: 47% (2006 est.)

Malaysia
agriculture: 8.3%
industry: 48.1%
services: 43.6% (2006 est.)

Maldives
agriculture: 20%
industry: 18%
services: 62% (2000 est.)

Mali
agriculture: 45%
industry: 17%
services: 38% (2001 est.)

Malta
agriculture: 3%
industry: 23%
services: 74% (2003 est.)

Marshall Islands
agriculture: 31.7%
industry: 14.9%
services: 53.4% (2004 est.)

Mauritania
agriculture: 25%
industry: 29%
services: 46% (2001 est.)

Mauritius
agriculture: 5.1%
industry: 25.2%
services: 69.7% (2006 est.)

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

Mexico
agriculture: 3.9%
industry: 25.7%
services: 70.5% (2006 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of

agriculture: 28.9%
industry: 15.2%
services: 55.9% (2004 est.)

Moldova
agriculture: 21.5%
industry: 22%
services: 56.5% (2006 est.)

Monaco
agriculture: 0%
industry: 4.9%
services: 95.1% (2005)

Mongolia
agriculture: 20.6%
industry: 21.4%
services: 58% (2003 est.)

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

Montserrat
agriculture: 1.2%
industry: 23.1%
services: 75.7% (1999 est.)

Morocco
 agriculture: 13.3%
industry: 31.2%
services: 55.5% (2006 est.)

Mozambique
agriculture: 21.1%
industry: 30.9%
services: 48% (2006 est.)

Namibia
agriculture: 11.8%
industry: 30.2%
services: 58.1% (2006 est.)

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

Nepal
agriculture: 38%
industry: 21%
services: 41% (2005 est.)

Netherlands
agriculture: 2.1%
industry: 23.9%
services: 73.9% (2006 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
agriculture: 1%
industry: 15%
services: 84% (2000 est.)

New Caledonia
agriculture: 15%
industry: 8.8%
services: 76.2% (2003)

New Zealand
 agriculture: 4.3%
industry: 26.9%
services: 68.8% (2006 est.)

Nicaragua
agriculture: 17.3%
industry: 25.8%
services: 56.8% (2006 est.)

Niger
agriculture: 39%
industry: 17%
services: 44% (2001)

Nigeria
agriculture: 17.3%
industry: 53.2%
services: 29.5% (2006 est.)

Niue
agriculture: 23.5%
industry: 26.9%
services: 49.5% (2003)

Northern Mariana Islands

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

Norway
agriculture: 2.3%
industry: 41.4%
services: 56.3% (2006 est.)

Oman
agriculture: 2.6%
industry: 38.8%
services: 58.7% (2006 est.)

Pakistan
 agriculture: 22%
industry: 26%
services: 52% (2006 est.)

Palau
agriculture: 6.2%
industry: 12%
services: 81.8%

Panama
agriculture: 7.2%
industry: 16.4%
services: 76.4% (2006 est.)

Papua New Guinea

agriculture: 35.7%
industry: 37.1%
services: 27.2% (2006 est.)

Paraguay
agriculture: 22.4%
industry: 18.4%
services: 59.2% (2006 est.)

Peru
agriculture: 8.5%
industry: 26.4%
services: 53.1% (2006 est.)

Philippines
agriculture: 14.3%
industry: 32.1%
services: 53.7% (2006 est.)

Poland
agriculture: 4.8%
industry: 31.2%
services: 64% (2006 est.)

Portugal
 agriculture: 6.6%
industry: 28.6%
services: 64.9% (2006 est.)

Puerto Rico
agriculture: 1%
industry: 45%
services: 54% (2002 est.)

Qatar
agriculture: 0.1%
industry: 77.2%
services: 22.6% (2006 est.)

Romania
agriculture: 10.1%
industry: 34.7%
services: 55.2% (2006 est.)

Russia
agriculture: 5.3%
industry: 36.6%
services: 58.2% (2006 est.)

Rwanda
agriculture: 39.4%
industry: 23.3%
services: 37.3% (2006 est.)

Saint Helena
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Saint Kitts and Nevis

agriculture: 3.5%
industry: 25.8%
services: 70.7% (2001)

Saint Lucia
 agriculture: 5%
industry: 15%
services: 80% (2005 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

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

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

agriculture: 10%
industry: 26%
services: 64% (2001 est.)

Samoa
agriculture: 11.4%
industry: 58.4%
services: 30.2% (2004 est.)

San Marino
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Sao Tome and Principe

agriculture: 16.6%
industry: 15.3%
services: 68.1% (2006 est.)

Saudi Arabia
agriculture: 3.3%
industry: 67%
services: 29.8% (2006 est.)

Senegal
agriculture: 18.3%
industry: 19.2%
services: 62.5% (2006 est.)

Serbia
 agriculture: 16.6%
industry: 25.5%
services: 57.9% (2005 est.)

Seychelles
agriculture: 3.2%
industry: 30.1%
services: 66.7% (2006 est.)

Sierra Leone
agriculture: 49%
industry: 31%
services: 21% (2001 est.)

Singapore
agriculture: 0%
industry: 33.8%
services: 66.2% (2006 est.)

Slovakia
agriculture: 3.8%
industry: 31.4%
services: 64.8% (2006 est.)

Slovenia
agriculture: 2.3%
industry: 34.7%
services: 62.9% (2006 est.)

Solomon Islands
agriculture: 42%
industry: 11%
services: 47% (2000 est.)

Somalia
agriculture: 65%
industry: 10%
services: 25% (2000 est.)

South Africa
 agriculture: 2.6%
industry: 30.3%
services: 67.1% (2006 est.)

Spain
agriculture: 3.9%
industry: 29.4%
services: 66.7% (2006 est.)

Sri Lanka
agriculture: 17.3%
industry: 27.3%
services: 55.3% (2006 est.)

Sudan
agriculture: 35.5%
industry: 24.8%
services: 39.7% (2006 est.)

Suriname
agriculture: 13%
industry: 22%
services: 65% (2001 est.)

Swaziland
agriculture: 11.8%
industry: 51.4%
services: 36.8% (2006 est.)

Sweden
agriculture: 1.1%
industry: 28.1%
services: 70.9% (2006 est.)

Switzerland
agriculture: 1.5%
industry: 34%
services: 64.5% (2003 est.)

Syria
 agriculture: 25.5%
industry: 22.1%
services: 52.4% (2006 est.)

Taiwan
agriculture: 1.5%
industry: 25.2%
services: 73.3% (2006 est.)

Tajikistan
agriculture: 22.7%
industry: 28.5%
services: 48.8% (2006 est.)

Tanzania
agriculture: 43.3%
industry: 17.7%
services: 39% (2006 est.)

Thailand
agriculture: 10%
industry: 44.9%
services: 45.2% (2006 est.)

Togo
agriculture: 39.5%
industry: 20.4%
services: 40.1% (2003 est.)

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

Tonga
agriculture: 23%
industry: 27%
services: 50% (FY03/04 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago

 agriculture: 0.7%
industry: 57.7%
services: 41.5% (2006 est.)

Tunisia
agriculture: 12.8%
industry: 31%
services: 56.2% (2006 est.)

Turkey
agriculture: 11.2%
industry: 29.4%
services: 59.4% (2006 est.)

Turkmenistan
agriculture: 24.4%
industry: 33.9%
services: 41.7% (2006 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands

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

Tuvalu
agriculture: 16.6%
industry: 27.2%
services: 56.2%

Uganda
agriculture: 29.4%
industry: 22.1%
services: 48.5% (2006 est.)

Ukraine
agriculture: 17.5%
industry: 42.7%
services: 39.8% (2006 est.)

United Arab Emirates

 agriculture: 2.3%
industry: 61.9%
services: 35.8% (2006 est.)

United Kingdom
agriculture: 1%
industry: 25.6%
services: 73.4% (2006 est.)

United States
agriculture: 0.9%
industry: 20.4%
services: 78.6% (2006 est.)

Uruguay
agriculture: 9.3%
industry: 33.7%
services: 57% (2006 est.)

Uzbekistan
agriculture: 31.1%
industry: 25.7%
services: 43.2% (2006 est.)

Vanuatu
agriculture: 26%
industry: 12%
services: 62% (2000 est.)

Venezuela
agriculture: 3.7%
industry: 41%
services: 55.3% (2006 est.)

Vietnam
agriculture: 20.1%
industry: 41.8%
services: 38.1% (2006 est.)

Virgin Islands
 agriculture: 1%
industry: 19%
services: 80% (2003 est.)

Wallis and Futuna

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

West Bank agriculture: 8% industry: 18.2% services: 73.9% note: includes Gaza
Strip (2005 est.)

Western Sahara
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: 40%

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

Yemen
agriculture: 12.5%
industry: 43.8%
services: 43.7% (2006 est.)

Zambia
agriculture: 19.9%
industry: 28.9%
services: 51.2% (2006 est.)

Zimbabwe
agriculture: 17.7%
industry: 22.9%
services: 59.4% (2006 est.)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2013 Radio broadcast stations

Afghanistan
AM 21, FM 5, shortwave 1 (broadcasts in Pashtu, Afghan
Persian (Dari), Urdu, and English) (2006)

Akrotiri
FM 1
note: British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides Radio 1
and Radio 2 service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia (2006)

Albania
AM 13, FM 46 (3 national, 62 local), shortwave 1 (2005)

Algeria
AM 25, FM 1, shortwave 8 (1999)

American Samoa
AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2006)

Andorra
AM 0, FM 15, shortwave 0 (1998)

Angola
AM 21, FM 6, shortwave 7 (2000)

Anguilla
AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2004)

Antarctica
AM NA, FM 2, shortwave 1, note - information for US bases
only (2002)

Antigua and Barbuda

AM 4, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)
Argentina
AM 260 (including 10 inactive stations), FM NA (probably
more than 1,000, mostly unlicensed), shortwave 6 (1998)

Armenia
AM 9, FM 16, shortwave 1 (2006)

Aruba
AM 2, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2004)

Australia
AM 262, FM 345, shortwave 1 (1998)

Austria
AM 2, FM 65 (plus several hundred repeaters), shortwave 1
(2001)

Azerbaijan
AM 10, FM 17, shortwave 1 (1998)

Bahamas, The
AM 3, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2006)

Bahrain
AM 2, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)

Bangladesh
AM 15, FM 13, shortwave 2 (2006)

Barbados
AM 2, FM 6, shortwave 0 (2004)

Belarus
AM 28, FM 37, shortwave 11 (1998)

Belgium
FM 79, AM 7, shortwave 1 (1998)

Belize
AM 1, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)
Benin
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000)

Bermuda
AM 5, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)

Bhutan
AM 0, FM 9, shortwave 1 (2006)

Bolivia
AM 171, FM 73, shortwave 77 (1999)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

AM 8, FM 16, shortwave 1 (1998)

Botswana
AM 8, FM 13, shortwave 4 (2001)

Brazil
AM 1,365, FM 296, shortwave 161 (of which 91 are collocated
with AM stations) (1999)

British Indian Ocean Territory

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

British Virgin Islands

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2004)

Brunei
AM 1, FM 2 (transmitting on 18 different frequencies),
shortwave 0
note: British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) station transmits
two FM signals with English and Nepali service (2006)

Bulgaria
AM 31, FM 63, shortwave 2 (2001)

Burkina Faso
AM 3, FM 17, shortwave 3 (2002)
Burma
AM 1, FM 1 (2004)

Burundi
AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)

Cambodia
AM 2, FM 17 (2003)

Cameroon
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (2002)

Canada
AM 245, FM 582, shortwave 6 (2004)

Cape Verde
AM 0, FM 22 (and 12 low power repeaters), shortwave 0
(2002)

Cayman Islands
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2004)

Central African Republic

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2002)

Chad
AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 5 (2002)

Chile
AM 180 (eight inactive), FM 64, shortwave 17 (one inactive)
(1998)

China
AM 369, FM 259, shortwave 45 (1998)

Christmas Island
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2006)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2004)
Colombia
AM 454, FM 34, shortwave 27 (1999)

Comoros
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2001)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 2 (2001)

Congo, Republic of the

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 3 (2001)

Cook Islands
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)

Costa Rica
AM 65, FM 51, shortwave 19 (2002)

Cote d'Ivoire
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 3 (1998)

Croatia
AM 16, FM 98, shortwave 5 (1999)

Cuba
AM 169, FM 55, shortwave 1 (1998)

Cyprus
area under government control: AM 5, FM 76, shortwave 0
area administered by Turkish Cyriots: AM 1, FM 20, shortwave 1 (2004)

Czech Republic
AM 31, FM 304, shortwave 17 (2000)

Denmark
AM 2, FM 355, shortwave 0 (1998)

Dhekelia
FM 1 (located in Akrotiri)
note: British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides Radio 1
 and Radio 2 service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia (2006)

Djibouti
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)

Dominica
AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 0 (2004)

Dominican Republic
AM 120, FM 56, shortwave 4 (1998)

East Timor
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA

Ecuador
AM 392, FM 35, shortwave 29 (2001)

Egypt
AM 42 (plus 15 repeaters), FM 14, shortwave 3 (1999)

El Salvador
AM 61 (plus 24 repeaters), FM 30, shortwave 0 (1998)

Equatorial Guinea
AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 5 (2002)

Eritrea
AM 2, FM NA, shortwave 2 (2000)

Estonia
AM 0, FM 98, shortwave 0 (2001)

Ethiopia
AM 8, FM 0, shortwave 1 (2001)

European Union
AM 930, FM 13,655, shortwave 71 (1998); note - sum of
individual country radio broadcast stations; there is also a
European-wide station (Euroradio)
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
AM 1, FM 7, shortwave 0
note: British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides Radio 1
(FM) and Radio 2 (AM) service (2006)

Faroe Islands
AM 1, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)

Fiji
AM 13, FM 40, shortwave 0 (1998)

Finland
AM 2, FM 186, shortwave 1 (1998)

France
AM 41, FM about 3,500 (this figure is an approximation and
includes many repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)

French Polynesia
AM 2, FM 14, shortwave 2 (1998)

Gabon
AM 6, FM 7 (and 11 repeaters), shortwave 4 (2001)

Gambia, The
AM 3, FM 2, shortwave 0 (2001)

Gaza Strip
AM 0, FM 8, shortwave 0 (2005)

Georgia
AM 7, FM 12, shortwave 4 (1998)

Germany
AM 51, FM 787, shortwave 4 (1998)

Ghana
AM 0, FM 49, shortwave 3 (2001)

Gibraltar
 AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)

Greece
AM 26, FM 88, shortwave 4 (1998)

Greenland
AM 5, FM 12, shortwave 0 (1998)

Grenada
AM 2, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)

Guam
AM 3, FM 11, shortwave 2 (2006)

Guatemala
AM 130, FM 487, shortwave 15 (2000)

Guernsey
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Guinea
AM 4 (one station is inactive), FM 1 (plus 7 repeaters),
shortwave 3 (2001)

Guinea-Bissau
AM 1 (transmitter out of service), FM 4, shortwave 0
(2002)

Guyana
AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 1 (1998)

Haiti
AM 41, FM 26, shortwave 0 (1999)

Holy See (Vatican City)

AM 4, FM 3, shortwave 2 (2004)

Honduras
AM 241, FM 53, shortwave 12 (1998)
Hong Kong
AM 5, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2004)

Hungary
AM 17, FM 57, shortwave 3 (1998)

Iceland
AM 3, FM about 70 (including repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998)

India
AM 153, FM 91, shortwave 68 (1998)

Indonesia
AM 678, FM 43, shortwave 82 (1998)

Iran
AM 72, FM 5, shortwave 5 (1998)

Iraq
after 17 months of unregulated media growth, there are
approximately 80 radio stations on the air inside Iraq (2004)

Ireland
AM 9, FM 106, shortwave 0 (1998)

Isle of Man
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Israel
AM 23, FM 15, shortwave 2 (1998)

Italy
AM about 100, FM about 4,600, shortwave 9 (1998)

Jamaica
AM 10, FM 13, shortwave 0 (1998)

Jan Mayen
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
note: there is one radio and meteorological station (1998)
Japan
AM 215 plus 370 repeaters, FM 89 plus 485 repeaters, shortwave
21 (2001)

Jersey
AM NA, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Jordan
AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1999)

Kazakhstan
AM 60, FM 17, shortwave 9 (1998)

Kenya
AM 24, FM 18, shortwave 6 (2001)

Kiribati
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1
note: the shortwave station may be inactive (2002)

Korea, North
AM 17 (including 11 stations of Korean Central
Broadcasting Station; North Korea has a "national intercom" cable
radio station wired throughout the country that is a significant
source of information for the average North Korean citizen; it is
wired into most residences and workplaces and carries news and
commentary), FM 14, shortwave 14 (2006)

Korea, South
AM 61, FM 150, shortwave 2 (2005)

Kuwait
AM 6, FM 11, shortwave 1 (1998)

Kyrgyzstan
AM 12 (plus 10 repeater stations), FM 14, shortwave 2
(1998)

Laos
AM 7, FM 14, shortwave 2 (2007)
Latvia
AM 8, FM 56, shortwave 1 (1998)

Lebanon
AM 20, FM 22, shortwave 4 (1998)

Lesotho
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)

Liberia
AM 0, FM 7, shortwave 2 (2001)

Libya
AM 16, FM 3, shortwave 3 (2002)

Liechtenstein
AM 0, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)

Lithuania
AM 29, FM 142, shortwave 1 (2001)

Luxembourg
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)

Macau
AM 0, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

Macedonia
AM 29, FM 20, shortwave 0 (1998)

Madagascar
AM 2 (plus a number of repeater stations), FM 9,
shortwave 6 (2001)

Malawi
AM 9, FM 5 (plus 15 repeater stations), shortwave 2 (plus a
third station held in standby status) (2001)

Malaysia
AM 35, FM 391, shortwave 15 (2001)
Maldives
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)

Mali
AM 1, FM 28, shortwave 1
note: the shortwave station in Bamako has seven frequencies and five
transmitters and relays broadcasts for China Radio International
(2001)

Malta
AM 1, FM 18, shortwave 6 (1999)

Marshall Islands
AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0
note: additionally, the US Armed Forces Radio and Television
Services (Central Pacific Network) operate one FM and one AM station
on Kwajalein (2005)

Mauritania
AM 1, FM 14, shortwave 1 (2001)

Mauritius
AM 4, FM 9, shortwave 0 (2002)

Mayotte
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2001)

Mexico
AM 850, FM 545, shortwave 15 (2003)

Micronesia, Federated States of

AM 5, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)

Moldova
AM 2, FM 29 (2004)

Monaco
AM 1, FM NA, shortwave 8 (1998)

Mongolia
 AM 7, FM 62, shortwave 3 (2004)

Montenegro
31 (2004)

Montserrat
AM 1, FM 2, shortwave 0 (1998)

Morocco
AM 27, FM 25, shortwave 6 (1998)

Mozambique
AM 13, FM 17, shortwave 11 (2001)

Namibia
AM 2, FM 39, shortwave 4 (2001)

Nauru
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)

Nepal
AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (January 2000)

Netherlands
AM 4, FM 246, shortwave 3 (2004)
Netherlands Antilles
AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 0 (2004)

New Caledonia
AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 0 (1998)

New Zealand
AM 124, FM 290, shortwave 4 (1998)

Nicaragua
AM 63, FM 32, shortwave 1 (1998)

Niger
AM 5, FM 6, shortwave 4 (2001)

Nigeria
AM 83, FM 36, shortwave 11 (2001)

Niue
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (1998)

Norfolk Island
AM 1, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2005)

Northern Mariana Islands

AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 1 (2006)

Norway
AM 5, FM at least 650, shortwave 1 (1998)

Oman
AM 3, FM 9, shortwave 2 (1999)

Pakistan
AM 27, FM 1, shortwave 21 (1998)

Palau
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2002)
Panama
AM 101, FM 134, shortwave 0 (1998)

Papua New Guinea

AM 8, FM 19, shortwave 28 (1998)

Paraguay
AM 46, FM 27, shortwave 6 (three inactive) (1998)

Peru
AM 472, FM 198, shortwave 189 (1999)

Philippines
AM 375, FM 596, shortwave 4
note: each shortwave station operates on multiple frequencies in the
language of the target audience (2006)

Pitcairn Islands
AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0, note - 15 Ham radio
operators (VP6) (2004)

Poland
AM 14, FM 777, shortwave 1 (1998)

Portugal
AM 47, FM 172 (many are repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)

Puerto Rico
AM 74, FM 53, shortwave 0 (2006)

Qatar
AM 6, FM 5, shortwave 1 (1998)

Romania
AM 40, FM 202, shortwave 3 (1998)

Russia
AM 323, FM 1,500 est., shortwave 62 (2004)

Rwanda
 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)

Saint Helena
Saint Helena: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0
Ascension: AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (2005)

Saint Kitts and Nevis

AM 3, FM 3, shortwave 0 (2004)

Saint Lucia
AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2004)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 0 (1998)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0 (2004)

Samoa
AM 2, FM 5, shortwave 0 (2004)

San Marino
AM 0, FM 3, shortwave 0 (1998)

Sao Tome and Principe

AM 1, FM 5, shortwave 1 (2002)

Saudi Arabia
AM 43, FM 31, shortwave 2 (1998)

Senegal
AM 8, FM 20, shortwave 1 (2001)

Serbia
153 (2001)

Seychelles
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 2 (1998)
Sierra Leone
AM 1, FM 9, shortwave 1 (1999)

Singapore
AM 0, FM 17, shortwave 2 (2003)

Slovakia
AM 15, FM 78, shortwave 2 (1998)

Slovenia
AM 10, FM 230, shortwave 0 (2006)

Solomon Islands
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 1 (2004)

Somalia
AM 0, FM 11, shortwave 1 in Mogadishu; 1 FM in Puntland, 1
FM in Somaliland (2001)

South Africa
AM 14, FM 347 (plus 243 repeaters), shortwave 1 (1998)

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

0 (2003)

Spain
AM 208, FM 715, shortwave 1 (1998)

Sri Lanka
AM, FM, Shortwave combined 34 (2006)

Sudan
AM 12, FM 1, shortwave 1 (1998)

Suriname
AM 4, FM 13, shortwave 1 (1998)

Svalbard
AM 1, FM 1 (plus 2 repeaters), shortwave 0 (1998)
Swaziland
AM 3, FM 2 plus 4 repeaters, shortwave 3 (2004)

Sweden
AM 1, FM 265, shortwave 1 (1998)

Switzerland
AM 4, FM 113 (plus many low power stations), shortwave 2
(1998)

Syria
AM 14, FM 2, shortwave 1 (1998)

Taiwan
AM 218, FM 333, shortwave 50 (1999)

Tajikistan
AM 8, FM 10, shortwave 2 (2002)

Tanzania
AM 12, FM 11, shortwave 2 (1998)

Thailand
AM 204, FM 334, shortwave 6 (1999)

Togo
AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (1998)

Tokelau
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA
note: 1 radio station provides service to all islands (2002)

Tonga
AM 1, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2004)

Trinidad and Tobago

AM 4, FM 18, shortwave 0 (2004)

Tunisia
AM 7, FM 20, shortwave 2 (1998)
Turkey
AM 16, FM 107, shortwave 6 (2001)

Turkmenistan
AM 16, FM 8, shortwave 2 (1998)

Turks and Caicos Islands

AM 2, FM 7, shortwave 0 (2004)

Tuvalu
AM 1, FM 1, shortwave 0 (2004)

Uganda
AM 7, FM 33, shortwave 2 (2001)

Ukraine
AM, FM, shortwave combined 524 (2006)

United Arab Emirates

AM 13, FM 8, shortwave 2 (2004)

United Kingdom
AM 219, FM 431, shortwave 3 (1998)

United States
AM 4,789, FM 8,961, shortwave 19 (2006)

Uruguay
AM 93, FM 191, shortwave 7 (2005)

Uzbekistan
AM 4, FM 6, shortwave 3 (2006)

Vanuatu
AM 2, FM 4, shortwave 1 (2004)

Venezuela
AM 201, FM NA (20 in Caracas), shortwave 11 (1998)

Vietnam
 AM 65, FM 7, shortwave 29 (1999)

Virgin Islands
AM 6, FM 16, shortwave 0 (2006)

Wake Island
AM 0, FM 0, shortwave 0
note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio service
provided by satellite (2005)

Wallis and Futuna

AM 1, FM 0, shortwave 0 (2000)

West Bank
AM 1, FM 20, shortwave 0 (2005)

Western Sahara
AM 2, FM 0, shortwave 0 (1998)

World
AM NA, FM NA, shortwave NA

Yemen
AM 6, FM 1, shortwave 2 (1998)

Zambia
AM 19, FM 5, shortwave 4 (2001)

Zimbabwe
AM 7, FM 20 (plus 17 repeater stations), shortwave 1 (1998)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2015 Television broadcast stations

Afghanistan
at least 7 (one government-run central television
station in Kabul and regional stations in nine of the 34 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) (2006)

Akrotiri
British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides
multi-channel satellite service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia
(2006)

Albania
65 (3 national, 62 local); note - 2 cable networks (2005)

Algeria
46 (plus 216 repeaters) (1995)

American Samoa
1 (Low Power TV); note - one cable TV station (2006)

Andorra
0 (1997)

Angola
6 (2000)

Anguilla
1 (1997)

Antarctica
1 (cable system with six channels; American Forces
Antarctic Network-McMurdo)
note: information for US bases only (2002)

Antigua and Barbuda

2 (1997)

Argentina
42 (plus 444 repeaters) (1997)
Armenia
40 (private television stations alongside two public
networks; major Russian channels widely available) (2006)

Aruba
1 (1997)

Australia
104 (1997)

Austria
10 (plus more than 1,000 repeaters) (2001)

Azerbaijan
2 (1997)

Bahamas, The
2 (2006)

Bahrain
4 (1997)

Bangladesh
15 (1999)

Barbados
1 (plus two cable channels) (2004)

Belarus
47 (plus 27 repeaters) (1995)

Belgium
25 (plus 10 repeaters) (1997)

Belize
2 (1997)

Benin
1 (2001)
Bermuda
3 (2005)

Bhutan
1 (2006)

Bolivia
48 (1997)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

33 (plus 277 repeaters) (September 1995)

Botswana
1 (2001)

Brazil
138 (1997)

British Indian Ocean Territory

1 (1997)

British Virgin Islands

1 (plus one cable company) (1997)

Brunei
4; note - including two UHF stations broadcasting a
subscription service (2006)

Bulgaria
39 (plus 1,242 repeaters) (2001)

Burkina Faso
1 (2002)

Burma
2 (2004)

Burundi
1 (2001)
Cambodia
11 (including two TV relay stations with French and
Vietnamese broadcasts); 12 regional low power TV stations (2006)

Cameroon
1 (2002)

Canada
80 (plus many repeaters) (1997)

Cape Verde
1 (and 7 repeaters) (2002)

Cayman Islands
4 with cable system (2004)

Central African Republic

1 (2001)

Chad
1 (2002)

Chile
63 (plus 121 repeaters) (1997)

China
3,240 (of which 209 are operated by China Central Television,
31 are provincial TV stations, and nearly 3,000 are local city
stations) (1997)

Christmas Island
0; note - TV broadcasts received via satellite from
mainland Australia (2006)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

NA

Colombia
60 (includes seven low-power stations) (1997)
Comoros
NA

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

4 (2001)

Congo, Republic of the

1 (2002)

Cook Islands
1 (outer islands receive satellite broadcasts) (2004)

Costa Rica
20 (plus 43 repeaters) (2002)

Cote d'Ivoire
14 (1999)

Croatia
36 (plus 321 repeaters) (September 1995)

Cuba
58 (1997)

Cyprus
area under government control: 8
area administered by Turkish Cypriots: 2 (plus 4 relay) (2004)

Czech Republic
150 (plus 1,434 repeaters) (2000)

Denmark
26 (plus 51 repeaters) (1998)

Dhekelia
British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) provides
multi-channel satellite service to Akrotiri, Dhekelia, and Nicosia
(2006)

Djibouti
 1 (2002)

Dominica
1 (2004)

Dominican Republic
25 (2003)

East Timor
East Timor has a state-run media oversight authority,
which oversees at least one television and one radio station.

Ecuador
7 (plus 14 repeaters) (2001)

Egypt
98 (September 1995)

El Salvador
5 (1997)

Equatorial Guinea
1 (2002)

Eritrea
2 (2006)

Estonia
3 (2001)

Ethiopia
1 plus 24 repeaters (2002)

European Union
2,700 (1995); note - does not include repeaters; sum
of individual country television broadcast stations; there is also a
European-wide station (Eurovision)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

2 (British Forces Broadcasting
 Service (BFBS) provides multi-channel satellite service to members
of UK Forces as well as islanders)
note: cable television is available in Stanley (2006)

Faroe Islands
3 (plus 43 low-power repeaters) (September 1995)

Fiji
NA

Finland
120 (plus 431 repeaters) (1999)

France
584 (plus 9,676 repeaters) (1995)

French Polynesia
7 (plus 17 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Gabon
4 (plus four low-power repeaters) (2001)

Gambia, The
1 (government-owned) (1997)

Gaza Strip
1 (2005)

Georgia
12 (plus repeaters) (1998)

Germany
373 (plus 8,042 repeaters) (1995)

Ghana
10 (2001)

Gibraltar
1 (plus three low-power repeaters) (1997)
Greece
36 (plus 1,341 low-power repeaters); also two stations in the
US Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (1995)

Greenland
1 publicly-owned station, some local low-power stations,
and three AFRTS (US Air Force) stations (1997)

Grenada
2 (1997)

Guam
3; 6 (Low Power TV) (2006)

Guatemala
26 (plus 27 repeaters) (1997)

Guernsey
1 (1997)

Guinea
6 low-power stations (2001)

Guinea-Bissau
NA (2005)

Guyana
3 (one public station; two private stations which relay US
satellite services) (1997)

Haiti
2 (plus a cable TV service) (1997)

Holy See (Vatican City)

1 (2005)

Honduras
11 (plus 17 repeaters) (1997)

Hong Kong
 55 low power stations
note: two TV networks, each one broadcasting on two channels (2006)

Hungary
35 (plus 161 low-power repeaters) (1995)

Iceland
14 (plus 156 low-power repeaters) (1997)

India
562 (of which 82 stations have 1 kW or greater power and 480
stations have less than 1 kW of power) (1997)

Indonesia
54 local TV stations
note: 11 national TV networks; each with their own group of local,
often low power, transmitters (2006)

Iran
28 (plus 450 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Iraq
21 (2004)

Ireland
4 (many low-power repeaters) (2001)

Isle of Man
0 (receives broadcasts from the UK and satellite) (1999)

Israel
17 (plus 36 low-power repeaters) (1995)

Italy
358 (plus 4,728 repeaters) (1995)

Jamaica
7 (1997)

Japan
 211 plus 7,341 repeaters
note: in addition, US Forces are served by 3 TV stations and 2 TV
cable services (1999)

Jersey
2 (1997)

Jordan
20 (plus 96 repeaters) (1995)

Kazakhstan
12 (plus nine repeaters) (1998)

Kenya
8 (2002)

Kiribati
1 (not reported to be active) (2002)

Korea, North
4 (includes Korean Central Television, Mansudae
Television, Korean Educational and Cultural Network, and Kaesong
Television targeting South Korea) (2003)

Korea, South
terrestrial stations 43; cable operators 59; relay
cable operators 190 (2005)

Kuwait
13 (plus several satellite channels) (1997)

Kyrgyzstan
7 (2006)

Laos
7; note - including one station relaying Vietnam Television
from Hanoi (2006)

Latvia
44 (plus 31 repeaters) (1995)
Lebanon
15 (plus 5 repeaters) (1995)

Lesotho
1 (2000)

Liberia
1 (plus four low-power repeaters) (2001)

Libya
12 (plus one low-power repeater) (1999)

Liechtenstein
NA (linked to Swiss networks) (1997)

Lithuania
27
note: Lithuania has approximately 27 broadcasting stations, but may
have as many as 100 transmitters, including repeater stations (2001)

Luxembourg
5 (1999)

Macau
1 (2006)

Macedonia
31 (plus 166 repeaters) (1995)

Madagascar
1 (plus 36 repeaters) (2001)

Malawi
1 (2001)

Malaysia
mainland Malaysia 51; Sabah 16; Sarawak 21; note - many are
low power stations (2006)

Maldives
 1 (2006)

Mali
1 (plus repeaters) (2001)

Malta
5 (2006)

Marshall Islands
2 (both are US military stations)
note: Marshalls Broadcasting Service (cable company) operates on
Majuro (2005)

Mauritania
1 (2002)

Mauritius
2 (plus several repeaters) (1997)

Mayotte
3 (2001)

Mexico
236 (plus repeaters) (1997)

Micronesia, Federated States of

3; note - cable TV also available
(2004)

Moldova
40 (2004)

Monaco
5 (1998)

Mongolia
52 (plus 21 provincial repeaters and many low power
repeaters) (2004)

Montenegro
 13 (2004)

Montserrat
1 (1997)

Morocco
35 (plus 66 repeaters) (1995)

Mozambique
1 (2001)

Namibia
8 (plus about 20 low-power repeaters) (1997)

Nauru
1 (1997)

Nepal
1 (plus 9 repeaters) (1998)

Netherlands
21 (plus 26 repeaters) (1995)

Netherlands Antilles
3 (there is also a cable service, which
supplies programs received from various US satellite networks and
four Venezuelan channels) (2004)

New Caledonia
6 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1997)

New Zealand
41 (plus 52 medium-power repeaters and over 650
low-power repeaters) (1997)

Nicaragua
3 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (1997)

Niger
3 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (2002)
Nigeria
3 (the government controls 2 of the broadcasting stations
and 15 repeater stations) (2002)

Niue
1 (1997)

Norfolk Island
1 (local programming station plus two repeaters that
bring in Australian programs by satellite) (2005)

Northern Mariana Islands 1 (Low Power TV on Saipan; in addition, two cable

services on Saipan provide varied programming from satellite networks) (2006)

Norway
360 (plus 2,729 repeaters) (1995)

Oman
13 (plus 25 low-power repeaters) (1999)

Pakistan
30 (plus seven low-power repeaters) (2006)

Palau
1 (cable) (2005)

Panama
38 (including repeaters) (1998)

Papua New Guinea

3 (all in the Port Moresby area)
note: additional stations at Mt. Hagen, Goroka, Lae, and Rabaul are
planned (2004)

Paraguay
5 (2003)

Peru
13 (plus 112 repeaters) (1997)
Philippines
233; note - 1480 CATV networks (2006)

Poland
40 (2006)

Portugal
62 (plus 166 repeaters)
note: includes Azores and Madeira Islands (1995)

Puerto Rico
32 (2006)

Qatar
1 (plus three repeaters) (2001)

Romania
48 (plus 392 repeaters) (1995)

Russia
7,306 (1998)

Rwanda
2 (2004)

Saint Helena
0
note: three television channels are received in Saint Helena via
satellite and distributed by UHF (2005)

Saint Kitts and Nevis

1 (plus three repeaters) (2004)

Saint Lucia
2 (of which one is a commercial broadcast station and
one is a community antenna television or CATV channel) (2004)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

0 (there are, however, two repeaters which
rebroadcast programs from France, Canada, and the US) (1997)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
1 (plus three repeaters) (2004)

Samoa
2 (2002)

San Marino
1 (San Marino residents also receive broadcasts from
Italy) (1997)

Sao Tome and Principe

2 (2002)

Saudi Arabia
117 (1997)

Senegal
1 (1997)

Seychelles
2 (plus 9 repeaters) (1997)

Sierra Leone
2 (1999)

Singapore
1 (broadcasting on six channels); additional reception of
numerous UHF and VHF signals originating in Malaysia and Indonesia;
note - digital TV for reception in public spaces and transportation
is transmitted from 10 sites (2006)

Slovakia
6 national broadcasting, 7 regional, 67 local (2004)

Slovenia
31 (2006)

Somalia
4; note - two in Mogadishu; two in Hargeisa (2001)
South Africa
556 (plus 144 network repeaters) (1997)

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

0 (2003)

Spain
224 (plus 2,105 repeaters)
note: these figures include 11 television broadcast stations and 88
repeaters in the Canary Islands (1995)

Sri Lanka
14 (2006)

Sudan
3 (1997)

Suriname
3 (plus seven repeaters) (2000)

Svalbard
NA

Swaziland
12 (includes 7 relay stations) (2004)

Sweden
169 (plus 1,299 repeaters) (1995)

Switzerland
115 (plus 1,919 repeaters) (1995)

Syria
44 (plus 17 repeaters) (1995)

Taiwan
29 (plus two repeaters) (1997)

Tajikistan
6 (2006)
Tanzania
3 (1999)

Thailand
111 (2006)

Togo
3 (plus two repeaters) (1997)

Tonga
3 (2004)

Trinidad and Tobago

6 (2005)

Tunisia
26 (plus 76 repeaters) (1995)

Turkey
635 (plus 2,934 repeaters) (1995)

Turkmenistan
4 (government owned and programmed) (2004)

Turks and Caicos Islands

0 (broadcasts from The Bahamas are
received; 2 cable television networks) (2004)

Tuvalu
0 (2004)

Uganda
8 (plus one low-power repeater) (2001)

Ukraine
at least 647 (2006)

United Arab Emirates

15 (2004)
United Kingdom
228 (plus 3,523 repeaters) (1995)

United States
2,218 (2006)

Uruguay
62 (2005)

Uzbekistan
8 1 cable rebroadcaster in Tashkent; approximately 20
stations in regional capitals (2003)

Vanuatu
1 (2004)

Venezuela
66 (plus 45 repeaters) (1997)

Vietnam
6 (plus 61 provincial TV stations) (2006)

Virgin Islands
5 (2006)

Wake Island
0
note: Armed Forces Radio/Television Service (AFRTS) radio service
provided by satellite (2005)

Wallis and Futuna

2 (2000)

West Bank
8 (2005)

Western Sahara
NA

World
 NA

Yemen
7 (plus several low-power repeaters) (1997)

Zambia
9 (2002)

Zimbabwe
16 (1997)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2018 Sex ratio (male(s)/female)

Afghanistan
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 (2006 est.)

Albania
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 (2006 est.)

Algeria
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: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

American Samoa
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Andorra
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.09 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 (2006 est.)

Angola
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Anguilla
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda

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: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Argentina
 at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Armenia
at birth: 1.17 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.88 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.9 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Aruba
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: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Australia
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Austria
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: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Azerbaijan
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.65 male(s)/female
 total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Bahamas, The
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Bahrain
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.38 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.07 male(s)/female
total population: 1.26 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Bangladesh
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 (2006 est.)

Barbados
at birth: 1.01 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Belarus
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.5 male(s)/female
total population: 0.88 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Belgium
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: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Belize
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.93 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Benin
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Bermuda
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Bhutan
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.01 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Bolivia
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Botswana
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: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Brazil
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

British Virgin Islands

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.1 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Brunei
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.12 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 1.09 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Bulgaria
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Burkina Faso
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: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Burma
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Burundi
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: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Cambodia
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.94 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Cameroon
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Canada
 at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Cape Verde
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: 0.59 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Cayman Islands
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Central African Republic

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: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Chad
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: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Chile
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: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

China
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 (2006 est.)

Christmas Island
NA

Colombia
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Comoros
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Congo, Republic of the

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Cook Islands
1.07 male(s)/female (2001 census)

Costa Rica
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
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: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Croatia
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: 0.93 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Cuba
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 (2006 est.)

Cyprus
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: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Czech Republic
 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: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Denmark
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 (2006 est.)

Djibouti
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 (2006 est.)

Dominica
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Dominican Republic
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

East Timor
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
 total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Ecuador
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 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Egypt
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

El Salvador
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 (2006 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
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: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Eritrea
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Estonia
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: 0.5 male(s)/female
total population: 0.84 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Ethiopia
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 (2006 est.)

European Union
at birth: NA
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female

Faroe Islands
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: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Fiji
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Finland
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 (2006 est.)
France
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

French Polynesia
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 (2006 est.)

Gabon
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: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Gambia, The
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: 1.05 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Gaza Strip
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Georgia
at birth: 1.15 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.91 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Germany
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Ghana
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Gibraltar
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: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Greece
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 (2006 est.)

Greenland
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: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.12 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Grenada
 at birth: 1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1.08 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Guam
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.08 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 (2006 est.)

Guatemala
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.97 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Guernsey
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Guinea
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 (2006 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
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: 0.72 male(s)/female
 total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Guyana
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Haiti
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: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Honduras
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: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Hong Kong
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Hungary
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 (2006 est.)

Iceland
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 (2006 est.)

India
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Indonesia
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Iran
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: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Iraq
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Ireland
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 (2006 est.)
Isle of Man
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: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Israel
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Italy
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Jamaica
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: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Japan
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Jersey
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: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Jordan
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: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Kazakhstan
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: 0.55 male(s)/female
total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Kenya
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: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Kiribati
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Korea, North
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.54 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Korea, South
 at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.11 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Kuwait
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.77 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.71 male(s)/female
total population: 1.52 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
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 (2006 est.)

Laos
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: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Latvia
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 (2006 est.)

Lebanon
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
 total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Lesotho
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: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Liberia
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: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Libya
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Liechtenstein
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: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Lithuania
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female
total population: 0.89 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Luxembourg
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 (2006 est.)

Macau
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.91 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Macedonia
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 (2006 est.)

Madagascar
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Malawi
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.68 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Malaysia
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 (2006 est.)
Maldives
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Mali
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 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 (2006 est.)

Malta
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 (2006 est.)
Marshall Islands
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.94 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Mauritania
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: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Mauritius
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.64 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Mayotte
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: 1.02 male(s)/female
total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Mexico
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 (2006 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of

NA

Moldova
 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 (2006 est.)

Monaco
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 (2006 est.)

Mongolia
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Montserrat
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: 1.06 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Morocco
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Mozambique
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: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Namibia
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: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Nauru
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: 1.13 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Nepal
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.95 male(s)/female
total population: 1.06 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Netherlands
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
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 (2006 est.)

New Caledonia
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
 under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

New Zealand
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Nicaragua
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Niger
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: 0.99 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Nigeria
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 (2006 est.)

Niue
NA

Norfolk Island
NA

Northern Mariana Islands

 at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.7 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female
total population: 0.77 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Norway
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 (2006 est.)

Oman
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.44 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.23 male(s)/female
total population: 1.25 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Pakistan
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Palau
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.17 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.13 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Panama
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
 total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Papua New Guinea

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Paraguay
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Peru
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 (2006 est.)

Philippines
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Pitcairn Islands
NA

Poland
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.62 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Portugal
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: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Puerto Rico
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.92 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Qatar
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 2.24 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.87 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Romania
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Russia
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 (2006 est.)

Rwanda
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
 65 years and over: 0.67 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Saint Helena
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis

at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.71 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Saint Lucia
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 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 (2006 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Samoa
 at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.65 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.39 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

San Marino
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 (2006 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe

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: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Saudi Arabia
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.33 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.13 male(s)/female
total population: 1.2 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Senegal
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: 0.88 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Seychelles
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: 0.47 male(s)/female
 total population: 0.93 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Sierra Leone
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 0.96 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Singapore
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: 0.8 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Slovakia
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.6 male(s)/female
total population: 0.94 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Slovenia
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: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Solomon Islands
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.92 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Somalia
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
 under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.73 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

South Africa
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.63 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Spain
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Sri Lanka
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: 0.86 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Sudan
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.15 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Suriname
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Svalbard
NA

Swaziland
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.66 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Sweden
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: 0.77 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Switzerland
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: 0.7 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Syria
at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.9 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Taiwan
at birth: 1.1 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.09 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.99 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Tajikistan
 at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.99 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Tanzania
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: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Thailand
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Togo
at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.95 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Tokelau
NA

Tonga
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
 under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.81 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Tunisia
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: 0.91 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Turkey
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Turkmenistan
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 (2006 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands

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: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.07 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Tuvalu
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: 0.61 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
Uganda
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: 0.76 male(s)/female
total population: 1 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Ukraine
at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.52 male(s)/female
total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

United Arab Emirates

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.55 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 2.73 male(s)/female
total population: 1.43 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

United Kingdom
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

United States
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.72 male(s)/female
total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Uruguay
at birth: 1.04 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.03 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
 65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.95 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Uzbekistan
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.98 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.69 male(s)/female
total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Vanuatu
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: 1.1 male(s)/female
total population: 1.05 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Venezuela
at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.83 male(s)/female
total population: 1.02 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Vietnam
at birth: 1.07 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 (2006 est.)

Virgin Islands
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 (2006 est.)

West Bank
 at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Western Sahara
NA

World
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 (2006 est.)

Yemen
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.96 male(s)/female
total population: 1.04 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Zambia
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: 0.74 male(s)/female
total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Zimbabwe
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 (2006 est.)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2019 Heliports

Afghanistan
9 (2006)

Albania
1 (2006)

Algeria
1 (2006)

Antarctica
37
note: all 37 year-round and 15 seasonal stations operated by
National Antarctic Programs stations have restricted helicopter
landing facilities (helipads) (2006)

Australia
1 (2006)

Austria
1 (2006)

Azerbaijan
1 (2006)

Bahamas, The
1 (2006)

Bahrain
1 (2006)

Belarus
1 (2006)
Belgium
1 (2006)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

5 (2006)

Brazil
417 (2006)

Brunei
3 (2006)

Bulgaria
4 (2006)

Burma
1 (2006)

Cambodia
2 (2006)

Canada
12 (2006)

China
32 (2006)

Colombia
2 (2006)

Croatia
2 (2006)

Cyprus
10 (2006)

Czech Republic
2 (2006)

East Timor
 9 (2006)

Ecuador
1 (2006)

Egypt
3 (2006)

El Salvador
1 (2006)

Estonia
1 (2006)

European Union
100 (2006)

France
3 (2006)

French Polynesia
1 (2006)

Gaza Strip
1 (2006)

Georgia
3 (2006)

Germany
32 (2006)

Greece
8 (2006)

Hong Kong
3 (2006)

Hungary
5 (2006)
India
28 (2006)

Indonesia
23 (2006)

Iran
15 (2006)

Iraq
8 (2006)

Israel
3 (2006)

Italy
5 (2006)

Japan
15 (2006)

Jordan
1 (2006)

Kazakhstan
4 (2006)

Korea, North
22 (2006)

Korea, South
540 (2006)

Kuwait
5 (2006)

Libya
2 (2006)

Luxembourg
 1 (2006)

Malaysia
2 (2006)

Mexico
1 (2006)

Monaco
1 (2006)

Mongolia
2 (2006)

Morocco
1 (2006)

Netherlands
1 (2006)

New Caledonia
6 (2006)

Nigeria
1 (2006)

Northern Mariana Islands

1 (2006)

Norway
1 (2006)

Oman
1 (2006)

Pakistan
18 (2006)

Papua New Guinea

2 (2006)
Peru
1 (2006)

Philippines
2 (2006)

Poland
3 (2006)

Qatar
1 (2006)

Romania
1 (2006)

Russia
52 (2006)

Saudi Arabia
6 (2006)

Serbia
4 (2006)

Sierra Leone
2 (2006)

Slovakia
1 (2006)

Spain
8 (2006)

Sudan
1 (2006)

Sweden
2 (2006)

Switzerland
 2 (2006)

Syria
7 (2006)

Taiwan
3 (2006)

Thailand
3 (2006)

Turkey
18 (2006)

Turkmenistan
1 (2006)

Ukraine
10 (2006)

United Arab Emirates

4 (2006)

United Kingdom
11 (2006)

United States
149 (2006)

Venezuela
1 (2006)

World
2,021 (2006)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@2020 Elevation extremes (m)

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

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

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

American Samoa
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Lata Mountain 964 m

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

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

Anguilla
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crocus Hill 65 m

Antarctica
lowest point: Bentley Subglacial Trench -2,555 m
highest point: Vinson Massif 4,897 m
note: the lowest known land point in Antarctica is hidden in the
Bentley Subglacial Trench; at its surface is the deepest ice yet
discovered and the world's lowest elevation not under seawater

Antigua and Barbuda

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

Arctic Ocean
lowest point: Fram Basin -4,665 m
highest point: sea level 0 m

Argentina
lowest point: 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)

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

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

Ashmore and Cartier Islands

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m

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

Australia
lowest point: Lake Eyre -15 m
highest point: Mount Kosciuszko 2,229 m

Austria
lowest point: Neusiedler See 115 m
highest point: Grossglockner 3,798 m

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

Bahamas, The
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Alvernia, on Cat Island 63 m

Bahrain
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal ad Dukhan 122 m

Baker Island
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 8 m

Bangladesh
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Keokradong 1,230 m

Barbados
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Hillaby 336 m

Bassas da India
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 2.4 m

Belarus
lowest point: Nyoman River 90 m
highest point: Dzyarzhynskaya Hara 346 m

Belgium
lowest point: North Sea 0 m
highest point: Signal de Botrange 694 m

Belize
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Victoria Peak 1,160 m

Benin
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
 highest point: Mont Sokbaro 658 m

Bermuda
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Town Hill 76 m

Bhutan
lowest point: Drangme Chhu 97 m
highest point: Kula Kangri 7,553 m

Bolivia
lowest point: Rio Paraguay 90 m
highest point: Nevado Sajama 6,542 m

Bosnia and Herzegovina

lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Maglic 2,386 m

Botswana
lowest point: junction of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers 513
m
highest point: Tsodilo Hills 1,489 m

Bouvet Island
lowest point: South Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Olav Peak 935 m

Brazil
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico da Neblina 3,014 m

British Indian Ocean Territory

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Diego Garcia 15 m

British Virgin Islands

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Sage 521 m

Brunei
 lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m

Bulgaria
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Musala 2,925 m

Burkina Faso
lowest point: Mouhoun (Black Volta) River 200 m
highest point: Tena Kourou 749 m

Burma
lowest point: Andaman Sea 0 m
highest point: Hkakabo Razi 5,881 m

Burundi
lowest point: Lake Tanganyika 772 m
highest point: Heha 2,670 m

Cambodia
lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
highest point: Phnum Aoral 1,810 m

Cameroon
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Fako 4,095 m (on Mt. Cameroon)

Canada
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Logan 5,959 m

Cape Verde
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mt. Fogo 2,829 m (a volcano on Fogo Island)

Cayman Islands
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: The Bluff (Cayman Brac) 43 m

Central African Republic

 lowest point: Oubangui River 335 m
highest point: Mont Ngaoui 1,420 m

Chad
lowest point: Djourab Depression 160 m
highest point: Emi Koussi 3,415 m

Chile
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Nevado Ojos del Salado 6,880 m

China
lowest point: Turpan Pendi -154 m
highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m

Christmas Island
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Murray Hill 361 m

Clipperton Island
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Rocher Clipperton 29 m

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m

Colombia
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico Cristobal Colon 5,775 m
note: nearby Pico Simon Bolivar also has the same elevation

Comoros
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Le Kartala 2,360 m

Congo, Democratic Republic of the lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m highest

point: Pic Marguerite on Mont Ngaliema (Mount Stanley) 5,110 m

Congo, Republic of the

 lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Berongou 903 m

Cook Islands
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Te Manga 652 m

Coral Sea Islands

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Cato Island 6 m

Costa Rica
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Chirripo 3,810 m

Cote d'Ivoire
lowest point: Gulf of Guinea 0 m
highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m

Croatia
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Dinara 1,830 m

Cuba
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Pico Turquino 2,005 m

Cyprus
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Olympus 1,951 m

Czech Republic
lowest point: Elbe River 115 m
highest point: Snezka 1,602 m

Denmark
lowest point: Lammefjord -7 m
highest point: Yding Skovhoej 173 m

Djibouti
 lowest point: Lac Assal -155 m
highest point: Moussa Ali 2,028 m

Dominica
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Morne Diablatins 1,447 m

Dominican Republic
lowest point: Lago Enriquillo -46 m
highest point: Pico Duarte 3,175 m

East Timor
lowest point: Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m
highest point: Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m

Ecuador
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Chimborazo 6,267 m

Egypt
lowest point: Qattara Depression -133 m
highest point: Mount Catherine 2,629 m

El Salvador
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro El Pital 2,730 m

Equatorial Guinea
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico Basile 3,008 m

Eritrea
lowest point: near Kulul within the Denakil depression -75 m
highest point: Soira 3,018 m

Estonia
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Suur Munamagi 318 m

Ethiopia
 lowest point: Denakil Depression -125 m
highest point: Ras Dejen 4,620 m

Europa Island
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 24 m

European Union
lowest point: Lammefjord, Denmark -7 m;
Zuidplaspolder, Netherlands -7 m
highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m; note - situated on the border
between France and Italy

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Usborne 705 m

Faroe Islands
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m

Fiji
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Tomanivi 1,324 m

Finland
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Haltiatunturi 1,328 m

France
lowest point: Rhone River delta -2 m
highest point: Mont Blanc 4,807 m

French Polynesia
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Orohena 2,241 m

French Southern and Antarctic Lands

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Ross on Iles Kerguelen 1,850 m
Gabon
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Iboundji 1,575 m

Gambia, The
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 53 m

Gaza Strip
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Abu 'Awdah (Joz Abu 'Auda) 105 m

Georgia
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Mt'a Shkhara 5,201 m

Germany
lowest point: Neuendorf bei Wilster -3.54 m
highest point: Zugspitze 2,963 m

Ghana
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Afadjato 880 m

Gibraltar
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Rock of Gibraltar 426 m

Glorioso Islands
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 12 m

Greece
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Olympus 2,917 m

Greenland
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Gunnbjorn 3,700 m
Grenada
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Saint Catherine 840 m

Guam
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Lamlam 406 m

Guatemala
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan Tajumulco 4,211 m

Guernsey
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Sark 114 m

Guinea
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Nimba 1,752 m

Guinea-Bissau
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location in the northeast corner of the
country 300 m

Guyana
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Roraima 2,835 m

Haiti
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Chaine de la Selle 2,680 m

Heard Island and McDonald Islands

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mawson Peak, on Big Ben 2,745 m

Holy See (Vatican City)

lowest point: unnamed location 19 m
highest point: unnamed location 75 m
Honduras
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro Las Minas 2,870 m

Hong Kong
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Tai Mo Shan 958 m

Howland Island
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 3 m

Hungary
lowest point: Tisza River 78 m
highest point: Kekes 1,014 m

Iceland
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Hvannadalshnukur 2,110 m (at Vatnajokull glacier)

Iles Eparses
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Bassas da India 2.4 m; Europa Island 24 m; Glorioso
Islands 12 m; Juan de Nova Island 10 m; Tromelin Island 7 m (all
unnamed locations)

India
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Kanchenjunga 8,598 m

Indian Ocean
lowest point: Java Trench -7,258 m
highest point: sea level 0 m

Indonesia
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Puncak Jaya 5,030 m

Iran
lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
 highest point: Kuh-e Damavand 5,671 m

Iraq
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: unnamed peak; 3,611 m; note - this peak is not Gundah
Zhur 3,607 m or Kuh-e Hajji-Ebrahim 3,595 m

Ireland
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Carrauntoohil 1,041 m

Isle of Man
lowest point: Irish Sea 0 m
highest point: Snaefell 621 m

Israel
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Har Meron 1,208 m

Italy
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mont Blanc (Monte Bianco) de Courmayeur 4,748 m (a
secondary peak of Mont Blanc)

Jamaica
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Blue Mountain Peak 2,256 m

Jan Mayen
lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
highest point: Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg 2,277 m

Japan
lowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m
highest point: Mount Fuji 3,776 m

Jarvis Island
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 7 m
Jersey
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 143 m

Johnston Atoll
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Summit Peak 5 m

Jordan
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Jabal Ram 1,734 m

Juan de Nova Island

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 10 m

Kazakhstan
lowest point: Vpadina Kaundy -132 m
highest point: Khan Tangiri Shyngy (Pik Khan-Tengri) 6,995 m

Kenya
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Kenya 5,199 m

Kingman Reef
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 1 m

Kiribati
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Banaba 81 m

Korea, North
lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
highest point: Paektu-san 2,744 m

Korea, South
lowest point: Sea of Japan 0 m
highest point: Halla-san 1,950 m
Kuwait
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 306 m

Kyrgyzstan
lowest point: Kara-Daryya (Karadar'ya) 132 m
highest point: Jengish Chokusu (Pik Pobedy) 7,439 m

Laos
lowest point: Mekong River 70 m
highest point: Phou Bia 2,817 m

Latvia
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Gaizinkalns 312 m

Lebanon
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Qurnat as Sawda' 3,088 m

Lesotho
lowest point: junction of the Orange and Makhaleng Rivers
1,400 m
highest point: Thabana Ntlenyana 3,482 m

Liberia
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wuteve 1,380 m

Libya
lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m
highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,267 m

Liechtenstein
lowest point: Ruggeller Riet 430 m
highest point: Vorder-Grauspitz 2,599 m

Lithuania
lowest point: Baltic Sea 0 m
highest point: Juozapines Kalnas 293.6 m
Luxembourg
lowest point: Moselle River 133 m
highest point: Buurgplaatz 559 m

Macau
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Coloane Alto 172.4 m

Macedonia
lowest point: Vardar River 50 m
highest point: Golem Korab (Maja e Korabit) 2,764 m

Madagascar
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Maromokotro 2,876 m

Malawi
lowest point: junction of the Shire River and international
boundary with Mozambique 37 m
highest point: Sapitwa (Mount Mlanje) 3,002 m

Malaysia
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Gunung Kinabalu 4,100 m

Maldives
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Wilingili island in the Addu
Atoll 2.4 m

Mali
lowest point: Senegal River 23 m
highest point: Hombori Tondo 1,155 m

Malta
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Ta'Dmejrek 253 m (near Dingli)

Marshall Islands
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
 highest point: unnamed location on Likiep 10 m

Mauritania
lowest point: Sebkhet Te-n-Dghamcha -5 m
highest point: Kediet Ijill 915 m

Mauritius
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Piton 828 m

Mayotte
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Benara 660 m

Mexico
lowest point: Laguna Salada -10 m
highest point: Volcan Pico de Orizaba 5,700 m

Micronesia, Federated States of

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Dolohmwar (Totolom) 791 m

Midway Islands
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 13 m

Moldova
lowest point: Dniester River 2 m
highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m

Monaco
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mont Agel 140 m

Mongolia
lowest point: Hoh Nuur 518 m
highest point: Nayramadlin Orgil (Huyten Orgil) 4,374 m

Montenegro
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
 highest point: Bobotov Kuk 2,522 m

Montserrat
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: lava dome in English's Crater (in the Soufriere Hills
volcanic complex) estimated at over 930 m (2006)

Morocco
lowest point: Sebkha Tah -55 m
highest point: Jebel Toubkal 4,165 m

Mozambique
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Monte Binga 2,436 m

Namibia
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Konigstein 2,606 m

Nauru
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location along plateau rim 61 m

Navassa Island
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on southwest side 77 m

Nepal
lowest point: Kanchan Kalan 70 m
highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m

Netherlands
lowest point: Zuidplaspolder -7 m
highest point: Vaalserberg 322 m

Netherlands Antilles
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Scenery 862 m

New Caledonia
 lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Panie 1,628 m

New Zealand
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Aoraki-Mount Cook 3,754 m

Nicaragua
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mogoton 2,438 m

Niger
lowest point: Niger River 200 m
highest point: Mont Bagzane 2,022 m

Nigeria
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Chappal Waddi 2,419 m

Niue
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location near Mutalau settlement 68 m

Norfolk Island
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Bates 319 m

Northern Mariana Islands

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Agrihan 965 m

Norway
lowest point: Norwegian Sea 0 m
highest point: Galdhopiggen 2,469 m

Oman
lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m

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

Pakistan
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: K2 (Mt. Godwin-Austen) 8,611 m

Palau
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Ngerchelchuus 242 m

Palmyra Atoll
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 2 m

Panama
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Volcan de Chiriqui 3,475 m

Papua New Guinea

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Wilhelm 4,509 m

Paracel Islands
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Rocky Island 14 m

Paraguay
lowest point: junction of Rio Paraguay and Rio Parana 46 m
highest point: Cerro Pero (Cerro Tres Kandu) 842 m

Peru
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Nevado Huascaran 6,768 m

Philippines
lowest point: Philippine Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Apo 2,954 m
Pitcairn Islands
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pawala Valley Ridge 347 m

Poland
lowest point: near Raczki Elblaskie -2 m
highest point: Rysy 2,499 m

Portugal
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Ponta do Pico (Pico or Pico Alto) on Ilha do Pico in
the Azores 2,351 m

Puerto Rico
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Cerro de Punta 1,339 m

Qatar
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Qurayn Abu al Bawl 103 m

Romania
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m

Russia
lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Gora El'brus 5,633 m

Rwanda
lowest point: Rusizi River 950 m
highest point: Volcan Karisimbi 4,519 m

Saint Helena
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Queen Mary's Peak on Tristan da Cunha 2,062 m; Green
Mountain on Ascension Island 859 m; Mount Actaeon on Saint Helena
Island 818 m

Saint Kitts and Nevis

 lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m

Saint Lucia
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Gimie 950 m

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morne de la Grande Montagne 240 m

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: La Soufriere 1,234 m

Samoa
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mauga Silisili (Savaii) 1,857 m

San Marino
lowest point: Torrente Ausa 55 m
highest point: Monte Titano 755 m

Sao Tome and Principe

lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico de Sao Tome 2,024 m

Saudi Arabia
lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: Jabal Sawda' 3,133 m

Senegal
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed feature near Nepen Diakha 581 m

Serbia
lowest point: NA
highest point: Daravica 2,656 m

Seychelles
 lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Morne Seychellois 905 m

Sierra Leone
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Loma Mansa (Bintimani) 1,948 m

Singapore
lowest point: Singapore Strait 0 m
highest point: Bukit Timah 166 m

Slovakia
lowest point: Bodrok River 94 m
highest point: Gerlachovsky Stit 2,655 m

Slovenia
lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
highest point: Triglav 2,864 m

Solomon Islands
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Makarakomburu 2,447 m

Somalia
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Shimbiris 2,416 m

South Africa
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Njesuthi 3,408 m

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

lowest point: Atlantic
Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mount Paget (South Georgia) 2,934 m

Southern Ocean
lowest point: -7,235 m at the southern end of the
South Sandwich Trench
highest point: sea level 0 m
Spain
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico de Teide (Tenerife) on Canary Islands 3,718 m

Spratly Islands
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Southwest Cay 4 m

Sri Lanka
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m

Sudan
lowest point: Red Sea 0 m
highest point: Kinyeti 3,187 m

Suriname
lowest point: unnamed location in the coastal plain -2 m
highest point: Juliana Top 1,230 m

Svalbard
lowest point: Arctic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Newtontoppen 1,717 m

Swaziland
lowest point: Great Usutu River 21 m
highest point: Emlembe 1,862 m

Sweden
lowest point: reclaimed bay of Lake Hammarsjon, near
Kristianstad -2.41 m
highest point: Kebnekaise 2,111 m

Switzerland
lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m
highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m

Syria
lowest point: unnamed location near Lake Tiberias -200 m
highest point: Mount Hermon 2,814 m
Taiwan
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Yu Shan 3,952 m

Tajikistan
lowest point: Syr Darya (Sirdaryo) 300 m
highest point: Qullai Ismoili Somoni 7,495 m

Tanzania
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Kilimanjaro 5,895 m

Thailand
lowest point: Gulf of Thailand 0 m
highest point: Doi Inthanon 2,576 m

Togo
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Agou 986 m

Tokelau
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m

Tonga
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location on Kao Island 1,033 m

Trinidad and Tobago

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 m

Tromelin Island
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 7 m

Tunisia
lowest point: Shatt al Gharsah -17 m
highest point: Jebel ech Chambi 1,544 m
Turkey
lowest point: Mediterranean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Ararat 5,166 m

Turkmenistan
lowest point: Vpadina Akchanaya -81 m; note -
Sarygamysh Koli is a lake in northern Turkmenistan with a water
level that fluctuates above and below the elevation of Vpadina
Akchanaya (the lake has dropped as low as -110 m)
highest point: Gora Ayribaba 3,139 m

Turks and Caicos Islands

lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Blue Hills 49 m
Tuvalu
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 5 m

Uganda
lowest point: Lake Albert 621 m
highest point: Margherita Peak on Mount Stanley 5,110 m

Ukraine
lowest point: Black Sea 0 m
highest point: Hora Hoverla 2,061 m

United Arab Emirates

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

United Kingdom
lowest point: The Fens -4 m
highest point: Ben Nevis 1,343 m

United States
lowest point: Death Valley -86 m
highest point: Mount McKinley 6,194 m

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges

lowest point: Pacific
Ocean 0 m
highest point: Baker Island, unnamed location - 8 m; Howland Island,
unnamed location - 3 m; Jarvis Island, unnamed location - 7 m;
Johnston Atoll, Sand Island - 10 m; Kingman Reef, unnamed location -
less than 1 m; Midway Islands, unnamed location - 13 m; Palmyra
Atoll, unnamed location - 2 m

Uruguay
lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Cerro Catedral 514 m

Uzbekistan
lowest point: Sariqarnish Kuli -12 m
 highest point: Adelunga Toghi 4,301 m

Vanuatu
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Tabwemasana 1,877 m

Venezuela
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Pico Bolivar (La Columna) 5,007 m

Vietnam
lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Fan Si Pan 3,144 m

Virgin Islands
lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Crown Mountain 475 m

Wake Island
lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: unnamed location 6 m

Wallis and Futuna

lowest point: Pacific Ocean 0 m
highest point: Mont Singavi 765 m

West Bank
lowest point: Dead Sea -408 m
highest point: Tall Asur 1,022 m

Western Sahara
lowest point: Sebjet Tah -55 m
highest point: unnamed location 463 m

World
lowest point: Bentley Subglacial Trench -2,540 m
note: in the oceanic realm, Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench is
the lowest point, lying -10,924 m below the surface of the Pacific
Ocean
highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m
Yemen
lowest point: Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal an Nabi Shu'ayb 3,760 m

Zambia
lowest point: Zambezi river 329 m
highest point: unnamed location in Mafinga Hills 2,301 m

Zimbabwe
lowest point: junction of the Runde and Save rivers 162 m
highest point: Inyangani 2,592 m

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2021 Natural hazards

Afghanistan
damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains;
flooding; droughts

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

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

American Samoa
typhoons common from December to March

Andorra
avalanches
Angola
locally heavy rainfall causes periodic flooding on the plateau

Anguilla
frequent hurricanes and other tropical storms (July to
October)

Antarctica
katabatic (gravity-driven) winds blow coastward from the
high interior; frequent blizzards form near the foot of the plateau;
cyclonic storms form over the ocean and move clockwise along the
coast; volcanism on Deception Island and isolated areas of West
Antarctica; other seismic activity rare and weak; large icebergs may
calve from ice shelf

Antigua and Barbuda

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

Arctic Ocean
ice islands occasionally break away from northern
Ellesmere Island; icebergs calved from glaciers in western Greenland
and extreme northeastern Canada; permafrost in islands; virtually
ice locked from October to June; ships subject to superstructure
icing from October to May

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

Armenia
occasionally severe earthquakes; droughts

Aruba
lies outside the Caribbean hurricane belt

Ashmore and Cartier Islands

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

Australia
cyclones along the coast; severe droughts; forest fires

Austria
landslides; avalanches; earthquakes

Azerbaijan
droughts

Bahamas, The
hurricanes and other tropical storms cause extensive
flood and wind damage

Bahrain
periodic droughts; dust storms

Baker Island
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can be
a maritime hazard

Bangladesh
droughts, cyclones; much of the country routinely
inundated during the summer monsoon season

Barbados
infrequent hurricanes; periodic landslides

Bassas da India
maritime hazard since it is usually under water
during high tide and surrounded by reefs; subject to periodic
cyclones
Belarus
NA

Belgium
flooding is a threat along rivers and in areas of reclaimed
coastal land, protected from the sea by concrete dikes

Belize
frequent, devastating hurricanes (June to November) and
coastal flooding (especially in south)

Benin
hot, dry, dusty harmattan wind may affect north from December
to March

Bermuda
hurricanes (June to November)

Bhutan
violent storms from the Himalayas are the source of the
country's name, which translates as Land of the Thunder Dragon;
frequent landslides during the rainy season

Bolivia
flooding in the northeast (March-April)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

destructive earthquakes

Botswana
periodic droughts; seasonal August winds blow from the
west, carrying sand and dust across the country, which can obscure
visibility

Bouvet Island
NA

Brazil
recurring droughts in northeast; floods and occasional frost
in south
British Indian Ocean Territory
NA

British Virgin Islands

hurricanes and tropical storms (July to
October)

Brunei
typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare

Bulgaria
earthquakes, landslides

Burkina Faso
recurring droughts

Burma
destructive earthquakes and cyclones; flooding and landslides
common during rainy season (June to September); periodic droughts

Burundi
flooding, landslides, drought

Cambodia
monsoonal rains (June to November); flooding; occasional
droughts

Cameroon
volcanic activity with periodic releases of poisonous gases
from Lake Nyos and Lake Monoun volcanoes

Canada
continuous permafrost in north is a serious obstacle to
development; cyclonic storms form east of the Rocky Mountains, a
result of the mixing of air masses from the Arctic, Pacific, and
North American interior, and produce most of the country's rain and
snow east of the mountains

Cape Verde
prolonged droughts; seasonal harmattan wind produces
 obscuring dust; volcanically and seismically active

Cayman Islands
hurricanes (July to November)

Central African Republic

hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds affect
northern areas; floods are common

Chad
hot, dry, dusty harmattan winds occur in north; periodic
droughts; locust plagues

Chile
severe earthquakes; active volcanism; tsunamis

China
frequent typhoons (about five per year along southern and
eastern coasts); damaging floods; tsunamis; earthquakes; droughts;
land subsidence

Christmas Island
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can
be a maritime hazard

Clipperton Island
NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

cyclone season is October to April

Colombia
highlands subject to volcanic eruptions; occasional
earthquakes; periodic droughts

Comoros
cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April);
Le Kartala on Grand Comore is an active volcano

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

 periodic droughts in south; Congo
River floods (seasonal); in the east, in the Great Rift Valley,
there are active volcanoes

Congo, Republic of the

seasonal flooding

Cook Islands
typhoons (November to March)

Coral Sea Islands

occasional tropical cyclones

Costa Rica
occasional earthquakes, hurricanes along Atlantic coast;
frequent flooding of lowlands at onset of rainy season and
landslides; active volcanoes

Cote d'Ivoire
coast has heavy surf and no natural harbors; during
the rainy season torrential flooding is possible

Croatia
destructive earthquakes

Cuba
the east coast is subject to hurricanes from August to November
(in general, the country averages about one hurricane every other
year); droughts are common

Cyprus
moderate earthquake activity; droughts

Czech Republic
flooding

Denmark
flooding is a threat in some areas of the country (e.g.,
parts of Jutland, along the southern coast of the island of Lolland)
that are protected from the sea by a system of dikes
Djibouti
earthquakes; droughts; occasional cyclonic disturbances
from the Indian Ocean bring heavy rains and flash floods

Dominica
flash floods are a constant threat; destructive hurricanes
can be expected during the late summer months

Dominican Republic
lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and
subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding;
periodic droughts

East Timor
floods and landslides are common; earthquakes, tsunamis,
tropical cyclones

Ecuador
frequent earthquakes, landslides, volcanic activity; floods;
periodic droughts

Egypt
periodic droughts; frequent earthquakes, flash floods,
landslides; hot, driving windstorm called khamsin occurs in spring;
dust storms, sandstorms

El Salvador
known as the Land of Volcanoes; frequent and sometimes
destructive earthquakes and volcanic activity; extremely susceptible
to hurricanes

Equatorial Guinea
violent windstorms, flash floods

Eritrea
frequent droughts; locust swarms

Estonia
sometimes flooding occurs in the spring
Ethiopia
geologically active Great Rift Valley susceptible to
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions; frequent droughts

Europa Island
NA

European Union
flooding along coasts; avalanches in mountainous
area; earthquakes in the south; volcanic eruptions in Italy;
periodic droughts in Spain; ice floes in the Baltic

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

strong winds persist throughout
the year

Faroe Islands
NA

Fiji
cyclonic storms can occur from November to January

Finland
NA

France
metropolitan France: flooding; avalanches; midwinter
windstorms; drought; forest fires in south near the Mediterranean
overseas departments: hurricanes (cyclones), flooding, volcanic
activity (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Reunion)

French Polynesia
occasional cyclonic storms in January

French Southern and Antarctic Lands

Ile Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul
are extinct volcanoes

Gabon
NA
Gambia, The
drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30
years)

Gaza Strip
droughts

Georgia
earthquakes

Germany
flooding

Ghana
dry, dusty, northeastern harmattan winds occur from January to
March; droughts

Gibraltar
NA

Glorioso Islands
periodic cyclones

Greece
severe earthquakes

Greenland
continuous permafrost over northern two-thirds of the
island

Grenada
lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from
June to November

Guam
frequent squalls during rainy season; relatively rare, but
potentially very destructive typhoons (June - December)

Guatemala
numerous volcanoes in mountains, with occasional violent
 earthquakes; Caribbean coast extremely susceptible to hurricanes and
other tropical storms

Guernsey
NA

Guinea
hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility during
dry season

Guinea-Bissau
hot, dry, dusty harmattan haze may reduce visibility
during dry season; brush fires

Guyana
flash floods are a constant threat during rainy seasons

Haiti
lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe
storms from June to October; occasional flooding and earthquakes;
periodic droughts

Heard Island and McDonald Islands

Mawson Peak, an active volcano, is
on Heard Island

Holy See (Vatican City)

NA

Honduras
frequent, but generally mild, earthquakes; extremely
susceptible to damaging hurricanes and floods along the Caribbean
coast

Hong Kong
occasional typhoons

Howland Island
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can
be a maritime hazard
Iceland
earthquakes and volcanic activity

Iles Eparses
all islands subject to periodic cyclones
Bassas da India: maritime hazard since it is under water for a
period of three hours prior to and following the high tide and
surrounded by reefs

India
droughts; flash floods, as well as widespread and destructive
flooding from monsoonal rains; severe thunderstorms; earthquakes

Indian Ocean
occasional icebergs pose navigational hazard in
southern reaches

Indonesia
occasional floods, severe droughts, tsunamis, earthquakes,
volcanoes, forest fires

Iran
periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes

Iraq
dust storms, sandstorms, floods

Ireland
NA

Isle of Man
NA

Israel
sandstorms may occur during spring and summer; droughts;
periodic earthquakes

Italy
regional risks include landslides, mudflows, avalanches,
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding; land subsidence in Venice
Jamaica
hurricanes (especially July to November)

Jan Mayen
dominated by the volcano Haakon VII Toppen/Beerenberg;
volcanic activity resumed in 1970

Japan
many dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic
occurrences (mostly tremors) every year; tsunamis; typhoons

Jarvis Island
the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island poses
a maritime hazard

Jersey
NA

Johnston Atoll
NA

Jordan
droughts; periodic earthquakes

Juan de Nova Island

periodic cyclones

Kazakhstan
earthquakes in the south, mudslides around Almaty

Kenya
recurring drought; flooding during rainy seasons

Kingman Reef
wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of
about 1 meter makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard

Kiribati
typhoons can occur any time, but usually November to March;
occasional tornadoes; low level of some of the islands make them
 very sensitive to changes in sea level

Korea, North
late spring droughts often followed by severe flooding;
occasional typhoons during the early fall

Korea, South
occasional typhoons bring high winds and floods;
low-level seismic activity common in southwest

Kuwait
sudden cloudbursts are common from October to April and bring
heavy rain, which can damage roads and houses; sandstorms and dust
storms occur throughout the year, but are most common between March
and August

Kyrgyzstan
NA

Laos
floods, droughts

Latvia
NA

Lebanon
dust storms, sandstorms

Lesotho
periodic droughts

Liberia
dust-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara (December to
March)

Libya
hot, dry, dust-laden ghibli is a southern wind lasting one to
four days in spring and fall; dust storms, sandstorms

Liechtenstein
 NA

Lithuania
NA

Luxembourg
NA

Macau
typhoons

Macedonia
high seismic risks

Madagascar
periodic cyclones, drought, and locust infestation

Malawi
NA

Malaysia
flooding, landslides, forest fires

Maldives
low level of islands makes them very sensitive to sea level
rise

Mali
hot, dust-laden harmattan haze common during dry seasons;
recurring droughts; occasional Niger River flooding

Malta
NA

Marshall Islands
infrequent typhoons

Mauritania
hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind blows primarily in
March and April; periodic droughts
Mauritius
cyclones (November to April); almost completely surrounded
by reefs that may pose maritime hazards

Mayotte
cyclones during rainy season

Mexico
tsunamis along the Pacific coast, volcanoes and destructive
earthquakes in the center and south, and hurricanes on the Pacific,
Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean coasts

Micronesia, Federated States of

typhoons (June to December)

Midway Islands
NA

Moldova
landslides (57 cases in 1998)

Monaco
NA

Mongolia
dust storms, grassland and forest fires, drought, and
"zud," which is harsh winter conditions

Montenegro
destructive earthquakes

Montserrat
severe hurricanes (June to November); volcanic eruptions
(Soufriere Hills volcano has erupted continuously since 1995)

Morocco
northern mountains geologically unstable and subject to
earthquakes; periodic droughts

Mozambique
 severe droughts; devastating cyclones and floods in
central and southern provinces

Namibia
prolonged periods of drought

Nauru
periodic droughts

Navassa Island
hurricanes

Nepal
severe thunderstorms, flooding, landslides, drought, and
famine depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the
summer monsoons

Netherlands
flooding

Netherlands Antilles
Curacao and Bonaire are south of Caribbean
hurricane belt and are rarely threatened; Sint Maarten, Saba, and
Sint Eustatius are subject to hurricanes from July to October

New Caledonia
cyclones, most frequent from November to March

New Zealand
earthquakes are common, though usually not severe;
volcanic activity

Nicaragua
destructive earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides; extremely
susceptible to hurricanes

Niger
recurring droughts

Nigeria
 periodic droughts; flooding

Niue
typhoons

Norfolk Island
typhoons (especially May to July)

Northern Mariana Islands

active volcanoes on Pagan and Agrihan;
typhoons (especially August to November)

Norway
rockslides, avalanches

Oman
summer winds often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in
interior; periodic droughts

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

Pakistan
frequent earthquakes, occasionally severe especially in
north and west; flooding along the Indus after heavy rains (July and
August)

Palau
typhoons (June to December)
Palmyra Atoll
NA

Panama
occasional severe storms and forest fires in the Darien area

Papua New Guinea

active volcanism; situated along the Pacific "Ring
of Fire"; the country is subject to frequent and sometimes severe
earthquakes; mud slides; tsunamis

Paracel Islands
typhoons

Paraguay
local flooding in southeast (early September to June);
poorly drained plains may become boggy (early October to June)

Peru
earthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic
activity

Philippines
astride typhoon belt, usually affected by 15 and struck
by five to six cyclonic storms per year; landslides; active
volcanoes; destructive earthquakes; tsunamis

Pitcairn Islands
typhoons (especially November to March)

Poland
flooding

Portugal
Azores subject to severe earthquakes

Puerto Rico
periodic droughts; hurricanes

Qatar
 haze, dust storms, sandstorms common

Romania
earthquakes, most severe in south and southwest; geologic
structure and climate promote landslides

Russia
permafrost over much of Siberia is a major impediment to
development; volcanic activity in the Kuril Islands; volcanoes and
earthquakes on the Kamchatka Peninsula; spring floods and
summer/autumn forest fires throughout Siberia and parts of European
Russia

Rwanda
periodic droughts; the volcanic Virunga mountains are in the
northwest along the border with Democratic Republic of the Congo

Saint Helena
active volcanism on Tristan da Cunha, last eruption in
1961

Saint Kitts and Nevis

hurricanes (July to October)

Saint Lucia
hurricanes and volcanic activity

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

persistent fog throughout the year can be
a maritime hazard

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on
the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threat

Samoa
occasional typhoons; active volcanism

San Marino
NA
Sao Tome and Principe
NA

Saudi Arabia
frequent sand and dust storms

Senegal
lowlands seasonally flooded; periodic droughts

Serbia
destructive earthquakes

Seychelles
lies outside the cyclone belt, so severe storms are rare;
short droughts possible

Sierra Leone
dry, sand-laden harmattan winds blow from the Sahara
(December to February); sandstorms, dust storms

Singapore
NA

Slovakia
NA

Slovenia
flooding and earthquakes

Solomon Islands
typhoons, but rarely destructive; geologically
active region with frequent earth tremors; volcanic activity

Somalia
recurring droughts; frequent dust storms over eastern plains
in summer; floods during rainy season

South Africa
prolonged droughts
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
the South Sandwich
Islands have prevailing weather conditions that generally make them
difficult to approach by ship; they are also subject to active
volcanism

Southern Ocean
huge icebergs with drafts up to several hundred
meters; smaller bergs and iceberg fragments; sea ice (generally 0.5
to 1 meter thick) with sometimes dynamic short-term variations and
with large annual and interannual variations; deep continental shelf
floored by glacial deposits varying widely over short distances;
high winds and large waves much of the year; ship icing, especially
May-October; most of region is remote from sources of search and
rescue

Spain
periodic droughts

Spratly Islands
typhoons; numerous reefs and shoals pose a serious
maritime hazard

Sri Lanka
occasional cyclones and tornadoes

Sudan
dust storms and periodic persistent droughts

Suriname
NA

Svalbard
ice floes often block the entrance to Bellsund (a transit
point for coal export) on the west coast and occasionally make parts
of the northeastern coast inaccessible to maritime traffic

Swaziland
drought
Sweden
ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf
of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic

Switzerland
avalanches, landslides, flash floods

Syria
dust storms, sandstorms

Taiwan
earthquakes and typhoons

Tajikistan
earthquakes and floods

Tanzania
flooding on the central plateau during the rainy season;
drought

Thailand
land subsidence in Bangkok area resulting from the
depletion of the water table; droughts

Togo
hot, dry harmattan wind can reduce visibility in north during
winter; periodic droughts

Tokelau
lies in Pacific typhoon belt

Tonga
cyclones (October to April); earthquakes and volcanic activity
on Fonuafo'ou

Trinidad and Tobago

outside usual path of hurricanes and other
tropical storms

Tromelin Island
 NA

Tunisia
NA

Turkey
severe earthquakes, especially in northern Turkey, along an
arc extending from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van

Turkmenistan
NA

Turks and Caicos Islands

frequent hurricanes

Tuvalu
severe tropical storms are usually rare, but, in 1997, there
were three cyclones; low level of islands make them sensitive to
changes in sea level

Uganda
NA

Ukraine
NA

United Arab Emirates

frequent sand and dust storms

United Kingdom
winter windstorms; floods

United States
tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity around
Pacific Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico
coasts; tornadoes in the midwest and southeast; mud slides in
California; forest fires in the west; flooding; permafrost in
northern Alaska, a major impediment to development

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges

 Baker, Howland, and
Jarvis Islands: the narrow fringing reef surrounding the island can
be a maritime hazard
Kingman Reef: wet or awash most of the time, maximum elevation of
less than 1 m makes Kingman Reef a maritime hazard
Midway Islands, Johnston, and Palmyra Atolls: NA

Uruguay
seasonally high winds (the pampero is a chilly and
occasional violent wind that blows north from the Argentine pampas),
droughts, floods; because of the absence of mountains, which act as
weather barriers, all locations are particularly vulnerable to rapid
changes from weather fronts

Uzbekistan
NA

Vanuatu
tropical cyclones or typhoons (January to April); volcanic
eruption on Aoba (Ambae) island began 27 November 2005, volcanism
also causes minor earthquakes; tsunamis

Venezuela
subject to floods, rockslides, mudslides; periodic droughts

Vietnam
occasional typhoons (May to January) with extensive
flooding, especially in the Mekong River delta

Virgin Islands
several hurricanes in recent years; frequent and
severe droughts and floods; occasional earthquakes

Wake Island
occasional typhoons

Wallis and Futuna

NA

West Bank
 droughts

Western Sahara
hot, dry, dust/sand-laden sirocco wind can occur
during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of
time, often severely restricting visibility

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

Yemen
sandstorms and dust storms in summer

Zambia
periodic drought, tropical storms (November to April)

Zimbabwe
recurring droughts; floods and severe storms are rare

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2022 People - note

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

Ashmore and Cartier Islands

the landing of illegal immigrants from
Indonesia's Rote Island has become an ongoing problem
Cook Islands
2001 census counted a resident population of 15,017

Cuba
illicit migration is a continuing problem; Cubans attempt to
depart the island and enter the US using homemade rafts, alien
smugglers, direct flights, or falsified visas; Cubans also use
non-maritime routes to enter the US including direct flights to
Miami and over-land via the southwest border

Greece
women, men, and children are trafficked to and within Greece
for the purposes of sexual exploitation and forced labor

Rwanda
Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa

Turks and Caicos Islands

destination and transit point for illegal
Haitian immigrants bound for the Turks and Caicos Islands, The
Bahamas, and US

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2023 Area - comparative

Afghanistan
slightly smaller than Texas

Akrotiri
about 0.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Albania
 slightly smaller than Maryland

Algeria
slightly less than 3.5 times the size of Texas

American Samoa
slightly larger than Washington, DC

Andorra
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Angola
slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Anguilla
about half the size of Washington, DC

Antarctica
slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US

Antigua and Barbuda

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Arctic Ocean
slightly less than 1.5 times the size of the US

Argentina
slightly less than three-tenths the size of the US

Armenia
slightly smaller than Maryland

Aruba
slightly larger than Washington, DC

Ashmore and Cartier Islands

about eight times the size of The Mall
in Washington, DC

Atlantic Ocean
 slightly less than 6.5 times the size of the US

Australia
slightly smaller than the US contiguous 48 states

Austria
slightly smaller than Maine

Azerbaijan
slightly smaller than Maine

Bahamas, The
slightly smaller than Connecticut

Bahrain
3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Baker Island
about 2.5 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Bangladesh
slightly smaller than Iowa

Barbados
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Bassas da India
about one-third the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC

Belarus
slightly smaller than Kansas

Belgium
about the size of Maryland

Belize
slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Benin
 slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Bermuda
about one-third the size of Washington, DC

Bhutan
about half the size of Indiana

Bolivia
slightly less than three times the size of Montana

Bosnia and Herzegovina

slightly smaller than West Virginia

Botswana
slightly smaller than Texas

Bouvet Island
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Brazil
slightly smaller than the US

British Indian Ocean Territory

land area is about 0.3 times the size
of Washington, DC

British Virgin Islands

about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC

Brunei
slightly smaller than Delaware

Bulgaria
slightly larger than Tennessee

Burkina Faso
slightly larger than Colorado

Burma
 slightly smaller than Texas

Burundi
slightly smaller than Maryland

Cambodia
slightly smaller than Oklahoma

Cameroon
slightly larger than California

Canada
somewhat larger than the US

Cape Verde
slightly larger than Rhode Island

Cayman Islands
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Central African Republic

slightly smaller than Texas

Chad
slightly more than three times the size of California

Chile
slightly smaller than twice the size of Montana

China
slightly smaller than the US

Christmas Island
about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC

Clipperton Island
about 12 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

 about 24 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Colombia
slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Comoros
slightly more than 12 times the size of Washington, DC

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

slightly less than one-fourth the
size of the US

Congo, Republic of the

slightly smaller than Montana

Cook Islands
1.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Coral Sea Islands

NA

Costa Rica
slightly smaller than West Virginia

Cote d'Ivoire
slightly larger than New Mexico

Croatia
slightly smaller than West Virginia

Cuba
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Cyprus
about 0.6 times the size of Connecticut

Czech Republic
slightly smaller than South Carolina
Denmark
slightly less than twice the size of Massachusetts

Dhekelia
about three-quarters the size of Washington, DC

Djibouti
slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Dominica
slightly more than four times the size of Washington, DC

Dominican Republic
slightly more than twice the size of New Hampshire

East Timor
slightly larger than Connecticut

Ecuador
slightly smaller than Nevada

Egypt
slightly more than three times the size of New Mexico

El Salvador
slightly smaller than Massachusetts

Equatorial Guinea
slightly smaller than Maryland

Eritrea
slightly larger than Pennsylvania

Estonia
slightly smaller than New Hampshire and Vermont combined

Ethiopia
slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Europa Island
 about 0.16 times the size of Washington, DC

European Union
less than one-half the size of the US

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

slightly smaller than Connecticut

Faroe Islands
eight times the size of Washington, DC

Fiji
slightly smaller than New Jersey

Finland
slightly smaller than Montana

France
slightly less than the size of Texas

French Polynesia
slightly less than one-third the size of Connecticut

French Southern and Antarctic Lands

slightly less than 1.3 times the
size of Delaware

Gabon
slightly smaller than Colorado

Gambia, The
slightly less than twice the size of Delaware

Gaza Strip
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Georgia
slightly smaller than South Carolina

Germany
 slightly smaller than Montana

Ghana
slightly smaller than Oregon

Gibraltar
about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Glorioso Islands
about eight times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Greece
slightly smaller than Alabama

Greenland
slightly more than three times the size of Texas

Grenada
twice the size of Washington, DC

Guam
three times the size of Washington, DC

Guatemala
slightly smaller than Tennessee

Guernsey
about one-half the size of Washington, DC

Guinea
slightly smaller than Oregon

Guinea-Bissau
slightly less than three times the size of Connecticut

Guyana
slightly smaller than Idaho

Haiti
 slightly smaller than Maryland

Heard Island and McDonald Islands

slightly more than two times the
size of Washington, DC

Holy See (Vatican City)

about 0.7 times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Honduras
slightly larger than Tennessee

Hong Kong
six times the size of Washington, DC

Howland Island
about three times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC

Hungary
slightly smaller than Indiana

Iceland
slightly smaller than Kentucky

Iles Eparses
Bassas da India: land area about one-third the size of
The Mall in Washington, DC
Europa Island: about one-sixth the size of Washington, DC
Glorioso Islands: about eight times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Juan de Nova Island: about seven times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Tromelin Island: about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC

India
slightly more than one-third the size of the US
Indian Ocean
about 5.5 times the size of the US

Indonesia
slightly less than three times the size of Texas

Iran
slightly larger than Alaska

Iraq
slightly more than twice the size of Idaho

Ireland
slightly larger than West Virginia

Isle of Man
slightly more than three times the size of Washington, DC

Israel
slightly smaller than New Jersey

Italy
slightly larger than Arizona

Jamaica
slightly smaller than Connecticut

Jan Mayen
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Japan
slightly smaller than California

Jarvis Island
about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC

Jersey
about two-thirds the size of Washington, DC
Johnston Atoll
about 4.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Jordan
slightly smaller than Indiana

Juan de Nova Island

about seven times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC

Kazakhstan
slightly less than four times the size of Texas

Kenya
slightly more than twice the size of Nevada

Kingman Reef
about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Kiribati
four times the size of Washington, DC

Korea, North
slightly smaller than Mississippi

Korea, South
slightly larger than Indiana

Kuwait
slightly smaller than New Jersey

Kyrgyzstan
slightly smaller than South Dakota

Laos
slightly larger than Utah

Latvia
slightly larger than West Virginia
Lebanon
about 0.7 times the size of Connecticut

Lesotho
slightly smaller than Maryland

Liberia
slightly larger than Tennessee

Libya
slightly larger than Alaska

Liechtenstein
about 0.9 times the size of Washington, DC

Lithuania
slightly larger than West Virginia

Luxembourg
slightly smaller than Rhode Island

Macau
less than one-sixth the size of Washington, DC

Macedonia
slightly larger than Vermont

Madagascar
slightly less than twice the size of Arizona

Malawi
slightly smaller than Pennsylvania

Malaysia
slightly larger than New Mexico

Maldives
about 1.7 times the size of Washington, DC

Mali
 slightly less than twice the size of Texas

Malta
slightly less than twice the size of Washington, DC

Marshall Islands
about the size of Washington, DC

Mauritania
slightly larger than three times the size of New Mexico

Mauritius
almost 11 times the size of Washington, DC

Mayotte
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Mexico
slightly less than three times the size of Texas

Micronesia, Federated States of

four times the size of Washington,
DC (land area only)

Midway Islands
about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC

Moldova
slightly larger than Maryland

Monaco
about three times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Mongolia
slightly smaller than Alaska

Montenegro
slightly smaller than Connecticut
Montserrat
about 0.6 times the size of Washington, DC

Morocco
slightly larger than California

Mozambique
slightly less than twice the size of California

Namibia
slightly more than half the size of Alaska

Nauru
about 0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Navassa Island
about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC

Nepal
slightly larger than Arkansas

Netherlands
slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Netherlands Antilles
more than five times the size of Washington, DC

New Caledonia
slightly smaller than New Jersey

New Zealand
about the size of Colorado

Nicaragua
slightly smaller than the state of New York

Niger
slightly less than twice the size of Texas
Nigeria
slightly more than twice the size of California

Niue
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Norfolk Island
about 0.2 times the size of Washington, DC

Northern Mariana Islands

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Norway
slightly larger than New Mexico

Oman
slightly smaller than Kansas

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

Pakistan
slightly less than twice the size of California

Palau
slightly more than 2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Palmyra Atoll
about 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Panama
slightly smaller than South Carolina

Papua New Guinea

slightly larger than California

Paracel Islands
NA
Paraguay
slightly smaller than California

Peru
slightly smaller than Alaska

Philippines
slightly larger than Arizona

Pitcairn Islands
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Poland
slightly smaller than New Mexico

Portugal
slightly smaller than Indiana

Puerto Rico
slightly less than three times the size of Rhode Island

Qatar
slightly smaller than Connecticut

Romania
slightly smaller than Oregon

Russia
approximately 1.8 times the size of the US

Rwanda
slightly smaller than Maryland

Saint Helena
slightly more than twice the size of Washington, DC

Saint Kitts and Nevis

1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Saint Lucia
 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

twice the size of Washington, DC

Samoa
slightly smaller than Rhode Island

San Marino
about 0.3 times the size of Washington, DC

Sao Tome and Principe

more than five times the size of Washington, DC

Saudi Arabia
slightly more than one-fifth the size of the US

Senegal
slightly smaller than South Dakota

Serbia
slightly larger than South Carolina

Seychelles
2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Sierra Leone
slightly smaller than South Carolina

Singapore
slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Slovakia
about twice the size of New Hampshire

Slovenia
slightly smaller than New Jersey
Solomon Islands
slightly smaller than Maryland

Somalia
slightly smaller than Texas

South Africa
slightly less than twice the size of Texas

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

slightly larger than
Rhode Island

Southern Ocean
slightly more than twice the size of the US

Spain
slightly more than twice the size of Oregon

Spratly Islands
NA

Sri Lanka
slightly larger than West Virginia

Sudan
slightly more than one-quarter the size of the US

Suriname
slightly larger than Georgia

Svalbard
slightly smaller than West Virginia

Swaziland
slightly smaller than New Jersey

Sweden
slightly larger than California
Switzerland
slightly less than twice the size of New Jersey

Syria
slightly larger than North Dakota

Taiwan
slightly smaller than Maryland and Delaware combined

Tajikistan
slightly smaller than Wisconsin

Tanzania
slightly larger than twice the size of California

Thailand
slightly more than twice the size of Wyoming

Togo
slightly smaller than West Virginia

Tokelau
about 17 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Tonga
four times the size of Washington, DC

Trinidad and Tobago

slightly smaller than Delaware

Tromelin Island
about 1.7 times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC

Tunisia
slightly larger than Georgia

Turkey
slightly larger than Texas

Turkmenistan
slightly larger than California

Turks and Caicos Islands

2.5 times the size of Washington, DC

Tuvalu
0.1 times the size of Washington, DC

Uganda
slightly smaller than Oregon

Ukraine
slightly smaller than Texas

United Arab Emirates

slightly smaller than Maine

United Kingdom
slightly smaller than Oregon

United States
about half the size of Russia; about three-tenths the
 size of Africa; about half the size of South America (or slightly
larger than Brazil); slightly larger than China; almost two and a
half times the size of the European Union

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges

Baker Island: about
two and a half times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Howland Island: about three times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Jarvis Island: about eight times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Johnston Atoll: about four and a half times the size of The Mall in
Washington, DC
Kingman Reef: a little more than one and a half times the size of
The Mall in Washington, DC
Midway Islands: about nine times the size of The Mall in Washington,
DC
Palmyra Atoll: about 20 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC

Uruguay
slightly smaller than the state of Washington

Uzbekistan
slightly larger than California

Vanuatu
slightly larger than Connecticut

Venezuela
slightly more than twice the size of California

Vietnam
slightly larger than New Mexico

Virgin Islands
twice the size of Washington, DC

Wake Island
about 11 times the size of The Mall in Washington, DC
Wallis and Futuna
1.5 times the size of Washington, DC

West Bank
slightly smaller than Delaware

Western Sahara
about the size of Colorado

World
land area about 16 times the size of the US

Yemen
slightly larger than twice the size of Wyoming

Zambia
slightly larger than Texas

Zimbabwe
slightly larger than Montana

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2024 Military service age and obligation (years of age)

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

Albania
19 years of age (2004)

Algeria
 19-30 years of age for compulsory military service;
conscript service obligation - 18 months (6 months basic training,
12 months civil projects) (2006)

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

Antigua and Barbuda

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

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

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

Australia
16 years of age for voluntary service; women allowed to
serve in Army combat units in non-combat support roles (2001)

Austria
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 eight months to six
(2005)

Azerbaijan
men between 18 and 35 are liable for military service; 18
years of age for voluntary military service; length of military
service is 18 months and 12 months for university graduates (2006)

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

Bahrain
 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Bangladesh
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (2005)

Barbados
18 years of age for voluntary military service; volunteers
at earlier age with parental consent; no conscription (2001)

Belarus
18-27 years of age for compulsory military service;
conscript service obligation - 18 months (2005)

Belgium
16 years of age for voluntary military service; women
comprise approx. 7% of the Belgian armed forces (2001)

Belize
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)

Benin
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)

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

Bolivia
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)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

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 four months (July 2004)

Botswana
18 is the apparent age of voluntary military service; the
official qualifications for determining minimum age are unknown
(2001)

Brazil
21-45 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - nine to 12 months; 17-45 years of age for
voluntary service; an increasing percentage of the ranks are
"long-service" volunteer professionals; women were allowed to serve
in the armed forces beginning in early 1980s when the Brazilian Army
became the first army in South America to accept women into career
ranks; women serve in Navy and Air Force only in Women's Reserve
Corps (2001)

Brunei
18 years of age (est.) (2004)

Bulgaria
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; conscript service obligation - 9 months; as of May 2006,
67% of the Bulgarian Army comprised of professional soldiers;
conscription into the Army to end as of 1 January 2008; Air and Air
Defense Forces and Naval Forces will become fully professional by
end of 2006 (2006)

Burkina Faso
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 20
 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Burma
18 years of age for voluntary military service for both sexes
(2004)

Burundi
16 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service (2001)

Cambodia
conscription law made effective in October 2006 requires
all males between 18-30 to register for military service; service
obligation is 18 months (2006)

Cameroon
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no
conscription (1999)

Canada
16 years of age for voluntary military service; women
comprise approximately 11% of Canada's armed forces (2001)

Central African Republic

18 years of age for voluntary and
compulsory military service; conscript service obligation is two
years (2005)

Chad
20 years of age for conscripts, with three-year service
obligation; 18 years of age for volunteers; no minimum age
restriction for volunteers with consent from a guardian; women are
subject to one year of compulsory military or civic service at age
of 21 (2004)

Chile
all male citizens 18-45 are obligated to perform military
service; conscript service obligation - 12 months for Army, 24
months for Navy and Air Force (2004)
China
18-22 years of age for compulsory military service, with
24-month service obligation; no minimum age for voluntary service
(all officers are volunteers); 18-22 years of age for women who meet
requirements for specific military jobs (2006)

Colombia
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; conscript service obligation - 24 months (2004)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

18-45 years of age for military
service

Congo, Republic of the

18 years of age for voluntary military
service (2001)

Costa Rica
18 years of age (2004)

Cote d'Ivoire
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)

Croatia
18 years of age for compulsory military service, with
six-month service obligation; 16 years of age with consent for
voluntary service (December 2004)

Cuba
17 years of age; both sexes are eligible for military service
(2004)

Cyprus
18 years of age (2004)

Czech Republic
18-50 years of age for voluntary military service;
on-going transformation of military service into a fully
 professional, all-volunteer force no longer dependent on
conscription began in January 2004 and is scheduled to be completed
by 2007 (2005)

Denmark
18 years of age for compulsory and volunteer military
service; conscripts serve an initial training period that varies
from four to 12 months according to specialization; reservists are
assigned to mobilization units following completion of their
conscript service; women eligible to volunteer for military service
(2004)

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

Dominican Republic
18 years of age for voluntary military service
(2001)

East Timor
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Ecuador
20 years of age for conscript military service; 12-month
service obligation (2004)

Egypt
18 years of age for conscript military service; three-year
service obligation (2001)

El Salvador
18 years of age for compulsory military service, with
12-month service obligation; 16 years of age for volunteers (2002)

Equatorial Guinea
18 years of age (est.) (2004)

Eritrea
18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military
service; conscript service obligation - 16 months (2004)
Estonia
compulsory military service for men between 19 and 28;
conscription lasts 11 months for junior NCOs and reserve platoon
leaders; reserve officers and designated specialists have a
different conscript service obligation; Estonia has committed to
retaining conscription for men up to 2010 and, unlike Latvia and
Lithuania, has no plan to transition to a contract armed forces; 17
years of age for volunteers; reserve commitment up to the age of 60
(2006)

Ethiopia
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service (2001)

Fiji
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Finland
18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military
service (October 2004)

France
17 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription
ended in the 1990s; women serve in non-combat military posts (2001)

Gabon
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service
(2001)

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

Georgia
18 to 34 years of age for compulsory and voluntary active
duty military service; conscript service obligation - 18 months
(2005)

Germany
18 years of age (conscripts serve a nine-month tour of
 compulsory military service) (2004)

Ghana
18 years of age for compulsory and volunteer military service
(2001)

Greece
18 years of age for compulsory military service; during
wartime the law allows for recruitment beginning 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, Air Force; 15 months for Navy; women are eligible for
military service (2005)

Guatemala
all male citizens between the ages of 18 and 50 are liable
for military service; conscript service obligation varies from 12 to
24 months (2005)

Guinea
18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - 24 months (2004)

Guinea-Bissau
18 years of age for compulsory military service (2001)

Haiti
18 years of age for voluntary recruitment into the police
force (2001)

Honduras
18 years of age for voluntary two-three year military
service (2004)

Hong Kong
18 years of age (2004)

Hungary
18 years of age for voluntary military service; conscription
abolished in June 2004 (2004)
India
16 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Indonesia
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; conscript service obligation - two years (2002)

Iran
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)

Iraq
all volunteer force; the Iraqi 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 (2006)

Ireland
17 years of age for voluntary military service; enlistees
under the age of 17 can be recruited for specialist positions (2001)

Israel
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)

Italy
voluntary military service; conscription abolished January
2005 (2006)

Jamaica
18 years of age for voluntary military service; younger
recruits may be conscripted with parental consent (2001)

Japan
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Jordan
 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; women not subject to conscription, but can
volunteer to serve in non-combat military positions (2004)

Kazakhstan
18 years of age for compulsory military service;
conscript service obligation - two years; minimum age for volunteers
NA (2004)

Kenya
18 years of age (est.) (2004)

Korea, North
17 years of age (2004)

Korea, South
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,
but excluded from artillery, armor, anti-air, and chaplaincy corps
(2005)

Kuwait
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; 1 month annual training to age 40; women have served in
police forces since 1999 (2001)

Kyrgyzstan
18 years of age for compulsory military service (2001)

Laos
15 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - minimum 18 months (2004)

Latvia
19 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
 service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for volunteers;
plans are to phase out conscription, tentatively moving to an
all-professional force by 2007; under current law, every citizen is
entitled to serve in the armed forces for life (2004)

Lebanon
18-30 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; conscript service obligation - 12 months (2004)

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

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

Libya
17 years of age (2004)

Lithuania
19-45 years of age for compulsory military service,
conscript service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for
volunteers (2004)

Luxembourg
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)

Macedonia
conscription to be phased out by 2007; current tour of
conscript duty is six months; 18 years of age for voluntary military
service (2005)

Madagascar
18-50 years of age; conscript service obligation - 18
months (either military or equivalent civil service) (2004)

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

Malaysia
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2005)

Maldives
18 years of age (est.) (2004)

Mali
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service;
conscript service obligation - two years (2004)

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

Mauritania
18 years of age (est.); conscript service obligation -
two years; majority of servicemen believed to be volunteers; service
in Air Force and Navy is voluntary (April 2005)

Mexico
18 years of age for compulsory military service, conscript
service obligation - 12 months; 16 years of age with consent for
voluntary enlistment (2004)

Moldova
18 years of age for compulsory military service; national
service obligation - 12 months (2004)

Mongolia
18-25 years of age for compulsory military service;
conscript service obligation - 12 months in land or air defense
forces or police; a small portion of Mongolian land forces (2.5
percent) is comprised of contract soldiers; women cannot be deployed
overseas for military operations (2006)

Montenegro
compulsory national military service abolished August 2006
Morocco
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; conscript service obligation - 18 months (2004)

Namibia
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Nepal
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Netherlands
20 years of age for an all-volunteer force (2004)

Netherlands Antilles
16 years of age for National Guard recruitment;
no conscription (2004)

New Zealand
17 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers
cannot be deployed until the age of 18 (2001)

Nicaragua
17 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Niger
18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - two years (2004)

Nigeria
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2006)

Norway
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)

Oman
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)
Pakistan
16 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers
cannot be deployed for combat until age of 18; the Pakistani Air
Force and Pakistani Navy have inducted their first female pilots and
sailors (2006)

Papua New Guinea

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

Paraguay
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; conscript service obligation - 12 months for Army, 24
months for Navy (2004)

Peru
18 years of age for compulsory military service (1999)

Philippines
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service (2001)

Poland
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 noncommissioned officers (2004)

Portugal
18 years of age for voluntary military service; compulsory
military service was ended in 2004; women serve in the armed forces,
on naval ships since 1993, but are prohibited from serving in some
combatant specialties (2005)

Qatar
18 years of age for voluntary military service; land forces
enlisted personnel are largely unprofessional foreign nationals
 (2005)

Romania
all military inductees (including women) are volunteers who
contract for an initial five-year term of service; subsequent
voluntary service contracts are for successive three-year terms
until the age of 36; minimum age for voluntary military service is
18 (2006)

Russia
Russia has adopted a mixed conscript-contract force; 18-27
years of age; males are registered for the draft at 17 years of age;
length of compulsory military service is two years; plans call for
reduction in mandatory service to 18 months in 2007 and to one year
by 2008; 30% of Russian army personnel were contract servicemen at
the end of 2005; planning calls for volunteer servicemen to compose
70% of armed forces by 2010, with the remaining servicemen
consisting of conscripts; as of November 2006, the Armed Forces had
more than 60 units manned with contract personnel totalling over
78,000 contract privates and sergeants; 88 Ministry of Defense units
have been designated as permanent readiness units and are expected
to become all-volunteer by end 2007; these include most air force,
naval, and nuclear arms units, as well as all airborne and naval
infantry units, most motorized rifle brigades, and all special
forces detachments (2006)

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

Saint Kitts and Nevis

18 years of age (est.) (2004)

Sao Tome and Principe

18 years of age (est.) (2004)

Saudi Arabia
18 years of age (est.); no conscription (2004)

Senegal
 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; conscript service obligation - two years (2004)

Serbia
peacetime service obligation begins at age 17 and lasts until
age 60 for men and 50 for women; under a state of war or impending
war, the obligation can begin at age 16 and be extended beyond 60
(2006)

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

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

Singapore
18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years
of age for volunteers; conscript service obligation reduced to 24
months beginning December 2004 (2004)

Slovakia
complete transition to an all-volunteer professional force
went into effect at the beginning of 2006 after 140 years of
mandatory army service; volunteers include women, with minimum age
of 17 years (2005)

Slovenia
17 years of age for voluntary military service;
conscription abolished in 2003 (2004)

Somalia
18 years of age (est.) (2001)

South Africa
18 years of age for voluntary military service; women
have a long history of military service in noncombat roles, dating
back to World War I (2004)

Spain
20 years of age (2004)
Sri Lanka
18 years of age for voluntary military service (2001)

Sudan
18-30 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - three years (August 2004)

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

Swaziland
18-30 years of age for voluntary military service; both
sexes are eligible for military service (2005)

Sweden
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
age of 47 (2004)

Switzerland
the Swiss Constitution states that "every Swiss male is
obliged 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)

Syria
18 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - 30 months (18 months in the Syrian Arab Navy);
women are not conscripted but may volunteer to serve (2004)

Taiwan
19-35 years of age for military service; service obligation
16 months (to be shortened to 12 months in 2008); women in Air Force
service are restricted to noncombat roles (2005)
Tajikistan
18 years of age for compulsory military service;
conscript service obligation - two years (2004)

Tanzania
15 years of age for voluntary military service; 18 years of
age for compulsory military service upon graduation from secondary
school; conscript service obligation - two years (2004)

Thailand
21 years of age for compulsory military service; males are
registered at 18 years of age; conscript service obligation - two
years; 18 years of age for voluntary military service (2004)

Togo
18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military service
(2001)

Tonga
18 years of age (est.) (2004)

Trinidad and Tobago

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

Tunisia
20 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript
service obligation - 12 months; 18 years of age for voluntary
military service (2004)

Turkey
20 years of age (2004)

Turkmenistan
18 years of age for compulsory military service;
conscript service obligation - two years (2004)

Uganda
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"

Ukraine
18-25 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; conscript service obligation - 18 months for Army and Air
Force, 24 months for Navy (2004)

United Arab Emirates

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

United Kingdom
16 years of age for voluntary military service; women
serve in military services, but are excluded from ground combat
positions and some naval postings (2004)

United States
18 years of age; 17 years of age with written parental
consent (2006)

Uruguay
18 years of age for voluntary and compulsory military
service (2001)

Uzbekistan
18 years of age for compulsory military service;
conscript service obligation - 12 months (2004)

Venezuela
18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military
service; conscript service obligation - 30 months (2004)

Vietnam
18 years of age (male) for compulsory military service;
females may volunteer for active duty military service; conscript
service obligation - 2 years (3-4 years in the navy); 18-45 years of
age (male) or 18-40 years of age (female) for Militia Force or Self
Defense Forces (2006)

Yemen
 in May 2001, Yemen's National Defense Council abolished
compulsory military service and authorized a voluntary program for
military service (2004)

Zambia
18 years of age (est.) (2004)

Zimbabwe
18 years of age (est.) (2004)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2025 Manpower fit for military service

Afghanistan
males age 22-49: 2,662,946
females age 22-49: 2,508,574 (2005 est.)

Albania
males age 19-49: 668,526
females age 19-49: 648,334 (2005 est.)

Algeria
males age 19-49: 6,590,079
females age 19-49: 6,711,285 (2005 est.)

Andorra
males age 18-49: 14,721 (2005 est.)

Angola
males age 17-49: 1,282,195
females age 17-49: 1,256,390 (2005 est.)
Anguilla
males age 18-49: 2,986 (2005 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda

males age 18-49: 14,859
females age 18-49: 14,947 (2005 est.)

Argentina
males age 18-49: 7,316,038
females age 18-49: 7,442,589 (2005 est.)

Armenia
males age 18-49: 551,938
females age 18-49: 656,493 (2005 est.)

Aruba
males age 18-49: 13,219 (2005 est.)

Australia
males age 16-49: 4,092,717
females age 16-49: 3,983,447 (2005 est.)

Austria
males age 18-49: 1,550,441
females age 18-49: 1,515,365 (2005 est.)

Azerbaijan
males age 18-49: 1,314,955
females age 18-49: 1,676,408 (2005 est.)

Bahamas, The
males age 18-49: 44,309 (2005 est.)

Bahrain
males age 18-49: 161,372
females age 18-49: 125,488 (2005 est.)

Bangladesh
males age 18-49: 26,841,255 (2005 est.)
Barbados
males age 18-49: 54,510
females age 18-49: 54,889 (2005 est.)

Belarus
males age 18-49: 1,657,984
females age 18-49: 2,102,793 (2005 est.)

Belgium
males age 16-49: 1,998,003
females age 16-49: 1,940,918 (2005 est.)

Belize
males age 18-49: 44,238
females age 18-49: 43,633 (2005 est.)

Benin
males age 21-49: 749,774
females age 21-49: 751,329 (2005 est.)

Bermuda
males age 18-49: 12,165 (2005 est.)

Bhutan
males age 18-49: 314,975
females age 18-49: 296,833 (2005 est.)

Bolivia
males age 18-49: 1,311,414
females age 18-49: 1,502,177 (2005 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

males age 18-49: 910,539
females age 18-49: 881,446 (2005 est.)

Botswana
males age 18-49: 136,322
females age 18-49: 136,315 (2005 est.)

Brazil
 males age 19-49: 33,119,098
females age 19-49: 38,079,722 (2005 est.)

British Virgin Islands

males age 18-49: 5,295 (2005 est.)

Brunei
males age 18-49: 85,045
females age 18-49: 77,436 (2005 est.)

Bulgaria
males age 18-49: 1,302,037
females age 18-49: 1,365,126 (2005 est.)

Burkina Faso
males age 18-49: 1,530,324 (2005 est.)

Burma
males age 18-49: 7,946,701
females age 18-49: 8,543,705 (2005 est.)

Burundi
males age 16-49: 955,616
females age 16-49: 932,767 (2005 est.)

Cambodia
males age 18-49: 1,955,141
females age 18-49: 2,048,611 (2005 est.)

Cameroon
males age 18-49: 1,946,767
females age 18-49: 1,834,600 (2005 est.)

Canada
males age 16-49: 6,740,490
females age 16-49: 6,580,868 (2005 est.)

Cape Verde
males age 18-49: 65,614
females age 18-49: 73,662 (2005 est.)
Cayman Islands
males age 18-49: 8,600 (2005 est.)

Central African Republic

males age 18-49: 416,091
females age 18-49: 383,056 (2005 est.)

Chad
males age 20-49: 794,988
females age 20-49: 849,500 (2005 est.)

Chile
males age 18-49: 3,123,281
females age 18-49: 3,128,277 (2005 est.)

China
males age 18-49: 281,240,272
females age 18-49: 269,025,517 (2005 est.)

Colombia
males age 18-49: 6,986,228
females age 18-49: 8,794,465 (2005 est.)

Comoros
males age 18-49: 98,792
females age 18-49: 106,415 (2005 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

males age 18-49: 6,464,223 (2005
est.)

Congo, Republic of the

males age 18-49: 406,016
females age 18-49: 394,745 (2005 est.)

Costa Rica
males age 18-49: 829,874
females age 18-49: 809,343 (2005 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
 males age 18-49: 1,973,265
females age 18-49: 1,911,777 (2005 est.)

Croatia
males age 18-49: 725,914
females age 18-49: 823,611 (2005 est.)

Cuba
males age 17-49: 2,441,927
females age 17-49: 2,396,741 (2005 est.)

Cyprus
Greek Cyriot National Guard (GCNG):
males age 18-49: 150,750
females age 18-49: 144,344 (2005 est.)

Czech Republic
males age 18-49: 1,996,631
females age 18-49: 1,923,508 (2005 est.)

Denmark
males age 18-49: 955,168
females age 18-49: 935,643 (2005 est.)

Djibouti
males age 18-49: 46,020
females age 18-49: 42,181 (2005 est.)

Dominica
males age 18-49: 15,136 (2005 est.)

Dominican Republic
males age 18-49: 1,671,493
females age 18-49: 1,536,257 (2005 est.)

East Timor
males age 18-49: 179,422
females age 18-49: 184,533 (2005 est.)

Ecuador
 males age 20-49: 2,338,428
females age 20-49: 2,380,327 (2005 est.)

Egypt
males age 18-49: 15,540,234
females age 18-49: 14,939,378 (2005 est.)

El Salvador
males age 18-49: 960,315
females age 18-49: 1,310,466 (2005 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
males age 18-49: 56,462
females age 18-49: 59,260 (2005 est.)

Eritrea
males age 18-49: 555,553
females age 18-49: 562,426 (2005)

Estonia
males age 18-49: 200,382 (in 2004, 51% of the young men
called up for service were determined to be unfit; main obstacles to
conscription were psychiatric and behavioral)
females age 18-49: 250,351 (2005 est.)

Ethiopia
males age 18-49: 8,072,755
females age 18-49: 7,902,660 (2005 est.)

Faroe Islands
males age 18-49: 8,852 (2005 est.)

Fiji
males age 18-49: 163,960
females age 18-49: 178,714 (2005 est.)

Finland
males age 18-49: 913,617
females age 18-49: 875,689 (2005 est.)
France
males age 17-49: 11,262,661
females age 17-49: 11,079,472 (2005 est.)

French Polynesia
males age 18-49: 55,305 (2005 est.)

Gabon
males age 18-49: 159,198
females age 18-49: 156,122 (2005 est.)

Gambia, The
males age 18-49: 183,057
females age 18-49: 194,551 (2005 est.)

Gaza Strip
males age 18-49: 221,530 (2005 est.)

Georgia
males age 18-49: 827,281
females age 18-49: 903,791 (2005 est.)

Germany
males age 18-49: 15,258,931
females age 18-49: 14,443,412 (2005 est.)

Ghana
males age 18-49: 3,011,081
females age 18-49: 2,991,551 (2005 est.)

Gibraltar
males age 18-49: 4,893 (2005 est.)

Greece
males age 18-49: 2,018,557
females age 18-49: 2,000,650 (2005 est.)

Greenland
males age 18-49: 10,199 (2005 est.)
Grenada
males age 18-49: 17,483 (2005 est.)

Guatemala
males age 18-49: 1,911,412
females age 18-49: 2,070,806 (2005 est.)

Guinea
males age 18-49: 1,034,006
females age 18-49: 1,032,885 (2005 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
males age 18-49: 152,681
females age 18-49: 161,033 (2005 est.)

Guyana
males age 18-49: 137,964 (2005 est.)

Haiti
males age 18-49: 948,320
females age 18-49: 931,972 (2005 est.)

Honduras
males age 18-49: 1,100,991
females age 18-49: 1,121,649 (2005 est.)

Hong Kong
males age 18-49: 1,403,088
females age 18-49: 1,527,278 (2005 est.)

Hungary
males age 18-49: 1,780,513
females age 18-49: 1,864,580 (2005 est.)

Iceland
males age 18-49: 56,777 (2005 est.)

India
males age 16-49: 219,471,999
females age 16-49: 209,917,553 (2005 est.)
Indonesia
males age 18-49: 48,687,234
females age 18-49: 50,252,911 (2005 est.)

Iran
males age 18-49: 15,665,725
females age 18-49: 15,005,597 (2005 est.)

Iraq
males age 18-49: 4,930,074
females age 18-49: 4,771,105 (2005 est.)

Ireland
males age 17-49: 814,768
females age 17-49: 813,981 (2005 est.)

Israel
males age 17-49: 1,255,902
females age 17-49: 1,212,394 (2005 est.)

Italy
males age 18-49: 10,963,513
females age 18-49: 10,452,189 (2005 est.)

Jamaica
males age 18-49: 478,761
females age 18-49: 504,541 (2005 est.)

Japan
males age 18-49: 22,234,663
females age 18-49: 21,494,947 (2005 est.)

Jordan
males age 17-49: 1,348,076
females age 17-49: 1,158,011 (2005 est.)

Kazakhstan
males age 18-49: 2,473,529
females age 18-49: 3,168,048 (2005 est.)
Kenya
males age 18-49: 3,963,532
females age 18-49: 3,471,926 (2005 est.)

Kiribati
males age 18-49: 14,231 (2005 est.)

Korea, North
males age 17-49: 4,810,831
females age 17-49: 4,853,270 (2005 est.)

Korea, South
males age 20-49: 10,115,817
females age 20-49: 9,721,914 (2005 est.)

Kuwait
males age 18-49: 737,292
females age 18-49: 405,207 (2005 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
males age 18-49: 871,493
females age 18-49: 1,024,568 (2005 est.)

Laos
males age 15-49: 954,816
females age 15-49: 1,006,082 (2005 est.)

Latvia
males age 19-49: 361,098
females age 19-49: 422,913 (2005 est.)

Lebanon
males age 18-49: 821,762
females age 18-49: 865,770 (2005 est.)

Lesotho
males age 18-49: 180,797
females age 18-49: 160,681 (2005 est.)

Liberia
 males age 18-49: 267,430
females age 18-49: 286,231 (2005 est.)

Libya
males age 17-49: 1,291,624
females age 17-49: 1,230,824 (2005 est.)

Liechtenstein
males age 18-49: 6,250 (2005 est.)

Lithuania
males age 19-49: 590,606
females age 19-49: 676,102 (2005 est.)

Luxembourg
males age 17-49: 90,279
females age 17-49: 88,638 (2005 est.)

Macau
males age 18-49: 91,299 (2005 est.)

Macedonia
males age 18-49: 411,156
females age 18-49: 397,839 (2005 est.)

Madagascar
males age 18-49: 2,218,662
females age 18-49: 2,408,810 (2005 est.)

Malawi
males age 18-49: 1,226,802 (2005 est.)

Malaysia
males age 18-49: 4,574,854
females age 18-49: 4,613,321 (2005 est.)

Maldives
males age 18-49: 56,687
females age 18-49: 54,454 (2005 est.)
Mali
males age 18-49: 1,244,176
females age 18-49: 1,226,226 (2005 est.)

Malta
males age 18-49: 74,525
females age 18-49: 71,333 (2005 est.)

Marshall Islands
males age 18-49: 10,792 (2005 est.)

Mauritania
males age 18-49: 370,513
females age 18-49: 384,269 (2005 est.)

Mexico
males age 18-49: 19,058,337
females age 18-49: 21,966,796 (2005 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of

males age 18-49: 18,914 (2005 est.)

Moldova
males age 18-49: 693,913
females age 18-49: 911,568 (2005 est.)

Monaco
males age 18-49: 4,971 (2005 est.)

Mongolia
males age 18-49: 570,435
females age 18-49: 607,918 (2005 est.)

Montserrat
males age 18-49: 1,899 (2005 est.)

Morocco
males age 18-49: 6,484,787
females age 18-49: 6,675,729 (2005 est.)
Mozambique
males age 18-49: 1,751,223 (2005 est.)

Namibia
males age 18-49: 217,118 (2005 est.)

Nepal
males age 18-49: 4.193 million
females age 18-49: 3,853,102 (2005 est.)

Netherlands
males age 20-49: 2,856,691
females age 20-49: 2,786,495 (2005 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
males age 16-49: 45,273
females age 16-49: 47,166 (2005 est.)

New Caledonia
males age 18-49: 40,822 (2005 est.)

New Zealand
males age 17-49: 809,519
females age 17-49: 802,069 (2005 est.)

Nicaragua
males age 17-49: 1,051,425
females age 17-49: 1,129,649 (2005 est.)

Niger
males age 18-49: 1,349,863
females age 18-49: 1,256,569 (2005 est.)

Nigeria
males age 18-49: 15,052,914
females age 18-49: 13,860,806 (2005 est.)

Norway
males age 18-49: 827,016
females age 18-49: 801,358 (2005 est.)
Oman
males age 18-49: 581,444
females age 18-49: 435,107 (2005 est.)

Pakistan
males age 16-49: 29,428,747
females age 16-49: 28,391,887 (2005 est.)

Palau
males age 18-49: 4,087 (2005 est.)

Panama
males age 18-49: 591,604 (2005 est.)

Papua New Guinea

males age 18-49: 902,432
females age 18-49: 894,759 (2005 est.)

Paraguay
males age 18-49: 1,109,166
females age 18-49: 1,135,046 (2005 est.)

Peru
males age 18-49: 4,938,417
females age 18-49: 5,278,511 (2005 est.)

Philippines
males age 18-49: 15,170,096
females age 18-49: 16,931,191 (2005 est.)

Poland
males age 17-49: 7,739,472
females age 17-49: 7,859,165 (2005 est.)

Portugal
males age 18-49: 1,952,819
females age 18-49: 1,977,264 (2005 est.)

Qatar
males age 18-49: 238,566
 females age 18-49: 116,595 (2005 est.)

Romania
males age 20-49: 3,932,579
females age 20-49: 4,076,288 (2005 est.)

Russia
males age 18-49: 21,049,651
females age 18-49: 29,056,021 (2005 est.)

Rwanda
males age 16-49: 1,103,823
females age 16-49: 1,096,644 (2005 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis

males age 18-49: 7,119
females age 18-49: 7,645 (2005 est.)

Saint Lucia
males age 18-49: 33,539 (2005 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

males age 18-49: 25,787 (2005 est.)

Samoa
males age 18-49: 45,294 (2005 est.)

San Marino
males age 18-49: 5,107 (2005 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe

males age 18-49: 25,950
females age 18-49: 28,660 (2005 est.)

Saudi Arabia
males age 18-49: 6,592,709
females age 18-49: 4,659,347 (2005 est.)

Senegal
males age 18-49: 1,558,175
 females age 18-49: 1,642,533 (2005 est.)

Seychelles
males age 18-49: 16,122
females age 18-49: 18,777 (2005 est.)

Sierra Leone
males age 18-49: 539,697 (2005 est.)

Singapore
males age 18-49: 982,368 (2005 est.)

Slovakia
males age 18-49: 1,089,645
females age 18-49: 1,093,077 (2005 est.)

Slovenia
males age 17-49: 405,593
females age 17-49: 397,167 (2005 est.)

Solomon Islands
males age 18-49: 92,796 (2005 est.)

Somalia
males age 18-49: 1,022,360
females age 18-49: 1,038,697 (2005 est.)

South Africa
males age 18-49: 4,927,757
females age 18-49: 4,609,071 (2005 est.)

Spain
males age 20-49: 7,623,356
females age 20-49: 7,434,465 (2005 est.)

Sri Lanka
males age 18-49: 3,789,627
females age 18-49: 4,281,043 (2005 est.)

Sudan
 males age 18-49: 5,427,474
females age 18-49: 5,649,566 (2005 est.)

Suriname
males age 18-49: 77,793
females age 18-49: 72,943 (2005 est.)

Swaziland
males age 18-49: 89,609 (2005 est.)

Sweden
males age 19-49: 1,493,668
females age 19-49: 1,441,257 (2005 est.)

Switzerland
males age 19-49: 1,375,889
females age 19-49: 1,342,945 (2005 est.)

Syria
males age 18-49: 3,453,888
females age 18-49: 3,421,558 (2005 est.)

Taiwan
males age 19-49: 4,749,537
females age 19-49: 4,644,607 (2005 est.)

Tajikistan
males age 18-49: 1,244,941
females age 18-49: 1,297,891 (2005 est.)

Tanzania
males age 18-49: 3,879,630 (2005 est.)

Thailand
males age 21-49: 10,396,032
females age 21-49: 11,487,690 (2005 est.)

Togo
males age 18-49: 696,933
females age 18-49: 707,821 (2005 est.)
Tonga
males age 18-49: 19,840
females age 18-49: 21,342 (2005 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago

males age 18-49: 202,958
females age 18-49: 173,797 (2005 est.)

Tunisia
males age 20-49: 2,035,431
females age 20-49: 2,000,757 (2005 est.)

Turkey
males age 20-49: 13,905,901
females age 20-49: 13,335,812 (2005 est.)

Turkmenistan
males age 18-49: 759,978
females age 18-49: 940,179 (2005 est.)

Uganda
males age 18-49: 2,889,808
females age 18-49: 2,780,135 (2005 est.)

Ukraine
males age 18-49: 7,376,050
females age 18-49: 9,313,385 (2005 est.)

United Arab Emirates

males age 18-49: 526,671
females age 18-49: 419,975 (2005 est.)

United Kingdom
males age 16-49: 12,046,268
females age 16-49: 11,555,893 (2005 est.)

United States
males age 18-49: 54,609,050
females age 18-49: 54,696,706 (2005 est.)
Uruguay
males age 18-49: 637,445
females age 18-49: 631,046 (2005 est.)

Uzbekistan
males age 18-49: 4,609,621
females age 18-49: 5,383,233 (2005 est.)

Vanuatu
males age 18-49: 33,837 (2005 est.)

Venezuela
males age 18-49: 4,907,947
females age 18-49: 5,151,843 (2005 est.)

Vietnam
males age 18-49: 16,032,358
females age 18-49: 17,921,241 (2005 est.)

Yemen
males age 18-49: 2,790,705
females age 18-49: 2,792,406 (2005 est.)

Zambia
males age 18-49: 1,043,702
females age 18-49: 953,328 (2005 est.)

Zimbabwe
males age 18-49: 1,304,424
females age 18-49: 1,115,096 (2005 est.)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2026 Manpower reaching military service age annually

Afghanistan
males age 18-49: 275,362
females age 22-49: 259,935 (2005 est.)

Albania
males age 18-49: 37,407
females age 19-49: 34,587 (2005 est.)

Algeria
males age 18-49: 374,639
females age 19-49: 369,021 (2005 est.)

Andorra
males age 18-49: 369 (2005 est.)

Angola
males age 18-49: 126,694
females age 17-49: 123,586 (2005 est.)

Anguilla
males age 18-49: 120 (2005 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda

males age 18-49: 507
females age 18-49: 494 (2005 est.)

Argentina
males age 18-49: 344,575
females age 18-49: 334,649 (2005 est.)

Armenia
males age 18-49: 31,774
females age 18-49: 31,182 (2005 est.)

Aruba
males age 18-49: 520 (2005 est.)

Australia
males age 18-49: 142,158
females age 16-49: 135,675 (2005 est.)
Austria
males age 18-49: 48,967
females age 18-49: 46,633 (2005 est.)

Azerbaijan
males age 18-49: 82,358
females age 18-49: 78,067 (2005 est.)

Bahamas, The
males age 18-49: 2,804 (2005 est.)

Bahrain
males age 18-49: 6,013
females age 18-49: 5,852 (2005 est.)

Belarus
males age 18-49: 85,202
females age 18-49: 82,037 (2005 est.)

Belgium
males age 18-49: 64,263
females age 16-49: 61,402 (2005 est.)

Belize
males age 18-49: 3,213
females age 18-49: 3,100 (2005 est.)

Benin
males age 18-49: 76,661
females: 75,068 (2005 est.)

Bermuda
males age 18-49: 408 (2005 est.)

Bhutan
males age 18-49: 23,939
females age 18-49: 21,979 (2005 est.)

Bolivia
males age 18-49: 101,101
 females age 18-49: 98,671 (2005 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

males age 18-49: 32,942
females age 18-49: 31,466 (2005 est.)

Botswana
males age 18-49: 21,103
females age 18-49: 21,379 (2005 est.)

Brazil
males age 18-49: 1,785,930
females age 19-49: 1,731,648 (2005 est.)

British Virgin Islands

males age 18-49: 201 (2005 est.)

Brunei
males age 18-49: 3,478
females age 18-49: 3,342 (2005 est.)

Bulgaria
males age 18-49: 51,023
females age 18-49: 48,651 (2005 est.)

Burma
males age 18-49: 469,841
females: 455,689 (2005 est.)

Burundi
males age 18-49: 91,331
females age 16-49: 90,685 (2005 est.)

Cambodia
males age 18-49: 175,497
females age 18-49: 172,788 (2005 est.)

Cameroon
males age 18-49: 191,619
females age 18-49: 187,082 (2005 est.)
Canada
males age 18-49: 223,821
females age 16-49: 212,900 (2005 est.)

Cayman Islands
males age 18-49: 257 (2005 est.)

Chad
males age 18-49: 94,536
females age 20-49: 93,521 (2005 est.)

Chile
males age 18-49: 140,084
females age 18-49: 134,518 (2005 est.)

China
males age 18-49: 13,186,433
females age 18-49: 12,298,149 (2005 est.)

Colombia
males age 18-49: 389,735
females age 18-49: 383,146 (2005 est.)

Congo, Republic of the

males age 18-49: 38,464
females age 18-49: 38,082 (2005 est.)

Costa Rica
males age 18-49: 41,097
females age 18-49: 39,243
Cote d'Ivoire
males age 18-49: 189,354
females age 18-49: 192,600 (2005 est.)

Croatia
males age 18-49: 29,020
females age 18-49: 27,897 (2005 est.)

Cuba
males age 18-49: 91,901
females: 87,500 (2005 est.)

Cyprus
Greek Cyriot National Guard (GCNG):
males age 18-49: 6,578
females age 18-49: 6,200 (2005 est.)

Czech Republic
males age 18-49: 66,583
females age 18-49: 63,363 (2005 est.)

Denmark
males age 18-49: 31,317
females age 18-49: 29,558 (2005 est.)

Dominica
males age 18-49: 602 (2005 est.)

Dominican Republic
males age 18-49: 91,699
females age 18-49: 87,550 (2005 est.)

East Timor
males age 18-49: 12,740
females age 18-49: 12,438 (2005 est.)

Ecuador
males age 18-49: 133,922
females age 20-49: 129,758 (2005 est.)
Egypt
males age 18-49: 802,920
females age 18-49: 764,176 (2005 est.)

El Salvador
males age 18-49: 70,286
females age 18-49: 69,526 (2005 est.)

Eritrea
males age 18-49: 50,156
females age 18-49: 49,746 (2005 est.)

Estonia
males: 11,146
females age 18-49: 10,605 (2005 est.)

Ethiopia
males age 18-49: 803,777
females age 18-49: 801,789 (2005 est.)

Faroe Islands
males age 18-49: 366 (2005 est.)

Fiji
males age 18-49: 9,266
females age 18-49: 8,916 (2005 est.)

Finland
males age 18-49: 32,040
females age 18-49: 30,519 (2005 est.)

France
males age 17-49: 389,204
females age 17-49: 372,719 (2005 est.)

French Polynesia
males age 18-49: 2,747 (2005 est.)

Gabon
males age 18-49: 15,325
 females age 18-49: 15,367 (2005 est.)

Gaza Strip
males age 18-49: 15,196 (2005 est.)

Georgia
males age 18-49: 38,857
females age 18-49: 38,238 (2005 est.)

Germany
males age 18-49: 497,048
females age 18-49: 470,537 (2005 est.)

Ghana
males age 18-49: 251,056
females age 18-49: 247,777 (2005 est.)

Gibraltar
males age 18-49: 187 (2005 est.)

Greece
males age 18-49: 58,399
females age 18-49: 55,571 (2005 est.)

Greenland
males age 18-49: 440 (2005 est.)

Grenada
males age 18-49: 1,274 (2005 est.)

Guatemala
males age 18-49: 134,032
females age 18-49: 130,641 (2005 est.)

Haiti
males age 18-49: 98,554
females age 18-49: 97,690 (2005 est.)

Honduras
males age 18-49: 82,105
 females age 18-49: 78,971 (2005 est.)

Hong Kong
males age 18-49: 40,343
females age 18-49: 38,234 (2005 est.)

Hungary
males age 18-49: 63,847
females age 18-49: 61,037 (2005 est.)

India
males age 18-49: 11,446,452
females age 16-49: 10,665,877 (2005 est.)

Indonesia
males age 18-49: 2,201,047
females age 18-49: 2,139,573 (2005 est.)

Iran
males age 18-49: 862,056
females age 18-49: 808,044 (2005 est.)

Iraq
males age 18-49: 198,518
females age 18-49: 289,879 (2005 est.)

Ireland
males age 18-49: 29,327
females age 17-49: 28,139 (2005 est.)

Israel
males age 18-49: 53,760
females: 51,293 (2005 est.)

Italy
males age 18-49: 286,344
females age 18-49: 270,099 (2005 est.)

Jamaica
males age 18-49: 27,923
 females age 18-49: 27,889 (2005 est.)

Japan
males age 18-49: 683,147
females age 18-49: 650,157 (2005 est.)

Jordan
males age 18-49: 60,625
females age 17-49: 58,218 (2005 est.)

Kazakhstan
males age 18-49: 173,129
females age 18-49: 168,697 (2005 est.)

Kiribati
males age 18-49: 1,128 (2005 est.)

Korea, North
males age 18-49: 194,605
females age 17-49: 187,846 (2005 est.)

Korea, South
males age 18-49: 344,943
females age 20-49: 312,720 (2005 est.)

Kuwait
males age 18-49: 18,743
females age 18-49: 20,065 (2005 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
males age 18-49: 61,091
females age 18-49: 59,784 (2005 est.)

Laos
males age 18-49: 73,167
females age 15-49: 71,432 (2005 est.)

Latvia
males age 18-49: 19,137
females age 19-49: 18,505 (2005 est.)
Libya
males age 18-49: 62,034
females age 17-49: 59,533 (2005 est.)

Liechtenstein
males age 18-49: 208 (2005 est.)

Lithuania
males age 18-49: 29,689
females age 19-49: 28,543 (2005 est.)

Luxembourg
males age 18-49: 2,775
females age 17-49: 2,703 (2005 est.)

Macedonia
males age 18-49: 16,686
females age 18-49: 15,664 (2005 est.)

Madagascar
males age 18-49: 187,000
females age 18-49: 184,833 (2005 est.)

Malaysia
males age 18-49: 244,418
females age 18-49: 231,896 (2005 est.)

Marshall Islands
males age 18-49: 726 (2005 est.)

Mexico
males age 18-49: 1,063,233
females age 18-49: 1,043,816 (2005 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of

males age 18-49: 1,305 (2005 est.)

Moldova
males age 18-49: 43,729
females age 18-49: 42,354 (2005 est.)
Monaco
males age 18-49: 148 (2005 est.)

Mongolia
males age 18-49: 34,674
females age 18-49: 34,251 (2005 est.)

Montserrat
males age 18-49: 84 (2005 est.)

Morocco
males age 18-49: 353,377
females age 18-49: 341,677 (2005 est.)

Mozambique
males age 18-49: 185,314 (2005 est.)

Nepal
males age 18-49: 308,031
females age 18-49: 286,604 (2005 est.)

Netherlands
males age 18-49: 99,934
females age 20-49: 95,818 (2005 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
males age 18-49: 1,720
females age 16-49: 1,657 (2005 est.)

New Caledonia
males age 18-49: 1,907 (2005 est.)

New Zealand
males age 18-49: 29,738
females age 17-49: 28,523 (2005 est.)

Nicaragua
males age 18-49: 65,170
females age 17-49: 63,133 (2005 est.)
Niger
males age 18-49: 129,045
females age 18-49: 121,230 (2005 est.)

Nigeria
males age 18-49: 1,353,180
females age 18-49: 1,329,267 (2005 est.)

Norway
males age 18-49: 29,179
females age 18-49: 28,023 (2005 est.)

Oman
males age 18-49: 26,391
females age 18-49: 25,466 (2005 est.)

Pakistan
males age 18-49: 1,969,055
females age 16-49: 1,849,254 (2005 est.)

Palau
males age 18-49: 142 (2005 est.)

Panama
males age 18-49: 29,724

Paraguay
males age 18-49: 63,058
females age 18-49: 62,217 (2005 est.)

Peru
males age 18-49: 277,105
females age 18-49: 269,799 (2005 est.)

Philippines
males age 18-49: 907,542
females age 18-49: 878,712 (2005 est.)

Poland
males age 18-49: 275,446
 females age 17-49: 265,164 (2005 est.)

Portugal
males age 18-49: 67,189
females age 18-49: 60,626 (2005 est.)

Qatar
males age 18-49: 7,851
females age 18-49: 7,040 (2005 est.)

Romania
males age 18-49: 172,093
females age 20-49: 165,547 (2005 est.)

Russia
males age 18-49: 1,286,069
females age 18-49: 1,244,264 (2005 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis

males age 18-49: 357
females age 18-49: 347 (2005 est.)

Saint Lucia
males age 18-49: 1,651 (2005 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

males age 18-49: 1,204 (2005 est.)

Samoa
males age 18-49: 2,306 (2005 est.)

San Marino
males age 18-49: 135 (2005 est.)

Saudi Arabia
males age 18-49: 247,334
females age 18-49: 234,500 (2005 est.)

Senegal
males age 18-49: 129,331
 females age 18-49: 129,398 (2005 est.)

Slovakia
males age 18-49: 41,544
females age 18-49: 40,183 (2005 est.)

Slovenia
males age 18-49: 12,816
females age 17-49: 12,178 (2005 est.)

Solomon Islands
males age 18-49: 6,033 (2005 est.)

South Africa
males age 18-49: 512,407
females age 18-49: 506,078 (2005 est.)

Spain
males age 18-49: 233,384
females age 20-49: 221,805 (2005 est.)

Sri Lanka
males age 18-49: 174,049
females age 18-49: 167,201 (2005 est.)

Sudan
males age 18-49: 442,915
females age 18-49: 426,320 (2005 est.)

Sweden
males age 18-49: 58,724
females age 19-49: 55,954 (2005 est.)

Switzerland
males age 18-49: 46,319
females age 19-49: 43,829 (2005 est.)

Syria
males age 18-49: 225,113
females age 18-49: 211,829 (2005 est.)
Taiwan
males age 18-49: 174,173
females age 19-49: 163,683 (2005 est.)

Tajikistan
males age 18-49: 87,846
females age 18-49: 85,869 (2005 est.)

Thailand
males age 18-49: 526,276
females age 21-49: 514,396 (2005 est.)

Tonga
males ag3 18-49: 1,586
females age 18-49: 1,538 (2005 est.)

Tunisia
males age 18-49: 108,817
females age 20-49: 103,087 (2005 est.)

Turkey
males age 18-49: 679,734
females age 20-49: 659,090 (2005 est.)

Turkmenistan
males age 18-49: 56,532
females age 18-49: 55,413 (2005 est.)

Ukraine
males age 18-49: 382,751
females age 18-49: 365,599 (2005 est.)

United Arab Emirates

males: 30,706
females age 18-49: 29,617 (2005 est.)

United States
males age 18-49: 2,143,873
females age 18-49: 2,036,201 (2005 est.)
Uzbekistan
males age 18-49: 324,722
females age 18-49: 317,062 (2005 est.)

Venezuela
males age 18-49: 252,396
females age 18-49: 237,300 (2005 est.)

Vietnam
males age 18-49: 915,572
females age 18-49: 864,161 (2005 est.)

Yemen
males age 18-49: 236,517
females age 18-49: 230,641 (2005 est.)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2028 Background

Afghanistan
Ahmad Shah DURRANI unified the Pashtun tribes and
founded Afghanistan in 1747. The country served as a buffer between
the British and Russian empires until it won independence from
notional British control in 1919. A brief experiment in democracy
ended in a 1973 coup and a 1978 Communist counter-coup. The Soviet
Union invaded in 1979 to support the tottering Afghan Communist
regime, touching off a long and destructive war. The USSR withdrew
in 1989 under relentless pressure by internationally supported
anti-Communist mujahedin rebels. Subsequently, a series of civil
wars saw Kabul finally fall in 1996 to the Taliban, a hardline
Pakistani-sponsored movement that emerged in 1994 to end the
 country's civil war and anarchy. Following the 11 September 2001
terrorist attacks, a US, Allied, and anti-Taliban Northern Alliance
military action toppled the Taliban for sheltering Osama BIN LADIN.
The UN-sponsored Bonn Conference in 2001 established a process for
political reconstruction that included the adoption of a new
constitution and a presidential election in 2004, and National
Assembly elections in 2005. On 7 December 2004, Hamid KARZAI became
the first democratically elected president of Afghanistan. The
National Assembly was inaugurated on 19 December 2005.

Akrotiri
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 -
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.

Albania
Between 1990 and 1992 Albania ended 46 years of xenophobic
Communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The
transition has proven challenging as successive governments have
tried to deal with high unemployment, widespread corruption, a
dilapidated physical infrastructure, powerful organized crime
networks, and combative political opponents. Albania has made
progress in its democratic development since first holding
multiparty elections in 1991, but deficiencies remain. International
observers 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. The election, and particularly the orderly transition
of power, was considered an important step forward. Although
Albania's economy continues to grow, the country is still one of the
poorest in Europe, hampered by a large informal economy and an
inadequate energy and transportation 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. Albania, with troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, has been a
strong supporter of the global war on terrorism.

Algeria
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.

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

Andorra
For 715 years, from 1278 to 1993, Andorrans lived under a
unique co-principality, ruled by 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.

Angola
Angola is slowly rebuilding its country after 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 legislative elections in 2007,
but 2008 may be more realistic.

Anguilla
Colonized by English settlers from Saint Kitts in 1650,
Anguilla was administered by Great Britain until the early 19th
century, when the island - against the wishes of the inhabitants -
was incorporated into a single British dependency, along with Saint
Kitts and Nevis. Several attempts at separation failed. In 1971, two
years after a revolt, Anguilla was finally allowed to secede; this
 arrangement was formally recognized in 1980, with Anguilla becoming
a separate British dependency.

Antarctica
Speculation over the existence of a "southern land" was
not confirmed until the early 1820s when British and American
commercial operators and British and Russian national expeditions
began exploring the Antarctic Peninsula region and other areas south
of the Antarctic Circle. Not until 1840 was it established that
Antarctica was indeed a continent and not just a group of islands.
Several exploration "firsts" were achieved in the early 20th
century. Following World War II, there was an upsurge in scientific
research on the continent. A number of countries have set up
year-round research stations on Antarctica. Seven have made
territorial claims, but 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.

Antigua and Barbuda

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

Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean is the smallest of the world's five
oceans (after the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, and
the recently delimited Southern Ocean). The Northwest Passage (US
and Canada) and Northern Sea Route (Norway and Russia) are two
important seasonal waterways. A sparse network of air, ocean, river,
and land routes circumscribes the Arctic Ocean.

Argentina
 In 1816, the United Provinces of the Rio Plata declared
their independence from Spain. Eventually, Bolivia, Paraguay, and
Uruguay went their own way, but the area that remained became
Argentina. The country's population and culture were subsequently
heavily shaped by immigrants from throughout Europe, but most
particularly Italy and Spain, which provided the largest percentage
of newcomers from 1860 to 1930. Up until about the mid-20th century,
much of Argentina's history was dominated by periods of internal
political conflict between Federalists and Unitarians and between
civilian and military factions. After World War II, an era 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 has persisted despite numerous
challenges, the most formidable of which was a severe economic
crisis in 2001-02 that led to violent public protests and the
resignation of several interim presidents. The economy has since
recovered strongly since bottoming out in 2002. The government
renegotiated its public debt in 2005 and paid off its remaining
obligations to the IMF in early 2006.

Armenia
Armenia prides itself on being the first nation to formally
adopt Christianity (early 4th century). Despite periods of autonomy,
over the centuries Armenia came under the sway of various empires
including the Roman, Byzantine, Arab, Persian, and Ottoman. During
World War I in the western portion of Armenia, Ottoman Turkey
instituted a policy of forced resettlement coupled with other harsh
practices that resulted in an estimated 1 million Armenian deaths.
The eastern area of Armenia was ceded by the Ottomans to Russia in
1828; this portion declared its independence in 1918, but was
conquered by the Soviet Red Army 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.

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

Ashmore and Cartier Islands

These uninhabited islands came under
Australian authority in 1931; formal administration began two years
later. Ashmore Reef supports a rich and diverse avian and marine
habitat; in 1983, it became a National Nature Reserve. Cartier
Island, a former bombing range, is now a marine reserve.

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

Australia
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 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
1990s, a performance due in large part to economic reforms adopted
in the 1980s. Long-term concerns include pollution, particularly
depletion of the ozone layer, and management and conservation of
coastal areas, especially the Great Barrier Reef.

Austria
Once the center of power for the large Austro-Hungarian
Empire, Austria was reduced to a small republic after its defeat in
World War I. Following annexation by Nazi Germany in 1938 and
subsequent occupation by the victorious Allies in 1945, Austria's
status remained unclear for a decade. A State Treaty signed in 1955
ended the occupation, recognized Austria's independence, and forbade
unification with Germany. A constitutional law that same year
declared the country's "perpetual neutrality" as a condition for
Soviet military withdrawal. The Soviet Union's collapse in 1991 and
Austria's entry into the European Union in 1995 have altered the
meaning of this neutrality. A prosperous, democratic country,
Austria entered the EU Economic Monetary Union in 1999.

Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan - a nation with a Turkic and majority-Muslim
population - was briefly independent from 1918 to 1920; it 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 528,000 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.
Bahamas, The
Lucayan Indians inhabited the islands when Christopher
Columbus first set foot in the New World on San Salvador in 1492.
British settlement of the islands began in 1647; the islands became
a colony in 1783. Since attaining independence from the UK in 1973,
The Bahamas have prospered through tourism and international banking
and investment management. Because of its geography, the country is
a major transshipment point for illegal drugs, particularly
shipments to the US, and its territory is used for smuggling illegal
migrants into the US.

Bahrain
In 1782, the Al Khalifa family captured Bahrain from the
Persians. In order to secure these holdings, it entered into a
series of treaties with the UK during the 19th century that made
Bahrain a British protectorate. The archipelago attained its
independence in 1971. 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. King HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa, after coming to power in
1999, pushed economic and political reforms to improve relations
with the Shia community and Shia political societies participated in
2006 parliamentary and municipal elections. Al Wifaq, the largest
Shia political society, won the largest number of seats in the
elected chamber of the legislature. However, Shia discontent has
resurfaced in recent years with street demonstrations and occasional
low-level violence.

Baker Island
The US took possession of the island in 1857, and its
guano deposits were mined by US and British companies during the
second half of the 19th century. In 1935, a short-lived attempt at
colonization was begun on this island - as well as on nearby Howland
Island - but was disrupted by World War II and thereafter abandoned.
Presently the island is a National Wildlife Refuge run by the US
Department of the Interior; a day beacon is situated near the middle
of the west coast.
Bangladesh
Europeans began to set up trading posts in the area of
Bangladesh in the 16th century; eventually the British came to
dominate the region and it became part of British India. In 1947,
West Pakistan and East Bengal (both primarily Muslim) separated from
India (largely Hindu) and jointly became the new country of
Pakistan. East Bengal became East Pakistan in 1955, but the awkward
arrangement of a two-part country with its territorial units
separated by 1,600 km left the Bengalis marginalized and
dissatisfied. East Pakistan seceded from its union with West
Pakistan in 1971 and was renamed Bangladesh. About a third of this
extremely poor country floods annually during the monsoon rainy
season, hampering economic development.

Barbados
The island was uninhabited when first settled by the
British in 1627. Slaves worked the sugar plantations established on
the island until 1834 when slavery was abolished. The economy
remained heavily dependent on sugar, rum, and molasses production
through most of the 20th century. The gradual introduction of social
and political reforms in the 1940s and 1950s led to complete
independence from the UK in 1966. In the 1990s, tourism and
manufacturing surpassed the sugar industry in economic importance.

Bassas da India
This atoll is a volcanic rock surrounded by reefs
and is awash at high tide. A French possession since 1897, it was
placed under the administration of an Administrateur Superieur of
the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.

Belarus
After seven decades as a constituent republic of the USSR,
Belarus attained its independence in 1991. It has retained closer
political and economic ties to Russia than any of the other former
Soviet republics. Belarus and Russia signed a treaty on a two-state
union on 8 December 1999 envisioning greater political and economic
integration. Although Belarus agreed to a framework to carry out the
accord, serious implementation has yet to take place. Since his
election in July 1994 as the country's first president, Alexandr
 LUKASHENKO has steadily consolidated his power through authoritarian
means. Government restrictions on freedom of speech and the press,
peaceful assembly, and religion continue.

Belgium
Belgium became independent from the Netherlands in 1830; it
was occupied by Germany during World Wars I and II. The country
prospered in the past half century as a modern, technologically
advanced European state and member of NATO and the EU. Tensions
between the Dutch-speaking Flemings of the north and the
French-speaking Walloons of the south have led in recent years to
constitutional amendments granting these regions formal recognition
and autonomy.

Belize
Belize was the site of several Mayan city states until their
decline at the end of the first millennium A.D. The British and
Spanish disputed the region in the 17th and 18th centuries; it
formally became the colony of British Honduras in 1854. Territorial
disputes between the UK and Guatemala delayed the independence of
Belize until 1981. Guatemala refused to recognize the new nation
until 1992. Tourism has become the mainstay of the economy. Current
concerns include high unemployment, growing involvement in the South
American drug trade, and increasing urban crime.

Benin
Present day Benin was the site of Dahomey, a prominent West
African kingdom that rose in the 15th century. The territory became
a French Colony in 1872 and achieved independence on 1 August 1960,
as the Republic of Benin. A succession of military governments ended
in 1972 with the rise to power of Mathieu KEREKOU and the
establishment of a government based on Marxist-Leninist principles.
A move to representative government began in 1989. Two years later,
free elections ushered in former Prime Minister Nicephore SOGLO as
president, marking the first successful transfer of power in Africa
from a dictatorship to a democracy. KEREKOU was returned to power by
elections held in 1996 and 2001, though some irregularities were
alleged. KEREKOU stepped down at the end of his second term in 2006
and was succeeded by Thomas YAYI BONI, a political outsider and
 independent.

Bermuda
Bermuda was first settled in 1609 by shipwrecked English
colonists headed for Virginia. Tourism to the island to escape North
American winters first developed in Victorian times. Tourism
continues to be important to the island's economy, although
international business has overtaken it in recent years. Bermuda has
developed into a highly successful offshore financial center.
Although a referendum on independence from the UK was soundly
defeated in 1995, the present government has reopened debate on the
issue.

Bhutan
In 1865, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu,
under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for
ceding some border land to British India. 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. In March 2005, King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK unveiled the
government's draft constitution - which would introduce major
democratic reforms - and pledged to hold a national referendum for
its approval. A referendum date has yet to be named.

Bolivia
Bolivia, named after independence fighter Simon BOLIVAR,
broke away from Spanish rule in 1825; much of its subsequent history
has consisted of a series of nearly 200 coups and countercoups.
Democratic civilian rule was established in 1982, but leaders have
faced difficult problems of deep-seated poverty, social unrest, and
illegal drug production. In December 2005, Bolivians elected
 Movement Toward Socialism leader Evo MORALES president - by the
widest margin of any leader since the restoration of civilian rule
in 1982 - after he ran on a promise to change the country's
traditional political class and empower the nation's poor majority.
However, since taking office, his controversial strategies have
exacerbated racial and economic tensions between the Amerindian
populations of the Andean west and the non-indigenous communities of
the eastern lowlands.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Bosnia and Herzegovina's declaration of
sovereignty in October 1991 was followed by a declaration of
independence from the former Yugoslavia on 3 March 1992 after a
referendum boycotted by ethnic Serbs. The Bosnian Serbs - supported
by neighboring Serbia and Montenegro - responded with armed
resistance aimed at partitioning the republic along ethnic lines and
joining Serb-held areas to form a "Greater Serbia." In March 1994,
Bosniaks and Croats reduced the number of warring factions from
three to two by signing an agreement creating a joint Bosniak/Croat
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On 21 November 1995, in
Dayton, Ohio, the warring parties initialed a peace agreement that
brought to a halt three years of interethnic civil strife (the final
agreement was signed in Paris on 14 December 1995). The Dayton Peace
Accords retained Bosnia and Herzegovina's international boundaries
and created a joint multi-ethnic and democratic government 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 is to maintain peace and stability throughout the country.
 EUFOR plans to phase out its mission beginning in 2007.

Botswana
Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana
adopted its new name upon independence in 1966. Four decades of
uninterrupted civilian leadership, progressive social policies, and
significant capital investment have created one of the most dynamic
economies in Africa. Mineral extraction, principally diamond mining,
dominates economic activity, though tourism is a growing sector due
to the country's conservation practices and extensive nature
preserves. Botswana has 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.

Bouvet Island
This uninhabited volcanic island is almost entirely
covered by glaciers and is difficult to approach. It was discovered
in 1739 by a French naval officer after whom the island was named.
No claim was made until 1825, when the British flag was raised. In
1928, the UK waived its claim in favor of Norway, which had occupied
the island the previous year. In 1971, Bouvet Island and the
adjacent territorial waters were designated a nature reserve. Since
1977, Norway has run an automated meteorological station on the
island.

Brazil
Following three centuries under the rule of Portugal, Brazil
became an independent nation in 1822 and a republic in 1889. 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.

British Indian Ocean Territory

 Established as a territory of the UK
in 1965, a number of the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT)
islands were transferred to the Seychelles when it attained
independence in 1976. Subsequently, BIOT has consisted only of the
six main island groups comprising the Chagos Archipelago. The
largest and most southerly of the islands, Diego Garcia, contains a
joint UK-US naval support facility. All of the remaining islands are
uninhabited. Former agricultural workers, earlier residents in the
islands, were relocated primarily to Mauritius but also to the
Seychelles, between 1967 and 1973. In 2000, a British High Court
ruling invalidated the local immigration order that had excluded
them from the archipelago, but upheld the special military status of
Diego Garcia.

British Virgin Islands

First inhabited by Arawak and later by Carib
Indians, the Virgin Islands were settled by the Dutch in 1648 and
then annexed by the English in 1672. The islands were part of the
British colony of the Leeward Islands from 1872-1960; they were
granted autonomy in 1967. The economy is closely tied to the larger
and more populous US Virgin Islands to the west; the US dollar is
the legal currency.

Brunei
The Sultanate of Brunei's influence peaked between the 15th
and 17th centuries when its control extended over coastal areas of
northwest Borneo and the southern Philippines. Brunei subsequently
entered a period of decline brought on by internal strife over royal
succession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy. In
1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence was
achieved in 1984. The same family has ruled Brunei for over six
centuries. Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gas
fields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in the
developing world.

Bulgaria
The Bulgars, a Central Asian Turkic tribe, merged with the
local Slavic inhabitants in the late 7th century to form the first
Bulgarian state. In succeeding centuries, Bulgaria struggled with
 the Byzantine Empire to assert its place in the Balkans, but by the
end of the 14th century the country was overrun by the Ottoman
Turks. Northern Bulgaria attained autonomy in 1878 and all of
Bulgaria became independent from the Ottoman Empire 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. The country joined NATO in 2004 and the EU in 2007.

Burkina Faso
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. Current President Blaise COMPAORE came to power in a 1987
military coup and has won every election since then. 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.

Burma
Britain conquered Burma over a period of 62 years (1824-1886)
and incorporated it into its Indian Empire. Burma was administered
as a province of India until 1937 when it became a separate,
self-governing colony; independence 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 subsequently
transferred to house arrest, where she remains virtually
incommunicado. In February 2006, the junta extended her detention
 for another year. Her supporters, as well as all those who promote
democracy and improved human rights, are routinely harassed or
jailed.

Burundi
Burundi's first democratically elected president was
assassinated in October 1993 after only 100 days in office,
triggering widespread ethnic violence between Hutu and Tutsi
factions. Over 200,000 Burundians perished during the conflict that
spanned almost a dozen years. Hundreds of thousands of Burundians
were internally displaced or became refugees in neighboring
countries. An internationally brokered power-sharing agreement
between the Tutsi-dominated government and the Hutu rebels in 2003
paved the way for a transition process that led to an integrated
defense force, established a new constitution in 2005, and elected a
majority Hutu government in 2005. The new government, led by
President Pierre NKURUNZIZA, signed a South African brokered
ceasefire with the country's last rebel group in September of 2006
but still faces many challenges.

Cambodia
Most Cambodians consider themselves to be Khmers,
descendants of the Angkor Empire that extended over much of
Southeast Asia and reached its zenith between the 10th and 13th
centuries. Attacks by the Thai and Cham (from present-day Vietnam)
weakened the empire ushering in a long period of decline. The king
placed the country under French protection in 1863. Cambodia became
part of French Indochina in 1887. Following Japanese occupation in
World War II, Cambodia gained full independence from France in 1953.
In April 1975, after a five-year struggle, Communist Khmer Rouge
forces captured Phnom Penh and evacuated all cities and towns. At
least 1.5 million Cambodians died from execution, forced hardships,
or starvation during the Khmer Rouge regime under POL POT. A
December 1978 Vietnamese invasion drove the Khmer Rouge into the
countryside, began 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 under a coalition government. 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 remaining
elements of the Khmer Rouge surrendered in early 1999. Some of the
remaining Khmer Rouge leaders are awaiting trial by a UN-sponsored
tribunal for crimes against humanity. Elections in July 2003 were
relatively peaceful, but it took one year of negotiations between
contending political parties before a coalition government was
formed.

Cameroon
The former French Cameroon and part of British Cameroon
merged in 1961 to form the present country. Cameroon has generally
enjoyed stability, which has permitted the development of
agriculture, roads, and railways, as well as a petroleum industry.
Despite a slow movement toward democratic reform, political power
remains firmly in the hands of an ethnic oligarchy headed by
President Paul BIYA.

Canada
A land of vast distances and rich natural resources, Canada
became a self-governing dominion in 1867 while retaining ties to the
British crown. Economically and technologically the nation has
developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across
an unfortified border. Canada faces the political challenges of
meeting public demands for quality improvements in health care and
education services, as well as responding to separatist concerns in
predominantly francophone Quebec. Canada also aims to develop its
diverse energy resources while maintaining its commitment to the
environment.

Cape Verde
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.

Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the
British during the 18th and 19th centuries, and were administered by
Jamaica after 1863. In 1959, the islands became a territory within
the Federation of the West Indies, but when the Federation dissolved
in 1962, the Cayman Islands chose to remain a British dependency.

Central African Republic

The former French colony of Ubangi-Shari
became the Central African Republic upon independence in 1960. After
three tumultuous decades of misrule - mostly by military governments
- civilian rule was established in 1993 and lasted for one decade.
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 established a transitional government.
Though the government has the tacit support of civil society groups
and the main parties, a wide field of candidates contested the
municipal, legislative, and presidential elections held in March and
May of 2005 in which General BOZIZE was affirmed as president. The
government still does not fully control the countryside, where
pockets of lawlessness persist.

Chad
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 drafted a democratic constitution, and held flawed
presidential elections in 1996 and 2001. In 1998, a rebellion broke
out in northern Chad, which sporadically flares up despite several
peace agreements between the government and the rebels. In 2005 new
rebel groups emerged in western Sudan and have made probing attacks
into eastern Chad. Power remains in the hands of an ethnic minority.
In June 2005, President Idriss DEBY held a referendum successfully
 removing constitutional term limits.

Chile
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 by Spain 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.

China
For centuries China stood as a leading civilization, outpacing
the rest of the world in the arts and sciences, but in the 19th and
early 20th centuries, 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.

Christmas Island
Named in 1643 for the day of its discovery, the
island was annexed and settlement began by the UK in 1888. Phosphate
mining began in the 1890s. The UK transferred sovereignty to
Australia in 1958. Almost two-thirds of the island has been declared
a national park.
Clipperton Island
This isolated island was named for John
CLIPPERTON, a pirate who made it his hideout early in the 18th
century. Annexed by France in 1855, it was seized by Mexico in 1897.
Arbitration eventually awarded the island to France, which took
possession in 1935.

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

There are 27 coral islands in the group.
Captain William KEELING discovered the islands in 1609, but they
remained uninhabited until the 19th century. Annexed by the UK in
1857, they were transferred to the Australian Government in 1955.
The population on the two inhabited islands generally is split
between the ethnic Europeans on West Island and the ethnic Malays on
Home Island.

Colombia
Colombia was one of the three countries that emerged from
the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others are Ecuador and
Venezuela). A 40-year conflict between government forces and
anti-government insurgent groups and illegal paramilitary groups -
both heavily funded by the drug trade - escalated during the 1990s.
The insurgents lack the military or popular support necessary to
overthrow the government, and violence has been decreasing since
about 2002, but insurgents continue attacks against civilians and
large swaths of the countryside are under guerrilla influence.
Paramilitary groups challenge the insurgents for control of
territory and the drug trade. Most paramilitary members have
demobilized since 2002 in an ongoing peace process, although their
commitment to ceasing illicit activity is unclear. The Colombian
Government has stepped up efforts to reassert government control
throughout the country, and now has a presence in every one of its
municipalities. However, neighboring countries worry about the
violence spilling over their borders.

Comoros
Comoros has endured 19 coups or attempted coups since
gaining independence from France in 1975. In 1997, the islands of
Anjouan and Moheli declared 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 2002.

Congo, Democratic Republic of the 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 (DRC), but in August 1998 his regime was itself
challenged by an insurrection backed by Rwanda and Uganda. Troops from
Angola, Chad, Namibia, Sudan, and Zimbabwe intervened to support the
Kinshasa regime. A cease-fire was signed in July 1999 by the DRC, Congolese
armed rebel groups, Angola, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zimbabwe 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; with Joseph
KABILA as president and joined by four vice presidents representing the former
government, former rebel groups, and the political opposition. The transitional
government held a successful constitutional referendum in December 2005 and
elections for the presidency, National Assembly, and provincial legislatures in
2006. KABILA was inaugurated president in December 2006.

Congo, Republic of the

Upon independence in 1960, the former French
region of Middle Congo became the Republic of the Congo. A quarter
century of experimentation with Marxism was abandoned in 1990 and a
democratically elected government took office in 1992. A brief civil
 war in 1997 restored former Marxist President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO,
and ushered in a period of ethnic and political 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 was once one of Africa's
largest petroleum producers, but with declining production it will
need to hope for new offshore oil finds to sustain its oil earnings
over the long term.

Cook Islands
Named after Captain COOK, who sighted them in 1770, the
islands became a British protectorate in 1888. By 1900,
administrative control was transferred to New Zealand; in 1965
residents chose self-government in free association with New
Zealand. The emigration of skilled workers to New Zealand and
government deficits are continuing problems.

Coral Sea Islands

Scattered over more than three-quarters of a
million square kilometers of ocean, the Coral Sea Islands were
declared a territory of Australia in 1969. They are uninhabited
except for a small meteorological staff on the Willis Islets.
Automated weather stations, beacons, and a lighthouse occupy many
other islands and reefs.

Costa Rica
Although explored by the Spanish early in the 16th
century, initial attempts at colonizing Costa Rica proved
unsuccessful due to a combination of factors, including: disease
from mosquito-infested swamps, brutal heat, resistance by natives,
and pirate raids. It was not until 1563 that a permanent settlement
of Cartago was established in the cooler, fertile central highlands.
The area remained a colony for some two and a half centuries. In
1821, Costa Rica became one of several Central American provinces
that jointly declared their independence from Spain. Two years later
it joined the United Provinces of Central America, but this
federation disintegrated in 1838, at which time Costa Rica
proclaimed its sovereignty and independence. Since the late 19th
century, only two brief periods of violence have marred the
 country's democratic development. Although it still maintains a
large agricultural sector, Costa Rica has expanded its economy to
include strong technology and tourism industries. The standard of
living is relatively high. Land ownership is widespread.

Cote d'Ivoire
Close ties to France since independence in 1960, the
development of cocoa production for export, and foreign investment
made Cote d'Ivoire one of the most prosperous of the tropical
African states, but did not protect it from political turmoil. In
December 1999, a military coup - the first ever in Cote d'Ivoire's
history - overthrew the government. Junta leader Robert GUEI
blatantly rigged elections held in late 2000 and declared himself
the winner. Popular protest forced him 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 citizenship, remain unresolved. The central government has yet
to exert control over the northern regions and tensions remain high
between GBAGBO and opposition leaders. Several thousand French and
West African troops remain in Cote d'Ivoire to maintain peace and
facilitate the disarmament, demobilization, and rehabilitation
process.

Croatia
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.

Cuba
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, marked initially by neglect, became
increasingly repressive, provoking an independence movement and
occasional rebellions that 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 2,810 individuals attempting to cross the Straits
of Florida in fiscal year 2006.
Cyprus
A former British colony, Cyprus became independent 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
Government-sponsored attempt to seize control of Cyprus 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 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. The entire island entered the EU on 1 May 2004, although
the EU acquis - the body of common rights and obligations - applies
only to the areas under direct Republic of Cyprus control, and is
suspended in the areas administered by Turkish Cypriots. However,
individual Turkish Cypriots able to document their eligibility for
Republic of Cyprus citizenship legally enjoy the same rights
accorded to other citizens of European Union states. 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.

Czech Republic
Following the First World War, the closely related
Czechs and Slovaks of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire merged to
form Czechoslovakia. During the interwar years, the new country's
leaders were frequently preoccupied with meeting the demands of
other ethnic minorities within the republic, most notably the
Sudeten Germans and the Ruthenians (Ukrainians). After World War II,
a truncated Czechoslovakia fell within the Soviet sphere of
influence. In 1968, an invasion by Warsaw Pact troops ended the
efforts of the country's leaders to liberalize Communist party rule
and create "socialism with a human face." Anti-Soviet demonstrations
 the following year ushered in a period of harsh repression. With the
collapse of Soviet authority in 1989, Czechoslovakia regained its
freedom through a peaceful "Velvet Revolution." On 1 January 1993,
the country underwent a "velvet divorce" into its two national
components, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Czech Republic
joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004.

Denmark
Once the seat of Viking raiders and later a major north
European power, Denmark has evolved into a modern, prosperous nation
that is participating in the general political and economic
integration of Europe. It joined NATO in 1949 and the EEC (now the
EU) in 1973. However, the country has opted out of certain elements
of the European Union's Maastricht Treaty, including the European
Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), European defense cooperation, and
issues concerning certain justice and home affairs.

Dhekelia
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 -
Akrotiri and Dhekelia. The larger of these is the Dhekelia Sovereign
Base Area, which is also referred to as the Eastern Sovereign Base
Area.

Djibouti
The French Territory of the Afars and the Issas became
Djibouti in 1977. Hassan Gouled APTIDON installed an authoritarian
one-party state and proceeded to serve 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. In 1999,
Djibouti's first multi-party presidential elections resulted in the
election of Ismail Omar GUELLEH; he was re-elected to a second and
final term in 2005. Djibouti occupies a 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 is also developing stronger ties with the US. Djibouti
hosts the only US military base in sub-Saharan Africa and is a
front-line state in the global war on terrorism.

Dominica
Dominica was the last of the Caribbean islands to be
colonized by Europeans due chiefly to the fierce resistance of the
native Caribs. France ceded possession to Great Britain in 1763,
which made the island a colony in 1805. In 1980, two years after
independence, Dominica's fortunes improved when a corrupt and
tyrannical administration was replaced by that of Mary Eugenia
CHARLES, the first female prime minister in the Caribbean, who
remained in office for 15 years. Some 3,000 Carib Indians still
living on Dominica are the only pre-Columbian population remaining
in the eastern Caribbean.

Dominican Republic
Explored and claimed by Christopher 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 followed, capped by the dictatorship of
Rafael Leonidas TRUJILLO from 1930-1961. Juan BOSCH was elected
president in 1962, but was deposed in a military coup in 1963. In
1965, the United States led an intervention in the midst of a civil
war sparked by an uprising to restore BOSCH. In 1966, Joaquin
BALAGUER defeated BOSCH in an election to become president.
BALAGUER
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. Former
 President (1996-2000) Leonel FERNANDEZ Reyna won election to a
second term in 2004 following a constitutional amendment allowing
presidents to serve more than one term.

East Timor
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 1,400 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. In March of 2006, a military strike led to
violence and a near breakdown of law and order. Over 2,000
Australian, New Zealand, and Portuguese police and peacekeepers
deployed to East Timor in late May. Although many of the
peacekeepers were replaced by UN police officers, 850 Australian
soldiers remained as of 1 January 2007.

Ecuador
 What is now Ecuador formed part of the northern Inca Empire
until the Spanish conquest in 1533. Quito became a seat of Spanish
colonial government in 1563 and part of the Viceroyalty of New
Granada in 1717. The territories of the Viceroyalty - New Granada
(Colombia), Venezuela, and Quito - gained their independence by 1819
and formed a federation known as Gran Colombia. When Quito withdrew
in 1830, the traditional name was changed in favor of the "Republic
of the Equator." 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. Protests in Quito have contributed to the
mid-term ouster of Ecuador's last three democratically elected
Presidents.

Egypt
The regularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood,
coupled with semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and
west, allowed for the development of one of the world's great
civilizations. A unified kingdom arose circa 3200 B.C., and a series
of dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia. The last
native dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 B.C., who in turn were
replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. It was the Arabs who
introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and who
ruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, the
Mamluks took control about 1250 and continued to govern after the
conquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517. Following the
completion of the Suez Canal in 1869, Egypt became an important
world transportation hub, but also fell heavily into debt.
Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control of
Egypt's government in 1882, but nominal allegiance to the Ottoman
Empire continued until 1914. Partially independent from the UK in
1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty following World War II. The
completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake
Nasser have altered the time-honored place of the Nile River in the
agriculture and ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (the
largest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence on
the Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society. The
government has struggled to ready the economy for the new millennium
 through economic reform and massive investment in communications and
physical infrastructure.

El Salvador
El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821 and
from the Central American Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war,
which cost about 75,000 lives, was brought to a close in 1992 when
the government and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided for
military and political reforms.

Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea gained independence in 1968
after 190 years of Spanish rule. This tiny country, composed of a
mainland portion plus five inhabited islands, is one of the smallest
on the African continent. President Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO
has ruled the country since 1979 when he seized power in a coup.
Although nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, the 1996
and 2002 presidential elections - as well as the 1999 and 2004
legislative elections - were widely seen as flawed. The president
exerts almost total control over the political system and has
discouraged political opposition. Equatorial Guinea has experienced
rapid economic growth due to the discovery of large offshore oil
reserves, and in the last decade has become Sub-Saharan Africa's
third largest oil exporter. 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
population's living standards.

Eritrea
Eritrea was awarded to Ethiopia in 1952 as part of a
federation. Ethiopia's annexation of Eritrea as a province 10 years
later sparked a 30-year struggle for independence that ended in 1991
with Eritrean rebels defeating governmental forces; independence was
overwhelmingly approved in a 1993 referendum. A two-and-a-half-year
border war with Ethiopia that erupted in 1998 ended under UN
auspices in 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.

Estonia
After centuries of Danish, Swedish, German, and Russian
rule, Estonia attained independence in 1918. Forcibly incorporated
into the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US - 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.

Ethiopia
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 border war with Eritrea
late in the 1990's ended with a peace treaty in 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 territory considered sensitive to Ethiopia.

Europa Island
A French possession since 1897, the island is heavily
wooded; it is the site of a small military garrison that staffs a
weather station.

European Union
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 became 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 - and in 2007 Bulgaria and
Romania joined, bringing the current membership to 27. In order to
ensure that the EU can continue to function efficiently with an
expanded membership, the Treaty of Nice (in force as of 1 February
2003) 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 rejected the
proposed constitution. This development set back the ratification
effort and left the longer-term political integration of the EU in
limbo.

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Although first sighted by an
English navigator in 1592, the first landing (English) did not occur
until almost a century later in 1690, and the first settlement
(French) was not established until 1764. The colony was turned over
to Spain two years later and the islands have since been the subject
of a territorial dispute, first between Britain and Spain, then
between Britain and Argentina. The UK asserted its claim to the
islands by establishing a naval garrison there in 1833. Argentina
invaded the islands on 2 April 1982. The British responded with an
expeditionary force that landed seven weeks later and after fierce
fighting forced Argentine surrender on 14 June 1982.

Faroe Islands
The population of the Faroe Islands is largely
descended from Viking settlers who arrived in the 9th century. The
islands have been connected politically to Denmark since the 14th
century. A high degree of self government was attained in 1948.

Fiji
Fiji became independent in 1970, after nearly a century as a
British colony. Democratic rule was interrupted by two military
coups in 1987, caused by concern over a government perceived as
dominated by the Indian community (descendants of contract laborers
brought to the islands by the British in the 19th century). The
coups and a 1990 constitution that cemented native Melanesian
control of Fiji, led to heavy Indian emigration; the population loss
resulted in economic difficulties, but ensured that Melanesians
became the majority. A new constitution enacted in 1997 was more
equitable. Free and peaceful elections in 1999 resulted in a
government led by an Indo-Fijian, but a civilian-led 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 led by Prime Minister Laisenia
 QARASE. Re-elected in May 2006, QARASE was ousted in a December 2006
military coup led by Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA, who initially
appointed himself acting president. In January 2007, BAINIMARAMA was
appointed interim prime minister.

Finland
Finland was a province and then a grand duchy under Sweden
from the 12th to the 19th centuries and an autonomous grand duchy of
Russia after 1809. It 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. A member of the European Union since 1995,
Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro system at its
initiation in January 1999.

France
Although ultimately a victor in World Wars I and II, France
suffered extensive losses in its empire, wealth, manpower, and rank
as a dominant nation-state. Nevertheless, France today is one of the
most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European
nations. Since 1958, it has constructed a presidential democracy
resistant to the instabilities experienced in earlier parliamentary
democracies. In recent years, its reconciliation and cooperation
with Germany have proved central to the economic integration of
Europe, including the introduction of 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.

French Polynesia
The French annexed various Polynesian island groups
during the 19th century. In September 1995, France stirred up
widespread protests by resuming nuclear testing on the Mururoa atoll
after a three-year moratorium. The tests were suspended in January
1996. In recent years, French Polynesia's autonomy has been
considerably expanded.
French Southern and Antarctic Lands The Southern Lands consist of two
archipelagos, Iles Crozet and Iles Kerguelen, and two volcanic islands, Ile
Amsterdam and Ile Saint-Paul. They contain no permanent inhabitants and are
visited only by researchers studying the native fauna. The Antarctic portion
consists of "Adelie Land," a thin slice of the Antarctic continent discovered and
claimed by the French in 1840.

Gabon
Only two autocratic presidents have ruled Gabon since
independence from France in 1960. The current president of Gabon, El
Hadj Omar BONGO Ondimba - one of the longest-serving heads of state
in the world - has dominated the country's political scene for
almost four decades. President BONGO introduced a nominal multiparty
system and a new constitution in the early 1990s. However,
allegations of electoral fraud during local elections in 2002-03 and
the presidential elections in 2005 have exposed the weaknesses of
formal political structures in Gabon. Gabon's political 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.

Gambia, The
The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965.
Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed a short-lived
federation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two
nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty, but tensions
have flared up intermittently since then. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH led
a military coup in 1994 that overthrew the president and banned
political activity. A new constitution and presidential elections in
1996, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a
nominal return to civilian rule. JAMMEH has been elected president
in all subsequent elections, including most recently in late 2006.

Gaza Strip
The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim
Self-Government Arrangements (the DOP), signed in Washington in
September 1993, provided for a transitional period of Palestinian
interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. A
 transfer of authority to the Palestinian Authority (PA) 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. Direct negotiations to determine the permanent
status of Gaza and the West Bank began in September 1999 after a
three-year hiatus, but were derailed by a second intifadah that
broke out a year later. In April 2003, the Quartet (US, EU, UN, and
Russia) presented a roadmap to a final settlement of the conflict by
2005 based on reciprocal steps by the two parties leading to two
states, Israel and a democratic Palestine. The proposed date for a
permanent status agreement has been postponed indefinitely due to
violence and accusations that both sides have not followed through
on their commitments. Following Palestinian leader Yasir ARAFAT's
death in late 2004, Mahmud ABBAS was elected PA president in January
2005. A month later, Israel and the PA agreed to the Sharm el-Sheikh
Commitments in an effort to move the peace process forward. In
September 2005, Israel withdrew all its settlers and soldiers and
dismantled its military facilities in the Gaza Strip and four
northern West Bank settlements. Nonetheless, Israel controls
maritime, airspace, and most access to the Gaza Strip. A November
2005 PA-Israeli agreement authorized the reopening of the Rafah
border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt under joint PA and
Egyptian control. In January 2006, the Islamic Resistance Movement,
HAMAS, won control of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). The
international community has refused to accept the HAMAS-led
government because it does not recognize Israel, will not renounce
violence, and refuses to honor previous peace agreements between
Israel and the PA. Since March 2006, President Abbas has had little
success negotiating with HAMAS to present a political platform
acceptable to the international community so as to lift the economic
siege on Palestinians. The PLC was unable to convene in late 2006 as
a result of Israel's detention of many HAMAS PLC members and
Israeli-imposed travel restrictions on other PLC members.

Georgia
 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 A.D. and Christianity became the
state religion in the 330s. Domination by Persians, Arabs, and Turks
was followed by a Georgian golden age (11th-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. An attempt by the incumbent Georgian
government to manipulate national 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. Progress on market reforms and democratization has
been made in the years since independence, but this progress has
been complicated by two civil conflicts in the breakaway regions of
Abkhazia and South Ossetia. These two territories remain outside the
control of the central government and are ruled by de facto,
unrecognized governments, supported by Russia. Russian-led
peacekeeping operations continue in both regions. The Georgian
Government put forward a new peace initiative for the peaceful
resolution of the status of South Ossetia in 2005.

Germany
As Europe's largest economy and second most populous nation,
Germany is 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.

Ghana
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
John ATTA-MILLS in a free and fair election, succeeded him.

Gibraltar
Strategically important, Gibraltar was reluctantly ceded
to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British
garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. In a referendum
held in 1967, Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly to remain a British
dependency. Although the current 1969 Constitution for Gibraltar
states that the British government will never allow the people of
Gibraltar to pass under the sovereignty of another state against
their freely and democratically expressed wishes, a series of talks
were held by the UK and Spain between 1997 and 2002 on establishing
temporary joint sovereignty over Gibraltar. In response to these
talks, the Gibraltarian Government set up a referendum in late 2002
in which a majority of the citizens voted overwhelmingly against any
sharing of sovereignty with Spain. Since the referendum, tripartite
talks have been held with Spain, the UK, and Gibraltar, and in
September 2006 a three-way agreement was signed. Spain agreed to
allow airlines other than British to serve Gibraltar, to speed up
customs procedures, and to add more telephone lines into Gibraltar.
Britain agreed to pay pensions to Spaniards who had been employed in
Gibraltar before the border closed in 1969. Spain will be allowed to
open a cultural institute from which the Spanish flag will fly.

Glorioso Islands
 A French possession since 1892, the Glorioso
Islands are composed of two lushly vegetated coral islands (Ile
Glorieuse and Ile du Lys) and three rock islets. A military garrison
operates a weather and radio station on Ile Glorieuse.

Greece
Greece achieved 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 supporters of the king and Communist rebels. Following the
latter's defeat in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. A military
dictatorship, which in 1967 suspended many political liberties and
forced the king to flee the country, lasted seven years. The 1974
democratic elections and a referendum created a parliamentary
republic and abolished the monarchy. In 1981 Greece joined the EC
(now the EU); it became the 12th member of the euro zone in 2001.

Greenland
Greenland, the world's largest island, 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 EU) with Denmark in 1973, but
withdrew in 1985 over a dispute centered on 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 in
consultation with Greenland's Home Rule Government.

Grenada
Carib Indians inhabited Grenada when COLUMBUS discovered the
island in 1498, but it remained uncolonized for more than a century.
The French settled Grenada in the 17th century, established sugar
estates, and imported large numbers of African slaves. Britain took
the island in 1762 and vigorously expanded sugar production. In the
19th century, cacao eventually surpassed sugar as the main export
 crop; in the 20th century, nutmeg became the leading export. In
1967, Britain gave Grenada autonomy over its internal affairs. Full
independence was attained in 1974 making Grenada one of the smallest
independent countries in the Western Hemisphere. Grenada was seized
by a Marxist military council on 19 October 1983. Six days later the
island was invaded by US forces and those of six other Caribbean
nations, which quickly captured the ringleaders and their hundreds
of Cuban advisers. Free elections were reinstituted the following
year and have continued since that time. Hurricane Ivan struck
Grenada in September of 2004 causing severe damage.

Guam
Guam was ceded to the US by Spain in 1898. Captured by the
Japanese in 1941, it was retaken by the US three years later. The
military installation on the island is one of the most strategically
important US bases in the Pacific.

Guatemala
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.

Guernsey
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. Guernsey is a British
crown dependency, but is not part of the UK. However, the UK
Government is constitutionally responsible for defense and
international representation.

Guinea
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. In 2006, declining economic conditions prompted two
massive strikes that sparked urban unrest in many Guinean cities.

Guinea-Bissau
Since independence from Portugal in 1974,
Guinea-Bissau has experienced considerable political and military
upheaval. In 1980, a military coup established authoritarian
dictator Joao Bernardo 'Nino' VIEIRA as president. Despite setting a
path to a market economy and multiparty system, VIEIRA's regime was
characterized by the suppression of political opposition and the
purging of political rivals. Several coup attempts through the 1980s
and early 1990s failed to unseat him. In 1994 VIEIRA was elected
president in the country's first free elections. A military mutiny
and resulting civil war in 1998 eventually led to VIEIRA's ouster in
May 1999. In February 2000, a transitional government turned over
power to opposition leader Kumba YALA, after he was elected
president in transparent polling. In September 2003, after only
three years in office, YALA was ousted by the military in a
bloodless coup, and businessman Henrique ROSA was sworn in as
interim president. In 2005, former President VIEIRA was re-elected
president pledging to pursue economic development and national
reconciliation.

Guyana
Originally a Dutch colony in the 17th century, by 1815 Guyana
had become a British possession. The abolition of slavery led to
black settlement of urban areas and the importation of indentured
servants from India to work the sugar plantations. This
ethnocultural divide has persisted and has led to turbulent
politics. Guyana achieved independence from the UK in 1966, and
since then it has been 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. After his death five years later, his wife, Jane
JAGAN, became president but resigned in 1999 due to poor health. Her
successor, Bharrat JAGDEO, was reelected in 2001 and again in 2006.

Haiti
The native Taino 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, which later became 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. After a prolonged struggle, Haiti became the first
black republic to declare its independence in 1804. The poorest
country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti has been plagued by
political violence for most of its history. After an armed rebellion
led to the departure of President Jean-Betrand ARISTIDE in February
2004, an interim government took office to organize new elections
under the auspices of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in
Haiti (MINUSTAH). Continued violence and technical delays prompted
repeated postponements, but Haiti finally did inaugurate a
democratically elected president and parliament in May of 2006.

Heard Island and McDonald Islands

These uninhabited, barren,
sub-Antarctic islands were transferred from the UK to Australia in
1947. Populated by large numbers of seal and bird species, the
islands have been designated a nature preserve.

Holy See (Vatican City)

Popes in their secular role ruled portions
of the Italian peninsula for more than a thousand years until the
mid 19th century, when many of the Papal States were seized by the
newly united Kingdom of Italy. In 1870, the pope's holdings were
further circumscribed when Rome itself was annexed. Disputes between
 a series of "prisoner" popes and Italy were resolved in 1929 by
three Lateran Treaties, which established the independent state of
Vatican City and granted Roman Catholicism special status in Italy.
In 1984, a concordat between the Holy See and Italy modified certain
of the earlier treaty provisions, including the primacy of Roman
Catholicism as the Italian state religion. Present concerns of the
Holy See include 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.

Honduras
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.

Hong Kong
Occupied by the UK in 1841, Hong Kong was formally ceded
by China the following year; various adjacent lands were added later
in the 19th century. Pursuant to an agreement signed by China and
the UK on 19 December 1984, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 1 July 1997. In this
agreement, China has promised that, under its "one country, two
systems" formula, China's socialist economic system will not be
imposed on Hong Kong and that Hong Kong will enjoy a high degree of
autonomy in all matters except foreign and defense affairs for the
next 50 years.

Howland Island
Discovered by the US early in the 19th century, the
island was officially claimed by the US in 1857. Both US and British
companies mined for guano until about 1890. Earhart Light is a day
 beacon near the middle of the west coast that was partially
destroyed during World War II, but has since been rebuilt; it is
named in memory of the famed aviatrix Amelia EARHART. The island is
administered by the US Department of the Interior as a National
Wildlife Refuge.

Hungary
Hungary was part of the polyglot Austro-Hungarian Empire,
which collapsed during World War I. The country fell under Communist
rule following World War II. In 1956, a revolt and announced
withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact were met with a massive military
intervention by Moscow. Under the leadership of Janos KADAR in 1968,
Hungary began liberalizing its economy, introducing so-called
"Goulash Communism." Hungary held its first multiparty elections in
1990 and initiated a free market economy. It joined NATO in 1999 and
the EU in 2004.

Iceland
Settled by Norwegian and Celtic (Scottish and Irish)
immigrants during the late 9th and 10th centuries A.D., Iceland
boasts the world's oldest functioning legislative assembly, the
Althing, established in 930. Independent for over 300 years, Iceland
was subsequently ruled by Norway and Denmark. Fallout from the Askja
volcano of 1875 devastated the Icelandic economy and caused
widespread famine. Over the next quarter century, 20% of the
island's population emigrated, mostly to Canada and the US. Limited
home rule from Denmark was granted in 1874 and complete independence
attained in 1944. Literacy, longevity, income, and social cohesion
are first-rate by world standards.

Iles Eparses
The Iles Eparses, or scattered islands, are a group of
five French entities - Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso
Islands, Juan de Nova Island, and Tromelin Island - which on 1 April
1960 came under the authority of the Minister in charge of overseas
possessions. On 19 September 1960 by decree, the islands were
transferred to the charge of the Prefet of Reunion where they
remained until 3 January 2005 when they were transferred by another
decree to the Senior Administrator of the Territory of the French
 Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF).
Bassas da India: A French possession since 1897, this atoll is a
volcanic seamount surrounded by reefs and awash at high tide.
Europa Island: A French possession since 1897, the island is heavily
wooded; it is the site of a small military garrison that staffs a
weather station.
Glorioso Islands: A French possession since 1892, the Glorioso
Islands are composed of two lushly vegetated coral islands (Ile
Glorieuse and Ile du Lys) and three rock islets. A military garrison
operates a weather and radio station on Ile Glorieuse.
Juan de Nova Island: Named after a famous 15th century Spanish
navigator and explorer, the island has been a French possession
since 1897. It has been exploited for its guano and phosphate.
Presently a small military garrison oversees a meteorological
station.
Tromelin Island: First explored by the French in 1776, the island
came under the jurisdiction of Reunion in 1814. At present, it
serves as a sea turtle sanctuary and is the site of an important
meteorological station.

India
The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world,
dates back at least 5,000 years. Aryan tribes from the northwest
infiltrated onto Indian lands 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.
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's
five oceans (after the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean, but larger
than the Southern Ocean and Arctic Ocean). Four critically important
access waterways are the Suez Canal (Egypt), Bab el Mandeb
(Djibouti-Yemen), Strait of Hormuz (Iran-Oman), and Strait of
Malacca (Indonesia-Malaysia). The decision by the International
Hydrographic Organization in the spring of 2000 to delimit a fifth
ocean, the Southern Ocean, removed the portion of the Indian Ocean
south of 60 degrees south latitude.

Indonesia
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 and home to the world's largest Muslim population. Current
issues include: alleviating poverty, preventing terrorism,
consolidating democracy after four decades of authoritarianism,
implementing financial sector reforms, stemming corruption, and
holding the military and police accountable for human rights
violations. Indonesia was the nation worst hit by the December 2004
tsunami, which particularly affected Aceh province causing over
100,000 deaths and over $4 billion in damage. An additional
earthquake in March 2005 created heavy destruction on the island of
Nias. Reconstruction in these areas may take up to a decade. In
2005, Indonesia reached a historic peace agreement with armed
separatists in Aceh, but it continues to face a low intensity
separatist guerilla movement in Papua.

Iran
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 floundered as
conservative politicians prevented reform measures from being
enacted, increased repressive measures, and made electoral gains
against reformers. Parliamentary elections in 2004 and the August
2005 inauguration of a conservative stalwart as president, completed
the reconsolidation of conservative power in Iran's government.

Iraq
Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by
Britain during the course of World War I; in 1920, it was declared a
League of Nations mandate under UK administration. In stages over
the next dozen years, Iraq attained its independence as a kingdom in
1932. A "republic" was proclaimed in 1958, but in actuality a series
of military strongmen ruled the country until 2003, the last 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 led to the US-led invasion of
Iraq in March 2003 and the ouster of the SADDAM Husayn regime.
Coalition forces remain in Iraq under a UNSC mandate, helping to
provide security and to support the freely elected government. The
Coalition Provisional Authority, which temporarily administered Iraq
after the invasion, transferred full governmental authority on 28
June 2004 to the Iraqi Interim Government, which governed under the
Transitional Administrative Law for Iraq (TAL). Under the TAL,
elections for a 275-member Transitional National Assembly (TNA) were
 held in Iraq on 30 January 2005. Following these elections, the
Iraqi Transitional Government (ITG) assumed office. The TNA was
charged with drafting Iraq's permanent constitution, which was
approved in a 15 October 2005 constitutional referendum. An election
under the constitution for a 275-member Council of Representatives
(CoR) was held on 15 December 2005. The CoR approval in the
selection of most of the cabinet ministers on 20 May 2006 marked the
transition from the ITG to Iraq's first constitutional government in
nearly a half-century.

Ireland
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 UK. 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 is being implemented with some
difficulties. In 2006, the Irish and British governments developed
and began working to implement the St. Andrew's Agreement, building
on the Good Friday Agreement approved in 1998.

Isle of Man
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. Isle of Man is a British crown
dependency, but is not part of the UK. However, the UK Government
remains constitutionally responsible for defense and international
representation.

Israel
Following World War II, the British withdrew from their
 mandate of Palestine, and the UN partitioned the area into Arab and
Jewish states, an arrangement rejected by the Arabs. Subsequently,
the Israelis defeated the Arabs in a series of wars without ending
the deep tensions between the two sides. The territories Israel
occupied 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. In April 2003, US President BUSH, working in
conjunction with the EU, UN, and Russia - the "Quartet" - took the
lead in laying out a roadmap to a final settlement of the conflict
by 2005, based on reciprocal steps by the two parties leading to two
states, Israel and a democratic Palestine. However, progress toward
a permanent status agreement was undermined by Israeli-Palestinian
violence between September 2003 and February 2005. An
Israeli-Palestinian agreement reached at Sharm al-Sheikh in February
2005, along with an internally-brokered Palestinian ceasefire,
significantly reduced the violence. In the summer of 2005, Israel
unilaterally disengaged from the Gaza Strip, evacuating settlers and
its military. The election of HAMAS in January 2006 to head the
Palestinian Legislative Council froze relations between Israel and
the Palestinian Authority. Ehud OLMERT became prime minister in
March 2006; following an Israeli military operation in Gaza in
June-July 2006, he shelved plans to unilaterally evacuate from most
of the West Bank. The kidnapping of two Israeli soldiers by Lebanese
Hizballah led to a 34-day conflict in Lebanon in June-August 2006.

Italy
Italy became a nation-state in 1861 when the regional 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.

Jamaica
The island - discovered by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1494 -
was settled by the Spanish early in the 16th century. The native
Taino Indians, who had inhabited Jamaica for centuries, were
gradually exterminated, replaced by African slaves. England siezed
the island in 1655 and a plantation economy - based on sugar, cocoa,
and coffee - was established. The abolition of slavery in 1834 freed
a quarter million slaves, many of which became small farmers.
Jamaica gradually obtained increasing independence from Britain, and
in 1958 it joined other British Caribbean colonies in forming the
Federation of the West Indies. Jamaica gained full independence when
it withdrew from the federation in 1962. Deteriorating economic
conditions during the 1970s led to recurrent violence as rival gangs
created by the major political parties evolved into powerful
organized crime networks involved in international drug smuggling
and money laundering. The cycle of violence, drugs, and poverty has
served to impoverish large sectors of the populace. Nonetheless,
many rural and resort areas remain relatively safe and contribute
substantially to the economy.

Jan Mayen
This desolate, mountainous island was named after a Dutch
whaling captain who indisputably discovered it in 1614 (earlier
claims are inconclusive). Visited only occasionally by seal hunters
and trappers over the following centuries, the island came under
Norwegian sovereignty in 1929. The long dormant Haakon VII
Toppen/Beerenberg volcano resumed activity in 1970; it is the
 northernmost active volcano on earth.

Japan
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 US 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 1931-32
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.

Jarvis Island
First discovered by the British in 1821, the
uninhabited island was annexed by the US in 1858, but abandoned in
1879 after tons of guano had been removed. The UK annexed the island
in 1889, but never carried out plans for further exploitation. The
US occupied and reclaimed the island in 1935. Abandoned after World
War II, the island is currently a National Wildlife Refuge
administered by the US Department of the Interior.

Jersey
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. Jersey is a British crown
dependency, but is not part of the UK. However, the UK Government is
 constitutionally responsible for defense and international
representation.

Johnston Atoll
Both the US and the Kingdom of Hawaii annexed
Johnston Atoll in 1858, but it was the US that mined the guano
deposits until the late 1880s. 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 by May
2005.

Jordan
Following World War I and the dissolution of the Ottoman
Empire, the UK received a mandate to govern much of the Middle East.
Britain separated out a semi-autonomous region of Transjordan from
Palestine in the early 1920s, and the area gained its independence
in 1946; it adopted the name of Jordan in 1950. The country's
long-time ruler was King HUSSEIN (1953-99). A pragmatic leader, 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 peace treaty
with Israel. King ABDALLAH II, the son of King HUSSEIN, 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 appointed in November 2005 stated the government would
focus on political reforms, improving conditions for the poor, and
fighting corruption.

Juan de Nova Island

 Named after a famous 15th century Spanish
navigator and explorer, the island has been a French possession
since 1897. It has been exploited for its guano and phosphate.
Presently a small military garrison oversees a meteorological
station.

Kazakhstan
Native Kazakhs, a mix of Turkic and Mongol nomadic tribes
who migrated into the region in the 13th century, were rarely united
as a single nation. The area was conquered by Russia in the 18th
century, and Kazakhstan became a Soviet Republic in 1936. During the
1950s and 1960s agricultural "Virgin Lands" program, Soviet citizens
were encouraged to help cultivate Kazakhstan's northern pastures.
This influx of immigrants (mostly Russians, but also some other
deported nationalities) skewed the ethnic mixture and enabled
non-Kazakhs to outnumber natives. Independence 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.

Kenya
Founding president and liberation struggle icon Jomo KENYATTA
led Kenya from independence in 1963 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 were viewed as having generally reflected the will of the
Kenyan people. President MOI stepped down in December 2002 following
fair and peaceful elections. Mwai KIBAKI, running as the candidate
of the multiethnic, united opposition group, the National Rainbow
Coalition (NARC), defeated KANU candidate Uhuru KENYATTA and
assumed
 the presidency following a campaign centered on an anticorruption
platform. KIBAKI's NARC coalition splintered in 2005 over the
constitutional review process. Government defectors joined with KANU
to form a new opposition coalition, the Orange Democratic Movement,
which defeated the government's draft constitution in a popular
referendum in November 2005.

Kingman Reef
The US annexed the reef in 1922. Its sheltered lagoon
served as a way station for flying boats on Hawaii-to-American Samoa
flights during the late 1930s. There are no terrestrial plants on
the reef, which is frequently awash, but it does support abundant
and diverse marine fauna and flora. In 2001, the waters surrounding
the reef out to 12 nm were designated a US National Wildlife Refuge.

Kiribati
The Gilbert Islands were granted self-rule by the UK in
1971 and complete independence in 1979 under the new name of
Kiribati. The US relinquished all claims to the sparsely inhabited
Phoenix and Line Island groups in a 1979 treaty of friendship with
Kiribati.

Korea, North
An independent kingdom for much of its long history,
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 of Korea
(ROK) in the southern portion by force, North Korea (DPRK), under
its founder President KIM Il-so'ng, adopted a policy of ostensible
diplomatic and economic "self-reliance" as a check against excessive
Soviet or Communist Chinese influence. The DPRK demonized the US as
the ultimate threat to its social system through state-funded
propaganda, and 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 his father's successor in
1980, assuming a growing political and managerial role until the
elder KIM's death in 1994. After decades of economic mismanagement
and resource misallocation, the DPRK since the mid-1990s has relied
heavily on international aid to feed its population while continuing
to expend resources to maintain an army of 1 million. North Korea's
long-range missile development, as well as its nuclear, chemical,
and biological weapons programs and massive conventional armed
forces, are of major concern to the international community. In
December 2002, following revelations that the DPRK was pursuing a
nuclear weapons program based on enriched uranium in violation of a
1994 agreement with the US 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." Since August
2003, North Korea has participated in the Six-Party Talks with
China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, and the US designed to resolve
the stalemate over its nuclear programs. The fourth round of
Six-Party Talks were held in Beijing during July-September 2005. All
parties agreed to a Joint Statement of Principles in which, among
other things, the six parties unanimously reaffirmed the goal of
verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful
manner. In the Joint Statement, the DPRK committed to "abandoning
all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs and returning, at
an early date, to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear
Weapons and to IAEA safeguards." The Joint Statement also commits
the US and other parties to certain actions as the DPRK
denuclearizes. The US offered a security assurance, specifying that
it had no nuclear weapons on ROK territory and no intention to
attack or invade the DPRK with nuclear or other weapons. The US and
DPRK will take steps to normalize relations, subject to the DPRK's
implementing its denuclearization pledge and resolving other
longstanding concerns. While the Joint Statement provides a vision
of the end-point of the Six-Party process, much work lies ahead to
implement the elements of the agreement.
Korea, South
An independent Korean state or collection of states has
existed almost continuously for several millennia. Between its
initial unification in the 7th century - from three predecessor
Korean states - until the 20th century, Korea existed as a single
independent country. In 1905, following the Russo-Japanese War,
Korea became a protectorate of imperial Japan, and in 1910 it was
annexed as a colony. Korea regained its independence following
Japan's surrender to the United States in 1945. After World War II,
a Republic of Korea (ROK) was set up in the southern half of the
Korean Peninsula while a Communist-style government was installed in
the north (the DPRK). During the Korean War (1950-53), US troops and
UN forces fought alongside soldiers from the ROK to defend South
Korea from DPRK attacks supported by China and the Soviet Union. 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 1993, KIM Yo'ng-sam
became South Korea's first civilian president following 32 years of
military rule. 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.

Kuwait
Britain oversaw foreign relations and defense for the ruling
Kuwaiti AL-SABAH dynasty from 1899 until independence in 1961.
Kuwait was attacked and overrun by Iraq on 2 August 1990. Following
several weeks of aerial bombardment, a US-led, UN coalition began a
ground assault on 23 February 1991 that liberated Kuwait in four
days. Kuwait spent more than $5 billion to repair oil infrastructure
damaged during 1990-91. The AL-SABAH family has ruled since
returning to power in 1991, and reestablished an elected legislature
that in recent years has become increasingly assertive.

Kyrgyzstan
A Central Asian country of incredible natural beauty and
proud nomadic traditions, Kyrgyzstan was annexed by Russia in 1864;
 it achieved independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Nationwide
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 2005 were won
overwhelmingly by former prime minister Kurmanbek BAKIYEV. The
political opposition organized demonstrations in Bishkek in in
April, May, and November 2006 resulting in the adoption of new
constitution that transfered some of the president's powers to
parliament and the government. Current concerns include:
privatization of state-owned enterprises, expansion of democracy and
political freedoms, reduction of corruption, improving interethnic
relations, and combating terrorism.

Laos
Modern-day Laos has its roots in the ancient Lao kingdom of Lan
Xang, established in the 14th Century under King FA NGUM. For three
hundred years Lan Xang included large parts of present-day Cambodia
and Thailand, as well as all of what is now Laos. After centuries of
gradual decline, Laos came 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
and instituting a strict socialist regime closely aligned to
Vietnam. A gradual return to private enterprise and the
liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1986. Laos became
a member of ASEAN in 1997.

Latvia
After a brief period of independence between the two World
Wars, Latvia was annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never
recognized by the US and many other countries. 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.

Lebanon
Following the capture of Syria from the Ottoman Empire by
 Anglo-French forces in 1918, France received a mandate over this
territory and separated out a region of Lebanon in 1920. France
granted this area independence in 1943. A 15-year civil war
(1976-1991) devastated the country, but Lebanon has since made
progress toward rebuilding its political institutions. Under the
Ta'if Accord - the blueprint for national reconciliation - the
Lebanese established a more equitable political system, particularly
by giving Muslims a greater voice in the political process while
institutionalizing sectarian divisions in the government. Since the
end of the war, Lebanon has conducted several successful elections,
most militias have been disbanded, and the Lebanese Armed Forces
(LAF) have extended authority over about two-thirds of the country.
Hizballah, a radical Shi'a organization listed by the US State
Department as a Foreign Terrorist 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. The assassination of former Prime Minister
Rafiq HARIRI and 20 others in February 2005 led to massive
demonstrations in Beirut against the Syrian presence ("the Cedar
Revolution"). Syria finally withdrew the remainder of its military
forces from Lebanon in April 2005. In May-June 2005, Lebanon held
its first legislative elections since the end of the civil war free
of foreign interference, handing a majority to the bloc led by Saad
HARIRI, the slain prime minister's son. Hizballah kidnapped two
Israeli soldiers in July 2006 leading to a 34-day conflict with
Israel. UNSCR 1701, which passed in August 2006, called for the
disarmament of Hizballah.

Lesotho
Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon
 independence from the UK in 1966. The Basuto National Party ruled
for the first two decades. King MOSHOESHOE was exiled in 1990, but
returned to Lesotho in 1992 and reinstated in 1995. Constitutional
government was restored in 1993 after 7 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.

Liberia
Settlement of freed slaves from the US in what is today
Liberia began in 1822; by 1847, the Americo-Liberians were able to
establish a republic. William TUBMAN, president from 1944-71, did
much to promote foreign investment and to bridge the economic,
social, and political gaps between the descendents of the original
settlers and the inhabitants of the interior. In 1980, a military
coup led by Samuel DOE ushered in a decade of authoritarian rule. In
December 1989, Charles TAYLOR launched a rebellion against DOE's
regime that led to a prolonged civil war in which DOE himself was
killed. A period of relative peace in 1997 allowed for elections
that brought TAYLOR to power, but major fighting resumed in 2000. An
August 2003, peace agreement ended the war and prompted the
resignation of former president Charles TAYLOR, who was exiled to
Nigeria. After two years of rule by a transitional government,
democratic elections in late 2005 brought President Ellen JOHNSON
SIRLEAF to power. The UN 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.

Libya
The Italians supplanted the Ottoman Turks from the area around
Tripoli in 1911 and did not relinquish their hold until 1943 when
defeated in World War II. Libya then passed to UN administration and
achieved independence in 1951. Following a 1969 military coup, Col.
Muammar Abu Minyar al-QADHAFI began to espouse 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 resolved in 2004 some of the
outstanding cases against his government for terrorist activities in
the 1980s by compensating some families of victims of the Pan Am
103, French airliner UTA, and La Belle disco bombings. The US
resumed full diplomatic relations with Libya in May 2006 and
rescinded Libya's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism in
June.

Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein was established
within the Holy Roman Empire in 1719; it became a sovereign state in
1806. Until the end of World War I, it was closely tied to Austria,
but the economic devastation caused by that conflict forced
Liechtenstein to enter into a customs and monetary union with
Switzerland. Since World War II (in which Liechtenstein remained
neutral), the country's low taxes have spurred outstanding economic
 growth. Shortcomings in banking regulatory oversight resulted in
concerns about the use of financial institutions for money
laundering. However, Liechtenstein implemented anti-money-laundering
legislation over the past several years and a Mutual Legal
Assistance Treaty with the US went into effect in 2003.

Lithuania
Independent between the two World Wars, Lithuania was
annexed by the USSR in 1940 - an action never recognized by the US.
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.

Luxembourg
Founded in 963, Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815
and an independent state under the Netherlands. It lost more than
half of its territory to Belgium in 1839, but gained a larger
measure of autonomy. Full independence was attained in 1867. Overrun
by Germany in both World Wars, it ended its neutrality in 1948 when
it entered into the Benelux Customs Union and when it joined NATO
the following year. In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six
founding countries of the European Economic Community (later the
European Union), and in 1999 it joined the euro currency area.

Macau
Colonized by the Portuguese in the 16th century, Macau was the
first European settlement in the Far East. Pursuant to an agreement
signed by China and Portugal on 13 April 1987, Macau became the
Macau Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 20 December
1999. China has promised that, under its "one country, two systems"
formula, China's socialist economic system will not be practiced in
Macau, and that Macau will enjoy a high degree of autonomy in all
matters except foreign and defense affairs for the next 50 years.

Macedonia
 Macedonia gained its independence peacefully from
Yugoslavia in 1991, but Greece's objection to the new state's use of
what it considered a Hellenic name and symbols delayed international
recognition, which occurred under the provisional designation of
"the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia." In 1995, Greece lifted
a 20-month trade embargo and the two countries agreed to normalize
relations. The United States began referring to Macedonia by its
constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia, in 2004 and negotiations
continue between Greece and Macedonia to resolve the name issue.
Some ethnic Albanians, angered by perceived political and economic
inequities, launched an insurgency in 2001 that eventually won the
support of the majority of Macedonia's Albanian population and led
to the internationally-brokered Framework Agreement, which ended the
fighting by establishing a set of new laws enhancing the rights of
minorities. The undetermined status of neighboring Kosovo,
implementation of the Framework Agreement, and a weak economy
continue to be challenges for Macedonia.

Madagascar
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.

Malawi
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 a failed attempt by
the previous president to amend the constitution to permit another
term, has struggled to assert his authority against his predecessor,
 who still leads their shared political party. MUTHARIKA's
anti-corruption efforts have led to several high-level arrests and
one prominent conviction. Increasing corruption, population growth,
increasing pressure on agricultural lands, and the spread of
HIV/AIDS pose major problems for the country.

Malaysia
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. During the 22-year term of Prime Minister
MAHATHIR bin Mohamad (1981-2003), Malaysia was successful in
diversifying its economy from dependence on exports of raw
materials, to expansion in manufacturing, services, and tourism.

Maldives
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 pledged to embark upon democratic
reforms, including a more representative political system and
expanded political freedoms. Progress has been slow, however, and
many promised reforms have been delayed indefinitely. Tourism and
fishing are being developed on the archipelago.

Mali
The Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent of France
in 1960 as the Mali Federation. When Senegal withdrew after only a
few months, what formerly made up the Sudanese Republic was renamed
Mali. Rule by dictatorship was brought to a close in 1991 by a coup
 that ushered in democratic government. President Alpha KONARE won
Mali's first democratic presidential election in 1992 and was
reelected in 1997. In keeping with Mali's two-term constitutional
limit, KONARE stepped down in 2002 and was succeeded by Amadou
TOURE.

Malta
Great Britain formally acquired possession of Malta in 1814.
The island staunchly supported the UK through both World Wars and
remained in the Commonwealth when it became independent in 1964. A
decade later Malta became a republic. Since about the mid-1980s, the
island has transformed itself into a freight transshipment point, a
financial center, and a tourist destination. Malta became an EU
member in May 2004.

Marshall Islands
After almost four decades under US administration
as the easternmost part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands, the Marshall Islands attained independence in 1986 under a
Compact of Free Association. Compensation claims continue as a
result of US nuclear testing on some of the atolls between 1947 and
1962. The Marshall Islands hosts the US Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA)
Reagan Missile Test Site, a key installation in the US missile
defense network.

Mauritania
Independent from France in 1960, Mauritania annexed the
southern third of the former Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara) in
1976, but relinquished it after three years of raids by the
Polisario guerrilla front seeking independence for the territory.
Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA seized 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 and organized elections. Accordingly,
 parliamentary elections were held in December of 2006 and senatorial
and presidential elections will follow (January and March 2007
respectively). The newly-elected legislature is expected to assume
power following the inauguration of the new president. For now,
however, Mauritania remains an autocratic state, and the country
continues to experience ethnic tensions among its black population
and different Moor (Arab-Berber) communities.

Mauritius
Although known to Arab and Malay sailors as early as the
10th century, Mauritius was first explored by the Portuguese in
1505; it was subsequently held by the Dutch, French, and British
before independence was attained in 1968. A stable democracy with
regular free elections and a positive human rights record, the
country has attracted considerable foreign investment and has earned
one of Africa's highest per capita incomes. Recent poor weather and
declining sugar prices have slowed economic growth, leading to some
protests over standards of living in the Creole community.

Mayotte
Mayotte was ceded to France along with the other islands of
the Comoros group in 1843. It was the only island in the archipelago
that voted in 1974 to retain its link with France and forego
independence.

Mexico
The site of advanced Amerindian civilizations, Mexico came
under Spanish rule for three centuries before achieving independence
early in the 19th century. A devaluation of the peso in late 1994
threw Mexico into economic turmoil, triggering the worst recession
in over half a century. The nation continues to make an impressive
recovery. Ongoing economic and social concerns include low real
wages, underemployment for a large segment of the population,
inequitable income distribution, and few advancement opportunities
for the largely Amerindian population in the impoverished southern
states. Elections held in July 2000 marked the first time since the
1910 Mexican Revolution that the opposition defeated the party in
government, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). Vicente FOX
of the National Action Party (PAN) was sworn in on 1 December 2000
 as the first chief executive elected in free and fair elections.

Micronesia, Federated States of

In 1979 the Federated States of
Micronesia, a UN Trust Territory under US administration, adopted a
constitution. In 1986 independence was attained under a Compact of
Free Association with the US, which was amended and renewed in 2004.
Present concerns include large-scale unemployment, overfishing, and
overdependence on US aid.

Midway Islands
The US took formal possession of the islands in 1867.
The laying of the trans-Pacific cable, which passed through the
islands, brought the first residents in 1903. Between 1935 and 1947,
Midway was used as a refueling stop for trans-Pacific flights. The
US naval victory over a Japanese fleet off Midway in 1942 was one of
the turning points of World War II. The islands continued to serve
as a naval station until closed in 1993. Today the islands are a
national wildlife refuge. From 1996 to 2001 the refuge was open to
the public; it is now temporarily closed.

Moldova
Formerly 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.

Monaco
The Genoese built a fortress on the site of present-day
Monaco in 1215. The current ruling Grimaldi family secured control
in the late 13th century, and a principality was established in
1338. Economic development was spurred in the late 19th century with
a railroad linkup to France and the opening of a casino. Since then,
the principality's mild climate, splendid scenery, and gambling
facilities have made Monaco world famous as a tourist and recreation
 center.

Mongolia
The Mongols gained fame in the 13th century when under
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. The ex-Communist
Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) won elections in 1990
and 1992, but was defeated by the Democratic Union Coalition (DUC)
in the 1996 parliamentary election. Since then, parliamentary
elections returned the MPRP overwhelmingly to power in 2000 and
produced a coalition government in 2004.

Montenegro
The use of the name Montenegro began in the 15th century
when the Crnojevic dynasty began to rule the Serbian principality of
Zeta; over subsequent centuries Montenegro was able to maintain its
independence from the Ottoman Empire. From the 16th to 19th
centuries, Montenegro became a theocracy ruled by a series of bishop
princes; in 1852, it was transformed into a secular principality.
After World War I, Montenegro was absorbed by the Kingdom of Serbs,
Croats, and Slovenes, which became the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in
1929; at the conclusion of World War II, it became a constituent
republic of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. When the
latter dissolved in 1992, Montenegro federated with Serbia, first as
the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and, after 2003, in a looser
union of Serbia and Montenegro. In May 2006, Montenegro invoked its
right under the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro to
hold a referendum on independence from the state union. The vote for
severing ties with Serbia exceeded 55% - the threshold set by the EU
- allowing Montenegro to formally declare its independence on 3 June
2006.

Montserrat
English and Irish colonists from St. Kitts first settled
on Montserrat in 1632; the first African slaves arrived three
 decades later. The British and French fought for possesion of the
island for most of the 18th century, but it finally was confirmed as
a British possession in 1783. The island's sugar plantation economy
was converted to small farm landholdings in the mid 19th century.
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.

Morocco
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 erode; 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, which
first met in 1997. Lower house elections were last held held in
September 2002 and upper house elections were last held in September
2006.

Mozambique
Almost five centuries as a Portuguese colony came to a
close with independence in 1975. Large-scale emigration by whites,
economic dependence on South Africa, a severe drought, and a
prolonged civil war hindered the country's development. The ruling
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.

Namibia
South Africa occupied the German colony of South-West Africa
during World War I and administered it as a mandate until after
World War II, when it annexed the territory. In 1966 the Marxist
South-West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) guerrilla group
launched a war of independence for the area that was soon named
Namibia, but it was not until 1988 that South Africa agreed to end
its administration in accordance with a UN peace plan for the entire
region. 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.

Nauru
The exact origins of the Nauruans are unclear, since their
language does not resemble any other in the Pacific. The island was
annexed by Germany in 1888 and its phosphate deposits began to be
mined early in the 20th century by a German-British consortium.
Nauru was occupied by Australian forces in World War I and
subsequently became a League of Nations mandate. After the Second
World War - and a brutal occupation by Japan - Nauru became a UN
trust territory. It achieved its independence in 1968 and joined the
UN in 1999 as the world's smallest independent republic.

Navassa Island
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.

Nepal
 In 1951, the Nepalese monarch ended the century-old system of
rule by hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system of
government. Reforms in 1990 established a multiparty democracy
within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. A Maoist
insurgency, launched in 1996, gained traction and threatened 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. Citing
dissatisfaction with the government's lack of progress in addressing
the Maoist insurgency and corruption, the king in February 2005
dissolved the government, declared a state of emergency, imprisoned
party leaders, and assumed power. The king's government subsequently
released party leaders and officially ended the state of emergency
in May 2005, but the monarch retained absolute power until April
2006. After nearly three weeks of mass protests organized by the
seven-party opposition and the Maoists, the king allowed parliament
to reconvene on 28 April 2006. In November 2006, the government and
Maoists signed the Comprehensive Peace Accord to end the ten-year
insurgency.

Netherlands
The Dutch United Provinces declared their independence
from Spain in 1579; during the 17th century, they became a leading
seafaring and commercial power, with settlements and colonies around
the world. After a 20-year French occupation, a 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.
Netherlands Antilles
Once the center of the Caribbean slave trade,
the island of Curacao was hard hit by the abolition of slavery in
1863. Its prosperity (and that of neighboring Aruba) was restored in
the early 20th century with the construction of oil refineries to
service the newly discovered Venezuelan oil fields. The island of
Saint Martin is shared with France; its 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).

New Caledonia
Settled by both Britain and France during the first
half of the 19th century, the island was made a French possession in
1853. It served as a penal colony for four decades after 1864.
Agitation for independence during the 1980s and early 1990s ended in
the 1998 Noumea Accord, which over a period of 15 to 20 years will
transfer an increasing amount of governing responsibility from
France to New Caledonia. The agreement also commits France to
conduct as many as three referenda between 2013 and 2018, to decide
whether New Caledonia should assume full sovereignty and
independence.

New Zealand
The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D.
800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain,
the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen
Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year, the
British began the first organized colonial settlement. A series of
land wars between 1843 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the native
peoples. The British colony of New Zealand became an independent
dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars.
New Zealand's full participation in a number of defense alliances
lapsed by the 1980s. In recent years, the government has sought to
address longstanding Maori grievances.

Nicaragua
The Pacific coast of Nicaragua was settled as a Spanish
colony from Panama in the early 16th century. Independence from
Spain was declared in 1821 and the country became an independent
 republic in 1838. Britain occupied the Caribbean Coast in the first
half of the 19th century, but gradually ceded control of the region
in subsequent decades. Violent opposition to governmental
manipulation and corruption spread to all classes by 1978 and
resulted in a short-lived civil war that brought the Marxist
Sandinista guerrillas to power in 1979. Nicaraguan aid to leftist
rebels in El Salvador caused the US to sponsor anti-Sandinista
contra guerrillas through much of the 1980s. Free elections in 1990,
1996, and 2001, saw the Sandinistas defeated, but voting in 2006
announced the return of former Sandinista President Daniel ORTEGA
Saavedra. Nicaragua's infrastructure and economy - hard hit by the
earlier civil war and by Hurricane Mitch in 1998 - are slowly being
rebuilt.

Niger
Niger became independent from France in 1960 and experienced
single-party and military rule until 1991, when Gen. Ali SAIBOU was
forced by public pressure to allow multiparty elections, which
resulted in a democratic government in 1993. Political infighting
brought the government to a standstill and in 1996 led to a coup by
Col. Ibrahim BARE. In 1999 BARE was killed in a coup by military
officers who promptly restored democratic rule and held elections
that brought Mamadou TANDJA to power in December of that year.
TANDJA was reelected in 2004. 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.

Nigeria
British influence and control over what would become Nigeria
grew through the 19th century. A series of constitutions after World
War II granted Nigeria greater autonomy; independence came in 1960.
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 reforming 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. Although the April 2003
elections were marred by some irregularities, Nigeria is currently
experiencing its longest period of civilian rule since independence.
The general elections set for April 2007 would mark the first
civilian-to-civilian transfer of power in the country's history.

Niue
Niue's remoteness, as well as cultural and linguistic
differences between its Polynesian inhabitants and those of the rest
of the Cook Islands, have caused it to be separately administered.
The population of the island continues to drop (from a peak of 5,200
in 1966 to about 2,166 in 2006), with substantial emigration to New
Zealand, 2,400 km to the southwest.

Norfolk Island
Two British attempts at establishing the island as a
penal colony (1788-1814 and 1825-55) were ultimately abandoned. In
1856, the island was resettled by Pitcairn Islanders, descendants of
the Bounty mutineers and their Tahitian companions.

Northern Mariana Islands

Under US administration as part of the UN
Trust Territory of the Pacific, the people of the Northern Mariana
Islands decided in the 1970s not to seek independence but instead to
forge closer links with the US. Negotiations for territorial status
began in 1972. A covenant to establish a commonwealth in political
union with the US was approved in 1975, and came into force on 24
March 1976. A new government and constitution went into effect in
1978.

Norway
Two centuries of Viking raids into Europe tapered off
following the adoption of Christianity by King Olav TRYGGVASON in
994. Conversion of the Norwegian kingdom occurred over the next
several decades. In 1397, Norway was absorbed into a union with
Denmark that lasted 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.

Oman
The inhabitants of the area of Oman have long prospered on
Indian Ocean trade. In the late 18th century, a newly established
sultanate in Muscat signed the first in a series of friendship
treaties with Britain. Over time, Oman's dependence on British
political and military advisors increased, but it never became a
British colony. In 1970, QABOOS bin Said al-Said overthrew the
restrictive rule of his father; he has ruled as sultan ever since.
His extensive modernization program has opened the country to the
outside world while preserving the longstanding close ties with the
UK. Oman's moderate, independent foreign policy has sought to
maintain good relations with all Middle Eastern countries.

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

Pakistan
The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim
state of Pakistan (with two sections West and East) and largely
 Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved, and India and
Pakistan 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 discussions and
confidence-building measures have led to decreased tensions since
2002.

Palau
After three decades as part of the UN Trust Territory of the
Pacific under US administration, this westernmost cluster of the
Caroline Islands opted for independence in 1978 rather than join the
Federated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association with
the US was approved in 1986, but not ratified until 1993. It entered
into force the following year, when the islands gained independence.

Palmyra Atoll
The Kingdom of Hawaii claimed the atoll in 1862, and
the US included it among the Hawaiian Islands when it annexed the
archipelago in 1898. The Hawaii Statehood Act of 1959 did not
include Palmyra Atoll, which is now privately owned by the Nature
Conservancy. This organization is managing the atoll as a nature
preserve. The lagoons and surrounding waters within the 12 nautical
mile US territorial seas were transferred to the US Fish and
Wildlife Service and were designated a National Wildlife Refuge in
January 2001.

Panama
Explored and settled by the Spanish in the 16th century,
Panama broke with Spain in 1821 and joined a union of Colombia,
Venezuela, and Ecuador - named the Republic of Gran Colombia. When
the latter dissolved in 1830, Panama remained part of Colombia. 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. In 1977, an agreement was
signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama
by the end of the century. Certain portions of the Zone and
increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the
subsequent decades. 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 transfered to Panama by
the end of 1999. In October 2006, Panamanians approved an ambitious
plan to expand the Canal. The project, which is to begin in 2007 and
could double the Canal's capacity, is expected to be completed in
2014-15.

Papua New Guinea

The eastern half of the island of New Guinea -
second largest in the world - was divided between Germany (north)
and the UK (south) in 1885. The latter area was transferred to
Australia in 1902, which occupied the northern portion during World
War I and continued to administer the combined areas until
independence in 1975. A nine-year secessionist revolt on the island
of Bougainville ended in 1997 after claiming some 20,000 lives.

Paracel Islands
The Paracel Islands are surrounded by productive
fishing grounds and by potential oil and gas reserves. In 1932,
French Indochina annexed the islands and set up a weather station on
Pattle Island; maintenance was continued by its successor, Vietnam.
China has occupied the Paracel Islands since 1974, when its troops
seized a South Vietnamese garrison occupying the western islands.
The islands are claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam.

Paraguay
In the disastrous War of the Triple Alliance (1865-70),
Paraguay lost two-thirds of all adult males and much of its
territory. It stagnated economically for the next half century. In
the Chaco War of 1932-35, large, economically important areas were
won from Bolivia. The 35-year military dictatorship of Alfredo
STROESSNER was overthrown in 1989, and, despite a marked increase in
political infighting in recent years, relatively free and regular
presidential elections have been held since then.
Peru
Ancient Peru was the seat of several prominent Andean
civilizations, most notably that of the Incas whose empire was
captured by the Spanish 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, which led to his ouster in 2000. A
caretaker government oversaw new elections in the spring of 2001,
which ushered in Alejandro TOLEDO as the new head of government -
Peru's first democratically elected president of Native American
ethnicity. The presidential election of 2006 saw the return of Alan
GARCIA who, after a disappointing presidential term from 1985 to
1990, returned to the presidency with promises to improve social
conditions and maintain fiscal responsibility.

Philippines
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 20-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 an armed Communist insurgency and from Muslim separatists in
the south, as well as from impeachment attempts by political elites
and civil groups unhappy with the current administration.

Pitcairn Islands
Pitcairn Island was discovered in 1767 by the
British and settled in 1790 by the Bounty mutineers and their
Tahitian companions. Pitcairn was the first Pacific island to become
a British colony (in 1838) and today remains the last vestige of
that empire in the South Pacific. Outmigration, primarily to New
Zealand, has thinned the population from a peak of 233 in 1937 to
less than 50 today.

Poland
Poland is an ancient nation that was conceived 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 still faces the lingering
challenges of high unemployment, underdeveloped and dilapidated
infrastructure, and a poor rural underclass. 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. With its transformation to a democratic,
market-oriented country largely completed, Poland is an increasingly
active member of Euro-Atlantic organizations.

Portugal
Following its heyday as a world power during the 15th and
16th centuries, Portugal lost much of its wealth and status with the
destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, occupation during the
Napoleonic Wars, and the independence in 1822 of Brazil as a colony.
A 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy; for most of the next six
decades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, a
left-wing military coup installed broad democratic reforms. The
following year, Portugal granted independence to all of its African
colonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC
(now the EU) in 1986.

Puerto Rico
Populated for centuries by aboriginal peoples, the
island was claimed by the Spanish Crown in 1493 following COLUMBUS'
second voyage to the Americas. In 1898, after 400 years of colonial
rule that saw the indigenous population nearly exterminated and
African slave labor introduced, Puerto Rico was ceded to the US as a
result of the Spanish-American War. Puerto Ricans were granted US
citizenship in 1917. 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 not to alter the existing political status.

Qatar
Ruled by the al-Thani family since the mid-1800s, Qatar
transformed itself from a poor British protectorate noted mainly for
pearling into an independent state with significant oil and natural
gas revenues. During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Qatari
economy was crippled by a continuous siphoning off of petroleum
revenues by the amir, who had ruled the country since 1972. 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.

Romania
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 - most notably Transylvania - following the
conflict. In 1940, Romania 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. Romania joined NATO in
2004 and the EU in 2007.

Russia
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.
Defeat in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 contributed to the
Revolution of 1905, which resulted in the formation of a parliament
and other reforms. 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 Iosif STALIN (1928-53)
strengthened Communist rule and 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 Russia and 14 other independent
republics. Since then, Russia has struggled in its efforts to build
a democratic political system and market economy to replace the
social, political, and economic controls of the Communist period.
While some progress has been made on the economic front, and
Russia's management of its windfall oil wealth has improved its
financial standing, recent years have seen a recentralization of
power under Vladimir PUTIN and democratic institutions remain weak.
Russia has severely disabled the Chechen rebel movement, although
sporadic violence still occurs throughout the North Caucusus.

Rwanda
In 1959, three years before independence from Belgium, the
majority ethnic group, the Hutus, overthrew the ruling Tutsi king.
Over the next several years, thousands of Tutsis were killed, and
some 150,000 driven into exile in neighboring countries. The
children of these exiles later formed a rebel group, the Rwandan
Patriotic Front (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 several
thousand remain in neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo and
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 - 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.

Saint Helena
Saint Helena is a British Overseas Territory consisting
of Saint Helena and Ascension Islands, and the island group of
Tristan da Cunha.
Saint Helena: Uninhabited when first discovered by the Portuguese in
1502, Saint Helena was garrisoned by the British during the 17th
century. It acquired fame as the place of Napoleon BONAPARTE's
exile, from 1815 until his death in 1821, but its importance as a
port of call declined after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869.
During the Anglo-Boer War in South Africa, several thousand Boer
prisoners were confined on the island between 1900 and 1903.
Ascension Island: This barren and uninhabited island was discovered
and named by the Portuguese in 1503. The British garrisoned the
island in 1815 to prevent a rescue of Napoleon from Saint Helena and
it served as a provisioning station for the Royal Navy's West Africa
Squadron on anti-slavery patrol. The island remained under Admiralty
control until 1922, when it became a dependency of Saint Helena.
During World War II, the UK permitted the US to construct an
airfield on Ascension in support of trans-Atlantic flights to Africa
and anti-submarine operations in the South Atlantic. In the 1960s
the island became an important space tracking station for the US. In
1982, Ascension was an essential staging area for British forces
during the Falklands War, and it remains a critical refueling point
in the air-bridge from the UK to the South Atlantic.
Tristan da Cunha: The island group consists of the islands of
Tristan da Cunha, Nightingale, Inaccessible, and Gough. Tristan da
Cunha is named after its Portuguese discoverer (1506); it was
garrisoned by the British in 1816 to prevent any attempt to rescue
Napoleon from Saint Helena. Gough and Inaccessible Islands have been
designated World Heritage Sites. South Africa leases the site for a
meteorological station on Gough Island.

Saint Kitts and Nevis

First settled by the British in 1623, the
islands became an associated state with full internal autonomy in
 1967. The island of Anguilla rebelled and was allowed to secede in
1971. Saint Kitts and Nevis achieved independence in 1983. In 1998,
a vote in Nevis on a referendum to separate from Saint Kitts fell
short of the two-thirds majority needed. Nevis continues in its
efforts to try and separate from Saint Kitts.

Saint Lucia
The island, with its fine natural harbor at Castries,
was contested between England and France throughout the 17th and
early 18th centuries (changing possession 14 times); it was finally
ceded to the UK in 1814. Even after the abolition of slavery on its
plantations in 1834, Saint Lucia remained an agricultural island,
dedicated to producing tropical commodity crops. Self-government was
granted in 1967 and independence in 1979.

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

First settled by the French in the early
17th century, the islands represent the sole remaining vestige of
France's once vast North American possessions.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Resistance by native Caribs
prevented colonization on St. Vincent until 1719. Disputed between
France and the United Kingdom for most of the 18th century, the
island was ceded to the latter in 1783. Between 1960 and 1962, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines was a separate administrative unit of the
Federation of the West Indies. Autonomy was granted in 1969 and
independence in 1979.

Samoa
New Zealand occupied the German protectorate of Western Samoa
at the outbreak of World War I in 1914. It continued to administer
the islands as a mandate and then as a trust territory until 1962,
when the islands became the first Polynesian nation to reestablish
independence in the 20th century. The country dropped the "Western"
from its name in 1997.

San Marino
The third smallest state in Europe (after the Holy See
 and Monaco), San Marino also claims to be the world's oldest
republic. According to tradition, it was founded by a Christian
stonemason named Marino in A.D. 301. San Marino's foreign policy is
aligned with that of Italy; social and political trends in the
republic also track closely with those of its larger neighbor.

Sao Tome and Principe

Discovered and claimed by Portugal in the late
15th century, the islands' sugar-based economy gave way to coffee
and cocoa in the 19th century - all grown with plantation slave
labor, a form of which lingered into the 20th century. Although
independence was achieved in 1975, democratic reforms were not
instituted until the late 1980s. Though the first free elections
were held in 1991, the political environment has been one of
continued instability with frequent changes in leadership and coup
attempts in 1995 and 2003. The recent discovery of oil in the Gulf
of Guinea is likely to have a significant impact on the country's
economy.

Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and home to
Islam's two holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina, and the king's
official title is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The modern
Saudi state was founded in 1932 by ABD AL-AZIZ bin Abd al-Rahman AL
SAUD (Ibn Saud) after a 30-year campaign to unify most of the
Arabian Peninsula. A male descendent of Ibn Saud, his son ABDALLAH
bin Abd al-Aziz, rules the country today as required by the
country's 1992 Basic Law. 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 the liberation of
Kuwait became a source of tension between the royal family and the
public until all operational US troops left the country in 2003.
Major terrorist attacks in May and November 2003 spurred a strong
on-going campaign against domestic terrorism and extremism. King
ABDALLAH has continued the cautious reform program begun when he was
crown prince. To promote increased political participation, the
government held elections nationwide from February through April
 2005 - for half the members of 179 municipal councils. In December
2005, King ABDALLAH completed the process by appointing the
remaining members of the advisory municipal councils. The country
remains a leading producer of oil and natural gas and holds
approximately 25% of the world's proven oil reserves. The government
continues to pursue economic reform and diversification,
particularly since Saudi Arabia's accession to the WTO in December
2005, and promotes foreign investment in the kingdom. A burgeoning
population, aquifer depletion, and an economy largely dependent on
petroleum output and prices are all ongoing governmental concerns.

Senegal
Independent from France in 1960, Senegal was ruled by the
Socialist Party for forty years until current President Abdoulaye
WADE was elected in 2000. Senegal joined with The Gambia to form the
nominal confederation of Senegambia in 1982, but the envisaged
integration of the two countries was never carried out, and the
union was dissolved in 1989. A southern separatist group
sporadically has clashed with government forces since 1982, but
Senegal remains one of the most stable democracies in Africa.
Senegal has a long history of participating in international
peacekeeping.

Serbia
The Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes was formed in
1918; its name was changed to Yugoslavia in 1929. Various
paramilitary bands resisted Nazi Germany's occupation and division
of Yugoslavia from 1941 to 1945, but fought each other and ethnic
opponents as much as the invaders. The military and political
movement headed by Josip TITO (Partisans) took full control of
Yugoslavia when German and Croatian separatist forces were defeated
in 1945. Although Communist, Tito's new government and his
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 1989, Slobodan MILOSEVIC became president of the Serbian
Republic and his ultranationalist calls for Serbian domination led
to the violent breakup of Yugoslavia along ethnic lines. In 1991,
Croatia, Slovenia, and Macedonia declared independence, followed by
Bosnia in 1992. The remaining republics of Serbia and Montenegro
declared a new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) in April 1992
and under MILOSEVIC's leadership, Serbia led various military
campaigns to unite ethnic Serbs in neighboring republics into a
"Greater Serbia." These actions led to Yugoslavia being ousted from
the UN in 1992, but Serbia continued its - ultimately unsuccesful -
campaign until signing the Dayton Peace Accords in 1995. MILOSEVIC
kept tight control over Serbia and eventually became president of
the FRY in 1997. In 1998, a small-scale ethnic Albanian insurgency
in the formerly autonomous Serbian province of Kosovo provoked a
Serbian counterinsurgency campaign that resulted in massacres and
massive expulsions of ethnic Albanians living in Kosovo by FRY
forces and Serb paramilitaries. The MILOSEVIC government's rejection
of a proposed international settlement led to NATO's bombing of
Serbia in the spring of 1999 and to the eventual withdrawal of
Serbian military and police forces from Kosovo in June 1999. UNSC
Resolution 1244 in June 1999 authorized the stationing of a NATO-led
force (KFOR) in Kosovo to provide a safe and secure environment for
the region's ethnic communities, created a UN Administration Mission
in Kosovo (UNMIK) to foster self-governing institutions, and
reserved the issue of Kosovo's final status for an unspecified date
in the future. In 2001, UNMIK promulgated a constitutional framework
that allowed Kosovo to establish institutions of self-government and
led to Kosovo's first parliamentary election. FRY elections in
September 2000 led to the ouster of MILOSEVIC and installed Vojislav
KOSTUNICA as president. A broad coalition of democratic reformist
parties known as DOS (the Democratic Opposition of Serbia) was
subsequently elected to parliament in December 2000 and took control
of the government. The arrest of MILOSEVIC by DOS 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. (MILOSEVIC died at The Hague in March 2006 before
the completion of his trial.) In 2001, the country's suspension from
the UN was lifted, and it was once more accepted into UN
organizations. In 2003, the FRY became Serbia and Montenegro, a
loose federation of the two republics with a federal level
parliament. Violent rioting in Kosovo in 2004 caused the
international community to open negotiations on the future status of
Kosovo in January 2006. In May 2006, Montenegro invoked its right
under the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro to hold a
referendum on independence from the state union. The referendum was
successful and Montenegro declared itself an independent nation on 3
June 2006. Two days later, Serbia declared that it was the successor
state to the union of Serbia and Montenegro. In October 2006, the
Serbian parliament unanimously approved - and a referendum confirmed
- a new constitution for the country.
Seychelles
A lengthy struggle between France and Great Britain for
the islands ended in 1814, when they were ceded to the latter.
Independence came in 1976. Socialist rule was brought to a close
with a new constitution and free elections in 1993. President
France-Albert RENE, who had served since 1977, was re-elected in
2001, but stepped down in 2004. Vice President James MICHEL took
over the presidency and in July 2006 was elected to a new five-year
term.

Sierra Leone
The government is slowly reestablishing its authority
after the 1991 to 2002 civil war that resulted in tens of thousands
of deaths and the displacement of more than 2 million people (about
one-third of the population). The last UN peacekeepers withdrew in
December 2005, leaving full responsibility for security with
domestic forces, but a new civilian UN office remains to support the
government. Mounting tensions related to planned 2007 elections,
deteriorating political and economic conditions in Guinea, and the
tenuous security situation in neighboring Liberia may present
challenges to continuing progress in Sierra Leone's stability.

Singapore
Singapore was founded as a British trading colony in 1819.
It joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963 but separated two years
later and became independent. Singapore 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.

Slovakia
The dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the close
of World War I allowed the Slovaks to join 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.

Slovenia
The Slovene lands were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire
until the latter's dissolution at the end of World War I. In 1918,
the Slovenes joined the Serbs and Croats in forming a new
multinational state, which was named 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.

Solomon Islands
The UK established a protectorate over the Solomon
Islands in the 1890s. Some of the bitterest fighting of World War II
occurred on this archipelago. 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.

Somalia
Britain withdrew from British Somaliland in 1960 in order to
allow its protectorate to join with Italian Somaliland and form the
new nation of Somalia. In 1969, a coup headed by Mohamed SIAD Barre
ushered in an authoritarian socialist rule that managed to impose a
degree of stability in the country for a couple of decades. After
the regime's overthrow early in 1991, Somalia descended into
turmoil, factional fighting, and anarchy. 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, 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 toward 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. A
two-year peace process, led by the Government of Kenya under the
auspices of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD),
concluded in October 2004 with the election of Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed
as President of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and
the formation of a transitional government, known as the Somalia
Transitional Federal Institutions (TFIs). The Somalia TFIs include a
275-member parliamentary body, known as the Transitional Federal
Assembly (TFA), a transitional Prime Minister, Ali Mohamed GEDI, and
a 90-member cabinet. The Transitional Federal Government (TFG) has
been deeply divided since just after its creation and until late
December 2006 controlled only the town of Baidoa. In June 2006, a
loose coalition of clerics, business leaders, and Islamic court
militias ? known as the Supreme Council of Islamic Courts (SCIC) ?
defeated powerful Mogadishu warlords and took control of the
capital. The Courts continued to expand, spreading their influence
throughout much of southern Somalia and threatening to overthrow the
TFG in Baidoa. Ethiopian and TFG forces ? concerned over suspected
links between some SCIC factions and al-Qa?ida ? in late December
2006 drove the SCIC from power, but the joint forces continue to
fight remnants of SCIC militia in the southwestern corner of Somalia
near the Kenyan border. The TFG, backed by Ethiopian forces, in late
December 2006 moved into Mogadishu, but continues to struggle to
 exert control over the capital and to prevent the reemergence of
warlord rule that typified Mogadishu before the rise of the SCIC.

South Africa
After the British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in
1806, many of the Dutch settlers (the Boers) trekked north to found
their own republics. The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold
(1886) spurred wealth and immigration and intensified the
subjugation of the native inhabitants. The Boers resisted British
encroachments, but were defeated in the Boer War (1899-1902). The
resulting Union of South Africa operated under a policy of apartheid
- the separate development of the races. The 1990s brought an end to
apartheid politically and ushered in black majority rule.

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

The islands, which have
large bird and seal populations, 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.
Recognizing the importance of preserving the marine stocks in
adjacent waters, the UK, in 1993, extended the exclusive fishing
zone from 12 nm to 200 nm around each island.

Southern Ocean
A large body of recent oceanographic research has
shown that the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), an ocean current
that flows from west to east around Antarctica, plays a crucial role
in global ocean circulation. The region where the cold waters of the
ACC meet and mingle with the warmer waters of the north defines a
distinct border - the Antarctic Convergence - which fluctuates with
the seasons, but which encompasses a discrete body of water and a
 unique ecologic region. The Convergence concentrates nutrients,
which promotes marine plant life, and which in turn allows for a
greater abundance of animal life. In the spring of 2000, the
International Hydrographic Organization decided to delimit the
waters within the Convergence as a fifth world ocean - the Southern
Ocean - by combining 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 and which approximates the
extent of the Antarctic Convergence. As such, 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). It should be noted that inclusion of the Southern Ocean does
not imply recognition of this feature as one of the world's primary
oceans by the US Government.

Spain
Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries
ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Subsequent
failure to embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions caused
the country to fall behind Britain, France, and Germany in economic
and political power. Spain remained neutral in World Wars I and II,
but suffered through a devastating civil war (1936-39). A peaceful
transition to democracy following the death of dictator Francisco
FRANCO in 1975, and rapid economic modernization (Spain joined the
EU in 1986), have given Spain one of the most dynamic economies in
Europe and made it a global champion of freedom. Continuing
challenges include Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) terrorism and
relatively high unemployment.

Spratly Islands
The Spratly Islands consist of more than 100 small
islands or reefs. They are surrounded by rich fishing grounds and
potentially by gas and oil deposits. They are claimed in their
entirety by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, while portions are claimed
by Malaysia and the Philippines. About 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.

Sri Lanka
The Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century
B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced
beginning in about the mid-third century B.C., and a great
civilization developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (kingdom from
circa 200 B.C. to circa 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 the ethnic
conflict that continues to fester. After two decades of fighting,
the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
formalized a cease-fire in February 2002, with Norway brokering
peace negotiations. Violence between the LTTE and government forces
intensified in 2006, but neither side has formally withdrawn from
the cease-fire.

Sudan
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 largely
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 4 million people displaced and,
according to rebel estimates, more than 2 million deaths 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 has resulted in at least 200,000 deaths and nearly 2 million
 displaced; as of late 2005, peacekeeping troops were struggling to
stabilize the situation. Sudan also has faced large refugee influxes
from neighboring countries, primarily Ethiopia and Chad, and armed
conflict, poor transport infrastructure, and lack of government
support have chronically obstructed the provision of humanitarian
assistance to affected populations.

Suriname
First explored by the Spaniards in the 16th century and
then settled by the English in the mid-17th century, Suriname became
a Dutch colony in 1667. With the abolition of slavery in 1863,
workers were brought in from India and Java. 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 exert control through a
succession of nominally civilian administrations until 1987, when
international pressure finally forced a democratic election. In
1990, the military overthrew the civilian leadership, but a
democratically elected government - a four-party New Front coalition
- returned to power in 1991 and has ruled since, expanding to eight
parties in 2005.

Svalbard
First discovered by the Norwegians in the 12th century, the
islands served as an international whaling base during the 17th and
18th centuries. Norway's sovereignty was recognized in 1920; five
years later it officially took over the territory.

Swaziland
Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed
by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted in
1968. Student and labor unrest during the 1990s pressured King
Mswati III, the world's last absolute monarch, to grudgingly allow
political reform and greater democracy, although he has backslid on
these promises in recent years. Swaziland recently surpassed
Botswana as the country with the world's highest known rates of
HIV/AIDS infection.

Sweden
 A military power during the 17th century, Sweden has not
participated in any war in almost two centuries. An armed neutrality
was preserved in both World Wars. Sweden's long-successful economic
formula of a capitalist system interlarded with substantial welfare
elements was challenged in the 1990s by high unemployment 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. Sweden joined the EU in 1995, but the public rejected the
introduction of the euro in a 2003 referendum.

Switzerland
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 sovereignty 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.

Syria
Following the breakup of the Ottoman Empire during World War
I, France administered Syria until its independence in 1946. The
country lacked political stability, however, and experienced a
series of military coups during its first decades. Syria united with
Egypt in February 1958 to form the United Arab Republic, but in
September 1961 the two entities separated and the Syrian Arab
Republic was reestablished. In November 1970, Hafiz al-ASAD, a
member of the Socialist Ba'th Party and the minority Alawite sect,
seized power in a bloodless coup and brought political stability to
the country. In the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Syria lost the Golan
Heights to Israel, and during the 1990s Syria and Israel held
occasional peace talks over its return. Following the death of
President al-ASAD, his son, Bashar al-ASAD, was approved as
 president by popular referendum in July 2000. Syrian troops -
stationed in Lebanon since 1976 in an ostensible peacekeeping role -
were withdrawn in April 2005. During the July-August 2006 conflict
between Israel and Hizballah, Syria placed its military forces on
alert but did not intervene directly on behalf of its ally Hizballah.

Taiwan
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 local population within the governing structure. In
2000, Taiwan underwent its first peaceful transfer of power from the
Nationalist to the Democratic Progressive Party. Throughout this
period, the island prospered and became one of East Asia's economic
"Tigers." The dominant political issues continue to be the
relationship between Taiwan and China - specifically the question of
eventual unification - as well as domestic political and economic
reform.

Tajikistan
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
it is now in the process of strengthening its democracy and
transitioning to a free market economy after its 1992-1997 civil
war. There have been no major security incidents in recent years,
although the country remains the poorest in the former Soviet
sphere. Attention by the international community in the wake of the
war in Afghanistan has brought increased economic development
assistance, which could create jobs and increase stability in the
long term. Tajikistan is in the early stages of seeking World Trade
Organization membership and has joined NATO's Partnership for Peace.

Tanzania
 Shortly after achieving independence from Britain in the
early 1960s, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form the nation of
Tanzania in 1964. One-party rule came to an end in 1995 with the
first democratic elections held in the country since the 1970s.
Zanzibar's semi-autonomous status and popular opposition have led to
two contentious elections since 1995, which the ruling party won
despite international observers' claims of voting irregularities.

Thailand
A unified Thai kingdom was established in the mid-14th
century. Known as Siam until 1939, Thailand is the only Southeast
Asian country never to have been taken over by a European power. A
bloodless revolution in 1932 led to a constitutional monarchy. In
alliance with Japan during World War II, Thailand became a US ally
following the conflict. Thailand is currently facing separatist
violence in its southern ethnic Malay-Muslim provinces.

Togo
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
has 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 EU initiated a partial
resumption of cooperation and development aid to Togo in late 2004
based upon commitments by Togo to expand opportunities for political
opposition and liberalize portions of the economy. 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 in April 2005 held elections
that legitimized his succession. Legislative elections are scheduled
for June 2007.

Tokelau
 Originally settled by Polynesian emigrants from surrounding
island groups, the Tokelau Islands were made a British protectorate
in 1889. They were transferred to New Zealand administration in 1925.

Tonga
Tonga - unique among Pacific nations - never completely lost
its indigenous governance. The archipelagos of "The Friendly
Islands" were united into a Polynesian kingdom in 1845. Tonga became
a constitutional monarchy in 1875 and a British protectorate in
1900; it withdrew from the protectorate and joined the Commonwealth
of Nations in 1970. Tonga remains the only monarchy in the Pacific.

Trinidad and Tobago

First colonized by the Spanish, the islands came
under British control in the early 19th century. The islands' sugar
industry was hurt by the emancipation of the slaves in 1834.
Manpower was replaced with the importation of contract laborers from
India between 1845 and 1917, which boosted sugar production as well
as the cocoa industry. The discovery of oil on Trinidad in 1910
added another important export. Independence was attained in 1962.
The country is one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean thanks
largely to petroleum and natural gas production and processing.
Tourism, mostly in Tobago, is targeted for expansion and is growing.

Tromelin Island
First explored by the French in 1776, the island
came under the jurisdiction of Reunion in 1814. At present, it
serves as a sea turtle sanctuary and is the site of an important
meteorological station.

Tunisia
Rivalry between French and Italian interests in Tunisia
culminated in a French invasion in 1881 and the creation of a
protectorate. Agitation for independence in the decades following
World War I was finally successful in getting the French to
recognize Tunisia as an independent state in 1956. The country's
first 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. Tunisia has long taken a moderate, non-aligned
stance in its foreign relations. Domestically, it has sought to
defuse rising pressure for a more open political society.

Turkey
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.
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.

Turkmenistan
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 Saparmurat 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.

Turks and Caicos Islands

The islands were part of the UK's Jamaican
colony until 1962, when they assumed the status of a separate crown
colony upon Jamaica's independence. The governor of The Bahamas
oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the
islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence
was agreed upon for 1982, the policy was reversed and the islands
remain a British overseas territory.

Tuvalu
In 1974, ethnic differences within the British colony of the
Gilbert and Ellice Islands caused the Polynesians of the Ellice
Islands to vote for separation from the Micronesians of the Gilbert
Islands. The following year, the Ellice Islands became the separate
British colony of Tuvalu. Independence was granted in 1978. In 2000,
Tuvalu negotiated a contract leasing its Internet domain name ".tv"
for $50 million in royalties over a 12-year period.

Uganda
The colonial boundaries created by Britain to delimit Uganda
grouped together a wide range of ethnic groups with different
political systems and cultures. These differences prevented the
establishment of a working political community after independence
was achieved 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. The rule of Yoweri MUSEVENI since 1986
has brought relative stability and economic growth to Uganda. During
the 1990s, the government promulgated non-party presidential and
legislative elections.

Ukraine
Ukraine was the center of the first eastern Slavic state,
 Kyivan Rus, which during the 10th and 11th centuries was the largest
and most powerful state in Europe. Weakened by internecine quarrels
and Mongol invasions, Kyivan Rus was incorporated into the Grand
Duchy of Lithuania and eventually into the Polish-Lithuanian
Commonwealth. The cultural and religious legacy of Kyivan 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. Subsequent internal squabbles in the
YUSHCHENKO camp allowed his rival Viktor YANUKOVYCH to stage a
comeback in parliamentary elections and become prime minister in
August of 2006.

United Arab Emirates

The Trucial States of the Persian Gulf coast
granted the UK control of their defense and foreign affairs in 19th
century treaties. In 1971, six of these states - Abu Zaby, 'Ajman,
Al Fujayrah, Ash Shariqah, Dubayy, and Umm al Qaywayn - merged to
form the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They were joined in 1972 by
Ra's al Khaymah. The UAE's per capita GDP is 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.

United Kingdom
As the dominant industrial and maritime power of the
19th century, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 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 and the Irish republic withdraw from the union. 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 wrangling over the peace process.

United States
Britain's American colonies broke with the mother
country in 1776 and were recognized as the new nation of the United
States of America following the Treaty of Paris in 1783. During the
19th and 20th centuries, 37 new states were added to the original 13
as the nation expanded across the North American continent and
acquired a number of overseas possessions. The two most traumatic
experiences in the nation's history were the Civil War (1861-65) and
the Great Depression of the 1930s. Buoyed by victories in World Wars
I and II and the end of the Cold War in 1991, the US remains the
world's most powerful nation state. The economy is marked by steady
growth, low unemployment and inflation, and rapid advances in
technology.

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges

The following US
Pacific island territories constitute the Pacific Remote Islands
National Wildlife Refuge Complex and as such are managed by the Fish
and Wildlife Service of the US Department of Interior. These remote
refuges are the most widespread collection of marine- and
terrestrial-life protected areas on the planet under a single
country's jurisdiction. They protect many endemic species including
corals, fish, shellfish, marine mammals, seabirds, water birds, land
birds, insects, and vegetation not found elsewhere.
Baker Island: The US took possession of the island in 1857, and its
guano deposits were mined by US and British companies during the
second half of the 19th century. In 1935, a short-lived attempt at
colonization began on this island but was disrupted by World War II
and thereafter abandoned. The island was established as a National
Wildlife Refuge in 1974.
Howland Island: Discovered by the US early in the 19th century, the
island was officially claimed by the US in 1857. Both US and British
companies mined for guano until about 1890. In 1935, a short-lived
attempt at colonization began on this island, similar to the effort
on nearby Baker Island, but was disrupted by World War II and
thereafter abandoned. The famed American aviatrix Amelia EARHART
disappeared while seeking out Howland Island as a refueling stop
during her 1937 round-the-world flight; Earhart Light, a day beacon
near the middle of the west coast, was named in her memory. The
island was established as a National Wildlife Refuge in 1974.
Jarvis Island: First discovered by the British in 1821, the
uninhabited island was annexed by the US in 1858, but abandoned in
1879 after tons of guano had been removed. The UK annexed the island
in 1889, but never carried out plans for further exploitation. The
US occupied and reclaimed the island in 1935 until it was abandoned
in 1942 during World War II. The island was established as a
National Wildlife Refuge in 1974.
Johnston Atoll: Both the US and the Kingdom of Hawaii annexed
Johnston Atoll in 1858, but it was the US that mined the guano
deposits until the late 1880s. 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 by May
 2005. The Fish and Wildlife Service and the US Air Force are
currently discussing future management options; in the interim,
Johnston Atoll and the three-mile Naval Defensive Sea around it
remain under the jurisdiction and administrative control of the US
Air Force.
Kingman Reef: The US annexed the reef in 1922. Its sheltered lagoon
served as a way station for flying boats on Hawaii-to-American Samoa
flights during the late 1930s. There are no terrestrial plants on
the reef, which is frequently awash, but it does support abundant
and diverse marine fauna and flora. In 2001, the waters surrounding
the reef out to 12 nm were designated a US National Wildlife Refuge.
Midway Islands: The US took formal possession of the islands in
1867. The laying of the trans-Pacific cable, which passed through
the islands, brought the first residents in 1903. Between 1935 and
1947, Midway was used as a refueling stop for trans-Pacific flights.
The US naval victory over a Japanese fleet off Midway in 1942 was
one of the turning points of World War II. The islands continued to
serve as a naval station until closed in 1993. Today the islands are
a National Wildlife Refuge and are the site of the world's largest
Laysan albatross colony.
Palmyra Atoll: The Kingdom of Hawaii claimed the atoll in 1862, and
the US included it among the Hawaiian Islands when it annexed the
archipelago in 1898. The Hawaii Statehood Act of 1959 did not
include Palmyra Atoll, which is now partly privately owned by the
Nature Conservancy with the rest owned by the Federal government and
managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. These organizations are
managing the atoll as a wildlife refuge. The lagoons and surrounding
waters within the 12 nm US territorial seas were transferred to the
US Fish and Wildlife Service and designated as a National Wildlife
Refuge in January 2001.

Uruguay
Montevideo, founded by the Spanish in 1726 as a military
stronghold, soon took advantage of its natural harbor to become an
important commercial center. Claimed by Argentina but annexed by
Brazil in 1821, Uruguay declared its independence four years later
and secured its freedom in 1828 after a three-year struggle. The
administrations of President Jose BATLLE in the early 20th century
established widespread political, social, and economic reforms that
 established a statist tradition. A violent Marxist urban guerrilla
movement named the Tupamaros, launched in the late 1960s, led
Uruguay's president to cede control of the government to the
military in 1973. By yearend, the rebels had been crushed, but the
military continued to expand its hold over the government. Civilian
rule was not restored until 1985. In 2004, the left-of-center Frente
Amplio Coalition won national elections that effectively ended 170
years of political control previously held by the Colorado and
Blanco parties. Uruguay's political and labor conditions are among
the freest on the continent.

Uzbekistan
Russia conquered Uzbekistan in the late 19th century.
Stiff resistance to the Red Army after World War I was eventually
suppressed and a socialist republic set up in 1924. During the
Soviet era, intensive production of "white gold" (cotton) and grain
led to overuse of agrochemicals and the depletion of water supplies,
which have left the land poisoned and the Aral Sea and certain
rivers half dry. Independent since 1991, the country seeks to
gradually lessen its dependence on agriculture while developing its
mineral and petroleum reserves. Current concerns include terrorism
by Islamic militants, economic stagnation, and the curtailment of
human rights and democratization.

Vanuatu
Multiple waves of colonizers, each speaking a distinct
language, migrated to the New Hebrides in the millennia preceeding
European exploration in the 18th century. This settlement pattern
accounts for the complex linguistic diversity found on the
archipelago to this day. 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, when the new name of Vanuatu was adopted.

Venezuela
Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the
collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and New
Granada, which became Colombia). 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. Hugo CHAVEZ, president since 1999, has promoted a
controversial policy of "democratic socialism," which purports to
alleviate social ills while at the same time attacking globalization
and undermining regional stability. Current concerns include: a
weakening of democratic institutions, political polarization, 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.

Vietnam
The conquest of Vietnam by France began in 1858 and was
completed by 1884. It became part of French Indochina in 1887.
Vietnam declared independence after World War II, but France
continued to rule until its 1954 defeat by Communist forces under Ho
Chi MINH. Under the Geneva Accords of 1954, Vietnam was divided into
the Communist North and anti-Communist South. 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 reuniting the country under
Communist rule. Despite the return of peace, for over a decade the
country experienced little economic growth because of conservative
leadership policies. However, since the enactment of Vietnam's "doi
moi" (renovation) policy in 1986, Vietnamese authorities have
committed to increased 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 various groups - such as the Protestant
Montagnard ethnic minority population of the Central Highlands and
the Hoa Hao Buddhists in southern Vietnam over religious
persecution. Montagnard grievances also include the loss of land to
Vietnamese settlers.

Virgin Islands During the 17th century, the archipelago was divided into two
territorial units, one English and the other Danish. Sugarcane, produced by slave
labor, drove the islands' economy during the 18th and early 19th centuries. In
1917, the US purchased the Danish portion, which had been in economic decline
since the abolition of slavery in 1848.

Wake Island
The US annexed Wake Island in 1899 for a cable station.
An important air and naval base was constructed in 1940-41. In
December 1941, the island was captured by the Japanese and held
until the end of World War II. In subsequent years, Wake was
developed as a stopover and refueling site for military and
commercial aircraft transiting the Pacific. Since 1974, the island's
airstrip has been used by the US military, as well as for emergency
landings. All operations on the island were suspended and all
personnel evacuated in August 2006 with the approach of super
typhoon IOKE (category 5), which struck the island with sustained
winds of 250 kph and a 6 m storm surge inflicting major damage. A US
Air Force assessment and repair team returned to the island in
September and restored limited function to the airfield and
facilities. The future status of activities on the island will be
determined upon completion of the survey and assessment.

Wallis and Futuna

The Futuna island group was discovered by the
Dutch in 1616 and Wallis by the British in 1767, but it was the
French who declared a protectorate over the islands in 1842. In
1959, the inhabitants of the islands voted to become a French
overseas territory.

West Bank
The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim
Self-Government Arrangements (the DOP), signed in Washington in
September 1993, provided for a transitional period of Palestinian
interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. A
transfer of authority to the Palestinian Authority (PA) 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. Direct negotiations to determine the permanent
status of Gaza and the West Bank began in September 1999 after a
three-year hiatus, but were derailed by a second intifadah that
broke out a year later. In April 2003, the Quartet (US, EU, UN, and
Russia) presented a roadmap to a final settlement of the conflict by
2005 based on reciprocal steps by the two parties leading to two
states, Israel and a democratic Palestine. The proposed date for a
permanent status agreement has been postponed indefinitely due to
violence and accusations that both sides have not followed through
on their commitments. Following Palestinian leader Yasir ARAFAT's
death in late 2004, Mahmud ABBAS was elected PA president in January
2005. A month later, Israel and the PA agreed to the Sharm el-Sheikh
Commitments in an effort to move the peace process forward. In
September 2005, Israel withdrew all its settlers and soldiers and
dismantled its military facilities in the Gaza Strip and four
northern West Bank settlements. Nonetheless, Israel controls
maritime, airspace, and most access to the Gaza Strip. A November
2005 PA-Israeli agreement authorized the reopening of the Rafah
border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt under joint PA and
Egyptian control. In January 2006, the Islamic Resistance Movement,
HAMAS, won control of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC). The
international community has refused to accept the HAMAS-led
government because it does not recognize Israel, will not renounce
violence, and refuses to honor previous peace agreements between
Israel and the PA. Since March 2006, President Abbas has had little
success negotiating with HAMAS to present a political platform
acceptable to the international community so as to lift the economic
siege on Palestinians. The PLC was unable to convene in late 2006 as
a result of Israel's detention of many HAMAS PLC members and
Israeli-imposed travel restrictions on other PLC members.

Western Sahara
Morocco virtually annexed the northern two-thirds of
Western Sahara (formerly Spanish Sahara) in 1976, and the rest of
the territory in 1979, following Mauritania's withdrawal. A
guerrilla war with the Polisario Front contesting Rabat's
sovereignty ended in a 1991 UN-brokered cease-fire; a UN-organized
referendum on final status has been repeatedly postponed.
World
Globally, the 20th century was marked by: (a) two devastating
world wars; (b) the Great Depression of the 1930s; (c) the end of
vast colonial empires; (d) rapid advances in science and technology,
from the first airplane flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina (US) to
the landing on the moon; (e) the Cold War between the Western
alliance and the Warsaw Pact nations; (f) a sharp rise in living
standards in North America, Europe, and Japan; (g) increased
concerns about the environment, including loss of forests, shortages
of energy and water, the decline in biological diversity, and air
pollution; (h) the onset of the AIDS epidemic; and (i) the ultimate
emergence of the US as the only world superpower. The planet's
population continues to explode: from 1 billion in 1820, to 2
billion in 1930, 3 billion in 1960, 4 billion in 1974, 5 billion in
1988, and 6 billion in 2000. For the 21st century, the continued
exponential growth in science and technology raises both hopes
(e.g., advances in medicine) and fears (e.g., development of even
more lethal weapons of war).

Yemen
North Yemen became independent of the Ottoman Empire in 1918.
The British, who had set up a protectorate area around the southern
port of Aden in the 19th century, withdrew in 1967 from what became
South Yemen. Three years later, the southern government adopted a
Marxist orientation. The massive exodus of hundreds of thousands of
Yemenis from the south to the north contributed to two decades of
hostility between the states. The two countries were formally
unified as the Republic of Yemen in 1990. A southern secessionist
movement in 1994 was quickly subdued. In 2000, Saudi Arabia and
Yemen agreed to a delimitation of their border.

Zambia
The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the
[British] 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 an anticorruption task
force in 2002, but the government has yet to make a prosecution. The
Zambian leader was reelected in 2006 in an election that was deemed
free and fair.

Zimbabwe
The UK annexed Southern Rhodesia from the [British] 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, which began 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 strikes in 2003 were
unsuccessful in pressuring MUGABE to retire early; security forces
continued their brutal repression of regime opponents. The ruling
ZANU-PF party used fraud and intimidation to win a two-thirds
majority in the March 2005 parliamentary election, allowing it to
amend the constitution at will and recreate the Senate, which had
been abolished in the late 1980s. In April 2005, Harare embarked on
Operation Restore Order, ostensibly an urban rationalization
program, which resulted in the destruction of the homes or
businesses of 700,000 mostly poor supporters of the opposition,
according to UN estimates. ZANU-PF announced in December 2006 that
they would combine presidential and parliamentary elections in 2010
to ensure MUGABE remains in office.

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2030 Airports - with paved runways

Afghanistan total: 11 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3

914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Albania
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2006)

Algeria
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 (2006)

American Samoa
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Angola
total: 31
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Anguilla
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)
Antigua and Barbuda total: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Argentina total: 154 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 26 1,524 to 2,437 m: 65

914 to 1,523 m: 50 under 914 m: 9 (2006)

Armenia
total: 11
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)

Aruba
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Australia
total: 311
over 3,047 m: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 133
914 to 1,523 m: 143
under 914 m: 13 (2006)

Austria
total: 25
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: 15 (2006)

Azerbaijan
total: 27
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Bahamas, The
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 (2006)

Bahrain total: 3 over 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Bangladesh total: 15 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 4 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4

914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 5 (2006)

Barbados
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Belarus
total: 41
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: 12 (2006)

Belgium
total: 25
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 7 (2006)

Belize
total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Benin
 total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Bermuda
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Bhutan
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Bolivia
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 (2006)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Botswana
total: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Brazil
total: 714
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 24
1,524 to 2,437 m: 164
914 to 1,523 m: 464
under 914 m: 54 (2006)

British Indian Ocean Territory

total: 1
 over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

British Virgin Islands total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Brunei
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Bulgaria
total: 132
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: 96 (2006)

Burkina Faso
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Burma
total: 21
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Burundi
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Cambodia
total: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)

Cameroon
 total: 11
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Canada
total: 509
over 3,047 m: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 151
914 to 1,523 m: 248
under 914 m: 77 (2006)

Cape Verde total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under
914 m: 1 (2006)

Cayman Islands total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2006)

Central African Republic total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2006)

Chad
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Chile
total: 73
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 22
under 914 m: 17 (2006)

China
total: 403
over 3,047 m: 56
 2,438 to 3,047 m: 127
1,524 to 2,437 m: 138
914 to 1,523 m: 22
under 914 m: 60 (2006)

Christmas Island
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Colombia
total: 101
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 38
914 to 1,523 m: 40
under 914 m: 12 (2006)

Comoros total: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the total: 25 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 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Congo, Republic of the total: 4 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to

2,437 m: 2 (2006)

Cook Islands total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2006)

Costa Rica total: 32 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 19

under 914 m: 9 (2006)

Cote d'Ivoire total: 7 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4

(2006)

Croatia
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 (2006)

Cuba
total: 78
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 37 (2006)

Cyprus
total: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Czech Republic
total: 46
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 19 (2006)

Denmark
total: 28
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Djibouti total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Dominica total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)

Dominican Republic total: 14 over 3,047 m: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to
2,437 m: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

East Timor total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1

(2006)

Ecuador
total: 98
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 29
under 914 m: 43 (2006)

Egypt
total: 72
over 3,047 m: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 38
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
under 914 m: 5 (2006)

El Salvador
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)

Equatorial Guinea
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Eritrea
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2006)

Estonia
total: 12
 over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)

Ethiopia
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

European Union
2,020 (2006)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Faroe Islands
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Fiji
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Finland
total: 76
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: 14 (2006)

France
total: 292 (metropolitan France) 15 (overseas departments)
 over 3,047 m: 13 (metropolitan France) 3 (overseas departments)
2,438 to 3,047 m: 28 (metropolitan France) 1 (overseas departments)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 96 (metropolitan France)
914 to 1,523 m: 81 (metropolitan France) 5 (overseas departments)
under 914 m: 74 (metropolitan France) 6 (overseas departments) (2006)

French Polynesia
total: 39
over 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 25
under 914 m: 7 (2006)

Gabon
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 (2006)

Gambia, The
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Gaza Strip
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Georgia
total: 19
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Germany
total: 332
over 3,047 m: 13
 2,438 to 3,047 m: 54
1,524 to 2,437 m: 58
914 to 1,523 m: 72
under 914 m: 135 (2006)

Ghana
total: 7
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)

Gibraltar
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Greece
total: 66
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 16
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 17
under 914 m: 9 (2006)

Greenland total: 9 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1

under 914 m: 5 (2006)

Grenada
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Guam
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Guatemala total: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 4

under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Guernsey total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Guinea
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2006)

Guinea-Bissau
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Guyana
total: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
under 914 m: 6 (2006)

Haiti
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)

Honduras 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 (2006)

Hong Kong total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Hungary
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 (2006)

Iceland
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

India
total: 243
over 3,047 m: 17
2,438 to 3,047 m: 51
1,524 to 2,437 m: 73
914 to 1,523 m: 81
under 914 m: 21 (2006)

Indonesia
total: 159
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
1,524 to 2,437 m: 49
914 to 1,523 m: 49
under 914 m: 42 (2006)

Iran
total: 129
over 3,047 m: 41
2,438 to 3,047 m: 26
1,524 to 2,437 m: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 31
under 914 m: 6 (2006)

Iraq
total: 77
over 3,047 m: 20
2,438 to 3,047 m: 37
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 9 (2006)
Ireland
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 (2006)

Isle of Man
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Israel
total: 30
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: 6 (2006)

Italy
total: 98
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 30
1,524 to 2,437 m: 16
914 to 1,523 m: 31
under 914 m: 14 (2006)

Jamaica
total: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 5 (2006)

Japan
total: 145
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 41
 1,524 to 2,437 m: 39
914 to 1,523 m: 28
under 914 m: 30 (2006)

Jersey
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Johnston Atoll
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Jordan
total: 15
over 3,047 m: 7
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Kazakhstan
total: 67
over 3,047 m: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 27
1,524 to 2,437 m: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 10 (2006)

Kenya
total: 15
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Kiribati
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 (2006)

Korea, North
 total: 36
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 22
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Korea, South
total: 69
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 21
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 20 (2006)

Kuwait
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Kyrgyzstan total: 18 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11

under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Laos
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)

Latvia
total: 24
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 13 (2006)

Lebanon
total: 5
 over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Lesotho total: 3 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Liberia total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Libya
total: 60
over 3,047 m: 23
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Lithuania
total: 34
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: 20 (2006)

Luxembourg
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Macau
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Macedonia total: 10 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 under 914 m: 8 (2006)

Madagascar total: 29 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4

914 to 1,523 m: 20 under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Malawi
total: 6
 over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2006)

Malaysia
total: 37
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 7 (2006)

Maldives
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Mali
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Malta
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Marshall Islands
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Mauritania
total: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 (2006)

Mauritius
total: 2
over 3,047 m: 1
 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Mayotte
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Mexico
total: 228
over 3,047 m: 12
2,438 to 3,047 m: 28
1,524 to 2,437 m: 82
914 to 1,523 m: 77
under 914 m: 29 (2006)

Micronesia, Federated States of

total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)

Midway Islands
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2006)

Moldova
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 (2006)

Mongolia total: 12 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 10 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1

(2006)

Montenegro total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2006)

Montserrat
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Morocco
 total: 26
over 3,047 m: 11
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Mozambique
total: 22
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 5 (2006)

Namibia
total: 21
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)

Nauru
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Nepal
total: 10
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Netherlands
total: 20
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 2 (2006)
Netherlands Antilles
total: 5
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: 1 (2006)

New Caledonia total: 11 over 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 8 under 914 m: 2

(2006)

New Zealand total: 45 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: 4 (2006)

Nicaragua total: 11 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 3

under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Niger
total: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Nigeria
total: 36
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 10
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Niue
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Norfolk Island
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Northern Mariana Islands

 total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Norway
total: 67
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 12
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 29 (2006)

Oman
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Pakistan
total: 91
over 3,047 m: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 21
1,524 to 2,437 m: 33
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 8 (2006)

Palau
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Panama
total: 53
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 28 (2006)

Papua New Guinea total: 21 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 14 914 to

1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Paracel Islands total: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Paraguay total: 12 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 4 (2006)

Peru
total: 54
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 20
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Philippines
total: 83
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 36
under 914 m: 10 (2006)

Poland
total: 83
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 29
1,524 to 2,437 m: 40
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Portugal
total: 43
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 11 (2006)

Puerto Rico total: 17 over 3,047 m: 3 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 7

under 914 m: 5 (2006)
Qatar
total: 3
over 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Romania
total: 25
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 (2006)

Russia
total: 616
over 3,047 m: 51
2,438 to 3,047 m: 198
1,524 to 2,437 m: 130
914 to 1,523 m: 100
under 914 m: 137 (2006)

Rwanda
total: 4
over 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Saint Helena
total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Saint Kitts and Nevis

total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Saint Lucia
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

 total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Samoa
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Sao Tome and Principe

total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Saudi Arabia total: 73 over 3,047 m: 32 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m:

24 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Senegal total: 9 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6 914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)

Serbia
total: 16
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (2006)

Seychelles total: 8 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Sierra Leone total: 1 over 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Singapore
total: 9
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
 1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Slovakia
total: 18
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: 8 (2006)

Slovenia
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Solomon Islands total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Somalia total: 7 over 3,047 m: 4 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

South Africa
total: 146
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: 13 (2006)

Spain
total: 96
over 3,047 m: 16
2,438 to 3,047 m: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 20
914 to 1,523 m: 24
under 914 m: 26 (2006)
Spratly Islands total: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Sri Lanka
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 7 (2006)

Sudan
total: 15
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (2006)

Suriname
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 4 (2006)

Svalbard
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Swaziland
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Sweden
total: 155
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 80
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 36 (2006)

Switzerland
total: 42
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
 1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 16 (2006)

Syria
total: 26
over 3,047 m: 6
2,438 to 3,047 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Taiwan
total: 38
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 9
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Tajikistan
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 (2006)

Tanzania
total: 11
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Thailand
total: 66
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 11
 1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 5 (2006)

Togo
total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 (2006)

Tonga
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Trinidad and Tobago

total: 3
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Tunisia
total: 14
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)

Turkey
total: 89
over 3,047 m: 15
2,438 to 3,047 m: 33
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 4 (2006)

Turkmenistan total: 22 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8

914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)

Turks and Caicos Islands

total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 1
 under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Uganda
total: 5
over 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Ukraine
total: 193
over 3,047 m: 13
2,438 to 3,047 m: 55
1,524 to 2,437 m: 27
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 93 (2006)

United Arab Emirates

total: 23
over 3,047 m: 10
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 3 (2006)

United Kingdom
total: 334
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 33
1,524 to 2,437 m: 149
914 to 1,523 m: 86
under 914 m: 58 (2006)

United States
total: 5,119
over 3,047 m: 189
2,438 to 3,047 m: 221
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1,426
914 to 1,523 m: 2,337
under 914 m: 946 (2006)
Uruguay
total: 8
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Uzbekistan total: 34 over 3,047 m: 6 2,438 to 3,047 m: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5

914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 5 (2006)

Vanuatu
total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Venezuela total: 129 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 11 1,524 to 2,437 m: 34

914 to 1,523 m: 60 under 914 m: 19 (2006)

Vietnam
total: 26
over 3,047 m: 8
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)

Virgin Islands total: 2 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Wake Island
total: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 (2006)

Wallis and Futuna

total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

West Bank total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 under 914 m: 1

(2006)

Western Sahara
 total: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2006)

Yemen
total: 16
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Zambia
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 (2006)

Zimbabwe
total: 17
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 8 (2006)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2031 Airports - with unpaved runways

Afghanistan total: 35 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 16

914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 9 (2006)
Albania
total: 8
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 4 (2006)

Algeria
total: 90
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 39
under 914 m: 23 (2006)

American Samoa
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Angola
total: 213
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 30
914 to 1,523 m: 95
under 914 m: 81 (2006)

Anguilla
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Antarctica total: 28 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 8 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914

to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 4 length unknown or variable: 4 (2006)

Antigua and Barbuda total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Argentina total: 1,227 over 3,047 m: 2 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 49

914 to 1,523 m: 587 under 914 m: 587 (2006)

Armenia total: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Australia
total: 144
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 111
under 914 m: 15 (2006)

Austria
total: 30
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 26 (2006)

Azerbaijan total: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 7 (2006)

Bahamas, The total: 35 1,524 to 2,437 m: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 22

(2006)

Bangladesh
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Belarus
total: 45
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 35 (2006)

Belgium
total: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 16 (2006)

Belize
total: 38
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 26 (2006)
Benin
total: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)

Bhutan
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Bolivia
total: 1,068
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: 797 (2006)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

total: 20
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 12 (2006)

Botswana
total: 75
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 55
under 914 m: 17 (2006)

Brazil
total: 3,562
1,524 to 2,437 m: 81
914 to 1,523 m: 1,634
under 914 m: 1,847 (2006)

British Virgin Islands

total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)
Brunei
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Bulgaria
total: 85
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 72 (2006)

Burkina Faso
total: 32
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 18 (2006)

Burma
total: 64
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 32 (2006)

Burundi total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 4 under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Cambodia
total: 14
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Cameroon
total: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 20
under 914 m: 9 (2006)

Canada
total: 828
1,524 to 2,437 m: 66
 914 to 1,523 m: 355
under 914 m: 407 (2006)

Cayman Islands
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Central African Republic total: 47 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 10 914

to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 13 (2006)

Chad
total: 45
1,524 to 2,437 m: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 21
under 914 m: 10 (2006)

Chile
total: 290
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 58
under 914 m: 216 (2006)

China
total: 83
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 25
under 914 m: 39 (2006)

Colombia total: 883 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 35 914 to 1,523 m: 275
under 914 m: 572 (2006)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

total: 209
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 94
under 914 m: 97 (2006)
Congo, Republic of the
total: 28
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 11 (2006)

Cook Islands
total: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Costa Rica total: 125 914 to 1,523 m: 24 under 914 m: 101 (2006)

Cote d'Ivoire
total: 28
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 5 (2006)

Croatia
total: 45
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 37 (2006)

Cuba
total: 92
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 29
under 914 m: 62 (2006)

Cyprus
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Czech Republic total: 75 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 25 under 914 m:

49 (2006)
Denmark total: 64 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 61 (2006)

Djibouti
total: 10
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Dominican Republic
total: 19
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 10 (2006)

East Timor
total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Ecuador
total: 261
914 to 1,523 m: 33
under 914 m: 228 (2006)

Egypt
total: 16
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 7 (2006)

El Salvador total: 71 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 14 under 914 m: 56

(2006)

Equatorial Guinea
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Eritrea
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 (2006)

Estonia
total: 12
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 5 (2006)

Ethiopia
total: 70
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 28
under 914 m: 23 (2006)

Europa Island
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

European Union
1,373 (2006)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

total: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Fiji
total: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 18 (2006)

Finland
total: 72
914 to 1,523 m: 5
 under 914 m: 67 (2006)

France
total: 185 (metropolitan France) 9 (overseas departments)
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4 (metropolitan France)
914 to 1,523 m: 73 (metropolitan France) 2 (overseas departments)
under 914 m: 108 (metropolitan France) 7 (overseas departments)
(2006)

French Polynesia
total: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 7 (2006)

Gabon
total: 45
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 23 (2006)

Gaza Strip
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Georgia
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Germany
total: 222
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 33
under 914 m: 185 (2006)

Ghana
total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 3
 under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Glorioso Islands
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Greece total: 16 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 13 (2006)

Greenland total: 5 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Guam total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Guatemala total: 439 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 8 914 to 1,523 m:

111 under 914 m: 319 (2006)

Guinea
total: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Guinea-Bissau
total: 25
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 20 (2006)

Guyana
total: 81
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 65 (2006)

Haiti
total: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 7 (2006)

Honduras
total: 105
 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 19
under 914 m: 84 (2006)

Hungary
total: 26
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 10 (2006)

Iceland
total: 93
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 29
under 914 m: 61 (2006)

India
total: 98
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 42
under 914 m: 48 (2006)

Indonesia
total: 503
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 26
under 914 m: 471 (2006)

Iran
total: 192
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 8
914 to 1,523 m: 140
under 914 m: 43 (2006)

Iraq
total: 33
 over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 10 (2006)

Ireland
total: 21
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 17 (2006)

Israel
total: 23
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 20 (2006)

Italy
total: 35
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 14
under 914 m: 19 (2006)

Jamaica total: 24 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 22 (2006)

Jan Mayen
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Japan
total: 30
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 26 (2006)

Jordan
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Juan de Nova Island

total: 1
 914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Kazakhstan total: 83 over 3,047 m: 5 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9

914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 53 (2006)

Kenya
total: 210
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 115
under 914 m: 84 (2006)

Kiribati
total: 16
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 4 (2006)

Korea, North total: 41 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 20 914 to 1,523 m:

13 under 914 m: 7 (2006)

Korea, South
total: 38
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 35 (2006)

Kuwait
total: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Kyrgyzstan
total: 19
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 16 (2006)

Laos
total: 35
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 13
 under 914 m: 21 (2006)

Latvia
total: 22
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 19 (2006)

Lebanon
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2 (2006)

Lesotho
total: 25
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 21 (2006)

Liberia
total: 51
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 38 (2006)

Libya
total: 81
over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 15
914 to 1,523 m: 41
under 914 m: 18 (2006)

Lithuania total: 57 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 53

(2006)

Luxembourg total: 1 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Macedonia total: 7 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 4 (2006)

Madagascar
total: 87
 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 42
under 914 m: 43 (2006)

Malawi
total: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 20 (2006)

Malaysia
total: 80
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 72 (2006)

Maldives
total: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 3 (2006)

Mali
total: 20
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 8 (2006)

Marshall Islands total: 11 914 to 1,523 m: 10 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Mauritania total: 17 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 914 to 1,523 m: 7 under 914 m: 1

(2006)

Mauritius total: 4 914 to 1,523 m: 3 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Mexico
total: 1,611
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 68
914 to 1,523 m: 460
 under 914 m: 1,081 (2006)

Midway Islands
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Moldova
total: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Mongolia
total: 32
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 24
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Montenegro
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Morocco
total: 34
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 12
under 914 m: 11 (2006)

Mozambique
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 (2006)

Namibia
total: 116
 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 22
914 to 1,523 m: 72
under 914 m: 20 (2006)

Nepal
total: 38
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 29 (2006)

Netherlands
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2006)

New Caledonia
total: 14
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 6 (2006)

New Zealand
total: 73
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 31
under 914 m: 40 (2006)

Nicaragua
total: 165
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 23
under 914 m: 141 (2006)

Niger
total: 19
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Nigeria
 total: 33
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 13
under 914 m: 18 (2006)

Northern Mariana Islands

total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Norway
total: 32
914 to 1,523 m: 6
under 914 m: 26 (2006)

Oman
total: 131
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 52
914 to 1,523 m: 35
under 914 m: 35 (2006)

Pakistan total: 48 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 12 914 to 1,523 m: 12 under

914 m: 23 (2006)

Palau
total: 2
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 (2006)

Palmyra Atoll
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Panama
total: 64
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 53 (2006)
Papua New Guinea
total: 561
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 62
under 914 m: 488 (2006)

Paraguay
total: 869
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 325
under 914 m: 518 (2006)

Peru
total: 214
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 26
914 to 1,523 m: 63
under 914 m: 124 (2006)

Philippines
total: 173
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 69
under 914 m: 99 (2006)

Poland
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 (2006)

Portugal total: 23 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 22 (2006)

Puerto Rico total: 13 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 10

(2006)

Qatar
total: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 1
 under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Romania
total: 36
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 23 (2006)

Russia
total: 1,007
over 3,047 m: 9
2,438 to 3,047 m: 16
1,524 to 2,437 m: 75
914 to 1,523 m: 127
under 914 m: 780 (2006)

Rwanda
total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Samoa
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Saudi Arabia total: 135 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m:
75 914 to 1,523 m: 40 under 914 m: 12 (2006)

Senegal
total: 11
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Serbia
total: 23
 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 12 (2006)

Seychelles
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 4 (2006)

Sierra Leone
total: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Slovakia
total: 18
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 8 (2006)

Slovenia
total: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 4 (2006)

Solomon Islands
total: 33
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 9
under 914 m: 23 (2006)

Somalia
total: 58
over 3,047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 19
914 to 1,523 m: 29
under 914 m: 6 (2006)
South Africa
total: 585
1,524 to 2,437 m: 34
914 to 1,523 m: 302
under 914 m: 249 (2006)

Spain
total: 61
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 44 (2006)

Spratly Islands
total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Sri Lanka
total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Sudan
total: 73
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 37
under 914 m: 17 (2006)

Suriname total: 42 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 5 under 914 m: 36

(2006)

Svalbard total: 2 under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Swaziland
total: 17
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 10 (2006)

Sweden
total: 100
914 to 1,523 m: 9
 under 914 m: 91 (2006)

Switzerland
total: 23
under 914 m: 23 (2006)

Syria
total: 66
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 54 (2006)

Taiwan
total: 4
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Tajikistan
total: 23
914 to 1,523 m: 1
under 914 m: 22 (2006)

Tanzania
total: 113
1,524 to 2,437 m: 18
914 to 1,523 m: 62
under 914 m: 33 (2006)

Thailand
total: 42
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 15
under 914 m: 26 (2006)

Togo
total: 7
914 to 1,523 m: 5
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Tonga
 total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 3
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Trinidad and Tobago total: 3 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Tromelin Island
total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2006)

Tunisia
total: 16
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 7
under 914 m: 7 (2006)

Turkey
total: 28
over 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 8
under 914 m: 17 (2006)

Turkmenistan total: 7 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 1 under 914 m: 4

(2006)

Turks and Caicos Islands

total: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Tuvalu
total: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2006)

Uganda
total: 26
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 6
914 to 1,523 m: 11
 under 914 m: 8 (2006)

Ukraine
total: 306
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 11
914 to 1,523 m: 18
under 914 m: 274 (2006)

United Arab Emirates total: 14 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: 4 (2006)

United Kingdom total: 137 2,438 to 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523
m: 23 under 914 m: 112 (2006)

United States total: 9,739 over 3,047 m: 1 2,438 to 3,047 m: 6 1,524 to 2,437 m:
157 914 to 1,523 m: 1,728 under 914 m: 7,847 (2006)

Uruguay
total: 56
1,524 to 2,437 m: 3
914 to 1,523 m: 22
under 914 m: 31 (2006)

Uzbekistan
total: 27
2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
under 914 m: 25 (2006)

Vanuatu
total: 28
914 to 1,523 m: 10
under 914 m: 18 (2006)

Venezuela
total: 246
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 90
under 914 m: 147 (2006)
Vietnam
total: 6
1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2006)

Wallis and Futuna

total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006)

Western Sahara
total: 8
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 3 (2006)

Yemen
total: 30
over 3,047 m: 3
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 11
under 914 m: 4 (2006)

Zambia
total: 101
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 4
914 to 1,523 m: 64
under 914 m: 32 (2006)

Zimbabwe total: 386 1,524 to 2,437 m: 5 914 to 1,523 m: 187 under 914 m: 194
(2006)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@2032 Environment - current issues

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

Akrotiri
shooting around the salt lake; note - breeding place for
loggerhead and green turtles; only remaining colony of griffon
vultures is on the base

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

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

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

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

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

Anguilla
supplies of potable water sometimes cannot meet increasing
demand largely because of poor distribution system

Antarctica
in 1998, NASA satellite data showed that the Antarctic
ozone hole was the largest on record, covering 27 million square
kilometers; researchers in 1997 found that increased ultraviolet
light 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

Antigua and Barbuda

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

Arctic Ocean
endangered marine species include walruses and whales;
fragile ecosystem slow to change and slow to recover from
disruptions or damage; thinning polar icepack

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

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

Aruba
NA

Ashmore and Cartier Islands

NA

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

Australia
soil erosion from overgrazing, industrial development,
urbanization, and poor farming practices; soil salinity rising due
to the use of poor quality water; desertification; clearing for
agricultural purposes threatens the natural habitat of many unique
animal and plant species; the Great Barrier Reef off the northeast
coast, the largest coral reef in the world, is threatened by
increased shipping and its popularity as a tourist site; limited
natural fresh water resources

Austria
some forest degradation caused by air and soil pollution;
soil pollution results from the use of agricultural chemicals; air
pollution results from emissions by coal- and oil-fired power
stations and industrial plants and from trucks transiting Austria
between northern and southern Europe
Azerbaijan
local scientists consider the Abseron Yasaqligi (Apsheron
Peninsula) (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the Caspian Sea to be
the ecologically most devastated area in the world because of severe
air, soil, and water pollution; soil pollution results from oil
spills, from the use of DDT as a pesticide, and from toxic
defoliants used in the production of cotton

Bahamas, The
coral reef decay; solid waste disposal

Bahrain
desertification resulting from the degradation of limited
arable land, periods of drought, and dust storms; coastal
degradation (damage to coastlines, coral reefs, and sea vegetation)
resulting from oil spills and other discharges from large tankers,
oil refineries, and distribution stations; lack of freshwater
resources, groundwater and seawater are the only sources for all
water needs

Baker Island
no natural fresh water resources

Bangladesh
many people are landless and forced to live on and
cultivate flood-prone land; water-borne diseases prevalent in
surface water; water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results
from the use of commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by
naturally occurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of
falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the
country; soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; severe
overpopulation

Barbados
pollution of coastal waters from waste disposal by ships;
soil erosion; illegal solid waste disposal threatens contamination
of aquifers

Bassas da India
 NA

Belarus
soil pollution from pesticide use; southern part of the
country contaminated with fallout from 1986 nuclear reactor accident
at Chornobyl' in northern Ukraine

Belgium
the environment is exposed to intense pressures from human
activities: urbanization, dense transportation network, industry,
extensive animal breeding and crop cultivation; air and water
pollution also have repercussions for neighboring countries;
uncertainties regarding federal and regional responsibilities (now
resolved) have slowed progress in tackling environmental challenges

Belize
deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial
effluents, agricultural runoff; solid and sewage waste disposal

Benin
inadequate supplies of potable water; poaching threatens
wildlife populations; deforestation; desertification

Bermuda
sustainable development

Bhutan
soil erosion; limited access to potable water

Bolivia
the clearing of land for agricultural purposes and the
international demand for tropical timber are contributing to
deforestation; soil erosion from overgrazing and poor cultivation
methods (including slash-and-burn agriculture); desertification;
loss of biodiversity; industrial pollution of water supplies used
for drinking and irrigation

Bosnia and Herzegovina

air pollution from metallurgical plants;
sites for disposing of urban waste are limited; water shortages and
 destruction of infrastructure because of the 1992-95 civil strife;
deforestation

Botswana
overgrazing; desertification; limited fresh water resources

Bouvet Island
NA

Brazil
deforestation in Amazon Basin destroys the habitat and
endangers a multitude of plant and animal species indigenous to the
area; there is a lucrative illegal wildlife trade; air and water
pollution in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, and several other large
cities; land degradation and water pollution caused by improper
mining activities; wetland degradation; severe oil spills

British Indian Ocean Territory

NA

British Virgin Islands

limited natural fresh water resources (except
for a few seasonal streams and springs on Tortola, most of the
islands' water supply comes from wells and rainwater catchments)

Brunei
seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia

Bulgaria
air pollution from industrial emissions; rivers polluted
from raw sewage, heavy metals, detergents; deforestation; forest
damage from air pollution and resulting acid rain; soil
contamination from heavy metals from metallurgical plants and
industrial wastes

Burkina Faso
recent droughts and desertification severely affecting
agricultural activities, population distribution, and the economy;
overgrazing; soil degradation; deforestation
Burma
deforestation; industrial pollution of air, soil, and water;
inadequate sanitation and water treatment contribute to disease

Burundi
soil erosion as a result of overgrazing and the expansion of
agriculture into marginal lands; deforestation (little forested land
remains because of uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel); habitat
loss threatens wildlife populations

Cambodia
illegal logging activities throughout the country and strip
mining for gems in the western region along the border with Thailand
have resulted in habitat loss and declining biodiversity (in
particular, destruction of mangrove swamps threatens natural
fisheries); soil erosion; in rural areas, most of the population
does not have access to potable water; declining fish stocks because
of illegal fishing and overfishing

Cameroon
waterborne diseases are prevalent; deforestation;
overgrazing; desertification; poaching; overfishing

Canada
air pollution and resulting acid rain severely affecting
lakes and damaging forests; metal smelting, coal-burning utilities,
and vehicle emissions impacting on agricultural and forest
productivity; ocean waters becoming contaminated due to
agricultural, industrial, mining, and forestry activities

Cape Verde
soil erosion; 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

Cayman Islands
no natural fresh water resources; drinking water
supplies must be met by rainwater catchments
Central African Republic
tap water is not potable; poaching has
diminished the country's reputation as one of the last great
wildlife refuges; desertification; deforestation

Chad
inadequate supplies of potable water; improper waste disposal
in rural areas contributes to soil and water pollution;
desertification

Chile
widespread deforestation and mining threaten natural
resources; air pollution from industrial and vehicle emissions;
water pollution from raw sewage

China
air pollution (greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide particulates)
from reliance on coal produces acid rain; water shortages,
particularly in the north; water pollution from untreated wastes;
deforestation; estimated loss of one-fifth of agricultural land
since 1949 to soil erosion and economic development;
desertification; trade in endangered species

Christmas Island
loss of rainforest; impact of phosphate mining

Clipperton Island
NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

fresh water resources are limited to
rainwater accumulations in natural underground reservoirs

Colombia
deforestation; soil and water quality damage from overuse
of pesticides; air pollution, especially in Bogota, from vehicle
emissions

Comoros
soil degradation and erosion results from crop cultivation
 on slopes without proper terracing; deforestation

Congo, Democratic Republic of the poaching threatens wildlife populations;

water pollution; deforestation; refugees responsible for significant deforestation,
soil erosion, and wildlife poaching; mining of minerals (coltan - a mineral used
in creating capacitors, diamonds, and gold) causing environmental damage

Congo, Republic of the

air pollution from vehicle emissions; water
pollution from the dumping of raw sewage; tap water is not potable;
deforestation

Cook Islands
NA

Coral Sea Islands

no permanent fresh water resources

Costa Rica
deforestation and land use change, largely a result of
the clearing of land for cattle ranching and agriculture; soil
erosion; coastal marine pollution; fisheries protection; solid waste
management; air pollution
Cote d'Ivoire
deforestation (most of the country's forests - once
the largest in West Africa - have been heavily logged); water
pollution from sewage and industrial and agricultural effluents

Croatia
air pollution (from metallurgical plants) and resulting acid
rain is damaging the forests; coastal pollution from industrial and
domestic waste; landmine removal and reconstruction of
infrastructure consequent to 1992-95 civil strife

Cuba
air and water pollution; biodiversity loss; deforestation

Cyprus
water resource problems (no natural reservoir catchments,
seasonal disparity in rainfall, sea water intrusion to island's
largest aquifer, increased salination in the north); water pollution
from sewage and industrial wastes; coastal degradation; loss of
wildlife habitats from urbanization

Czech Republic
air and water pollution in areas of northwest Bohemia
and in northern Moravia around Ostrava present health risks; acid
rain damaging forests; efforts to bring industry up to EU code
should improve domestic pollution

Denmark
air pollution, principally from vehicle and power plant
emissions; nitrogen and phosphorus pollution of the North Sea;
drinking and surface water becoming polluted from animal wastes and
pesticides

Dhekelia
netting and trapping of small migrant songbirds in the
spring and autumn

Djibouti
inadequate supplies of potable water; limited arable land;
 desertification; endangered species

Dominica
NA

Dominican Republic
water shortages; soil eroding into the sea
damages coral reefs; deforestation

East Timor
widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to
deforestation and soil erosion

Ecuador
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; water
pollution; pollution from oil production wastes in ecologically
sensitive areas of the Amazon Basin and Galapagos Islands

Egypt
agricultural land being lost to urbanization and windblown
sands; increasing soil salination below Aswan High Dam;
desertification; oil pollution threatening coral reefs, beaches, and
marine habitats; other water pollution from agricultural pesticides,
raw sewage, and industrial effluents; very limited natural fresh
water resources away from the Nile, which is the only perennial
water source; rapid growth in population overstraining the Nile and
natural resources

El Salvador
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution;
contamination of soils from disposal of toxic wastes

Equatorial Guinea
tap water is not potable; deforestation

Eritrea
deforestation; desertification; soil erosion; overgrazing;
loss of infrastructure from civil warfare

Estonia
 air polluted with sulfur dioxide from oil-shale burning
power plants in northeast; however, the amount of pollutants emitted
to the air have fallen steadily, the emissions of 2000 were 80% less
than in 1980; the amount of unpurified wastewater discharged to
water bodies in 2000 was one twentieth the level of 1980; in
connection with the start-up of new water purification plants, the
pollution load of wastewater decreased; Estonia has more than 1,400
natural and manmade lakes, the smaller of which in agricultural
areas need to be monitored; coastal seawater is polluted in certain
locations

Ethiopia
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification;
water shortages in some areas from water-intensive farming and poor
management

Europa Island
NA

European Union
NA

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

overfishing by unlicensed vessels
is a problem; reindeer were introduced to the islands in 2001 for
commercial reasons; this is the only commercial reindeer herd in the
world unaffected by the Chornobyl disaster

Faroe Islands
NA

Fiji
deforestation; soil erosion

Finland
air pollution from manufacturing and power plants
contributing to acid rain; water pollution from industrial wastes,
agricultural chemicals; habitat loss threatens wildlife populations

France
 some forest damage from acid rain; air pollution from
industrial and vehicle emissions; water pollution from urban wastes,
agricultural runoff

French Polynesia
NA

French Southern and Antarctic Lands

NA

Gabon
deforestation; poaching

Gambia, The
deforestation; desertification; water-borne diseases
prevalent

Gaza Strip
desertification; salination of fresh water; sewage
treatment; water-borne disease; soil degradation; depletion and
contamination of underground water resources

Georgia
air pollution, particularly in Rust'avi; heavy pollution of
Mtkvari River and the Black Sea; inadequate supplies of potable
water; soil pollution from toxic chemicals

Germany
emissions from coal-burning utilities and industries
contribute to air pollution; acid rain, resulting from sulfur
dioxide emissions, is damaging forests; pollution in the Baltic Sea
from raw sewage and industrial effluents from rivers in eastern
Germany; hazardous waste disposal; government established a
mechanism for ending the use of nuclear power over the next 15
years; government working to meet EU commitment to identify nature
preservation areas in line with the EU's Flora, Fauna, and Habitat
directive

Ghana
recurrent drought in north severely affects agricultural
 activities; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; poaching and
habitat destruction threatens wildlife populations; water pollution;
inadequate supplies of potable water

Gibraltar
limited natural freshwater resources: large concrete or
natural rock water catchments collect rainwater (no longer used for
drinking water) and adequate desalination plant

Glorioso Islands
NA

Greece
air pollution; water pollution

Greenland
protection of the arctic environment; preservation of the
Inuit traditional way of life, including whaling and seal hunting

Grenada
NA

Guam
extirpation of native bird population by the rapid
proliferation of the brown tree snake, an exotic, invasive species

Guatemala
deforestation in the Peten rainforest; soil erosion; water
pollution

Guernsey
NA

Guinea
deforestation; inadequate supplies of potable water;
desertification; soil contamination and erosion; overfishing,
overpopulation in forest region; poor mining practices have led to
environmental damage

Guinea-Bissau
 deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; overfishing

Guyana
water pollution from sewage and agricultural and industrial
chemicals; deforestation

Haiti
extensive deforestation (much of the remaining forested land
is being cleared for agriculture and used as fuel); soil erosion;
inadequate supplies of potable water

Heard Island and McDonald Islands

NA

Holy See (Vatican City)

NA

Honduras
urban population expanding; deforestation results from
logging and the clearing of land for agricultural purposes; further
land degradation and soil erosion hastened by uncontrolled
development and improper land use practices such as farming of
marginal lands; mining activities polluting Lago de Yojoa (the
country's largest source of fresh water), as well as several rivers
and streams, with heavy metals

Hong Kong
air and water pollution from rapid urbanization

Howland Island
no natural fresh water resources

Hungary
the upgrading of Hungary's standards in waste management,
energy efficiency, and air, soil, and water pollution to meet EU
requirements will require large investments

Iceland
water pollution from fertilizer runoff; inadequate
wastewater treatment
India
deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; desertification; air
pollution from industrial effluents and vehicle emissions; water
pollution from raw sewage and runoff of agricultural pesticides; tap
water is not potable throughout the country; huge and growing
population is overstraining natural resources

Indian Ocean
endangered marine species include the dugong, seals,
turtles, and whales; oil pollution in the Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf,
and Red Sea

Indonesia
deforestation; water pollution from industrial wastes,
sewage; air pollution in urban areas; smoke and haze from forest
fires

Iran
air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle
emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents;
deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the
Persian Gulf; wetland losses from drought; soil degradation
(salination); inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution
from raw sewage and industrial waste; urbanization

Iraq
government water control projects have drained most of the
inhabited marsh areas east of An Nasiriyah by drying up or diverting
the feeder streams and rivers; a once sizable population of Marsh
Arabs, who inhabited these areas for thousands of years, has been
displaced; furthermore, the destruction of the natural habitat poses
serious threats to the area's wildlife populations; inadequate
supplies of potable water; development of the Tigris and Euphrates
rivers system contingent upon agreements with upstream riparian
Turkey; air and water pollution; soil degradation (salination) and
erosion; desertification

Ireland
water pollution, especially of lakes, from agricultural
 runoff

Isle of Man
waste disposal (both household and industrial);
transboundary air pollution

Israel
limited arable land and natural fresh water resources pose
serious constraints; desertification; air pollution from industrial
and vehicle emissions; groundwater pollution from industrial and
domestic waste, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides

Italy
air pollution from industrial emissions such as sulfur
dioxide; coastal and inland rivers polluted from industrial and
agricultural effluents; acid rain damaging lakes; inadequate
industrial waste treatment and disposal facilities

Jamaica
heavy rates of deforestation; coastal waters polluted by
industrial waste, sewage, and oil spills; damage to coral reefs; air
pollution in Kingston results from vehicle emissions

Jan Mayen
NA

Japan
air pollution from power plant emissions results in acid rain;
acidification of lakes and reservoirs degrading water quality and
threatening aquatic life; Japan is one of the largest consumers of
fish and tropical timber, contributing to the depletion of these
resources in Asia and elsewhere

Jarvis Island
no natural fresh water resources

Jersey
NA

Johnston Atoll
 no natural fresh water resources

Jordan
limited natural fresh water resources; deforestation;
overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Juan de Nova Island

NA

Kazakhstan
radioactive or toxic chemical sites associated with
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

Kenya
water pollution from urban and industrial wastes; degradation
of water quality from increased use of pesticides and fertilizers;
water hyacinth infestation in Lake Victoria; deforestation; soil
erosion; desertification; poaching

Kingman Reef
none

Kiribati
heavy pollution in lagoon of south Tarawa atoll due to
heavy migration mixed with traditional practices such as lagoon
latrines and open-pit dumping; ground water at risk

Korea, North
water pollution; inadequate supplies of potable water;
waterborne disease; deforestation; soil erosion and degradation
Korea, South
air pollution in large cities; acid rain; water
pollution from the discharge of sewage and industrial effluents;
drift net fishing

Kuwait
limited natural fresh water resources; some of world's
largest and most sophisticated desalination facilities provide much
of the water; air and water pollution; desertification

Kyrgyzstan
water pollution; many people get their water directly
from contaminated streams and wells; as a result, water-borne
diseases are prevalent; increasing soil salinity from faulty
irrigation practices

Laos
unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; most of the
population does not have access to potable water

Latvia
Latvia's environment has benefited from a shift to service
industries after the country regained independence; the main
environmental priorities are improvement of drinking water quality
and sewage system, household, and hazardous waste management, 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

Lebanon
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; air pollution
in Beirut from vehicular traffic and the burning of industrial
wastes; pollution of coastal waters from raw sewage and oil spills

Lesotho
population pressure forcing settlement in marginal areas
results in overgrazing, severe soil erosion, and soil exhaustion;
desertification; Highlands Water Project controls, stores, and
redirects water to South Africa
Liberia
tropical rain forest deforestation; soil erosion; loss of
biodiversity; pollution of coastal waters from oil residue and raw
sewage

Libya
desertification; very limited natural fresh water resources;
the Great Manmade River Project, the largest water development
scheme in the world, is being built to bring water from large
aquifers under the Sahara to coastal cities

Liechtenstein
NA

Lithuania
contamination of soil and groundwater with petroleum
products and chemicals at military bases

Luxembourg
air and water pollution in urban areas, soil pollution of
farmland

Macau
NA

Macedonia
air pollution from metallurgical plants

Madagascar
soil erosion results from deforestation and overgrazing;
desertification; surface water contaminated with raw sewage and
other organic wastes; several endangered species of flora and fauna
unique to the island

Malawi
deforestation; land degradation; water pollution from
agricultural runoff, sewage, industrial wastes; siltation of
spawning grounds endangers fish populations

Malaysia
 air pollution from industrial and vehicular emissions;
water pollution from raw sewage; deforestation; smoke/haze from
Indonesian forest fires

Maldives
depletion of freshwater aquifers threatens water supplies;
global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching

Mali
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification; inadequate
supplies of potable water; poaching

Malta
very limited natural fresh water resources; increasing
reliance on desalination

Marshall Islands
inadequate supplies of potable water; pollution of
Majuro lagoon from household waste and discharges from fishing
vessels

Mauritania
overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion aggravated
by drought are contributing to desertification; very limited natural
fresh water resources away from the Senegal, which is the only
perennial river; locust infestation

Mauritius
water pollution, degradation of coral reefs

Mayotte
NA

Mexico
scarcity of hazardous waste disposal facilities; rural to
urban migration; natural fresh water resources scarce and polluted
in north, inaccessible and poor quality in center and extreme
southeast; raw sewage and industrial effluents polluting rivers in
urban areas; deforestation; widespread erosion; desertification;
deteriorating agricultural lands; serious air and water pollution in
 the national capital and urban centers along US-Mexico border; land
subsidence in Valley of Mexico caused by groundwater depletion
note: the government considers the lack of clean water and
deforestation national security issues

Micronesia, Federated States of

overfishing, climate change,
pollution

Midway Islands
NA

Moldova
heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned
pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater;
extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods

Monaco
NA

Mongolia
limited natural fresh water resources in some areas; the
policies of former Communist regimes promoted rapid urbanization and
industrial growth that had negative effects on the environment; the
burning of soft coal in power plants and the lack of enforcement of
environmental laws severely polluted the air in Ulaanbaatar;
deforestation, overgrazing, and the converting of virgin land to
agricultural production increased soil erosion from wind and rain;
desertification and mining activities had a deleterious effect on
the environment

Montenegro
pollution of coastal waters from sewage outlets,
especially in tourist-related areas such as Kotor

Montserrat
land erosion occurs on slopes that have been cleared for
cultivation

Morocco
 land degradation/desertification (soil erosion resulting
from farming of marginal areas, overgrazing, destruction of
vegetation); water supplies contaminated by raw sewage; siltation of
reservoirs; oil pollution of coastal waters

Mozambique
a long civil war and recurrent drought in the hinterlands
have resulted in increased migration of the population to urban and
coastal areas with adverse environmental consequences;
desertification; pollution of surface and coastal waters; elephant
poaching for ivory is a problem

Namibia
very limited natural fresh water resources; desertification;
wildlife poaching; land degradation has led to few conservation areas

Nauru
limited natural fresh water resources, roof storage tanks
collect rainwater, but mostly dependent on a single, aging
desalination plant; intensive phosphate mining during the past 90
years - mainly by a UK, Australia, and NZ consortium - has left the
central 90% of Nauru a wasteland and threatens limited remaining
land resources

Navassa Island
NA

Nepal
deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of
alternatives); contaminated water (with human and animal wastes,
agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife
conservation; vehicular emissions

Netherlands
water pollution in the form of heavy metals, organic
compounds, and nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates; air
pollution from vehicles and refining activities; acid rain

Netherlands Antilles
NA
New Caledonia
erosion caused by mining exploitation and forest fires

New Zealand
deforestation; soil erosion; native flora and fauna
hard-hit by invasive species

Nicaragua
deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution

Niger
overgrazing; soil erosion; deforestation; desertification;
wildlife populations (such as elephant, hippopotamus, giraffe, and
lion) threatened because of poaching and habitat destruction

Nigeria
soil degradation; rapid deforestation; urban air and water
pollution; desertification; oil pollution - water, air, and soil;
has suffered serious damage from oil spills; loss of arable land;
rapid urbanization

Niue
increasing attention to conservationist practices to counter
loss of soil fertility from traditional slash and burn agriculture

Norfolk Island
NA

Northern Mariana Islands

contamination of groundwater on Saipan may
contribute to disease; clean-up of landfill; protection of
endangered species conflicts with development

Norway
water pollution; acid rain damaging forests and adversely
affecting lakes, threatening fish stocks; air pollution from vehicle
emissions

Oman
rising soil salinity; beach pollution from oil spills; very
 limited natural fresh water resources

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

Pakistan
water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and
agricultural runoff; limited natural fresh water resources; a
majority of the population does not have access to potable water;
deforestation; soil erosion; desertification

Palau
inadequate facilities for disposal of solid waste; threats to
the marine ecosystem from sand and coral dredging, illegal fishing
practices, and overfishing

Palmyra Atoll
NA

Panama
water pollution from agricultural runoff threatens fishery
resources; deforestation of tropical rain forest; land degradation
and soil erosion threatens siltation of Panama Canal; air pollution
in urban areas; mining threatens natural resources

Papua New Guinea

rain forest subject to deforestation as a result of
growing commercial demand for tropical timber; pollution from mining
projects; severe drought

Paracel Islands
NA

Paraguay
deforestation; water pollution; inadequate means for waste
disposal pose health risks for many urban residents; loss of wetlands

Peru
 deforestation (some the result of illegal logging); overgrazing
of the slopes of the costa and sierra leading to soil erosion;
desertification; air pollution in Lima; pollution of rivers and
coastal waters from municipal and mining wastes

Philippines
uncontrolled deforestation 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

Pitcairn Islands
deforestation (only a small portion of the original
forest remains because of burning and clearing for settlement)

Poland
situation has improved since 1989 due to decline in heavy
industry and increased environmental concern by post-Communist
governments; air pollution nonetheless remains serious because of
sulfur dioxide emissions from coal-fired power plants, and the
resulting acid rain has caused forest damage; water pollution from
industrial and municipal sources is also a problem, as is disposal
of hazardous wastes; pollution levels should continue to decrease as
industrial establishments bring their facilities up to EU code, but
at substantial cost to business and the government

Portugal
soil erosion; air pollution caused by industrial and
vehicle emissions; water pollution, especially in coastal areas

Puerto Rico
erosion; occasional drought causing water shortages

Qatar
limited natural fresh water resources are increasing
dependence on large-scale desalination facilities

Romania
soil erosion and degradation; water pollution; air pollution
in south from industrial effluents; contamination of Danube delta
 wetlands

Russia
air pollution from heavy industry, emissions of coal-fired
electric plants, and transportation in major cities; industrial,
municipal, and agricultural pollution of inland waterways and
seacoasts; deforestation; soil erosion; soil contamination from
improper application of agricultural chemicals; scattered areas of
sometimes intense radioactive contamination; groundwater
contamination from toxic waste; urban solid waste management;
abandoned stocks of obsolete pesticides

Rwanda
deforestation results from uncontrolled cutting of trees for
fuel; overgrazing; soil exhaustion; soil erosion; widespread poaching

Saint Helena
NA

Saint Kitts and Nevis

NA

Saint Lucia
deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the
northern region

Saint Pierre and Miquelon recent test drilling for oil in waters around Saint
Pierre and Miquelon may bring future development that would impact the
environment

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from
discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is
severe enough to make swimming prohibitive

Samoa
soil erosion, deforestation, invasive species, overfishing

San Marino
NA
Sao Tome and Principe
deforestation; soil erosion and exhaustion

Saudi Arabia
desertification; depletion of underground water
resources; the lack of perennial rivers or permanent water bodies
has prompted the development of extensive seawater desalination
facilities; coastal pollution from oil spills

Senegal
wildlife populations threatened by poaching; deforestation;
overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification; overfishing

Serbia
air pollution around Belgrade and other industrial cities;
water pollution from industrial wastes dumped into the Sava which
flows into the Danube

Seychelles
water supply depends on catchments to collect rainwater

Sierra Leone
rapid population growth pressuring the environment;
overharvesting of timber, expansion of cattle grazing, and
slash-and-burn agriculture have resulted in deforestation and soil
exhaustion; civil war depleting natural resources; overfishing

Singapore
industrial pollution; limited natural fresh water
resources; limited land availability presents waste disposal
problems; seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in
Indonesia

Slovakia
air pollution from metallurgical plants presents human
health risks; acid rain damaging forests

Slovenia
Sava River polluted with domestic and industrial waste;
pollution of coastal waters with heavy metals and toxic chemicals;
 forest damage near Koper from air pollution (originating at
metallurgical and chemical plants) and resulting acid rain

Solomon Islands
deforestation; soil erosion; many of the surrounding
coral reefs are dead or dying

Somalia
famine; use of contaminated water contributes to human
health problems; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion;
desertification

South Africa
lack of important arterial rivers or lakes requires
extensive water conservation and control measures; growth in water
usage outpacing supply; pollution of rivers from agricultural runoff
and urban discharge; air pollution resulting in acid rain; soil
erosion; desertification

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands

NA

Southern Ocean
increased solar ultraviolet radiation resulting from
the Antarctic ozone hole in recent years, reducing marine primary
productivity (phytoplankton) by as much as 15% and damaging the DNA
of some fish; illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in recent
years, especially the landing of an estimated five to six times more
Patagonian toothfish than the regulated fishery, which is likely to
affect the sustainability of the stock; large amount of incidental
mortality of seabirds resulting from long-line fishing for toothfish
note: the now-protected fur seal population is making a strong
comeback after severe overexploitation in the 18th and 19th centuries

Spain
pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from raw sewage and
effluents from the offshore production of oil and gas; water quality
and quantity nationwide; air pollution; deforestation;
desertification
Spratly Islands
NA

Sri Lanka
deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations
threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from
mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources
being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste
disposal; air pollution in Colombo

Sudan
inadequate supplies of potable water; wildlife populations
threatened by excessive hunting; soil erosion; desertification;
periodic drought

Suriname
deforestation as timber is cut for export; pollution of
inland waterways by small-scale mining activities

Svalbard
NA

Swaziland
limited supplies of potable water; wildlife populations
being depleted because of excessive hunting; overgrazing; soil
degradation; soil erosion

Sweden
acid rain damage to soils and lakes; pollution of the North
Sea and the Baltic Sea

Switzerland
air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air
burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of
agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity

Syria
deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification;
water pollution from raw sewage and petroleum refining wastes;
inadequate potable water
Taiwan
air pollution; water pollution from industrial emissions, raw
sewage; contamination of drinking water supplies; trade in
endangered species; low-level radioactive waste disposal

Tajikistan
inadequate sanitation facilities; increasing levels of
soil salinity; industrial pollution; excessive pesticides

Tanzania
soil degradation; deforestation; desertification;
destruction of coral reefs threatens marine habitats; recent
droughts affected marginal agriculture; wildlife threatened by
illegal hunting and trade, especially for ivory

Thailand
air pollution from vehicle emissions; water pollution from
organic and factory wastes; deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife
populations threatened by illegal hunting

Togo
deforestation attributable to slash-and-burn agriculture and
the use of wood for fuel; water pollution presents health hazards
and hinders the fishing industry; air pollution increasing in urban
areas

Tokelau
very limited natural resources and overcrowding are
contributing to emigration to New Zealand

Tonga
deforestation results as more and more land is being cleared
for agriculture and settlement; some damage to coral reefs from
starfish and indiscriminate coral and shell collectors; overhunting
threatens native sea turtle populations

Trinidad and Tobago

water pollution from agricultural chemicals,
industrial wastes, and raw sewage; oil pollution of beaches;
deforestation; soil erosion
Tromelin Island
NA

Tunisia
toxic and hazardous waste disposal is ineffective and poses
health risks; water pollution from raw sewage; limited natural fresh
water resources; deforestation; overgrazing; soil erosion;
desertification

Turkey
water pollution from dumping of chemicals and detergents; air
pollution, particularly in urban areas; deforestation; concern for
oil spills from increasing Bosporus ship traffic

Turkmenistan
contamination of soil and groundwater with agricultural
chemicals, pesticides; salination, water-logging of soil due to poor
irrigation methods; Caspian Sea pollution; diversion of a large
share of the flow of the Amu Darya into irrigation contributes to
that river's inability to replenish the Aral Sea; desertification

Turks and Caicos Islands

limited natural fresh water resources,
private cisterns collect rainwater

Tuvalu
since there are no streams or rivers and groundwater is not
potable, most water needs must be met by catchment systems with
storage facilities (the Japanese Government has built one
desalination plant and plans to build one other); beachhead erosion
because of the use of sand for building materials; excessive
clearance of forest undergrowth for use as fuel; damage to coral
reefs from the spread of the Crown of Thorns starfish; Tuvalu is
concerned about global increases in greenhouse gas emissions and
their effect on rising sea levels, which threaten the country's
underground water table; in 2000, the government appealed to
Australia and New Zealand to take in Tuvaluans if rising sea levels
should make evacuation necessary
Uganda
draining of wetlands for agricultural use; deforestation;
overgrazing; soil erosion; water hyacinth infestation in Lake
Victoria; poaching is widespread

Ukraine
inadequate supplies of potable water; air and water
pollution; deforestation; radiation contamination in the northeast
from 1986 accident at Chornobyl' Nuclear Power Plant

United Arab Emirates

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

United Kingdom
continues to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (has met
Kyoto Protocol target of a 12.5% reduction from 1990 levels and
intends to meet the legally binding target and move toward a
domestic goal of a 20% cut in emissions by 2010); by 2005 the
government aims to reduce the amount of industrial and commercial
waste disposed of in landfill sites to 85% of 1998 levels and to
recycle or compost at least 25% of household waste, increasing to
33% by 2015; between 1998-99 and 1999-2000, household recycling
increased from 8.8% to 10.3%

United States
air pollution resulting in acid rain in both the US
and Canada; the US is the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide
from the burning of fossil fuels; water pollution from runoff of
pesticides and fertilizers; limited natural fresh water resources in
much of the western part of the country require careful management;
desertification

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges

Baker, Howland, and
Jarvis Islands, and Johnston Atoll: no natural fresh water resources
Kingman Reef: none
Midway Islands and Palmyra Atoll: NA
Uruguay
water pollution from meat packing/tannery industry;
inadequate solid/hazardous waste disposal

Uzbekistan
shrinkage of the Aral Sea is resulting in growing
concentrations of chemical pesticides and natural salts; these
substances are then blown from the increasingly exposed lake bed and
contribute to desertification; water pollution from industrial
wastes and the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides is the cause
of many human health disorders; increasing soil salination; soil
contamination from buried nuclear processing and agricultural
chemicals, including DDT

Vanuatu
a majority of the population does not have access to a
reliable supply of potable water; deforestation

Venezuela
sewage pollution of Lago de Valencia; oil and urban
pollution of Lago de Maracaibo; deforestation; soil degradation;
urban and industrial pollution, especially along the Caribbean
coast; threat to the rainforest ecosystem from irresponsible mining
operations

Vietnam
logging and slash-and-burn agricultural practices contribute
to deforestation and soil degradation; water pollution and
overfishing threaten marine life populations; groundwater
contamination limits potable water supply; growing urban
industrialization and population migration are rapidly degrading
environment in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

Virgin Islands
lack of natural freshwater resources

Wake Island
NA

Wallis and Futuna

 deforestation (only small portions of the original
forests remain) largely as a result of the continued use of wood as
the main fuel source; as a consequence of cutting down the forests,
the mountainous terrain of Futuna is particularly prone to erosion;
there are no permanent settlements on Alofi because of the lack of
natural fresh water resources

West Bank
adequacy of fresh water supply; sewage treatment

Western Sahara
sparse water and lack of arable land

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

Yemen
very limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate
supplies of potable water; overgrazing; soil erosion; desertification

Zambia
air pollution and resulting acid rain in the mineral
extraction and refining region; chemical runoff into watersheds;
poaching seriously threatens rhinoceros, elephant, antelope, and
large cat populations; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification;
lack of adequate water treatment presents human health risks

Zimbabwe
deforestation; soil erosion; land degradation; air and
water pollution; the black rhinoceros herd - once the largest
concentration of the species in the world - has been significantly
reduced by poaching; poor mining practices have led to toxic waste
and heavy metal pollution

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2033 Environment - international agreements

Afghanistan
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

Albania
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

Algeria
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

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

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

Antigua and Barbuda

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

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

Armenia
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

Australia
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol,
Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Austria
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-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
Azerbaijan
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

Bahamas, The
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

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

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

Barbados
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, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Belarus
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
Belgium
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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

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

Benin
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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Bhutan
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Bolivia
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, 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

Bosnia and Herzegovina

 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

Botswana
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

Brazil
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine
Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Brunei
party to: Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Bulgaria
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-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, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulfur 94

Burkina Faso
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

Burma
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

Burundi
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

Cambodia
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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Cameroon
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, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Canada
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

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

Central African Republic

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer
Protection, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

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

Chile
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine
Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, 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

China
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
Colombia
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

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

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

party to: Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Tropical Timber
83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Congo, Republic of the

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Ozone Layer Protection,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Cook Islands
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the
Sea
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Costa Rica
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
Cote d'Ivoire
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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Croatia
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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Cuba
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

Cyprus
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, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Czech Republic
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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Denmark
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

Djibouti
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

Dominica
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

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

East Timor
NA

Ecuador
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic
Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer
 Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Egypt
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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

El Salvador
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

Equatorial Guinea
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ship Pollution,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Eritrea
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Estonia
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

Ethiopia
 party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea

European Union
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

Faroe Islands
party to: Marine Dumping -associate member to the
London Convention

Fiji
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, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Finland
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

France
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
Gabon
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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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

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

Germany
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-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

Ghana
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

Greece
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

Grenada
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

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

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

Guinea-Bissau
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Guyana
 party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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

Haiti
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer
Protection
signed, but not ratified: Hazardous Wastes

Holy See (Vatican City)

party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution, Environmental Modification

Honduras
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Hong Kong
party to: Marine Dumping (associate member)

Hungary
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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Sulfur 94

Iceland
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,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Marine Life
Conservation

India
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

Indonesia
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

Iran
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

Iraq
party to: Biodiversity, Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Ireland
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

Israel
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Italy
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

Jamaica
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

Japan
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine
Living Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes,
Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
Jordan
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Kazakhstan
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

Kenya
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

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

Korea, North
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Korea, South
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
Kuwait
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

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

Laos
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

Latvia
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

Lebanon
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

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

Liberia
 party to: 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: Environmental Modification, Law of the
Sea, Marine Life Conservation

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

Liechtenstein
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

Lithuania
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

Luxembourg
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

Macau
 party to: Marine Dumping -associate member to the London
Convention

Macedonia
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

Madagascar
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

Malawi
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

Malaysia
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

Maldives
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer
Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Mali
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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

Malta
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

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

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

Mauritius
party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, 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

Mexico
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

Micronesia, Federated States of

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

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

Monaco
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic
Compounds, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered
Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol

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

Montenegro
party to: Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping

Morocco
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

Mozambique
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

Namibia
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

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

Nepal
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

Netherlands
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

New Zealand
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

Nicaragua
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Niger
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

Nigeria
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

Niue
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Norway
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-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
Oman
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

Pakistan
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

Palau
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Panama
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution,
Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation

Papua New Guinea

party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate
Change, 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

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

Philippines
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

Poland
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

Portugal
party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Marine Life
Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Environmental
Modification

Qatar
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

Romania
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

Russia
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

Rwanda
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

Saint Kitts and Nevis

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

Saint Lucia
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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
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

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

San Marino
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution

Sao Tome and Principe

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

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

Senegal
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto
Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law
of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling

Serbia
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

Seychelles
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, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Sierra Leone
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

Singapore
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

Slovakia
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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Slovenia
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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants

Solomon Islands
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

Somalia
party to: Biodiversity, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea,
Ozone Layer Protection

South Africa
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

Southern Ocean
the Southern Ocean is subject to all international
agreements regarding the world's oceans; in addition, it is subject
to these agreements specific to the Antarctic region: International
Whaling Commission (prohibits commercial whaling south of 40 degrees
south [south of 60 degrees south between 50 degrees and 130 degrees
west]); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (limits
sealing); Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living
Resources (regulates fishing)
note: many nations (including the US) prohibit mineral resource
exploration and exploitation south of the fluctuating Polar Front
(Antarctic Convergence) which is in the middle of the Antarctic
Circumpolar Current and serves as the dividing line between the very
cold polar surface waters to the south and the warmer waters to the
north
Spain
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air
Pollution-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

Sri Lanka
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

Sudan
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

Suriname
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Swaziland
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Law of the Sea

Sweden
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

Switzerland
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

Syria
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification

Taiwan
party to: none of the selected agreements because of Taiwan's
international status
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements because of
Taiwan's international status

Tajikistan
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,
Environmental Modification, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Tanzania
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, 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

Thailand
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

Togo
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, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Tonga
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

Trinidad and Tobago

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, Tropical
Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Tunisia
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

Turkey
 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

Turkmenistan
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone
Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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

Uganda
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

Ukraine
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

United Arab Emirates

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

United Kingdom
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

United States
party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen
Oxides, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living
Resources, Antarctic Seals, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Ozone Layer Protection,
Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands,
Whaling
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic
Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Hazardous Wastes

Uruguay
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine
Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone
Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation

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

Vanuatu
party to: Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Biodiversity,
Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification,
Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer
Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 94
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Venezuela
party to: Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
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

Vietnam
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

Western Sahara
party to: none of the selected agreements
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Yemen
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

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

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2034 Military expenditures - percent of GDP (%)

Afghanistan
1.7% (2005 est.)

Albania
1.49% (FY02)

Algeria
3.2% (2005 est.)

Angola
8.8% (2005 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda

NA

Argentina
1.3% (FY00)

Armenia
6.5% (FY01)

Australia
2.7% (2005 est.)
Austria
0.9% (2004)

Azerbaijan
2.6% (FY99)

Bahamas, The
NA

Bahrain
4.9% (2005 est.)

Bangladesh
1.8% (2005 est.)

Barbados
NA

Belarus
1.4% (FY02)

Belgium
1.3% (2003)

Belize
1.7% (2005 est.)

Benin
2.3% (2005 est.)

Bermuda
0.11% (FY00/01)

Bhutan
1% (2005 est.)

Bolivia
1.4% (2005 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

 4.5% (FY02)

Botswana
3.4% (2005 est.)

Brazil
1.3% (2005 est.)

Brunei
5.1% (2003 est.)

Bulgaria
2.6% (2003)

Burkina Faso
1.3% (2005 est.)

Burma
2.1% (FY97)

Burundi
5.6% (2005 est.)

Cambodia
3% (FY01 est.)

Cameroon
1.5% (2005 est.)

Canada
1.1% (2003)

Cape Verde
0.7% (2005 est.)

Central African Republic

1% (2005 est.)

Chad
1% (2005 est.)
Chile
3.5% (2005 est.)

China
4.3% (2005 est.)

Colombia
3.4% (FY01)

Comoros
3% (2005 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

1.5% (2005 est.)

Congo, Republic of the

1.4% (2005 est.)

Costa Rica
0.4% (2005 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
1.6% (2005 est.)

Croatia
2.39% (2002 est.)

Cuba
1.8% (2005 est.)

Cyprus
3.8% (FY02)

Czech Republic
1.81% FY05

Denmark
1.5% (2004)

Djibouti
 4.3% (2005 est.)

Dominica
NA

Dominican Republic
0% (2002 est.)

East Timor
NA

Ecuador
2% (2005 est.)

Egypt
3.4% (2004)

El Salvador
1% (2005 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
2.1% (2005 est.)

Eritrea
17.7% (2005 est.)

Estonia
2% (2002 est.)

Ethiopia
3.4% (2005 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

NA

Faroe Islands
NA

Fiji
2.2% (FY02)
Finland
2% (FY98/99)

France
2.6% FY06 (2005 est.)

Gabon
3.4% (2005 est.)

Gambia, The
0.4% (2005 est.)

Gaza Strip
NA

Georgia
0.59% (FY00)

Germany
1.5% (2003)

Ghana
0.8% (2005 est.)

Greece
4.3% (2003)

Grenada
NA

Guatemala
0.5% (2005 est.)

Guinea
2.9% (2005 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
3.1% (2005 est.)

Guyana
 0.9% (2003 est.)

Haiti
0.9% (2003 est.)

Honduras
2.55% (2005 est.)

Hong Kong
NA

Hungary
1.75% (2002 est.)

Iceland
0%

India
2.5% (2005 est.)

Indonesia
3% (2004)

Iran
3.3% (2003 est.)

Iraq
NA

Ireland
0.9% (FY00/01)

Israel
7.7% (2005 est.)

Italy
1.8% (2004)

Jamaica
0.4% (2003 est.)
Japan
1% (2005 est.)

Jordan
11.4% (2005 est.)

Kazakhstan
0.9% (Ministry of Defense expenditures) (FY02)

Kenya
1.6% (2005 est.)

Kiribati
NA

Korea, North
NA

Korea, South
2.6% FY05 (2005 est.)

Kuwait
4.2% (2005 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
1.4% (FY01)

Laos
0.4% (2005 est.)

Latvia
1.2% (FY01)

Lebanon
3.1% (2004)

Lesotho
2.1% (2005 est.)

Liberia
 7.5% (2005 est.)

Libya
3.9% (FY99)

Lithuania
1.9% (FY01)

Luxembourg
0.9% (2003)

Macedonia
6% (FY01/02 est.)

Madagascar
7.2% (2005 est.)

Malawi
0.8% (2005 est.)

Malaysia
2.03% (FY00)

Maldives
5.5% (2005 est.)

Mali
1.9% (2005 est.)

Malta
1% (2005 est.)

Marshall Islands
NA

Mauritania
1.4% (2005 est.)

Mauritius
0.2% (2005 est.)
Mexico
0.8% (2005 est.)

Moldova
0.4% (FY02)

Mongolia
2.2% (FY02)

Morocco
5% (2003 est.)

Mozambique
1.3% (2005 est.)

Namibia
2.3% (2005 est.)

Nauru
NA

Nepal
1.5% (2005 est.)

Netherlands
1.6% (2004)

New Caledonia
NA

New Zealand
1% (FY02)

Nicaragua
0.7% (2005 est.)

Niger
1.4% (2005 est.)

Nigeria
 0.8% (2005 est.)

Norway
1.9% (2003)

Oman
11.4% (2003)

Pakistan
3.9% (2005 est.)

Palau
NA

Panama
1% (2005 est.)

Papua New Guinea

1.4% (FY02)

Paraguay
0.9% (2003 est.)

Peru
1.4% (2003 est.)

Philippines
0.9% (2005 est.)

Poland
1.71% (2002)

Portugal
2.3% (2003)

Qatar
10% (FY00)

Romania
2.47% (2002)
Russia
NA

Rwanda
2.9% (2005 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis

NA

Saint Lucia
NA

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

NA

Samoa
NA

San Marino
NA

Sao Tome and Principe

0.8% (2005 est.)

Saudi Arabia
10% (2002)

Senegal
1.4% (2005 est.)

Seychelles
2.1% (2005 est.)

Sierra Leone
1.7% (2005 est.)

Singapore
4.9% (FY01)

Slovakia
 1.87% FY05 (2005)

Slovenia
1.7% (FY00)

Solomon Islands
NA

Somalia
0.9% (2005 est.)

South Africa
1.5% (2005 est.)

Spain
1.2% (2003)

Sri Lanka
2.6% (2005 est.)

Sudan
3% (1999) (2004)

Suriname
0.7% (2003 est.)

Swaziland
1.4% (2005 est.)

Sweden
1.5% (2005 est.)

Switzerland
1% (FY01)

Syria
5.9% (FY00)

Taiwan
2.4% (2005 est.)
Tajikistan
3.9% (FY01)

Tanzania
0.2% (2005 est.)

Thailand
1.8% (2003)

Togo
1.6% (2005 est.)

Tonga
NA

Trinidad and Tobago

0.6% (2003 est.)

Tunisia
1.5% (FY99)

Turkey
5.3% (2003)

Turkmenistan
3.4% (FY99)

Tuvalu
NA

Uganda
2.2% (2005 est.)

Ukraine
1.4% (FY02)

United Arab Emirates

3.1% (FY00)

United Kingdom
 2.4% (2003)

United States
4.06% (FY03 est.) (2005 est.)

Uruguay
2.1% (2005 est.)

Uzbekistan
2% (FY97)

Vanuatu
NA

Venezuela
1.2% (2005 est.)

Vietnam
2.5% (FY98)

West Bank
NA

World
roughly 2% of gross world product (2005 est.)

Yemen
6.4% (2005 est.)

Zambia
1.8% (2005 est.)

Zimbabwe
4% (2005 est.)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@2038 Electricity - production (kWh)

Afghanistan
734.3 million kWh (2004)

Albania
5.434 billion kWh (2004)

Algeria
29.39 billion kWh (2004 est.)

American Samoa
128 million kWh (2004)

Andorra
NA kWh

Angola
2.194 billion kWh (2004)

Anguilla
NA kWh

Antigua and Barbuda

105 million kWh (2004)

Argentina
93.94 billion kWh (2004)

Armenia
6.317 billion kWh (2005)

Aruba
770 million kWh (2004)

Australia
225.3 billion kWh (2004)

Austria
 65.56 billion kWh (2004)

Azerbaijan
20.35 billion kWh (2004)

Bahamas, The
1.795 billion kWh (2004)

Bahrain
7.794 billion kWh (2004)

Bangladesh
18.09 billion kWh (2004)

Barbados
896 million kWh (2004)

Belarus
29.33 billion kWh (2004)

Belgium
80.22 billion kWh (2004)

Belize
175 million kWh (2004)

Benin
82 million kWh (2004)

Bermuda
682.5 million kWh (2005)

Bhutan
2.05 billion kWh (2004)

Bolivia
4.472 billion kWh (2004)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

12.98 billion kWh (2004)
Botswana
823 million kWh (2004)

Brazil
380.9 billion kWh (2004)

British Indian Ocean Territory

NA kWh; note - electricity supplied
by the US military

British Virgin Islands

42 million kWh (2004)

Brunei
2.806 billion kWh (2004)

Bulgaria
41.96 billion kWh (2004)

Burkina Faso
400 million kWh (2004)

Burma
6.31 billion kWh (2004)

Burundi
137 million kWh (2004)

Cambodia
131 million kWh (2004)

Cameroon
3.924 billion kWh (2004)

Canada
573 billion kWh (2004)

Cape Verde
44 million kWh (2004)
Cayman Islands
400 million kWh (2004)

Central African Republic

109 million kWh (2004)

Chad
94 million kWh (2004)

Chile
50.91 billion kWh (2004)
China
2.5 trillion kWh (2005)

Colombia
46.93 billion kWh (2004)

Comoros
19 million kWh (2004)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

353 million kWh (2004)

Congo, Republic of the

6.847 billion kWh (2004)

Cook Islands
28 million kWh (2004)

Costa Rica
8.4 billion kWh (2004)

Cote d'Ivoire
4.625 billion kWh (2004)

Croatia
12.95 billion kWh (2004)

Cuba
15.34 billion kWh (2005)

Cyprus
Republic of Cyprus: 3.926 billion kWh; north Cyprus: NA kWh
(2004)

Czech Republic
79.14 billion kWh (2004)

Denmark
38.02 billion kWh (2004)
Djibouti
200 million kWh (2004)

Dominica
83.88 million kWh (2004)

Dominican Republic
15.02 billion kWh (2004)

East Timor
NA kWh (2004)

Ecuador
12.2 billion kWh (2004)

Egypt
91.72 billion kWh (2004)

El Salvador
4.174 billion kWh (2004)

Equatorial Guinea
26 million kWh (2004)

Eritrea
276.1 million kWh (2004)

Estonia
9.29 billion kWh (2004)

Ethiopia
2.294 billion kWh (2004)

European Union
2.98 trillion kWh (2004 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

16 million kWh (2004)

Faroe Islands
 292.6 million kWh (2004)

Fiji
817 million kWh (2004)

Finland
81.6 billion kWh (2004)

France
540.6 billion kWh (2004)

French Polynesia
477 million kWh (2004)

Gabon
1.543 billion kWh (2004)

Gambia, The
145 million kWh (2004)

Gaza Strip
140,000 kWh

Georgia
6.804 billion kWh (2004)

Germany
566.9 billion kWh (2004)

Ghana
6.489 billion kWh (2004)

Gibraltar
131.2 million kWh (2004)

Greece
55.51 billion kWh (2004)

Greenland
295 million kWh (2004)
Grenada
171.3 million kWh (2004)

Guam
1.764 billion kWh (2004)

Guatemala
7.604 billion kWh (2004)

Guernsey
NA kWh

Guinea
790 million kWh (2004)

Guinea-Bissau
58.02 million kWh (2004)

Guyana
818.8 million kWh (2004)

Haiti
536.2 million kWh (2004)

Holy See (Vatican City)

NA kWh

Honduras
4.805 billion kWh (2004)

Hong Kong
38.45 billion kWh (2005)

Hungary
31.83 billion kWh (2004)

Iceland
8.474 billion kWh (2004)

India
 630.6 billion kWh (2004)

Indonesia
112.6 billion kWh (2004)

Iran
155.7 billion kWh (2004)

Iraq
31.7 billion kWh (2005)

Ireland
23.26 billion kWh (2004)

Israel
46.07 billion kWh (2004)

Italy
277.6 billion kWh (2004)

Jamaica
6.913 billion kWh (2004)

Japan
974.4 billion kWh (2004)

Jordan
8.431 billion kWh (2004)

Kazakhstan
63.26 billion kWh (2004)

Kenya
5.709 billion kWh (2004)

Kiribati
13 million kWh (2004)

Korea, North
21.71 billion kWh (2004)
Korea, South
345.2 billion kWh (2004)

Kuwait
40.37 billion kWh (2004)

Kyrgyzstan
14.06 billion kWh (2004)

Laos
3.936 billion kWh (2004)

Latvia
4.55 billion kWh (2004)

Lebanon
9.762 billion kWh (2004)

Lesotho
250 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa
(2004)

Liberia
325 million kWh (2004)

Libya
19.44 billion kWh (2004)

Lithuania
17.8 billion kWh (2004)

Luxembourg
3.203 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Macau
2.027 billion kWh (2005)

Macedonia
6.271 billion kWh (2005)
Madagascar
984 million kWh (2004)

Malawi
1.293 billion kWh (2004)

Malaysia
78.24 billion kWh (2004)

Maldives
149.9 million kWh (2004)

Mali
410 million kWh (2004)

Malta
2.291 billion kWh (2004)

Mauritania
176.7 million kWh (2004)

Mauritius
2.107 billion kWh (2004)

Mayotte
NA kWh

Mexico
242.4 billion kWh (2004)

Micronesia, Federated States of

192 million kWh (2002)

Moldova
3.506 billion kWh (2004)

Mongolia
3.24 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Montenegro
 2.864 billion kWh 2.864 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Montserrat
2 million kWh (2003)

Morocco
18.48 billion kWh (2004)

Mozambique
11.58 billion kWh (2004)

Namibia
1.397 billion kWh (2004)

Nauru
30 million kWh (2004)

Nepal
2.565 billion kWh (2005)

Netherlands
92.7 billion kWh (2004)

Netherlands Antilles
1.005 billion kWh (2004)

New Caledonia
1.675 billion kWh (2004)

New Zealand
41.1 billion kWh (2004)

Nicaragua
2.766 billion kWh (2004)

Niger
232 million kWh (2004)

Nigeria
19.06 billion kWh (2004)
Niue
3 million kWh (2004)

Norfolk Island
NA kWh

Northern Mariana Islands

NA kWh

Norway
108.9 billion kWh (2004)

Oman
14.33 billion kWh (2004)

Pakistan
80.24 billion kWh (2004)

Panama
7.545 billion kWh (2004)

Papua New Guinea

3.358 billion kWh (2004)

Paraguay
51.77 billion kWh (2004)

Peru
23.99 billion kWh (2004 est.)

Philippines
53.13 billion kWh (2004)

Pitcairn Islands
NA kWh; note - electric power is provided by a
small diesel-powered generator

Poland
143.5 billion kWh (2004)
Portugal
42.52 billion kWh (2004)

Puerto Rico
24.14 billion kWh (2004)

Qatar
12.4 billion kWh (2004)

Romania
54.53 billion kWh (2004)

Russia
952.4 billion kWh (2005)

Rwanda
93 million kWh (2004)

Saint Helena
7 million kWh (2004)

Saint Kitts and Nevis

125 million kWh (2004)

Saint Lucia
290 million kWh (2004)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

50 million kWh (2004)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

114 million kWh (2004)

Samoa
108 million kWh (2004)

Sao Tome and Principe

18 million kWh (2004)

Saudi Arabia
 155.2 billion kWh (2004)

Senegal
1.453 billion kWh (2004)

Serbia
33.87 billion kWh (excluding Kosovo and Montenegro) (2004)

Seychelles
208 million kWh (2004)

Sierra Leone
244 million kWh (2004)

Singapore
32.64 billion kWh (2004)

Slovakia
28.81 billion kWh (2004)

Slovenia
14.46 billion kWh (2004)

Solomon Islands
55 million kWh (2004)

Somalia
269 million kWh (2004)

South Africa
227.2 billion kWh (2004)

Spain
263.3 billion kWh (2004)

Sri Lanka
7.714 billion kWh (2004)

Sudan
3.845 billion kWh (2004)
Suriname
1.509 billion kWh (2004)

Swaziland
458 million kWh (2004)

Sweden
150.5 billion kWh (2004)

Switzerland
61.97 billion kWh (2004)

Syria
29.64 billion kWh (2004 est.)

Taiwan
189.7 billion kWh (2005)

Tajikistan
16.5 billion kWh (2004)

Tanzania
2.562 billion kWh (2004)

Thailand
121.7 billion kWh (2004)

Togo
286.2 million kWh (2004)

Tokelau
NA kWh

Tonga
41 million kWh (2004)

Trinidad and Tobago

6.049 billion kWh (2004)

Tunisia
 11.81 billion kWh (2004)

Turkey
143.3 billion kWh (2004)

Turkmenistan
10.79 billion kWh (2004 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands

7 million kWh (2004)

Uganda
1.894 billion kWh (2004)

Ukraine
177.3 billion kWh (2004)

United Arab Emirates

49.52 billion kWh (2004)

United Kingdom
363.2 billion kWh (2004)

United States
3.979 trillion kWh (2004)

Uruguay
8.183 billion kWh (2004)

Uzbekistan
46.45 billion kWh (2004)

Vanuatu
43 million kWh (2004)

Venezuela
93.03 billion kWh (2004)

Vietnam
40.11 billion kWh (2004)
Virgin Islands
980 million kWh (2004)

Wake Island
NA kWh

Wallis and Futuna

NA kWh

West Bank
NA kWh; note - most electricity imported from Israel; East
Jerusalem Electric Company buys and distributes electricity to
Palestinians in East Jerusalem and its concession in the West Bank;
the Israel Electric Company directly supplies electricity to most
Jewish residents and military facilities; some Palestinian
municipalities, such as Nablus and Janin, generate their own
electricity from small power plants

Western Sahara
85 million kWh (2004)

World
17.15 trillion kWh (2004 est.)

Yemen
4.077 billion kWh (2004 est.)

Zambia
9.962 billion kWh (2004)

Zimbabwe
9.412 billion kWh (2004)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@2042 Electricity - consumption (kWh)

Afghanistan
782.9 million kWh (2004)

Albania
5.231 billion kWh (2004)

Algeria
27.4 billion kWh (2004 est.)

American Samoa
119 million kWh (2004)

Andorra
NA kWh

Angola
2.04 billion kWh (2004)

Anguilla
42.6 million kWh

Antigua and Barbuda

97.65 million kWh (2004)

Argentina
90.93 billion kWh (2004)

Armenia
4.374 billion kWh (2005)

Aruba
716.1 million kWh (2004)

Australia
209.5 billion kWh (2004)

Austria
 64.07 billion kWh (2004)

Azerbaijan
20.57 billion kWh (2004)

Bahamas, The
1.669 billion kWh (2004)

Bahrain
7.248 billion kWh (2004)

Bangladesh
16.82 billion kWh (2004)

Barbados
833.3 million kWh (2004)

Belarus
31.05 billion kWh (2004)

Belgium
82.41 billion kWh (2004)

Belize
162.8 million kWh (2004)

Benin
576.3 million kWh (2004)

Bermuda
616.7 million kWh (2005)

Bhutan
526.5 million kWh (2004)

Bolivia
4.168 billion kWh (2004)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

11.03 billion kWh (2004)
Botswana
2.464 billion kWh (2004)

Brazil
391.7 billion kWh (2004)

British Indian Ocean Territory

NA kWh

British Virgin Islands

39.06 million kWh (2004)

Brunei
2.609 billion kWh (2004)

Bulgaria
35.23 billion kWh (2004)

Burkina Faso
372 million kWh (2004)

Burma
5.869 billion kWh (2004)

Burundi
157.4 million kWh (2004)

Cambodia
121.8 million kWh (2004)

Cameroon
3.649 billion kWh (2004)

Canada
522.4 billion kWh (2004)

Cape Verde
40.92 million kWh (2004)

Cayman Islands
 372 million kWh (2004)

Central African Republic

101.4 million kWh (2004)

Chad
87.42 million kWh (2004)

Chile
49.09 billion kWh (2004)

China
2.494 trillion kWh (2005)

Colombia
42.01 billion kWh (2004)

Comoros
17.67 million kWh (2004)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

658.3 million kWh (2004)

Congo, Republic of the

5.127 billion kWh (2004)

Cook Islands
26.04 million kWh (2004 est.)

Costa Rica
7.574 billion kWh (2004)

Cote d'Ivoire
3.202 billion kWh (2004)

Croatia
16.53 billion kWh (2004)

Cuba
14.1 billion kWh (2004)
Cyprus
Republic of Cyprus: 3.651 billion kWh (2004); north Cyprus:
NA kWh (2004)

Czech Republic
58.8 billion kWh (2004)

Denmark
32.56 billion kWh (2004)

Djibouti
186 million kWh (2004)

Dominica
78.01 million kWh (2004)

Dominican Republic
13.96 billion kWh (2004)

East Timor
NA kWh (2004)

Ecuador
12.95 billion kWh (2004)

Egypt
84.49 billion kWh (2004)

El Salvador
4.229 billion kWh (2004)

Equatorial Guinea
24.18 million kWh (2004)

Eritrea
256.7 million kWh (2004)

Estonia
6.846 billion kWh (2004)
Ethiopia
2.133 billion kWh (2004)

European Union
2.77 trillion kWh (2004 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

14.88 million kWh (2004)

Faroe Islands
272.1 million kWh (2004)

Fiji
759.8 million kWh (2004)

Finland
80.79 billion kWh (2004)

France
440.6 billion kWh (2004)

French Polynesia
443.6 million kWh (2004)

Gabon
1.435 billion kWh (2004)

Gambia, The
134.9 million kWh (2004)

Gaza Strip
230,000 kWh

Georgia
8.528 billion kWh (2004)

Germany
524.6 billion kWh (2004)

Ghana
 7.095 billion kWh (2004)

Gibraltar
122 million kWh (2004)

Greece
53.5 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Greenland
274.4 million kWh (2004)

Grenada
159.3 million kWh (2004)

Guam
1.641 billion kWh (2004)

Guatemala
6.649 billion kWh (2004)

Guernsey
NA kWh

Guinea
734.7 million kWh (2004)

Guinea-Bissau
53.96 million kWh (2004)

Guyana
761.5 million kWh (2004)

Haiti
498.6 million kWh (2004)

Holy See (Vatican City)

NA kWh

Honduras
4.824 billion kWh (2004)
Hong Kong
44.55 billion kWh (2005)

Hungary
37.1 billion kWh (2004)

Iceland
7.881 billion kWh (2004)

India
587.9 billion kWh (2004)

Indonesia
104.7 billion kWh (2004)

Iran
145.1 billion kWh (2004)

Iraq
33.3 billion kWh (2005)

Ireland
23.23 billion kWh (2004)

Israel
41.38 billion kWh (2004)

Italy
303.8 billion kWh (2004)

Jamaica
6.429 billion kWh (2004)

Japan
906.2 billion kWh (2004)

Jersey
630.1 million kWh (2004 est.)

Jordan
 8.387 billion kWh (2004)

Kazakhstan
58.3 billion kWh (2004)

Kenya
5.459 billion kWh (2004)

Kiribati
12.09 million kWh (2004)

Korea, North
20.19 billion kWh (2004)

Korea, South
321 billion kWh (2004)

Kuwait
37.54 billion kWh (2004)

Kyrgyzstan
6.777 billion kWh (2004)

Laos
3.26 billion kWh (2004)

Latvia
6.329 billion kWh (2004)

Lebanon
9.529 billion kWh (2004)

Lesotho
244.5 million kWh (2004)

Liberia
302.3 million kWh (2004)

Libya
18.08 billion kWh (2004)
Lithuania
9.358 billion kWh (2004)

Luxembourg
6.14 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Macau
2.159 billion kWh (2005)

Macedonia
7.933 billion kWh (2005)

Madagascar
915.1 million kWh (2004)

Malawi
1.202 billion kWh (2004)

Malaysia
72.71 billion kWh (2004)

Maldives
139.4 million kWh (2004)

Mali
381.3 million kWh (2004)

Malta
2.13 billion kWh (2004)

Mauritania
164.3 million kWh (2004)

Mauritius
1.96 billion kWh (2004)

Mayotte
87.79 million kWh (2001)

Mexico
 224.6 billion kWh (2004)

Micronesia, Federated States of

178.6 million kWh (2002)

Moldova
6.731 billion kWh (2004)

Monaco
NA kWh

Mongolia
3.37 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Montenegro
18.6 million kWh

Montserrat
1.86 million kWh (2003)

Morocco
18.89 billion kWh (2004)

Mozambique
9.592 billion kWh (2004)

Namibia
2.819 billion kWh (2004)

Nauru
27.9 million kWh (2004)

Nepal
1.85 billion kWh (2005)

Netherlands
102.4 billion kWh (2004)

Netherlands Antilles
934.7 million kWh (2004)
New Caledonia
1.558 billion kWh (2004)

New Zealand
38.22 billion kWh (2004)

Nicaragua
2.573 billion kWh (2004)

Niger
415.8 million kWh (2004)

Nigeria
17.71 billion kWh (2004)

Niue
2.79 million kWh (2004)

Norfolk Island
NA kWh

Northern Mariana Islands

NA kWh

Norway
112.8 billion kWh (2004)

Oman
13.33 billion kWh (2004)

Pakistan
74.62 billion kWh (2004)

Panama
6.888 billion kWh (2004)

Papua New Guinea

3.123 billion kWh (2004)

Paraguay
 3.133 billion kWh (2004)

Peru
22.31 billion kWh (2004)

Philippines
49.41 billion kWh (2004)

Poland
124.1 billion kWh (2004)

Portugal
46.05 billion kWh (2004)

Puerto Rico
22.45 billion kWh (2004)

Qatar
11.53 billion kWh (2004)

Romania
49.62 billion kWh (2004)

Russia
940 billion kWh (2005)

Rwanda
196.5 million kWh (2004)

Saint Helena
6.51 million kWh (2004)

Saint Kitts and Nevis

116.3 million kWh (2004)

Saint Lucia
269.7 million kWh (2004)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

46.5 million kWh (2004)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
106 million kWh (2004)

Samoa
100.5 million kWh (2004)

Sao Tome and Principe

16.74 million kWh (2004)

Saudi Arabia
144.4 billion kWh (2004)

Senegal
1.351 billion kWh (2004)

Serbia
NA

Seychelles
193.4 million kWh (2004)

Sierra Leone
226.9 million kWh (2004)

Singapore
30.35 billion kWh (2004)

Slovakia
24.2 billion kWh (2004)

Slovenia
12.67 billion kWh (2004)

Solomon Islands
51.15 million kWh (2004)

Somalia
250.2 million kWh (2004)

South Africa
 207 billion kWh (2004)

Spain
241.8 billion kWh (2004)

Sri Lanka
7.174 billion kWh (2004)

Sudan
3.576 billion kWh (2004)

Suriname
1.403 billion kWh (2004)

Swaziland
1.123 billion kWh (2004)

Sweden
137.8 billion kWh (2004)

Switzerland
56.93 billion kWh (2004)

Syria
27.57 billion kWh (2004 est.)

Taiwan
175.3 billion kWh (2005)

Tajikistan
15.7 billion kWh (2004)

Tanzania
2.383 billion kWh (2004)

Thailand
116.2 billion kWh (2004)

Togo
929.2 million kWh (2004)
Tokelau
NA kWh

Tonga
38.13 million kWh (2004)

Trinidad and Tobago

5.626 billion kWh (2004)

Tunisia
10.97 billion kWh (2004)

Turkey
140.3 billion kWh (2005)

Turkmenistan
9.03 billion kWh (2004)

Turks and Caicos Islands

6.51 million kWh (2004)

Uganda
1.596 billion kWh (2004)

Ukraine
158.9 billion kWh (2004)

United Arab Emirates

46.05 billion kWh (2004)

United Kingdom
345.2 billion kWh (2004)

United States
3.717 trillion kWh (2004)

Uruguay
9.939 billion kWh (2004)

Uzbekistan
 48.2 billion kWh (2004)

Vanuatu
39.99 million kWh (2004)

Venezuela
86.52 billion kWh (2004)

Vietnam
37.3 billion kWh (2004)

Virgin Islands
911.4 million kWh (2004)

Wallis and Futuna

NA kWh

West Bank
NA kWh

Western Sahara
79.05 million kWh (2004)

World
16.18 trillion kWh (2004 est.)

Yemen
3.792 billion kWh (2004 est.)

Zambia
6.692 billion kWh (2004)

Zimbabwe
11 billion kWh (2004)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@2043 Electricity - imports (kWh)

Afghanistan
100 million kWh (2004)

Albania
567 million kWh (2004 est.)

Algeria
300 million kWh (2004 est.)

American Samoa
0 kWh (2004)

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

Angola
0 kWh (2004)

Antigua and Barbuda

0 kWh (2004)

Argentina
7.7 billion kWh (2004)

Armenia
260 million kWh; note - imports an unknown quantity from
Iran (2004)

Aruba
0 kWh (2004)

Australia
0 kWh (2004)

Austria
16.6 billion kWh (2004)
Azerbaijan
2.15 billion kWh (2004)

Bahamas, The
0 kWh (2004)

Bahrain
0 kWh (2004)

Bangladesh
0 kWh (2004)

Barbados
0 kWh (2004)

Belarus
8.5 billion kWh (2004)

Belgium
14.6 billion kWh (2004)

Belize
0 kWh (2004)

Benin
500 million kWh (2004)

Bermuda
0 kWh (2004)

Bhutan
20 million kWh (2004)

Bolivia
9 million kWh (2004)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

2 billion kWh (2004)

Botswana
 1.699 billion kWh (2004)

Brazil
39 billion kWh; note - supplied by Paraguay (2005)

British Virgin Islands

0 kWh (2004)

Brunei
0 kWh (2004)

Bulgaria
1.2 billion kWh (2004)

Burkina Faso
0 kWh (2004)

Burma
0 kWh (2004)

Burundi
30 million kWh; note - supplied by the Democratic Republic
of the Congo (2004)

Cambodia
0 kWh (2004)

Cameroon
0 kWh (2004)

Canada
22.48 billion kWh (2004)

Cape Verde
0 kWh (2004)

Cayman Islands
0 kWh (2004)

Central African Republic

 0 kWh (2004)

Chad
0 kWh (2004)

Chile
1.744 billion kWh (2004)

China
5 billion kWh (2005)

Colombia
48 million kWh (2004)

Comoros
0 kWh (2004)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

330 million kWh (2004)

Congo, Republic of the

9 million kWh (2004)

Cook Islands
0 kWh (2004)

Costa Rica
202 million kWh (2004)

Cote d'Ivoire
0 kWh (2004)

Croatia
5.086 billion kWh (2004)

Cuba
0 kWh (2004)

Cyprus
0 kWh (2004)
Czech Republic
9.8 billion kWh (2004)

Denmark
8.7 billion kWh (2004)

Djibouti
0 kWh (2004)

Dominica
0 kWh (2004)

Dominican Republic
0 kWh (2004)

East Timor
0 kWh (2004)

Ecuador
1.642 billion kWh (2004)

Egypt
200 million kWh (2004)

El Salvador
456 million kWh (2004)

Equatorial Guinea
0 kWh (2004)

Eritrea
0 kWh (2004)

Estonia
347 million kWh (2004)

Ethiopia
0 kWh (2004)

European Union
 277.1 billion kWh

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

0 kWh (2004)

Faroe Islands
0 kWh (2004)

Fiji
0 kWh (2004)

Finland
11.7 billion kWh (2004)

France
6.5 billion kWh (2004)

French Polynesia
0 kWh (2004)

Gabon
0 kWh (2004)

Gambia, The
0 kWh (2004)

Gaza Strip
90,000 kWh; note - from Israeli Electric Company (2005)

Georgia
2.4 billion kWh (2004)

Germany
48.2 billion kWh (2004)

Ghana
1.96 billion kWh (2004)

Gibraltar
0 kWh (2004)
Greece
3.4 billion kWh (2004)

Greenland
0 kWh (2004)

Grenada
0 kWh (2004)

Guam
0 kWh (2004)

Guatemala
41 million kWh (2004)

Guernsey
0 kWh (2002)

Guinea
0 kWh (2004)

Guinea-Bissau
0 kWh (2004)

Guyana
0 kWh (2004)

Haiti
0 kWh (2004)

Holy See (Vatican City)

NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by Italy

Honduras
356 million kWh (2004)

Hong Kong
10.39 billion kWh (2005)

Hungary
 13.8 billion kWh (2004)

Iceland
0 kWh (2004)

India
1.5 billion kWh (2004)

Indonesia
0 kWh (2004)

Iran
2.17 billion kWh (2004)

Iraq
2.02 billion kWh (2005)

Ireland
1.6 billion kWh (2004)

Israel
0 kWh (2004)

Italy
46.4 billion kWh (2004)

Jamaica
0 kWh (2004)

Japan
0 kWh (2004)

Jersey
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France

Jordan
550 million kWh (2004)

Kazakhstan
4.37 billion kWh (2004)
Kenya
150 million kWh (2004)

Kiribati
0 kWh (2004)

Korea, North
0 kWh (2004)

Korea, South
0 kWh (2004)

Kuwait
0 kWh (2004)

Kyrgyzstan
100 million kWh (2004)

Laos
200 million kWh (2004)

Latvia
2.733 billion kWh (2004)

Lebanon
450 million kWh (2004)

Lesotho
12 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa
(2004)

Liberia
0 kWh (2004)

Libya
0 kWh (2004)

Lithuania
4.293 billion kWh (2004)
Luxembourg
5.287 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Macau
340.8 million kWh (2005)

Macedonia
1.662 billion kWh (2005)

Madagascar
0 kWh (2004)

Malawi
0 kWh (2004)

Malaysia
0 kWh (2004)

Maldives
0 kWh (2004)

Mali
0 kWh (2004)

Malta
0 kWh (2004)

Mauritania
0 kWh (2004)

Mauritius
0 kWh (2004)

Mexico
416 million kWh (2004)

Micronesia, Federated States of

0 kWh (2002)

Moldova
 3.6 billion kWh (2004)

Monaco
NA kWh; note - electricity supplied by France

Mongolia
130 million kWh (2005 est.)

Montserrat
0 kWh (2003)

Morocco
1.7 billion kWh (2004)

Mozambique
7.576 billion kWh (2004)

Namibia
1.6 billion kWh; note - electricity supplied by South Africa
(2004)

Nauru
0 kWh (2004)

Nepal
241 million kWh (2005)

Netherlands
21.4 billion kWh (2004)

Netherlands Antilles
0 kWh (2004)

New Caledonia
0 kWh (2004)

New Zealand
0 kWh (2004)

Nicaragua
 23 million kWh (2004)

Niger
200 million kWh (2004)

Nigeria
0 kWh (2004)

Niue
0 kWh (2004)

Northern Mariana Islands

0 kWh

Norway
15.3 billion kWh (2004)

Oman
0 kWh (2004)

Pakistan
0 kWh (2004)

Panama
78 million kWh (2004)

Papua New Guinea

0 kWh (2004)

Paraguay
0 kWh (2004)

Peru
0 kWh (2004)

Philippines
0 kWh (2006)

Poland
5.3 billion kWh (2004)
Portugal
8.6 billion kWh (2004)

Puerto Rico
0 kWh (2004)

Qatar
0 kWh (2004)

Romania
2.6 billion kWh (2004)

Russia
9.9 billion kWh (2005)

Rwanda
120 million kWh (2004)

Saint Helena
0 kWh (2004)

Saint Kitts and Nevis

0 kWh (2004)

Saint Lucia
0 kWh (2004)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

0 kWh (2004)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

0 kWh (2004)

Samoa
0 kWh (2004)

Sao Tome and Principe

0 kWh (2004)

Saudi Arabia
 0 kWh (2004)

Senegal
0 kWh (2004)

Serbia
11.23 billion kWh (excluding Kosovo; imports from Montenegro)
(2004)

Seychelles
0 kWh (2004)

Sierra Leone
0 kWh (2004)

Singapore
0 kWh (2004)

Slovakia
7.8 billion kWh (2004)

Slovenia
6.314 billion kWh (2004)

Solomon Islands
0 kWh (2004)

Somalia
0 kWh (2004)

South Africa
8.026 billion kWh (2004)

Spain
8.3 billion kWh (2004)

Sri Lanka
0 kWh (2004)

Sudan
 0 kWh (2004)

Suriname
0 kWh (2004)

Swaziland
697 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by South
Africa (2004)

Sweden
15.6 billion kWh (2004)

Switzerland
27.1 billion kWh (2004)

Syria
0 kWh (2004)

Taiwan
0 kWh (2005)

Tajikistan
4.81 billion kWh (2004)

Tanzania
0 kWh (2004)

Thailand
3.388 billion kWh (2004)

Togo
663 million kWh; note - electricity supplied by Ghana (2004)

Tonga
0 kWh (2004)

Trinidad and Tobago

0 kWh (2004)

Tunisia
 5 million kWh (2004)

Turkey
500 million kWh (2004)

Turkmenistan
0 kWh (2004)

Turks and Caicos Islands

0 kWh (2004)

Uganda
0 kWh (2004)

Ukraine
6 billion kWh (2004)

United Arab Emirates

0 kWh (2004)

United Kingdom
9.8 billion kWh (2004)

United States
34.21 billion kWh (2004)

Uruguay
2.348 billion kWh (2004)

Uzbekistan
11.8 billion kWh (2004)

Vanuatu
0 kWh (2004)

Venezuela
0 kWh (2004)

Vietnam
0 kWh
Virgin Islands
0 kWh (2004)

Wallis and Futuna

0 kWh (2002)

West Bank
NA kWh

Western Sahara
0 kWh (2004)

World
568.5 billion kWh (2004)

Yemen
0 kWh (2004)

Zambia
403 million kWh (2004)

Zimbabwe
2.25 billion kWh (2004)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2044 Electricity - exports (kWh)

Afghanistan
0 kWh (2004)

Albania
390 million kWh (2004)
Algeria
230 million kWh (2004 est.)

American Samoa
0 kWh (2004)

Andorra
NA kWh

Angola
0 kWh (2004)

Antigua and Barbuda

0 kWh (2004)

Argentina
4.143 billion kWh (2004)

Armenia
1.012 billion kWh; note - exports an unknown quantity to
Georgia; includes exports to Nagorno-Karabakh region in Azerbaijan
(2004)

Aruba
0 kWh (2004)

Australia
0 kWh (2004)

Austria
13.5 billion kWh (2004)

Azerbaijan
510 million kWh (2004)

Bahamas, The
0 kWh (2004)

Bahrain
0 kWh (2004)
Bangladesh
0 kWh (2004)

Barbados
0 kWh (2004)

Belarus
4.723 billion kWh (2004)

Belgium
6.8 billion kWh (2004)

Belize
0 kWh (2004)

Benin
0 kWh (2004)

Bermuda
0 kWh (2005)

Bhutan
1.4 billion kWh (2004)

Bolivia
0 kWh (2004)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

3.05 billion kWh (2004)

Botswana
0 kWh (2004)

Brazil
7 million kWh (2004)

British Virgin Islands

0 kWh (2004)

Brunei
 0 kWh (2004)

Bulgaria
5 billion kWh (2004)

Burkina Faso
0 kWh (2004)

Burma
0 kWh (2004)

Burundi
0 kWh (2004)

Cambodia
0 kWh (2004)

Cameroon
0 kWh (2004)

Canada
33.01 billion kWh (2004)

Cape Verde
0 kWh (2004)

Cayman Islands
0 kWh (2004)

Central African Republic

0 kWh (2004)

Chad
0 kWh (2004)

Chile
0 kWh (2004)

China
11.2 billion kWh (2005)
Colombia
1.682 billion kWh (2004)

Comoros
0 kWh (2004)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

0 kWh (2004)

Congo, Republic of the

1.25 billion kWh (2004)

Cook Islands
0 kWh (2004)

Costa Rica
440 million kWh (2004)

Cote d'Ivoire
1.1 billion kWh (2004)

Croatia
600 million kWh (2004)

Cuba
0 kWh (2004)

Cyprus
0 kWh (2004)

Czech Republic
24.6 billion kWh (2004)

Denmark
11.5 billion kWh (2004)

Djibouti
0 kWh (2004)

Dominica
 0 kWh (2004)

Dominican Republic
0 kWh (2004)

East Timor
0 kWh (2004)

Ecuador
35 million kWh (2004)

Egypt
1 billion kWh (2004)

El Salvador
109 million kWh (2004)

Equatorial Guinea
0 kWh (2004)

Eritrea
0 kWh (2004)

Estonia
2.141 billion kWh (2004)

Ethiopia
0 kWh (2004)

European Union
278.7 billion kWh

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

0 kWh (2004)

Faroe Islands
0 kWh (2004)

Fiji
0 kWh (2004)
Finland
6.8 billion kWh (2004)

France
68.6 billion kWh (2004)

French Polynesia
0 kWh (2004)

Gabon
0 kWh (2004)

Gambia, The
0 kWh (2004)

Gaza Strip
0 kWh

Georgia
200 million kWh (2004)

Germany
50.8 billion kWh (2004)

Ghana
900 million kWh (2004)

Gibraltar
0 kWh (2004)

Greece
1.5 billion kWh (2004)

Greenland
0 kWh (2004)

Grenada
0 kWh (2004)

Guam
 0 kWh (2004)

Guatemala
464 million kWh (2004)

Guernsey
0 kWh (2002)

Guinea
0 kWh (2004)

Guinea-Bissau
0 kWh (2004)

Guyana
0 kWh (2004)

Haiti
0 kWh (2004)

Holy See (Vatican City)

0 kWh

Honduras
0 kWh (2004)

Hong Kong
4.497 billion kWh (2005)

Hungary
6.3 billion kWh (2004)

Iceland
0 kWh (2004)

India
60 million kWh (2004)

Indonesia
0 kWh (2004)
Iran
1.837 billion kWh (2004)

Iraq
0 kWh (2005)

Ireland
0 kWh (2004)

Israel
1.47 billion kWh (2004)

Italy
800 million kWh (2004)

Jamaica
0 kWh (2004)

Japan
0 kWh (2004)

Jordan
4 million kWh (2004)

Kazakhstan
4.9 billion kWh (2004)

Kenya
0 kWh (2004)

Kiribati
0 kWh (2004)

Korea, North
0 kWh (2004)

Korea, South
0 kWh (2004)

Kuwait
 0 kWh (2004)

Kyrgyzstan
6.4 billion kWh (2004)

Laos
600 million kWh (2004)

Latvia
636 million kWh (2004)

Lebanon
0 kWh (2004)

Lesotho
0 kWh (2004)

Liberia
0 kWh (2004)

Libya
0 kWh (2004)

Lithuania
11.49 billion kWh (2004)

Luxembourg
2.346 billion kWh (2005 est.)

Macau
1 million kWh (2004)

Macedonia
0 kWh (2005)
Madagascar
0 kWh (2004)

Malawi
0 kWh (2004)

Malaysia
50 million kWh (2004)

Maldives
0 kWh (2004)

Mali
0 kWh; note - recent hydropower developments may be providing
electricity to Senegal and Mauritania (2004)

Malta
0 kWh (2004)

Mauritania
0 kWh (2004)

Mauritius
0 kWh (2004)

Mexico
1.203 billion kWh (2004)

Micronesia, Federated States of

0 kWh (2002)

Moldova
130 million kWh (2004)

Mongolia
18 million kWh (2005 est.)

Montserrat
0 kWh (2003)
Morocco
0 kWh (2004)

Mozambique
8.75 billion kWh (2004)

Namibia
80 million kWh (2004)

Nauru
0 kWh (2004)

Nepal
111 million kWh (2005)

Netherlands
5.2 billion kWh (2004)

Netherlands Antilles
0 kWh (2004)

New Caledonia
0 kWh (2004)

New Zealand
0 kWh (2004)

Nicaragua
22 million kWh (2004)

Niger
0 kWh (2004)

Nigeria
20 million kWh (2004)

Niue
0 kWh (2004)

Northern Mariana Islands

 0 kWh

Norway
3.8 billion kWh (2004)

Oman
0 kWh (2004)

Pakistan
0 kWh (2004)

Panama
207 million kWh (2004)

Papua New Guinea

0 kWh (2004)

Paraguay
45.01 billion kWh (2004)

Peru
0 kWh (2004)

Philippines
0 kWh (2006)

Poland
14.6 billion kWh (2004)

Portugal
2.1 billion kWh (2004)

Puerto Rico
0 kWh (2004)

Qatar
0 kWh (2004)

Romania
3.7 billion kWh (2004)
Russia
22.3 billion kWh (2005)

Rwanda
10 million kWh (2004)

Saint Helena
0 kWh (2004)

Saint Kitts and Nevis

0 kWh (2004)

Saint Lucia
0 kWh (2004)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

0 kWh (2004)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

0 kWh (2004)

Samoa
0 kWh (2004)

Sao Tome and Principe

0 kWh (2004)

Saudi Arabia
0 kWh (2004)

Senegal
0 kWh (2004)

Serbia
12.05 billion kWh (excluding Kosovo; exported to Montenegro)
(2004)

Seychelles
0 kWh (2004)
Sierra Leone
0 kWh (2004)

Singapore
0 kWh (2004)

Slovakia
10.4 billion kWh (2004)

Slovenia
7.094 billion kWh (2004)

Solomon Islands
0 kWh (2004)

Somalia
0 kWh (2004)

South Africa
12.4 billion kWh (2004)

Spain
11.4 billion kWh (2004)

Sri Lanka
0 kWh (2004)

Sudan
0 kWh (2004)

Suriname
0 kWh (2004)

Swaziland
0 kWh (2004)

Sweden
17.8 billion kWh (2004)

Switzerland
 27.8 billion kWh (2004)

Syria
0.2 kWh (2004)

Taiwan
0 kWh (2005)

Tajikistan
4.459 billion kWh (2004)

Tanzania
0 kWh (2004)

Thailand
372 million kWh (2004)

Togo
0 kWh (2004)

Tonga
0 kWh (2004)

Trinidad and Tobago

0 kWh (2004)

Tunisia
15 million kWh (2004)

Turkey
1.1 billion kWh (2004)

Turkmenistan
1 billion kWh (2004)

Turks and Caicos Islands

0 kWh (2004)

Uganda
165 million kWh (2004)
Ukraine
12 billion kWh (2004)

United Arab Emirates

0 kWh (2004)

United Kingdom
2.3 billion kWh (2004)

United States
22.9 billion kWh (2004)

Uruguay
19 million kWh (2004)

Uzbekistan
6.8 billion kWh (2004)

Vanuatu
0 kWh (2004)

Venezuela
0 kWh (2004)

Vietnam
0 kWh

Virgin Islands
0 kWh (2004)

Wallis and Futuna

0 kWh (2002)

Western Sahara
0 kWh (2004)

World
562.2 billion kWh (2004)

Yemen
 0 kWh (2004)

Zambia
2.975 billion kWh (2004)

Zimbabwe
0 kWh (2004)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2046 Population below poverty line (%)

Afghanistan
53% (2003)

Albania
25% (2004 est.)

Algeria
25% (2005 est.)

American Samoa
NA%

Andorra
NA%

Angola
70% (2003 est.)

Anguilla
23% (2002)
Antigua and Barbuda
NA%

Argentina
31.4% (June 2006)

Armenia
43% (2003 est.)

Aruba
NA%

Australia
NA%

Austria
5.9% (2004)

Azerbaijan
49% (2002 est.)

Bahamas, The
9.3% (2004)

Bahrain
NA%

Bangladesh
45% (2004 est.)

Barbados
NA%

Belarus
27.1% (2003 est.)

Belgium
4% (1989 est.)

Belize
 33.5% (2002 est.)

Benin
33% (2001 est.)

Bermuda
19% (2000)

Bhutan
31.7% (2003)

Bolivia
64% (2004 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

25% (2004 est.)

Botswana
30.3% (2003)

Brazil
31% (2005)

British Virgin Islands

NA%

Brunei
NA%

Bulgaria
4% (2003 est.)

Burkina Faso
45% (2003 est.)

Burma
25% (2000 est.)

Burundi
68% (2002 est.)
Cambodia
40% (2004 est.)

Cameroon
48% (2000 est.)

Canada
15.9%; note - this figure is the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO), a
calculation that results in higher figures than found in many
comparable economies; Canada does not have an official poverty line
(2003)

Cape Verde
30% (2000)

Cayman Islands
NA%

Central African Republic

NA%

Chad
80% (2001 est.)

Chile
18.2% (2005)

China
10% (2004 est.)

Colombia
49.2% (2005)

Comoros
60% (2002 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

NA%

Congo, Republic of the

 NA%

Cook Islands
NA%

Costa Rica
18% (2004 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
37% (1995)

Croatia
11% (2003)

Cuba
NA%

Cyprus
NA%

Czech Republic
NA%

Denmark
NA%

Djibouti
50% (2001 est.)

Dominica
30% (2002 est.)

Dominican Republic
25%

East Timor
42% (2003 est.)

Ecuador
41% (2003)
Egypt
20% (2005 est.)

El Salvador
36.1% (2003 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
NA%

Eritrea
50% (2004 est.)

Estonia
5% (2003)

Ethiopia
50% (2004 est.)

European Union
see individual country listings

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

NA%

Faroe Islands
NA%

Fiji
25.5% (1990-91)

Finland
NA%

France
6.5% (2000)

French Polynesia
NA%

Gabon
 NA%

Gambia, The
NA%

Gaza Strip
81% (2004 est.)

Georgia
54% (2001 est.)

Germany
NA%

Ghana
31.4% (1992 est.)

Gibraltar
NA%

Greece
NA%

Greenland
NA%

Grenada
32% (2000)

Guam
23% (2001 est.)

Guatemala
75% (2004 est.)

Guernsey
NA%

Guinea
40% (2003 est.)
Guinea-Bissau
NA%

Guyana
NA%

Haiti
80% (2003 est.)

Holy See (Vatican City)

NA%

Honduras
53% (1993 est.)

Hong Kong
NA%

Hungary
8.6%

Iceland
NA%

India
25% (2002 est.)

Indonesia
17.8% (2006)

Iran
40% (2002 est.)

Iraq
NA%

Ireland
10% (1997 est.)

Isle of Man
 NA%

Israel
22.6% (2005)

Italy
NA%

Jamaica
19.1% (2003 est.)

Japan
NA%

Jersey
NA%

Jordan
30% (2001 est.)

Kazakhstan
19% (2004 est.)

Kenya
50% (2000 est.)

Kiribati
NA%

Korea, North
NA%

Korea, South
15% (2003 est.)

Kuwait
NA%

Kyrgyzstan
40% (2004 est.)
Laos
34% (2005 est.)

Latvia
NA%

Lebanon
28% (1999 est.)

Lesotho
49% (1999)

Liberia
80%

Libya
7.4%

Liechtenstein
NA%

Lithuania
4%

Luxembourg
NA%

Macau
NA%

Macedonia
29.6% (2004 est.)

Madagascar
50% (2004 est.)

Malawi
55% (2004 est.)

Malaysia
 8% (1998 est.)

Maldives
21% (2004)

Mali
64% (2001 est.)

Malta
NA%

Marshall Islands
NA%

Mauritania
40% (2004 est.)

Mauritius
10% (2001 est.)

Mayotte
NA%

Mexico
40% (2003 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of

26.7%

Moldova
80% (2001 est.)

Monaco
NA%

Mongolia
36.1% (2004 est.)

Montenegro
12.2% (2003)
Montserrat
NA%

Morocco
19% (2005 est.)

Mozambique
70% (2001 est.)

Namibia
the UNDP's 2005 Human Development Report indicated that
34.9% of the population live on $1 per day and 55.8% live on $2 per
day

Nauru
NA%

Nepal
31% (2003-2004)

Netherlands
10.5% (1999)

Netherlands Antilles
NA%

New Caledonia
NA%

New Zealand
NA%

Nicaragua
50% (2001 est.)

Niger
63% (1993 est.)

Nigeria
60% (2000 est.)
Niue
NA%

Northern Mariana Islands

NA%

Norway
NA%

Oman
NA%

Pakistan
24% (FY05/06 est.)

Palau
NA%

Panama
37% (1999 est.)

Papua New Guinea

37% (2002 est.)

Paraguay
32% (2005 est.)

Peru
54% (2003 est.)

Philippines
40% (2001 est.)

Poland
17% (2003 est.)

Portugal
NA%

Puerto Rico
 NA%

Qatar
NA%

Romania
25% (2005 est.)

Russia
17.8% (2004 est.)

Rwanda
60% (2001 est.)

Saint Helena
NA%

Saint Kitts and Nevis

NA%

Saint Lucia
NA%

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

NA%

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

NA%

Samoa
NA%

San Marino
NA%

Sao Tome and Principe

54% (2004 est.)

Saudi Arabia
NA%
Senegal
54% (2001 est.)

Serbia
30%
note: data covers the former Serbia and Montenegro (1999 est.)

Seychelles
NA%

Sierra Leone
68% (1989 est.)

Singapore
NA%

Slovakia
21% (2002)

Slovenia
10%

Solomon Islands
NA%

Somalia
NA%

South Africa
50% (2000 est.)

Spain
19.8%

Sri Lanka
22% (1997 est.)

Sudan
40% (2004 est.)
Suriname
70% (2002 est.)

Swaziland
69% (2005)

Sweden
NA%

Switzerland
NA%

Syria
11% (2004 est.)

Taiwan
0.9% (2006 est.)

Tajikistan
64% (2004 est.)

Tanzania
36% (2002 est.)

Thailand
10% (2004 est.)

Togo
32% (1989 est.)

Tokelau
NA%

Tonga
24% (FY03/04)

Trinidad and Tobago

21% (1992 est.)

Tunisia
 7.4% (2005 est.)

Turkey
20% (2002)

Turkmenistan
58% (2003 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands

NA%

Tuvalu
NA%

Uganda
35% (2001 est.)

Ukraine
29% (2003 est.)

United Arab Emirates

NA%

United Kingdom
17% (2002 est.)

United States
12% (2004 est.)

Uruguay
22% of households (2004)

Uzbekistan
28% (2004 est.)

Vanuatu
NA%

Venezuela
37.9% (End 2005 est.)
Vietnam
19.5% (2004 est.)

Virgin Islands
NA%

Wallis and Futuna

NA%

West Bank
45.7% including Gaza Strip (2005)

Western Sahara
NA%

Yemen
45.2% (2003)

Zambia
86% (1993)

Zimbabwe
80% (2004 est.)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2047 Household income or consumption by percentage share (%)

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

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

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

American Samoa
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

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

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

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

Antigua and Barbuda

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

Argentina
lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 35%

Armenia
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 41.3% (2004)

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

Australia
 lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 25.4% (1994)

Austria
lowest 10%: 3.3%
highest 10%: 22.5% (2004)

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

Bahamas, The
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: 27%

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

Bangladesh
lowest 10%: 3.9%
highest 10%: 28.6% (1995-96 est.)

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

Belarus
lowest 10%: 5.1%
highest 10%: 20% (1998)

Belgium
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 23% (1996)

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

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

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

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

Bolivia
lowest 10%: 1.3%
highest 10%: 32% (1999)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

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

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

Brazil
lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 31.27% (2002)

British Virgin Islands

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

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

Bulgaria
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 23.9% (2003)

Burkina Faso
 lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 46.8% (1994)

Burma
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 32.4% (1998)

Burundi
lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 32.9% (1998)

Cambodia
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 33.8% (1997)

Cameroon
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 36.6% (1996)

Canada
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 23.8% (1994)

Cape Verde
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Cayman Islands
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Central African Republic

lowest 10%: 0.7%
highest 10%: 47.7% (1993)

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

Chile
 lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 47% (2000)

China
lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 33.1% (2001)

Colombia
lowest 10%: 7.9%
highest 10%: 34.3% (2004)

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

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

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

Congo, Republic of the

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

Cook Islands
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Costa Rica
lowest 10%: 1.1%
highest 10%: 36.8% (2002)

Cote d'Ivoire
lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 28.8% (1995)

Croatia
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 24.5% (2003 est.)

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

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

Czech Republic
lowest 10%: 4.3%
highest 10%: 22.4% (1996)

Denmark
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 24% (2000 est.)

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

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

Dominican Republic
lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 37.9% (1998)

East Timor
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Ecuador
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 32%
note: data for urban households only (October 2003)

Egypt
lowest 10%: 4.4%
highest 10%: 25% (1995)
El Salvador
lowest 10%: 1.4%
highest 10%: 39.3% (2001)

Equatorial Guinea
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

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

Estonia
lowest 10%: 1.9%
highest 10%: 28.5% (2000)

Ethiopia
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 33.7% (1995)

European Union
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 25.4% (1995 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

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

Faroe Islands
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

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

Finland
lowest 10%: 4.2%
highest 10%: 21.6% (1991)
France
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 25.1% (1995)

French Polynesia
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

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

Gambia, The
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Gaza Strip
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Georgia
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 27.9% (1996)

Germany
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 25.1% (1997)

Ghana
lowest 10%: 2.2%
highest 10%: 30.1% (1999)

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

Greece
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 28.3% (1998 est.)
Greenland
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

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

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

Guatemala
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 46% (1998)

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

Guinea
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 32% (1994)

Guinea-Bissau
lowest 10%: 0.5%
highest 10%: 42.4% (1991)

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

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

Honduras
lowest 10%: 0.6%
highest 10%: 42.7% (1998)
Hong Kong
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Hungary
lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 22.2% (2002)

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

India
lowest 10%: 3.5%
highest 10%: 33.5% (1997)

Indonesia
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 28.5% (2002)

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

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

Ireland
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 27.3% (1997)

Isle of Man
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Israel
lowest 10%: 1.4%
highest 10%: 32% (2004)
Italy
lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 26.6% (2000)

Jamaica
lowest 10%: 2.7%
highest 10%: 30.3% (2000)

Japan
lowest 10%: 4.8%
highest 10%: 21.7% (1993)

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

Jordan
lowest 10%: 3.3%
highest 10%: 29.8% (1997)

Kazakhstan
lowest 10%: 3.3%
highest 10%: 26.5% (2004 est.)

Kenya
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 37.2% (2000)

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

Korea, North
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Korea, South
lowest 10%: 2.9%
highest 10%: 25% (2005 est.)
Kuwait
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Kyrgyzstan
lowest 10%: 3.9%
highest 10%: 23.3% (2001)

Laos
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 30.6% (1997)

Latvia
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 26.1% (1998)

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

Lesotho
lowest 10%: 0.9%
highest 10%: 43.4%

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

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

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

Lithuania
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 24.9% (2000)
Luxembourg
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

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

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

Madagascar
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 29% (1999)

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

Malaysia
lowest 10%: 1.4%
highest 10%: 39.2% (2003 est.)

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

Mali
lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 40.4% (1994)

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

Marshall Islands
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Mauritania
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 30.2% (2000)

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

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

Mexico
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 35.6% (2002)

Micronesia, Federated States of

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

Moldova
lowest 10%: 2.2%
highest 10%: 30.7% (1997)

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

Mongolia
lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 37% (1995)

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

Morocco
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 30.9% (1998-99)
Mozambique
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 31.7% (1997)

Namibia
lowest 10%: 0.5%
highest 10%: 64.5%

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

Nepal
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 39.1% (2003-2004)

Netherlands
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 22.9% (1999)

Netherlands Antilles
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

New Caledonia
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

New Zealand
lowest 10%: NA
highest 10%: NA (1991 est.)

Nicaragua
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 45% (2001)

Niger
lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 35.4% (1995)
Nigeria
lowest 10%: 1.6%
highest 10%: 40.8% (1996-97)

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

Northern Mariana Islands

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

Norway
lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 21.8% (1995)

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

Pakistan
lowest 10%: 4.1%
highest 10%: 27.6% (FY96/97)

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

Panama
lowest 10%: 1.2%
highest 10%: 35.7% (1997)

Papua New Guinea

lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%: 40.5% (1996)

Paraguay
lowest 10%: 0.5%
highest 10%: 43.8% (1998)
Peru
lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 37.2% (2000)

Philippines
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 31.9% (2003)

Poland
lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 26.7% (2002)

Portugal
lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 28.4% (1995 est.)

Puerto Rico
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

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

Romania
lowest 10%: 2.4%
highest 10%: 27.6% (2003)

Russia
lowest 10%: 1.7%
highest 10%: 38.7% (1998)

Rwanda
lowest 10%: 4.2%
highest 10%: 24.2% (1985)

Saint Helena
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Saint Kitts and Nevis
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Saint Lucia
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

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

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

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

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

San Marino
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Sao Tome and Principe

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

Saudi Arabia
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Senegal
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 33.5% (1995)

Seychelles
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Sierra Leone
lowest 10%: 0.5%
highest 10%: 43.6% (1989)

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

Slovakia
lowest 10%: 3.1%
highest 10%: 20.9% (1996)

Slovenia
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 21.4% (1998)

Solomon Islands
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

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

South Africa
lowest 10%: 1.1%
highest 10%: 45.9% (1994)

Spain
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 25.2% (1990)

Sri Lanka
lowest 10%: 3.5%
highest 10%: 28% (1995)

Sudan
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Suriname
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Swaziland
lowest 10%: 1%
highest 10%: 50.2% (1995)

Sweden
lowest 10%: 3.7%
highest 10%: 20.1% (1992)

Switzerland
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 25.2% (1992)

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

Taiwan
lowest 10%: 6.7%
highest 10%: 41.1% (2002 est.)

Tajikistan
lowest 10%: 3.2%
highest 10%: 25.2% (1998)

Tanzania
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 30.1% (1993)

Thailand
lowest 10%: 2.8%
highest 10%: 32.4% (1998)

Togo
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Tonga
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Trinidad and Tobago

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

Tunisia
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 31.8% (1995)

Turkey
lowest 10%: 2.3%
highest 10%: 30.7% (2000)

Turkmenistan
lowest 10%: 2.6%
highest 10%: 31.7% (1998)

Turks and Caicos Islands

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

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

Uganda
lowest 10%: 4%
highest 10%: 21% (2000)

Ukraine
lowest 10%: 3.4%
highest 10%: 24.8% (2005)

United Arab Emirates

lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
United Kingdom
lowest 10%: 2.1%
highest 10%: 28.5% (1999)

United States
lowest 10%: 1.8%
highest 10%: 30.5% (1997)

Uruguay
lowest 10%: 3.7%
highest 10%: 25.8% (1997)

Uzbekistan
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 22% (2000)

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

Venezuela
lowest 10%: 0.8%
highest 10%: 36.5% (1998)

Vietnam
lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%: 29.9% (1998)

Virgin Islands
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

Wallis and Futuna

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

West Bank
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Western Sahara
lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%

World
lowest 10%: 2.5%
highest 10%: 29.9% (2002 est.)

Yemen
lowest 10%: 3%
highest 10%: 25.9% (2003)

Zambia
lowest 10%: 1.1%
highest 10%: 41% (1998)

Zimbabwe
lowest 10%: 2%
highest 10%: 40.4% (1995)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2048 Labor force - by occupation (%)

Afghanistan
agriculture: 80%
industry: 10%
services: 10% (2004 est.)

Albania
agriculture: 58%
industry: 19%
services: 23% (2004 est.)
Algeria
agriculture 14%, industry 14%, construction and public works
10%, trade 13.4%, government 32%, other 10% (2003 est.)

American Samoa
agriculture: 34%
industry: 33%
services: 33% (1990)

Andorra
agriculture: 0.3%
industry: 19.6%
services: 80% (2004)

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

Anguilla
agriculture/fishing/forestry/mining 4%, manufacturing 4%,
construction 18%, transportation and utilities 3%, commerce 36%,
services 18% (2000 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda

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

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

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

Aruba
agriculture: NA%
 industry: NA%
services: NA%
note: most employment is in wholesale and retail trade and repair,
followed by hotels and restaurants; oil refining

Australia
agriculture: 3.6%
industry: 21.2%
services: 75.2% (2004 est.)

Austria
agriculture: 3%
industry: 27%
services: 70% (2005 est.)

Azerbaijan
agriculture: 41%
industry: 7%
services: 52% (2001)

Bahamas, The
agriculture 5%, industry 5%, tourism 50%, other
services 5% (2005 est.)

Bahrain
agriculture: 1%
industry: 79%
services: 20% (1997 est.)

Bangladesh
agriculture: 63%
industry: 11%
services: 26% (FY95/96)

Barbados
agriculture: 10%
industry: 15%
services: 75% (1996 est.)

Belarus
 agriculture: 14%
industry: 34.7%
services: 51.3% (2003 est.)

Belgium
agriculture: 1.3%
industry: 24.5%
services: 74.2% (2003 est.)

Belize
agriculture: 27%
industry: 18%
services: 55% (2001 est.)

Bermuda
agriculture and fishing 3%, laborers 3%, clerical 19%,
professional and technical 17%, administrative and managerial 15%,
sales 19%, services 19% (2004 est.)

Bhutan
agriculture: 93%
industry: 2%
services: 5%

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

Bosnia and Herzegovina

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

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

Brazil
 agriculture: 20%
industry: 14%
services: 66% (2003 est.)

British Virgin Islands

agriculture: 0.6%
industry: 40%
services: 59.4%

Brunei
agriculture: 2.9%
industry: 61.1%
services: 36% (2003 est.)

Bulgaria
agriculture: 11%
industry: 32.7%
services: 56.3% (3rd qtr. 2004 est.)

Burkina Faso
agriculture: 90%
industry and services: 10% (2000 est.)

Burma
agriculture: 70%
industry: 7%
services: 23% (2001 est.)

Burundi
agriculture: 93.6%
industry: 2.3%
services: 4.1% (2002 est.)

Cambodia
agriculture: 75%
industry: NA%
services: NA% (2004 est.)

Cameroon
agriculture: 70%
 industry: 13%
services: 17%

Canada
agriculture 2%, manufacturing 14%, construction 5%, services
75%, other 3% (2004)

Cayman Islands
agriculture: 1.4%
industry: 12.6%
services: 86% (1995)

Chad
agriculture: 80% (subsistence farming, herding, and fishing)
industry and services: 20%

Chile
agriculture: 13.6%
industry: 23.4%
services: 63% (2003)

China
agriculture: 45%
industry: 24%
services: 31% (2005 est.)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

note: the Cocos Islands Cooperative Society
Ltd. employs construction workers, stevedores, and lighterage
workers; tourism employs others

Colombia
agriculture: 22.7%
industry: 18.7%
services: 58.5% (2000 est.)

Comoros
agriculture: 80%
industry and services: 20%
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Cook Islands
agriculture: 29%
industry: 15%
services: 56% (1995)

Costa Rica
agriculture: 20%
industry: 22%
services: 58% (1999 est.)

Croatia
agriculture: 2.7%
industry: 32.8%
services: 64.5% (2004)

Cuba
agriculture: 20%
industry: 19.4%
services: 60.6% (2005)

Cyprus
Republic of Cyprus: agriculture 7.4%, industry 38.2%,
services 54.4% (2004 est.)
north Cyprus: agriculture 14.5%, industry 29%, services 56.5% (2004
est.)

Czech Republic
agriculture: 4.1%
industry: 37.6%
services: 58.3% (2003)

Denmark
agriculture: 3%
industry: 21%
services: 76% (2004 est.)
Djibouti
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Dominica
agriculture: 40%
industry: 32%
services: 28%

Dominican Republic
agriculture: 17%
industry: 24.3%
services: 58.7% (1998 est.)

East Timor
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Ecuador
agriculture: 8%
industry: 24%
services: 68% (2001)

Egypt
agriculture: 32%
industry: 17%
services: 51% (2001 est.)

El Salvador
agriculture: 17.1%
industry: 17.1%
services: 65.8% (2003 est.)

Eritrea
agriculture: 80%
industry and services: 20%

Estonia
 agriculture: 11%
industry: 20%
services: 69% (1999 est.)

Ethiopia
agriculture: 80%
industry: 8%
services: 12% (1985)

European Union agriculture: 4.4% industry: 27.3% services: 67% note: the
remainder is in miscellaneous public and private sector industries and services
(2002 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

agriculture: 95% (mostly
sheepherding and fishing)
industry and services: 5%

Faroe Islands
agriculture: 33%
industry: 33%
services: 34%

Fiji
agriculture: 70%
industry and services: 30% (2001 est.)

Finland
agriculture and forestry 4.4%, industry 4.4%, construction
6%, commerce 17.5%, finance, insurance, and business services 12%,
transport and communications 6%, public services 30.2%

France
agriculture: 4.1%
industry: 24.4%
services: 71.5% (1999)

French Polynesia
agriculture: 13%
industry: 19%
 services: 68% (2002)

Gabon
agriculture: 60%
industry: 15%
services: 25%

Gambia, The
agriculture: 75%
industry: 19%
services: 6%

Gaza Strip
agriculture: 12%
industry: 18%
services: 70% (2005)

Georgia
agriculture: 40%
industry: 20%
services: 40% (1999 est.)

Germany
agriculture: 2.8%
industry: 33.4%
services: 63.8% (1999)

Ghana
agriculture: 60%
industry: 15%
services: 25% (1999 est.)

Gibraltar
agriculture: negligible
industry: 40%
services: 60%

Greece
agriculture: 12%
industry: 20%
 services: 68% (2004 est.)

Grenada
agriculture: 24%
industry: 14%
services: 62% (1999 est.)

Guam
agriculture: 26%
industry: 10%
services: 64% (2004 est.)

Guatemala
agriculture: 50%
industry: 15%
services: 35% (1999 est.)

Guinea
agriculture: 80%
industry and services: 20% (2000 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
agriculture: 82%
industry and services: 18% (2000 est.)

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

Haiti
agriculture: 66%
industry: 9%
services: 25%

Holy See (Vatican City)

note: essentially services with a small
amount of industry; dignitaries, priests, nuns, guards, and 3,000
lay workers live outside the Vatican
Honduras
agriculture: 34%
industry: 23%
services: 43% (2003 est.)

Hong Kong
manufacturing 7.5%, construction 7.5%, wholesale and
retail trade, restaurants, and hotels 43.9%, financing, insurance,
and real estate 2.9%, transport and communications 7.1%, community
and social services 43.9%
note: above data exclude public sector (2005 est.)

Hungary
agriculture: 5.5%
industry: 33.3%
services: 61.2% (2003)

Iceland
agriculture: 5.1%
industry: 23%
services: 71.4% (2005)

India
agriculture: 60%
industry: 12%
services: 28% (2003)

Indonesia
agriculture: 43.3%
industry: 18%
services: 38.7% (2004 est.)

Iran
agriculture: 30%
industry: 25%
services: 45% (2001 est.)

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

Ireland
agriculture: 8%
industry: 29%
services: 64% (2002 est.)

Isle of Man
agriculture, forestry and fishing 3%, manufacturing 3%,
construction 10%, transport and communication 11%, wholesale and
retail distribution 11%, professional and scientific services 10%,
public administration 6%, banking and finance 18%, tourism 2%,
entertainment and catering 3%, miscellaneous services 10%

Israel
agriculture, forestry, and fishing 1.8%, manufacturing 1.8%,
construction 5.3%, wholesale and retail trade 15.7%, transport,
storage, and communications 6.3%, finance and business 5.3%,
personal and other services 11.5%, public services 28.6% (1996)

Italy
agriculture: 5%
industry: 32%
services: 63% (2001)

Jamaica
agriculture: 19.3%
industry: 16.6%
services: 64.1% (2004)

Japan
agriculture: 4.6%
industry: 27.8%
services: 67.7% (2004)

Jordan
agriculture: 5%
industry: 12.5%
services: 82.5% (2001 est.)
Kazakhstan
agriculture: 20%
industry: 30%
services: 50% (2002 est.)

Kenya
agriculture: 75%
industry and services: 25% (2003 est.)

Kiribati agriculture: 2.7% industry: 32% services: 65.3%

Korea, North agriculture: 36% industry and services: 64%

Korea, South
agriculture: 6.4%
industry: 26.4%
services: 67.2% (2005 est.)

Kuwait
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Kyrgyzstan
agriculture: 55%
industry: 15%
services: 30% (2000 est.)

Laos
agriculture: 80%
industry and services: 20% (2005 est.)

Latvia
agriculture: 15%
industry: 25%
services: 60% (2000 est.)

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

Lesotho
agriculture: 86% of resident population engaged in
subsistence agriculture; roughly 35% of the active male wage earners
work in South Africa
industry and services: 14%

Liberia
agriculture: 70%
industry: 8%
services: 22% (2000 est.)

Libya
agriculture: 17%
industry: 23%
services: 59% (2004 est.)

Liechtenstein
agriculture: 2%
industry: 47%
services: 51% (31 December 2001 est.)
Lithuania
agriculture: 15.8%
industry: 28.2%
services: 56% (2004)

Luxembourg
agriculture: 1%
industry: 13%
services: 86% (2004 est.)

Macau
manufacturing 13.7%, construction 13.7%, transport and
communications 5.9%, wholesale and retail trade 10.5%, restaurants
and hotels 10.3%, gambling 5.9%, public sector 7.8%, other services
and agriculture 19.3% (2005 est.)

Macedonia agriculture: 21.7% industry: 32.6% services: 45.7% (September

2006)

Malawi agriculture: 90% industry and services: 10% (2003 est.)

Malaysia
agriculture: 14.5%
industry: 36%
services: 49.5% (2000 est.)

Maldives
agriculture: 22%
industry: 18%
services: 60% (1995)

Mali
agriculture: 80%
industry and services: 20% (2001 est.)

Malta
agriculture: 3%
industry: 22%
services: 75% (2005 est.)
Marshall Islands
agriculture: 21.4%
industry: 20.9%
services: 57.7%

Mauritania
agriculture: 50%
industry: 10%
services: 40% (2001 est.)

Mauritius
agriculture and fishing 14%, construction and industry
14%, transportation and communication 7%, trade, restaurants, hotels
36%, finance 3%, other services 7% (1995)

Mexico
agriculture: 18%
industry: 24%
services: 58% (2003)

Micronesia, Federated States of

note: 0.9% two-thirds are government
employees, 34.4%, 64.7%

Moldova
agriculture: 40%
industry: 14%
services: 46% (1998)

Mongolia
herding/agriculture 42%, mining 42%, manufacturing 6%,
trade 4%, services 29%, public sector 6% (2003)

Montenegro
agriculture: 2%
industry: 30%
services: 68% (2004 est.)

Morocco
agriculture: 40%
 industry: 15%
services: 45% (2003 est.)

Mozambique
agriculture: 81%
industry: 6%
services: 13% (1997 est.)

Namibia
agriculture: 47%
industry: 20%
services: 33% (1999 est.)

Nauru
note: 0.1% employed in mining phosphates, public
administration, education, and transportation

Nepal
agriculture: 76%
industry: 6%
services: 18%

Netherlands
agriculture: 2%
industry: 19%
services: 79% (2004 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
agriculture: 1%
industry: 20%
services: 79% (2005 est.)

New Caledonia
agriculture: 20%
industry: 20%
services: 60% (2002)

New Zealand
agriculture: 10%
industry: 25%
 services: 65% (1995)

Nicaragua
agriculture: 30.5%
industry: 17.3%
services: 52.2% (2003 est.)

Niger
agriculture: 90%
industry: 6%
services: 4%

Nigeria
agriculture: 70%
industry: 10%
services: 20% (1999 est.)

Niue
note: most work on family plantations; paid work exists only in
government service, small industry, and the Niue Development Board

Norfolk Island
agriculture: 10%
industry and services: 90%

Northern Mariana Islands

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

Norway
agriculture: 4%
industry: 22%
services: 74% (1995)

Oman
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Pakistan
agriculture: 42%
industry: 20%
services: 38% (2004 est.)

Palau
agriculture: 20%
industry: NA%
services: NA% (1990)

Panama
agriculture: 20.8%
industry: 18%
services: 61.2% (1995 est.)

Papua New Guinea

agriculture: 85%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Paraguay
agriculture: 45%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Peru
agriculture: 9%
industry: 18%
services: 73% (2001)

Philippines
agriculture: 36%
industry: 16%
services: 48% (2004 est.)

Pitcairn Islands
note: no business community in the usual sense;
some public works; subsistence farming and fishing

Poland
 agriculture: 16.1%
industry: 29%
services: 54.9% (2002)

Portugal
agriculture: 10%
industry: 30%
services: 60% (1999 est.)

Puerto Rico
agriculture: 3%
industry: 20%
services: 77% (2000 est.)

Romania
agriculture: 31.6%
industry: 30.7%
services: 37.7% (2004)

Russia
agriculture: 10.8%
industry: 29.1%
services: 60.1% (2005 est.)

Rwanda
agriculture: 90%
industry and services: 10%

Saint Helena
agriculture: 6%
industry: 48%
services: 46% (1987 est.)

Saint Lucia
agriculture: 21.7%
industry: 24.7%
services: 53.6% (2002 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

agriculture: 18%
 industry: 41%
services: 41% (1996 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

agriculture: 26%
industry: 17%
services: 57% (1980 est.)

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

San Marino
agriculture: 1%
industry: 42%
services: 57% (2000 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe

note: population mainly engaged in subsistence
agriculture and fishing; shortages of skilled workers

Saudi Arabia agriculture: 12% industry: 25% services: 63% (1999 est.)

Senegal
agriculture: 77%
industry and services: 23% (1990 est.)

Serbia
agriculture: 30%
industry: 46%
services: 24%
note: excluding Kosovo and Montenegro (2002)

Seychelles
agriculture: 10%
industry: 19%
services: 71% (1989)

Sierra Leone
 agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%

Singapore
manufacturing 18%, construction 18%, transportation and
communication 11%, financial, business, and other services 6%, other
26% (2003)

Slovakia
agriculture 5.8%, industry 5.8%, construction 9%, services
29.3% (2003)

Slovenia
agriculture: 4.8%
industry: 39.1%
services: 56.1% (2004)

Solomon Islands
agriculture: 75%
industry: 5%
services: 20% (2000 est.)

Somalia
agriculture: 71%
industry and services: 29%

South Africa
agriculture: 30%
industry: 25%
services: 45% (1999 est.)

Spain
agriculture: 5.3%
industry: 30.1%
services: 64.6% (2004 est.)

Sri Lanka
agriculture: 38%
industry: 17%
 services: 45% (1998 est.)

Sudan
agriculture: 80%
industry: 7%
services: 13% (1998 est.)

Suriname
agriculture: 8%
industry: 14%
services: 78%

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

Sweden
agriculture: 2%
industry: 24%
services: 74% (2000 est.)

Switzerland
agriculture: 4.6%
industry: 26.3%
services: 69.1% (1998)

Syria
agriculture: 26%
industry: 14%
services: 60% (2003 est.)

Taiwan
agriculture: 5.5%
industry: 36%
services: 58.5% (2005 est.)

Tajikistan
agriculture: 67.2%
industry: 7.5%
 services: 25.3% (2000 est.)

Tanzania
agriculture: 80%
industry and services: 20% (2002 est.)

Thailand
agriculture: 49%
industry: 14%
services: 37% (2000 est.)

Togo
agriculture: 65%
industry: 5%
services: 30% (1998 est.)

Tonga
agriculture: 65%
industry and services: 35% (1997 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago

agriculture 9.5%, manufacturing, mining, and
quarrying 9.5%, construction and utilities 12.4%, services 14% (1997
est.)

Tunisia
agriculture: 55%
industry: 23%
services: 22% (1995 est.)

Turkey
agriculture: 35.9%
industry: 22.8%
services: 41.2% (3rd quarter)

Turkmenistan
agriculture: 48.2%
industry: 13.8%
services: 37% (2003 est.)
Turks and Caicos Islands
note: about 33% in government and 20% in
agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial,
and other services

Tuvalu
note: people make a living mainly through exploitation of the
sea, reefs, and atolls and from wages sent home by those abroad
(mostly workers in the phosphate industry and sailors)

Uganda
agriculture: 82%
industry: 5%
services: 13% (1999 est.)

Ukraine
agriculture: 24%
industry: 32%
services: 44% (1996)

United Arab Emirates

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

United Kingdom
agriculture: 1.5%
industry: 19.1%
services: 79.5% (2004)

United States
farming, forestry, and fishing 0.7%, manufacturing,
extraction, transportation, and crafts 22.9%, managerial,
professional, and technical 34.9%, sales and office 25%, other
services 16.5%
note: figures exclude the unemployed (2006)

Uruguay
agriculture: 14%
industry: 16%
 services: 70%

Uzbekistan
agriculture: 44%
industry: 20%
services: 36% (1995)

Vanuatu
agriculture: 65%
industry: 5%
services: 30% (2000 est.)

Venezuela
agriculture: 13%
industry: 23%
services: 64% (1997 est.)

Vietnam
agriculture: 56.8%
industry: 37%
services: 6.2% (July 2005)

Virgin Islands
agriculture: 1%
industry: 19%
services: 80% (2003 est.)

Wallis and Futuna

agriculture: 80%
industry: 4%
services: 16% (2001 est.)

West Bank
agriculture: 16%
industry: 29%
services: 55% (2005)

Western Sahara
agriculture: 50%
industry and services: 50%
World
agriculture: 41%
industry: 20.7%
services: 38.4% (2002 est.)

Yemen
note: most people are employed in agriculture and herding;
services, construction, industry, and commerce account for less than
one-fourth of the labor force

Zambia
agriculture: 85%
industry: 6%
services: 9%

Zimbabwe
agriculture: 66%
industry: 10%
services: 24% (1996)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2049 Exports - commodities

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

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

Algeria
 petroleum, natural gas, and petroleum products 97%

American Samoa
canned tuna 93% (2004 est.)

Andorra
tobacco products, furniture

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

Anguilla
lobster, fish, livestock, salt, concrete blocks, rum

Antigua and Barbuda

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

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

Armenia
diamonds, mineral products, foodstuffs, energy

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

Australia
coal, gold, meat, wool, alumina, iron ore, wheat,
machinery and transport equipment

Austria
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, paper and
paperboard, metal goods, chemicals, iron and steel, textiles,
foodstuffs
Azerbaijan
oil and gas 90%, machinery, cotton, foodstuffs

Bahamas, The
mineral products and salt, animal products, rum,
chemicals, fruit and vegetables

Bahrain
petroleum and petroleum products, aluminum, textiles

Bangladesh
garments, jute and jute goods, leather, frozen fish and
seafood (2001)

Barbados
sugar and molasses, rum, other foods and beverages,
chemicals, electrical components

Belarus
machinery and equipment, mineral products, chemicals,
metals, textiles, foodstuffs

Belgium
machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds, metals and
metal products, foodstuffs

Belize
sugar, bananas, citrus, clothing, fish products, molasses,
wood

Benin
cotton, crude oil, palm products, cocoa

Bermuda
reexports of pharmaceuticals

Bhutan
electricity (to India), cardamom, gypsum, timber,
handicrafts, cement, fruit, precious stones, spices
Bolivia
natural gas, soybeans and soy products, crude petroleum,
zinc ore, tin

Bosnia and Herzegovina

metals, clothing, wood products

Botswana
diamonds, copper, nickel, soda ash, meat, textiles

Brazil
transport equipment, iron ore, soybeans, footwear, coffee,
autos

British Virgin Islands

rum, fresh fish, fruits, animals; gravel, sand

Brunei
crude oil, natural gas, refined products

Bulgaria
clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and
equipment, fuels

Burkina Faso
cotton, livestock, gold

Burma
clothing, gas, wood products, pulses, beans, fish, rice

Burundi
coffee, tea, sugar, cotton, hides

Cambodia
clothing, timber, rubber, rice, fish, tobacco, footwear

Cameroon
crude oil and petroleum products, lumber, cocoa beans,
aluminum, coffee, cotton
Canada
motor vehicles and parts, industrial machinery, aircraft,
telecommunications equipment; chemicals, plastics, fertilizers; wood
pulp, timber, crude petroleum, natural gas, electricity, aluminum

Cape Verde
fuel, shoes, garments, fish, hides

Cayman Islands
turtle products, manufactured consumer goods

Central African Republic

diamonds, timber, cotton, coffee, tobacco

Chad
cotton, cattle, gum arabic, oil

Chile
copper, fruit, fish products, paper and pulp, chemicals, wine

China
machinery and equipment, plastics, optical and medical
equipment, iron and steel

Christmas Island
phosphate

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

copra

Colombia
petroleum, coffee, coal, nickel, emeralds, apparel,
bananas, cut flowers

Comoros
vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), cloves, copra

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

diamonds, copper, crude oil,
coffee, cobalt
Congo, Republic of the
petroleum, lumber, plywood, sugar, cocoa,
coffee, diamonds

Cook Islands
copra, papayas, fresh and canned citrus fruit, coffee;
fish; pearls and pearl shells; clothing

Costa Rica
coffee, bananas, sugar, pineapples; textiles, electronic
components, medical equipment

Cote d'Ivoire
cocoa, coffee, timber, petroleum, cotton, bananas,
pineapples, palm oil, fish

Croatia
transport equipment, textiles, chemicals, foodstuffs, fuels

Cuba
sugar, nickel, tobacco, fish, medical products, citrus, coffee

Cyprus
Republic of Cyprus: citrus, potatoes, pharmaceuticals,
cement, clothing and cigarettes; north Cyprus: citrus, potatoes,
textiles

Czech Republic
machinery and transport equipment 52%, chemicals 5%,
raw materials and fuel 9% (2003)

Denmark
machinery and instruments, meat and meat products, dairy
products, fish, chemicals, furniture, ships, windmills

Djibouti
reexports, hides and skins, coffee (in transit)

Dominica
bananas, soap, bay oil, vegetables, grapefruit, oranges
Dominican Republic
ferronickel, sugar, gold, silver, coffee, cocoa,
tobacco, meats, consumer goods

East Timor
coffee, sandalwood, marble; note - potential for oil and
vanilla exports

Ecuador
petroleum, bananas, cut flowers, shrimp

Egypt
crude oil and petroleum products, cotton, textiles, metal
products, chemicals

El Salvador
offshore assembly exports, coffee, sugar, shrimp,
textiles, chemicals, electricity

Equatorial Guinea
petroleum, methanol, timber, cocoa

Eritrea
livestock, sorghum, textiles, food, small manufactures (2000)

Estonia
machinery and equipment 33%, wood and paper 15%, textiles
14%, food products 8%, furniture 7%, metals, chemical products (2001)

Ethiopia
coffee, qat, gold, leather products, live animals, oilseeds

European Union
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.

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

wool, hides, meat
Faroe Islands
fish and fish products 94%, stamps, ships (1999)

Fiji
sugar, garments, gold, timber, fish, molasses, coconut oil

Finland
machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals; timber, paper,
pulp (1999)

France
machinery and transportation equipment, aircraft, plastics,
chemicals, pharmaceutical products, iron and steel, beverages

French Polynesia
cultured pearls, coconut products, mother-of-pearl,
vanilla, shark meat

Gabon
crude oil 77%, timber, manganese, uranium (2001)

Gambia, The
peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels,
re-exports

Gaza Strip
citrus, flowers, textiles

Georgia
scrap metal, machinery, chemicals; fuel reexports; citrus
fruits, tea, wine

Germany
machinery, vehicles, chemicals, metals and manufactures,
foodstuffs, textiles

Ghana
gold, cocoa, timber, tuna, bauxite, aluminum, manganese ore,
diamonds
Gibraltar
(principally reexports) petroleum 51%, manufactured goods
41%, other 8%

Greece
food and beverages, manufactured goods, petroleum products,
chemicals, textiles

Greenland
fish and fish products 94% (prawns 63%)

Grenada
bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace

Guam
mostly transshipments of refined petroleum products;
construction materials, fish, food and beverage products

Guatemala
coffee, sugar, petroleum, apparel, bananas, fruits and
vegetables, cardamom

Guernsey
tomatoes, flowers and ferns, sweet peppers, eggplant, other
vegetables

Guinea
bauxite, alumina, gold, diamonds, coffee, fish, agricultural
products

Guinea-Bissau
cashew nuts, shrimp, peanuts, palm kernels, sawn lumber

Guyana
sugar, gold, bauxite/alumina, rice, shrimp, molasses, rum,
timber

Haiti
manufactures, coffee, oils, cocoa, mangoes
Honduras
coffee, shrimp, bananas, gold, palm oil, fruit, lobster,
lumber

Hong Kong
electrical machinery and appliances, textiles, apparel,
footwear, watches and clocks, toys, plastics, precious stones,
printed material

Hungary
machinery and equipment 61.1%, other manufactures 28.7%,
food products 6.5%, raw materials 2%, fuels and electricity 1.6%
(2003)

Iceland
fish and fish products 70%, aluminum, animal products,
ferrosilicon, diatomite

India
textile goods, gems and jewelry, engineering goods, chemicals,
leather manufactures

Indonesia
oil and gas, electrical appliances, plywood, textiles,
rubber

Iran
petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, fruits and
nuts, carpets

Iraq
crude oil 84%, crude materials excluding fuels 8%, food and
live animals 5%

Ireland
machinery and equipment, computers, chemicals,
pharmaceuticals; live animals, animal products

Isle of Man
tweeds, herring, processed shellfish, beef, lamb
Israel
machinery and equipment, software, cut diamonds, agricultural
products, chemicals, textiles and apparel

Italy
engineering products, textiles and clothing, production
machinery, motor vehicles, transport equipment, chemicals; food,
beverages and tobacco; minerals, and nonferrous metals

Jamaica
alumina, bauxite, sugar, bananas, rum, coffee, yams,
beverages, chemicals, wearing apparel, mineral fuels

Japan
transport equipment, motor vehicles, semiconductors,
electrical machinery, chemicals

Jersey
light industrial and electrical goods, foodstuffs, textiles

Jordan
clothing, pharmaceuticals, potash, phosphates, fertilizers,
vegetables, manufactures

Kazakhstan
oil and oil products 58%, ferrous metals 24%, chemicals
5%, machinery 3%, grain, wool, meat, coal (2001)

Kenya
tea, horticultural products, coffee, petroleum products, fish,
cement

Kiribati
copra 62%, coconuts, seaweed, fish

Korea, North
minerals, metallurgical products, manufactures
(including armaments), textiles, fishery products

Korea, South
 semiconductors, wireless telecommunications equipment,
motor vehicles, computers, steel, ships, petrochemicals

Kuwait
oil and refined products, fertilizers

Kyrgyzstan
cotton, wool, meat, tobacco; gold, mercury, uranium,
natural gas, hydropower; machinery; shoes

Laos
garments, wood products, coffee, electricity, tin

Latvia
wood and wood products, machinery and equipment, metals,
textiles, foodstuffs

Lebanon
authentic jewelry, inorganic chemicals, miscellaneous
consumer goods, fruit, tobacco, construction minerals, electric
power machinery and switchgear, textile fibers, paper

Lesotho
manufactures 75% (clothing, footwear, road vehicles), wool
and mohair, food and live animals (2000)

Liberia
rubber, timber, iron, diamonds, cocoa, coffee

Libya
crude oil, refined petroleum products, natural gas, chemicals

Liechtenstein
small specialty machinery, connectors for audio and
video, parts for motor vehicles, dental products, hardware, prepared
foodstuffs, electronic equipment, optical products

Lithuania
mineral products 23%, textiles and clothing 16%, machinery
and equipment 11%, chemicals 6%, wood and wood products 5%,
 foodstuffs 5% (2001)

Luxembourg
machinery and equipment, steel products, chemicals,
rubber products, glass

Macau
clothing, textiles, footwear, toys, electronics, machinery and
parts

Macedonia
food, beverages, tobacco; textiles, miscellaneous
manufactures, iron and steel

Madagascar
coffee, vanilla, shellfish, sugar, cotton cloth,
chromite, petroleum products

Malawi
tobacco 60%, tea, sugar, cotton, coffee, peanuts, wood
products, apparel

Malaysia
electronic equipment, petroleum and liquefied natural gas,
wood and wood products, palm oil, rubber, textiles, chemicals

Maldives
fish

Mali
cotton, gold, livestock

Malta
machinery and transport equipment, manufactures

Marshall Islands
copra cake, coconut oil, handicrafts, fish

Mauritania
iron ore, fish and fish products, gold
Mauritius
clothing and textiles, sugar, cut flowers, molasses

Mayotte
ylang-ylang (perfume essence), vanilla, copra, coconuts,
coffee, cinnamon

Mexico
manufactured goods, oil and oil products, silver, fruits,
vegetables, coffee, cotton

Micronesia, Federated States of

fish, garments, bananas, black pepper

Moldova
foodstuffs, textiles, machinery

Mongolia
copper, apparel, livestock, animal products, cashmere,
wool, hides, fluorspar, other nonferrous metals

Montserrat
electronic components, plastic bags, apparel; hot
peppers, limes, live plants; cattle

Morocco
clothing, fish, inorganic chemicals, transistors, crude
minerals, fertilizers (including phosphates), petroleum products,
fruits, vegetables

Mozambique
aluminum, prawns, cashews, cotton, sugar, citrus, timber;
bulk electricity

Namibia
diamonds, copper, gold, zinc, lead, uranium; cattle,
processed fish, karakul skins

Nauru
phosphates
Nepal
carpets, clothing, leather goods, jute goods, grain

Netherlands
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels; foodstuffs

Netherlands Antilles
petroleum products

New Caledonia
ferronickels, nickel ore, fish

New Zealand
dairy products, meat, wood and wood products, fish,
machinery

Nicaragua
coffee, beef, shrimp and lobster, tobacco, sugar, gold,
peanuts

Niger
uranium ore, livestock, cowpeas, onions

Nigeria
petroleum and petroleum products 95%, cocoa, rubber

Niue
canned coconut cream, copra, honey, vanilla, passion fruit
products, pawpaws, root crops, limes, footballs, stamps, handicrafts

Norfolk Island
postage stamps, seeds of the Norfolk Island pine and
Kentia palm, small quantities of avocados

Northern Mariana Islands

garments

Norway
petroleum and petroleum products, machinery and equipment,
metals, chemicals, ships, fish
Oman
petroleum, reexports, fish, metals, textiles

Pakistan
textiles (garments, bed linen, cotton cloth, yarn), rice,
leather goods, sports goods, chemicals, manufactures, carpets and
rugs

Palau
shellfish, tuna, copra, garments

Panama
bananas, shrimp, sugar, coffee, clothing

Papua New Guinea

oil, gold, copper ore, logs, palm oil, coffee,
cocoa, crayfish, prawns

Paraguay
soybeans, feed, cotton, meat, edible oils, electricity,
wood, leather

Peru
copper, gold, zinc, crude petroleum and petroleum products,
coffee, potatoes, asparagus, textiles, guinea pigs

Philippines
electronic equipment, machinery and transport equipment,
garments, optical instruments, coconut products, fruits and nuts,
copper products, chemicals

Pitcairn Islands
fruits, vegetables, curios, stamps

Poland
machinery and transport equipment 37.8%, intermediate
manufactured goods 23.7%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 17.1%,
food and live animals 7.6% (2003)

Portugal
 clothing and footwear, machinery, chemicals, cork and paper
products, hides

Puerto Rico
chemicals, electronics, apparel, canned tuna, rum,
beverage concentrates, medical equipment

Qatar
liquefied natural gas (LNG), petroleum products, fertilizers,
steel

Romania
textiles and footwear, metals and metal products, machinery
and equipment, minerals and fuels, chemicals, agricultural products

Russia
petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, wood and wood
products, metals, chemicals, and a wide variety of civilian and
military manufactures

Rwanda
coffee, tea, hides, tin ore

Saint Helena
fish (frozen, canned, and salt-dried skipjack, tuna),
coffee, handicrafts

Saint Kitts and Nevis

machinery, food, electronics, beverages,
tobacco

Saint Lucia
bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits,
coconut oil

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

fish and fish products, soybeans, animal
feed, mollusks and crustaceans, fox and mink pelts

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

 bananas 39%, eddoes and dasheen
(taro), arrowroot starch; tennis racquets

Samoa
fish, coconut oil and cream, copra, taro, automotive parts,
garments, beer

San Marino
building stone, lime, wood, chestnuts, wheat, wine, baked
goods, hides, ceramics

Sao Tome and Principe

cocoa 80%, copra, coffee, palm oil

Saudi Arabia
petroleum and petroleum products 90%

Senegal
fish, groundnuts (peanuts), petroleum products, phosphates,
cotton

Serbia
manufactured goods, food and live animals, machinery and
transport equipment

Seychelles
canned tuna, frozen fish, cinnamon bark, copra, petroleum
products (reexports)

Sierra Leone
diamonds, rutile, cocoa, coffee, fish

Singapore
machinery and equipment (including electronics), consumer
goods, chemicals, mineral fuels

Slovakia
vehicles 25.9%, machinery and electrical equipment 21.3%,
base metals 14.6%, chemicals and minerals 10.1%, plastics 5.4% (2004)
Slovenia
manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment,
chemicals, food

Solomon Islands
timber, fish, copra, palm oil, cocoa

Somalia
livestock, bananas, hides, fish, charcoal, scrap metal

South Africa
gold, diamonds, platinum, other metals and minerals,
machinery and equipment

Spain
machinery, motor vehicles; foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals,
medicines, other consumer goods

Sri Lanka
textiles and apparel, tea and spices; diamonds, emeralds,
rubies; coconut products, rubber manufactures, fish

Sudan
oil and petroleum products; cotton, sesame, livestock,
groundnuts, gum arabic, sugar

Suriname
alumina, crude oil, lumber, shrimp and fish, rice, bananas

Swaziland
soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn,
refrigerators, citrus and canned fruit

Sweden
machinery 35%, motor vehicles, paper products, pulp and wood,
iron and steel products, chemicals

Switzerland
machinery, chemicals, metals, watches, agricultural
products
Syria
crude oil, petroleum products, fruits and vegetables, cotton
fiber, clothing, meat and live animals, wheat

Taiwan
computer products and electrical equipment, metals, textiles,
plastics and rubber products, chemicals (2002)

Tajikistan
aluminum, electricity, cotton, fruits, vegetable oil,
textiles

Tanzania
gold, coffee, cashew nuts, manufactures, cotton

Thailand
textiles and footwear, fishery products, rice, rubber,
jewelry, automobiles, computers and electrical appliances

Togo
reexports, cotton, phosphates, coffee, cocoa

Tokelau
stamps, copra, handicrafts

Tonga
squash, fish, vanilla beans, root crops

Trinidad and Tobago

petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals,
steel products, fertilizer, sugar, cocoa, coffee, citrus, flowers

Tunisia
clothing, semi-finished goods and textiles, agricultural
products, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, hydrocarbons

Turkey
apparel, foodstuffs, textiles, metal manufactures, transport
equipment
Turkmenistan
gas, crude oil, petrochemicals, cotton fiber, textiles

Turks and Caicos Islands

lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells

Tuvalu
copra, fish

Uganda
coffee, fish and fish products, tea, cotton, flowers,
horticultural products; gold

Ukraine
ferrous and nonferrous metals, fuel and petroleum products,
chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, food products

United Arab Emirates

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

United Kingdom
manufactured goods, fuels, chemicals; food,
beverages, tobacco

United States
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)

Uruguay
meat, rice, leather products, wool, fish, dairy products

Uzbekistan
cotton 41.5%, gold 9.6%, energy products 9.6%, mineral
fertilizers, ferrous metals, textiles, food products, automobiles
(1998)
Vanuatu
copra, beef, cocoa, timber, kava, coffee

Venezuela
petroleum, bauxite and aluminum, steel, chemicals,
agricultural products, basic manufactures

Vietnam
crude oil, marine products, rice, coffee, rubber, tea,
garments, shoes

Virgin Islands
refined petroleum products

Wallis and Futuna

copra, chemicals, construction materials

West Bank
olives, fruit, vegetables, limestone

Western Sahara
phosphates 62%

World
the whole range of industrial and agricultural goods and
services

Yemen
crude oil, coffee, dried and salted fish

Zambia
copper/cobalt 64%, cobalt, electricity; tobacco, flowers,
cotton

Zimbabwe
cotton, tobacco, gold, ferroalloys, textiles/clothing

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2050 Exports - partners (%)

Afghanistan
US 25.8%, India 21.2%, Pakistan 20.3%, Finland 4.1%
(2005)

Albania
Italy 72.4%, Greece 10.5%, Serbia and Montenegro 5% (2005)

Algeria
US 22.6%, Italy 16%, Spain 10.5%, France 10%, Canada 7.9%,
Brazil 6.5%, Belgium 4.3%, Germany 4.2% (2005)

American Samoa
Indonesia 28.2%, India 22.3%, Australia 15.3%, Japan
11.2%, NZ 7.1% (2005)

Andorra
Spain 59.5%, France 17.0% (2005)

Angola
US 39.8%, China 29.6%, France 7.8%, Chile 5.4%, Taiwan 4.4%
(2005)

Anguilla
UK, US, Puerto Rico, Saint-Martin (2004)

Antigua and Barbuda

Spain 34%, Germany 20.7%, Italy 7.7%, Singapore
5.8%, UK 4.9% (2005)

Argentina
Brazil 15.8%, US 11.4%, Chile 11.2%, China 7.9% (2005)

Armenia
 Germany 15.6%, Netherlands 13.7%, Belgium 12.8%, Russia
12.2%, Israel 11.5%, US 11.2%, Georgia 4.8% (2005)

Aruba
Netherlands 33.5%, Panama 16.7%, Colombia 11.9%, US 11.3%,
Venezuela 10.1%, Netherlands Antilles 9% (2005)

Australia
Japan 20.3%, China 11.5%, South Korea 7.9%, US 6.7%, NZ
6.5%, India 5% (2005)

Austria
Germany 31.2%, Italy 8.7%, US 5.8%, Switzerland 5.2%, France
4.2% (2005)

Azerbaijan
Italy 30.3%, France 9.4%, Russia 6.6%, Turkey 6.3%,
Turkmenistan 6.3%, Georgia 4.8%, Israel 4.5%, Croatia 4.1% (2005)

Bahamas, The
Spain 31.8%, US 30%, Poland 9%, Germany 5.4% (2005)

Bahrain
Saudi Arabia 3.3%, US 2.6%, UAE 2.3% (2005)

Bangladesh
US 23.6%, Germany 13.5%, UK 9.4%, France 6.4% (2005)

Barbados
US 18.6%, Trinidad and Tobago 15%, UK 12.1%, Saint Lucia
8.4%, Jamaica 7.9%, Grenada 4.6%, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
4.6% (2005)

Belarus
Russia 35.8%, Netherlands 15.1%, UK 7%, Ukraine 5.7%, Poland
5.3%, Germany 4.4% (2005)

Belgium
Germany 19.4%, France 17.3%, Netherlands 11.7%, UK 8.2%, US
6.4%, Italy 5.3% (2005)
Belize
US 30.6%, UK 25%, France 4.8% (2005)

Benin
China 31.3%, Indonesia 8.1%, India 7.4%, Niger 6%, Togo 4.8%,
Thailand 4.8%, Nigeria 4.6% (2005)

Bermuda
France 65.9%, Spain 11.8%, US 4.5% (2005)

Bhutan
Japan 32.3%, Germany 13.2%, France 13.1%, South Korea 7.6%,
US 7.5%, Thailand 5.6%, Italy 5% (2005)

Bolivia
Brazil 44.2%, US 12.5%, Argentina 10.9%, Colombia 7.8%, Peru
4.8% (2005)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Croatia 18.4%, Italy 17.1%, Slovenia 14.7%,
Germany 12.8%, Austria 6.5%, Hungary 5.2%, China 4.2% (2005)

Botswana
European Free Trade Association (EFTA) 87%, Southern
African Customs Union (SACU) 7%, Zimbabwe 4% (2004)

Brazil
US 19.2%, Argentina 8.4%, China 5.8%, Netherlands 4.5%,
Germany 4.2% (2005)

British Virgin Islands

Virgin Islands (US), Puerto Rico, US (2004)

Brunei
Japan 36.8%, Indonesia 19.3%, South Korea 12.7%, US 9.5%,
Australia 9.3% (2005)

Bulgaria
Italy 12%, Turkey 10.5%, Germany 9.8%, Greece 9.5%, Belgium
5.9%, France 4.6% (2005)
Burkina Faso
China 39.8%, Singapore 13.1%, Thailand 5.9%, Ghana
5.4%, Taiwan 4.6%, Niger 4% (2005)

Burma
Thailand 43.8%, India 12.1%, China 6.7%, Japan 5% (2005)

Burundi
Germany 24.6%, Belgium 11.2%, Netherlands 8.1%, Switzerland
5.9%, US 4.7% (2005)

Cambodia
US 48.6%, Hong Kong 24.4%, Germany 5.6%, Canada 4.6% (2005)

Cameroon
Spain 17.4%, Italy 13.8%, France 9.5%, South Korea 8.1%, UK
8.1%, Netherlands 7.9%, Belgium 4.9%, US 4.3% (2005)

Canada
US 84.2%, Japan 2.1%, UK 1.8% (2005)

Cape Verde
Spain 38.2%, Portugal 33.3%, US 9.2%, Morocco 5.4% (2005)

Cayman Islands
mostly US (2004)

Central African Republic

Belgium 34.9%, France 9.6%, Spain 8.7%,
Italy 8.1%, China 7.1%, Indonesia 6.3%, Democratic Republic of the
Congo 4.7%, US 4.5%, Turkey 4.5% (2005)

Chad
US 78.1%, China 9.9%, Taiwan 4.1% (2005)

Chile
US 15.8%, Japan 11.5%, China 11.1%, Netherlands 5.8%, South
Korea 5.5%, Brazil 4.4%, Italy 4.2%, Mexico 4% (2005)

China
 US 21.4%, Hong Kong 16.3%, Japan 11%, South Korea 4.6%,
Germany 4.3% (2005)

Christmas Island
Australia, NZ (2004)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Australia (2004)

Colombia
US 41.8%, Venezuela 9.9%, Ecuador 6.3% (2005)

Comoros
France 26.9%, Singapore 16.3%, Japan 14.6%, Germany 13.2%,
US 5.6%, Netherlands 5% (2005)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Belgium 38.1%, US 17.8%, China
11.6%, France 8%, Finland 7.7%, Chile 4.3% (2005)

Congo, Republic of the

China 38.4%, US 28.6%, Taiwan 11.6%, South
Korea 7.1% (2005)

Cook Islands
Australia 34%, Japan 27%, New Zealand 25%, US 8% (2004)

Costa Rica
US 42.6%, Hong Kong 6.9%, Netherlands 6.4%, Guatemala
4.2% (2005)

Cote d'Ivoire
France 18.3%, US 14.1%, Netherlands 11%, Nigeria 8%,
Panama 4.4% (2005)

Croatia
Italy 21.8%, Bosnia and Herzegovina 14.7%, Germany 10.7%,
Slovenia 8.1%, Austria 7.3% (2005)

Cuba
 Netherlands 25.7%, Canada 21%, China 9.9%, Spain 6.8% (2005)

Cyprus
France 18.8%, UK 18.1%, Greece 13%, Germany 6% (2005)

Czech Republic
Germany 33.5%, Slovakia 8.7%, Austria 5.5%, Poland
5.5%, France 5.3%, UK 4.6%, Italy 4.3% (2005)

Denmark
Germany 17.6%, Sweden 13.2%, UK 8.7%, US 6.4%, France 5.5%,
Netherlands 5.3%, Norway 5.1% (2005)

Djibouti
Somalia 66.3%, Ethiopia 21.5%, Yemen 3.4% (2005)

Dominica
UK 26.8%, Jamaica 10%, South Korea 8.9%, Antigua and
Barbuda 8.8%, Guyana 7.4%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.8%, US 4%, Saint
Lucia 4% (2005)

Dominican Republic
US 78.9%, Netherlands 2.4%, Mexico 1.9% (2005)

East Timor
Indonesia 100% (2005)

Ecuador
US 50.6%, Peru 7.9%, Germany 4.3%, Colombia 4.3% (2005)

Egypt
US 13%, Italy 9.2%, Spain 7.7%, Syria 5.5%, France 4.9%,
Germany 4.8%, Saudi Arabia 4.7%, UK 4% (2005)

El Salvador
US 61%, Guatemala 12.1%, Honduras 7.4%, Nicaragua 4.2%
(2005)

Equatorial Guinea
US 24.6%, China 21.8%, Spain 10.9%, Canada 7.3%,
 Taiwan 7.2%, Portugal 5.5%, Netherlands 5.2%, Brazil 4.6%, France 4%
(2005)

Eritrea
Italy 36.4%, US 13.8%, Belarus 6.8%, Germany 5.3%, UK 4.6%
(2005)

Estonia
Finland 26.3%, Sweden 13.2%, Latvia 8.8%, Russia 6.5%,
Germany 6.2%, Lithuania 4.6% (2005)

Ethiopia
Germany 15.5%, China 10.5%, Japan 8.5%, Saudi Arabia 6.9%,
Djibouti 6.8%, Switzerland 6.4%, Italy 5.9%, US 5.5%, Netherlands
4.2% (2005)

European Union
US 23.3%, Switzerland 7.6%, Russia 5.2%, China 4.8%
(2005)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

Spain 81.9%, US 6%, UK 4.5% (2005)

Faroe Islands
Denmark 38%, UK 29.4%, Nigeria 8.9%, Norway 6.1%,
Netherlands 4.3% (2005)

Fiji
US 19.7%, Australia 17%, UK 12.3%, Japan 5.4%, Samoa 4.1% (2005)

Finland
Russia 11.2%, Sweden 10.7%, Germany 10.5%, UK 6.6%, US 6.2%,
Netherlands 4.8% (2005)

France
Germany 14.7%, Spain 9.7%, Italy 8.7%, UK 8.3%, Belgium 7.1%,
US 7.1% (2005)

French Polynesia
France 46.3%, Japan 20.8%, Niger 12.8%, US 12.5%
 (2005)

Gabon
US 52.6%, France 6.3%, China 6.2% (2005)

Gambia, The
India 29.6%, Kenya 28.4%, UK 13.3%, Indonesia 6.1% (2005)

Gaza Strip
Israel, Egypt, West Bank

Georgia
Russia 18.1%, Turkey 14.3%, Azerbaijan 9.8%, Turkmenistan
8.9%, Bulgaria 5%, Armenia 4.7%, Ukraine 4.4%, Canada 4.2% (2005)

Germany
France 10.2%, US 8.8%, UK 7.9%, Italy 6.9%, Netherlands
6.1%, Belgium 5.6%, Austria 5.4%, Spain 5.1% (2005)

Ghana
Netherlands 12.5%, UK 8.3%, US 6.7%, Belgium 5.8%, France
5.6%, Germany 4.4% (2005)

Gibraltar
UK 30.8%, Spain 22.7%, Germany 13.7%, Turkmenistan 10.4%,
Switzerland 8.3%, Italy 6.7% (2005)

Greece
Germany 12.4%, Italy 10.4%, UK 6.7%, Bulgaria 5.9%, US 5.3%,
Cyprus 5.2%, Turkey 5.1%, France 4.2% (2005)

Greenland
Denmark 61.7%, Japan 12.2%, China 5.2%, Spain 4.6% (2005)

Grenada
Saint Lucia 12.2%, US 11.4%, Antigua and Barbuda 8.3%,
Germany 8%, Netherlands 7.9%, Saint Kitts & Nevis 7.4%, Dominica
7.4%, UK 6.8%, France 4.2% (2005)

Guam
 Japan 67.2%, Singapore 11.6%, UK 4.8% (2005)

Guatemala
US 50.1%, El Salvador 12.1%, Honduras 7.3%, Mexico 4%
(2005)

Guernsey
UK; note - regarded as internal trade (2004)

Guinea
Russia 14.6%, South Korea 11.3%, Spain 10.2%, Ukraine 7.9%,
US 6.1%, Ireland 6%, France 5.7%, Germany 5%, Belgium 4.5% (2005)

Guinea-Bissau
India 71.9%, Nigeria 17.1%, Ecuador 4% (2005)

Guyana
Canada 18.9%, US 18.9%, UK 11.8%, Portugal 8.1%, Jamaica
5.3%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.2% (2005)

Haiti
US 80.9%, Dominican Republic 6.9%, Canada 4% (2005)

Honduras
US 73.3%, Guatemala 2.9%, El Salvador 2.9% (2005)

Hong Kong
China 45%, US 16.1%, Japan 5.3% (2005)

Hungary
Germany 30.2%, Italy 5.7%, Austria 5.6%, France 5.3%, UK
5.1% (2005)

Iceland
UK 17.9%, Germany 16.4%, Netherlands 13%, US 8.1%, Spain
7.7%, Denmark 4.3% (2005)

India
US 16.7%, UAE 8.5%, China 6.6%, Singapore 5.3%, UK 4.9%, Hong
Kong 4.4% (2005)
Indonesia
Japan 21.1%, US 11.5%, Singapore 9.2%, South Korea 8.3%,
China 7.8%, Malaysia 4% (2005)

Iran
Japan 16.9%, China 11.2%, Italy 5.9%, South Korea 5.8%, Turkey
5.7%, Netherlands 4.6%, France 4.4%, South Africa 4.1%, Taiwan 4.1%
(2005)

Iraq
US 49.7%, Italy 10.4%, Spain 6.3%, Canada 5.6% (2005)

Ireland
US 18.7%, UK 17.4%, Belgium 15.2%, Germany 7.4%, France
6.4%, Netherlands 4.8% (2005)

Isle of Man
UK (2004)

Israel
US 36.5%, Belgium 8.7%, Hong Kong 5.6% (2005)

Italy
Germany 13.1%, France 12.3%, US 8.1%, Spain 7.4%, UK 6.4%
(2005)

Jamaica
US 25.8%, Canada 19.3%, UK 10.7%, Netherlands 8.6%, China
7%, Norway 6.4%, Germany 5.6% (2005)

Japan
US 22.9%, China 13.4%, South Korea 7.8%, Taiwan 7.3%, Hong
Kong 6.1% (2005)

Jersey
UK (2004)

Jordan
US 26.2%, Iraq 17.1%, India 8.1%, Saudi Arabia 5.9%, Syria
4.7% (2005)
Kazakhstan
Russia 12.4%, Germany 12%, China 11.2%, Italy 8.8%,
France 8.6%, Romania 5.1%, US 4.5% (2005)

Kenya
Uganda 14.2%, UK 10.8%, US 9.7%, Netherlands 8.3%, Egypt 5.2%,
Pakistan 4.8%, Tanzania 4.8% (2005)

Kiribati
US 22.8%, Belgium 21.5%, Japan 14.3%, Samoa 7.8%, Australia
7.5%, Malaysia 6.7%, Taiwan 5.6%, Denmark 4.6% (2005)

Korea, North
China 35%, South Korea 24%, Thailand 9%, Japan 9% (2005)

Korea, South
China 21.8%, US 14.6%, Japan 8.5%, Hong Kong 5.5% (2005)

Kuwait
Japan 19.7%, South Korea 15.4%, US 11.9%, Taiwan 11.1%,
Singapore 9.5%, Netherlands 4.7% (2005)

Kyrgyzstan
UAE 35.6%, Russia 18.6%, China 13.4%, Kazakhstan 13%
(2005)

Laos
Thailand 29.4%, Vietnam 12.5%, France 6%, Germany 4.5% (2005)

Latvia
Lithuania 11%, Estonia 10.8%, Germany 10.2%, UK 10.2%, Russia
7.9%, Sweden 7.8%, Denmark 5.3%, Poland 5.3% (2005)

Lebanon
Syria 25.3%, UAE 11.4%, Switzerland 8.1%, Turkey 6%, Saudi
Arabia 5.4% (2005)

Lesotho
Hong Kong 41.8%, China 33.9%, Germany 7.9% (2005)
Liberia
Belgium 40.7%, Spain 15.2%, US 8.9%, Malaysia 5.4%, Thailand
4.5%, Poland 4.5%, Germany 4.3% (2005)

Libya
Italy 37.7%, Germany 15.1%, Spain 9.3%, Turkey 6.2%, France
6.2%, US 5.2% (2005)

Liechtenstein
EU 62.6% (Germany 24.3%, Austria 9.5%, France 8.9%,
Italy 6.6%, UK 4.6%), US 18.9%, Switzerland 15.7% (2004)

Lithuania
Russia 10.4%, Latvia 10.2%, Germany 9.4%, France 7.1%,
Estonia 5.9%, Poland 5.5%, Sweden 5%, US 4.7%, UK 4.7%, Denmark 4.3%
(2005)

Luxembourg
Germany 21%, France 16.3%, Belgium 9.2%, UK 8.3%, Italy
7.5%, Spain 6.6%, Netherlands 4.3% (2005)

Macau
US 48.7%, China 14.9%, Hong Kong 9.8%, Germany 5.9% (2005)

Macedonia
Serbia and Montenegro 22.5%, Germany 17.8%, Greece 15.3%,
Italy 8.3% (2005)

Madagascar
France 31.5%, US 31%, Germany 8.8% (2005)

Malawi
US 17.9%, South Africa 11.2%, Egypt 7.6%, Germany 7%,
Netherlands 6.9%, Japan 4.8%, Russia 4.6%, Mozambique 4.3%, UK 4.2%
(2005)

Malaysia
US 19.7%, Singapore 15.6%, Japan 9.3%, China 6.6%, Hong
Kong 5.8%, Thailand 5.4% (2005)
Maldives
Japan 22.8%, Thailand 22.7%, Sri Lanka 16.4%, UK 12.6%,
Singapore 5.8%, Germany 4.8%, France 4.3% (2005)

Mali
China 29.3%, Thailand 10.1%, Taiwan 7.7%, Italy 5.3%,
Bangladesh 4.5%, France 4.4% (2005)

Malta
France 15.4%, US 14.4%, Singapore 12.3%, UK 11.3%, Germany
11.2%, Italy 5.1%, Libya 4.2% (2005)

Marshall Islands
US, Japan, Australia, China (2004)

Mauritania
Italy 14.8%, Japan 12.2%, France 11.9%, Belgium 8.5%,
Germany 8.2%, Cote d'Ivoire 7.1%, Spain 7.1%, Russia 5%, Netherlands
4.4% (2005)

Mauritius
UK 32%, France 17%, US 9.7%, UAE 8.6%, Madagascar 5.7%,
Italy 5.7% (2005)

Mayotte
France 80%, Comoros 15%, Reunion (2004)

Mexico
US 85.7%, Canada 2%, Spain 1.4% (2005)

Micronesia, Federated States of

Japan, US, Guam (2004)

Moldova
Russia 32.9%, Italy 12.7%, Romania 10.6%, Ukraine 9.5%,
Belarus 6.7%, Germany 4.5% (2005)

Mongolia
China 48.1%, US 14.2%, Canada 11.6%, UK 8.3%, South Korea
6.2% (2005)
Montenegro
Switzerland 83.9%, Italy 6.1%, Bosnia and Herzegovina
1.3% (2003)

Montserrat
US, Antigua and Barbuda (2004)

Morocco
France 30.3%, Spain 18%, UK 6.2%, Italy 5.2%, India 4.1%
(2005)

Mozambique
Netherlands 59.7%, South Africa 16.2%, Zimbabwe 2.9%
(2005)
Namibia
South Africa 33.4%, US 4% (2004)

Nauru
South Africa 63.7%, South Korea 7.6%, Canada 6.6% (2005)

Nepal
India 53.7%, US 17.4%, Germany 7.1% (2005)

Netherlands
Germany 24.9%, Belgium 13%, France 9.4%, UK 9.2%, Italy
5.7%, US 4.3%, Spain 4.1% (2005)

Netherlands Antilles
US 29.4%, Panama 14.4%, Mexico 8.8%, Haiti
5.6%, Venezuela 4.9%, Bahamas, The 4.4% (2005)

New Caledonia
Japan 21.1%, France 17.2%, Taiwan 11.3%, South Korea
10%, Spain 8.9%, China 7.2%, Belgium 4.5%, South Africa 4.4% (2005)

New Zealand
Australia 21.4%, US 14.1%, Japan 10.6%, China 5.1%, UK
4.7% (2005)

Nicaragua
US 34.1%, El Salvador 14.3%, Honduras 7.9%, Costa Rica
6.1%, Guatemala 5.2%, Mexico 5.1%, Spain 4.2% (2005)

Niger
France 47.9%, Nigeria 21.4%, US 20.3% (2005)

Nigeria
US 52.5%, Spain 8.2%, Brazil 6.1% (2005)

Niue
New Zealand mainly, Fiji, Cook Islands, Australia (2004)

Norfolk Island
 Australia, other Pacific island countries, NZ, Asia,
Europe (2004)

Northern Mariana Islands

US (2004)

Norway
UK 25.5%, Germany 12.6%, Netherlands 9.9%, France 9.1%, US
6.7%, Sweden 6.5% (2005)

Oman
China 21.6%, South Korea 19.3%, Japan 14.2%, Thailand 12.6%,
UAE 7.1%, Taiwan 4.1% (2005)

Pakistan
US 24.8%, UAE 7.8%, Afghanistan 6.6%, UK 5.7%, Germany 4.5%
(2005)

Palau
US, Japan, Singapore (2004)

Panama
US 44.9%, Spain 8.9%, Sweden 5.6%, Netherlands 4.9%, Costa
Rica 4% (2005)

Papua New Guinea

Australia 28.8%, Japan 8.6%, China 5.4% (2005)

Paraguay
Uruguay 28.4%, Brazil 19.3%, Argentina 6.4%, Russia 6%,
China 4.1% (2005)

Peru
US 31.1%, China 10.8%, Chile 6.6%, Canada 5.9%, Switzerland
4.6% (2005)

Philippines
US 18%, Japan 17.5%, China 9.9%, Netherlands 9.8%, Hong
Kong 8.1%, Singapore 6.6%, Malaysia 6%, Taiwan 4.6% (2005)
Poland
Germany 28.2%, France 6.2%, Italy 6.1%, UK 5.6%, Czech
Republic 4.6%, Russia 4.4%, Netherlands 4.2% (2005)

Portugal
Spain 25.9%, France 13.1%, Germany 11.9%, UK 8%, US 5.4%,
Italy 4.3% (2005)

Puerto Rico
US 90.3%, UK 1.6%, Netherlands 1.4%, Dominican Republic
1.4% (2004)

Qatar
Japan 36.9%, South Korea 19.4%, Singapore 8.2% (2005)

Romania
Italy 19.4%, Germany 14%, Turkey 7.9%, France 7.4%, UK 5.5%,
Hungary 4.1%, US 4.1% (2005)

Russia
Netherlands 10.3%, Germany 8.3%, Italy 7.9%, China 5.5%,
Ukraine 5.2%, Turkey 4.5%, Switzerland 4.4% (2005)

Rwanda
Germany 11%, China 6.5%, Belgium 4.5% (2005)

Saint Helena
Tanzania 37.7%, US 17.4%, Japan 15.2%, UK 8.4%, Nigeria
4.8%, Spain 4.5% (2005)

Saint Kitts and Nevis

US 61.3%, Canada 8.1%, UK 5.6% (2005)

Saint Lucia
France 31.4%, US 18.7%, China 18.2%, UK 14% (2005)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Spain 33.6%, Belgium 21.8%, India 18.3%,
France 9.4%, US 7.5% (2005)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
UK 26.7%, Barbados 12.7%, Trinidad
and Tobago 12.3%, Saint Lucia 10.9%, US 9.2%, Dominica 7.2%, Grenada
6.8%, Antigua and Barbuda 6.2% (2005)

Samoa
Australia 75.9%, American Samoa 13.6%, US 6.5% (2005)

Sao Tome and Principe

Netherlands 61.9%, Belgium 9.3%, Turkey 5.6%,
South Korea 4.1% (2005)

Saudi Arabia
US 16.8%, Japan 16.5%, South Korea 9.3%, China 7.1%,
Singapore 5.2%, Taiwan 4.3% (2005)

Senegal
Mali 16.9%, India 13.1%, France 9.5%, Spain 6.1%, Italy
5.5%, Gambia, The 4.6% (2005)

Seychelles
UK 23%, Spain 19.8%, France 11.4%, Japan 9.7%, Italy
7.4%, Germany 5.8%, Netherlands 5.4% (2005)

Sierra Leone
Belgium 66%, Germany 13.4%, US 4.6% (2005)

Singapore
Malaysia 14.7%, US 11.5%, Indonesia 10.7%, Hong Kong
10.4%, China 9.5%, Japan 6%, Thailand 4.5%, Australia 4.1% (2005)

Slovakia
Germany 26.2%, Czech Republic 14.1%, Austria 7.1%, Italy
6.7%, Poland 6.3%, Hungary 5.7% (2005)

Slovenia
Germany 19.8%, Italy 12.7%, Croatia 9.3%, France 8.1%,
Austria 8.1% (2005)

Solomon Islands
 China 41.6%, South Korea 13.5%, Thailand 7%, Japan
6.4%, Philippines 4.6%, Italy 4.2% (2005)

Somalia
UAE 48.5%, Yemen 20.9%, Oman 5.8% (2005)

South Africa
Japan 9.9%, UK 9.7%, US 9.5%, Germany 6.5%, Netherlands
4.6% (2005)

Spain
France 19.3%, Germany 11.4%, Portugal 9.6%, UK 8.4%, Italy
8.4%, US 4.1% (2005)

Sri Lanka
US 31.1%, UK 12.2%, India 8.9%, Germany 4.3% (2005)

Sudan
China 71.1%, Japan 12%, Saudi Arabia 2.8% (2005)

Suriname
Norway 23.6%, US 16.5%, Canada 16.1%, Belgium 9.7%, France
7.9%, UAE 7.3% (2005)

Swaziland
South Africa 59.7%, EU 8.8%, US 8.8%, Mozambique 6.2%
(2004)

Sweden
US 10.6%, Germany 10.2%, Norway 8.7%, UK 7.3%, Denmark 6.5%,
Finland 5.7%, France 4.9%, Netherlands 4.5%, Belgium 4.3% (2005)

Switzerland
Germany 19.4%, US 10.9%, Italy 9.1%, France 8.7%, UK
5.4%, Spain 4.1% (2005)

Syria
Iraq 26.3%, Italy 9.9%, Germany 9.9%, Lebanon 9.1%, Egypt
5.1%, France 4.9%, Saudi Arabia 4.6% (2005)
Taiwan
China 22.5%, Hong Kong 15.7%, US 15%, Japan 7.3% (2006 est.)

Tajikistan
Netherlands 46.6%, Turkey 15.8%, Russia 9.1%, Uzbekistan
7.3%, Latvia 4.9%, Iran 4% (2005)

Tanzania
China 10.2%, Canada 8.7%, India 7.3%, Netherlands 5.2%,
Japan 4.5%, Kenya 4.4%, Germany 4.3% (2005)

Thailand
US 15.4%, Japan 13.6%, China 8.3%, Singapore 6.9%, Hong
Kong 5.6%, Malaysia 5.2% (2005)

Togo
Ghana 21.1%, Burkina Faso 18.2%, Benin 11.5%, Mali 7.3%, India
5.8%, Nigeria 4% (2005)

Tokelau
New Zealand (2004)

Tonga
Japan 41.8%, US 33.4%, NZ 6.3% (2005)

Trinidad and Tobago

US 68.6%, Jamaica 5.4%, Barbados 2.9% (2005)

Tunisia
France 30.8%, Italy 21%, Germany 9.3%, Spain 5.5%, Libya
4.4% (2005)

Turkey
Germany 12.9%, UK 8.1%, Italy 7.6%, US 6.7%, France 5.2%,
Spain 4.1% (2005)

Turkmenistan
Ukraine 42.8%, Iran 14.8%, Hungary 5.3% (2005)

Turks and Caicos Islands

 US, UK (2004)

Tuvalu
Germany 60.5%, Italy 20.1%, Fiji 6.9% (2005)

Uganda
Kenya 15.1%, Belgium 9.9%, Netherlands 9.6%, France 7.1%,
Germany 5.1% (2005)

Ukraine
Russia 22.1%, Turkey 6%, Italy 5.6% (2005)

United Arab Emirates

Japan 24.4%, South Korea 9.7%, Thailand 5.5%,
India 4.3% (2005)

United Kingdom
US 15.1%, Germany 10.5%, France 8.9%, Ireland 7.3%,
Netherlands 5.5%, Belgium 5%, Spain 4.4% (2005)

United States
Canada 23.4%, Mexico 13.3%, Japan 6.1%, China 4.6%, UK
4.3% (2005)

Uruguay
US 23.2%, Brazil 13.5%, Argentina 7.8%, Germany 4.2%, Mexico
4.1% (2005)

Uzbekistan
Russia 23.8%, China 11.9%, Kazakhstan 6.9%, Turkey 6.9%,
Ukraine 5.4%, Bangladesh 4.7%, Poland 4.2%, Tajikistan 4% (2005)

Vanuatu
Thailand 46.5%, India 14.1%, Poland 7.9%, Turkey 7.7%, Japan
6.9% (2005)

Venezuela
US 50.9%, Netherlands Antilles 7.2%, Canada 2.4% (2005)

Vietnam
 US 18.3%, Japan 13.6%, China 9%, Australia 7.9%, Singapore
5.6% (2005)

Virgin Islands
US, Puerto Rico (2004)

Wallis and Futuna

Italy 40%, Croatia 15%, US 14%, Denmark 13% (2004)

West Bank
Israel, Jordan, Gaza Strip (2004)

Western Sahara
Morocco claims and administers Western Sahara, so
trade partners are included in overall Moroccan accounts (2006)

World
US 15.6%, Germany 7.4%, China 5.7%, France 4.9%, UK 4.7%,
Japan 4.5% (2005)

Yemen
China 35.3%, India 16.2%, Thailand 11.9%, Japan 6.3%, South
Korea 6.3%, Switzerland 5.5% (2005)

Zambia
Switzerland 28.7%, South Africa 18.6%, UK 14.4%, Democratic
Republic of the Congo 5.4%, Tanzania 5.1%, Zimbabwe 4.1% (2005)

Zimbabwe
South Africa 27%, China 7.9%, Japan 6.8%, Zambia 5.6%,
Netherlands 5.4%, US 4.9%, Italy 4.5%, Germany 4.4% (2005)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================
@2051 Administrative divisions

Afghanistan
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, Zabol

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

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

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

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

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

Anguilla
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Antigua and Barbuda

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

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

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

Aruba
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Australia
6 states and 2 territories*; Australian Capital
Territory*, New South Wales, Northern Territory*, Queensland, South
Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Austria
9 states (Bundeslaender, singular - Bundesland); Burgenland,
Kaernten (Carinthia), Niederoesterreich (Lower Austria),
Oberoesterreich (Upper Austria), Salzburg, Steiermark (Styria),
Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien (Vienna)
Azerbaijan
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

Bahamas, The
21 districts; Acklins and Crooked Islands, Bimini, Cat
Island, Exuma, Freeport, Fresh Creek, Governor's Harbour, Green
Turtle Cay, Harbour Island, High Rock, Inagua, Kemps Bay, Long
Island, Marsh Harbour, Mayaguana, New Providence, Nichollstown and
Berry Islands, Ragged Island, Rock Sound, Sandy Point, San Salvador
and Rum Cay

Bahrain
5 governorates; Asamah, Janubiyah, Muharraq, Shamaliyah,
Wasat
note: each governorate administered by an appointed governor

Bangladesh
6 divisions; Barisal, Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna,
 Rajshahi, Sylhet

Barbados
11 parishes and 1 city*; Bridgetown*, Christ Church, Saint
Andrew, Saint George, Saint James, Saint John, Saint Joseph, Saint
Lucy, Saint Michael, Saint Peter, Saint Philip, Saint Thomas

Belarus
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

Belgium
10 provinces (French: provinces, singular - province; Dutch:
provincies, singular - provincie) and 3 regions* (French: regions;
Dutch: gewesten); Brussels* (Bruxelles) capital region; Flanders*
region (five provinces): Antwerpen (Antwerp), Limburg,
Oost-Vlaanderen (East Flanders), Vlaams-Brabant (Flemish Brabant),
West-Vlaanderen (West Flanders); Wallonia* region (five provinces):
Brabant Wallon (Walloon Brabant), Hainaut, Liege, Luxembourg, Namur
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

Belize
6 districts; Belize, Cayo, Corozal, Orange Walk, Stann Creek,
Toledo

Benin
12 departments; Alibori, Atakora, Atlantique, Borgou,
Collines, Kouffo, Donga, Littoral, Mono, Oueme, Plateau, Zou

Bermuda
9 parishes and 2 municipalities*; Devonshire, Hamilton,
Hamilton*, Paget, Pembroke, Saint George*, Saint George's, Sandys,
Smith's, Southampton, Warwick
Bhutan
18 districts (dzongkhag, singular and plural); Bumthang,
Chhukha, Chirang, Dagana, Geylegphug, Ha, Lhuntshi, Mongar, Paro,
Pemagatsel, Punakha, Samchi, Samdrup Jongkhar, Shemgang, Tashigang,
Thimphu, Tongsa, Wangdi Phodrang
note: there may be two new districts named Gasa and Yangtse

Bolivia
9 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento);
Beni, Chuquisaca, Cochabamba, La Paz, Oruro, Pando, Potosi, Santa
Cruz, Tarija

Bosnia and Herzegovina

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

Botswana
9 districts and 5 town councils*; Central, Francistown*,
Gaborone*, Ghanzi, Jwaneng*, Kgalagadi, Kgatleng, Kweneng, Lobatse*,
Northeast, Northwest, Selebi-Pikwe*, Southeast, Southern

Brazil
26 states (estados, singular - estado) and 1 federal
district* (distrito federal); Acre, Alagoas, Amapa, Amazonas, Bahia,
Ceara, Distrito Federal*, Espirito Santo, Goias, Maranhao, Mato
Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Para, Paraiba, Parana,
Pernambuco, Piaui, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande
do Sul, Rondonia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, Sao Paulo, Sergipe,
Tocantins

British Virgin Islands

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Brunei
 4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait,
Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong

Bulgaria
28 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast); Blagoevgrad,
Burgas, Dobrich, Gabrovo, Khaskovo, Kurdzhali, Kyustendil, Lovech,
Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Pleven, Plovdiv, Razgrad, Ruse, Shumen,
Silistra, Sliven, Smolyan, Sofiya, Sofiya-Grad, Stara Zagora,
Turgovishte, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Vidin, Vratsa, Yambol

Burkina Faso
45 provinces; Bale, Bam, Banwa, Bazega, Bougouriba,
Boulgou, Boulkiemde, Comoe, Ganzourgou, Gnagna, Gourma, Houet, Ioba,
Kadiogo, Kenedougou, Komondjari, Kompienga, Kossi, Koulpelogo,
Kouritenga, Kourweogo, Leraba, Loroum, Mouhoun, Nahouri, Namentenga,
Nayala, Noumbiel, Oubritenga, Oudalan, Passore, Poni, Sanguie,
Sanmatenga, Seno, Sissili, Soum, Sourou, Tapoa, Tuy, Yagha, Yatenga,
Ziro, Zondoma, Zoundweogo

Burma
7 divisions (taing-myar, singular - taing) and 7 states (pyi
ne-myar, singular - pyi ne)
divisions: Ayeyarwady, Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Sagaing, Tanintharyi,
Yangon
states: Chin State, Kachin State, Kayah State, Kayin State, Mon
State, Rakhine State, Shan State

Burundi
17 provinces; Bubanza, Bujumbura Mairie, Bujumbura Rurale,
Bururi, Cankuzo, Cibitoke, Gitega, Karuzi, Kayanza, Kirundo,
Makamba, Muramvya, Muyinga, Mwaro, Ngozi, Rutana, Ruyigi

Cambodia
20 provinces (khaitt, singular and plural) and 4
municipalities* (krong, singular and plural)
provinces: Banteay Mean Cheay, Batdambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong
Chhnang, Kampong Spoe, Kampong Thum, Kampot, Kandal, Kaoh Kong,
Krachen, Mondol Kiri, Otdar Mean Cheay, Pouthisat, Preah Vihear,
Prey Veng, Rotanah Kiri, Siem Reab, Stoeng Treng, Svay Rieng, Takev
 municipalities: Keb, Pailin, Phnum Penh (Phnom Penh), Preah Seihanu
(Sihanoukville)

Cameroon
10 provinces; Adamaoua, Centre, Est, Extreme-Nord,
Littoral, Nord, Nord-Ouest, Ouest, Sud, Sud-Ouest

Canada
10 provinces and 3 territories*; Alberta, British Columbia,
Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest
Territories*, Nova Scotia, Nunavut*, Ontario, Prince Edward Island,
Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory*

Cape Verde
17 municipalities (concelhos, singular - concelho); Boa
Vista, Brava, Maio, Mosteiros, Paul, Praia, Porto Novo, Ribeira
Grande, Sal, Santa Catarina, Santa Cruz, Sao Domingos, Sao Filipe,
Sao Miguel, Sao Nicolau, Sao Vicente, Tarrafal

Cayman Islands
8 districts; Creek, Eastern, Midland, South Town,
Spot Bay, Stake Bay, West End, Western

Central African Republic

14 prefectures (prefectures, singular -
prefecture), 2 economic prefectures* (prefectures economiques,
singular - prefecture economique), and 1 commune**;
Bamingui-Bangoran, Bangui**, Basse-Kotto, Haute-Kotto, Haut-Mbomou,
Kemo, Lobaye, Mambere-Kadei, Mbomou, Nana-Grebizi*, Nana-Mambere,
Ombella-Mpoko, Ouaka, Ouham, Ouham-Pende, Sangha-Mbaere*, Vakaga

Chad
14 prefectures (prefectures, singular - prefecture); Batha,
Biltine, Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti, Chari-Baguirmi, Guera, Kanem, Lac,
Logone Occidental, Logone Oriental, Mayo-Kebbi, Moyen-Chari,
Ouaddai, Salamat, Tandjile
note: instead of 14 prefectures, there may be a new administrative
structure of 28 departments (departments, singular - department) and
1 city*; Assongha, Baguirmi, Bahr El Gazal, Bahr Koh, Batha
 Oriental, Batha Occidental, Biltine, Borkou, Dababa, Ennedi, Guera,
Hadjer Lamis, Kabia, Kanem, Lac, Lac Iro, Logone Occidental, Logone
Oriental, Mandoul, Mayo-Boneye, Mayo-Dallah, Monts de Lam,
N'Djamena*, Ouaddai, Salamat, Sila, Tandjile Oriental, Tandjile
Occidental, Tibesti

Chile
13 regions (regiones, singular - region); Aisen del General
Carlos Ibanez del Campo, Antofagasta, Araucania, Atacama, Bio-Bio,
Coquimbo, Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, Los Lagos,
Magallanes y de la Antartica Chilena, Maule, Region Metropolitana
(Santiago), Tarapaca, Valparaiso
note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica

China
23 provinces (sheng, singular and plural), 5 autonomous
regions (zizhiqu, singular and plural), and 4 municipalities (shi,
singular and plural)
provinces: Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei,
Heilongjiang, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Jilin,
Liaoning, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan,
Zhejiang; (see note on Taiwan)
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

Christmas Island
none (territory of Australia)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

none (territory of Australia)

Colombia
32 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento) and
1 capital district* (distrito capital); Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca,
Atlantico, Bogota*, Bolivar, Boyaca, Caldas, Caqueta, Casanare,
Cauca, Cesar, Choco, Cordoba, Cundinamarca, Guainia, Guaviare,
 Huila, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Narino, Norte de Santander,
Putumayo, Quindio, Risaralda, San Andres y Providencia, Santander,
Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca, Vaupes, Vichada

Comoros
3 islands and 4 municipalities*; Grande Comore (Njazidja),
Anjouan (Nzwani), Domoni*, Fomboni*, Moheli (Mwali), Moroni*,
Moutsamoudou*

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

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
note: According to the Constitution adopted in December 2005, the
current administrative divisions will be subdivided into 26 new
provinces

Congo, Republic of the

10 regions (regions, singular - region) and 1
commune*; Bouenza, Brazzaville*, Cuvette, Cuvette-Ouest, Kouilou,
Lekoumou, Likouala, Niari, Plateaux, Pool, Sangha

Cook Islands
none

Costa Rica
7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Alajuela,
Cartago, Guanacaste, Heredia, Limon, Puntarenas, San Jose

Cote d'Ivoire
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

Croatia
20 counties (zupanije, zupanija - singular) and 1 city*
(grad - singular); Bjelovarsko-Bilogorska Zupanija, Brodsko-Posavska
Zupanija, Dubrovacko-Neretvanska Zupanija, Istarska Zupanija,
 Karlovacka Zupanija, Koprivnicko-Krizevacka Zupanija,
Krapinsko-Zagorska Zupanija, Licko-Senjska Zupanija, Medimurska
Zupanija, Osjecko-Baranjska Zupanija, Pozesko-Slavonska Zupanija,
Primorsko-Goranska Zupanija, Sibensko-Kninska Zupanija,
Sisacko-Moslavacka Zupanija, Splitsko-Dalmatinska Zupanija,
Varazdinska Zupanija, Viroviticko-Podravska Zupanija,
Vukovarsko-Srijemska Zupanija, Zadarska Zupanija, Zagreb*,
Zagrebacka Zupanija

Cuba
14 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia) and 1 special
municipality* (municipio especial); Camaguey, Ciego de Avila,
Cienfuegos, Ciudad de La Habana, Granma, Guantanamo, Holguin, Isla
de la Juventud*, La Habana, Las Tunas, Matanzas, Pinar del Rio,
Sancti Spiritus, Santiago de Cuba, Villa Clara

Cyprus
6 districts; Famagusta, Kyrenia, Larnaca, Limassol, Nicosia,
Paphos; note - Turkish Cypriot area's administrative divisions
include Kyrenia, all but a small part of Famagusta, and small parts
of Lefkosia (Nicosia) and Larnaca

Czech Republic
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

Denmark
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: as a result of an extensive 2005 local government reform, with
2006 being a transition year, 271 municipalities will be merged to
98 by 1 January 2007, and the 14 counties will be reorganized into
five regions
Djibouti
6 districts (cercles, singular - cercle); Ali Sabieh, Arta,
Dikhil, Djibouti, Obock, Tadjourah

Dominica
10 parishes; Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint
John, Saint Joseph, Saint Luke, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick, Saint
Paul, Saint Peter

Dominican Republic
31 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia)
and 1 district* (distrito); Azua, Baoruco, Barahona, Dajabon,
Distrito Nacional*, Duarte, El Seibo, Elias Pina, 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, San Cristobal,
San Jose de Ocoa, San Juan, San Pedro de Macoris, Sanchez Ramirez,
Santiago, Santiago Rodriguez, Santo Domingo, Valverde

East Timor
13 administrative districts; Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau,
Bobonaro (Maliana), Cova-Lima (Suai), Dili, Ermera, Lautem (Los
Palos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oecussi (Ambeno),
Viqueque

Ecuador
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

Egypt
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, As Suways, Ash
Sharqiyah, Aswan, Asyut, Bani Suwayf, Bur Sa'id, Dumyat, Janub
Sina', Kafr ash Shaykh, Matruh, Qina, Shamal Sina', Suhaj
El Salvador
14 departments (departamentos, singular - departamento);
Ahuachapan, Cabanas, Chalatenango, Cuscatlan, La Libertad, La Paz,
La Union, Morazan, San Miguel, San Salvador, San Vicente, Santa Ana,
Sonsonate, Usulutan

Equatorial Guinea
7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia);
Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral,
Wele-Nzas

Eritrea
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)

Estonia
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

Ethiopia
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)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

none (overseas territory of the
UK; also claimed by Argentina)
Faroe Islands
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 34 municipalities

Fiji
4 divisions and 1 dependency*; Central, Eastern, Northern,
Rotuma*, Western

Finland
6 provinces (laanit, singular - laani); Aland, Etela-Suomen
Laani, Ita-Suomen Laani, Lansi-Suomen Laani, Lappi, Oulun Laani

France
26 regions (regions, singular - region); Alsace, Aquitaine,
Auvergne, Basse-Normandie (Lower Normandy), Bourgogne, Bretagne
(Brittany), Centre, Champagne-Ardenne, Corse (Corsica),
Franche-Comte, Guadeloupe, Guyane (French Guiana), Haute-Normandie
(Upper Normandy), Ile-de-France, Languedoc-Roussillon, Limousin,
Lorraine, Martinique, Reunion, Midi-Pyrenees, Nord-Pas-de-Calais,
Pays de la Loire, Picardie, Poitou-Charentes, Provence-Alpes-Cote
d'Azur, Rhone-Alpes
note: France is divided into 22 metropolitan regions (including the
"territorial collectivity" of Corse or Corsica) and 4 overseas
regions and is subdivided into 96 metropolitan departments and 4
overseas departments

French Polynesia
none (overseas lands of France); there are no
first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are five archipelagic divisions named Archipel
des Marquises, Archipel des Tuamotu, Archipel des Tubuai, Iles du
Vent, Iles Sous-le-Vent
note: Clipperton Island is administered by France from French
Polynesia

French Southern and Antarctic Lands

none (overseas territory of
 France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as
defined by the US Government, but there are three districts named
Ile Crozet, Iles Kerguelen, Iles Saint-Paul et Amsterdam; excludes
"Adelie Land" claim in Antarctica that is not recognized by the US

Gabon
9 provinces; Estuaire, Haut-Ogooue, Moyen-Ogooue, Ngounie,
Nyanga, Ogooue-Ivindo, Ogooue-Lolo, Ogooue-Maritime, Woleu-Ntem

Gambia, The
5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Central River, Lower
River, North Bank, Upper River, Western

Georgia
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, Tbilisi,
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 two autonomous republics are
shown in parentheses

Germany
16 states (Laender, singular - Land); Baden-Wuerttemberg,
Bayern (Bavaria), Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hessen,
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania),
Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony), Nordrhein-Westfalen (North
Rhine-Westphalia), Rheinland-Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate), Saarland,
Sachsen (Saxony), Sachsen-Anhalt (Saxony-Anhalt),
Schleswig-Holstein, Thueringen (Thuringia); note - Bayern, Sachsen,
and Thueringen refer to themselves as free states (Freistaaten,
singular - Freistaat)
Ghana
10 regions; Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Greater
Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western

Gibraltar
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Greece
51 prefectures (nomoi, singular - nomos) and 1 autonomous
region*; Achaia, Agion Oros* (Mt. Athos), Aitolia kai Akarnania,
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

Greenland
3 districts (landsdele); Avannaa (Nordgronland), Tunu
(Ostgronland), Kitaa (Vestgronland)
note: there are 18 municipalities in Greenland

Grenada
6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and Petit
Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John,
Saint Mark, Saint Patrick

Guam
none (territory of the US)

Guatemala
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

Guernsey
none (British crown dependency); there are no first-order
 administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are 10 parishes including Castel, Forest, Saint Andrew, Saint
Martin, Saint Peter Port, Saint Pierre du Bois, Saint Sampson, Saint
Saviour, Torteval, Vale

Guinea
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

Guinea-Bissau
9 regions (regioes, singular - regiao); Bafata,
Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali; note -
Bolama may have been renamed Bolama/Bijagos

Guyana
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

Haiti
10 departments (departements, singular - departement);
Artibonite, Centre, Grand 'Anse, Nippes, Nord, Nord-Est, Nord-Ouest,
Ouest, Sud, Sud-Est

Holy See (Vatican City)

none

Honduras
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

Hong Kong
none (special administrative region of China)
Hungary
19 counties (megyek, singular - megye), 22 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, Salgotarjan, Sopron, Szeged, Szekesfehervar,
Szekszard, Szolnok, Szombathely, Tatabanya, Veszprem, Zalaegerszeg
capital city: Budapest

Iceland
8 regions; Austurland, Hofudhborgarsvaedhi, Nordhurland
Eystra, Nordhurland Vestra, Sudhurland, Sudhurnes, Vestfirdhir,
Vesturland

India
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,
Puducherry*, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar
Pradesh, Uttaranchal, West Bengal

Indonesia
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: following the implementation of decentralization beginning on
1 January 2001, the 440 districts or regencies have become the key
administrative units responsible for providing most government
services

Iran
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

Iraq
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

Ireland
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

Isle of Man
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

Israel
6 districts (mehozot, singular - mehoz); Central, Haifa,
Jerusalem, Northern, Southern, Tel Aviv

Italy
15 regions (regioni, singular - regione) and 5 autonomous
 regions* (regioni autonome, singular - regione autonoma); Abruzzo,
Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia
Giulia*, Lazio (Latium), Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise,
Piemonte (Piedmont), Puglia (Apulia), Sardegna* (Sardinia),
Sicilia*, Toscana (Tuscany), Trentino-Alto Adige* (Trentino-South
Tyrol), Umbria, Valle d'Aosta* (Aosta Valley), Veneto

Jamaica
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

Japan
47 prefectures; Aichi, Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Ehime, Fukui,
Fukuoka, Fukushima, Gifu, Gunma, Hiroshima, Hokkaido, Hyogo,
Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Iwate, Kagawa, Kagoshima, Kanagawa, Kochi,
Kumamoto, Kyoto, Mie, Miyagi, Miyazaki, Nagano, Nagasaki, Nara,
Niigata, Oita, Okayama, Okinawa, Osaka, Saga, Saitama, Shiga,
Shimane, Shizuoka, Tochigi, Tokushima, Tokyo, Tottori, Toyama,
Wakayama, Yamagata, Yamaguchi, Yamanashi

Jersey
none (British crown dependency); there are no first-order
administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there
are 12 parishes including Grouville, Saint Brelade, Saint Clement,
Saint Helier, Saint John, Saint Lawrence, Saint Martin, Saint Mary,
Saint Quen, Saint Peter, Saint Saviour, and Trinity

Jordan
12 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Ajlun, Al
'Aqabah, Al Balqa', Al Karak, Al Mafraq, 'Amman, At Tafilah, Az
Zarqa', Irbid, Jarash, Ma'an, Madaba

Kazakhstan
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

Kenya
7 provinces and 1 area*; Central, Coast, Eastern, Nairobi
Area*, North Eastern, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western

Kiribati
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)

Korea, North
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)
Korea, South
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)

Kuwait
6 governorates (muhafazat, singular - muhafazah); Al Ahmadi,
Al 'Asimah, Al Farwaniyah, Al Jahra', Hawalli, Mubarak Al Kabir

Kyrgyzstan
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)

Laos
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

Latvia
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

Lebanon
8 governorates (mohafazat, singular - mohafazah); Aakkar,
Baalbek-Hermel, Beyrouth, Beqaa, Liban-Nord, Liban-Sud, Mont-Liban,
Nabatiye

Lesotho
10 districts; Berea, Butha-Buthe, Leribe, Mafeteng, Maseru,
Mohale's Hoek, Mokhotlong, Qacha's Nek, Quthing, Thaba-Tseka

Liberia
15 counties; Bomi, Bong, Gbarpolu, Grand Bassa, Grand Cape
Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado,
Nimba, River Cess, River Gee, Sinoe

Libya
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

Liechtenstein
11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers,
Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg,
Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz

Lithuania
10 counties (apskritys, singular - apskritis); Alytaus,
Kauno, Klaipedos, Marijampoles, Panevezio, Siauliu, Taurages,
Telsiu, Utenos, Vilniaus

Luxembourg
3 districts; Diekirch, Grevenmacher, Luxembourg
Macau
none (special administrative region of China)

Macedonia
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 the larger Skopje Municipality

Madagascar
6 provinces (faritany); Antananarivo, Antsiranana,
Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga, Toamasina, Toliara

Malawi
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

Malaysia
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

Maldives
19 atolls (atholhu, singular and plural) and the capital
city*; Alifu, Baa, Dhaalu, Faafu, Gaafu Alifu, Gaafu Dhaalu,
Gnaviyani, Haa Alifu, Haa Dhaalu, Kaafu, Laamu, Lhaviyani, Maale*
(Male), Meemu, Noonu, Raa, Seenu, Shaviyani, Thaa, Vaavu

Mali
8 regions (regions, singular - region); Gao, Kayes, Kidal,
Koulikoro, Mopti, Segou, Sikasso, Tombouctou

Malta
none (administered directly from Valletta); note - local
councils carry out administrative orders

Marshall Islands
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

Mauritania
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

Mauritius
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

Mayotte
none (territorial overseas collectivity of France)

Mexico
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

Micronesia, Federated States of

4 states; Chuuk (Truk), Kosrae
(Kosaie), Pohnpei (Ponape), Yap

Moldova
32 raions (raioane, singular - raionul), 3 municipalities
(municipiul), 1 autonomous territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala
autonoma), and 1 territorial unit (unitatea teritoriala)
raions: 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

Monaco
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

Mongolia
21 provinces (aymguud, singular - aymag) and 1
municipality* (singular - hot); Arhangay, Bayanhongor, Bayan-Olgiy,
Bulgan, Darhan-Uul, Dornod, Dornogovi, Dundgovi, Dzavhan,
Govi-Altay, Govisumber, Hentiy, Hovd, Hovsgol, Omnogovi, Orhon,
Ovorhangay, Selenge, Suhbaatar, Tov, Ulaanbaatar*, Uvs

Montenegro
 21 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina);
Andrijevia, Bar, Berane, Bijelo Polje, Budva, Cetinje, Danilovgrad,
Herceg Novi, Kolasin, Kotor, Mojkovac, Niksic, Plav, Pluzine,
Pljevlja, Podgornica, Rozaje, Savnik, Tivat, Ulcinj, Zabljak

Montserrat
3 parishes; Saint Anthony, Saint Georges, Saint Peter

Morocco
15 regions; Grand Casablanca, Chaouia-Ouardigha,
Doukkala-Abda, Fes-Boulemane, Gharb-Chrarda-Beni Hssen, Guelmim-Es
Smara, Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra, 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 US Government;
portions of the regions Guelmim-Es Smara and Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia
El Hamra as claimed by Morocco lie within Western Sahara; Morocco
claims another region, Oued Eddahab-Lagouira, which falls entirely
within Western Sahara

Mozambique
10 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia), 1 city
(cidade)*; Cabo Delgado, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica, Maputo, Cidade de
Maputo*, Nampula, Niassa, Sofala, Tete, Zambezia

Namibia
n13 regions; Caprivi, Erongo, Hardap, Karas, Khomas, Kunene,
Ohangwena, Okavango, Omaheke, Omusati, Oshana, Oshikoto, Otjozondjupa

Nauru
14 districts; Aiwo, Anabar, Anetan, Anibare, Baiti, Boe,
Buada, Denigomodu, Ewa, Ijuw, Meneng, Nibok, Uaboe, Yaren

Nepal
14 zones (anchal, singular and plural); Bagmati, Bheri,
Dhawalagiri, Gandaki, Janakpur, Karnali, Kosi, Lumbini, Mahakali,
Mechi, Narayani, Rapti, Sagarmatha, Seti
Netherlands
12 provinces (provincies, singular - provincie);
Drenthe, Flevoland, Friesland (Fryslan), Gelderland, Groningen,
Limburg, Noord-Brabant (North Brabant), Noord-Holland (North
Holland), Overijssel, Utrecht, Zeeland, Zuid-Holland (South Holland)

Netherlands Antilles
none (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
note: each island has its own government

New Caledonia
none (overseas territory of France); there are no
first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US
Government, but there are 3 provinces named Province des Iles,
Province Nord, and Province Sud

New Zealand
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

Nicaragua
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

Niger
8 regions (regions, singular - region) includes 1 capital
district* (communite urbaine); Agadez, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi,
Niamey*, Tahoua, Tillaberi, Zinder

Nigeria
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

Niue
none; note - there are no first-order administrative divisions
as defined by the US Government, but there are 14 villages at the
second order

Norfolk Island
none (territory of Australia)

Northern Mariana Islands

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

Norway
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

Oman
5 regions (manatiq, singular - mintaqat) and 4 governorates*
(muhafazat, singular - muhafazat) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al
Buraymi*, Al Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat*, Musandam*,
Zufar (Dhofar)*

Pakistan
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 consists of two administrative entities: Azad Kashmir
and Northern Areas

Palau
16 states; Aimeliik, Airai, Angaur, Hatohobei, Kayangel,
Koror, Melekeok, Ngaraard, Ngarchelong, Ngardmau, Ngatpang,
Ngchesar, Ngeremlengui, Ngiwal, Peleliu, Sonsorol
Panama
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

Papua New Guinea

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

Paraguay
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

Peru
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

Philippines
79 provinces and 117 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,
Taguig, Tagum, Talisay (in Cebu), Talisay (in Negros Oriental),
Tanauan, Tangub, Tanjay, Tarlac, Toledo, Tuguegarao, Trece Martires,
Urdaneta, Valencia, Valenzuela, Victorias, Vigan, Zamboanga
Pitcairn Islands
none (overseas territory of the UK)

Poland
16 provinces (wojewodztwa, singular - wojewodztwo);
Dolnoslaskie wojewodztwo, Kujawsko-Pomorskie wojewodztwo, Lodzkie
wojewodztwo, Lubelskie wojewodztwo, Lubuskie wojewodztwo,
Malopolskie wojewodztwo, Mazowieckie wojewodztwo, Opolskie
wojewodztwo, Podkarpackie wojewodztwo, Podlaskie wojewodztwo,
Pomorskie wojewodztwo, Slaskie wojewodztwo, Swietokrzyskie
wojewodztwo, Warminsko-Mazurskie wojewodztwo, Wielkopolskie
wojewodztwo, Zachodniopomorskie wojewodztwo

Portugal
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

Puerto Rico
none (territory of the US with commonwealth status);
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
Qatar
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

Romania
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

Russia
48 oblasts (oblastey, singular - oblast), 21 republics
(respublik, singular - respublika), 7 autonomous okrugs (avtonomnykh
okrugov, singular - avtonomnyy okrug), 7 krays (krayev, singular -
kray), 2 federal cities (goroda, 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, 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), North Ossetia (Vladikavkaz), Sakha [Yakutiya]
(Yakutsk), Tatarstan (Kazan'), Tyva (Kyzyl), Udmurtiya (Izhevsk)
autonomous okrugs: Aga Buryat (Aginskoye), Chukotka (Anadyr'),
Khanty-Mansi, Koryak (Palana), Nenets (Nar'yan-Mar), Ust'-Orda
 Buryat (Ust'-Ordynskiy), Yamalo-Nenets (Salekhard)
krays: Altay (Barnaul), Khabarovsk, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk,
Permskiy, 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)

Rwanda
5 provinces (in French - provinces, singular - province; in
Kinyarwanda - prefigintara for singular and plural); East, Kigali,
North, South, West

Saint Helena
1 administrative area and 2 dependencies*; Ascension*,
Saint Helena, Tristan da Cunha*

Saint Kitts and Nevis

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

Saint Lucia
11 quarters; Anse-la-Raye, Castries, Choiseul, Dauphin,
Dennery, Gros-Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin, Soufriere, Vieux-Fort

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

none (territorial overseas 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

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines,
Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick
Samoa
11 districts; A'ana, Aiga-i-le-Tai, Atua, Fa'asaleleaga,
Gaga'emauga, Gagaifomauga, Palauli, Satupa'itea, Tuamasaga,
Va'a-o-Fonoti, Vaisigano

San Marino
9 municipalities (castelli, singular - castello);
Acquaviva, Borgo Maggiore, Chiesanuova, Domagnano, Faetano,
Fiorentino, Montegiardino, San Marino Citta, Serravalle

Sao Tome and Principe

2 provinces; Principe, Sao Tome
note: Principe has had self-government since 29 April 1995

Saudi Arabia
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

Senegal
11 regions (regions, singular - region); Dakar, Diourbel,
Fatick, Kaolack, Kolda, Louga, Matam, Saint-Louis, Tambacounda,
Thies, Ziguinchor

Serbia
190 municipalites (opcinas, singular - opcina)
Serbia Proper: Beograd: Barajevo, Cukavica, Grocka, Lazarevac,
Mladnovac, Novi Beograd, Obrenovac, Palilula, Rakovica, Savski
Venac, Sopot, Stari Grad, Surcin, Vozdovac, Vracar, Zemun, Zrezdara
Borski Okrug: Bor, Kladovo, Majdanpek, Negotin; Branicevski Okrug:
Golubac, Kucevo, Malo Crnice, Petrovac, Pozarevac, Veliko Gradiste,
Zabari, Zagubica Jablanicki Okrug: Bojnik, Crna Trava, Lebane,
Leskovac, Medvedja, Vlasotince; Kolubarski Okrug: Lajkovac, Ljig,
Mionica, Osecina, Ub, Valjevo; Macvanski Okrug: Bogotic, Koceljeva,
Krupanj, Ljubovija, Loznica, Malizvornik, Sabac, Vladimirci;
Moravicki Okrug: Cacak, Gornkji Milanovac, Ivanjica, Lucani;
Nisavski Okrug: Aleksinac, Doljevac, Gadzin Han, Merosina, Nis,
Razanj, Svrljig; Pcinjski Okrug: Bosilegrad, Bujanovac, Presevo,
 Surdulica, Trgoviste, Vladcin Han, Vranje; Pirotski Okrug:
Babusnica, Bela Palanka, Dimitrovgrad, Pirot; Podunavski Okrug:
Smederevo, Smederevskia Palanka, Velika Plana; Pomoravaki Okrug:
Cuprija, Despotovac, Jagodina, Paracin, Rckovac, Svilajnac; Rasinski
Okrug: Aleksandrovac, Brus, Cicevac, Krusevac, Trstenik, Varvarin;
Raski Okrug: Kraljevo, Novi Pazar, Raska, Tutin, Vrnjacka Banja;
Sumadijski Okrug: Arandjelovac, Batocina, Knic, Kragujevac, Lapovo,
Raca, Topola; Toplicki Okrug: Blace, Kursumlija, Prokuplje,
Zitoradja; Zajocarski Okrug: Boljevac, Knjazevac, Sokobanja,
Zalecar; Zlatiborski Okrug: Arilje, Bajina Basta, Cejetina,
Kosjevic, Nova Varos, Pozega, Priboj, Prijepolje, Sjenica, Uzice;
Vojvodina Autonomous Province: Juzno-Backi Okrug: Backi Petrovac,
Beocin, Novi Sad, Sremski Karlovci, Temerin, Titel, Zabalj; Juzno
Banatski Okrug: Alibunar, Bela Crkva, Kovacica, Kovin, Opovo,
Pancevo, Plandiste, Vrsac; Severno-Backi Okrug: Bacha Topola, Mali
Idjos, Subotica; Severno-Banatski Okrug: Ada, Coka, Kanjiza,
Kikinda, Novi Knezevac, Senta Srednjo-Banatski Okrug: Nova Crnja,
Novi Becej, Secanj, Zitiste, Zrenjanin; Sremski Okrug: Indjija,
Irig, Pecinci, Ruma, Sid, Sremska Mitrovica, Stara Pazova;
Zapadno-Backi Okrug: Apatin, Kula, Odzaci, Sombor
Kosovo and Metojia Autonomous Province: Kosovaki Okrug: Glogovac,
Kacanik, Kosovo Polje, Lipljan, Obilic, Podujevo, Pristina, Stimlje,
Strpce, Urosevac; Kosovsko-Mitrovacki Okrug: Kosovska Mitrovica,
Leposavic, Srbica, Vucitrn, Zubin Potok, Zvecan; Kosovsko-Pomoravski
Okrug: Gnjilane, Kosovska Kamenica, Novo Brdo, Vitina; Pecki Okrug:
Decani, Djakovica, Istok, Klina, Pec; Prizrenski Okrug: Gora i
Opolje, Orahovac, Prizren, Suva Reka

Seychelles
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

Sierra Leone
3 provinces and 1 area*; Eastern, Northern, Southern,
Western*
Singapore
none

Slovakia
8 regions (kraje, singular - kraj); Banskobystricky kraj,
Bratislavsky kraj, Kosicky kraj, Nitriansky kraj, Presovsky kraj,
Trenciansky kraj, Trnavsky kraj, Zilinsky kraj

Slovenia
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

Solomon Islands
9 provinces and 1 capital territory*; Central,
Choiseul, Guadalcanal, Honiara*, Isabel, Makira, Malaita, Rennell
and Bellona, Temotu, Western

Somalia
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

South Africa
9 provinces; Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng,
KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North-West, Northern Cape,
Western Cape

Spain
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 along the coast of Morocco and are
collectively referred to as Places of Sovereignty (Plazas de
Soberania)
Sri Lanka
8 provinces; Central, North Central, North Eastern, North
Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, Uva, Western
note: in 1998 the Government of Sri Lanka proposed a merger of the
former Northern and Eastern provinces; while this merger was never
ratified, the Government treats North Eastern Province as a de facto
singular administrative unit

Sudan
25 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), 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)

Suriname
10 districts (distrikten, singular - distrikt); Brokopondo,
Commewijne, Coronie, Marowijne, Nickerie, Para, Paramaribo,
Saramacca, Sipaliwini, Wanica

Swaziland
4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni

Sweden
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

Switzerland
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

Syria
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

Taiwan
includes main island of Taiwan plus smaller islands nearby
and 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)
note: Taiwan uses a variety of romanization systems; while the
Wade-Giles system still dominates, city of Taipei has adopted
standard Pinyin romanization for street and place names within its
boundaries; other local authorities use different romanization
systems; names for administrative divisions that follow are in
Wade-Giles system with Pinyin equivalents in parentheses
counties: Chang-hua (Changhua), Chia-i (Chiayi) [county], Hsin-chu
(Hsinchu), Hua-lien (Hualien), I-lan (Yilan), Kao-hsiung (Kaohsiung)
[county], Kin-men (Kinmen), Lien-chiang (Lienchiang, also Matsu),
Miao-li (Miaoli), Nan-t'ou (Nantou), P'eng-hu (Penghu), P'ing-tung
(Pingtung), T'ai-chung (Taichung), T'ai-nan (Tainan), T'ai-pei
(Taipei) [county], T'ai-tung (Taitung), T'ao-yuan (Taoyuan), and
Yun-lin (Yunlin)
municipalities: Chia-i (Chiayi) [city], Chi-lung (Keelung), Hsin-chu
(Hsinchu), T'ai-chung (Taichung), T'ai-nan (Tainan)
special municipalities: Kao-hsiung (Kaohsiung) [city], T'ai-pei
(Taipei) [city]

Tajikistan
2 provinces (viloyatho, singular - viloyat) and 1
autonomous province* (viloyati mukhtor); Viloyati Khatlon
 (Qurghonteppa), Viloyati Mukhtori Kuhistoni Badakhshon*
[Gorno-Badakhshan] (Khorugh), Viloyati Sughd (Khujand)
note: the administrative center name follows in parentheses

Tanzania
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

Thailand
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

Togo
5 regions (regions, singular - region); Centrale, Kara,
Maritime, Plateaux, Savanes

Tokelau
none (territory of New Zealand)

Tonga
3 island groups; Ha'apai, Tongatapu, Vava'u

Trinidad and Tobago

 9 regional corporations, 2 city corporations, 3
borough corporations, 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, Chaguanas, Point Fortin
ward: Tobago

Tunisia
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)

Turkey
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, Icel (Mersin), Igdir,
Isparta, Istanbul, Izmir, Kahramanmaras, Karabuk, Karaman, Kars,
Kastamonu, Kayseri, Kilis, Kirikkale, Kirklareli, Kirsehir, Kocaeli,
Konya, Kutahya, Malatya, Manisa, Mardin, Mugla, Mus, Nevsehir,
Nigde, Ordu, Osmaniye, Rize, Sakarya, Samsun, Sanliurfa, Siirt,
Sinop, Sirnak, Sivas, Tekirdag, Tokat, Trabzon, Tunceli, Usak, Van,
Yalova, Yozgat, Zonguldak

Turkmenistan
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)

Turks and Caicos Islands

none (overseas territory of the UK)

Tuvalu
none

Uganda
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
note: as of a July 2005, 13 new districts were reportedly added
bringing the total up to 69; the new districts are Amolatar, Amuria,
Budaka, Butaleja, Ibanda, Kaabong, Kabingo, Kaliro, Kiruhura,
Koboko, Manafwa, Mityana, Nakaseke; a total of ten more districts
are in the process of being added

Ukraine
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, Kyiv**, Kyiv, 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)

United Arab Emirates

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

United Kingdom
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 (or unitary authorities): 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, North Yorkshire,
Northamptonshire, Northumberland, 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 (historic)
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, Londonderry (Derry)
counties (historic): County Antrim, County Armagh, County Down,
County Fermanagh, County Londonderry, and County Tyrone are still
referred to in common parlance, but do not constitute a level of
administration
Scotland: 32 council areas: Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus,
Argyll and Bute, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee
City, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East
Renfrewshire, City of Edinburgh, Eilean Siar (Western Isles),
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, The Scottish Borders, West Dunbartonshire,
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: Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Denbighshire, Flintshire,
Isle of Anglesey, Monmouthshire, Pembrokeshire, Powys, The Vale of
Glamorgan
cities and counties: Cardiff, Swansea

United States
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

Uruguay
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

Uzbekistan
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),
Qoraqalpog'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)

Vanuatu
6 provinces; Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba

Venezuela
23 states (estados, singular - estado), 1 capital
district* (distrito capital), 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

Vietnam
59 provinces (tinh, singular and plural) and 5
municipalities (thanh pho, 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, Ha Nam, Ha Tay, Ha Tinh, Hai Duong,
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, Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh

Virgin Islands
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

Wallis and Futuna

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

Western Sahara
none (under de facto control of Morocco)

World
268 nations, dependent areas, and other entities

Yemen
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

Zambia
9 provinces; Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka,
 Northern, North-Western, Southern, Western

Zimbabwe
8 provinces and 2 cities* with provincial status;
Bulawayo*, Harare*, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland
East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland
South, Midlands

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2052 Agriculture - products

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

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

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

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

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

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

Anguilla
small quantities of tobacco, vegetables; cattle raising

Antigua and Barbuda

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

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

Armenia
fruit (especially grapes), vegetables; livestock

Aruba
aloes; livestock; fish

Australia
wheat, barley, sugarcane, fruits, cattle, sheep, poultry

Austria
grains, potatoes, sugar beets, wine, fruit; dairy products,
cattle, pigs, poultry; lumber

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

Bahamas, The
citrus, vegetables; poultry

Bahrain
fruit, vegetables; poultry, dairy products; shrimp, fish

Bangladesh
rice, jute, tea, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes, tobacco,
 pulses, oilseeds, spices, fruit; beef, milk, poultry

Barbados
sugarcane, vegetables, cotton

Belarus
grain, potatoes, vegetables, sugar beets, flax; beef, milk

Belgium
sugar beets, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, tobacco; beef,
veal, pork, milk

Belize
bananas, coca, citrus, sugar; fish, cultured shrimp; lumber;
garments

Benin
cotton, corn, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil,
peanuts; livestock

Bermuda
bananas, vegetables, citrus, flowers; dairy products, honey

Bhutan
rice, corn, root crops, citrus, foodgrains; dairy products,
eggs

Bolivia
soybeans, coffee, coca, cotton, corn, sugarcane, rice,
potatoes; timber

Bosnia and Herzegovina

wheat, corn, fruits, vegetables; livestock

Botswana
livestock, sorghum, maize, millet, beans, sunflowers,
groundnuts

Brazil
coffee, soybeans, wheat, rice, corn, sugarcane, cocoa,
 citrus; beef

British Virgin Islands

fruits, vegetables; livestock, poultry; fish

Brunei
rice, vegetables, fruits; chickens, water buffalo, eggs

Bulgaria
vegetables, fruits, tobacco, wine, wheat, barley,
sunflowers, sugar beets; livestock

Burkina Faso
cotton, peanuts, shea nuts, sesame, sorghum, millet,
corn, rice; livestock

Burma
rice, pulses, beans, sesame, groundnuts, sugarcane; hardwood;
fish and fish products

Burundi
coffee, cotton, tea, corn, sorghum, sweet potatoes, bananas,
manioc (tapioca); beef, milk, hides

Cambodia
rice, rubber, corn, vegetables, cashews, tapioca

Cameroon
coffee, cocoa, cotton, rubber, bananas, oilseed, grains,
root starches; livestock; timber

Canada
wheat, barley, oilseed, tobacco, fruits, vegetables; dairy
products; forest products; fish

Cape Verde
bananas, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, sugarcane, coffee,
peanuts; fish

Cayman Islands
 vegetables, fruit; livestock; turtle farming

Central African Republic

cotton, coffee, tobacco, manioc (tapioca),
yams, millet, corn, bananas; timber

Chad
cotton, sorghum, millet, peanuts, rice, potatoes, manioc
(tapioca); cattle, sheep, goats, camels

Chile
grapes, apples, pears, onions, wheat, corn, oats, peaches,
garlic, asparagus, beans; beef, poultry, wool; fish; timber

China
rice, wheat, potatoes, corn, peanuts, tea, millet, barley,
apples, cotton, oilseed; pork; fish

Christmas Island
NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

vegetables, bananas, pawpaws, coconuts

Colombia
coffee, cut flowers, bananas, rice, tobacco, corn,
sugarcane, cocoa beans, oilseed, vegetables; forest products; shrimp

Comoros
vanilla, cloves, perfume essences, copra, coconuts, bananas,
cassava (tapioca)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber, tea, quinine,
cassava (tapioca), palm oil, bananas, root crops, corn, fruits; wood products

Congo, Republic of the

cassava (tapioca), sugar, rice, corn,
peanuts, vegetables, coffee, cocoa; forest products

Cook Islands
 copra, citrus, pineapples, tomatoes, beans, pawpaws,
bananas, yams, taro, coffee; pigs, poultry

Costa Rica
coffee, pineapples, bananas, sugar, corn, rice, beans,
potatoes; beef; timber

Cote d'Ivoire
coffee, cocoa beans, bananas, palm kernels, corn,
rice, manioc (tapioca), sweet potatoes, sugar, cotton, rubber; timber

Croatia
wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seed, barley, alfalfa,
clover, olives, citrus, grapes, soybeans, potatoes; livestock, dairy
products

Cuba
sugar, tobacco, citrus, coffee, rice, potatoes, beans; livestock

Cyprus
citrus, vegetables, barley, grapes, olives, vegetables;
poultry, pork, lamb; dairy, cheese

Czech Republic
wheat, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs,
poultry

Denmark
barley, wheat, potatoes, sugar beets; pork, dairy products;
fish

Djibouti
fruits, vegetables; goats, sheep, camels, animal hides

Dominica
bananas, citrus, mangoes, root crops, coconuts, cocoa;
forest and fishery potential not exploited

Dominican Republic
sugarcane, coffee, cotton, cocoa, tobacco, rice,
 beans, potatoes, corn, bananas; cattle, pigs, dairy products, beef,
eggs

East Timor
coffee, rice, corn, cassava, sweet potatoes, soybeans,
cabbage, mangoes, bananas, vanilla

Ecuador
bananas, coffee, cocoa, rice, potatoes, manioc (tapioca),
plantains, sugarcane; cattle, sheep, pigs, beef, pork, dairy
products; balsa wood; fish, shrimp

Egypt
cotton, rice, corn, wheat, beans, fruits, vegetables; cattle,
water buffalo, sheep, goats

El Salvador
coffee, sugar, corn, rice, beans, oilseed, cotton,
sorghum; beef, dairy products; shrimp

Equatorial Guinea
coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (tapioca),
bananas, palm oil nuts; livestock; timber

Eritrea
sorghum, lentils, vegetables, corn, cotton, tobacco, coffee,
sisal; livestock, goats; fish

Estonia
potatoes, vegetables; livestock and dairy products; fish

Ethiopia
cereals, pulses, coffee, oilseed, cotton, sugarcane,
potatoes, qat, cut flowers; hides, cattle, sheep, goats; fish

European Union
wheat, barley, oilseeds, sugar beets, wine, grapes;
dairy products, cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry; fish

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

 fodder and vegetable crops; sheep,
dairy products

Faroe Islands
milk, potatoes, vegetables; sheep; salmon, other fish

Fiji
sugarcane, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), rice, sweet potatoes,
bananas; cattle, pigs, horses, goats; fish

Finland
barley, wheat, sugar beets, potatoes; dairy cattle; fish

France
wheat, cereals, sugar beets, potatoes, wine grapes; beef,
dairy products; fish

French Polynesia
fish; coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits,
coffee; poultry, beef, dairy products

Gabon
cocoa, coffee, sugar, palm oil, rubber; cattle; okoume (a
tropical softwood); fish

Gambia, The
rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava
(tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats

Gaza Strip
olives, citrus, vegetables; beef, dairy products

Georgia
citrus, grapes, tea, hazelnuts, vegetables; livestock

Germany
potatoes, wheat, barley, sugar beets, fruit, cabbages;
cattle, pigs, poultry

Ghana
 cocoa, rice, coffee, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, corn, shea
nuts, bananas; timber

Gibraltar
none

Greece
wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, olives, tomatoes, wine,
tobacco, potatoes; beef, dairy products

Greenland
forage crops, garden and greenhouse vegetables; sheep,
reindeer; fish

Grenada
bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, mace, citrus, avocados, root crops,
sugarcane, corn, vegetables

Guam
fruits, copra, vegetables; eggs, pork, poultry, beef

Guatemala
sugarcane, corn, bananas, coffee, beans, cardamom; cattle,
sheep, pigs, chickens

Guernsey
tomatoes, greenhouse flowers, sweet peppers, eggplant,
fruit; Guernsey cattle

Guinea
rice, coffee, pineapples, palm kernels, cassava (tapioca),
bananas, sweet potatoes; cattle, sheep, goats; timber

Guinea-Bissau
rice, corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), cashew nuts,
peanuts, palm kernels, cotton; timber; fish

Guyana
sugarcane, rice, wheat, vegetable oils; beef, pork, poultry,
dairy products; fish, shrimp
Haiti
coffee, mangoes, sugarcane, rice, corn, sorghum; wood

Honduras
bananas, coffee, citrus; beef; timber; shrimp

Hong Kong
fresh vegetables; poultry, pork; fish

Hungary
wheat, corn, sunflower seed, potatoes, sugar beets; pigs,
cattle, poultry, dairy products

Iceland
potatoes, green vegetables; mutton, dairy products; fish

India
rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, potatoes;
cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats, poultry; fish

Indonesia
rice, cassava (tapioca), peanuts, rubber, cocoa, coffee,
palm oil, copra; poultry, beef, pork, eggs

Iran
wheat, rice, other grains, sugar beets, fruits, nuts, cotton;
dairy products, wool; caviar

Iraq
wheat, barley, rice, vegetables, dates, cotton; cattle, sheep,
poultry

Ireland
turnips, barley, potatoes, sugar beets, wheat; beef, dairy
products

Isle of Man
cereals, vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs, poultry

Israel
 citrus, vegetables, cotton; beef, poultry, dairy products

Italy
fruits, vegetables, grapes, potatoes, sugar beets, soybeans,
grain, olives; beef, dairy products; fish

Jamaica
sugarcane, bananas, coffee, citrus, yams, ackees,
vegetables; poultry, goats, milk; crustaceans, mollusks

Japan
rice, sugar beets, vegetables, fruit; pork, poultry, dairy
products, eggs; fish

Jersey
potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes; beef, dairy products

Jordan
wheat, barley, citrus, tomatoes, melons, olives; sheep,
goats, poultry

Kazakhstan
grain (mostly spring wheat), cotton; livestock

Kenya
tea, coffee, corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruit, vegetables; dairy
products, beef, pork, poultry, eggs

Kiribati
copra, taro, breadfruit, sweet potatoes, vegetables; fish

Korea, North
rice, corn, potatoes, soybeans, pulses; cattle, pigs,
pork, eggs

Korea, South
rice, root crops, barley, vegetables, fruit; cattle,
pigs, chickens, milk, eggs; fish

Kuwait
 practically no crops; fish

Kyrgyzstan
tobacco, cotton, potatoes, vegetables, grapes, fruits and
berries; sheep, goats, cattle, wool

Laos
sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco,
cotton, tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry

Latvia
grain, sugar beets, potatoes, vegetables; beef, pork, milk,
eggs; fish

Lebanon
citrus, grapes, tomatoes, apples, vegetables, potatoes,
olives, tobacco; sheep, goats

Lesotho
corn, wheat, pulses, sorghum, barley; livestock

Liberia
rubber, coffee, cocoa, rice, cassava (tapioca), palm oil,
sugarcane, bananas; sheep, goats; timber

Libya
wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts,
soybeans; cattle

Liechtenstein
wheat, barley, corn, potatoes; livestock, dairy
products

Lithuania
grain, potatoes, sugar beets, flax, vegetables; beef,
milk, eggs; fish

Luxembourg
wine, grapes, barley, oats, potatoes, wheat, fruits;
dairy products, livestock products
Macau
only 2% of land area is cultivated, mainly by vegetable
growers; fishing, mostly for crustaceans, is important; some of the
catch is exported to Hong Kong

Macedonia
grapes, wine, tobacco, vegetables; milk, eggs

Madagascar
coffee, vanilla, sugarcane, cloves, cocoa, rice, cassava
(tapioca), beans, bananas, peanuts; livestock products

Malawi
tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, tea, corn, potatoes, cassava
(tapioca), sorghum, pulses, groundnuts, Macadamia nuts; cattle, goats

Malaysia
Peninsular Malaysia - rubber, palm oil, cocoa, rice; Sabah
- subsistence crops, rubber, timber, coconuts, rice; Sarawak -
rubber, pepper, timber

Maldives
coconuts, corn, sweet potatoes; fish

Mali
cotton, millet, rice, corn, vegetables, peanuts; cattle, sheep,
goats

Malta
potatoes, cauliflower, grapes, wheat, barley, tomatoes,
citrus, cut flowers, green peppers; pork, milk, poultry, eggs

Marshall Islands
coconuts, tomatoes, melons, taro, breadfruit,
fruits; pigs, chickens

Mauritania
dates, millet, sorghum, rice, corn; cattle, sheep

Mauritius
 sugarcane, tea, corn, potatoes, bananas, pulses; cattle,
goats; fish

Mayotte
vanilla, ylang-ylang (perfume essence), coffee, copra

Mexico
corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, beans, cotton, coffee, fruit,
tomatoes; beef, poultry, dairy products; wood products

Micronesia, Federated States of

black pepper, tropical fruits and
vegetables, coconuts, cassava (tapioca), betel nuts, sweet potatoes;
pigs, chickens; fish

Moldova
vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower
seed, tobacco; beef, milk

Monaco
none

Mongolia
wheat, barley, vegetables, forage crops; sheep, goats,
cattle, camels, horses

Montenegro
grains, tobacco, potatoes, citrus fruits, olives, grapes;
sheepherding; commercial fishing negligible

Montserrat
cabbages, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers;
livestock products

Morocco
barley, wheat, citrus, wine, vegetables, olives; livestock

Mozambique
cotton, cashew nuts, sugarcane, tea, cassava (tapioca),
corn, coconuts, sisal, citrus and tropical fruits, potatoes,
 sunflowers; beef, poultry

Namibia
millet, sorghum, peanuts, grapes; livestock; fish

Nauru
coconuts

Nepal
rice, corn, wheat, sugarcane, root crops; milk, water buffalo
meat

Netherlands
grains, potatoes, sugar beets, fruits, vegetables;
livestock

Netherlands Antilles
aloes, sorghum, peanuts, vegetables, tropical
fruit

New Caledonia
vegetables; beef, deer, other livestock products; fish

New Zealand
wheat, barley, potatoes, pulses, fruits, vegetables;
wool, beef, lamb and mutton, dairy products; fish

Nicaragua
coffee, bananas, sugarcane, cotton, rice, corn, tobacco,
sesame, soya, beans; beef, veal, pork, poultry, dairy products;
shrimp, lobsters

Niger
cowpeas, cotton, peanuts, millet, sorghum, cassava (tapioca),
rice; cattle, sheep, goats, camels, donkeys, horses, poultry

Nigeria
cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, corn, rice, sorghum, millet,
cassava (tapioca), yams, rubber; cattle, sheep, goats, pigs; timber;
fish
Niue
coconuts, passion fruit, honey, limes, taro, yams, cassava
(tapioca), sweet potatoes; pigs, poultry, beef cattle

Norfolk Island
Norfolk Island pine seed, Kentia palm seed, cereals,
vegetables, fruit; cattle, poultry

Northern Mariana Islands

coconuts, fruits, vegetables; cattle

Norway
barley, wheat, potatoes; pork, beef, veal, milk; fish

Oman
dates, limes, bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish

Pakistan
cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; milk,
beef, mutton, eggs

Palau
coconuts, copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes; fish

Panama
bananas, rice, corn, coffee, sugarcane, vegetables;
livestock; shrimp

Papua New Guinea

coffee, cocoa, copra, palm kernels, tea, sugar,
rubber, sweet potatoes, fruit, vegetables, vanilla; shell fish,
poultry, pork

Paraguay
cotton, sugarcane, soybeans, corn, wheat, tobacco, cassava
(tapioca), fruits, vegetables; beef, pork, eggs, milk; timber

Peru
asparagus, coffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, potatoes, corn,
plantains, grapes, oranges, coca; poultry, beef, dairy products;
 fish, guinea pigs

Philippines
sugarcane, coconuts, rice, corn, bananas, cassavas,
pineapples, mangoes; pork, eggs, beef; fish

Pitcairn Islands
honey; wide variety of fruits and vegetables;
goats, chickens

Poland
potatoes, fruits, vegetables, wheat; poultry, eggs, pork,
dairy

Portugal
grain, potatoes, tomatoes, olives, grapes; sheep, cattle,
goats, swine, poultry, dairy products; fish

Puerto Rico
sugarcane, coffee, pineapples, plantains, bananas;
livestock products, chickens

Qatar
fruits, vegetables; poultry, dairy products, beef; fish

Romania
wheat, corn, barley, sugar beets, sunflower seed, potatoes,
grapes; eggs, sheep

Russia
grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, vegetables, fruits; beef,
milk

Rwanda
coffee, tea, pyrethrum (insecticide made from
chrysanthemums), bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes; livestock

Saint Helena
coffee, corn, potatoes, vegetables; timber; fish,
lobster (on Tristan da Cunha)
Saint Kitts and Nevis
sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas;
fish

Saint Lucia
bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus, root crops, cocoa

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

vegetables; poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs;
fish

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes,
spices; small numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats; fish

Samoa
coconuts, bananas, taro, yams, coffee, cocoa

San Marino
wheat, grapes, corn, olives; cattle, pigs, horses, beef,
cheese, hides

Sao Tome and Principe

cocoa, coconuts, palm kernels, copra,
cinnamon, pepper, coffee, bananas, papayas, beans; poultry; fish

Saudi Arabia
wheat, barley, tomatoes, melons, dates, citrus; mutton,
chickens, eggs, milk

Senegal
peanuts, millet, corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, tomatoes,
green vegetables; cattle, poultry, pigs; fish

Serbia
wheat, maize, sugar beets, sunflower, beef, pork, milk

Seychelles
coconuts, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet potatoes, cassava
(tapioca), bananas; poultry; tuna
Sierra Leone
rice, coffee, cocoa, palm kernels, palm oil, peanuts;
poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs; fish

Singapore
rubber, copra, fruit, orchids, vegetables; poultry, eggs;
fish, ornamental fish

Slovakia
grains, potatoes, sugar beets, hops, fruit; pigs, cattle,
poultry; forest products

Slovenia
potatoes, hops, wheat, sugar beets, corn, grapes; cattle,
sheep, poultry

Solomon Islands
cocoa beans, coconuts, palm kernels, rice, potatoes,
vegetables, fruit; timber; cattle, pigs; fish

Somalia
bananas, sorghum, corn, coconuts, rice, sugarcane, mangoes,
sesame seeds, beans; cattle, sheep, goats; fish

South Africa
corn, wheat, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; beef,
poultry, mutton, wool, dairy products

Spain
grain, vegetables, olives, wine grapes, sugar beets, citrus;
beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish

Sri Lanka
rice, sugarcane, grains, pulses, oilseed, spices, tea,
rubber, coconuts; milk, eggs, hides, beef; fish

Sudan
cotton, groundnuts (peanuts), sorghum, millet, wheat, gum
arabic, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca), mangos, papaya, bananas, sweet
potatoes, sesame; sheep, livestock
Suriname
paddy rice, bananas, palm kernels, coconuts, plantains,
peanuts; beef, chickens; shrimp; forest products

Swaziland
sugarcane, cotton, corn, tobacco, rice, citrus,
pineapples, sorghum, peanuts; cattle, goats, sheep

Sweden
barley, wheat, sugar beets; meat, milk

Switzerland
grains, fruits, vegetables; meat, eggs

Syria
wheat, barley, cotton, lentils, chickpeas, olives, sugar
beets; beef, mutton, eggs, poultry, milk

Taiwan
rice, corn, vegetables, fruit, tea; pigs, poultry, beef,
milk; fish

Tajikistan
cotton, grain, fruits, grapes, vegetables; cattle, sheep,
goats

Tanzania
coffee, sisal, tea, cotton, pyrethrum (insecticide made
from chrysanthemums), cashew nuts, tobacco, cloves, corn, wheat,
cassava (tapioca), bananas, fruits, vegetables; cattle, sheep, goats

Thailand
rice, cassava (tapioca), rubber, corn, sugarcane, coconuts,
soybeans

Togo
coffee, cocoa, cotton, yams, cassava (tapioca), corn, beans,
rice, millet, sorghum; livestock; fish

Tokelau
 coconuts, copra, breadfruit, papayas, bananas; pigs,
poultry, goats; fish

Tonga
squash, coconuts, copra, bananas, vanilla beans, cocoa,
coffee, ginger, black pepper; fish

Trinidad and Tobago

cocoa, rice, citrus, coffee, vegetables; poultry

Tunisia
olives, olive oil, grain, tomatoes, citrus fruit, sugar
beets, dates, almonds; beef, dairy products

Turkey
tobacco, cotton, grain, olives, sugar beets, pulse, citrus;
livestock

Turkmenistan
cotton, grain; livestock

Turks and Caicos Islands

corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus
fruits; fish

Tuvalu
coconuts; fish

Uganda
coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, cassava (tapioca), potatoes,
corn, millet, pulses, cut flowers; beef, goat meat, milk, poultry

Ukraine
grain, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, vegetables; beef, milk

United Arab Emirates

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

United Kingdom
 cereals, oilseed, potatoes, vegetables; cattle,
sheep, poultry; fish

United States
wheat, corn, other grains, fruits, vegetables, cotton;
beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish; forest products

Uruguay
rice, wheat, corn, barley; livestock; fish

Uzbekistan
cotton, vegetables, fruits, grain; livestock

Vanuatu
copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, taro, yams, fruits,
vegetables; beef; fish

Venezuela
corn, sorghum, sugarcane, rice, bananas, vegetables,
coffee; beef, pork, milk, eggs; fish

Vietnam
paddy rice, coffee, rubber, cotton, tea, pepper, soybeans,
cashews, sugar cane, peanuts, bananas; poultry; fish, seafood

Virgin Islands
fruit, vegetables, sorghum; Senepol cattle

Wallis and Futuna

breadfruit, yams, taro, bananas; pigs, goats; fish

West Bank
olives, citrus, vegetables; beef, dairy products

Western Sahara
fruits and vegetables (grown in the few oases);
camels, sheep, goats (kept by nomads); fish

Yemen
grain, fruits, vegetables, pulses, qat, coffee, cotton; dairy
 products, livestock (sheep, goats, cattle, camels), poultry; fish

Zambia
corn, sorghum, rice, peanuts, sunflower seed, vegetables,
flowers, tobacco, cotton, sugarcane, cassava (tapioca), coffee;
cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, milk, eggs, hides

Zimbabwe
corn, cotton, tobacco, wheat, coffee, sugarcane, peanuts;
sheep, goats, pigs

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2053 Airports

Afghanistan
46 (2006)

Albania
11 (2006)

Algeria
142 (2006)

American Samoa
3 (2006)

Angola
244 (2006)

Anguilla
3 (2006)
Antarctica
20
note: there are no developed public access airports or landing
facilities; 28 stations or remote field locations, operated by 11
National Antarctic Programs from nations party to the Antarctic
Treaty, have restricted aircraft landing facilities comprising a
total of 11 runways and 22 skiways for fixed-wing aircraft; some
stations have both runways and skiways; commercial enterprises
operate two aircraft landing facilities at one station; helicopter
pads are available at all 37 year-round and 15 seasonal stations
operated by National Antarctic Programs; the 11 runways are suitable
for wheeled, fixed-wing aircraft: three are gravel, four blue-ice,
two sea-ice and two compacted snow; of these, five are 3 km in
length, two are between 2 km and 3 km in length, three are between 1
km and 2 km in length and one is less than 1 km in length; the 22
snow surface skiways are limited to use by ski-equipped, fixed-wing
aircraft; of these, three are equal to or greater than 3 km in
length, one is between 2 km and 3 km in length, nine are between 1
km and 2 km in length, five are less than 1 km in length, and four
are of unknown or variable length; snow surface skiways are
generally prepared and maintained during specific periods only and
during summer; all aircraft landing facilities 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 (2006)
Antigua and Barbuda
3 (2006)

Argentina
1,381 (2006)

Armenia
13 (2006)

Aruba
1 (2006)

Australia
455 (2006)

Austria
55 (2006)

Azerbaijan
36 (2006)

Bahamas, The
64 (2006)

Bahrain
3 (2006)

Baker Island
one abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m covered
with vegetation and unusable (2006)

Bangladesh
16 (2006)

Barbados
1 (2006)

Belarus
86 (2006)
Belgium
43 (2006)

Belize
43 (2006)

Benin
5 (2006)

Bermuda
1 (2006)

Bhutan
2 (2006)

Bolivia
1,084 (2006)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

28 (2006)

Botswana
85 (2006)

Brazil
4,276 (2006)

British Indian Ocean Territory

1 (2006)

British Virgin Islands

3 (2006)

Brunei
2 (2006)

Bulgaria
217 (2006)

Burkina Faso
 34 (2006)

Burma
85 (2006)

Burundi
8 (2006)

Cambodia
20 (2006)

Cameroon
47 (2006)

Canada
1,337 (2006)

Cape Verde
7 (2006)

Cayman Islands
3 (2006)

Central African Republic

50 (2006)

Chad
52 (2006)

Chile
363 (2006)

China
486 (2006)

Christmas Island
1 (2006)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

1 (2006)
Colombia
984 (2006)

Comoros
4 (2006)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

234 (2006)

Congo, Republic of the

32 (2006)

Cook Islands
9 (2006)

Costa Rica
157 (2006)

Cote d'Ivoire
35 (2006)

Croatia
68 (2006)

Cuba
170 (2006)

Cyprus
16 (2006)

Czech Republic
121 (2006)

Denmark
92 (2006)

Djibouti
13 (2006)

Dominica
 2 (2006)

Dominican Republic
33 (2006)

East Timor
8 (2006)

Ecuador
359 (2006)

Egypt
88 (2006)

El Salvador
75 (2006)

Equatorial Guinea
4 (2006)

Eritrea
17 (2006)

Estonia
24 (2006)

Ethiopia
84 (2006)

Europa Island
1 (2006)

European Union
3,393 (2006)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

5 (2006)

Faroe Islands
1 (2006)
Fiji
28 (2006)

Finland
148 (2006)

France
total: 501
metropolitan France: 477 (2006)

French Polynesia
51 (2006)

Gabon
56 (2006)

Gambia, The
1 (2006)

Gaza Strip
2
note: includes Gaza International Airport closed since its runway
was destroyed by the Israeli Defense Forces in December 2001 (2006)

Georgia
23 (2006)

Germany
554 (2006)

Ghana
12 (2006)

Gibraltar
1 (2006)

Glorioso Islands
1 (2006)

Greece
 82 (2006)

Greenland
14 (2006)

Grenada
3 (2006)

Guam
5 (2006)

Guatemala
450 (2006)

Guernsey
2 (one on Alderney) (2006)

Guinea
16 (2006)

Guinea-Bissau
28 (2006)

Guyana
90 (2006)

Haiti
12 (2006)

Honduras
116 (2006)

Hong Kong
3 (2006)

Howland Island
one 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 (2006)
Hungary
46 (2006)

Iceland
98 (2006)

Iles Eparses
4 (2006)

India
341 (2006)

Indonesia
662 (2006)

Iran
321 (2006)

Iraq
110 (2006)

Ireland
36 (2006)

Isle of Man
1 (2006)

Israel
53 (2006)

Italy
133 (2006)

Jamaica
35 (2006)

Jan Mayen
1 (2006)

Japan
 175 (2006)

Jersey
1 (2006)

Johnston Atoll
1
note: non-operational (2006)

Jordan
17 (2006)

Juan de Nova Island

1 (2006)

Kazakhstan
150 (2006)

Kenya
225 (2006)

Kingman Reef
lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii and
American Samoa by Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937 and
1938 (2006)

Kiribati
19 (2006)

Korea, North
77 (2006)

Korea, South
107 (2006)

Kuwait
7 (2006)

Kyrgyzstan
37 (2006)
Laos
44 (2006)

Latvia
46 (2006)

Lebanon
7 (2006)

Lesotho
28 (2006)

Liberia
53 (2006)

Libya
141 (2006)

Lithuania
91 (2006)

Luxembourg
2 (2006)

Macau
1 (2006)

Macedonia
17 (2006)

Madagascar
116 (2006)

Malawi
42 (2006)

Malaysia
117 (2006)

Maldives
 5 (2006)

Mali
29 (2006)

Malta
1 (2006)

Marshall Islands
15 (2006)

Mauritania
25 (2006)

Mauritius
6 (2006)

Mayotte
1 (2006)

Mexico
1,839 (2006)

Micronesia, Federated States of

6 (2006)

Midway Islands
3; note - only one operational (2006)

Moldova
12 (2006)

Mongolia
44 (2006)

Montenegro
5 (2006)

Montserrat
2 (2006)
Morocco
60 (2006)

Mozambique
158 (2006)

Namibia
137 (2006)

Nauru
1 (2006)

Nepal
48 (2006)

Netherlands
27 (2006)

Netherlands Antilles
5 (2006)

New Caledonia
25 (2006)

New Zealand
118 (2006)

Nicaragua
176 (2006)

Niger
28 (2006)

Nigeria
69 (2006)

Niue
1 (2006)

Norfolk Island
 1 (2006)

Northern Mariana Islands

5 (2006)

Norway
99 (2006)

Oman
137 (2006)

Pakistan
139 (2006)

Palau
3 (2006)

Palmyra Atoll
1 (2006)

Panama
117 (2006)

Papua New Guinea

582 (2006)

Paracel Islands
1 (2006)

Paraguay
881 (2006)

Peru
268 (2006)

Philippines
256 (2006)

Poland
122 (2006)
Portugal
66 (2006)

Puerto Rico
30 (2006)

Qatar
5 (2006)

Romania
61 (2006)

Russia
1,623 (2006)

Rwanda
9 (2006)

Saint Helena
1
note: Wideawake Field on Ascension Island (2006)

Saint Kitts and Nevis

2 (2006)

Saint Lucia
2 (2006)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

2 (2006)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

6 (2006)

Samoa
4 (2006)

Sao Tome and Principe

2 (2006)
Saudi Arabia
208 (2006)

Senegal
20 (2006)

Serbia
39 (2006)

Seychelles
15 (2006)

Sierra Leone
10 (2006)

Singapore
9 (2006)

Slovakia
36 (2006)

Slovenia
14 (2006)

Solomon Islands
35 (2006)

Somalia
65 (2006)

South Africa
731 (2006)

Spain
157 (2006)

Spratly Islands
3 (2006)

Sri Lanka
 16 (2006)

Sudan
88 (2006)

Suriname
47 (2006)

Svalbard
4 (2006)

Swaziland
18 (2006)

Sweden
255 (2006)

Switzerland
65 (2006)

Syria
92 (2006)

Taiwan
42 (2006)

Tajikistan
40 (2006)

Tanzania
124 (2006)

Thailand
108 (2006)

Togo
9 (2006)

Tonga
6 (2006)
Trinidad and Tobago
6 (2006)

Tromelin Island
1 (2006)

Tunisia
30 (2006)

Turkey
117 (2006)

Turkmenistan
29 (2006)

Turks and Caicos Islands

8 (2006)

Tuvalu
1 (2006)

Uganda
31 (2006)

Ukraine
499 (2006)

United Arab Emirates

37 (2006)

United Kingdom
471 (2006)

United States
14,858 (2006)

United States Pacific Island Wildlife Refuges

Baker Island: one
abandoned World War II runway of 1,665 m covered with vegetation and
unusable
 Howland Island: airstrip constructed in 1937 for scheduled refueling
stop on the round-the-world flight of Amelia EARHART and Fred
NOONAN; the aviators left Lae, New Guinea, for Howland Island but
were never seen again; the airstrip is no longer serviceable
Johnston Atoll: 1 - closed and not maintained
Kingman Reef: lagoon was used as a halfway station between Hawaii
and American Samoa by Pan American Airways for flying boats in 1937
and 1938
Midway Islands: 3 - one operational (2,409 m paved); no fuel for
sale except emergencies
Palmyra Atoll: 1 - 1,846 m unpaved runway; privately owned (2006)

Uruguay
64 (2006)

Uzbekistan
61 (2006)

Vanuatu
31 (2006)

Venezuela
375 (2006)

Vietnam
32 (2006)

Virgin Islands
2 (2006)

Wake Island
1 (2006)

Wallis and Futuna

2 (2006)

West Bank
3 (2006)

Western Sahara
 11 (2006)

World
49,024 (2006)

Yemen
46 (2006)

Zambia
111 (2006)

Zimbabwe
403 (2006)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2054 Birth rate (births/1,000 population)

Afghanistan
46.6 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Albania
15.11 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Algeria
17.14 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

American Samoa
22.46 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Andorra
8.71 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Angola
45.11 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Anguilla
14.17 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda

16.93 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Argentina
16.73 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Armenia
12.07 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Aruba
11.03 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Australia
12.14 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Austria
8.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Azerbaijan
20.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Bahamas, The
17.57 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Bahrain
17.8 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Bangladesh
29.8 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Barbados
12.71 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Belarus
 11.16 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Belgium
10.38 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Belize
28.84 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Benin
38.85 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Bermuda
11.4 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Bhutan
33.65 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Bolivia
23.3 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

8.77 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Botswana
23.08 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Brazil
16.56 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

British Virgin Islands

14.89 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Brunei
18.79 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Bulgaria
9.65 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Burkina Faso
45.62 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Burma
17.91 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Burundi
42.22 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Cambodia
26.9 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Cameroon
33.89 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Canada
10.78 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Cape Verde
24.87 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Cayman Islands
12.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Central African Republic

33.91 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Chad
45.73 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Chile
15.23 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

China
13.25 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Christmas Island
NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

NA

Colombia
 20.48 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Comoros
36.93 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

43.69 births/1,000 population
(2006 est.)

Congo, Republic of the

42.57 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Cook Islands
21 births/1,000 population (2001 census)

Costa Rica
18.32 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Cote d'Ivoire
35.11 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Croatia
9.61 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Cuba
11.89 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Cyprus
12.56 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Czech Republic
9.02 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Denmark
11.13 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Djibouti
39.53 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Dominica
 15.27 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Dominican Republic
23.22 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

East Timor
26.99 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Ecuador
22.29 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Egypt
22.94 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

El Salvador
26.61 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
35.59 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Eritrea
34.33 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Estonia
10.04 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Ethiopia
37.98 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

European Union
10 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

NA births/1,000 population (2006
est.)

Faroe Islands
14.05 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Fiji
 22.55 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Finland
10.45 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

France
11.99 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

French Polynesia
16.68 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Gabon
36.16 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Gambia, The
39.37 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Gaza Strip
39.45 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Georgia
10.41 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Germany
8.25 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Ghana
30.52 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Gibraltar
10.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Greece
9.68 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Greenland
15.93 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Grenada
22.08 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Guam
18.79 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Guatemala
29.88 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Guernsey
8.81 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Guinea
41.76 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
37.22 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Guyana
18.28 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Haiti
36.44 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Honduras
28.24 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Hong Kong
7.29 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Hungary
9.72 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Iceland
13.64 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

India
22.01 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Indonesia
20.34 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Iran
 17 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Iraq
31.98 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Ireland
14.45 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Isle of Man
11.05 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Israel
17.97 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Italy
8.72 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Jamaica
20.82 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Japan
9.37 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Jersey
9.3 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Jordan
21.25 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Kazakhstan
16 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Kenya
39.72 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Kiribati
30.65 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Korea, North
15.54 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Korea, South
10 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Kuwait
21.94 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
22.8 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Laos
35.49 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Latvia
9.24 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Lebanon
18.52 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Lesotho
24.75 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Liberia
44.77 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Libya
26.49 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Liechtenstein
10.21 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Lithuania
8.75 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Luxembourg
11.94 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Macau
8.48 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Macedonia
 12.02 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Madagascar
41.41 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Malawi
43.13 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Malaysia
22.86 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Maldives
34.81 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Mali
49.82 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Malta
10.22 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Marshall Islands
33.05 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Mauritania
40.99 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Mauritius
15.43 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Mayotte
40.95 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Mexico
20.69 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of

24.68 births/1,000 population (2006
est.)

Moldova
 15.7 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Monaco
9.19 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Mongolia
21.59 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Montenegro
12.6 births/1,000 population (2004)

Montserrat
17.59 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Morocco
21.98 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Mozambique
35.18 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Namibia
24.32 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Nauru
24.76 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Nepal
30.98 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Netherlands
10.9 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
14.78 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

New Caledonia
18.11 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

New Zealand
13.76 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Nicaragua
24.51 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Niger
50.73 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Nigeria
40.43 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Niue
NA births/1,000 population

Norfolk Island
NA

Northern Mariana Islands

19.43 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Norway
11.46 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Oman
36.24 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Pakistan
29.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Palau
18.03 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Panama
21.74 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Papua New Guinea

29.36 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Paraguay
29.1 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Peru
 20.48 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Philippines
24.89 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Pitcairn Islands
NA

Poland
9.85 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Portugal
10.72 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Puerto Rico
12.77 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Qatar
15.56 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Romania
10.7 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Russia
9.95 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Rwanda
40.37 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Saint Helena
12.13 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Saint Kitts and Nevis

18.02 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Saint Lucia
19.68 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

13.52 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
16.18 births/1,000 population (2006
est.)

Samoa
16.43 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

San Marino
10.02 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe

40.25 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Saudi Arabia
29.34 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Senegal
32.78 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Seychelles
16.03 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sierra Leone
45.76 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Singapore
9.34 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Slovakia
10.65 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Slovenia
8.98 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Solomon Islands
30.01 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Somalia
45.13 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
South Africa
18.2 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Spain
10.06 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sri Lanka
15.51 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sudan
34.53 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Suriname
18.02 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Svalbard
NA births/1,000 population

Swaziland
27.41 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sweden
10.27 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Switzerland
9.71 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Syria
27.76 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Taiwan
12.56 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Tajikistan
32.65 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Tanzania
37.71 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Thailand
 13.87 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Togo
37.01 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Tokelau
NA

Tonga
25.37 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Trinidad and Tobago

12.9 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Tunisia
15.52 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Turkey
16.62 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Turkmenistan
27.61 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands

21.84 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Tuvalu
22.18 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Uganda
47.35 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Ukraine
8.82 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

United Arab Emirates

18.96 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

United Kingdom
10.71 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)
United States
14.14 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Uruguay
13.91 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Uzbekistan
26.36 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Vanuatu
22.72 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Venezuela
18.71 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Vietnam
16.86 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Virgin Islands
13.96 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Wallis and Futuna

NA births/1,000 population

West Bank
31.67 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Western Sahara
NA births/1,000 population

World
20.05 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Yemen
42.89 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Zambia
41 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Zimbabwe
 28.01 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2055 Military branches

Afghanistan
Afghan National Army (includes Afghan Air Force) (2006)

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

Algeria
National Popular Army (ANP; includes Land Forces), Algerian
National Navy (MRA), Air Force (QJJ), Territorial Air Defense Force
(2005)

Andorra
no regular military forces, Police Service of Andorra

Angola
Army, Navy (Marinha de Guerra, MdG), Air and Air Defense
Forces (FANA) (2006)

Antigua and Barbuda

Royal Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force (2006)

Argentina
Argentine Army, Navy of the Argentine Republic (includes
naval aviation and naval infantry), Argentine Air Force (Fuerza
Aerea Argentina, FAA) (2005)
Armenia
Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Nagorno-Karabakh Self Defense
Force (NKSDF), Air Force, Air Defense Force (2006)

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

Australia
Australian Defense Force (ADF): Australian Army, Royal
Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force, Special Operations
Command (2006)

Austria
Land Forces (KdoLdSK), Air Forces (KdoLuSK)

Azerbaijan
Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces

Bahamas, The
Royal Bahamian Defense Force: Marines, Air Wing (2006)

Bahrain
Bahrain Defense Forces (BDF): Ground Force (includes Air
Defense), Navy, Air Force, National Guard

Bangladesh
Bangladesh Defense Force: Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh
Navy, Bangladesh Air Force (Bangladesh Biman Bahini, BAF) (2006)

Barbados
Royal Barbados Defense Force: Troops Command, Coast Guard
(2005)

Belarus
Belarus Armed Forces: Land Force, Air and Air Defense Force
(2006)

Belgium
Belgian Armed Forces: Land, Naval, and Air Operations
 Commands (2005)

Belize
Belize Defense Force (BDF): Army, Maritime Wing, Air Wing,
and Volunteer Guard

Benin
Army, Navy, Air Force

Bermuda
no regular military forces

Bhutan
Royal Bhutan Army: Royal Bodyguard, Royal Bhutan Police (2005)

Bolivia
Bolivian Armed Forces: Bolivian Army (Ejercito Boliviano),
Bolivian Navy (Armada Boliviana; includes marines), Bolivian Air
Force (Fuerza Aerea Boliviana, FAB) (2006)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

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)

Botswana
Botswana Defense Force (includes an air wing) (2006)

Brazil
Brazilian Army, Brazilian Navy (Marinha do Brasil (MB),
includes Naval Air and Marine Corps (Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais)),
Brazilian Air Force (Forca Aerea Brasileira, FAB) (2006)

Brunei
Royal Brunei Armed Forces: Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal
Brunei Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force (Tentera Udara Diraja Brunei)
(2005)

Bulgaria
Bulgarian Armed Forces: Ground Forces, Naval Forces,
 Bulgarian Air Forces (Bulgarski Voennovazdyshni Sily, BVVS) (2006)

Burkina Faso
Army, Air Force of Burkina Faso (Force Aerienne de
Burkina Faso), National Gendarmerie (2006)

Burma
Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw): Army, Navy, Air Force (2005)

Burundi
National Defense Force (Forces de Defense Nationales, FDN):
Army (includes Naval Detachment and Air Wing), National Gendarmerie
(being disbanded) (2006)

Cambodia
Royal Cambodian Armed Forces: Royal Cambodian Army, Royal
Khmer Navy, Royal Cambodian Air Force (2005)

Cameroon
Cameroon Armed Forces: Army, Navy (includes naval
infantry), Air Force (Armee de l'Air du Cameroun, AAC) (2006)

Canada
Canadian Forces: Land Forces Command, Maritime Command, Air
Command, Canada Command (homeland security) (2006)

Cape Verde
People's Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARP): Army, Coast
Guard (includes maritime air wing)

Cayman Islands
no regular military forces; Royal Cayman Islands
Police Force

Central African Republic

Central African Armed Forces (FACA): Ground
Forces, Military Air Service; General Directorate of Gendarmerie
Inspection (DGIG), Republican Guard, National Police (2006)

Chad
 Chadian National Army (Armee Nationale Tchadienne, ANT), Air
Force, Gendarmerie (2004)

Chile
Army of the Nation, National Navy (Armada de Chile, includes
naval air, marine corps, and Maritime Territory and Merchant Marine
Directorate (Directemar)), Chilean Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de Chile,
FACh), Chilean Carabineros (National Police) (2006)

China
People's Liberation Army (PLA): Ground Forces, Navy (includes
marines and naval aviation), Air Force (includes airborne forces),
and Second Artillery Corps (strategic missile force); People's Armed
Police (PAP); Reserve and Militia Forces (2006)

Colombia
Army (Ejercito Nacional), National Navy (Armada Nacional,
includes naval aviation, marines, and coast guard), Colombian Air
Force (Fuerza Aerea de Colombia, FAC) (2006)

Comoros
Comoran Defense Force: Comoran Security Force (includes
Gendarmerie and Army), Comoran Federal Police (2006)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Army, Navy, Air Force

Congo, Republic of the

Congolese Armed Forces (FAC): Army, Congolese
Air Force (Armee de l'Air Congolaise), Navy, Gendarmerie, Republican
Guard (2005)

Cook Islands
no regular military forces; Ministry of Police and
Disaster Management (2005)

Costa Rica
no regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security,
Government, and Police (2006)
Cote d'Ivoire
Cote d'Ivoire Defense and Security Forces (FDSC):
Army, Navy, Air Force (2006)

Croatia
Ground Forces (Hrvatska Kopnena Vojska, HKoV), Naval Forces
(Hrvatska Ratna Mornarica, HRM), Air and Air Defense Forces
(Hrvatsko Ratno Zrakoplovstvo i Protuzrakoplovna Obrana, HRZiPZO),
Joint Education and Training Command, Logistics Command; Military
Police Force supports each of the three Croatian military forces
(2006)

Cuba
Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR): Revolutionary Army (ER),
Revolutionary Navy (Marina de Guerra Revolucionaria, MGR),
Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force (DAAFAR), Youth Labor Army
(EJT) (2005)

Cyprus
Republic of Cyprus: Greek Cypriot National Guard (GCNG;
includes air and naval elements); north Cyprus: Turkish Cypriot
Security Force (GKK)

Czech Republic
Army of the Czech Republic (ACR): Joint Forces
Command (includes air forces), Support and Training Forces Command
(2006)

Denmark
Defense Command: Army Operational Command, Admiral Danish
Fleet, Tactical Air Command (2006)

Djibouti
Djibouti National Army (includes Navy and Air Force)

Dominica
no regular military forces; Commonwealth of Dominica Police
Force (includes coast guard)

Dominican Republic
 Army, Navy, Air Force

East Timor
East Timor Defense Force (Forcas de Defesa de
Timor-L'este, FDTL): Army, Navy (Armada) (2005)

Ecuador
Army, Navy (includes naval infantry, naval aviation, coast
guard), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Ecuatoriana, FAE)

Egypt
Army, Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Command

El Salvador
Salvadoran Army (ES), Salvadoran Navy (FNES), Salvadoran
Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Salvadorena, FAS) (2006)

Equatorial Guinea
Army, Navy, Air Force (2005)

Eritrea
Army, Navy, Air Force

Estonia
Estonian Defense Forces: Land Force, Navy, Air Force,
Volunteer Defense League (Kaitseliit, KL) (2006)

Ethiopia
Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF): Ground Forces,
Ethiopian Air Force
note: Ethiopia is landlocked and has no navy; following the
secession of Eritrea, Ethiopian naval facilities remained in
Eritrean possession

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

no regular military forces

Faroe Islands
no regular military forces
Fiji
Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF): Land Forces, Naval
Forces (2006)

Finland
Finnish Defense Forces: Army, Navy (includes coastal defense
forces), Air Force (2003)

France
Army (includes marines, Foreign Legion, light aviation), Navy
(includes naval air), Air Force (includes air defense), National
Gendarmerie

French Polynesia
no regular military forces; Gendarmerie and
National Police Force

Gabon
Army, Navy, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police

Gambia, The
Gambian National Army (GNA), Gambian Navy (GN),
Presidential Guard, National Guard

Gaza Strip
in accordance with the peace agreement, the Palestinian
Authority is not permitted conventional military forces; there are,
however, public security forces (2002)

Georgia
Ground Forces (includes National Guard), Air and Air Defense
Forces, Navy (2006)

Germany
Federal Armed Forces (Bundeswehr): Army (Heer), Navy
(Deutsche Marine, includes naval air arm), Air Force (Luftwaffe),
Joint Service Support Command (Streitkraeftebasis), Central Medical
Service (Zentraler Sanitaetsdienst) (2006)

Ghana
 Ghanaian Army, Ghanaian Navy, Ghanaian Air Force (2006)

Gibraltar
Royal Gibraltar Regiment

Greece
Hellenic Army (Ellinikos Stratos, ES), Hellenic Navy
(Ellinikos Polemiko Navtiko, EPN), Hellenic Air Force (Elliniki
Polimiki Aeroporia, EPA) (2006)

Grenada
no regular military forces; Royal Grenada Police Force

Guatemala
Army, Navy (includes marines), Air Force

Guinea
Army, Navy, Air Force, Presidential Guard (2006)

Guinea-Bissau
People's Revolutionary Armed Force (FARP; includes
Army, Navy, and Air Force), paramilitary force

Guyana
Guyana Defense Force: Ground Forces, Coast Guard, Air Corps
(2006)

Haiti
the regular Haitian Armed Forces (FAdH) - Army, Navy, and Air
Force - have been demobilized but still exist on paper unless they
are constitutionally abolished

Holy See (Vatican City)

Pontifical Swiss Guard (Corpo della Guardia
Svizzera Pontificia)

Honduras
Army, Navy (includes naval infantry), Honduran Air Force
(Fuerza Aerea Hondurena, FAH) (2006)
Hong Kong
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

Hungary
Ground Forces, Hungarian Air Force (Magyar Legiero, ML)
(2006)

Iceland
no regular armed forces; Icelandic National Police,
Icelandic Coast Guard (Islenska Landhelgisgaeslan) subordinate to
Ministry of Justice, Icelandic Crisis Response Unit (2006)

India
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)

Indonesia
Indonesia Armed Forces (Tentara Nasional Indonesia, TNI):
Army (TNI-AD), Navy (TNI-AL, includes marines, naval air arm), Air
Force (TNI-AU)
note: the TNI is directly subordinate to the president but the
government is making efforts to incorporate it into the Department
of Defense

Iran
Islamic Republic of Iran Regular Forces (Artesh): Ground
Forces, Navy, Air Force (Niruye Havayi Jomhuriye Islamiye Iran;
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 (2006)

Iraq
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)

Ireland
Irish Defense Forces (Oglaigh na h-Eireann): Army (includes
Naval Service and Air Corps) (2006)

Israel
Israel Defense Forces (IDF): Army Headquarters, Israel Navy,
Israeli Air and Space Force (ISAF, includes air defense forces);
historically there have been no separate Israeli military services
(2005)

Italy
Army (Esercito Italiano, EI), Navy (Marina Militare Italiana,
MMI), Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana, AMI), Carabinieri
Corps (Corpo dei Carabinieri, CC) (2005)

Jamaica
Jamaica Defense Force: Ground Forces, Coast Guard, Air Wing

Japan
Japanese Defense Agency (JDA): Ground Self-Defense Force
(Rikujou Jietai, GSDF), Maritime Self-Defense Force (Kaijou Jietai,
MSDF), Air Self-Defense Force (Nihon Koku-Jieitai, ASDF) (2006)

Jordan
Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF): Royal Jordanian Land Force,
Royal Jordanian Navy, Royal Jordanian Air Force (Al-Quwwat
al-Jawwiya al-Malakiya al-Urduniya), Special Operations Command
(Socom); Public Security Directorate (normally falls under Ministry
of Interior, but comes under JAF in wartime or crisis situations)
(2006)

Kazakhstan
 Ground Forces, Air and Air Defense Forces, Naval Force,
Republican Guard

Kenya
Kenyan Army, Kenyan Navy, Kenyan Air Force (2006)

Kiribati
no regular military forces; Police Force (carries out law
enforcement functions and paramilitary duties; small police posts
are on all islands)

Korea, North
North Korean People's Army: Ground Force, Navy, Air
Force; civil security forces (2005)

Korea, South
Army, Navy, Republic of Korea Air Force (Han-guk Kong
Goon), Marine Corps, National Maritime Police (coast guard) (2006)

Kuwait
Land Forces, Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat
al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya), National Guard (2006)

Kyrgyzstan
Army, Air Force, National Guard (2005)

Laos
Lao People's Army (LPA; includes Riverine Force), Air Force

Latvia
Latvian Republic Defense Force: Ground Forces, Navy, Air
Force, Border Guard, Home Guard (Zemessardze) (2005)

Lebanon
Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF): Army, Navy, and Air Force

Lesotho
Lesotho Defense Force (LDF): Army and Air Wing

Liberia
 Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL): Army, Navy, Air Force

Libya
Armed Peoples on Duty (APOD, Army), Libyan Arab Navy, Libyan
Arab Air Force (LAAF) (2006)

Lithuania
Ground Forces, Naval Force, Lithuanian Military Air
Forces, National Defense Volunteer Forces (2005)

Luxembourg
Army

Macau
no regular military forces

Macedonia
Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM): Joint Operational
Command, with subordinate Air Wing (Makedonsko Voeno
Vozduhoplovstvo, MVV), Special Force Command (2006)

Madagascar
People's Armed Forces: Intervention Force, Development
Force, and Aeronaval Force (navy and air); National Gendarmerie

Malawi
Malawi Armed Forces: Army (includes Air Wing and Naval
Detachment), Police (includes Mobile Force Unit)

Malaysia
Malaysian Armed Forces (Angkatan Tentera Malaysia, ATM):
Malaysian Army (Tentera Darat Malaysia), Royal Malaysian Navy
(Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia, TLDM), Royal Malaysian Air Force
(Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia, TUDM) (2006)

Maldives
National Security Service: Security Branch (ground forces),
Air Element, Coast Guard

Mali
 Army, Air Force, National Guard

Malta
Armed Forces of Malta (AFM; includes air and maritime
elements) (2005)

Marshall Islands
no regular military forces; Marshall Islands Police

Mauritania
Mauritanian Armed Forces: Army, Navy (Marine
Mauritanienne; includes naval infantry), Air Force (Force Aerienne
Islamique de Mauritanie, FAIM) (2005)

Mauritius
no regular military forces; National Police Force, Special
Mobile Force, National Coast Guard

Mexico
Secretariat of National Defense (Secretaria de Defensa
Nacional, Sedena): Army (Ejercito), Mexican Air Force (Fuerza Aerea
Mexicana, FAM); Secretariat of the Navy (Secretaria de Marina,
Semar): Mexican Navy (Armada de Mexico, ARM, includes Naval Air
Force (FAN) and Marines) (2006)

Micronesia, Federated States of

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)

Moldova
National Army: Ground Forces, Rapid Reaction Forces, Air and
Air Defense Forces (2006)

Mongolia
Mongolian People's Army (MPA), Mongolian People's Air Force
(MPAF); there is no navy (2005)
Montserrat
no regular military forces; Royal Montserrat Police Force
(2005)

Morocco
Royal Armed Forces (Forces Armees Royales, FAR): Royal
Moroccan Army (includes Air Defense), Navy (includes Marines), Royal
Moroccan Air Force (Force Aerienne Royale Marocaine) (2006)

Mozambique
Mozambique Armed Defense Forces (FADM): Mozambique Army,
Mozambique Navy (Marinha Mocambique, MM), Mozambique Air Force
(Forca Aerea de Mocambique, FAM) (2006)
Namibia
Namibian Defense Force: Army, Air Wing, Navy (2006)

Nauru
no regular military forces; Nauru Police Force (2005)

Nepal
Royal Nepalese Army (includes Royal Nepalese Army Air
Service); Nepalese Police Force

Netherlands
Royal Netherlands Army, Royal Netherlands Navy (includes
Naval Air Service and Marine Corps), Royal Netherlands Air Force
(Koninklijke Luchtmacht, KLu), Royal Military Police, Defense
Interservice Command (DICO) (2006)

Netherlands Antilles
no regular military forces; National Guard,
Police Force (2005)

New Caledonia
no regular indigenous military forces; French Armed
Forces (includes Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie); Police Force

New Zealand
New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF): New Zealand Army,
Royal New Zealand Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force (2006)

Nicaragua
Army (includes Navy, Air Force)

Niger
Nigerien Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN): Army,
National Air Force (2005)

Nigeria
Nigerian Armed Forces (Forces Armees Nigeriennes, FAN):
Army, Niger Air Force (2006)
Niue
no regular indigenous military forces; Police Force

Norway
Norwegian Army (Haeren), Royal Norwegian Navy (Kongelige
Norske Sjoeforsvaret, RNoN; includes Coastal Rangers and Coast Guard
(Kystvakt)), Royal Norwegian Air Force (Kongelige Norske
Luftforsvaret, RNoAF), Home Guard (Heimevernet, HV) (2006)

Oman
Royal Omani Armed Forces: Royal Army of Oman, Royal Navy of
Oman, Royal Air Force of Oman (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Sultanat
Oman, RAFO) (2006)

Pakistan
Army (includes National Guard), Navy (includes Marines),
Pakistan Air Force (Pakistan Fiza'ya) (2006)

Palau
no regular military forces; Palau National Police (2006)

Panama
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)

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea Defense Force (includes Maritime
Operations Element, Air Operations Element)

Paraguay
Army, National Navy (Armada Nacional, includes Naval
Aviation, Marine Corps, General Naval Prefecture), Air Force (Fuerza
Aerea Paraguay, FAP) (2006)

Peru
Peruvian Army (Ejercito Peruano), Peruvian Navy (Marina de
Guerra del Peru; includes naval air, naval infantry, and coast
guard), Peruvian Air Force (Fuerza Aerea del Peru, FAP)
Philippines
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP): Army, Navy
(includes Marine Corps), Philippine Air Force (Hukbomg Himpapawid ng
Pilipinas) (2006)

Poland
Polish Armed Forces: Land Forces (includes Navy (Marynarka
Wojenna, MW)), Polish Air Force (Sily Powietrzenje Rzeczypospolitej
Polskiej, SPRP) (2006)

Portugal
Army, Navy (Marinha Portuguesa; includes Marine Corps), Air
Force (Forca Aerea Portuguesa, FAP), National Republican Guard
(Guarda Nacional Republicana) (2005)

Puerto Rico
no regular indigenous military forces; paramilitary
National Guard, Police Force

Qatar
Qatari Amiri Land Force (QALF), Qatari Amiri Navy (QAN),
Qatari Amiri Air Force (QAAF)

Romania
Land Forces, Naval Forces, Romanian Air Force (Fortele
Aerienne Romane, FAR), Special Operations (2006)

Russia
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

Rwanda
Rwandan Defense Forces: Army, Air Force

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Kitts and Nevis Defense Force (includes
Coast Guard), Royal Saint Kitts and Nevis Police Force
Saint Lucia
no regular military forces; Royal Saint Lucia Police
Force (includes Special Service Unit, Coast Guard) (2006)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

no regular military forces; Royal
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (includes Special
Service Unit), Coast Guard (2005)

Samoa
no regular military forces; Samoa Police Force (2005)

San Marino
no regular military forces; Voluntary Military Force
(Corpi Militari Voluntar) performs ceremonial duties and limited
police functions (2006)

Sao Tome and Principe

Armed Forces of Sao Tome and Principe (FASTP):
Army, Coast Guard, Presidential Guard (2004)

Saudi Arabia
Land Forces (Army), Navy, Air Force, Air Defense Force,
National Guard, Ministry of Interior Forces (paramilitary)

Senegal
Army, Senegalese Navy (Marine Senegalaise), Senegalese Air
Force (Armee de l'Air du Senegal) (2006)

Serbia
Serbian Armed Forces (Vojska Srbije, VS): Serbian Land Forces
(Kopnene Vojska, KoV), Air Force and Air Defense Force
(Vozduhoplostvo i Protivozduhoplovna Odbrana, ViPO), naval force to
be determined (2006)

Seychelles
Seychelles Defense Force: Army, Coast Guard (includes
Navy Wing, Air Wing), National Guard (2005)

Sierra Leone
 Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF): Army
(includes Air Wing, Maritime Wing)

Singapore
Singapore Armed Forces: Army, Navy, Republic of Singapore
Air Force (includes Air Defense) (2006)

Slovakia
Armed Forces of the Slovak Republic (Ozbrojene Sily
Slovenskej Republiky): Land Forces (Pozemne Sily), Air Forces
(Vzdusne Sily), Training and Support Forces (Vycviku a Podpory Sily)
(2005)

Slovenia
Slovenian Army (includes air and naval forces)

Solomon Islands
no regular military forces; Royal Solomon Islands
Police (RSIP)

Somalia
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

South Africa
South African National Defense Force (SANDF): South
African Army, South African Navy (SAN), South African Air Force
(SAAF), Joint Operations Command, Joint Support Command, Military
Intelligence, Military Health Service (2005)

Spain
Spanish Armed Forces: Army (Ejercito de Tierra), Spanish Navy
(Armada Espanola, AE; includes Marine Corps), Spanish Air Force
(Ejercito del Aire Espanola, EdA) (2006)

Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan Army, Sri Lankan Navy, Sri Lankan Air Force
(2006)
Sudan
Sudanese People's Armed Forces (SPAF): Army, Navy, Air Force,
Popular Defense Force

Suriname
National Army, Naval Element, Air Wing (2006)

Swaziland
Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (USDF): Ground Force
(includes air wing), Royal Swaziland Police Force (RSPF) (2005)

Sweden
Swedish Armed Forces (Forsvarsmakten): Army (Armen), Royal
Swedish Navy (Marinen), Swedish Air Force (Svenska Flygvapnet) (2006)

Switzerland
Swiss Armed Forces: Land Forces, Swiss Air Force
(Schweizer Luftwaffe); Switzerland has no navy, but maintains a
fleet of military patrol boats to patrol Swiss borders (2006)

Syria
Syrian Armed Forces: Syrian Arab Army (includes Syrian Arab
Navy), Syrian Arab Air and Air Defense Force (includes Air Defense
Command) (2005)

Taiwan
Army, Navy (includes Marine Corps), Air Force, Coast Guard
Administration, Armed Forces Reserve Command, Combined Service
Forces Command, Armed Forces Police Command

Tajikistan
Ground Troops, Air and Air Defense Troops, Mobile Troops
(2005)

Tanzania
Tanzanian People's Defense Force (JWTZ): Army, Naval Wing,
Air Defense Command (includes air wing), National Service

Thailand
Royal Thai Army (RTA), Royal Thai Navy (RTN, includes Royal
 Thai Marine Corps), Royal Thai Air Force (Knogtap Agard Thai, RTAF)
(2006)

Togo
Togolese Armed Forces (FAT): Army, Navy, Air Force, Gendarmerie
(2005)

Tonga
Tonga Defense Services: Land Force (Royal Guard), Naval Force
(includes Royal Marines, Air Wing) (2006)

Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force: Ground Force,
Coast Guard (includes air wing) (2004)

Tunisia
Army, Navy, Republic of Tunisia Air Force (Al-Quwwat
al-Jawwiya al-Jamahiriyah At'tunisia) (2006)

Turkey
Turkish Armed Forces (TSK): Land Forces, Turkish Naval Forces
(Turk Deniz Kuvvetleri, TDK; includes naval air and naval infantry),
Turkish Air Force (Turk Hava Kuvvetleri, THK) (2006)

Turkmenistan
Ground Forces, Artillery and Rocket Forces, Navy, Air
and Air Defense Forces (2006)

Tuvalu
no regular military forces; Police Force

Uganda
Ugandan Peoples' Defense Force (UPDF): Army, Marine Unit, Air
Wing

Ukraine
Ground Forces, Naval Forces, Air Forces (Viyskovo-Povitryani
Syly), Air Defense Forces (2002)

United Arab Emirates

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

United Kingdom
Army, Royal Navy (includes Royal Marines), Royal Air
Force

United States
Army, Navy and Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast
Guard; note - Coast Guard administered in peacetime by the
Department of Homeland Security, but in wartime reports to the
Department of the Navy

Uruguay
Army, Navy (includes naval air arm, Marines, Maritime
Prefecture in wartime), Air Force (Fuerza Aerea Uruguaya, FAU) (2006)

Uzbekistan
Army, Air and Air Defense Forces, National Guard

Vanuatu
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)

Venezuela
National Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Nacionales or 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)

Vietnam
People's Armed Forces: People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN)
(includes People's Navy Command (with naval infantry, coast guard),
Air and Air Defense Force (Kon Quan Nhan Dan), Border Defense
 Command), People's Public Security Forces, Militia Force,
Self-Defense Forces (2005)

Yemen
Army (includes Special Forces), Navy (includes Marines),
Unified Yemen Air Force (includes Air Defense Force) (2006)

Zambia
Zambian National Defense Force (ZNDF): Army, Air Force,
Police, National Service

Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Defense Forces (ZDF): Zimbabwe National Army, Air
Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ), Zimbabwe Republic Police (2005)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2056 Budget

Afghanistan
revenues: $269 million
expenditures: $561 million; including capital expenditures of $41.7
million
note: Afghanistan has also received $273 million from the
Reconstruction Trust Fund and $63 million from the Law and Order
Trust Fund (FY04-05 budget est.)

Albania
revenues: $2.323 billion
expenditures: $2.587 billion; including capital expenditures of $500
million (2006 est.)

Algeria
 revenues: $59.26 billion
expenditures: $49.14 billion; including capital expenditures of $5.8
billion (2006 est.)

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

Andorra
revenues: $373.5 million
expenditures: $373.5 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2004)

Angola
revenues: $10.98 billion
expenditures: $9.7 billion; including capital expenditures of $963
million (2006 est.)

Anguilla
revenues: $22.8 million
expenditures: $22.5 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)

Antigua and Barbuda

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

Argentina
revenues: $52.1 billion
expenditures: $47.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $5.4
billion (2006 est.)

Armenia
revenues: $1.004 billion
expenditures: $1.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)
Aruba
revenues: $507.9 million
expenditures: $577.9 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)

Australia
revenues: $267 billion
expenditures: $258 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Austria
revenues: $155.9 billion
expenditures: $161.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Azerbaijan
revenues: $6.008 billion
expenditures: $5.804 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Bahamas, The
revenues: $1.03 billion
expenditures: $1.03 billion; including capital expenditures of $130
million (FY04/05)

Bahrain
revenues: $5.582 billion
expenditures: $4.197 billion; including capital expenditures of $700
million (2006 est.)

Bangladesh
revenues: $6.389 billion
expenditures: $8.694 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Barbados
revenues: $847 million (including grants)
expenditures: $886 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Belarus
revenues: $6.578 billion
expenditures: $7.164 billion; including capital expenditures of $180
million (2006 est.)

Belgium
revenues: $195.7 billion
expenditures: $195.5 billion; including capital expenditures of
$1.56 billion (2006 est.)

Belize
revenues: $302.5 million
expenditures: $357.5 million; including capital expenditures of $70
million (2006 est.)

Benin
revenues: $836.8 million
expenditures: $1.064 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Bermuda
revenues: $738 million
expenditures: $665 million (FY04/05)

Bhutan
revenues: $346.6 million
expenditures: including capital expenditures of $NA
note: the government of India finances nearly three-fifths of
Bhutan's budget expenditures (2004)

Bolivia
revenues: $4.153 billion
expenditures: $3.619 billion; including capital expenditures of $741
million (2006 est.)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

revenues: $5.643 billion
expenditures: $5.677 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)
Botswana
revenues: $4.256 billion
expenditures: $3.968 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Brazil
revenues: $140.6 billion
expenditures: $172.4 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2004)

British Virgin Islands

revenues: $204.7 million
expenditures: $180.4 million; including capital expenditures of
$33.8 million (2004)

Brunei
revenues: $3.765 billion
expenditures: $4.815 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2004 est.)

Bulgaria
revenues: $13.28 billion
expenditures: $12.16 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Burkina Faso
revenues: $1.158 billion
expenditures: $1.714 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Burma
revenues: $494.1 million
expenditures: $947.3 million; including capital expenditures of NA
(2006 est.)

Burundi
revenues: $239.9 million
expenditures: $297 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)
Cambodia
revenues: $731 million
expenditures: $931.8 million; including capital expenditures of $291
million (2006 est.)

Cameroon
revenues: $3.339 billion
expenditures: $3.157 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Canada
revenues: $183.5 billion
expenditures: $181.8 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)

Cape Verde
revenues: $324.6 million
expenditures: $370.4 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Cayman Islands
revenues: $423.8 million
expenditures: $392.6 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2004)

Central African Republic

revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA

Chad
revenues: $617.3 million
expenditures: $877.6 million; including capital expenditures of $146
million (2006 est.)

Chile
revenues: $36.71 billion
expenditures: $26.68 billion; including capital expenditures of
$3.33 billion (2006 est.)

China
 revenues: $446.6 billion
expenditures: $489.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Christmas Island
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA

Colombia
revenues: $50.7 billion
expenditures: $52.29 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Comoros
revenues: $27.6 million
expenditures: $NA (2001 est.)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

revenues: $700 million
expenditures: $750 million; including capital expenditures of $24
million (2004 est.)

Congo, Republic of the

revenues: $2.985 billion
expenditures: $1.664 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Cook Islands
revenues: $70.95 million
expenditures: $69.05 million; including capital expenditures of
$5.744 million (FY05/06)

Costa Rica
revenues: $3.134 billion
expenditures: $3.475 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)
Cote d'Ivoire
revenues: $2.837 billion
expenditures: $3.154 billion; including capital expenditures of $420
million (2006 est.)

Croatia
revenues: $17.78 billion
expenditures: $19.06 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Cuba
revenues: $35.07 billion
expenditures: $36.41 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Cyprus
revenues: Republic of Cyprus - $7.395 billion (2005 est.)
expenditures: Republic of Cyprus - $7.695 billion (2005 est.)
revenues: $685.7 million; north Cyprus - $231.3 million (2003 est.)
expenditures: north Cyprus - $432.8 million (2003 est.)

Czech Republic
revenues: $57.88 billion
expenditures: $62.53 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Denmark
revenues: $147 billion
expenditures: $138.9 billion; including capital expenditures of $4.6
billion (2006 est.)

Djibouti
revenues: $135 million
expenditures: $182 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(1999 est.)

Dominica
revenues: $73.9 million
expenditures: $84.4 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2001)
Dominican Republic
revenues: $5.852 billion
expenditures: $5.947 billion; including capital expenditures of $1.1
billion (2006 est.)

East Timor
revenues: $107.7 million
expenditures: $73 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2004 est.)

Ecuador
revenues: $11.5 billion
expenditures: planned $10.46 billion; including capital expenditures
of $1.6 billion (2006 est.)

Egypt
revenues: $21.32 billion
expenditures: $31.83 billion; including capital expenditures of $2.7
billion (2006 est.)

El Salvador
revenues: $356.6 million
expenditures: $384.5 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Equatorial Guinea
revenues: $2.752 billion
expenditures: $1.424 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Eritrea
revenues: $257.6 million
expenditures: $424 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Estonia
revenues: $5.994 billion
expenditures: $5.718 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)
Ethiopia
revenues: $2.565 billion
expenditures: $3.165 billion; including capital expenditures of $788
million (2006 est.)

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

revenues: $66.2 million
expenditures: $67.9 million; including capital expenditures of $23.2
million (FY98/99 est.)

Faroe Islands
revenues: $488 million
expenditures: $484 million; including capital expenditures of $21
million (1999)

Fiji
revenues: $720.5 million
expenditures: $728.3 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005)

Finland
revenues: $105.6 billion
expenditures: $101 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

France
revenues: $1.15 trillion
expenditures: $1.211 trillion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

French Polynesia
revenues: $865 million
expenditures: $644.1 million; including capital expenditures of $185
million (1999)

Gabon
revenues: $3.1 billion
expenditures: $2.181 billion; including capital expenditures of $325
million (2006 est.)
Gambia, The
revenues: $112.7 million
expenditures: $155.1 million; including capital expenditures of $4.1
million (2006 est.)

Gaza Strip
revenues: $1.23 billion
expenditures: $1.64 billion; including capital expenditures of $44
million; note - these budget data include West Bank (2005)

Georgia
revenues: $1.726 billion
expenditures: $1.879 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Germany
revenues: $1.277 trillion
expenditures: $1.344 trillion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Ghana
revenues: $3.616 billion
expenditures: $3.947 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Gibraltar
revenues: $307 million
expenditures: $284 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY00/01 est.)

Greece
revenues: $99.16 billion
expenditures: $106.7 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Greenland
revenues: $646 million
expenditures: $629 million; including capital expenditures of $85
million (1999)
Grenada
revenues: $85.8 million
expenditures: $102.1 million; including capital expenditures of $28
million (1997)

Guam
revenues: $319.6 million
expenditures: $427.8 million (2002 est.)

Guatemala
revenues: $3.894 billion
expenditures: $4.828 billion; including capital expenditures of $750
million (2006 est.)

Guernsey
revenues: $563.6 million
expenditures: $530.9 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)

Guinea
revenues: $288.2 million
expenditures: $556.7 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Guinea-Bissau
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA

Guyana
revenues: $359.9 million
expenditures: $430.3 million; including capital expenditures of
$93.4 million (2006 est.)

Haiti
revenues: $385 million
expenditures: $807.7 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Holy See (Vatican City)

revenues: $247 million
 expenditures: $243 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005)

Honduras
revenues: $2.002 billion
expenditures: $2.028 billion; including capital expenditures of $106
million (2006 est.)

Hong Kong
revenues: $35.16 billion
expenditures: $33.02 billion; including capital expenditures of $5.9
billion (2006 est.)

Hungary
revenues: $48.73 billion
expenditures: $59.62 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Iceland
revenues: $7.345 billion
expenditures: $6.655 billion; including capital expenditures of $467
million (2006 est.)

India
revenues: $109.4 billion
expenditures: $143.8 billion; including capital expenditures of $15
billion (2006 est.)

Indonesia
revenues: $75.58 billion
expenditures: $79.45 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Iran
revenues: $104.6 billion
expenditures: $100.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $7.6
billion (2006 est.)

Iraq
revenues: $30.8 billion
 expenditures: $34.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $5
billion (2006 est.)

Ireland
revenues: $74.49 billion
expenditures: $73.05 billion; including capital expenditures of $5.5
billion (2006 est.)

Isle of Man
revenues: $485 million
expenditures: $463 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY00/01 est.)

Israel
revenues: $47.57 billion
expenditures: $49.57 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Italy
revenues: $832.9 billion
expenditures: $925 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Jamaica
revenues: $3.302 billion
expenditures: $3.564 billion; including capital expenditures of
$180.4 million (2006 est.)

Japan
revenues: $1.411 trillion
expenditures: $1.639 trillion; including capital expenditures
(public works only) of about $71 billion (2006 est.)

Jersey
revenues: $601 million
expenditures: $588 million; including capital expenditures of $98
million (2000 est.)

Jordan
revenues: $4.191 billion
 expenditures: $5.305 billion; including capital expenditures of
$1.092 billion (2006 est.)

Kazakhstan
revenues: $18.48 billion
expenditures: $18.09 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Kenya
revenues: $4.448 billion
expenditures: $5.377 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Kiribati
revenues: $55.52 million
expenditures: $59.71 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY05)

Korea, North
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA

Korea, South
revenues: $218 billion
expenditures: $209.5 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Kuwait
revenues: $59.58 billion
expenditures: $33.62 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Kyrgyzstan
revenues: $498.3 million
expenditures: $544.8 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Laos
revenues: $400 million
expenditures: $537.4 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
 (2006 est.)

Latvia
revenues: $6.172 billion
expenditures: $6.45 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Lebanon
revenues: $4.444 billion
expenditures: $7.429 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Lesotho
revenues: $778.9 million
expenditures: $734.7 million; including capital expenditures of NA
(2006 est.)

Liberia
revenues: $85.4 million
expenditures: $90.5 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)

Libya
revenues: $33.34 billion
expenditures: $19.3 billion; including capital expenditures of $5.6
billion (2006 est.)

Liechtenstein
revenues: $424.2 million
expenditures: $414.1 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(1998 est.)

Lithuania
revenues: $9.415 billion
expenditures: $9.761 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Luxembourg
revenues: $19.07 billion
expenditures: $19.79 billion; including capital expenditures of
 $975.5 million (2006 est.)

Macau
revenues: $3.16 billion
expenditures: $3.16 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY05/06)

Macedonia
revenues: $2.113 billion
expenditures: $2.149 billion; including capital expenditures of $114
million (2006 est.)

Madagascar
revenues: $879.9 million
expenditures: $1.147 billion; including capital expenditures of $331
million (2006 est.)

Malawi
revenues: $818.4 million
expenditures: $895.9 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Malaysia
revenues: $31.63 billion
expenditures: $37 billion; including capital expenditures of $9.4
billion (2006 est.)

Maldives
revenues: $508 million (including foreign grants)
expenditures: $671 million (2006 est.)

Mali
revenues: $764 million
expenditures: $828 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2002 est.)

Malta
revenues: $2.503 billion
expenditures: $2.703 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)
Marshall Islands
revenues: $42 million
expenditures: $40 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(1999)

Mauritania
revenues: $421 million
expenditures: $378 million; including capital expenditures of $154
million (2002 est.)

Mauritius
revenues: $1.475 billion
expenditures: $1.854 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Mayotte
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $73 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(1991 est.)

Mexico
revenues: $196.5 billion
expenditures: $196.2 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Micronesia, Federated States of

revenues: $127.3 million ($69
million less grants)
expenditures: $144.2 million; including capital expenditures of
$17.9 million (FY05 est.)

Moldova
revenues: $1.318 billion
expenditures: $1.335 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Monaco
revenues: $719.2 million
expenditures: $864.1 million; including capital expenditures of
$283.1 million (2004 est.)
Mongolia
revenues: $702 million
expenditures: $651 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2005 est.)

Montenegro
revenues: NA
expenditures: NA

Montserrat
revenues: $31.4 million
expenditures: $31.6 million; including capital expenditures of $8.4
million (1997 est.)

Morocco
revenues: $15.85 billion
expenditures: $20.39 billion; including capital expenditures of
$2.19 billion (2006 est.)

Mozambique
revenues: $1.391 billion
expenditures: $1.822 billion (2006 est.)

Namibia
revenues: $2.233 billion
expenditures: $2.214 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Nauru
revenues: $13.5 million
expenditures: $13.5 million (2005)

Nepal
revenues: $1.153 billion
expenditures: $1.789 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY05/06)

Netherlands
revenues: $304.3 billion
expenditures: $306.5 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
 (2006 est.)

Netherlands Antilles
revenues: $757.9 million
expenditures: $949.5 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2004)

New Caledonia
revenues: $856.3 million
expenditures: $836.5 million (2001 est.)

New Zealand
revenues: $41.51 billion
expenditures: $36.99 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Nicaragua
revenues: $945.3 million
expenditures: $1.254 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Niger
revenues: $320 million - including $134 million from foreign
sources
expenditures: $320 million; including capital expenditures of $178
million (2002 est.)

Nigeria
revenues: $17.86 billion
expenditures: $19.05 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Niue
revenues: $15.07 million
expenditures: $16.33 million; including capital expenditures of
$123,700 (FY0405)

Norfolk Island
revenues: $4.6 million
expenditures: $4.8 million; including capital expenditures of $2
 million (FY99/00)

Northern Mariana Islands

revenues: $193 million
expenditures: $223 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY01/02 est.)

Norway
revenues: $195.8 billion
expenditures: $133.1 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Oman
revenues: $14.33 billion
expenditures: $12.81 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Pakistan
revenues: $20.55 billion
expenditures: $25.65 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Palau
revenues: $72.07 million
expenditures: $72.43 million; including capital expenditures of
$12.98 million (FY04/05 est.)

Panama
revenues: $4.157 billion
expenditures: $4.489 billion; including capital expenditures of $471
million (2006 est.)

Papua New Guinea

revenues: $2.155 billion
expenditures: $2.166 billion; including capital expenditures of $344
million (2006 est.)

Paraguay
revenues: $1.773 billion
expenditures: $1.733 billion; including capital expenditures of $700
 million (2006 est.)

Peru
revenues: $25.5 billion
expenditures: $25.18 billion; including capital expenditures of $1.8
billion for general government, but excluding private enterprises
(2006 est.)

Philippines
revenues: $19.44 billion
expenditures: $21.38 billion; including capital expenditures of NA
(2006 est.)

Pitcairn Islands
revenues: $746,000
expenditures: $1.028 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY04/05)

Poland
revenues: $62 billion
expenditures: $71.25 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Portugal
revenues: $83.89 billion
expenditures: $93.09 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Puerto Rico
revenues: $6.7 billion
expenditures: $9.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY99/00)

Qatar
revenues: $22.51 billion
expenditures: $16.89 billion; including capital expenditures of $2.2
billion (2006 est.)

Romania
revenues: $36.89 billion
 expenditures: $39.1 billion; including capital expenditures of $2.2
billion (2006 est.)

Russia
revenues: $222.2 billion
expenditures: $157.3 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Rwanda
revenues: $560.9 million
expenditures: $654 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Saint Helena
revenues: $11.2 million
expenditures: $11 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY92/93)

Saint Kitts and Nevis

revenues: $89.7 million
expenditures: $128.2 million; including capital expenditures of
$19.5 million (2003 est.)

Saint Lucia
revenues: $141.2 million
expenditures: $146.7 million; including capital expenditures of
$25.1 million (2000 est.)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

revenues: $70 million
expenditures: $60 million; including capital expenditures of $24
million (1996 est.)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

revenues: $94.6 million
expenditures: $85.8 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)

Samoa
revenues: $171.3 million
 expenditures: $78.1 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(FY04/05 est.)

San Marino
revenues: $400 million
expenditures: $400 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)

Sao Tome and Principe

revenues: $102.1 million
expenditures: $61.43 million; including capital expenditures of $54
million (2006 est.)

Saudi Arabia
revenues: $189.2 billion
expenditures: $107.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Senegal
revenues: $2.023 billion
expenditures: $2.377 billion; including capital expenditures of $357
million (2006 est.)

Serbia
revenues: $11.45 billion
expenditures: $11.12 billion; including capital expenditures $NA;
note - figures are for Serbia and Montenegro; Serbian Statistical
Office indicates that for 2006 budget, Serbia will have revenues of
$7.08 billion (2005 est.)

Seychelles
revenues: $371.1 million
expenditures: $376 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Sierra Leone
revenues: $96 million
expenditures: $351 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2000 est.)
Singapore
revenues: $19.71 billion
expenditures: $19.85 billion; including capital expenditures of $5.1
billion (2006 est.)

Slovakia
revenues: $24.57 billion
expenditures: $26.14 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Slovenia
revenues: $15.9 billion
expenditures: $16.35 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Solomon Islands
revenues: $49.7 million
expenditures: $75.1 million; including capital expenditures of NA
(2003)

Somalia
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA

South Africa
revenues: $72.15 billion
expenditures: $75.93 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Spain
revenues: $488.2 billion
expenditures: $475.3 billion; including capital expenditures of
$12.8 billion (2006 est.)

Sri Lanka
revenues: $4.762 billion
expenditures: $7.095 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Sudan
 revenues: $7.943 billion
expenditures: $10.1 billion; including capital expenditures of $304
million (2006 est.)

Suriname
revenues: $392.6 million
expenditures: $425.9 million (2004)

Svalbard
revenues: $25.07 million
expenditures: $NA

Swaziland
revenues: $921.8 million
expenditures: $1.019 billion; including capital expenditures of $147
million (2006 est.)

Sweden
revenues: $222 billion
expenditures: $210.5 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Switzerland
revenues: $141 billion
expenditures: $139.1 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Syria
revenues: $8.471 billion
expenditures: $9.42 billion; including capital expenditures of $3.82
billion (2006 est.)

Taiwan
revenues: $67.33 billion
expenditures: $77.93 billion (2006 est.)

Tajikistan
revenues: $527.5 million
expenditures: $622 million; including capital expenditures of $86
million (2006 est.)
Tanzania
revenues: $2.431 billion
expenditures: $3.001 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Thailand
revenues: $40.31 billion
expenditures: $40.34 billion; including capital expenditures of $5
billion (2006 est.)

Togo
revenues: $260.2 million
expenditures: $311 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Tokelau
revenues: $430,800
expenditures: $2.8 million; including capital expenditures of NA
(1987 est.)

Tonga
revenues: $56.97 million
expenditures: $83.88 million; including capital expenditures of $1.9
million (FY04/05)

Trinidad and Tobago

revenues: $6.591 billion
expenditures: $5.649 billion; including capital expenditures of
$117.3 million (2006 est.)

Tunisia
revenues: $7.728 billion
expenditures: $8.734 billion; including capital expenditures of $1.6
billion (2006 est.)

Turkey
revenues: $112.3 billion
expenditures: $121.6 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)
Turkmenistan
revenues: $1.803 billion
expenditures: $2.063 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Turks and Caicos Islands

revenues: $47 million
expenditures: $33.6 million; including capital expenditures of $NA
(1997-98 est.)

Tuvalu
revenues: $22.78 million
expenditures: $14.23 million; including capital expenditures of $4.2
million (2002)

Uganda
revenues: $1.943 billion
expenditures: $1.994 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Ukraine
revenues: $33.41 billion
expenditures: $35.6 billion; note - this is the consolidated budget
(2006 est.)

United Arab Emirates

revenues: $57.85 billion
expenditures: $36.89 billion; including capital expenditures of $3.4
billion (2006 est.)

United Kingdom
revenues: $973 billion
expenditures: $1.04 trillion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

United States
revenues: $2.409 trillion
expenditures: $2.66 trillion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)
Uruguay
revenues: $5.203 billion
expenditures: $5.449 billion; including capital expenditures of $193
million (2006 est.)

Uzbekistan
revenues: $3.145 billion
expenditures: $3.108 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Vanuatu
revenues: $78.7 million
expenditures: $72.23 million (2005 est.)

Venezuela
revenues: $52.24 billion
expenditures: $52.9 billion; including capital expenditures of $2.6
billion (2006 est.)

Vietnam
revenues: $15.42 billion
expenditures: $16.63 billion; including capital expenditures of $1.8
billion (2006 est.)

Virgin Islands
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA

Wallis and Futuna

revenues: $29,730
expenditures: $31,330 (2004)

West Bank
revenues: $1.23 billion
expenditures: $1.64 billion; including capital expenditures of $44
million ; note - these budget data include Gaza Strip (2005)

Western Sahara
revenues: $NA
expenditures: $NA
Yemen
revenues: $7.314 billion
expenditures: $6.984 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Zambia
revenues: $2.674 billion
expenditures: $2.99 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

Zimbabwe
revenues: $1.411 billion
expenditures: $1.924 billion; including capital expenditures of $NA
(2006 est.)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2057 Capital

Afghanistan
name: Kabul
geographic coordinates: 34 31 N, 69 12 E
time difference: UTC+4.5 (9.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Akrotiri
name: Episkopi Cantonment; also serves as capital of
Dhekelia
geographic coordinates: 34 40 N, 32 51 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
 Sunday in October

Albania
name: Tirana (Tirane)
geographic coordinates: 41 20 N, 19 50 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Algeria
name: Algiers
geographic coordinates: 36 47 N, 2 03 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

American Samoa
name: Pago Pago
geographic coordinates: 14 16 S, 170 42 W
time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Andorra
name: Andorra la Vella
geographic coordinates: 42 30 N, 1 30 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Angola
name: Luanda
geographic coordinates: 8 48 S, 13 14 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Anguilla
name: The Valley
geographic coordinates: 18 13 N, 63 04 W
 time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Antigua and Barbuda

name: Saint John's
geographic coordinates: 17 06 N, 61 51 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Argentina
name: Buenos Aires
geographic coordinates: 34 36 S, 58 27 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Armenia
name: Yerevan
geographic coordinates: 40 11 N, 44 30 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Aruba
name: Oranjestad
geographic coordinates: 12 33 N, 70 06 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Australia
name: Canberra
geographic coordinates: 35 17 S, 149 08 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in October; ends last
Sunday in March
note: Australia is divided into three time zones

Austria
 name: Vienna
geographic coordinates: 48 12 N, 16 22 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Azerbaijan
name: Baku (Baki, Baky)
geographic coordinates: 40 23 N, 49 51 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Bahamas, The
name: Nassau
geographic coordinates: 25 05 N, 77 21 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last
Sunday in October

Bahrain
name: Manama
geographic coordinates: 26 13 N, 50 35 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Bangladesh
name: Dhaka
geographic coordinates: 23 43 N, 90 25 E
time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Barbados
name: Bridgetown
geographic coordinates: 13 06 N, 59 37 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
 Standard Time)

Belarus
name: Minsk
geographic coordinates: 53 54 N, 27 34 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Belgium
name: Brussels
geographic coordinates: 50 50 N, 4 20 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Belize
name: Belmopan
geographic coordinates: 17 15 N, 88 46 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)

Benin
name: Porto-Novo (official capital)
geographic coordinates: 6 29 N, 2 37 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Cotonou (seat of government)

Bermuda
name: Hamilton
geographic coordinates: 32 17 N, 64 46 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last
Sunday in October
Bhutan
name: Thimphu
geographic coordinates: 27 28 N, 89 39 E
time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Bolivia
name: La Paz (administrative capital)
geographic coordinates: 16 30 S, 68 09 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Sucre (constitutional capital)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

name: Sarajevo
geographic coordinates: 43 52 N, 18 25 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Botswana
name: Gaborone
geographic coordinates: 24 45 S, 25 55 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Brazil
name: Brasilia
geographic coordinates: 15 47 S, 47 55 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins third Sunday in October; ends
third Sunday in February
note: Brazil is divided into four time zones, including one for the
Fernando de Noronha islands

British Virgin Islands

name: Road Town
 geographic coordinates: 18 27 N, 64 37 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Brunei
name: Bandar Seri Begawan
geographic coordinates: 4 52 S, 114 55 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Bulgaria
name: Sofia
geographic coordinates: 42 41 N, 23 19 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Burkina Faso
name: Ouagadougou
geographic coordinates: 12 22 N, 1 31 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Burma
name: Rangoon (Yangon)
geographic coordinates: 16 47 N, 96 10 E
time difference: UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Nay Pyi Taw is administrative capital

Burundi
name: Bujumbura
geographic coordinates: 3 23 S, 29 22 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Cambodia
name: Phnom Penh
 geographic coordinates: 11 33 N, 104 55 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Cameroon
name: Yaounde
geographic coordinates: 3 52 N, 11 31 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Canada
name: Ottawa
geographic coordinates: 45 25 N, 75 40 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends
first Sunday in November
note: Canada is divided into six time zones

Cape Verde
name: Praia
geographic coordinates: 14 55 N, 23 31 W
time difference: UTC-1 (4 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Cayman Islands
name: George Town (on Grand Cayman)
geographic coordinates: 19 20 N, 81 23 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)

Central African Republic

name: Bangui
geographic coordinates: 4 22 N, 18 35 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Chad
name: N'Djamena
 geographic coordinates: 12 07 N, 15 03 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Chile
name: Santiago
geographic coordinates: 33 27 S, 70 40 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in October; ends
second Sunday in March

China
name: Beijing
geographic coordinates: 39 56 N, 116 24 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: despite its size, all of China falls within one time zone

Christmas Island
name: The Settlement
geographic coordinates: 18 44 N, 64 19 W
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

name: West Island
geographic coordinates: 12 10 S, 96 55 E
time difference: UTC+6.5 (11.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Colombia
name: Bogota
geographic coordinates: 4 36 N, 74 05 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)

Comoros
name: Moroni
 geographic coordinates: 11 41 S, 43 16 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

name: Kinshasa
geographic coordinates: 4 18 S, 15 18 E
time difference: UTC+1 (six hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Congo, Republic of the

name: Brazzaville
geographic coordinates: 4 16 S, 15 17 E
time difference: UTC+1 (six hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Cook Islands
name: Avarua
geographic coordinates: 21 12 S, 159 46 W
time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Costa Rica
name: San Jose
geographic coordinates: 9 56 N, 84 05 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)

Cote d'Ivoire
name: Yamoussoukro
geographic coordinates: 5 19 N, 4 02 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
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
Croatia
name: Zagreb
geographic coordinates: 45 48 N, 15 58 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Cuba
name: Havana
geographic coordinates: 23 08 N, 82 22 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Cyprus
name: Nicosia (Lefkosia)
geographic coordinates: 35 10 N, 33 22 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Czech Republic
name: Prague
geographic coordinates: 40 55 N, 21 00 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Denmark
name: Copenhagen
geographic coordinates: 55 40 N, 12 35 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
 Sunday in October

Dhekelia
name: Episkopi Cantonment; located in Akrotiri
geographic coordinates: 34 40 N, 32 51 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Djibouti
name: Djibouti
geographic coordinates: 11 30 N, 43 15 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Dominica
name: Roseau
geographic coordinates: 15 18 N, 61 24 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Dominican Republic
name: Santo Domingo
geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 69 54 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

East Timor
name: Dili
geographic coordinates: 8 35 S, 125 36 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Ecuador
name: Quito
geographic coordinates: 0 13 S, 78 30 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
Egypt
name: Cairo
geographic coordinates: 30 03 N, 31 15 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Friday in April; ends last
Thursday in September

El Salvador
name: San Salvador
geographic coordinates: 13 42 N, 89 12 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)

Equatorial Guinea
name: Malabo
geographic coordinates: 3 45 N, 8 47 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Eritrea
name: Asmara (Asmera)
geographic coordinates: 15 20 N, 38 53 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Estonia
name: Tallinn
geographic coordinates: 59 25 N, 24 45 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Ethiopia
name: Addis Ababa
geographic coordinates: 9 02 N, 38 42 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
European Union
name: Brussels (Belgium), Strasbourg (France),
Luxembourg
geographic coordinates: 50 50 N, 4 20 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
note: the Council of the European Union meets in Brussels, the
European Parliament meets in Brussels and Strasbourg, France, and
the Court of Justice of the European Communities meets in Luxembourg

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

name: Stanley
geographic coordinates: 51 42 S, 57 41 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in September; ends
third Sunday in April

Faroe Islands
name: Torshavn
geographic coordinates: 62 01 N, 6 46 W
time difference: UTC (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Fiji
name: Suva (on Viti Levu)
geographic coordinates: 18 08 S, 178 25 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Finland
name: Helsinki
geographic coordinates: 60 10 N, 24 58 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
 daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

France
name: Paris
geographic coordinates: 48 52 N, 2 20 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

French Polynesia
name: Papeete
geographic coordinates: 17 32 S, 149 34 W
time difference: UTC-10 (5 hours behind Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Gabon
name: Libreville
geographic coordinates: 0 23 N, 9 27 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Gambia, The
name: Banjul
geographic coordinates: 12 28 N, 16 39 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Georgia
name: T'bilisi
geographic coordinates: 41 43 N, 44 49 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Germany
name: Berlin
geographic coordinates: 52 31 N, 13 24 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
 Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Ghana
name: Accra
geographic coordinates: 5 33 N, 0 13 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Gibraltar
name: Gibraltar
geographic coordinates: 39 11 N, 5 22 W
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Greece
name: Athens
geographic coordinates: 37 59 N, 23 44 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Greenland
name: Nuuk (Godthab)
geographic coordinates: 64 11 N, 51 44 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
note: Greenland is divided into four time zones

Grenada
name: Saint George's
geographic coordinates: 12 03 N, 61 45 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
 Standard Time)

Guam
name: Hagatna (Agana)
geographic coordinates: 13 28 N, 144 45 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Guatemala
name: Guatemala
geographic coordinates: 14 38 N, 90 31 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in April; ends last
Friday in September; note - there is no DST planned for 2007-2009

Guernsey
name: Saint Peter Port
geographic coordinates: 49 27 N, 2 32 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Guinea
name: Conakry
geographic coordinates: 9 31 N, 13 43 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Guinea-Bissau
name: Bissau
geographic coordinates: 11 51 N, 15 35 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Guyana
name: Georgetown
geographic coordinates: 6 48 N, 58 10 W
 time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Haiti
name: Port-au-Prince
geographic coordinates: 18 32 N, 72 20 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last
Sunday in October

Holy See (Vatican City)

name: Vatican City
geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 27 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Honduras
name: Tegucigalpa
geographic coordinates: 14 06 N, 87 13 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends
first Sunday in November; note - these new dates become effective in
2007

Hungary
name: Budapest
geographic coordinates: 47 30 N, 19 05 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Iceland
name: Reykjavik
geographic coordinates: 64 09 N, 21 57 W
 time difference: UTC (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

India
name: New Delhi
geographic coordinates: 28 36 N, 77 12 E
time difference: UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Indonesia
name: Jakarta
geographic coordinates: 6 10 S, 106 48 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Indonesia is divided into three time zones

Iran
name: Tehran
geographic coordinates: 35 40 N, 51 26 E
time difference: UTC+3.5 (8.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Iraq
name: Baghdad
geographic coordinates: 33 21 N, 44 25 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins 1 April; ends 1 October

Ireland
name: Dublin
geographic coordinates: 53 20 N, 6 15 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Isle of Man
name: Douglas
 geographic coordinates: 54 09 N, 4 28 W
time difference: UTC 0 (five hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Israel
name: Jerusalem
geographic coordinates: 32 05 N, 34 48 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Friday in March; ends the
Sunday between the holidays of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur
note: Israel proclaimed Jerusalem as its capital in 1950, but the
US, like nearly all other countries, maintains its Embassy in Tel
Aviv

Italy
name: Rome
geographic coordinates: 41 54 N, 12 29 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Jamaica
name: Kingston
geographic coordinates: 18 00 N, 76 48 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)

Japan
name: Tokyo
geographic coordinates: 35 42 N, 139 46 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Jersey
name: Saint Helier
 geographic coordinates: 49 12 N, 2 07 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Jordan
name: Amman
geographic coordinates: 31 57 N, 35 56 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Thursday in March; ends last
Friday in September

Kazakhstan
name: Astana
geographic coordinates: 51 10 N, 71 30 E
time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Kazakhstan is divided into three time zones

Kenya
name: Nairobi
geographic coordinates: 1 17 S, 36 49 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Kiribati
name: Tarawa
geographic coordinates: 1 25 N, 173 00 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Korea, North
name: Pyongyang
geographic coordinates: 39 01 N, 125 45 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Korea, South
name: Seoul
geographic coordinates: 37 34 N, 127 00 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Kuwait
name: Kuwait
geographic coordinates: 29 20 N, 47 59 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Kyrgyzstan
name: Bishkek
geographic coordinates: 42 54 N, 74 36 E
time difference: UTC+6 (11 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Laos
name: Vientiane
geographic coordinates: 17 58 N, 102 36 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Latvia
name: Riga
geographic coordinates: 56 57 N, 24 06 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Lebanon
name: Beirut
geographic coordinates: 33 53 N, 35 30 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
Lesotho
name: Maseru
geographic coordinates: 29 28 S, 27 30 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Liberia
name: Monrovia
geographic coordinates: 6 18 N, 10 47 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Libya
name: Tripoli
geographic coordinates: 32 54 N, 13 11 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Liechtenstein
name: Vaduz
geographic coordinates: 47 09 N, 9 31 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Lithuania
name: Vilnius
geographic coordinates: 54 41 N, 25 19 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Luxembourg
name: Luxembourg
geographic coordinates: 49 45 N, 6 10 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
 daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Macedonia
name: Skopje
geographic coordinates: 41 59 N, 21 26 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Madagascar
name: Antananarivo
geographic coordinates: 18 52 S, 47 30 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Malawi
name: Lilongwe
geographic coordinates: 13 59 S, 33 44 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Malaysia
name: Kuala Lumpur
geographic coordinates: 3 10 N, 101 42 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Putrajaya is referred to as administrative center not capital;
Parliament meets in Kuala Lumpur

Maldives
name: Male
geographic coordinates: 4 10 N, 73 31 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Mali
name: Bamako
 geographic coordinates: 12 39 N, 8 00 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Malta
name: Valletta
geographic coordinates: 35 54 N, 14 31 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Marshall Islands
name: Majuro
geographic coordinates: 7 05 N, 171 08 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Mauritania
name: Nouakchott
geographic coordinates: 18 06 N, 15 57 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Mauritius
name: Port Louis
geographic coordinates: 20 10 S, 57 30 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Mayotte
name: Mamoudzou
geographic coordinates: 12 47 S, 45 14 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Mexico
name: Mexico (Distrito Federal)
geographic coordinates: 19 24 N, 99 09 W
 time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last
Sunday in October
note: Mexico is divided into four time zones

Micronesia, Federated States of

name: Palikir
geographic coordinates: 6 55 N, 158 08 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Moldova
name: Chisinau (Kishinev)
geographic coordinates: 47 00 N, 28 50 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Monaco
name: Monaco
geographic coordinates: 43 44 N, 7 25 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Mongolia
name: Ulaanbaatar
geographic coordinates: 47 55 N, 106 53 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Saturday in March; ends last
Saturday in September

Montenegro
name: Podgorica (administrative capital)
geographic coordinates: 42 26 N, 19 16 E
 time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1 hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
note: Cetinje (capital city)

Montserrat
name: Plymouth
geographic coordinates: 16 44 N, 62 14 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Plymouth was 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

Morocco
name: Rabat
geographic coordinates: 34 02 N, 6 51 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Mozambique
name: Maputo
geographic coordinates: 25 58 S, 32 35 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Namibia
name: Windhoek
geographic coordinates: 22 34 S, 17 06 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in September; ends
first Sunday in April

Nauru
no official capital; government offices in Yaren District
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Nepal
name: Kathmandu
geographic coordinates: 27 43 N, 85 19 E
time difference: UTC+5.75 (10.75 hours ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time)

Netherlands
name: Amsterdam
geographic coordinates: 52 23 N, 4 54 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
note: The Hague (seat of government)

Netherlands Antilles
name: Willemstad (on Curacao)
geographic coordinates: 12 06 N, 68 56 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

New Caledonia
name: Noumea
geographic coordinates: 22 16 S, 166 27 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

New Zealand
name: Wellington
geographic coordinates: 41 28 S, 174 51 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in October; ends
third Sunday in March
note: New Zealand is divided into two time zones, including Chatham
Island

Nicaragua
name: Managua
 geographic coordinates: 12 09 N, 86 17 W
time difference: UTC-6 (1 hour behind Washington, DC during Standard
Time)

Niger
name: Niamey
geographic coordinates: 13 31 N, 2 07 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Nigeria
name: Abuja
geographic coordinates: 9 12 N, 7 11 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Niue
name: Alofi
geographic coordinates: 19 01 S, 169 55 W
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Norfolk Island
name: Kingston
geographic coordinates: 29 03 S, 167 58 E
time difference: UTC+11.5 (16.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Northern Mariana Islands

name: Saipan
geographic coordinates: 15 12 N, 145 45 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Norway
name: Oslo
geographic coordinates: 59 55 N, 10 45 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
 daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Oman
name: Muscat
geographic coordinates: 23 37 N, 58 35 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Pakistan
name: Islamabad
geographic coordinates: 33 42 N, 73 10 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Palau
name: Melekeok
geographic coordinates: 7 29 N, 134 38 E
time difference: UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Panama
name: Panama
geographic coordinates: 8 58 N, 79 32 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)

Papua New Guinea

name: Port Moresby
geographic coordinates: 9 30 S, 147 10 E
time difference: UTC+10 (15 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Paraguay
name: Asuncion
geographic coordinates: 25 16 S, 57 40 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Peru
 name: Lima
geographic coordinates: 12 03 S, 77 03 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)

Philippines
name: Manila
geographic coordinates: 14 35 N, 121 00 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Pitcairn Islands
name: Adamstown
geographic coordinates: 25 04 S, 130 05 W
time difference: UTC-9 (4 hours behind Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Poland
name: Warsaw
geographic coordinates: 52 15 N, 21 00 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Portugal
name: Lisbon
geographic coordinates: 38 43 N, 9 08 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Puerto Rico
name: San Juan
geographic coordinates: 18 28 N, 66 07 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
Qatar
name: Doha
geographic coordinates: 25 17 N, 51 32 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Romania
name: Bucharest
geographic coordinates: 44 26 N, 26 06 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Russia
name: Moscow
geographic coordinates: 55 45 N, 37 35 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
note: Russia is divided into eleven time zones

Rwanda
name: Kigali
geographic coordinates: 1 57 S, 30 04 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Saint Helena
name: Jamestown
geographic coordinates: 15 56 S, 5 44 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Saint Kitts and Nevis

name: Basseterre
geographic coordinates: 17 18 N, 62 43 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
 Standard Time)

Saint Lucia
name: Castries
geographic coordinates: 14 01 N, 61 00 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

name: Saint-Pierre
geographic coordinates: 46 46 N, 56 11 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends
first Sunday in November

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

name: Kingstown
geographic coordinates: 13 09 N, 61 14 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Samoa
name: Apia
geographic coordinates: 13 50 S, 171 45W
time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

San Marino
name: San Marino
geographic coordinates: 43 56 N, 12 25 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Sao Tome and Principe

name: Sao Tome
geographic coordinates: 0 12 N, 6 39 E
 time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Saudi Arabia
name: Riyadh
geographic coordinates: 24 38 N, 46 43 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Senegal
name: Dakar
geographic coordinates: 14 40 N, 17 26 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Serbia
name: Belgrade
geographic coordinates: 44 50 N, 20 30 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Seychelles
name: Victoria
geographic coordinates: 4 38 S, 55 27 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Sierra Leone
name: Freetown
geographic coordinates: 8 30 N, 13 15 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Singapore
name: Singapore
geographic coordinates: 1 17 N, 103 51 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
 Standard Time)

Slovakia
name: Bratislava
geographic coordinates: 48 09 N, 17 07 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Slovenia
name: Ljubljana
geographic coordinates: 46 03 N, 14 31 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Solomon Islands
name: Honiara
geographic coordinates: 9 26 S, 159 57 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Somalia
name: Mogadishu
geographic coordinates: 2 04 N, 45 22 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

South Africa
name: Pretoria (administrative capital)
geographic coordinates: 29 12 S, 28 10 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Cape Town (legislative capital); Johannesburg(judicial capital)

Spain
name: Madrid
 geographic coordinates: 40 24 N, 3 41 W
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October
note: Spain is divided into two time zones, including the Canary
Islands

Sri Lanka
name: Colombo
geographic coordinates: 6 56 N, 79 51 E
time difference: UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (legislative capital)

Sudan
name: Khartoum
geographic coordinates: 15 36 N, 32 32 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Suriname
name: Paramaribo
geographic coordinates: 5 50 N, 55 10 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Svalbard
name: Longyearbyen
geographic coordinates: 78 13 N, 15 33 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Swaziland
name: Mbabane
geographic coordinates: 26 18 S, 31 06 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
 Standard Time)
note: Lobamba (royal and legislative capital)

Sweden
name: Stockholm
geographic coordinates: 59 20 N, 18 03 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Switzerland
name: Bern
geographic coordinates: 46 57 N, 7 26 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Syria
name: Damascus
geographic coordinates: 33 30 N, 36 18 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins 1 April; ends 30 September

Taiwan
name: Taipei
geographic coordinates: 25 03 N, 121 30 E
time difference: UTC+8 (13 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Tajikistan
name: Dushanbe
geographic coordinates: 38 35 N, 68 48 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Tanzania
 name: Dar es Salaam
geographic coordinates: 6 48 S, 39 17 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: legislative offices have been transferred to Dodoma, which is
planned as the new national capital; the National Assembly now meets
there on a regular basis

Thailand
name: Bangkok
geographic coordinates: 13 45 N, 100 31 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Togo
name: Lome
geographic coordinates: 6 08 N, 1 13 E
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Tokelau
none; each atoll has its own administrative center
time difference: UTC-11 (6 hours behind Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Tonga
name: Nuku'alofa
geographic coordinates: 21 08 S, 175 12 W
time difference: UTC+13 (18 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Trinidad and Tobago

name: Port-of-Spain
geographic coordinates: 10 39 N, 61 31 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Tunisia
name: Tunis
 geographic coordinates: 36 48 N, 10 11 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Turkey
name: Ankara
geographic coordinates: 39 56 N, 32 52 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

Turkmenistan
name: Ashgabat (Ashkhabad)
geographic coordinates: 37 57 N, 58 23 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Turks and Caicos Islands

name: Grand Turk (Cockburn Town)
geographic coordinates: 21 28 N, 71 08 W
time difference: UTC-5 (same time as Washington, DC during Standard
Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins first Sunday in April; ends last
Sunday in October

Tuvalu
name: Funafuti
geographic coordinates: 8 30 S, 179 12 E
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
note: administrative offices are located in Vaiaku Village on
Fongafale Islet

Uganda
name: Kampala
geographic coordinates: 0 19 N, 32 25 E
 time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Ukraine
name: Kyiv (Kiev)
geographic coordinates: 50 26 N, 30 31 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

United Arab Emirates

name: Abu Dhabi
geographic coordinates: 24 28 N, 54 22 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

United Kingdom
name: London
geographic coordinates: 51 30 N, 0 10 W
time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last
Sunday in October

United States
name: Washington, DC (capital)
geographic coordinates: 38 53 N, 77 02 W
time difference: UTC-5 (during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in March; ends
first Sunday in November
note: the United States is divided into six time zones

Uruguay
name: Montevideo
geographic coordinates: 34 53 S, 56 11 W
time difference: UTC-3 (2 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins second Sunday in October; ends
 second Sunday in March

Uzbekistan
name: Tashkent (Toshkent)
geographic coordinates: 41 20 N, 69 18 E
time difference: UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Vanuatu
name: Port-Vila (on Efate)
geographic coordinates: 17 44 S, 168 19 E
time difference: UTC+11 (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Venezuela
name: Caracas
geographic coordinates: 10 30 N, 66 56 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Vietnam
name: Hanoi
geographic coordinates: 21 02 N, 105 51 E
time difference: UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Virgin Islands
name: Charlotte Amalie
geographic coordinates: 18 21 N, 64 56 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Wallis and Futuna

name: Mata-Utu (on Ile Uvea)
geographic coordinates: 13 57 S, 171 56 W
time difference: UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Western Sahara
none
 time difference: UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Yemen
name: Sanaa
geographic coordinates: 15 21 N, 44 12 E
time difference: UTC+3 (8 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Zambia
name: Lusaka
geographic coordinates: 15 25 S, 28 17 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

Zimbabwe
name: Harare
geographic coordinates: 17 50 S, 31 03 E
time difference: UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during
Standard Time)

This page was last updated on 8 February, 2007

===================================================================

@2058 Imports - commodities

Afghanistan
capital goods, food, textiles, petroleum products

Albania
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals

Algeria
capital goods, foodstuffs, consumer goods
American Samoa
materials for canneries 56%, food 8%, petroleum
products 7%, machinery and parts 6% (2004 est.)

Andorra
consumer goods, food, electricity

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

Anguilla
fuels, foodstuffs, manufactures, chemicals, trucks, textiles

Antigua and Barbuda

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

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

Armenia
natural gas, petroleum, tobacco products, foodstuffs,
diamonds

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

Australia
machinery and transport equipment, computers and office
machines, telecommunication equipment and parts; crude oil and
petroleum products

Austria
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals, metal
goods, oil and oil products; foodstuffs

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

Bahamas, The
machinery and transport equipment, manufactures,
chemicals, mineral fuels; food and live animals

Bahrain
crude oil, machinery, chemicals

Bangladesh
machinery and equipment, chemicals, iron and steel,
textiles, foodstuffs, petroleum products, cement (2000)

Barbados
consumer goods, machinery, foodstuffs, construction
materials, chemicals, fuel, electrical components

Belarus
mineral products, machinery and equipment, chemicals,
foodstuffs, metals

Belgium
machinery and equipment, chemicals, diamonds,
pharmaceuticals, foodstuffs, transportation equipment, oil products

Belize
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods; fuels,
chemicals, pharmaceuticals; food, beverages, tobacco

Benin
foodstuffs, capital goods, petroleum products

Bermuda
clothing, fuels, machinery and transport equipment,
construction materials, chemicals, food and live animals

Bhutan
fuel and lubricants, grain, aircraft, machinery and parts,
vehicles, fabrics, rice
Bolivia
petroleum products, plastics, paper, aircraft and aircraft
parts, prepared foods, automobiles, insecticides, soybeans

Bosnia and Herzegovina

machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels,
foodstuffs

Botswana
foodstuffs, machinery, electrical goods, transport
equipment, textiles, fuel and petroleum products, wood and paper
products, metal and metal products

Brazil
machinery, electrical and transport equipment, chemical
products, oil

British Virgin Islands

building materials, automobiles, foodstuffs,
machinery

Brunei
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food,
chemicals

Bulgaria
machinery and equipment; metals and ores; chemicals and
plastics; fuels, minerals, and raw materials

Burkina Faso
capital goods, foodstuffs, petroleum

Burma
fabric, petroleum products, plastics, machinery, transport
equipment, construction materials, crude oil; food products

Burundi
capital goods, petroleum products, foodstuffs

Cambodia
 petroleum products, cigarettes, gold, construction
materials, machinery, motor vehicles, pharmaceutical products

Cameroon
machinery, electrical equipment, transport equipment, fuel,
food

Canada
machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and parts, crude oil,
chemicals, electricity, durable consumer goods

Cape Verde
foodstuffs, industrial products, transport equipment,
fuels

Cayman Islands
foodstuffs, manufactured goods

Central African Republic

food, textiles, petroleum products,
machinery, electrical equipment, motor vehicles, chemicals,
pharmaceuticals

Chad
machinery and transportation equipment, industrial goods,
foodstuffs, textiles

Chile
petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, electrical and
telecommunications equipment, industrial machinery, vehicles,
natural gas

China
machinery and equipment, oil and mineral fuels, plastics,
optical and medical equipment, organic chemicals, iron and steel

Christmas Island
consumer goods

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

 foodstuffs

Colombia
industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer
goods, chemicals, paper products, fuels, electricity

Comoros
rice and other foodstuffs, consumer goods, petroleum
products, cement, transport equipment

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

foodstuffs, mining and other
machinery, transport equipment, fuels

Congo, Republic of the

capital equipment, construction materials,
foodstuffs

Cook Islands
foodstuffs, textiles, fuels, timber, capital goods

Costa Rica
raw materials, consumer goods, capital equipment,
petroleum

Cote d'Ivoire
fuel, capital equipment, foodstuffs

Croatia
machinery, transport and electrical equipment; chemicals,
fuels and lubricants; foodstuffs

Cuba
petroleum, food, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Cyprus
Republic of Cyprus: consumer goods, petroleum and lubricants,
intermediate goods, machinery, transport equipment; north Cyprus:
vehicles, fuel, cigarettes, food, minerals, chemicals, machinery
Czech Republic
machinery and transport equipment 46%, raw materials
and fuels 15%, chemicals 10% (2003)

Denmark
machinery and equipment, raw materials and semimanufactures
for industry, chemicals, grain and foodstuffs, consumer goods

Djibouti
foods, beverages, transport equipment, chemicals, petroleum
products

Dominica
manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, food, chemicals

Dominican Republic
foodstuffs, petroleum, cotton and fabrics,
chemicals and pharmaceuticals

East Timor
food, gasoline, kerosene, machinery

Ecuador
vehicles, medicinal products, telecommunications equipment,
electricity

Egypt
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, wood products,
fuels

El Salvador
raw materials, consumer goods, capital goods, fuels,
foodstuffs, petroleum, electricity

Equatorial Guinea
petroleum sector equipment, other equipment

Eritrea
machinery, petroleum products, food, manufactured goods
(2000)
Estonia
machinery and equipment 33.5%, chemical products 11.6%,
textiles 10.3%, foodstuffs 9.4%, transportation equipment 8.9% (2001)

Ethiopia
food and live animals, petroleum and petroleum products,
chemicals, machinery, motor vehicles, cereals, textiles

European Union
machinery, vehicles, aircraft, plastics, crude oil,
chemicals, textiles, metals, foodstuffs, clothing

Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)

fuel, food and drink, building
materials, clothing

Faroe Islands
consumer goods 36%, raw materials and
semi-manufactures 32%, machinery and transport equipment 29%, fuels,
fish, salt (1999)

Fiji
manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment,
petroleum products, food, chemicals

Finland
foodstuffs, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals,
transport equipment, iron and steel, machinery, textile yarn and
fabrics, grains

France
machinery and equipment, vehicles, crude oil, aircraft,
plastics, chemicals

French Polynesia
fuels, foodstuffs, machinery and equipment

Gabon
machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, chemicals, construction
materials
Gambia, The
foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport
equipment

Gaza Strip
food, consumer goods, construction materials

Georgia
fuels, machinery and parts, transport equipment, grain and
other foods, pharmaceuticals

Germany
machinery, vehicles, chemicals, foodstuffs, textiles, metals

Ghana
capital equipment, petroleum, foodstuffs

Gibraltar
fuels, manufactured goods, and foodstuffs

Greece
machinery, transport equipment, fuels, chemicals

Greenland
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods,
food, petroleum products

Grenada
food, manufactured goods, machinery, chemicals, fuel

Guam
petroleum and petroleum products, food, manufactured goods

Guatemala
fuels, machinery and transport equipment, construction
materials, grain, fertilizers, electricity

Guernsey
coal, gasoline, oil, machinery and equipment
Guinea
petroleum products, metals, machinery, transport equipment,
textiles, grain and other foodstuffs

Guinea-Bissau
foodstuffs, machinery and transport equipment,
petroleum products

Guyana
manufactures, machinery, petroleum, food

Haiti
food, manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment,
fuels, raw materials

Honduras
machinery and transport equipment, industrial raw
materials, chemical products, fuels, foodstuffs (2000)

Hong Kong
raw materials and semi-manufactures, consumer goods,
capital goods, foodstuffs, fuel (most is re-exported)

Hungary
machinery and equipment 51.6%, other manufactures 35.7%,
fuels and electricity 7.7%, food products 3.1%, raw materials 2.0%
(2003)

Iceland
machinery and equipment, petroleum products, foodstuffs,
textiles

India
crude oil, machinery, gems, fertilizer, chemicals

Indonesia
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, foodstuffs

Iran
industrial raw materials and intermediate goods, capital goods,
 foodstuffs and other consumer goods, technical services, military
supplies

Iraq
food, medicine, manufactures

Ireland
data processing equipment, other machinery and equipment,
chemicals, petroleum and petroleum products, textiles, clothing

Isle of Man
timber, fertilizers, fish

Israel
raw materials, military equipment, investment goods, rough
diamonds, fuels, grain, consumer goods

Italy
engineering products, chemicals, transport equipment, energy
products, minerals and nonferrous metals, textiles and clothing;
food, beverages, and tobacco

Jamaica
food and other consumer goods, industrial supplies, fuel,
parts and accessories of capital goods, machinery and transport
equipment, construction materials

Japan
machinery and equipment, fuels, foodstuffs, chemicals,
textiles, raw materials (2001)

Jersey
machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods,
foodstuffs, mineral fuels, chemicals

Jordan
crude oil, textile fabrics, machinery, transport equipment,
manufactured goods

Kazakhstan
 machinery and equipment 41%, metal products 28%,
foodstuffs 8% (2001)

Kenya
machinery and transportation equipment, petroleum products,
motor vehicles, iron and steel, resins and plastics

Kiribati
foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, miscellaneous
manufactured goods, fuel

Korea, North
petroleum, coking coal, machinery and equipment,
textiles, grain

Korea, South
machinery, electronics and electronic equipment, oil,
steel, transport equipment, organic chemicals, plastics

Kuwait
food, construction materials, vehicles and parts, clothing

Kyrgyzstan
oil and gas, machinery and equipment, chemicals,
foodstuffs

Laos
machinery and equipment, vehicles, fuel, consumer goods

Latvia
machinery and equipment, chemicals, fuels, vehicles

Lebanon
petroleum products, cars, medicinal products, clothing, meat
and live animals, consumer goods, paper, textile fabrics, tobacco

Lesotho
food; building materials, vehicles, machinery, medicines,
petroleum products (2000)
Liberia
fuels, chemicals, machinery, transportation equipment,
manufactured goods; foodstuffs

Libya
machinery, semi-finished goods, food, transport equipment,
consumer products

Liechtenstein
agricultural products, raw materials, machinery, metal
goods, textiles, foodstuffs, motor vehicles

Lithuania
mineral products, machinery and equipment, transport
equipment, chemicals, textiles and clothing, metals

Luxembourg
minerals, metals, foodstuffs, quality consumer goods

Macau
raw materials and semi-manufactured goods, consumer goods
(foodstuffs, beverages, tobacco), capital goods, mineral fuels and
oils

Macedonia
machinery and equipment, automobiles, chemicals, fuels,
food products

Madagascar
capital goods, petroleum, consumer goods, food

Malawi
food, petroleum products, semimanufactures, consumer goods,
transportation equipment

Malaysia
electronics, machinery, petroleum products, plastics,
vehicles, iron and steel products, chemicals

Maldives
 petroleum products, ships, foodstuffs, clothing,
intermediate and capital goods

Mali
petroleum,